VOLUME 16, ISSUE 33 JUNE 7, 2013 Mission Hill School News Letter from Child Street Look What We've Been Doing!

Dear Mission Hill School Families, Friends, Staff and Students, "Oh, wow ­ did you guys make these books all by yourselves?" An amazed parent holds up a book about bikes. The cover is fashioned from a cardboard bicycle box donated by the bike shop around the corner. The binding is made from a section of inner tube. It's proudly displayed along with others from the Friendly Monkeys class. It is Exhibitions Day at MHS, a day to welcome families to see student work, to share breakfast, and to strengthen connections. In the "K Quad", a group of first­year parents are animatedly talking and munching on fresh fruit and muffins, as they admire their children's work and compare notes on the year at Mission Hill. They are already bonded, already a unit, having met at classroom doorways, Friday Shares and on the playground all year long. REMINDERS In quiet rooms upstairs, seventh and eighth graders are focused on the final details of their portfolio preparations. Their teachers are Para ver este boletín en español, nearby, greeting families, and offering words of support and visite confirmation. Weaving throughout the visiting adults and excited http://www.missionhillschool.org kids are the eighth graders who have already presented and passed /resources/boletin o comuníquese thier portfolios. Their pride and exitement shine out, sometimes in con Joel al (617) 548-7523 para hands­in­the­air dances down the hallway, sometimes in more una versión en papel. subdued glowing satisfaction. In a school where judging is suspended in favor of guiding and mentoring, this final act of June judgment is all the sweeter. Fri. 6/7 ­ Mon. 6/10: Child Street Everywhere, children are sharing their newly acquired or newly Closed for construction ­ no expanded discoveries with other community members. The whole parking building vibrates with excitement and enthusiasm. Thu. 6/13: All School Roller Former staff memebrs, interns and student teachers wander Skating, 10:00 ­ noon through the crowds, alternately gazing at artwork and into Mon 6/17: Staff vs. Student classrooms, and stopping for a wave or a hug and a chat with old basketball game, 1:30 ­ 3:00 friends. Wed. 6/19: Middle School Art Even as families admire ther childrens' new skill and the evidence Show of creativity and growing maturity, the staff is caught in the swirling 5:45 ­ 7:00 currents of completing this year and preparing for the next. Snow Fri. 6/21: Ecoteer Day, days have pushed the last day of school past the date when we had Coffee House 6:00 ­ 8:00 planned to begin our June retreat. Those sessions have been tacked Tue. 6/26: Graduation, 10:00 onto our Tuesday morning meetings and several four­hour evening Wed. 6/26: Field Day sessions, as well as some weekend time. Somehow, we will get it all 6/27­28: half days done, and write reports as well. The year is nowhere near finished, yet it will be over before we know it.

~Betsy Caruso for Ayla

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3 and 4 year-olds Room 107 Kindergarten Room 108 The Silver Star Patriots continue to enjoy listening to a Last week we went with the Room 106 variety of stories. They often other K classes to The Boston Last week I attended the Future interact with the story’s events Nature Center. The BNC is an Forum in Washington D.C. Ashoka and characters and most times urban sanctuary with a few miles organized the conference. If you have a lot to say about what of hiking trails, a community are unfamiliar with Ashoka it is a should or should not happen. So, garden, and more. After a short great organization to get to know. when we recently asked them to hike, we visited the Nature Nook, Bill Drayton, CEO and founder of dictate their own stories to share a natural play space. The children Ashoka believes that everyone is a with the class, here is what two of loved the open ended materials Changemaker. He has built a team them conjured up: (branches, stones, sticks, fabric, of teams. These teams involve the Brian: Once upon a time there etc.) for building; the xylophone Ashoka fellows, Changemaker was a lion and he liked to eat for making music and dancing; schools, the Start Empathy grass. He found a bug, then he the tree stumps and boulders for initiative, Youth Ventures, and asked the bug, “Do you want to climbing and hopping and the Ashoka University. be friends?” The bug said, “Yes.” sand and mud for mixing, I was a part of leading a They would climb trees, they mushing and making pretend workshop titled From Nice­to­Have would play tag, musical chairs food. Most of all, they loved the to Must Have: Creating Schools of and that’s all. They played every dry river with bridges, stones and Tomorrow Today. Eric Dawson and day in the morning. After they muddy water. It was a rainy day, Sarah Hemminger, both social played they went back home to so some water had gathered in the entrepreneurs, also spoke during go to sleep. The bug ate …I don’t dry river bed, making a great spot our session. Eric is local. He lives know what bugs eat! Bugs just to wade and muck about. At one in Dorchester and works with local carry things to their homes. The point, a BNC staff member youth. He started an organization lion, he fell asleep without eating opened the rain barrel, and let called Peace First. anything until the next day. He some more water pour into the I was also able to learn about got up the next day and ate grass. river bed. As the water many young people who had The End. meandered its way through the started social entrepreneurial Diany: Once upon a time there rocks and bends, and under the ventures. One that stood out for me was a dog. The dog was eating in bridge, some of the students got was Turning Grease Into Fuel. Ten the park. He was eating very excited. "Make a dam, make year­olds in Rhode Island started it. everything! He was eating the a dam!" they exclaimed, as they They organized restaurants to slides! The slide broke and scrambled to contain the flowing recycle their cooking oil. They sell everything broke! The builders water. Others joined in with the cooking oil to companies who fixed it. The dog came to the park matched enthusiasm. "Dam it! turn in into to biodiesel fuel. The again and he ate the windows in Dam it!" I heard one enthusiastic money earned from the project is the park. The builders came into builder proclaim. then donated to buying heating fuel the park and fixed the windows. I love being with young for families who cannot afford it. The dog came there in the park children ­ especially when they These young people and many again and she ate the clock in the are playing in nature. Where else others around the world are solving park! The builders were so tired can you hear someone yell "Dam real world problems with their and then everybody said, “Dog it!" with such pure delight in his ventures. It was great to be a part of don’t eat the park!” Then the voice? ~Geralyn Bywater McLaughlin such an amazing conference. builders came to fix the fence and ~Kathy Clunis D'Andrea to fix back the park again. The

