VO LU M E X X I V, N U M B E R 3 | N OVE M B ER 2018 A monthly publication of The Post Oak School F U N DAY P H O T O S • M S & E L T R I P S • G R A N D PA R E N T S ’ D A Y S N O T E S
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POPA
COFFEE | WOR K Day
Grand p w e l c o a re nt s me!
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Wed., Nov. 7, 8:45–noon PHOTO BY KABOOMPICS .C OM FROM PEXELS
PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, & FRIENDS ARE ALL INVITED! Hosted by our POPA Chairs, this is a great way to meet other Post Oak parents and friends while helping our teachers accomplish a variety of easyto-do projects for their classroom. These gatherings generally fall on the first Wednesday of each month at the Bissonnet Campus. Please join as often as you can!
Alumni Voices Thurs., Jan. 10, 6:30 p.m. AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
We are so excited to welcome back alumni to share their experiences and how Post Oak prepared them for higher learning and for life! Parents, save the date to hear first-hand what a difference a Post Oak education makes.
2018–2019 Post Oak Board of Trustees Sebha Ali Erin Busby Raj Chelapurath Rick Evans Blair Garrou Vean Gregg, treasurer Gregory Han, secretary Maura Joyce, president Mark Martin Bert Mellinger Jaana Porra Jennifer Rochlis Manolo Sanchez, chair Rona Sonabend Rochelle Tafolla Whitney Walsh Alison Wong
Trustees Emeriti
On the Cover Middle School students and faculty spent the first week of October in Washington, DC, for their law and government humanities studies. Read their report on page 9.
Melissa Coleman Adam Forman Melanie Gray Bob Harvey Lloyd Kirchner Pat Mitchell Alan Ying
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates, photos, and more: www.facebook.com/ postoakschool and postoakhighschool
Instagram.com/ postoakschool/ and postoakhighschool/
twitter.com/postoakschool and twitter.com/postoakhs
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Pushing Out the Walls of the Classroom
W
alking around Post Oak this week I was reminded of how we intentionally have a lot of windows. These big windows are there to bring the outside into the classroom environment. We have more windows than walls as Dr. Maria Montessori intended. Montessori dedicated her life to designing classrooms that would meet the needs of the children who worked within them. She was particular about details, fastidious about its arrangement, exact about materials, and ensured that it was complete in its design. No matter how famous her classrooms became, she was wise enough to know that she needed to keep the “walls” of the classroom “open.” Montessori created a place for children to have many, many experiences, but she knew that all the work inside the classroom was simply a preparation for a bigger classroom. Montessori’s main purpose of education was to prepare the children for the time and culture in which they live. She recognized that the classroom was not limited to the four walls and materials inside it. Children
need experiences beyond that; they need to get out. At Post Oak, our youngest students in Young Children’s Community and Primary use the outside environment as an extension of their work. Toddler-aged children on the playground digging in the sand, walking on the brick path, swinging in the swing, are continuing the very important work of coordination of their movements. In the Primary classroom, students work both indoors and outside in the garden, which is designed to meet their physical and intellectual needs. Pulling weeds in the raised bed, picking greens for a salad, observing a caterpillar, sweeping the leaves, or just sitting and listening to the sounds of the birds are part of their experiential learning environment. This often leads to more work inside, as children will choose to draw and write about their experiences outside.
by Maura Joyce, Head of School
As their independence grows, Elementary students venture even further, enjoying a different type of field trip—something called “going out.” A “going out” is organized by the students and is related to their work and interests. When I first began teaching, I was not quite sure of the “going out” concept myself, but quickly learned what it was all about at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, where I was teaching.
