When reflecting on this year, looking forward to summer, and trying not to become too sappy, I’d like to bring our focus to play.
Anne Wil often hears from visiting and touring parents how much our middle schoolers play. And play they do. They come in from recess giggly and sweaty. We watch students play games with balls – sometimes showing incredible athleticism, sometimes simply enjoying being part of it. We watch students play imaginative games, using toys and parts of the playground as pieces of a new world they’ve created. They develop elaborate point systems and rules for games that exist only between their friends. We watch students play confusing card games, inviting others in to learn while groups gather nearby to watch and referee.
All of this play, happening every day, takes place free from screens and alongside their peers. They move their bodies, they fall and help each other up, they get hot in the sunshine, and they are truly kids.
When I think about my own summers as a kid, I remember exploring the woods, climbing trees, falling off my bike, and drinking from the hose. While these kids may have Owalas and Stanleys, the spirit of their play feels the same — rooted in innocence and joy.
It is my hope that they don’t lose that going into the summer, a time when technology can really suck you in and make a few hours disappear. I hope they get their shoes dirty in the marsh and their clothes soaked from running through sprinklers. I hope they run around their neighborhoods, get sweaty, teach someone a new game, or, even better, invent a new game together. I hope they explore new spaces, help someone up (literally and figuratively) and make memories that don’t need to be documented to matter.
Play is so important for healthy development, and it can easily be lost at this age. We see it every day – these kids still have plenty of play left in them, and I’d say we’d be fools not to savor every last minute of stinky, giggly, sweaty childhood. Whatever your summer holds, I wish you and your kids buckets of play.
-Ms. Riley
REMINDER: Next week is Spirit Week! Wrap up the school year by showing your TCS Spirit!
Tuesday, 5/26 – Pajama Day
Wear your favorite comfy pajamas to school!
Wednesday, 5/27 – Wacky Wednesday
Get creative and wacky! Mismatch your socks, dress like your teacher or twin with a friend!
Thursday, 5/28 – Fan Day
Share your fandom for your favorite books, sports teams, bands, or anything else you love!
Friday, 5/29 – Field Day! (Cluster Colors)
Gear up for TCS Field Day by dressing in your Cooper Cluster colors!
Important Dates
May 25th – Memorial Day (No School)
May 28th – 8th Grade Graduation (11:30am Dismissal)
May 29th – Field Day/Last Day of School (11:30am Dismissal)
ELA: 7th grade made me so proud this week – they dove head first into a harkness discussion modeled after the socratic-style seminars that are very common around Charleston high schools. They were able to take total control of their circle, posing questions and collaborating together to reach deep conclusions about Watership Down after completing the novel. We’ll continue to practice this discussion style in 8th grade! Students also viewed the 1978 adaptation of Watership, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the film.
Next week, we will view an episode of All Creatures Great and Small, comparing the shows themes and ideas around nature and animals to Watership Down. We’ll also be diligently preparing for field day on the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL (!), which 7th graders are in charge of running!
Science: This week in Science, our students explored the differences between elements, molecules, and compounds. Through hands-on modeling activities, students built representations of each and investigated how scientists use chemical symbols and formulas to communicate the composition of matter. Next week, students will explore chemical equations and how they represent chemical reactions as we wrap up our chemistry unit.
Social Studies: I want to say how happy I am with the seventh graders and the amount of effort they put into their research papers! The work they put into this paper and their dedication to the research shows in their writing! Their ability to use critical thinking to answer questions about their topic and use their own writing skills to put it into a historical perspective was fantastic! For the last week of school we will be reviewing what we have learned about this year and will be going over next year’s curriculum.
Math: This week in math, 7th grade wrapped up their final math unit with their end of unit assessment – proving their mastery of the pythagorean theorem, perfect squares, and square roots! They also showed their understanding of rational and irrational numbers. We’ll spend the last few days of school signing yearbooks, planning for field day, and celebrating our hard work this year!
DC trip pics:
