October Message from Principal Aric Soderbloom
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Greetings families, students, and Shabazz community,
Every year Shabazz creates a school improvement plan to guide our work for the year. Any plan for improvement is built upon fundamental beliefs. These beliefs are stated as if/then statements and are sometimes called theories of action. Our focus this year is grounded in the idea that in order to learn how to think critically, problem solve, and communicate, our students need to feel like they belong in the classroom (belonging), like they will be successful in learning (self-efficacy), and that they will learn if they put forth enough effort (growth mindset).
We believe these internal mental traits of
belonging, growth mindset, and self-efficacy
are not taught, but emerge out of the process of a safe community of learners engaging in challenging and authentic tasks. At Shabazz, we believe increasing our students’ sense of belonging, growth mindset, and self-efficacy (confidence) will increase the likelihood that students will take positive risks in our classroom.
In the end, learning does not happen without positive risk taking. Positive risk taking means that a student is willing to share their ideas, speak in class, create a work of art, or share their writing. If students can take positive risks, then we can engage them in learning.
So, we believe:
● If we strengthen community in the classroom and strengthen relationships with individual students, then we will increase our students’ sense of belonging.
● If we create authentic tasks and activities for students that are aligned with a clear purpose, and support students in building skills by providing meaningful feedback and providing time for reflection on progress, then we will support students in developing their self-efficacy.
● If we develop challenging tasks, assist students in persevering in completing these tasks, and provide regular feedback and opportunities to reflect on their growth and change, then we will increase student self-efficacy and growth mindset.
● If students sense of belonging, self-efficacy, and growth mindset increase, then we will increase the likelihood that they will engage in the authentic challenges at Shabazz.
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History of the Plains Field Trip
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On Thursday, September 21, a handful of Shabazz students took a trip to the UW Arboretum for their
History of the Plains
class. The trip was designed to extend their understanding of the tall grass prairie as a restoration/preservation site. Overall, the class looks at the idea of what is worth preserving in today’s fast paced and ever changing world.
The trip started normally enough with the Arboretum naturalist giving a rundown of the Arb’s history and reasons for preserving the prairies. Mainly these ideas focused on water filtration and oxygen creation. The class then moved into an activity collecting plant samples from the prairie and the lawn. Later in class, this activity connected to the idea of the biodiversity, which is high in the prairie and lacks on the lawn. This was stretched into a further reason for preserving the prairie.
Read more and see more pictures here.
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Students Develop Leadership Skills at Cherokee Marsh
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Shabazz students enrolled in
Experiential Leadership
this quarter have been developing the technical and facilitation skills to be Shabazz and community leaders in experiential education. Students have spent the quarter so far "living the process" engaging in community building activities, low ropes initiatives, kayaking and belay training.
Read more and see more pictures here.
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Make Sure Students' Absences are Excused!
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There are
three
ways to excuse an absence:
- Call Hannah at 608-204-2440. Leave a message after hours.
- Email Hannah at hshafer@madison.k12.wi.us.
- Excuse the absence online. If you need your IC username or password, send Hannah an email.
Here are two very important notes about excusing absences for your student.
- Absences can be excused retroactively. If you forgot to excuse a past absence, call 204-2440 anytime to have it excused.
- Did you get a robo "skip call" that you don't think is accurate? This often happens when a student arrives late to class and the teacher forgets to change the attendance to tardy. Call 204-2440 anytime to have this fixed.
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Registration will be open from Monday October 16 - Friday, November 3 for Thanksgiving baskets from the Goodman Community center. See instructions below to register. Registration does not guarantee your family will get one. It is dependent on supplies.
When you register you will receive a postcard by Nov. 13, informing you of the date and time to pick up your Thanksgiving Basket. You must keep this postcard and bring it with you to pick up your basket. There are three ways to register:
- Online at goodmancenter.org
- In person at the Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa Street, Madison
- By phone 608-204-8018, Monday-Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. during registration dates
- No Fax registration.
To donate food, money or to volunteer to help visit the Goodman Center's
Thanksgiving Basket
page.
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Parent Teacher Conferences - October 12
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Save the Date
Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday, October 12
10 am - 7:30 pm
There is no school for students but they are invited to come to conferences with parents/guardians.
Call 204-2440 to schedule. You can leave a message 24/7. Please leave your best contact number so we can return your call to confirm. Plan to be here for 1-1/2 hours, based on 15 minutes with each teacher.
Slots are filling up so call to schedule your conference ASAP!
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Gallery Show - October 31
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The Shabazz Gallery Show
is an exhibit that culminates the work that our own Shabazz students have done this first quarter. This is a mixed media show that features works of
illustrations, drawing, painting, and ceramics.
Students and families are invited and snacks will be provided. We hope to see you there.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
3:15 - 4:15 pm
In the Gallery
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Yearbook Photos: Attention Graduating Seniors
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Each year the Shabazz Yearbook highlights graduating seniors. This special section of the yearbook typically contains a photo of each graduate, along with a brief “blurb.” Inclusion in the yearbook is voluntary. If your 2018 graduate has had professional photos taken for the occasion, we ask that you submit the photo directly to Shabazz, rather than relying on the photographer to send it.
More important info here
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OCTOBER DATES
Wednesday, October 11
6:30 pm in LMC
Thursday, October 12
No School for Students
10:00 am - 7:30 pm
Friday, October 27
No School for Students
Staff Development Day
Tuesday, October 31
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MONDAYS ARE EARLY RELEASE DAYS AT SHABAZZ!
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Shabazz City High School
1601 Sherman Avenue
Madison WI 53704
608-204-2440
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