Kemp - Brazile 12-19

Parents,

 

Before I jump into the happenings in our classroom, I would like to say “Thank you” to Daniella DeFoor. She coordinated our Holiday party yesterday and it was a big hit. I think it’s fairly obvious that it’s not my area of expertise to organize and decorate for parties, so all efforts to make it go smoothly are greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks also go out to all of the parents who attended to share the event with our class. I know it’s rough, especially this time of year, to give your time and gifts. It’s appreciated by me.

 

The kids finished the “Hour of Code” week. They’ve really had fun with it and I’ll send out the certificates today. I hope they continue experimenting with what they’ve learned.

 

As I wrap up this week, we’re also wrapping up the second quarter and, in turn, the first semester. I am putting the final grades on about 3,770 individual assignments for this quarter. I’m ball-parking that we’ve completed about 6,000 assignments this year. That’s an incredible number. It shows just how hard working your fifth grader has been. The growth I’ve seen so far is incredible. I hope you’ve seen a growth in responsibility and independence at home. It says a lot about the parents too, that the kids are growing so much. They can’t grow if they’re not given the room and the opportunity. They’re doing well and I hope you’re as proud of them for these accomplishments as I am.

 

I’ve designed a class that’s outside the box and can be uncomfortable for many whose background is traditional education. I thank you all for being so supportive and open to what can be done. I truly believe that the kids can do so much more than what they think they can do. The key is unlocking their potential . While we’ll still continue experiencing “growing pains,” we’ll also see tremendous growth as the kids mature. I am lucky to have such an eager class and I’m so excited about the third quarter units. I hope that they’re entertaining to keep them engaged and interesting to help them learn. Creating an engaging unit for the kids is one of the most fun parts of my job. A close second is seeing them turn red from dancing in class.

 

I’ve gotten many gifts from you all and they’re very appreciated. I see by the gifts that I may need to re-evaluate my habits and some of the stories I tell. Apparently, my honey bun addiction is obvious to all but me. And I have way too many pets.

 

Please have a safe and happy holiday season. Enjoy the break with your family, as I plan to enjoy every second with mine.

Thanks,

Shane Brazile

 

 

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