Six of my students had decided to study the history of transportation and organized a “going out” to the Transportation Hall at the museum. My students called to find the hours, looked up which metro route we would take, got permission from their parents and brought money for the train. We got on the train with notebooks in hand and an agenda— Casey would be looking at boats, Matt had trains, Max took horse-drawn vehicles, and Sam would handle anything that flew. Once in Elementary, the older child begins We came up from the metro to see the to move outside of the school. Field trips large museum building, surrounded by are organized by the teachers in Lower many large yellow buses. We were not the and Upper Elementary offering a variety only students visiting on that day. Later of experiences: performances, museums, on, as my students sat quietly on the floor, botanic gardens. These are full of all sorts sketching canoes, writing about steam of lessons beyond the focus of the learning engines, and estimating the wingspan of objective—traveling in a bus or car with a gliders, a large group of 30 loud, talkative different adult, sitting quietly, applauding elementary students walked through the appropriately, waiting in a line, interaction hall at lightning speed, pointing to a few with other people in a public setting, are things and following the teacher’s cry of important things to practice. Elementary “Move along everyone, move along.” These teachers also schedule these all-class field two groups of students had two different trips to give the students an idea of places experiences. My students used the where they can further their studies. museum as an extension of the classroom. continued on page 14
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Up, Up, & Away! Who loves Family Fun Day!? We do! Many thanks to those who contributed to the making and the raffle ticket buying of Mystery Boxes. A huge round of applause to event chairs Sara Loperena and Jackie Stewart for their hard work putting together this celebration, as well as the many superhero volunteers who are always at the ready! Visit the parent section of our website for the photo gallery, including photo booth pics. •
Family Fun Day Chairs Sara Loperena and Jackie Stewart
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THE POST
THE POST OAK SCHOOL
’s pany com ft can r u o Y gi hing matc ke you a le a m Circ rship r! e d a Le be mem
ANNUAL FUND 2019
ANNUAL FUND CHAIRS: STACEY & MARK MARTIN
CONTRIBUTIONS
FAMILIES
PARTICIPATION
OF $340,000
OF 292
GOAL: 100%
TOTALS TO DATE
$274,000
183
63%
UPDATES
CASH, CREDIT CARD, CHECK, WIRE TRANSFER, OR STOCK A gift of appreciated securities that you have held for more than one year is frequently the most economical way to give. You will be eligible to take a federal income tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the stock on the date of the gift for up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income and will not have to recognize the appreciation as capital gain. Contact christinacantu@postoakschool.org for more information.
Congratulations to Emily Hansen’s class for reaching 100%!
TRUSTEES & EMPLOYEES
12TH GRADE
11TH GRADE
10TH GRADE
9TH GRADE
8TH GRADE
7TH GRADE
TOWNSEND
TAJ MAHMOOD
SOOD
SMITH, R
SMITH, K
REBUFFINI
PINTO, M
PINTO, E
OLITZKI
NICKERSON
KLUK
HANSEN
GUERRERO
DURAN
BLESSMAN
BAGBY
77% 64% 83% 40% 100% 50% 62% 89% 53% 94% 72% 81% 38% 77% 83% 77% 85% 47% 88% 73% 59% 61% 100%
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Post Oak Board Brief FROM OUR BOAR D OF TRUSTEES by Adam Forman, Emeritus Trustee IN SUPPORT OF OUR POST OAK SCHOOL Imagine an educational institution where 16-month-olds potty train themselves; where two-year-olds prepare their own snacks and set their own tables as they learn grace and courtesy; where three-year-olds work independently for hours on end with pink towers and number bead chains developing their intellectual stamina and concentration; where five-year-olds use their phonetically learned alphabet to read chapter books, and their stencils, sandpaper letters, and moveable alphabets to learn to write; where eight-year-olds relish the challenge of a massive long division problem; where seventh and eighth graders discuss novels with a teacher in an open forum; and where high schoolers study the theory of knowledge and supplement their perspective, expanding classroom experiences with practical, real-world internship experiences. Yes, imagine an educational institution that, from the moment a 14-month-old waddles into its doors to the moment he or she walks across the high school senior graduation stage, develops individuals who are interested in their work and learning, who are independent in thought yet work collaboratively with others, who are self-reliant and possess grit, who view their lives out of their own eyes; who have a good sense of themselves and others, and who understand the meaning of grace and courtesy—that educational institution is The Post Oak School. Time and again, I reflect on the qualities that I have sought to consciously develop throughout adulthood, and the qualities I admire in others. Encouragingly, those qualities are largely identical to the above-listed qualities that are being developed in our Post Oak children from the age of 14 months. That is absolutely and truly amazing when one thinks about it. How is it that an educational institution can begin to imbue in 14-montholds the semblances of the qualities we work on and admire as adults? Think of how beneficial it is for any child to attend Post Oak at any time in his or her life. That child will have been exposed to an educational environment that facilitates the development of