MISSION HILL SCHOOL NEWS PAGE 2 VOLUME 16, ISSUE 33 JUNE 7, 2013 dog was eating the flowers! The talking about, reading and writing have fun. builders fixed the flowers. The poetry. Our first poem was a Amber: At Mission Hill, we go to dog went to the park again and community poem in which each Farm School. the dog ate the bigger flowers. person chose descriptive words to Amishai: I used to not be able to The dog ate the whole park and write about their classmates. It jump rope, now I can. she ate the bigger flowers. She was not just a wonderful way to Athena: I am working on putting ate the whole thing! The End! learn about poetry and using details in my stories. ~Jada Brown adjectives, it was a wonderful way Ceva: I am working on spelling & JoAnn Hawksworth to help children stop and think long words about the best qualities of their Daniel: In our classroom, we Room 109 community members and why we have classroom jobs! The Magic Dragons are taking are so “fantastic”! Below is a Elias: I am working on doing their story telling and story acting sample of what they came up homework. on the road. On Friday evening, with: Janira: At Mission Hill, we have we will share the Kids Stage at Andrew is honest. Pajama Day. the Boston Children’s Museum Joliana is happy. Jovanni: In our classroom, we with two other BPS kindergarten Zayna is brave. are kind. classrooms. All three classrooms Maryam is funny. Justin: I am working on math will share stories told by the Dalia is caring. because it makes me smart. children this year, and the Victoria is musical. Kelise: I can help a friend play a children will collaborate in acting Alejandro is fast. new game. out the stories. Admittance to the Marquell is playful. Laudys: I used to not like being Children’s Museum only cost $1 Jarrell is sporty. the caboose, now I like being the on Friday Nights. We are taking Amari is hungry. caboose. the stage at 7:15. Hope to see Hamse is awesome. Maya: I can help a friend draw a some of you there! Arianny is jumpy. girl. Here is one of the stories we Destiny is cool. Ruby: At Mission Hill, we sing. plan to share, told by Luki. Enaisja is kind. Shawnmathew: I am working on Once upon a time near the end Fatemah is pretty. spelling and being kind. ofthe Ice Age a flood came. A Kalea is smart. Sofia: In our classroom, we do glacier melted forming Lake Rafael is exciting. special projects. Champlain. A prehistoric squirrel Melissa is amazing. Vitoria: At Mission Hill, we sing was getting washed away with its Miss Jenerra is classy. at Friday Share. acorn. But he lost it. And he got ~Jenerra Williams ~Brenda Lau in a hawks nest because he thought he would be safer there. Room 205 Room 217 Piranhas jumped out ofthe water. June has finally arrived and it is It's hot outside on Saturday, and A whale tried to get the squirrel time for the Wonderful Wonderers cool inside the Boston Public but it dived back in the water. to reflect on their year. This past Library. Child authors from all There was a shark that ate the week the class worked hard on over the city have gathered to piranhas. The end. preparing for our annual celebrate their work at "Kids Are ~Jenny Goldstein Exhibitions Ceremony. the Experts!" Families take Exhibitions are a reflective time photos of children with finished Grades One & Two of the year where students share books ranging from How to Draw with families their learning and Really Good, How to Play Room 204 how they have grown. Here are Soccer, How to Mix Paint, and The Fantastic Crew has begun some of the children’s reflections: How to Run Away From a Abidemi : At Mission Hill, we Dragon. The finished books only

