Education Week has released the report Quality Counts 2006 which grades states based on their education policymaking and student achievement.
The report gives Utah a C+ on state education policy which is in line with the national average, according to the report.
Statistics can be misleading. I was glad to see that many items included in the report were debunked and/or explained by a Utah Sate of Education official.
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Public school teachers are very sensitive at this time of year when there is a lot of “celebrating” going on. The “merry christmas” wish is not necessarily appropriate to all children.
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Last night was one of the Holiday Follies performances by the students of City Academy. A special guest appearance was made by Amy Davis who is the current Miss Utah.
Last night’s performance was dedicated to the staff and board members and their families.
I am the music director at City Academy, a progressive public charter school for grades 7-12. This is the first production like this at our school and I am very proud of our students and thankful for our very talented theater director, Brandon Stauffer.
Last night was one of the Holiday Follies performances by the students of City Academy. A special guest appearance was made by Amy Davis who is the current Miss Utah.
Last night’s performance was dedicated to the staff and board members and their families.
I am the music director at City Academy, a progressive public charter school for grades 7-12. This is the first production like this at our school and I am very proud of our students and thankful for our very talented theater director, Brandon Stauffer.
My Advisory students have organized a community holidy giving project. We are excited because a local major tv station is coming to interview us and get footage on Thursday.
City Academy has launched the second annual “Giving Tree” Project. The School will be collecting these new/nearly new items to be distributed to the needy in the Salt Lake Community:
* mittens
* gloves
* scarves
* sweaters
* socks
* earmuffs
* stockings (Stuffed with soap, combs, hairbrushes, toothbrushes, floss and paste, etc.)
* small toys (Small stuffed animals, etc.)
* candy
All items should be brought to the school between December 5 and 15 – 2416 East 1700 South. Donations will also be collected at the City Academy Holiday Follies.
The recipient will be Hildegarde’s Pantry at the Jubilee Center, a project of the Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City and that caters to the low-income and homeless.
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The School where I teach is all “a-buzz” with musical and theater happenings upcoming. We have a new theater teacher this year who is dynamic and has not been hesitant to get the students invovled in exciting productions. We will be doing “Little Shop of Horrors” in the spring.
Here is what will be happening the next two weeks. My music students will be providing pre-show music on some of the nights:
The Academy Players and City Academy present “The Salt Lake City Holiday Follies.” In the style of the great Ziegfeld Follies, it’s an over the top, glitzed and glamorized look at the holidays in Salt Lake City. Join the Emcee on a hilarious and heart warming journey through large musical numbers, extravagantly ornate costumes–some of which are over 10 feet tall–and a variety of acts, scenes, and monologues, that will leave you singing from the roof tops!
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Occasionally I run across folks who, for whatever reason choose to criticize my skills in whatever area happens to be the issue. I’m not sure why this is because I go about doing what I do without public recognition (or at least without the intent of attracting such) for the good of humanity. These are typically folks who think that because of their expereinces they have the dominating knowledge over others and are the “experts” in their area(s) of skill and that no other person, particularly me, can ever do any good with my skill level in my area(s).
I am never above improving in any area, regardless of how much training or expereince I have had. In fact, I welcome new knowledge and perceptions.Just ask those who are close to me – I am the most critical of myself and the most open to learning. But when people who hardly know me start analyzing and criticizing me and my skills, I get defensive – not because I think I am more qualified but, rather, because these people have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.
Here are some skills of mine that have come into question by some “more highly skilled than I” (ahem!) folks I have encountered in my recent past:
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(Update: See memorial page at: City Academy)
Yesterday our school community was affected by the news that a former student had died of a herion overdose.
John Phillips, a member of the first graduating class of the school where I teach, City Academy, was a kind and gentle human being, always respectful and pleasant, bright and intelligent, and well-liked by everyone in our school community.
John delivered an inspiring and emotional speech at City Academy’s graduation ceremony last spring as a member of our school’s very first graduating class. He spoke of his struggles and how our school community supported him throughout his high school experience. Although he at times felt he would not graduate from high school, he made it with the help from his devoted parents and members of our school community.
John was accepted for admission to the University of Utah and had enrolled and begun classes there.
I didn’t know John as well as others in our school community, having only taught him in one of my classes, but we had a good relationship and I respected and admired him for his respectful and gentle nature.
I will not choose at this time to delve into the problems with our society’s treatment of victims of substance abuse, but it is clear that John is one concrete example of how it isn’t working.
It’s going to be a tough next few days for our school, where most of our students and staff have been affected by this news.
The service to celebrate John’s life will be Saturday, November 5, 4pm, at our school:
City Academy
2416 East 1700 South , Salt Lake City
In lieu of flowers, people are asked to make donations to City Academy via Wells Fargo Bank.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 