News Archive

Fourth graders in Kai Johnson’s class participated in a Tinker Time challenge this week using Marble Run^TM and dominoes. Their goal was to build a structure, send a marble through it and successfully knock down a row of 10 dominoes. Working in small groups, they practiced innovation skills like creative thinking, critical thinking, grit/perseverance, experimentation and collaboration. Before tinkering, they hypothesized how many failures they expected to have before achieving success and tallied their tries on the white board.

Seventh graders worked this week to finalize a project in Music Tech class that had them arranging music for classic rock tunes like Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles and Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen. With teacher Justin Miera, they learned basic guitar chords to lay a track over their selected songs' background music. While one student played, others acted as recording engineers. "This was a fun assignment that gave everyone a chance to use the recording equipment and to play music," shares Sara Burke (7). The project included these steps:

Fifth graders met with representatives from the Denver Zoo Immersion Program yesterday to learn more about animal conservation, their service-learning project. Their activity this week was to understand the complicated issues surrounding conservation by debating the endangered cheetah population from the perspective of a farmer, poacher, conservationist and rancher. 

Having just concluded a formal debate as to whether or not there is life on other planets, fifth graders engaged in some entertaining experiments with liquid nitrogen. “With a temperature near -320 degrees Fahrenheit, liquid nitrogen approximates the relative temperature of the outer planets,” explains science teacher, Andy Dodge. “When we consider that the surface temperature of Uranus and Neptune are both below -350 degrees, it’s hard to image just how cold that really is. Liquid nitrogen helps us to better conceptualize that reality.”

Thank you, Lower School families, for your generosity and for supporting your children as they learn about philanthropy through the Spark Change program. We collected an incredible $5,632.74 in 2017! Now that our collection is complete, our Spark Change Agents will research and interview local organizations in January and February to determine how to award grants using the money. We have selected two causes to support: children and natural disaster relief.

First graders are dressed in costume today for Wizard Day, a time to celebrate learning based on the BrainWise^® program. BrainWise teaches children how to use their smart (wizard) brains to make good choices.

One of the highlights of Grade 2 is Gooney Bird Greene Day, a day for students and their teachers to dress up in unique, mismatched outfits. It’s not just a fashion statement; the class models their attire after Gooney Bird Greene, the feisty central character in a series of books by Lois Lowry.

In a cross-discipline lesson, fourth graders are employing the design thinking process to study natural resources and Native American regions in both science and social studies. 

As part of the second-grade curriculum, Lower School Counselor Kathy Riley has been reading and discussing Todd Parr’s It’s OK to be Different. Each class published their own version of the book before celebrating their publications in the library. To support this exciting project, librarians put together a book display with a focus on celebrating differences and inclusivity. Stop by and "check it out!"

In seventh grade science, the students have just finished a unit on geologic time and the evolving Earth. In order to connect their classroom learning to the work of real paleontologists and geologists, the entire seventh grade headed off campus recently for an afternoon at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

James R. Hannibal, author of The Lost Property Office and its sequel, The Fourth Ruby, visited students this week to discuss and demonstrate the mechanics of story creation. A highly energetic presenter, Mr. Hannibal engaged students in building a fictional tale in which Charlie Cheetah went up against the villainous Penelope Pig in a futuristic Japan. Along the way, he described the orphan-wanderer-soldier-hero story structure and key story elements like setting, plot and theme. 

In history class, students have been analyzing the road leading to America’s declaration of independence from Great Britain. For a re-enactment of the Second Continental Congress, they each assumed the identity of a delegate with one of three political perspectives (Patriot, Loyalist or Neutralist) to participate in a debate with their peers. The assignment was designed to give them a more intimate understanding of the issues of the era while learning important facts about the revolution.

Third graders visited several "monster readers" around campus to hear Halloween-themed stories before regrouping for holiday art projects. Special thanks to Josh Cobb, Ashleigh Finn, Charlene Haskett, Di Nestel, L Stevenson and Kieffer Williams for their Halloween help! 

Eighth graders in the choir program with Josh Gaffga recently collaborated on a musical performance based on their experience on the Civil Rights trip. The show travels the path from Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthplace (Atlanta) to where he was assassinated in Memphis, the same journey taken by students on the eighth grade trip. 

Yesterday, kindergartners heard the story of the Great Pumpkin, a Graland legend about a magical creature who visits campus each fall. In the library, students sat attentively while Ann Deboe, PE teacher, read them the story and then they lined up to get the special orange dot on their earlobes that will enable them to see the Great Pumpkin -- IF they can find it today.

Students leading the campus Spark Change group are set to begin collecting change for a good cause. At a Lower School assembly today, they will describe this service learning project and how they will collaborate to select a cause to support with funds, such as children in need, animals, veterans, etc. Parents are encouraged to assign extra chores and pay students in coins if they would like to support Spark Change.