qualities that will stand the child in good stead for the rest of his or her life. So, I ask myself what kind of price tag I would put on an educational institution that, every step of the way, develops human beings who are interested, independent, have a good sense of themselves, and possess a sense of grace and courtesy. For starters, we all recognize that the entry price is tuition. But, at the end of the day, that basket of qualities is something I, and I believe most others, would consider priceless. It is with that perspective that I, and I hope the rest of our Post Oak community, approach the Post Oak Fund, our Biennial Gala, and any capital campaign we may undertake in the future. I hope that Post Oak’s limited fundraising is not looked at in the light of being another charitable donation to an organization with which you and your families have a limited vested interest. Remember, even if a child spends limited time at Post Oak, that child has had the opportunity, in some form or fashion, to develop that priceless basket of qualities. There are, of course, the realities of each of our respective individual circumstances that, even when supporting the development of priceless qualities in our children, put a limit on what is prudent for us to give. However, with the foregoing in mind, if you have not given to the Post Oak Fund this year or if you have given to the Post Oak Fund this year, but would like to increase your gift, please do so. We set a goal of 100% participation and $340,000 for this year’s annual campaign, a bump from last year’s goal of $330,000. We are approximately $66,000 short of that goal at this time. As you may or may not appreciate, the funds raised from the Post Oak Fund and the Gala do not go toward day-to-day operating expenses, but rather to items such as: continuing teacher education, financial aid, updated classroom materials, and a host of other facility improvements and classroom enhancements that continue to allow Post Oak to be the exceptional place we know and love for our children. The Board of Trustees and Post Oak’s administration continue to be good stewards of tuition dollars, generally using, unlike many other local private educational institutions, only tuition dollars for its day-to-day operating expenses. With these thoughts, I, and the rest of the Board of Trustees, request your meaningful support of The Post Oak School. •
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Vaulting to the Top We recently received news that Lower Elementary student Haley qualified as one of the top 100 8-year-old gymnasts in the U.S. Her mother, Erin, shared with us: During the summer, over 1,000 gymnasts participated in USA Gymnastics TOPs State Testing. TOPs (Talent Opportunity Program) is a talent search and educational program for female gymnasts ages 7 to 10 and is considered the first step in the elite track for young American gymnasts. Haley completed state tests in both Nevada and Texas, and was one of two Houston-area gymnasts (and one of nine in Texas) selected to attend National TOPs Testing in Indianapolis, Indiana, as 8-yearolds. She is the first in her gym’s history to be selected for this honor. At National TOPs Testing, Haley showcased her physical abilities and skills on floor, bars, beam and vault in a two-day test before USAG’s National Team Coaches. Along with being a nationally-ranked TOPs athlete, Haley competes in USAG’s Junior Olympic Program with Discover Gymnastics and is preparing to begin her Level 6 season in January. A competitive gymnast since the age of 5, Haley is a reigning Texas State Bars Champion and holds multiple vault titles in Florida and Texas competitions. Haley is in the second grade in Simran Sood’s class and has been at Post Oak since 2013. Congratulations, Haley, on your hard work! •
POPA Family Community Service by John Duboise, Community Service Chair The Houston Food Bank is a solution to both hunger and food waste. America’s largest and nationally recognized as Feeding America’s Food Bank of the Year in 2015, the Food Bank distributes 122 million nutritious meals through its network of 1,500 community partners in southeast Texas, feeding 800,000 individuals each year. On November 17, we will be working in the Food Bank warehouse, where most of the projects involve inspection, sorting, and repackaging of donated food items for community distribution. Sign up via the link in Post Highlights or our website. • DATES
November 17, 8 a.m.–noon Houston Food Bank December TBD January 21 Community Service activity ! in Post Oak gym ome c o et Mor
Above is last month’s family community service day at Undies for Everyone. Thank you, volunteers!
