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Étude High School Blog

August 4, 2011
by: Dollie Cromwell

National School Reform Faculty Training

Five representatives from The Etude Group of charter schools recently attended Critical Friends Group Training in Bloomington, Ind.

Those in attendance from Sheboygan included: Leah Eilmus, a member of The Etude Group; Ted Hamm, administrator at The Mosaic School and IDEAS Academy; John Pena, music instructor at Mosaic and IDEAS; Helen Timm, fourth-grade teacher at the Elementary School for the Arts and Academics; and Tad Phippen Wente, creative writing instructor at Mosaic and IDEAS.

They were among 16 educators from as far away as Alaska and Greece who participated in the July 11-15 training.

The presenter for the training was Michele Mattoon, director of the National School Reform Faculty at the Harmony Education Center in Bloomington. This was the first time for the Sheboygan group to attend CFG training, and the participants are now certified Critical Friends Coaches.

Critical Friends Groups generally consist of six to 12 educators who meet regularly for a sustained and focused period of time to work and learn together, according to the NSRF. The educators observe one another and offer feedback on a regular basis.

Administrators and teacher-leaders in the schools work as facilitative leaders to ensure good habits in colleagues by routine use of NSRF practices and tools in staff meetings, planning sessions, grade-level meetings, department meetings and professional development sessions.

Critical Friends Groups will be started at ESAA, Mosaic and IDEAS to allow teachers to develop collegial relationships, encourage reflective practices and rethink leadership – all in support of increased student achievement.

“We will lead Critical Friends Groups at all our schools for the staff and use the protocols with the Governing Board and our Parent Advisory Groups,” Eilmus said. 

For more information about CFGs, please go to www.nsrfharmony.org.


August 2, 2011
by: Dollie Cromwell

Tad Phippen Wente, Creative Writing

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Building something new is what makes us thrive! So creating a school has been continuously exciting and rewarding.

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July 18, 2011
by: Dollie Cromwell, Journalist

Michelle Renzelmann-Ross, Writing Workshop Teacher

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I want to help kids think independently, question respectfully, set goals and accomplish them, and be a productive, good member of society.

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July 7, 2011
by: Jenne Smith

Humanities

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The Humanities curriculum at IDEAS Academy will consist of three separate course offerings: American Studies, Global Studies and an individualized Global Issues course.

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June 23, 2011
by: Leah Eilmus

Thank You

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A huge thanks to the following students and staffs for packing, labeling, and moving boxes at Étude all day on June 16th.

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June 23, 2011
by: Dollie Cromwell

TimeSlips Exhibit Opening

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John Michael Kohler Arts Center will debut its first student-created exhibit Sunday as part of its “Hiding Places: Memory in the Arts” multi-media event.

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May 21, 2011
by: Leah Eilmus

Folk Music Seminar

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American folk music encompasses numerous genres, many of which are known as roots music. Roots music includes bluegrass, country music, gospel, old time music, jug bands,...

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May 11, 2011
by: Tad Phippen Wente, Creative Writing teacher

TimeSlips Seminar

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Today in the TimeSlips Seminar (this is a project we’re working on with JMKAC’s Connecting Communities) we enjoyed a visit from Tracy Cinealis, CSA, of Libby’s...

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April 17, 2011
by: Tad Phippen Wente, Creative Writing teacher

Poetry & Lyrics Seminar

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Poetry & Lyrics Seminar wrapped up its quarter today with a “Final Reading” in three categories: Poetry Out Loud (inspired by the National Endowment for the...

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April 1, 2011
by: Peter Woods

IDEAS Chemistry

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If the purpose of chemistry is to better understand the materials that make up our world and how they interact, then why not focus on those...

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