MISSION HILL SCHOOL NEWS PAGE 3 VOLUME 16, ISSUE 33 JUNE 7, 2013 tell part of the story, of course. out words! We talked about both the Each book has behind it the Malehk: I learned how to use the successful and the challenging work of a child with expertise, a computer for math and reading! moments in our year, and how teacher and peers who have Luisairy: Getting through the each of these moments taught us noticed that expertise, a group of MCAS! about ourselves as learners and child editors, many drafts, help Daniel: I got better at writing! members of a classroom from families, and the materials Tandin: Creating my amusement community. As individuals, the and tools of publishing. park project! students reflected on their work, The books that represent Bryan: I got better at reading looking through work and Mission Hill School also include harder books! projects done thought the year shop work from 8th graders Tato: I got better at building and and across the curriculum. All of Hawolul and Ziggy (punching writing! this happened through the lens and drilling holes) and tools and Salma: My ancient Greek God of growth and change. We expertise from Jacob. Aubrey and Goddess project! highlighted and celebrated our jumped in to help with binding, Zachary: I got a lot better at growth in different areas of our Jenny offered design spelling words and building with life at school. Phrases such as suggestions, and Jeanne offered K’Nex! “this used to be really hard for appreciation and encouragement AJ: My presidential speech, me” were frequently heard as the as the books began to take because I spoke about all the students realized all the learning shape. Thank you everyone! The things I would change to better that happened this year. children felt all this support and this country! Just like a seed doesn’t realize responded to it, working with Giselle: I got better at making art! she has turned into a flower, we renewed energy to finish their Dario: Building self­confidence! often are blind to our own books and make them beautiful. Chantal: I got better at reading flourishing. Preparing for At the library, in a room with and writing! exhibitions gave everyone the sliding ladders and a bricked, Omauri: My drawing got so opportunity to clearly see all the vaulted ceiling, the children hold much better! flourishing we have gone their books up for people to see Anaïs: I got better at reading through. After this realization we them, and hold them close to higher levels! were ready to share and their chests to feel the Uly: I learned how to work in celebrate our work and insights satisfaction of hard work groups with people who I with the whole Mission Hill Community. reverberating in their hearts. typically wouldn’t work with! ~Erica Switzer & Juan Corte Their smiles are barely Rose: I really liked my ancient s contained in their bodies. Greece project because I learned Grades Five & Six ~Melissa Tonachel how to compromise during group work! Grades Three & Four Jaylin Room 210 : The amusement park No news this week project because I worked really Room 207 hard on making the bumper cars! Room 215 As we prepare for our ~Robert Baez exhibition reflections, the When we came back from the Hawks would like to share our Room 216 holiday weekend, we received a greatest accomplishments this The Golden Rulers took a look nice surprise. There were two year: back into the year while preparing letters from 5th graders in Marcus: I learned how to speak for our exhibitions. As a group Waipahu, Hawaii, inviting us to better! we remembered and reflected join in the Great Mail Race! The Axel: I got better at sounding about different points in our year. rules of the Great Mail Race are simple. Each student writes to a