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Middle School Humanities Trip to DC By: Ava
, Isabel , Kennedy
, Lily
Every year, the Middle School gets the chance to take an annual trip to Washington, D.C., to experience the city and all it has to offer. This year, we traveled during the first week of October to learn more about law and government, our current humanities theme. The trip lasted five days, and we traveled
ease. Some of the museums we went to were the Native American Museum, the American History Museum, and the National Archives. In the Native American Museum, there was a very interesting exhibit about the Cherokee tribe and another about the Trail of Tears. The National Archives was very fascinating with documents, including After a day of travel, we were offered the the original Magna Carta, Declaration experience to watch a Supreme Court of Independence, and the Constitution. case in person. About half of the students There were even recordings of Abraham took this opportunity, choosing to wake Lincoln reading poems. In the evenings, up early and stand in line for possibly the groups made their way to the hours to get the chance to witness the case. Vietnam War Memorial. It was inspiring Although the group was not able to make and humbling to see all the people that it inside to watch the entire case, the entire sacrificed their lives for our freedom. class got the opportunity to go through The students started the day on the Supreme Court in the quick line, and Wednesday by taking a guided tour inside watch a few minutes of the proceedings. Nevertheless, this was a great opportunity, the Capitol building. There we saw an abundance of historical sculptures and and we got to see law and government paintings, including the fresco in the unfold right in front of us. rotunda of the building. After this, we got At times, the class split into advisory the opportunity to tour the FBI building groups so we could travel with more as apart of the FBI experience tour. We learned about the many different career paths offered at the FBI and even got to see lots of the equipment they use in the museum portion of the visit. This sparked many of the student’s interest in the subject area as it gave us an inside look into what actually goes on at the FBI, not just the crazy stuff you see on T.V.! On Thursday, the groups went to the National Gallery, and the National Portrait Gallery, and the National Building Museum, which included many fascinating exhibits about architecture, throughout the city, by foot and metro, in advisory groups, and as a whole class, to visit museums, monuments, and other sites. Some examples of these include the National Archives, the White House, the FBI, the Supreme County, the Native American Museum, as well as many other destinations.
continued on page 14
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SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2019 | THE REVAIRE CHAIRED BY JESSICA GREGG & JORDAN SEFF
HOW DOES GALA HELP POST OAK? Gala supports the Post Oak operating budget. These unrestricted funds help all levels of the school in a variety of ways including additional support for financial aid, professional development, unforeseen expenses, and it allows us to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. ◆
RESERVE YOUR ROOM Continue your Post Oak Gala experience with a night at The Houstonian Hotel with complimentary shuttle service to and from The Revaire! Post Oak has secured a special room rate of $189 (plus applicable taxes). A room block has been reserved, so make your arrangements early to guarantee the price and availability! Make sure to mention The Post Oak School when making your reservation. Call The Houstonian: 713-685-6810 ◆
UNDERWRITING Secure your table early on! Any table level can be split between several couples. Underwriters received by the end of November will be included in the invitation. Table Levels (tables of 10): $25,000—Bond 25 $15,000—Casino Royale $10,000—Diamonds are Forever $5,000—Goldfinger Individual Underwriting (2 tickets) $1,000—Never Say Never Again $500—The Spy Who Loved Me Stop by the Development Office for forms or download them online. Individual tickets go on sale in January. ◆
COMPANY ADVERTISING Advertise your company at the gala! It’s a great way to reach Post Oak parents! Email christinacantu@ postoakschool.org for the form. ◆
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AUCTION ACTION!
