The Hard Work of Teaching and Learning
Dear Friends:
It is already winter of our third year here at FHS. I am writing to you just as the first semester student portfolio presentations are wrapping up, giving me the opportunity to reflect on the hard work that the FHS faculty are doing to support the amazing achievements of our students. As you will see from the articles and student work in this newsletter, our staff is dedicated to giving the FHS students rich educational experiences that help apply what they have learned to their everyday lives. It is a challenging, yet thoroughly exciting, endeavor that inspires us daily.
First of all, portfolios are hard work—for everyone! To prepare, teachers at each grade and subject level must collectively agree on a set of assessment rubrics that would appropriately and adequately assess student learning. The cooperative and communal spirit that enabled this process is a testimony to the dedication and professionalism of my teaching staff. I am very proud of their focus on ensuring the success and meaningfulness of this process.
Students, like teachers, have had a lot to balance on their plate this past month. At each grade level, aside from normal day-to-day class work, students were required to assemble their completed work from the semester and then present a summary of it to a combination of peers, FHS staff and guests. It was required of all students to compose a summary cover letter as well as either produce a portfolio (in 9th and 10th grade) showcasing their work or conduct a panel discussion displaying their comprehension in each subject area. Students worked hard to complete assignments, some even staying after school to finish. Juniors, who are by now veterans of this process, helped new students understand and prepare for their first portfolios. This focus and hard work demonstrated that students recognize that their continued effort and participation has an real impact, that their work reflects on the FHS community, and that they take pride in being able to meet, and in many instances exceed, the expectations of their teachers.
The articles in this newsletter recount some of the teaching moments, projects, and hard work that helped prepare students for the portfolio sessions. I am so proud of how each of these people, including teachers, teaching artists from our arts partner Working Playground and a volunteer, are committed to continually working to provide their students with a more effective, more relevant classroom experience. Their dedication and selflessness are the backbone of the success of this school and its students.
Before you proceed to read about these exciting achievements, I’d like to bring your attention to a new feature of our curriculum: community service learning projects. In preparation for our first 12th grade class, FHS is looking for organizations where we can place students for service internships. We consider this an integral aspect of the senior seminar experience, where students integrate the Facing History and Ourselves concept of “Choosing to Participate” into their high school experience. We are actively looking for community partners for this project, and I urge you to contact the school with any potential opportunities.
Thank you all very much and I hope you enjoy this edition of the newsletter.
Best,
Gillian