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5th grade class in another state, Did you know that our school stories. Before beginning to write, telling them about their school colors are black and white? And they identified the elements of and their state, and encouraging we don’t think we have a school fiction (characters, setting, plot, them to join in the race, too. mascot. Do we? conflict, point of view, and theme) One of the letters we received ~Carol Knox for their stories and used this as a was from David, from Oahu, guide when writing. Hawaii. He wrote, “At my Grades Seven & Eight The students’ project reflections school only my class is doing and the quality of the work produced robotics. Robotics is building a Room 213 let me know that this project was a Lego robot which will compete One of my favorite hit with the kids. I was really with other robots in a assignments this spring was our touched by their sensitivity, competition….We also have World War II Book Group emotional connection, and strong different programs like project. During literacy in Room feelings of justice. I’m really glad I Enrichment and JPO. 213, we all read books related to had the opportunity to do this project Enrichment is where students the Holocaust and World War II. with Room 213. will learn about environmental Leylainy, Xin, Mikaila, and ~Ann Ruggiero and social issues. JPOs, or Tajonna read Night by Elie Junior Police Officers, are Wiesel. Andy, La’Renz, and Room 214 students who help other students Javon read Heroes ofthe I wanted to share a quote that I to behave. They also hold up a Holocaust: True Stories of wrote down during our first portfolio stop sign to help students get to Rescues by Teens by Allan Zullo presentation of the year. I feel that it school safely.” and Mara Bovsun. Siobhan, captures the spirit of investigation Our class decided to write to Ahsad, Kavon, and Shantel read and experimentation that is at the 5th grade classes in Alabama, The Boy Who Dared: A Novel root of pure science, invention, and Hawaii, Georgia, Texas, New Based on the True Story ofa engineering. Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Hitler Youth by Susan Campbell “Circuits are a big part ofhow Colorado, California, Iowa, Bartoletti. And Nicole, Kaya, we are evolving with technology. I Florida, Arizona, Rhode Island, Yimara, and Gavin read Number think this is helpful for our Michigan, and Washington. One the Stars by Lois Lowry. community because ifwe don’t of the first things we told them This was a new topic of study experiment with projects there won’t in our letters was how different for most students. They used the be an evolution oftechnology. The Mission Hill School is, because globe and atlases frequently to more we experiment with circuits we have a combination 5th and understand which countries were and projects the more we will move 6th grade class. involved and where they were forward. And to understand Writing the letters was fun, but located. Many kids made a technology you have to understand challenging. Besides learning connection to our fall theme circuitry.” - Leylainy, Class of2013 about using proper letter format, study of Identity and Eugenics. I could not say it better myself. It and how to address an envelope, All of the books were hard to is so important for us to experiment we had to think hard about read and kept us asking, “How to learn the basics, get interested, questions like: What is your can people be so mean?” and eventually bring innovation to a state famous for? What famous After reading their book, discipline. This is true for working people came from your state? groups generated questions for with circuits in technology as it is What are the major landforms or background research and worked with working with cells in biology, waterways in your area? hard to understand the economic or experimenting with building We breezed through other and political context that set the materials in architecture. questions, describing field trips, stage for the war. Then, using ~Jacob Wheeler & Chris Barnes our favorite foods, movies, and this knowledge, kids wrote books, and our school colors. individual historical fiction

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across Massachusetts for free. Hot Topics Starting June 28th and going through August 30th, there will Courtney’s Corner be 6 museums or cultural venues Check out Courtney’s Corner for open for free each Friday. For information on various programs the full calendar of events, and resources for you and your please go to family. www.highlandstreet.org. Rincón de Courtney Check Lost & Found Mira la información que esta fuera en el “Rincón de There is still a large collection of Courtney” para informatión jackets, hats, sweaters and other sobre varios programas y apparel in the Lost and Found recursos para ti y tu familia. near the MHS front desk. Is your child missing anything? Stop by Join the Mission Hill School and have a look if you haven't Family Forum! The Mission Hill seen that lunchbox, pair of boots School Family Forum is an or hoodie in a while. Items still initiative by school parents and left at then end of the year will caregivers FOR school parents be donated to charity. and caregivers, a place to forge Second Cup Now Brewing connections in and across classroom communities. Staff is Mark your calendar for Friday welcome, too. evening, June 21st. for MHS' To join the group: second coffee house of this year. (1) Request to join by sending Members of the MHS an email to MHS Family Forum community, the tall and the moderators Naama or Neathery small, have been working on ([email protected] or performances to share with us [email protected]) all. Come cheer on your friends Or, and discover talents you never (2) Visit the Mission Hill School knew existed. Six to eight Family Forum site, take a look at o'clock in the auditorium. the homepage, and click the Mission Hill School "Join This Group" link to submit Boston City Singers A Boston Public Pilot School offers outstanding programs for a request that way: Deborah Meier, Founder young people ages 4 – 18. You http://tinyurl.com/MHSconnects Ayla Gavins, Principal do not need previous singing Please help to grow the forum as 20 Child Street a community asset by bringing experience to join ­ just love to Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 this invitation to the attention of sing! Boston City Singers is a 617.635.6384 (office) your MHS friends. It's always a community­based, after­school 617.635.6419 (fax) good time to be in touch! program. Members come from all over the City of Boston and www.missionhillschool.org Free Fun Fridays! ­ Free Fun neighboring cities and towns. Fridays is a summer program that opens the doors to 60 Dorchester & JP Auditions museums and cultural venues June 9 & 10, 2013

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