The big event of the month was the Halloween Drive Though, designed and created by our 8th Grade class as part of their MYP Technology Unit on the Design Cycle. Thanks to our students for all the drive through activities that they designed and built. They certainly learned that the creation of a fun event is actually work and has to be well planned and follow the design cycle. Thanks also to the GPS faculty and staff for their help in the many things that need to be done for an event like this. GPS Halloween Photo Booth and Costume Competition The winners of the competition are as follows Most Creative: No WIFI - Zoey W. (6th)
Scariest: Scary Gnome - Nikolas W.L. (3rd)
Best Homemade: Kevin from The Office - Juliet R. (6th)
Best Duo: Chicken and Waffles - Zoey A. (5th) and Fisher D. (5th)
WOW!!! Ice Princess - Kataleya G. (2nd)
Thank you to everyone that attended the Drive-thru. We were so happy to see you!
2020 Elections as a Learning Opportunity As we head into the next week, the entire country is focused on Tuesday’s elections. Major events such as this present wonderful learning opportunities for our students. Ms. Green’s 4th and 5th grade class read about the presidential election process in their Time for Kids magazine recently and learned, among other things, that the Electoral College determines the “winner” of the election rather than the majority vote. After discussing the two methods, most students felt that the majority vote should determine the winner. The class also discovered that mail-in voting has increased steadily over time. Due to COVID-19 this year, there will be more mail-in votes than ever, which will probably cause a delay in determining the presidential winner. In thinking about the issues, they shared some of their concerns and posed questions that they would have asked the Presidential candidate: Nandini thinks that if everyone wears masks, it will lower the risk of more people getting covid-19 and will help keep people safe until a cure comes out. So her question is, “Can you make masks mandatory? Eduardo is concerned for the welfare of his favorite animals, penguins. His question is, “Are you going to do something about global warming?” Patris explains that it’s hard to learn online and she misses everybody! Her question is, “Will schools be back open soon?” The students were also asked how they would improve our country if they were elected President one day, and here are some of their responses: Aidan SP says that he would “make it easier for the homeless to survive and have a happy life. For example, I would make it so people support the homeless, not discriminate against them.” Jill says, “Online school should be a choice. Some kids want to go to school and they should be able to. Other kids like me just want to do online school.” Nandini would like to make a law where “Every time someone buys their first car, it has to be electric. That would help the environment and the air.” Eduardo would “close smoke shops because many young people are getting into them, and they are not good.” The students also wanted to see changes to bedtimes, gaming hours extended, dessert before dinner, and no more homework! Professional Development Day – November 6 Professional development is a necessary and important part of any professional activity and this clearly applies to those in the field of education. On Friday, November 6th we gave our students a break while we engage in a number of workshops and professional planning activities. Most of the staff will take on-line workshops to update their first aid and CPR skills. Lower School teachers will attend a virtual workshop on effective use of our Language Arts and Literacy Program. Some of our staff will participate in the first of three workshops on school accreditation put on by our accrediting agency, WASC. This is the first step in a yearlong process that will result in a school self-study and a team visit to our campus in 2021. During the day all Lower School and Middle School staff will meet with our IB Coordinators to do required collaborative work on the PYP and MYP.
This Wednesday, the 8th Grade class was given the great opportunity to meet with very special guests; Ms. Shibel, John Mei, and Liam Young, "founder and coordinator of the Master’s degree program in Fiction and Entertainment at Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). Liam is the preeminent artist and speculative architect whose scholarship and work explore the future of architecture, design, and city using fiction, film and performance as tools to explore the implications and consequences of emerging technologies and ecological conditions."
During the discussion, Mr. Young spoke about how he became one of the world's leading minds for Hollywood films, environmentalists and those who are fascinated with the world of tomorrow. He also shared three projects with the 8th Grade class which he directed and designed recently: Seoul City Machine (2019), an imagined future city "where machines and technology are now the dominant inhabitants of space." Where the City Can't See (2017), the first narrative fiction film captured entirely with laser scanners. And Planet City, an international project taken up by environmental scientists and technologists whose question is: "Could we live in a single city for 10 billion people?" As you could probably guess, the 8th graders had many questions for Mr. Young, such as what his design process looks like and what some of his favorite films and video games are.The meeting spanned over the 40 minute Zoom time limit and into recess, but luckily the morning was blessed with a meeting extension. As everyone hesitantly said their goodbyes and logged off, the eighth grade students were left with a feeling of excitement of the possibilities of the future. We can't wait for another chance to speak with Mr. Young again, but until then, we will keep up with him on Tomorrow'sThoughtsToday.com
Celebrating GPS
Dia de los Muertos Day of the dead is a holiday celebrated on November 1st and 2nd in Mexico. Families create "ofrendas" (offerings) of photos, favorite foods, drinks, flowers, and candles to honor and remember those that have passed away. The "altar" is believed to welcome the spirit of the loved one back to the realm of the living. This cultural celebration is one filled with joy and remembrance. Festivals on these days include parades, costumes, papel piquado, sugar skulls, marigolds and dance. Students at GPS did various projects with Sra. Sandra in Spanish as a way of remembering this celebration.
