Students at the Middle School campus have been working with music teacher, Jakob Breitbach this fall in an artist-in-residence for music.  Groups of students have been working on writing their own compositions.  They will be performing the musical compositions, along with other musical pieces they have learned, at their fall program.  The performance will take place in the Knights of Pythias building where the middle school campus is located.  All Seabury families are encouraged to attend.
 
After the program, consider getting together with other Seabury families at one of the many great restaurants within walking distance of the program.  It could be a  nice evening to connect with other parents, and to celebrate the talents of Seabury's students!

 

To learn more about the student store, be sure to visit the Explorers' classroom blog at www.myseabury.org.

 

From Katherine Overton, Advancement Director

Join me at the Dickens Festival in Tacoma's Stadium District on November 21st!  Seabury will have a table with brochures and an arts and crafts project for kids.  I need help guiding children through the arts and crafts and answering questions about Seabury.  Our table will be located in the First Presbyterian Annex building from 11am -5pm.  Thank you to Katy Kennedy and her daughter who will be there from 1-3pm.  This is a fun opportunity to volunteer for Seabury and be a part of a festive community event. E-mail me if you would like to participate, katherineo@seabury.org.  For more information about the Dickens Festival at Stadium, please visit www.dickensfestival.net.  Be sure to stop in and say hello to Mr. Mario while you are out and about.

From the Head of School (continued from above) The NSSE survey measures the level of student engagement through five benchmarks:  level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, enriching educational experiences, and a supportive campus environment.  Colleges and universities, and now some high schools, are beginning to measure their programs based on their ability to meet these benchmarks. 
 
As I read the USA Today article, I was struck by the relationship of the benchmarks to Seabury's program.  We strive to meet students' academic needs by allowing their readiness to drive their instructional level and by providing an enriched, integrated curriculum that allows depth and breadth of study at all levels.  Our teachers develop engaging projects in which students actively use the knowledge and skills they are developing rather than restricting learning to a passive activity.  Our small class sizes encourage strong relationships between faculty and students, and at the middle school level, those relationships with influential adults extend into the community.  Activities like the primary grades "trips" to Africa and China, the 4th /5th grade student store project and the middle school fall study trip involve students in enriching experiences where learning goes far beyond what could happen in a typical curriculum where subjects are taught in isolation.  And Seabury's sense of community builds an environment where students feel safe, supported and able to take risks.
 
If you haven't done so lately, visit the classroom blogs and websites at www.myseabury.org to see learning in action at Seabury.  You will see high levels of engagement at all levels - students learning by doing and integrating their learning into their lives.  I wish I could have been a student at Seabury.  Maybe I'd be able to speak Spanish!