Reasons To Be Proud

Recently in Violet, math partners took on the challenge of designing a 60k bike course, applying their understanding of fractions in a real-world context. This week, they brought those designs to life through creative and playful presentations. Some standout features included 3D models crafted from recycled materials, gamified course designs, and extreme obstacle challenges featuring meteors, sharks, and even war zones.

Projects like these give students a chance to merge math with imagination, showcasing their skills in unexpected and exciting ways.

Blue students have been exploring life in Chavez Ravine, delving into the rich cultural traditions, foods, celebrations, and everyday experiences of Mexican Angelenos. Their studies came to life during an exciting, hands-on project: collaboratively building a block model of the entire Chavez Ravine. Divided into three groups, our young historians took on the challenge of recreating each of the Ravine’s neighborhoods. Using their map skills, they determined where key community landmarks—like a school and church—should be placed. These kinds of immersive, tactile experiences are essential to learning, helping students develop a range of skills while deepening their understanding of the past.

In our Building Benches and Measuring Tools unit, third graders are diving into fractions, exploring how to compare them with equal or different denominators. They're also learning to divide various "wholes" into halves, thirds, quarters, and beyond. As part of their hands-on learning, students designed their own precise rulers, explaining how to mark and label measurements without relying on a standard ruler.

Youngers students are exploring the unit, Writers Are Helpers, where they learn that writing can be a powerful tool for making a difference. They are discovering that when they notice a problem in the world, they can take action by expressing their opinions, proposing solutions, and rallying support. Teachers guide them in using persuasive language with words like should, could, and because to strengthen their arguments. One key lesson introduces the concept of petitions, emphasizing how gathering signatures is a way to unite voices and create change.

Students in the Red Class explored the story Pearl and Her Gee’s Bend Quilt by Tangular Irby, learning about the talented women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, and their rich tradition of quilt-making. Inspired by the intricate designs and stunning patterns, they created their own class quilt using the geometric shapes they studied in math. Each piece is vibrant on its own, but when brought together, they form a magnificent, unified masterpiece!

This issue’s theme of “Community and Environment” has never been more relevant, as we have seen the strength of our community in the face of environmental challenges. The theme is also central to the way we empower students at PS1. We believe in cultivating critical thinkers who engage with real-world issues, making connections between human societies and the natural world. CLICK HERE to read the full issue.

PS1's fire relief drive to support families affected by the wildfires - drop off items until Jan. 14. Thank you to so many PS1 families who have already donated!

As they dive into their fantasy series, Olders students are not only immersed in the captivating worlds of their books but are also critically reflecting on the authors' creative choices and the deeper messages woven into the narratives. Last week, they had the exciting opportunity to take this learning a step further by meeting in person with Erika Lewis, the acclaimed author of Kelcie Murphy and The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts.

Students waited in line to cast their votes on Election Day, as part of our Storypath Election Project. Poll workers were on hand to help out, and ballots will be counted in the afternoon. Candidates from the three Olders classes spent the weeks leading up to the election giving speeches and showing their commercials in order to engage and motivate potential voters.

Students in Youngers (K-1) have been learning about the three states of matter. They have identified the basic types of molecules: solid, liquid, and gas and how each takes specific shape, volume, and movement. Students explored how the temperature or a chemical reaction can make objects change from one state of matter to another. They conducted their own experiments to learn more about the changes of matter.

The Storypath Election is drawing near!  Recently, all of the Olders students and the students in Violet Class gathered in the MPR for live speeches! The attention to detail brings an air of excitement and realism to the process.  Additionally, parties booked speaking engagements to deliver their messages in every classroom on campus. In Studio, Chris guided our party members in building voting booths while also creating keepsake framed campaign posters. With each passing day, smaller posters are appearing all over campus, students are registering to vote, and the excitement is building. We look forward to guiding our students through the election process as the days near November 5th.

First-grade students strengthened their numbers sense and addition and subtraction skills by writing their own “double-decker bus” stories. Stories involved several passengers sitting on a double-decker bus (some on the top and some on the bottom). At the next stop, more passengers get on the bus or get off of the bus. How many passengers are on the bus now? Our students loved reading and solving each other's double-decker bus number stories. To learn more about our Math curriculum, CLICK HERE.

We welcomed back 12 PS1 alumni on Oct. 15 for our annual Life After PS1 event. Students from a range of high schools (public and independent) returned to talk about their experiences in middle and high school, and discuss how PS1 set the foundation for their education. The audience was moved by their personification of PS1's Portrait of a Graduate.

5th and 6th grade students in our Olders Cluster are immersed in a Storypath civics study, which focuses on an exploration of the US electoral system. By forming their own political parties and running campaigns in the school, our students will get first-hand experiences and knowledge about how the party system works.

Our updated Vision, Mission and Values statements honor PS1’s rich history and philosophical founding, while charting a course for an exciting future. We are thrilled to unveil the strategic opportunities that lie ahead, as we work together to realize our shared vision for PS1 and ensure that PS1 continues to thrive and evolve in a rapidly changing world.