Science teacher Sarah Onstad led students on a tour through the Denver Botanic Gardens last week: "Second grade scientists have been focusing on the study of ecology, asking the question, 'Do plants and insects help or harm each other?'"

This summer, I had the incredible gift of attending SEED Leadership Week, just outside of Boston, for seven full days of intense and deeply rich training. Participants came from every region of the United States and included both public and private school teachers, social workers, and medical professionals interested in the work of equity and diversity.

Eighth graders in Mr. Dan Barklund's class worked this week on a constant velocity lab as part of a unit on physics.

Young students lined up to meet a crew of firefighters this week and to explore a real fire truck. These community heroes demonstrated how they put on all their gear and encouraged children to touch their masks and helmets. The goal was to help children overcome their fear of uniformed firefighters. Students also practiced saying "9-1-1 is the number you call" in case of an emergency. 

Mother Nature didn’t dampen the excitement and energy surrounding this year’s Bike Hikes. The fourth graders eagerly pedaled their bikes for 12 miles along the Cherry Creek path. This excursion provided opportunities for students, teachers and chaperones to get outside the classroom and enjoy a variety of academic and community building activities. 

Mrs. Julie Stretz’s class visited the Gates Innovation Lab for the first time this year for a lesson in tinkering. Led by Elizabeth Leddy, technology education specialist, students first learned about why tinker time is so important.

Third graders learning a world language visited the Cherry Creek Farmer's Market this week with one goal in mind: to practice their Spanish vocabulary. Under the watchful eye of Señora Christi James, students used prepared scripts to greet vendors and make conversation at the outdoor mercado. Before cruising through the market, they were each given $3 to spend on fruits and vegetables.

The Class of 2018 spent five impactful days in the South, where they explored the Civil Rights Movement through museums, monuments and meeting those who lived through the era. Thanks to history teacher Jane Maslanka, we have a daily blog of their experiences.

We kicked off fall trips this week, giving middle school students the chance to explore far and wide as they apply classroom lessons in real world settings. Graland's trip program is a unique, memorable and impactful way to bring learning to life.

• Grade 5 visited La Foret Conference Center in Colorado Springs where they worked on team building and personal growth. Highlights of the trip include the ropes course, zip line, team challenges and the always popular talent show!
• Grade 6 traveled to Keystone Science School to explore the natural world and examine animal and plant adaptations. On guided hikes, they gathered data and learned concepts that they will further explore throughout the year.
• Grade 7 went to the Challenge Course at the University of Colorado-Boulder for team activities and followed with a lesson in croquet for their service-learning project with local senior citizens.
• Grade 8 leaves tomorrow for their epic adventure to the South. They have a packed itinerary designed to open their eyes to the events, places and people of the Civil Rights Movement.

Ms. Cristina Peña's sixth grade English students spent their class time in the library, browsing, checking out and reading independent reading books. After lIbrarians showcased Graland's extensive Fiction and Young Adult sections and gave recommendations on books to read, students checked out books to occupy their time over the holiday weekend and this week's overnight trip to Keystone Science School. We love to see middle schoolers visiting the library!

Young artists got a lesson in patterns, design and color this week with art teacher Andrea Crane. Using snakes as an example of patterns, she read Hide and Snake, a book by Keith Baker, to the class. Next, students were given their own paper snakes and art utensils to design colorful reptiles.

The entire Lower School met this week for its first assembly of the new year. The assembly was led by fourth graders and featured a welcome chant, the Graland song and a surprise visit by the Graland Eagle.

This summer I moved to a new office. Though the act of moving was daunting, the ultimate process was a productive one. The pace of society today rarely grants us the time to look back and consider how the past relates to the present. Moving allowed me this moment. 

As adults, it can be challenging to watch a child struggle and our natural inclination is to rescue children from this uncomfortable experience. However, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) 2014 publication, 

For the fifth year, Graland Middle School students were honored after they competed in the Western Academic Talent Search (WATS). WATS is facilitated by the Center for Bright Kids and provides opportunities for academically talented students in Grades 3-9.

Saturday, May 20, was a date for the Graland history books as our community gathered to celebrate two important milestones - the accomplishments of Ronni McCaffrey as she prepares for retirement and achieving our ASCEND goal, a campaign fulfilling the vision that Ronni set for Graland.

Seventh graders presented their unique representations of “sacred spaces and sacred places” this week based on reflections from the recent trip to Washington, DC. Students were asked to thoroughly research the history and background of an event, place or person that impacted them and present their learning in a personal way.

First graders in Lisa Schreiner's class have been deeply engaged in a unit studying communities with intern Aleda Deuble. 

