13 minute read
Gillispie Gem - May 2024
MEASURING SUCCESS
ALISON FLEMING, HEAD OF SCHOOL
At year’s end, I always reflect and ask, how does Gillispie measure success? It’s exciting to see, for example, the number of books collected in the second-grade book drive or the many hydration kits assembled for unsheltered individuals. I marvel at the Junior Olympics medals given out to our young athletes and the prestigious writing award presented to one of our upper elementary students. I sigh with satisfaction (and relief) on a job well done as faculty and staff submit their year-long accreditation self-study. A troll designed by sixth graders now resides under a Gillispie ficus tree as a lasting testimony to our school’s love of reading and imagination. All these are tangible manifestations of a year well spent.
Yet, the smiles of our students also mark a successful year. I see happiness when fifth graders ace their lines in a Shakespeare performance; third graders cheer at dolphins and seals on the harbor cruise; kindergartners attempt to make their way across the monkey bars for the first time; and first graders show their monkey bar blisters from their many crossings. In the early childhood yard, I witness the excited whispering when a Monarch alights in the butterfly garden and hear the squeals of laughter as preschoolers’ fingers and toes squelch in the mud on rainy days.
How do you measure a successful year? In all these ways, both tangible and intangible.
NURTURING GOOD CITIZENS ON AND OFF THE FIELD
ED WHELAN, P.E. TEACHER
As the school year comes to an end, Coach K and I find ourselves reflecting on the fantastic journey we’ve shared with your children in P.E. class this year. At the core of our curriculum are lessons in staying physically engaged with our environment and the world around us, and exploring the joy of being active and the empowerment that comes with mastering new skills. Our program is more than just teaching athletic skills. It’s about nurturing good citizens who understand the importance of teamwork, respect, and perseverance, both on and off the field, and that when students are ready to take the next step in their journey, they do so confidently and enthusiastically.
This year, our students practiced agility, coordination, balance, and flexibility through exciting units covering field hockey, kickball, lacrosse, basketball, and baseball. They also learned about anatomy, sleep, and nutrition, learning how to keep their bodies and minds sharp. Most importantly, they practiced mindfulness techniques to calm their minds and build resilience when things don’t turn out the way they planned.
Some memorable moments from this year include our Spanish language games, where students communicated exclusively in Spanish; our Spanish soccer tournament, where students learned about Spanish-speaking athletes and countries and represented their countries’ teams; and our winter counts water pouch relay race, where students race with pouches filled with water made in Science-Design. These pouches were created to test waterproof materials, linking to their studies of Native American history.
Every P.E. lesson provided the students with an opportunity to make connections across disciplines and develop a love for movement. As our students transition from Gillispie, we hope that the lessons they’ve learned in P.E. class will continue to inspire them as they embark on new adventures.
It’s been a joy teaching your children this year. As we head into summer, let’s remember to stay active, curious, and connected to the world around us. We can’t wait to hear about your summer adventures soon!
LEAVING A MARK ON OUR SCHOOL AND HEARTS
BRIAN BELSHA AND CHIP EDWARDS, SCIENCE-DESIGN TEACHERS
During a Science-Design discussion some months ago, sixth graders expressed the desire to ‘give back’ to their community. While this can take many forms, as soon-to-be graduates, leaving a tangible mark on the Gillispie campus resonated with them. Our Art teacher, Ms. Walters, made the connection with Thomas Dambo, a Danish artist who is currently gaining notoriety worldwide for his large site-specific troll sculptures. The sixth graders had learned about Dambo during their Art classes – perhaps WE could make a troll!
A project like this would be a learning experience for us all, involving lots of research, discussion, decision-making, design, and re-design. Once the idea was adopted by the students, and approved by the administration, we looked for a site where the troll would be visible and central. The students chose a favorite tree, by the stairs, at one end of Gillispie’s little, bean-shaped lawn.
On small wooden platforms, built to mirror the 13° angle of the site’s slope, each student made a papier-mâché tree, and a miniature troll ‘maquette’ troll from plasticine clay. They used their maquette as a visual aid as they explained and justified the particular position/activity they had decided to sculpt. Ideas ranged from game playing to tree climbing and sleeping, but the winner was the ‘reading troll’ idea, which several sixth graders had suggested.
Next, we photographed each student reading by the tree in different positions. Viewing these photos led them to choose the ‘seated troll, reading with right knee up, left leg out’ position. The plasticine maquettes were re-designed to reflect this class decision.
In the Design program, we talk a lot about ‘constraints’ Every project has them: time, money, safety, technology, subject matter, laws, etc. At some point during the Troll Project, a concern was expressed to the team by an early childhood teacher. The proposed location would put the troll in constant view of our youngest students–wouldn’t it be a bit scary? Not having considered this, we went back to the drawing board. We walked around campus, looking at many different alternatives, before opting for what is an even more perfect placement for the troll–under the ficus tree in the corner of the sport court!
As the sixth graders designed and crafted the troll’s face from clay with Ms. Walters in Art, the troll’s steel frame body was welded and then covered with paper, foil, and chicken wire. The troll’s finished green ceramic face was then attached to the body and the entire troll was moved to its permanent location where a layer of mortar was applied.
As of this writing, the final surface treatment of the troll is undecided. Nikki de Saint Phalle, another famous sculptor, inspired Ms. Walters to suggest covering the entire skin with handmade ceramic tiles. But Saint Phalle sometimes also covered her sculptures in wildly colorful painted designs.
The last steps will include naming the troll and allowing the sixth graders to decide upon what personal touches to add (perhaps tightly rolling up a copy of their graduation speeches and sealing them inside?).
