e-Newsletter: November 2006

IN THIS ISSUE
Students Love Science
Generating Possibilities
Invasion!
Congratulations
November - Looking Ahead

STUDENTS LOVE SCIENCE
Talented volunteer Lindsey Own is facilitating three popular science classes this quarter: Comparative Anatomy, Human Physiology, and Force and Motion. There is a fun and enthusiastic feeling surrounding these offerings, and students are clearly benefiting from the passion and creativity Lindsey brings to each class. Due to Lindsey’s wide range of knowledge, discussion in one week can range from the principles of the Cartesian Triangle, to the inner workings of the human digestive system, to fish dissection (a recent smelly but educational event that drew the noses of the school’s landlord – in a good way!).

Students say the best part of these classes is Lindsey herself. When asked about her experience, student Kat Gwinn says, “Lindsey doesn’t talk down to you. She talks to you like you’re an adult,” a sentiment echoed by several students. Certainly, there is mutual respect for both the subject and the participants (including those scaled brethren sacrificed in the name of science and education).

Lindsey comes to PSCS with three years of teaching science to middle school students in Evanston, Illinois.  During that time, she worked with researchers at Northwestern University developing inquiry-based curriculum materials, and later worked as a full-time research assistant at Northwestern.  Upon arriving in Seattle last summer, she took a position as a program supervisor for Washington State LASER (Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform), as well as continuing with her curriculum development work remotely with Northwestern.  She says she was drawn to PSCS because of the school’s, “powerful philosophy of promoting independence and an intrinsic love of learning in its students.”

Every year PSCS is fortunate to have volunteers who bring their unique expertise and energy into the school. Students receive the benefit of various teaching methods and styles, the personal experience of the facilitator, as well as an additional lens through which to learn about and explore their world.

GENERATING POSSIBILITIES
Much to the delight of PSCS students and staff, Monday’s service activities are currently taking place at the Tallmadge Hamilton House, a senior activities center located a mere block away from the PSCS campus.  Students and staff are working on a wide range of activities including ground maintenance, knitting, cooking, computer set up, recreation, and a short story class.

PSCS holds intergenerational learning in high regard, believing Hamilton House clients and PSCS students equally benefit from each other’s presence and participation. On Monday this week, staff member Andy Smallman facilitated a short story dialogue class that included youth and elders.  Many topic threads were generated by the story (Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s “Who Am I This Time”), all broadened and deepened by the intergenerational component.  Of this Andy reflected, “I once facilitated a PSCS class in a retirement home on the topic of civil rights in American history.  One of the residents was an African-American woman who had witnessed a lynching in her youth.  You aren’t going to find that kind of learning in a history book.”

Among the many other projects that took place on Monday, one PSCS group used the professional kitchen facilities at the center to prepare lunch, tacos and cupcakes, for Hamilton House clients.  Another group began the process of upgrading the center’s computer lab while some students cleaned up two pool tables in the basement in preparation for a pool tournament scheduled for next week.  Speaking of next week, the cooking group is planning on fixing a meal that will have the elders, students, and staffs of both organizations eating together.  The menu?  Spaghetti and meatballs.  Yummy!

INVASION!
On Monday October 31st, PSCS was visited by an onslaught of nefarious characters, from ninjas and aerobics instructors, to bow wielding liberators and masked men.

The thought of these confined creatures being nearby at check-in was so dreadful to the PSCS staff that they went forward to deliver a candy peace offering. The time then must have been somewhere about nine o'clock. On their way, they met members of University Heights personnel who were just unlocking the doors of their office. Seeing such a common act sobered Andy, Melinda, Anoo, Nic, Neal, and Matt a little, until they saw Julie Spangler, a PSCS parent, in a purple dinosaur hat, and were reminded they could lose their hands to the zealous mob upstairs.

By that time it had become clear in their minds that the creatures had come not from the planet Mars, but rather from the homes of PSCS families. On balance, the staff had judged it improbable that behind these horrifying facades (the sorority girl, the ninja, the gas mask, the devil child, the body-building chef, Robin Hood, Iggy Pop-Stardust, the proctologist) any incarnation of a PSCS student could survive. The hive staff mind ran fancifully on the possibilities, on the difficulties in education that might arise, whether they could teach students who so realistically embodied those costumes, and so forth when, revulsion upon horror, the countenance of Richard Simmons, resembling the most veteran of all PSCS scholars, appeared. It was then they succumbed, finding it difficult to get to work upon these or further abstract investigations……

Err, our apologies to H.G. Wells for the above.  And, for those of you wondering, yes, student Kienan arrived in good order and dressed as Richard Simmons.  In character, he led everyone in several positive affirmations and then a quick exercise routine.  We were all left wondering, “Where did he get those shorts?”

CONGRATULATIONS
Brenda & Greg Somers, sister and brother-in-law of staff member Melinda Shaw, are the proud parents of a healthy baby girl, Perrin Michele Somers, born on October 18th. Aunt Melinda and PSCS student & cousin Chloe report that Perrin is perfect in every way. Congratulations to the Somers and Shaw families!

NOVEMBER– LOOKING AHEAD

EDUCATION FAIR
Neal & Andy will be representing PSCS at the Seattle's Child 2006 Education & Enrichment Fair this Sunday, 11/5, from 11am - 4pm at the Seattle Center House. Learn more at http://www.seattleschild.com/educationfair.htm. If you care to hang out for part of the time with Andy & Neal and share what you love about PSCS with prospective families and others, they'd love to see you!

NO SCHOOL
There is no school on Friday, 11/10, Veteran's Day, and Thursday and Friday, 11/23 and 24 for Thanksgiving.

OPEN HOUSE
PSCS is holding an admissions open house for prospective students on Sunday, 11/19, 1-3pm. Come find out more about the school. See the wonderful opportunities PSCS has to offer. Meet staff, students, and other community members. Tour the school. Pick up an application for 2007-08. For more information visit http://www.pscs.org/admission/openhouse.htm.

VISITATION DAY
Our next visitaion day is Wednesday, 11/29. It is difficult to understand PSCS without coming to school and observing our activities and student life. Seeing the school in action -- and even participating along with students and staff -- can make the difference between having a basic appreciation of our philosophy and the aha! of really "getting" how it works. For more information visit http://www.pscs.org/admission/visiting.htm.

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