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: 6th grade completed and shared their illuminated manuscripts inspired by Catherine Called Birdy this week! These highly creative pieces will be included in their 6th grade writing portfolio coming home next week! Be sure to keep those portfolios safe – I’ve tried to emphasize with them how special it is to be able to look back at childhood and adolescent writing when you’re older! We also began a viewing of an episode of Cadfael – a BBC mystery series set in medieval England. We have been working on comparing the stories in this show to Catherine’s life from our novel.
Next week, we will finish the episode, take part in some end of year reviews, and enjoy the last day of school’s field day!
Science: This week in Science, 6th graders explored the fascinating role of the nervous system in helping us interact with the world around us. Students considered what it might be like to navigate daily life without one of their senses, leading to thoughtful discussions about how our bodies gather and process information from the environment.
Students also conducted an investigation into touch sensitivity, discovering that different areas of the hand are more sensitive than others. They analyzed why these differences exist and discussed how varying levels of sensitivity help us safely and effectively interact with our surroundings.
Next week, students will wrap up their study of the nervous system as we reflect on our learning and prepare for the final days of school. It has been exciting to see students make meaningful connections between scientific concepts and their own everyday experiences.
Social Studies: I want to say how proud I am of the sixth graders and the amount of effort they put into their research papers! This was their second time ever working on a paper like this and their growth from last year shows! 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, 56th grade took a trip to The Charleston Museum and explored different exhibits, taking notes, drawing pictures, and asking questions to help them understand the history a bit more. When we returned to school, we used our imaginations to turn the exhibit into a historically accurate “night at the museum” story, turning the people and animals we learned about to life! We shared them with our classmates, and learned about different historical Charleston eras along the way.
