Friday 25 May 2012

Authorization Visit

Hello Families,


We had a bittersweet day today.  The Authorization team left with the comment that our program is one that exemplifies an Early Years IB program.  The children were enthusiastic learners and did a wonderful job demonstrating their reading of the musical score for the song we are doing for the concert.  The teachers explained in clear and concise ways how they improve the planners we develop for every unit of inquiry.  The parents shared their enthusiasm for the excitement that their children display at home as a result of the units of inquiry.  They shared that the children were being supported to be life-long, internationally-minded learners.


At the end of the day the team met with the Principal and the Co-ordinator to share some general comments.  The Authorization team did not share the outcome of the visit but the school will be made aware within 90 days.  There was some sense of hope shared so they feel they are on their way to making Southlands a strong IB Programme.


Creative Minds' position in the Authorization has been challenged however.  It appears that there were some irregularities in the first application 4 years ago (we may not have been adequately included).  Further, the fact that we are an independent body from the school poses the IBO some problems as far as who governs what.  I am not quite certain how this will play out and I have to say that I was rather taken aback by it all given that I provided the information for the final application and it was made clear that we were requesting Authorization as PART OF the school application.  I am disheartened by the lack of systems or policies to support such public/ventureventures especially ones that are in the best interests of all children.  


I don't know what will come of this I am reminded of the message in this quote:


We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. ~ Frederick Koenig


I appreciate that we have parents who are as wonderful as you all are and I will gaze upon the roses we just got from Caroline knowing that we will continue to see the beauty in all of this.


Kate

Monday 21 May 2012


Mindfulness and the Care of the Centre

I spent time in the Centre this weekend polishing the floor with my son.  The easy rhythm of our work compelled me to go back in the evening and do some simple tasks.  When there, in the quiet of the evening, I experienced an awakening to the space and to my senses within that space.  It was a reminder that in the care of the toys, the windows, the floors, I am showing the children my care for them.  It made me think about all the hours parents of Creative Minds children have given to the care of the building.  From plumbing help and the scrubbing of windows and walls to the organizing of the 3000+ books and the sorting of all that Lego!  Each of you have given so much to Creative Minds and the importance of the time you have given has not been overlooked.  In fact, each time we have a collective gathering to care for the space we, as teachers, experience a reawakening of our senses in that space.  As  Kabat-Zinn puts it " ...our primary connection to life is through our own interiority — the experiencing of our own body and all our senses, including the mind, which allow us to touch and be touched by the world, and to act appropriately in response to it."  Thus, our care of the space supports our care of the children in ways that go far beyond their safety and the programming.

I felt you might like to know that Tuesday is not just a work party, but an opportunity for us all to celebrate our care for the children.  

Kate