ART INFUSED CULINARY EXPERIENCE. A dining experience like no other, curated by Houston artist Angela Fabbri and celebrity chef, Monica Pope, The Color of Taste will include a five-course dinner with cocktail pairings in Angela’s private studio. PARKING EASE! One lucky Post Oak High School student will be the recipient of a reserved parking spot for one year (2019– 2020) at the Museum District Campus. PERSONALIZED READING LIST FOR YOUR CHILD. Post Oak Librarian Cory Eckert will curate a list of 25 books to keep your child reading all summer long. Includes a meeting to discuss your child’s interest, reading goals, and what’s already been read. And be on the lookout for an extraordinary NEW YORK CITY FASHION WEEK experience for you and three BFFs! There is a wide array of auction items coming in—thank you Post Oak parents! We are still looking for the following items: SOCIABLES. Are you a foodie? Do you love to entertain? Would you (and a friend) like to host a party in your home? Tickets to your sociable are sold at the auction. These are always best sellers! TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES. Do you or your family own a vacation home, have connections to an exotic locale, or want to donate airline miles? We’d love to include your offering at the gala. TALENTS & SKILLS. Do you play an instrument? Are you a gourmet baker? Share your passion with us and offer a special “day in the life of ” or a career day opportunity! SHOPPING. Ask your favorite shops and service providers if they would donate gift cards. Not comfortable asking? Let us know and we’ll help with that. Contact auction chairs: Teresa Lin, Carlin Putman, , or Suzan Samuels, !
,
’ CL S D
UB
A FOUR DAY GETAWAY AT THE SAN LUIS RESORT! Want to escape to the most luxurious location on the Texas beaches? Surround yourself in modern luxury at the San Luis Resort, Spa and Conference Center. Great for singles and families alike.
DA
Here’s a sneak peek at a few of the recently received, tempting Gala Auction items!
POKER Night Plus!
Sunday, Nov. 18 6–9 p.m.
Savarese Fight Fit West U 4215 Bellaire Blvd (Boxing Gym owned by Post Oak Parents, Jordan and Dylan Seff)
We will have dinner, cold beverages, and a variety of entertainment—specifically,
Poker and Sunday Night Football!
In addition, Randy Hyun, Post Oak Dad and former member of the MIT blackjack card-counting team popularized in books and the movie “21”, will be on hand to talk about his experience and teach some of the basics.
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UE Trip to Nature’s Classroom Institute (NCI) NCI Memories by Raka My field group was really awesome. The people in my field group were: Maddie, Aashna, Elijah, Raya, Shai, Ashelyn, John and Anthony. Our field group leader was Christina. I really enjoyed her as our field group leader. When we first got into our group, we got to choose the direction we were going to go. We saw a tree with a spider wrapped around it (it was interesting). Then we saw a tree which really twisted (literally). After this we headed back. The next activity we did was lots of team building exercises. My team did really well together because we had people who could listen to each other. Our team was one of the first two teams to finish. Some of the team building exercises we liked was ‘The Human Knot’. It was hard but fun. My field group also played a game called ‘Natural Disasters’. So, when my counselor would throw a tennis ball and she said “Meteor” then we would need to catch it but if she said “Meteorite” then we would not catch it. There were more things which our counselor would say. If we may be dropped the ball, we would lose a life. We started off with 10 lives and if we lost all of them we would have to do something embarrassing in front of the rest of Upper El. My group lost and we had to do the chicken dance! I love NCI! My Anecdotes by Alexandre It was pouring rain and there was lots of mud on the ground when I heard a mooing sound. It did not seem far away from where I was and
I knew that the sound was getting closer and closer. In no time, my eyes were fixed. 4 Texas Longhorns were behind a wired fence! My group immediately headed forward toward another group. One of the camp counsellors showed us how to hold the food over their mouth so their long tongue wouldn’t lick our hand. The three adult Longhorns were so big that I refused to give them food! That was the sightseeing of the day and a moment that will never go away! It started. There was a group of students that were pretending to be British soldiers. They were going around to collect taxes from the townspeople. I was part of the rebellion. We had to trade cards with different objects representing them. The rebellion wanted guns, sugar, and tea. I felt that I was actually an American that was trying to get the British from taking over. During the activity, I learned a lot about events before the American Revolution. NCI by Haashir NCI was a phenomenal experience. When we got there I was so excited to get started with the activities that we were going to be doing in NCI. When we had lunch I looked at the food and my mouth started drooling and my stomach started to grumble! One of the nights at NCI we had a science fair. In the science fair the camp counselors showed us an experiment and we tested it out. For one of the experiments I got to light a match. In another
