Mission/Vision Alignment
This month we began the process of aligning our department’s mission and vision with the new APS mission and vision statement. This work is ongoing and we hope to share it with you early next year.
Professional Learning
Our team took part in a number of professional development opportunities this month, including in-house sessions on supporting English Learners, participating in district-wide affinity groups, and cross-curricular STEAM integration. We also received a grant from the Arlington Education Foundation to send 5 people from the district to the National Conference of Social Studies, which takes place in Philadelphia in December. We are grateful to the AEF for their support and look forward to learning from our colleagues when they return.
Classroom Learning
Many of our classes have been uplifting Indigenous voices this month. At Ottoson, the students spent time learning about the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and its impact on the US system of government. At AHS, some students spent time learning about Indigenous perspectives through art and analyzing the impact of settler colonialism on Indigenous populations. Ask your students what they have been learning about! At the elementary level, students have been learning about human-environment interactions, specifically examining the Quabbin Reservoir and Spectacle Island!
We look forward to updating you again next month!