It’s an exciting idea to leave a positive mark on a place as you leave. Needless to say, these sixth graders will leave many such marks, mostly in the memories and hearts of those who have worked and played with them over the years, and in the cultural memory of the school. But the troll will be something tangible and unmistakable that they’ll proudly visit in years to come.
This week, Gillispie alumni who are now graduating from high school return for a reunion. They will tour the campus, visit with former teachers, reconnect with old classmates, and notice the changes as well as those elements that remain unchanged from what they hold in their indelible memories. Six years from now, these sixth graders will return as high school seniors. We have no doubt that they’ll congregate around their troll, under that big ficus tree, and share a good story or two.
FAMILIES BRING THE WORLD TO OUR CLASSROOMS
Every day, young hearts and minds cross our school gates, and we have the immense joy, privilege, and responsibility to guide their educational journeys. However, this journey would be incomplete without the vibrant and invaluable participation of our families.
Each week, parents, family members, and special friends come into our classrooms to share their traditions, recipes, crafts, favorite books, professions, and volunteer time.
Our early childhood classes offer many opportunities for parents to participate One of our favorites is Cooking Fairies, where family members prepare a treasured recipe and share traditions with the class. This introduces our students to diverse cultures and cuisines, fostering an appreciation for the world beyond our campus at an early age.
We see joy in the eyes of our students when family members read one or two of their cherished books to their classmates. This sparks imagination, stimulates discussions, and nurtures a love for reading.
Learning about professions from family visitors expands our students' understanding of what grownups do, broadening their horizons and curiosity about the wide range of possibilities for their futures.
In addition to in-class participation, family members volunteer on an ongoing basis by serving hot lunches, chaperoning field trips, helping in the library or art class, organizing classroom activities, and supporting community efforts that extend beyond our campus. Room parents act as liaisons between families and the classroom teachers, promoting communication and inclusion. Others contribute their time to our fundraising events and serve on the Board of Trustees and its committees.
We are incredibly thankful for the time our families invest in sharing with our students. Their contributions are integral to creating a rich, multidimensional learning environment. When families share their unique experiences, knowledge, and assistance, they bring the world into our classrooms.
GILLISPIE STUDENT WINS NATIONAL POETRY CONTEST
We are thrilled to announce that Alex, a dedicated and passionate fourth grader from our school, has been selected as one of the winners in the prestigious Society of Inklings Book Contest. This contest, open to young writers in grades 3-12, recognizes up to 20 outstanding short stories and poems each year, offering young authors the opportunity to have their work professionally published in the Inklings Book Anthology. This year, Alex’s poem stood out among 350 submissions, earning him a spot as one of 18 students nationwide to be recognized.
Alex shared his excitement and the journey that led to this remarkable achievement. "I was in Colombia during spring break when my mom told me, 'You won!' I wasn't sure what she was referring to at first and then I was shocked; I couldn’t believe I was going to be a published author," Alex recalled. His winning piece, an "I Am" poem, is about personal identity, culture, family, and places that feel like home.
“I decided to use the 'I Am' poem because I thought it had a good shot," Alex said. The poem was initially part of a poetry assignment in class, and while some lines were challenging to write, the editing process proved to be key.
When asked for advice for other aspiring poets, he emphasized the importance of pouring one's heart into poetry, describing it as "putting your heart on paper." Alex explained, "Disconnect your mind and focus on what your heart says If secrets come out, remember that you don’t have to show your poem. You can decide to keep it just for you."
Looking ahead, Alex plans to continue writing poems. "My love for poetry started with Ms. Cohn. She taught us poetry by showing us how much she loves poetry. I’m going to keep writing poems for fun. I will also keep entering contests but I’m not going to worry about winning or not."
We are incredibly proud of Alex and his accomplishment. With his permission, we are sharing his poem with you. Congratulations, Alex, on this well-deserved recognition!
I AM FROM By
Alex
I am from the warmth radiating off my favorite giraffe,
from the sounds of the zoo, and the forests of Germany and Colombia always begging me to come back
I am from my parents difficult family tree, whose vines are tangled through many generations,
and from my mom saying “remember that!”
I am from the crabs that scuttle through the dark nooks and crannies of the tide pools,
whose anemones have comforted me through hard times
I am from the ball spinning over the net,
Then bouncing off the hard concrete of my personality
I am from Don’t Stop Me Now,
whose soothing melody washes away my worries
I am from Rachel and Kathy,
and from a sizzling lasagna, and the hot chicken noodle soup whose smoke writes my name
I am from those moments when my mom snuggles me in my bed,
And the darkness of my room that cradles me in its arms
Until the next day...
WE ARE GILLISPIE!
At Gillispie, we believe in fostering a strong, inclusive community that extends beyond our gates. Each of us is a proud member of the Gillispie school community, from current students, families, faculty, and staff to our extended family of alumni.
This week, we are thrilled to host 20 high school graduates who began their learning journeys at Gillispie. It’s a reminder of the connections made here. Next week, we will celebrate the graduation of our Grade 6 students, an important milestone in their educational journies. We are a tight-knit community, and no matter where our students and families venture, we know the Gillispie experience will be their foundation for many more years of learning and growth.
Stay in Touch
We have created an Alumni Instagram account to keep our Gillispie families and graduates informed about the many happenings on campus. We also welcome the opportunity to share our former students’ accomplishments and celebrate their successes.
Please tag us @gillispieschool alumni so we can include you.
By staying connected, we continue to support one another and build on the wonderful community spirit that defines Gillispie. We look forward to seeing what our graduates do next and celebrating their achievements for years to come.
