Reasons To Be Proud

It is with great pleasure we introduce Najah Lowe as the new Director of Finance & Operations. Najah takes on the role after the retirement of Maggie Rosenfeld. Please be sure to introduce yourself and help welcome her to our school!

The "Portrait of a PS1 Graduate" is the result of a one-and-a-half year research project we performed to determine the salient characteristics of a PS1 graduate.

When your child turns twelve, what can you expect will characterize them as people, friends, students, and colleagues - both personally and interpersonally? Our research garnered the following benefits: our graduates, year in and year out, are Self-Aware; Respectful; Expressive; Inquisitive; Collaborative; Problem-Solver; Connected; Proactive; and Prepared.

The new issue entitled, "Learning Expeditions" journeys into the WHY behind the exciting and stimulating trips our students take during the year, highlighting examples throughout the Clusters. Combined with updates from our empowered alumni, and reflections from recent events and traditions, it's an issue you won't want to miss! CLICK HERE to read it online.

One of the most moving and powerful graduation ceremonies to date, June 13th marked the graduation of the Class of 2019. Each student presented a speech to the entire community, and audience members were wowed by the poise and self-assuredness of each graduate. We congratulate the Class of 2019 as they move on to middle schools including Archer, Brentwood, Geffen, JAMS, New Roads, Wildwood, Windward, and more!

"Look at that moon. Potato weather for sure." It is tradition for Olders students at PS1 to perform plays at the end of each school year. This June, we were treated to the fifth-grade students from both classes presenting Our Town by Thornton Wilder, and the Theatre Festival continued with the sixth-grade students presenting Romeo and Juliet for their very last Circle Time!

The entire community of students and parents were amazed, astounded, and awestruck at the professionalism and creativity of students' productions on stage and behind the scenes!

The annual camping trip is a highlight of the school year! It also supports Pluralism in so many ways. On the trip, students learn how to be responsible group members and to take care of themselves and each other, gaining independence and working as a team. They solidify bonds and make new connections with their peers that go beyond the classroom. Camping allows students to shine in a new environment, and creates wonderful new leadership opportunities.

PS1 is one of the featured businesses in the 2019 Sustainable Quality Awards video because we (most recently) won the 2018 SQA Grand Prize. It's a touching and informative video that summarizes why sustainability (environmental, social, and economic) is such an important part of PS1's mission.

Summer is coming! PS1 is proud to continue our partnerships with Camp Galileo and Santa Monica Youth Orchestra's Opus 6 Music Camp.

Galileo returns to PS1 June 24th to August 2nd for a mix of outdoor fun combined with hands-on STEAM-focused projects.

SMYO takes place July 8th to 28th and offers participants an opportunity to explore the arts and world music.

Each year, our Open House provides a rich opportunity for students to showcase their learning. In the morning, students host visitors in their own classrooms AND visit each classroom on campus, taking on the roles of both teacher and learner. In the evening, parents attend the event to see the exhibits in their child's classroom and all around campus. This year, Open House was more exciting than ever with Studio projects on the Euclid Yard, physics experiments in the classrooms, math games galore, and so much more!

Students in JA Olders showcased their high-level learning in front of a packed audience via their Einstein Debates. Working in teams, students presented and argued different sides to topics such as Nature VS Nurture, Quantum Theory Argument between Bohr and Einstein, the Investment in Space Exploration, and Intuition VS Rational Thinking.

PS1 was thrilled to welcome Ken Cook, president and co-founder of Environmental Working Group for an evening parent education presentation. PS1's long-standing mission of sustainability is a great match with the advocacy work of EWG.

To create an academically rigorous environment, teachers must help students develop the capacity to understand content that is complex, ambiguous, provocative, and personally or emotionally challenging. Click to read the newest Teaching & Learning blog post, where we describe what we mean by Rigor and highlight examples of our rigorous academic program in each Cluster from Youngers to Olders.

Are you curious about our approach to Multi-Age Grouping, including our Cluster system? Watch the video to learn more about this important aspect of how we organize classrooms and learning at PS1.

In the Olders Cluster, students examined the role of the press in reporting, reflecting, and shaping public opinion. Students explored different aspects of the First Amendment, political cartoons, front page news, and social media. Then they toured the LA Times Printing Plant to see firsthand how news stories go from the press room to your doorstep.

In the newest Teaching & Learning Blog Post, we explore the theme of Learning Goals. What do we mean by learning goals and how do teachers set these goals throughout the curriculum? CLICK HERE to read more from Nancy Harding, PS1's Assistant Head for Teaching & Learning.