6 minute read
TEACHING IN THE OASIS
OASIS 4D Lab by Cindy Cullwell, EL and LS STEM Teacher
The Oasis 4D Lab is the new makerspace for Early Learning and Lower School. It is a place where students begin to establish a mindset of taking risks, embracing mistakes as a part of learning, and creative thinking. Students become problem solvers by taking part in a wide range of learning experiences that guide them through the process of discovering, designing, developing, and delivering.
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These learning experiences include robotics, coding, engineering challenges, upcycling projects, and tinkering. Students are learning to think like an engineer by going through the Engineering Process of asking, imagining, planning, creating, and improving when tackling a problem. I am beyond excited to take on the role as the new Oasis teacher.
As a former classroom teacher, I know how important it is to enhance the curriculum beyond the classroom. I strive to provide students with learning opportunities that not only develop a maker mindset, but support the classroom curriculum. When you pass by the glass walls of the Oasis you might see students collaborating to engineer a structure that can hold the weight of an object. You might see students working with partners to code a robot to find its way through a maze. Students might be upcycling material into something new and beautiful.
This new space has endless potential due to its flexible design and student friendly layout. It opens up a new realm of possibilities for our students to show their knowledge and explore their creative sides. Albert Einstein says it best, “Creativity is intelligence having fun!” That is exactly what the Oasis provides.
Second graders were learning about Pioneers and the Oregon Trail.
In the Oasis, students designed and developed their own covered wagons using mostly recycled items. Besides being made out of recycled items, the major difference between their wagons and true pioneer wagons was that their wagon had 3D printed wheels and was pulled by a Sphero Sprk+ robot instead of oxen. They then had to drive their wagon train along the Oregon Trail that went through the hallways of King Hall complete with landmarks such as Fort Laramie and the North Platte River.
Another example of projects in the Oasis are 1st grade’s Box-a-saurus dinosaurs, 3rd grade’s biome construction, 4th grade’s Sphero trickor-treaters, preschool built communities for community helpers, Pre-K constructed turkey hideouts to keep their turkey safe from the farmer, and Kindergarten got ready for their Native American Powwow by making necklaces using binary code.
On September 19, 2019, more than 400 guests stepped onto Mewbourne Field to experience one of the most unique and exciting events All Saints has ever hosted. As guests arrived, they walked into the stadium and entered tents filled with twinkle lights as they listened to an 11-piece band tuning up to rock the house. Grammy-award-winning country group Diamond Rio was ready to sing 75 minutes of non-stop hits. They delivered!
All Saints Founders’ Day is an annual dinner that honors donors, supporters and longtime faculty and friends who have made a profound impact on our school. This year, we were proud to honor longtime supporters Gigi and Bill Clements. As parents of three All Saints graduates,
It was the Clements’ vision and drive that helped the school close out the Honor Our Past, Imagine Our Future Capital Campaign. To recognize that accomplishment, it was decided that Founders’ Day would be a country music celebration!
As the 25th Flame of Excellence Award recipients, Gigi and Bill Clements embody the true meaning of generosity. Gigi has served on the Board of Trustees at All Saints for 7 years, and also served as the chair of the Development Committee for the duration of the Honor Our Past, Imagine Our Future capital campaign. Bill has been a member of the Development Committee, and an avid proponent of the improvement campaigns of All Saints through its execution. During their time at the school, they helped fund the Learning Enrichment Center, campus-wide technology, the Center for Innovation and the dedication of classrooms to close out the King Early Learning and Lower School.
Their 3 children Gill, Perry and Cate are excelling in their respective colleges and careers due to their All Saints education.
All Saints is lucky to have generous, involved parents like Bill and Gigi who care deeply about the success of our school. We are thankful for their support and generosity!
In partnership with the Texas Wounded Warriors foundation, students at All Saints Episcopal School honored the men and women who have fought for our freedom.
This long standing tradition for our school seems to get better each year. Wounded Warriors from all over Texas proudly filed into the All Saints Gym on Monday, September 30, 2019, to the tune of the school band and hundreds of cheering students chanting “USA, USA!”
Tears were shed in the audience as the elementary school students sang several service hymns in honor of their heroes. In Texas, more than 650 wounded warriors and their families have received assistance from the Texas Wounded Warriors Foundation, founded and run by Dick Goetz.
Guest of honor, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, spoke as well, thanking the men and women for their service and sacrifices.
Veteran and triple amputee Brian Anderson spoke to the student body and shared an encouraging message as he discussed hardships with his injuries. But despite all odds, Anderson has an incredibly positive outlook on life. Missing three limbs does not get in the way of how Brian Anderson lives his life. He even challenged the students to a push up contest!
Our school is honored to welcome these Veterans to our campus each year, and we know it teaches our students a valuable lesson of sacrifice and the cost of freedom.
