Faculty Notes
TEACHERS CONTINUE TO CREATE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
— Grade 5/6 Science Teacher JOY ARAGONES is in the midst of three fellowships with the University of Wisconsin Field Day Labs. Along with data scientists, researchers, and a cohort of other educators, Joy is creating three new online games to teach science concepts. Aqualab allows students to use experimentation, modeling, and evidence-based argumentation to keep a marine research station running; Lakeland teaches how farming practices and the use of phosphorus can be harmful to our waterways; and a third game about maritime archaeology and Great Lakes shipwrecks is still in development. Joy’s current TPS students even get to join in the fun! They have already tested the dashboard for Lakeland and will do a similar test run with Aqualab later this spring. [A]
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In November, Video Production Teacher JOEY BINA won an Emmy for his documentary entitled, “Dairyland.” The ShortForm category-winning piece chronicled the loss of dairy farms in Wisconsin. Bina, who was a graduate student at Loyola University of Chicago when he produced the film, was also nominated for a second mini-documentary, “Perennial Pilot.” His award is called a Crystal Pillar, the student version of the Emmys, which is presented by the regional chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; entries from regional universities are judged by TV professionals.
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Across The Endless Ocean, the latest novel by Upper School Humanities Teacher SCOTT HUGGINS , will be published by New Mythologies Press in May 2021. The story, intended to be the first in a series, is a fantasy novel that follows Responsibility, the only “halfdragon” she knows of, living on the giant Century Ship she calls home. Parts of Huggins’ upcoming book have already been published as short stories. B
Births •
4 | prairieschool.com
VALERIE (Grade 1 Teacher) and Andrew Sprunger announce the birth of Nora Sloane Sprunger on 2/1/21. [B]