Design Technology Corner
This Wednesday, the 8th Grade class was given the great opportunity to meet with very special guests; Ms. Shibel, John Mei, and Liam Young, "founder and coordinator of the Master’s degree program in Fiction and Entertainment at Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). Liam is the preeminent artist and speculative architect whose scholarship and work explore the future of architecture, design, and city using fiction, film and performance as tools to explore the implications and consequences of emerging technologies and ecological conditions."
During the discussion, Mr. Young spoke about how he became one of the world's leading minds for Hollywood films, environmentalists and those who are fascinated with the world of tomorrow. He also shared three projects with the 8th Grade class which he directed and designed recently: Seoul City Machine (2019), an imagined future city "where machines and technology are now the dominant inhabitants of space." Where the City Can't See (2017), the first narrative fiction film captured entirely with laser scanners. And Planet City, an international project taken up by environmental scientists and technologists whose question is: "Could we live in a single city for 10 billion people?" As you could probably guess, the 8th graders had many questions for Mr. Young, such as what his design process looks like and what some of his favorite films and video games are.The meeting spanned over the 40 minute Zoom time limit and into recess, but luckily the morning was blessed with a meeting extension. As everyone hesitantly said their goodbyes and logged off, the eighth grade students were left with a feeling of excitement of the possibilities of the future. We can't wait for another chance to speak with Mr. Young again, but until then, we will keep up with him on Tomorrow'sThoughtsToday.com.
Art Corner
Kindergarten and First Grade started a new unit calledWe Speak for the Earth. In Art, we drew the area surrounding Earth and the areas that make our planet very special like the sky, water, and land. We also drew the living things that call this planet their home. Art by Zoe W. (1)
Faculty Spotlight
Meet Ms. Green
This week we would like to showcase another of the outstanding GPS faculty, Pam Green. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Pam realized early in life what career path she would take. Knowing her future goal gave her a tremendous amount of focus and drive, which would see her receiving her degree in education early. After short-term teaching positions in the area, she headed for California after reading that teachers were in short demand. This was an exciting time of adventure and exploration, which included living in New Zealand for six months!
With her teaching goal back in sight, she earned her California Teaching Credential and began teaching for LAUSD in 1989. During her seven-plus years spent at Normandie School in South Central L.A., she taught third grade for five years and then worked as the technology coordinator after her daughter was born. A move to the valley in 1997 brought Pam to her home-away-from-home, Chatsworth Hills Academy, for over 20 years.
CHA (now GPS) provided a multitude of teaching opportunities in many grade levels, including 4th and 5th grade teacher, K-8 technology teacher, and middle school math-literature-science teacher. She has also served as a student council supervisor for most of those years. Since 2008, Pam has taught 5th grade in an integrated, technology-infused, project-based program. With the adoption of the PYP program a few years ago, her students have benefitted from deeper growth and understanding of the concepts in a global setting.
Online GPS Scholastic Book Fair: Nov. 2 - 15, 2020
Dear GPS Parents and Families:
The Scholastic Book Fair is back! While the Fair will be exclusively held online this year, we still plan on making it a fun and joyous experience for our kids. Features include:
Granada Preparatory School's own online store, with a large selection of titles, at the right price points
A Virtual Fair so you and your family can experience the magic of the school shopping experience. Browse titles by grade, meet popular authors, and discover the comfort and joy of our Fair
Every dollar you spend will benefit our school directly (25% back in rewards!)
Save these dates and view our school’s Fair site:
Fair Dates: Monday, November 2 – Sunday, November 15, 2020
Online Store: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/gpsschool
We can’t wait to “see” you at the Fair beginning Nov. 2!