Next Tuesday, October 3rd, will be a fun night for parents at Pacifica. We will start with a potluck dinner at 5:30pm, followed by a hands-on experience to expand our understanding of constructivist, project-based education. There will also be a brief discussion of standardized testing as well as a brief presentation by some of our students. Childcare will be available for school-aged children (we ask for a $2-$5 donation per family). Childcare space is limited and you must sign up in advance in the office.

Our series of workshops for classroom volunteers, to help you get acquainted with our communication style with students, how to support students and teachers, and other basic philosophical and "how to" ideas will continue on Thursdays at 9:00am. Chrys Massey-Rhodes will be available for mentoring, support and check-in with you. If you would like to attend but cannot make it on Thursday mornings, please let Janette or Chrys know. Chrys will also offer an afternoon session, if there is a need.

Keep your eyes peeled! Coming Tuesday to family mailboxes is a list of veteran families who would be happy to make themselves available to new families who have questions about life at Pacifica. We know that it can feel daunting to join a new community and get the hang of how things are done. These veteran families are looking forward to your calls. They want to get to know you and help you to feel at home here. No question is too big or too small. If they can’t answer your question, they will know who can. Please use this resource!

Friday at pick-up time (3:15). We will discuss the back yard plans, maintenance issues, and grants. Bring your ideas. Please call me if you signed up for site but you can’t make it. Darby (323) 737-1163

Our collaboration with the Young Storytellers group continues. Once a week over a six-week period a group of ten screenwriters will work individually with a group of ten 4th and 5th graders. Each student will be supported in creating their own screenplay. After the writing process is complete, a group of professional actors will come in for "The Big Show" and perform walk-throughs of each student’s screenplay. There will be three sessions over the year, allowing for the participation of thirty students. Please keep your eyes open for invitations to "The Big Show" as it is an event not to be missed.

Have you heard about the SST here at Pacifica? It ’s not a Super Sonic Transport or some other space-age vehicle. It is the Student Success Team and we have some terrific teamwork going on that is making a difference for our students.

As a part of our general education program, an SST meeting is an option when there are concerns about a student’s progress or behavior. The team (SST) will always consist of the parents, a teacher, the director, and other school staff as necessary. Another classroom teacher or specialist might be invited. The student, fourth grade and older, is also included.

This meeting is based on a win-win approach that involves parents and students. They are included in identifying concerns as well as possible solutions. The team starts by listing the student’s strengths, and those strengths are used as building blocks in designing actions to assist with the student’s learning. The action plan will be reviewed and modified as needed.

Parents bring valuable information and insight to the team and are included in the Action Plan. The education of our students is a shared responsibility and we must work together as partners to ensure their success.

Dear Community:

In K-1 we've been doing Science.  For Science we created an explosive mix made from Chemical X (baking soda and vinegar).  In Math we made block towers.  We've also been playing Cat's Cradle with string.  And we've been learning and singing about the ABC's, or what we also call, the English alphabet.

Goodbye, see ya later alligator.

Like,

Wildcats, Dolphins and Cheetah Boys & Girls

Next week’s Wednesday Weekly will contain information about Pacifica and standardized testing, past/present/and future.

Each week, we try to send you articles that are thought-provoking and informative. This week, we are including an article by Alfie Kohn on standardized testing and excerpts from the book How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk, by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. We encourage every family to read this book. It is one of the most useful parenting/communication books in print.

People say you have to travel to see the world. Sometimes I think that if you just stay in one place and keep your eyes open, you're going to see just about all that you can handle.

-Paul Auster