Raven Report: January 31, 2024

🎥✨ Premiere Alert! Learn more about what defines Progressive Education from The Summit's parents, faculty, and administration in our brand-new promotional video crafted by the talented Joe Dull of Daringly Dull Productions!

February 2024

Jan 29-Feb 2: K/1/2 Service Drive, Ambassadors for Children

2: Summit Spirit Wear Shirt Orders Due

3: ACT Prep Workshop, 10 am-1:30 pm

7: Global Day of Play

9: Kansas City Chiefs Dress Out Day (No Charge, Red/Gold Theme)

10: Parents' Night Out, 5-8 pm

12-16: Teacher Appreciation Week

14: Late Start, 9:30 am

14: $2 Uniform Buy Out

15: Lower School Dance & Upper School Mixer

16: NO SCHOOL - Teacher Work Day

17: KY3 Women's Show at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, 8 am-4 pm

19: NO SCHOOL - Presidents’ Day, Offices Closed

20: Board of Trustees meeting, 5-6 pm

23: Summit Annual Gala at The Barley House at Moon Town Crossing

28: Volunteer Training, 8:45-9:15 am

29: EARLY RELEASE at 1 pm

March 2024

1: NO SCHOOL - Student Led Conferences

4-8: Spirit Week

8: Culture Day, Summit Family Fiesta

11-15: NO SCHOOL - Spring Break

18: NO SCHOOL - Teacher Work Day

19: Board of Trustees meeting, 5-6 pm

27: Uniform Buy Out Day

27: Volunteer Training, 8:45-9:15am

New! 2024-2025

School Calendar Available

Celebrate with us as we unveil the eagerly awaited school calendar dates for the 2024-2025 academic year, coinciding with our 20th anniversary!

Get ready for a year of educational excellence and exciting festivities. From the first day of school to special anniversary events, the calendar promises a blend of tradition and celebration. Stay tuned for details on exclusive anniversary festivities – a testament to two decades of academic achievement.

Plan ahead for a remarkable year as we embark on this milestone journey together. The best is yet to come!

K/1st/2nd Service Drive to Support Local Children's Charity

As part of a service learning project, Kindergarten, first, and second grade will soon begin collecting new hats, gloves, socks, and scarves in benefit of Ambassadors for Children, an outreach service of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks.

Ambassadors for Children supports the needs of children in foster care in Greene, Christian, and Taney counties. You can help support our students in this noble cause by dropping off new hats, gloves, socks, or scarves in The Summit lobby next week, January 29 through February 2. Ambassadors for Children requests all clothing donations be in new condition. Thank you!

KC Chiefs Free Dress Out Day on Friday, February 9

In anticipation of the Kansas City Chiefs' advancement to Super Bowl LVIII, The Summit is gearing up for a spirited celebration with a Free Uniform Dress Out Day on Friday, February 9th! Students are encouraged to don red and gold attire to honor the Chiefs (or the 49ers, but we'll assume you're supporting the Red Kingdom). Let's paint our campus in the colors of victory to cheer on the Chiefs!

Register for Parents' Night Out, Hosted by 8th Grade

Eighth grade students are hosting a Parents' Night Out event, creating a night of fun and laughter for younger students while raising funds for their eagerly anticipated class trip. With the support of adult chaperones, the eighth graders will host Early Learners through fifth grade students in an entertaining evening on campus filled with games, crafts and activities, a movie, and even a delightful pizza dinner!

When: Saturday, February 10, 2024

Time: Drop off is at 5:00 pm, and pick up is at 8:00 pm

Location: The Summit Music Room

Cost: $30 per student

Registration: Use the link below to register in advance

Space is limited! Don't delay; register today!

For questions, please contact Dr. Tara Bonebrake, Upper School Director.

Get Ready to Bid on Unique Teacher Experiences

As our annual gala fundraiser approaches, the silent auction promises to be a treasure trove of unique experiences, with a spotlight on cherished teacher experiences for students that promise to be the highlight of the evening. Imagine cozying up for a bedtime story read by your favorite teacher or embarking on a thrilling choose-your-own-adventure quest. For dog lovers, there's the chance for a delightful puppy date in the park with a furry friend and a beloved teacher. Check out some of these all-new experiences!

Board Games &

Ice Cream with

Mrs. Collins

You and a friend will join Mrs. Collins for an afternoon of board game fun at Village Meeple Board Game Cafe! After your quests are complete you’ll enjoy an ice cream treat together!

Afternoon Tea & Art in Phelps Grove Park with Mrs. Dalton

This experience will allow you and two friends the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon at Phelps Grove Park with Mrs. Dalton to have afternoon tea then create a nature weaving and sun prints!

Make Your Own Hat with Mrs. Taylor

Summit Lower School Music Teacher, Mrs. Meredith Taylor, has the coolest hats! The winner of this experience will make their own unique hat with the help of Mrs. Taylor!

The full list of teacher experiences will be revealed when the silent auction opens for bidding on Wednesday, February 21st. More details coming soon on how to register with our mobile bidding site, Qtego! Bid on these playful opportunities for your student to not only enjoy a unique connection with teachers but also support the school's initiatives that make learning a joyous journey!

The Summit Prep is proud of our amazing faculty! Every Tuesday we'll be honoring our faculty on social media. This week, we honor Señora Emma Souza, Spanish Faculty!