one of the experiments we got a empty coke bottle put some vinegar and baking soda in it then put a cork on it and it shot up into the air. This experience changed my life. I learned about cooperation in field groups. NCI Memories By Alexandra One of the most fun things that we did was team challenges. We did those on the first night. Basically, what we did was get together with continued on page 13
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Grandparents’ & Friends’ Days Info Chaired by Allison Hamilton & Valerie Volpi
If you would like your child’s grandparents or other relatives/ friends to attend this year’s Grandparents’ & Friends’ Days, please visit www.postoakschool.org (left menu option) and make sure they RSVP either online or by mail. Invitations were mailed at the end of October, and additional printed invitations are available at the front office of both campuses. If you have relatives or friends attending the event on either Monday (Bissonnet Campus only) or Tuesday (both campuses), here are a few of things to note: ◆◆ We are limited with space and ask that parents not attend. We promise to take good care of your guests! ◆◆ On both campuses, the event starts at 9:00 a.m. and concludes around 11:00 a.m. Breakfast will be provided.
UE Trip to Nature’s Classroom Institute (NCI) continued from page 12
our field group and go to one of the counselors. Each counselor had a challenge or a puzzle that we had to solve as a team. For example, one of the challenges was to name 10 palindromes.
sG nd r
Frie nd
Please be sure your family members RSVP!
dp an ar RULE!
ents a
Mon., Nov. 19 Bissonnet Campus only (YCC–Elementary) Tues., Nov. 20 Bissonnet Campus (YCC–Elementary) & Museum District Campus (Middle & High School) Complimentary valet parking is provided at both campuses.
◆◆ There will be parking and valet on both campuses. All employees will be parking elsewhere, so it might look like there is no parking because of cars on the street. ◆◆ For guests coming to see YCC and Primary students, they will view the students from the observation window. We do this to give grandparents and friends a true example of a Montessori classroom in action. Guests of older students are invited into the classroom to work with those students. ◆◆ If grandparents or friends plan on taking the student home, we must have written permission from the parent, as is the normal policy. ◆◆ Even if an RSVP has not been sent in, we welcome all visitors. Thank you.
Palindromes are words that can be spelled beginning from either side of the word. My favorite challenge was Unscrambling Capitals. The most fun activity that I did was an activity called “River Monsters”. I did it with Allie and Moriah. We went down to the creek and got into groups of 2 and 3. Then we got a paper that told us the kinds of animals that we needed to find. After that our counselor passed out nets and we tried to capture the animals. I found a riffle beetle and then I accidently stepped into the water and got my shoes all wet. So, I created a cause called the Alexandra Cause and to support it you have to get your shoes all wet (just to keep me company)! Anecdotes by Alexander Tuesday, River Monster’s class My socks were soaked. My pants dripped with mud, moss, water, and crawling worms. I felt the worms slowly leech up to my knees. The wet
—Christina Cantu, Development Director
wooden net wobbled in my hands as I crouched down on a log in the middle of the creek. The blazing sun beat down on my back. Unfortunately, I was wearing a jacket. I wondered when I would catch a fish. The seconds seemed to turn into minutes. I watched my watch as the seconds ticked by. On the opposite side of the creek, I heard other kids shouting with joy at something they had caught. Suddenly, my net dragged, as if something was in it. My mind jerked. I quickly threw up my net. Throwing aside the mud, I saw a cluster of black little shells. I sighed, disappointed. I threw my net back down, waiting for the moment to come. Thursday, Somewhere in the fields MURRR. The voice of the longhorns echoed throughout the fields. Some of the kids in our field group watched them in awe, whereas Gael and I pointed excitedly at them, while imitating their sounds. Jordan, our counselor, shook the food bucket as if to say, come and get it! Then, continued on page 14
