The Journey School Gallery Walk on Wednesday, October 26, was a huge success. Current and perspective parents came to look at children's work and learn more about our school's creative style of learning.
The night started out with a potluck dinner where everyone talked and just had good time. Then, parents went from grade to grade looking at the beautiful artwork and talking to their children's teachers about the curriculum for the year.
We walked to each classroom, learning about current blocks each grade was in. The First grade displayed stories filled with fairy tales and folk tales, while the Second grades main lesson books were occupied with numbers and how to use the place value, all related to their math block. We then went to the Third grade learning that they are in their shelters block. We looked at all their hand-made shelters lined up around the classroom. The Fourth grade had beautiful drawings in their main lesson books related to their Zoology block.
The Fifth grade showed off their magnificent main lesson books with drawings related to the Arithmetic block, and the Sixth grade took us on a journey through the different biomes. Next we went to the Seventh grade and looked at their drawings of math and the Renaissance. The Eighth grade took us back in time to the French Revolution with drawings of Martin Luther and other famous figures.
The night wrapped up with a Q&A session, hosted by Bonnie Rivers. She talked about the three pillars that make up Waldorf education. The first pillar is based on physical readiness and well being in the body. The second pillar is social and emotional development, this is the reason students have the same teacher all the way through the grades that way they can form a bond with each other. Finally, Ms. Rivers talked about the last pillar, which is building skills throughout the years. Waldorf education is well over 90 years old and has many graduates worldwide.
Staff Spotlight
by Millie Tanner
Mrs. Amanda Simmons is the second grade teacher here at Journey. She is currently attending an educational leadership and masters program at California State University, Fullerton and is getting her Waldorf teaching certificate and master's degree at the Rudolf Steiner College. These credentials will add to the already impressive list of a B.A. in Liberal Studies from San Diego State, and a Multiple Subject Credential from CSU. She is known well for being dedicated, joyful, not to mention as a gifted teacher.
Millie Tanner sat down with Mrs. Simmons for our Staff Spotlight.
Millie Tanner: What inspires you to teach?
Amanda Simmons: By far the thing that inspires me to teach is the children, I love being with them everyday and creating curriculum specifically for them.
MT: Is there a certain routine you go through in the morning to prepare for the day? Song? Certain breakfast or maybe a walk with your every cute dog, Pippin?
AS: In the morning I like to take my dog for a morning walk, get out and enjoy the quietness of the morning, I always eat breakfast, and I do like coming into school and turning on some music, while getting my classroom ready for the day!
MT: Music, eh? What kind of music do you listen to? Do you have a favorite band?
AS: Right now my favorite song is Maroon 5, and my favorite song by them currently is their new one, Moves Like Jagger.
MT: So obviously, Journey has a very special atmosphere, itʼs like a giant family here, but what drew you to Journey, what made you say "I need to teach here and I want to become part of Journeyʼs Family"?
AS: The thing that struck me right from the beginning was the community at Journey School. Right from the beginning the administrative staff, the teachers and the parents were all so welcoming and I absolutely love that about Journey.
MT: Itʼs obvious that you spend a lot of time at school preparing and preparing for the kids. After school you stay over to clean up and do some work, but you must have some time left over when you get home. What do you do in your free time?
AS: I love spending time with my friends and family. First and foremost, whenever I have free time I choose to spend it with them.
MT: What is your favorite time of the day? Is there a certain activity or lesson you like to teach?
AS: I love watching the kids have fun in Free Rendering (free rendering is when the children get to use any supplies in the classroom to create something that they learned that day). They are so creative with what they come up with, and I absolutely love what I have taught come to life.
Halloween
by Mya Harry and Zoe Noreyko
This Halloween, on Monday, October 31, all of the classes dressed up in costume. A few of the amazing costumes we saw were: Mother Nature, fairies, bananas, gnomes, elves, and a penguin. We were impressed with the creativity of all of the costumes.
The students in grades 1 through 8 went to an assembly and talked about the costumes, celebrated birthdays, and sang Halloween songs.
While the graders were in the assembly, the Kindergarteners had an amazing experience at the Enchanted Walk. The Kindergarten was decorated with beautiful colors and flowers. Fairies came and escorted the children across the Enchanted Field where the kids got to make coins, talk to fairies, make candles, eat muffins, grind wheat, and drink amazing apple cider.
Overall, Journey School had an amazing and creative Halloween.
