Claude Monet The Street at Argenteuil, Snow Effect, 1874

January at Golden View

A LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL

January 2023

Dear Friend of Golden View Classical Academy,

I walked through the school yesterday afternoon, and was struck by a bright blue, and quite large, Paw Patrol backpack. Not my choice in backpack, necessarily, but adorable nonetheless. I’m more of a Grizzy and the Lemmings kind of dad, though I’m not sure they have any backpacks. With a kindergartener coming next year, I’m sure to find out and will report back.

The student was being excellent - not running or yelling, but walking calmly, holding his big brother’s hand, a big brother who is in Middle School. They would ordinarily not see each other at the end of the day like this, the way schools are typically split up, and would never be milling around with High School students who are about to do their winter track work-outs or about to study. Their examples, out in the wild as it were, would never really influence each other.

This is a lovely thing, and one of the unique features of a K-12 school. When Middle School students are compelled to remember that little children are in their midst, that they ought to have the right of way in the hallway, that they are small and can be afraid, they remember themselves and their responsibility. They are older, and therefore their example matters. What they do is what the littler ones will do, and that will give the school a certain feel and hue.

We are about to go into the end of the year, and this fact will slowly dawn on our seniors who, simply because of the step they are soon to take (if they pass their classes and thesis defense, of course), are of great interest to everyone in the school. Middle School students look at them and learn how to act, and Grammar School students then do the same. And it flows all the way down to our Kindergarteners, the ones who love Paw Patrol, or My Little Pony, or Spiderman, or Batman (superior to Spiderman) and that spreads up and down and around the school.

I may not like Paw Patrol, curmudgeon that I am, but that backpack sure was a great reminder of the importance of our own example, as it extends through the student body and down to the first young children who are still getting used to school.

Sincerely,

Dr. Garrow

Principal, Golden View Classical Academy

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CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHT

Math word problems are a critical component of a robust mathematics curriculum because they provide the applicative context within which students rely on their ability to visualize, use mental math, develop logical analysis, and boost creative thinking. The same habits of approaching a word problem can be found in the earliest grades to the later ones: read, draw, write. The more that students participate in reasoning through problems with a systematic approach, the more they internalize those behaviors and thought processes. We ask ourselves, “What do I visualize? Can I draw a picture or a bar model to show what I see? What conclusions can I draw from my picture?”

If you observe a math class in which students are working on a word problem, you might see the teacher modeling the whole process with interactive questioning, some choral response, and class discussion. After completing the problem, students might reflect with a partner on the steps they used to solve the problem. They might be given the same or a similar problem to solve for homework. Then, the teacher might provide a different word problem and ask students to work independently or in pairs, with guided feedback and a class discussion after several minutes. The class discussion might include selecting different student work to share, and they are encouraged to think about the work with questions such as, “What do you notice about Jeremy’s work?”, “What is the same about Jeremy’s work and Sara’s work?” or, “How did Jeremy show 1/5 of the blocks?”, and “How did Sara show 1/5 of the blocks?” As this kind of engagement builds a classroom rooted in mutual respect for different ideas, it rests on the idea that a systematic approach helps us to break down even the trickiest word problem.

From Mrs. Kiesewetter, Grammar School Dean at Golden View

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ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHT

Basketball at Golden View is an excellent way for student-athletes to develop and demonstrate many of our core virtues.  Players must show responsibility, working on their skills as individuals in order to make the team better.  Players must show moderation when situations on the court arise that are intense and stir up a competitive fight.  Players must show courage to battle against teams that are taller, stronger, and better skilled in order to get better themselves. The basketball program at GVCA has grown substantially since its humble beginnings in the original cafegymatorium.  Last summer High School coaches and older players offered basketball camps for students in 1st through 6th grade.  During the fall and spring students in 5th and 6th grade now have the opportunity to participate in an after-school basketball club. Over 50 middle school boys and girls have just begun their basketball seasons.

Both the High School Boys and Girls Basketball programs at Golden View are in the middle of their best seasons in program history. Both teams are led by a strong core of seniors who have invested an enormous amount of time and energy in developing their skills, teamwork, and competitiveness for several years.  The teams are competing for the first time as part of the 2A-3A Foothills League.  Being part of a league fosters healthy rivalries and camaraderie among players and coaches. We are in the middle of league play leading up to the district and state tournaments.  If you are a basketball fan, curious about the evolution of the basketball program, or just want to support the GVCA student-athletes, join us for one of our upcoming home games. Here's a link to our MaxPreps page for the HS Boys and Girls.

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

Student Accolades

Congratulations to GVCA's award winners this month: Student of the Quarter, Athlete of the Quarter, Character Awards, and Handwriting Contest! Great job!

Apply for Enrollment

Today, January 31, is the last day to apply for our 2023-2024 lottery! Families interested in applying can find our application here. We will begin sending offers and announcing waitlists in early February 2023.

Caritas Aurea

We are excited to announce that tickets for this year's Caritas Aurea are now available. You can purchase them through your Handbid app or by clicking here.

Should you have any questions, please contact Ms. Plummer at qplummer@goldenviewclassical.org.

Board Meeting

The February Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 15 at 5:30pm in the Bailey Heritage Library. You can find meeting agendas on BoardDocs prior to the meeting.