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Pushing Out the Walls of the Classroom continued from page 3
At Middle School, the work of the adolescent takes them even further afield. The Blackwood Land Institute provides students with a two-and-a-halfday intensive course, learning about sustainable farm practices, locavore cooking, animal husbandry, and the science involved in keeping this land lab functioning. A week in Washington, DC, gives them the opportunity to learn about law and government, and students choose activities from a menu of topical experiences. Each of those events, for example, a visit to the Supreme
THE POST
Court, directly relates to their work in the classroom, e.g., they are getting ready for a mock trial that will take place at an appellate court here in Houston. Read about the DC trip in their own words starting on page 9. Lastly, at High School, we see that final preparation for the world outside of school through our internship program. Fifty-eight percent of our High School students currently have an active internship. This time spent outside of class provides the student with the practice of holding a job, interacting with adults who are specialists in their field, and trying
out an area of interest to see if it will serve them in the future. Most importantly the students get to practice soft skills, like self-awareness and problem solving, which are much more effectively experienced during an internship than a class lecture. We could teach math all day long, but until students see math used out there in the world, they won’t appreciate the fundamentals of their coursework and the use of it across so many disciplines. This is how Post Oak extends learning beyond the walls of the classroom. This is how we prepare our students for their world. •
Middle School Humanities Trip to DC continued from page 9
building, and engineering. We then went to the Department of Justice (DOJ), where we were lucky enough for Ms. Eckert, our librarian, to have planned for us to get us a guided tour of their library. This was a great opportunity that most people do not get to experience. The DOJ building contained many elaborate mosaics and paintings on the walls. We were even allowed to take home records of congressional meetings that they did not have space for! UE Trip to Nature’s Classroom Institute (NCI) continued from page 13
I remembered we were going to feed them. I watched the longhorns as they lazily forged their way towards us, gnashing their teeth fiercely, occasionally whipping their sharp horns like knives to the side to scrape fleas off their back. Suddenly, the wind felt a bit colder. Terror overcame me. “I think I’ll take the longest one,” I mumbled to myself. •
It is easy to say that all of the Middle School students would agree that the trip was a success. In Humanities, we were focusing on law and government, and this trip really gave the students a complete view of this unit. We got to learn so much about our Nation’s government, as well as tour several art museums. The students got to explore the District of Columbia while having fun diving deeper into the history of the government of the United States. •
Happy Thanksgiving! school closed Wed., Nov. 21 to Fri., Nov. 23
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Día de los Muertos For Día de los Muertos, Upper Elementary students helped the Post Oak community honor loved ones who have passed. The students and Spanish Department faculty carried out the tradition of setting up an ofrenda (altar) and preparing special presentations about the yearly holiday and its traditions. Gracias, alumnos! (Thank you, students!) •
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POST OAK PARENT EDUCATION EVENT S
MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL PARENT ED
Pathways to Independence
MS
HS
Stress & Anxiety
Coffee with the ELEMENTARY DIRECTOR
EL
Wed., Nov. 14 at 9 a.m.
The Two Elephants in the Room
in the Bissonnet Parenting Center
Wednesday, Nov. 7
6:45 p.m. Refreshments 7:00 p.m. Event start, High School facilitated by MDC Counselor J’anvieu Pilisi, CSC, LPC-I, NCC We will explore these two challenges that students may face and ways in which we can proactively serve as avenues of support and encouragement. Hope to see you there! Join the Middle and High School counselor and directors for this series of ongoing conversations.
ADMISSION OPEN HOUSES Share with a friend! 14 MONTHS–GRADE 6
Parent-Child Nights Elementary
Topic: Watch the weekly Post Highlights email!
EL
Thurs., November 8, 7 p.m. Bissonnet Campus (4600 Bissonnet St.)
Thurs., Nov. 15, 6:30–7:30 p.m. On this evening, children bring their parents to school and demonstrate the work they do during the day. Childcare is available for $5 per child; call or email the Bissonnet Campus front office to make a reservation (frontoffice@ postoakschool.org).
