by: Addie Degenhardt
The Étude Sessions Presents: We are the Willows
We Are the Willows will play The Étude Sessions at Paradigm Coffee and Music on Saturday, January 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at Paradigm for $15, $10 for students with valid IDs.
An orchestral indie rock band based out of South Minneapolis, We Are The Willows’ music is a blend of pop energy and intricate lyrics. They recently recorded their second full-length album, Picture [Portrait], based off of letters written by frontman Peter Miller’s grandfather to his grandmother during World War II. Their heartfelt arrangements evoke shared nostalgic feelings of love and loss.
The Étude Sessions is a concert series benefiting the three schools of Étude Group: I.D.E.A.S. Academy, The Mosaic School and Elementary School of the Arts and Academics (ESAA). Proceeds raised during concerts provide students with learning opportunities that focus on the content and skills necessary to be successful in a world that increasingly values creativity and innovation. This is accomplished by providing students with opportunities to participate in communities beyond the bricks and mortar of the classroom setting.
Future Session acts include Mike Mangione and the Union, and Brianna Lane & the Navigator’s Club are scheduled to perform during Sessions events.
For more information on The Étude Sessions and future artists visit The Étude Sessions.
by: Susan Griffiths
Presentations of Learning : Fall 2014
ESAA will hold their first trimester Presentations of Learning on December 1st and 2nd. Presentations of Learning serve as an opportunity for students to discuss their growth in understanding and set goals. PoLs go beyond a traditional parent-teacher conference by empowering the students to take ownership, reflect on, and lead the conversation about their learning with parents and the teacher. Students present their work by explaining the process of their learning, as well as identifying strengths and challenges. The teacher asks questions to guide the student to reflect deeper. Parents are also encouraged to ask questions. Through this reflection, students will create a learning goal for second trimester with the guidance of the teacher and parents.
by: Kara Pasche
ESAA Teachers Learn to Implement Field Studies into Science Curriculum
This weekend, four ESAA teachers participated in a class designed to encourage teachers and students to become active participants in ongoing research as citizen scientists. Teachers collaborated and researched to bring methods of observation, data collection, and communication back to their classrooms. Engaged in an authentic scientific inquiry experience, teachers were challenged to create an experiment to collect and communicate data about different types of apples. Learning about types of data and how experiments may change along the way, they decided to sort according to taste. What kind of data would you collect about apples?
by: Susan Griffiths
ESAA: Students prepare garden spaces
On Friday, November 7th ESAA students started phase one of the school gardens by laying cardboard and compost to prepare the areas. We are looking forward to designing and nurturing these habitats, which will function as outdoor science labs for students to observe closely, ask questions, and deepen their understanding of the world around them.
by: Ted Hamm
May PTO Summary
At our last PTO meeting, I gave an overview of some of the changes that will be coming for the 2014-15 school year. Some of these changes are coming from the district and therefore are ones we need to work with while others are initiated at the school level. In order to help parents understand these changes, I will be holding a meeting at Paradigm on Friday, May 23rd at 9:30 to review the changes and answer questions. Below is a synopsis of the changes.
by: Ted Hamm
PTO Meeting Summary
We are looking for your input into the concepts below, specifically, around how they might impact your engagement in our community.
