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Yesterday I had the honor and pleasure to be one of 12 adults who had the opportunity to interview the current fifth grade students at Four Peaks Elementary School. I was joined by: Leara Thompson, Shawn Uphoff, Toni Ribail, Nicole Perkins, Dr. Wendy Barnard, Edith Stock, Dr. Bill Myhr, Henry Leger, Cecil Yates, Val Dehombreux, and Cain Jagodzinski.
The interviews are just one part of the annual C5 project organized and hosted by the fifth grade teaching team.The fifth grade team uses this project as a stepping stone for preparing the students for their rapidly approaching increased autonomy as they start independently patronizing the businesses of our community and eventually applying for jobs on their own. The teachers focus on providing as much help as possible as they send the students on their way up the educational ladder and out into the world of work and commerce. Ultimately, the goal is to help students understand how they fit into the community and ensure their success as citizens of Fountain Hills.
As part of C5, at different times during the next week student teams will be working on a wide variety of "hands on" projects, typically without a lot of teacher interventions. Some students will be researching "Documents of Freedom" as part of the decision making that is necessary to develop a museum. Others will be writing newspaper articles while others are sorting and pricing inventory items while yet others are developing advertising collateral. Many students will be learning how to use Excel to take on jobs as cashiers, bank tellers, and retail inventory specialists. Students will develop businesses that address the basic human needs of food, shelter, and clothing, as well as businesses related to healthcare industries, leisure and recreation, financial services, and more. Through C5, students get a chance to sample all that makes our Fountain Hills community such a source of pride.
Fifth grade teacher Donna Male describes the C5 project as, "........something of a critical thinking skills and problem solving final exam." I speak on behalf of the other 12 adults who took part in yesterday's interview session when I say, "Thanks for letting us be a very small part of this very big project."
Patrick Sweeney, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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