Primary
HIGH SCHOOL Tues., November 6, 7 p.m. Thurs., December 6, 7 p.m. Museum District Campus (1010 Autrey)
PRI
Thurs., Nov. 29 Group 1: 5–6 p.m., Group 2: 6:15–7:15 p.m. Children bring their parents to school to show them the work they do. Since the classrooms can get crowded, there are two groups; details to follow from the teachers. Childcare is available for Elementary siblings (not for Primary-aged children) for $5 per child. Please call or email the front office to make a reservation.
Redirecting for Nannys/ Caregivers Class Four Tuesday mornings, 9:15–10:45 a.m. Nov. 13, (skip 20), 27, Dec. 4, 11 $150 per person, $275 for two Register at www.deborah-fry.com/
ALL
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New Course in 2019 The Houston Montessori Institute is pleased to announce an AMI Primary Teacher Training Course beginning July 2019 at The Post Oak School. If you are interested, please send an email to info@hmiusa.org.
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Post Oak’s High School presents
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead a play by Tom Stoppard
November 16 and 17
Doors open 6:30 | Seating begins 7:00 Show runs from 7:30–9:15 p.m.
Classical Theatre Company 4617 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006 Tickets will be sold to High School students during lunch and via email. Contact the front office for more details. Tickets cost: $5 students, $10 adults
DATE CHANGE!
TIME TO S-P-E-L-L
Upper Elementary Spelling Bee The bee has moved to Friday, December 14. Parents are invited! Join us at 9:30 a.m. in the Post Oak Gym.
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THE POST
SCENES from The Post Oak School
N OV E M B E R 2018
FO L LOW U S O N FAC E B O O K & I N S TAG R A M FO R E V E N M O R E PH OTO S
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THE POST
N OT I C E B OA R D Nanny Wanted We are looking for a nanny parttime for our three children after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Work includes school pick up, driving to activities, housework help, and after school care from 2:00 to 6:30 p.m. Please let me know of anyone who would be interested! Sushma Hebbar, Post Oak Parent (contact details can be found in My BackPack)
Please Help Keep Our Community Safe! ◆◆ Do not use your mobile phone while driving on campus. Please wait until you are safely parked. ◆◆ Watch for pedestrians and mind the speed limit. At the Bissonnet Campus, please do not block the crosswalk marked in yellow. Yield the right of way to pedestrians. ◆◆ Please put your car in park when students are entering or exiting the vehicle to prevent accidents.
Storytime with Cory for parents and their children in YCC & Half-Day Primary
Thurs., Nov. 8 at 2:30 p.m.
Join the Girl Scouts Girls in grades K to 12 may join!
Attend our community rally below for more information and to sign-up! Thurs., Nov. 8, 6–7:30 p.m. Westbury United Methodist Church, Parlor, 5200 Willowbend Blvd. Contact Linda Wu at linda.a.wu1@gmail.com.
Picture Retakes Nov. 28 at BC
YCC through Elementary
Dec. 5 at MDC
Middle & High School
To avoid the school’s email communications arriving in your junk mail folder, please add info@postoakschool.org to your safe sender list or address book/contacts.
A BOU T TH E POST The Post appears every first Monday of the month during the regular school year. You can receive a printed copy from your oldest child, or a PDF version online. Submit letters, articles, or photos in electronic form to Communications Coordinator Elaine Schweizer (elaineschweizer@postoakschool.org) by 5:00 p.m. on the Monday one week prior to publication. Please direct all requests for permission to reprint articles to the communications coordinator. The Post Oak School was founded in 1963 and accredited by both the International Baccalaureate® Programme (IBO) and the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) Bissonnet Campus: 4600 Bissonnet St., Bellaire, TX 77401 ■ Tel.: 713-661-6688 ■ Fax: 713-661-4959 Museum District Campus: 1010 Autrey St., Houston, TX 77006 ■ Tel.: 832-538-1988 ■ Fax: 832-538-1926 www.postoakschool.org | facebook.com/postoakschool