"Señora Souza embodies the love and joy of learning about language and culture. She challenges students to be creative in their learning and supports growth in global mindset, embodying the progressive model. Students entering Señora Souza's classroom are welcomed, supported, and respected as individuals and as part of the collective learning community. Her positive mindset and team support are invaluable to our K12 language program."

- Dr. Bonebrake, Upper School Director

"You can tell Señora Souza is really passionate and enjoys what she does, which enhances her Spanish class greatly. I appreciate her willingness to help and adjust content if you are struggling. Señora provides a safe, judgement-free class that is very fun to be in."

- Will B., 10th Grade

Board of Trustees Approve Early Learners Expansion

The Summit Board of Trustees recently announced an expansion of the Early Learners program to add a third section of an additional sixteen students. This expansion will include hiring additional faculty and renovating existing space within the building to accommodate the additional class.

Dr. Katie Heet, Head of School, says, "We had a sizable wait pool last year and so this year our board approved adding a section so we can meet the growing demand." She says this expansion allows the school to "continue to support our youngest learners by building curiosity, sparking innovation, and investing in the future of our community.”

This program expansion was recently covered by the Springfield Business Journal and the Springfield News-Leader. Click the links below to read both articles!

The Summit will be at the KY3 Women's Show on Saturday, February 17th at the Ozarks Empire Fairgrounds to promote Camp Raven and share more about Springfield's first fully-accredited independent school. Grab a couple friends and come join Amy and Whitney for this exciting event!

Kindergarten Unravels Blends and Digraphs

Kindergarten students are currently immersed in the exciting world of language as they embark on a journey to understand blends and digraphs. Over the past few weeks, these young learners have been exploring these crucial linguistic patterns. The key distinction between blends and digraphs is that in blends, each letter maintains its individual sound. Take, for instance, the word "brag," where the distinct /b/ and /r/ sounds are preserved within the "br" blend. In contrast, a digraph, a two-letter combination, represents a single sound, as seen in the word "chair," where the /c/ and /h/ combine to create the "CH" sound.

From cut-and-paste activities to crafting digraphs and blends with magnet letters, these young minds are putting their newfound knowledge to the test. They are actively seeking these patterns in books, searching for pictures featuring blends, and enjoying games like beginning and ending consonant blends bingo. As they continue their exploration, these students are honing their skills to become adept readers!

Fifth Grade Embarks on Exploration of the Past

In an exciting week of social studies, fifth grade students have embarked on a journey to become experts on European explorers, laying the groundwork for their upcoming unit on the Age of Exploration. The class delved into extensive research, honing their expertise on individual explorers, and crafted informative slideshow presentations to share with their peers.

This immersive approach ensures that as they progress through the unit, these young scholars will play a crucial role in enlightening the class about the motives, discoveries, and historical contributions of their explorers, sharing their research using primary sources related to or from their respective explorers.

Geometry and Topography

Take Shape in Middle School

Integrated Math students are currently delving into the fascinating realm of solid figures, intertwining their mathematical exploration with their study of topography in science class.

Students began by exploring different shapes, achieved by crafting cross-sections of prisms, cones, spheres, cylinders, and pyramids using Play-Doh. Through this hands-on activity, students mold three-dimensional shapes, cutting them to observe the resultant shapes on the cut side. With this knowledge, students will next build a mathematical representation of volume.

New ISACS Webinar Recording Available

Use the link below to register to receive the link for the most recent ISACS webinar recording.

A Tour Through Your Child's Brain: Development, Technology,

and Learning

Jared Cooney Horvath, Neuroscientist, Author & Educator

From birth to adulthood, our children undergo many changes which can impact their behavior, cognition, and emotions. During this webinar, we will journey through the developing brain and track how it changes across the lifespan (with a special look at the teenage years). Participants will gain a better understanding of why our children act as they do and consider concrete ways to support them cognitively and behaviorally at home. We will explore the impact of technology on development and learning and we’ll learn three principles of learning to support our children as they study and learn at home. This webinar is for school-aged children, grades 1-12.

Additional Resources:

• Webinar Presentation Slides
• Chapter 1: Expertise
• Chapter 5: Multitasking
• Chapter 11: Stress

Additional Videos by Jared Cooney Horvath:

• The Case Against Computers, Smartphones, and AI in School
• All Human Beings Learn The Same
• Can School Really Kill Creativity

Get Ready to Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week

As Teacher Appreciation Week approaches (February 12-16), the dedicated volunteers in the Summit Parent Organization (SPO) are gearing up to make it a memorable celebration for our hardworking educators. This annual event is a wonderful opportunity to express gratitude for the tireless efforts of our teachers!

To ensure a fantastic week for our educators, we're calling on parents to join hands and support the cause. This year, we're planning several special treats for our teachers—including a chili and baked potato bar, everyone's favorite Sonic drinks, gift card giveaways, and more!

We invite parents to get involved by signing up to help out with this jam-packed week celebrating our teachers through various volunteer opportunities like bringing in toppings for the baked potato bar, picking up Sonic drinks, or donating a gift card. Whether it's sour cream, cheese, chives, or any other delicious additions, your contribution will make a significant impact in making our teachers feel valued.

To sign up or learn more about how you can contribute, please use the Sign Up Genius link below or contact Amanda Wheeler-Johnson, Summit Appreciation Committee Chair.