Sixth grade scientists put STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) into action when they designed creative vehicles from post-consumer materials.

Third graders have been studying the history of Colorado and last week their teacher was a real mountain man. Doc Grizzly set up camp on the east lawn to demonstrate how trappers and traders lived in the frontier days.

Fifth graders have been at work since last month on their knighting unit, a Graland rite of passage dating back decades.

Please join Graland parent Shiraz Kotte and a representative of Girl Scouts of America to learn more about a new troop at Graland starting in the fall. While some people think of Girl Scouts as just cookies, badges, campfires and friendship bracelets, Girl Scouts are so much more!

Kindergartners got a visit from rodeo royalty this week as they prepare for the annual K Rodeo on May 26. The Deer Trail Rodeo’s Lady-in-Waiting, Olivia Bliss, stopped in to answer questions about her experience as a rodeo competitor and to teach students about the rodeo lifestyle.

To prepare for their trip to Washington, DC, seventh graders have been studying the Civil War with Mrs. Gaffga, and this week they gave presentations to their peers on individual topics. They dove deep into subjects like the role of black soldiers, wartime medical treatments, the structure of the Confederate government and weapons of the era. 

In Michelle Benge’s science class, first grade scientists are currently studying simple machines. First graders have learned that simple machines make work easier by reducing the force needed to move an object over a distance. They learned the basic physics of the inclined plane, lever, wedge, pulley, screw, gear, wheel and axle.  In order to apply their learning first graders are working in the Gates Lab within engineering teams on the Playground Challenge.

Science and Spanish teachers teamed up on an astronomy unit with kindergartners in Liza Baker's class. In dual languages, Michelle Benge and Kelly Viseur taught students about the planets in our solar system, in particular the sun (el sol), moon (la luna) and earth (la tierra).

Sixth grade historians with fresh knowledge of the Age of Exploration created business proposals to convince their teacher, “King Caldwell,” to fund hypothetical journeys around the world. 

Second graders worked with yarn and needles to finish up an art project with a math twist. With paper plates as their canvas, students first painted symmetrical, radial designs before attaching string and weaving colorful yarn through it. What a great way to practice fine motor skills and learn math vocabulary while creating beautiful art!

Students in Andy Dodge’s science class went up against the infamous crushing machine this week to culminate a lesson on structural engineering. After learning about good design and attending a cutting clinic on miter joints, students got to work making balsa wood towers. The objective is to understand structural engineering and design principles and apply those on a micro scale. Click to watch the video!

The winter sports season is optional at Graland and includes basketball, yoga and sports conditioning. Eagle Awards are given only in competitive sports and several athletes were recognized on Tuesday for the 2016-17 basketball season. Congratulations!

Congratulations to the five Middle School artists who received recognition in the 2017 Scholastic Art Awards of Colorado program. Two artists brought home the top award, a Gold Key: Julie Marwan (Grade 7) for her work titled Letters to the Editor and Clara Masters (Grade 8) for her piece titled Leap of Faith. They were judged against more than 5,600 works from Colorado students in grades 7-12 on the basis of originality, technical competence and personal voice.

Bilingual educators from the Denver Zoo visited third grade Spanish class this week to share information about animals that are native to Colorado. It was the culminating event in the Grade 3 Colorado wildlife unit that also included projects made on the green screen.

Members of the 5/6 Service Council met with a representative of Freedom Service Dogs of America this week to find out how they can help this organization with its mission. “Service council is a group that choses an organization to help and to raise awareness,” explains co-leader Charlotte Frampton, Grade 6. “Freedom Service Dogs of America rescues dogs from shelters and trains them to help veterans and people with disabilities.”

Eighth graders have a new partner in education, McMeen Elementary on Holly St. In their service learning program coordinated by history teacher Jake Dresden, students visit kindergarten classrooms each month to tutor students. One goal is to examine and observe differences in public versus private school education.

Third graders are off and reading after kicking off the Newbery Book Challenge this week. Their goal is to read at least five award-winning Newbery books, stories that have been recognized on a national level for their literary excellence. These books offer students of all reading levels the opportunity to learn about a multitude of topics in both fiction and nonfiction categories. 

Last week, Ben DeVoss and Betsy Metcalfe joined Middle School parents at a wellness coffee where they shared tips for helping children manage general stressors and achievement stress based on Richard Weissbourd’s book, The Parents We Mean to Be. Weissbourd, a psychologist and professor at Harvard, sheds new light on the negative impact of a hyper-focus on achievement, specifically the culture of fear and shame that it fosters.

Seventh grade English students are preparing to read one of two books as part of the literacy component of their Alzheimer’s unit. Pop is a story about a high school football player who befriends a former NFL player suffering from Alzheimer’s, while The Cay is a story about an intergenerational friendship.