Sixth grade students have been learning about empires, leadership, battles, and myths in Greece and Persia this week. They’ve done a great job joining in discussion around these topics and working to understand them more fully. Yesterday, we also got out a big map and laid it out on the floor to enhance our understanding of these locations and how they were interconnected. They’re doing a great job demonstrating critical thinking with their many excellent questions.

Students in seventh and eighth grade had a lively discussion about leadership traits this week that tied into their learning about major Asian empires and strongholds from the Ottoman to the Tokugawa Shogunate. This crew has grown so much in their ability to engage with challenging topics and to discuss the nuance in situations, and their maturity will surely continue into the spring semester when we discuss the many ways the modern world begins to take shape.

Culinary Arts wrapped up on Wednesday with several different concurrent recipes and the using up of perishable ingredients in the kitchen. These students have grown in confidence, organization, and critical thinking throughout the semester, as well as a variety of skills that will serve them well as they navigate kitchens and cooking in their future. I’m grateful for the time we had together!