An Intro to Culture by Heather & Noah Oldham 3

Gateway the

Volume 7 :: Issue 2 Winter /

Spring 2014

Inside

The Power of Pronouns, or why I’m glad we chose SCCS

by Keli Weed, SCCS Parent

The Land of Counterpane illustrated by Ms. Katelyn’s 1st grade class

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Meet… Three SCCS Families! by Jami Defenbaugh

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Quotable Quotes by the children of SCCS 7

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Photos, Kristal Yancie Editors, Valerie Barclay & Roshaunda Cade

a bi-annual newsletter of south city community school

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I hadn’t been to the principal’s office since grade school, when I socked Joey Malone for trying to kiss me.

And so it was with considerably less righteous indignation – but no less anxiety – that I sat with the Co-Head of my son’s school, ready to discuss issues that he was having acclimating into kindergarten.

First years are hard; we forget how hard. Memory bleaches nostalgic, and we fail to recall what we felt in the tiny dorm room, in our first year of college. Or in the fluorescent lighting of the cubicle on our first job. Or even in the cold silence of broken communication during our first year of marriage. First years are hard.

And we began there, this Co-Head and I, with the recognition that first years are hard. She leaned in, listened, nodded as I shared what I hear from him, the fragments of fear and anxiety that he’ll sometimes let slip as we stuff his lunchbox. The injustices he’ll name, as only a six year-old can, while he draws his initials in condensation on the car window, in transit. She listened

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and she nodded; and when I got to the part about the tantrums, the acting out, the impossibility of parenting when called to walk a tightrope, balancing boundaries and discipline against the weight of his shame-fueled self-condemnation, she didn’t raise her eyebrows, didn’t tsk with her mouth. She leaned in, listened and said: “I get that. Your struggle is mine, too.”

My notes from the meeting insist that we talked of strategies: of ways to help him name and

own his feelings, ways to encourage different responses, ways to use this challenging time to build his character and affirm that he’s loved unconditionally. And yet the thing I remember most about the meeting was what she said, almost in passing, as I was buttoning my coat to leave. She let me know that she’d follow up with his teacher, that we’d talk more going forward. And then ended with,

“Not to worry – we’ve got him.”

Tears stung the back of my eyes, tough mama that I am, at that pronoun – we. Hadn’t that been my fear, back when he was still sucking his thumb and we pulled a moving van away from all of “our people” in another state, all of those who loved him because they shared his DNA? Isn’t the isolation of I what aches most in this Sisyphean task of parenting – the fear that I’m doing it alone, and not very well?

But no, not I – we, she assures me. We. All through the meeting I’d felt that pronoun shift, that we were, indeed, on the same team – loving the same spirited kiddo, with the same goal in mind. And I see that we in action – from the kind eyes (and supernatural patience) of his teacher, who has her arms wrapped around that boy in love, even when we’re discussing “that thing today at recess.” The we that shows up when teachers whom I don’t know call him by name, tie his shoes for him, and high-five him in the carpool line.

South City Community School is just that – a community of we. It’s a school where all sorts of kids are trying firsts, tiny acrobats making daring jumps, with a safety net of talented staff below. And each day that I drop him off at that red door, I exhale gratitude that, from the pile of school pamphlets, we chose a place where he is known and loved. A place where he is not a Challenge, but a child with challenges – and with gifts. And a place where I, tired mama trying her best, can be a part of something bigger – a community of we.

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An Intro to Culture: PreK Trip to the Symphony by Heather & Noah Oldham, SCCS parents With a minivan full of talkative four-year-olds, we set out from SCCS on Thursday, February 13th for Powell Symphony Hall to experience Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. Honestly, I had mixed feelings about how the morning would go. Our daughter’s favorite t.v. shows, “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” and “Sofia the First,” are hardly fine arts. And though I enjoy stage theatre and ballet, my husband thinks the band Mumford & Sons classifies as “culture.” So I was not sure that our so-far-uncultured girl would appreciate the beauty and depth of the music, dance, and storyline found at the symphony. On the drive the kids sang songs they had learned in class and I chatted with Ms. Kirk (one of my favorite “perks” of volunteering on enrichment trips).

The show began with the overture and all the kids settled in for what I’m sure was for most of them their first experience with symphony. The conductor captured the kids’ interest by talking about how music can tell stories. He even invited us all to be involved in telling the story of a storm through crowd participation by section – blowing for wind, snapping for rain drops, and stomping for thunder.

When Peter and the Wolf began, the kids got really excited because they had been reading the story in class. The conductor explained how a different instrument represented each character. The elaborate costumes of the actors also enthralled the kids. As each character entered, the room filled with “oo”s and “ah”s. It was a joy to see our classes of Pre-K students, all dressed up, enjoying music and dance. And it was a joy to watch our little girl interact in that environment with the other kids. When the show was over, another child exclaimed, “This was the best trip EVER!”

Allie has been talking about the experience ever since. One night, she even had us act it all out as a family, with Allie as the conductor. It was great for her to learn and experience the power of story. And it is our hope that through experiences like this, we can continue to explain to her that not only can everything tell a story, but also that everything fits in and points to a bigger story. God’s big story is that of a glorious Creator, a rebellious creation, a sacrificing Hero, and a redeemed bride. 3

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The Land of Counterpane by Robert Louis Stevenson illustrated by Ms. Katelyn’s 1st grade class

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(SCCS Parent, Jami Defenbaugh, gets the scoop from three of our families…)

Enriquez-Romero Family Claudia, Oscar (3rd grade), & Yadira (Kdgn.) Where are you from, and in what type of school did you grow up? I am from the state of Michoacan, Mexico. I grew up in public schools (in Mexico and here in St. Louis), which was a good experience, but I want my kids to have an excellent experience. So that made me choose a private school. Talk about your decision to send your children to SCCS. Making the decision was not simple, since that meant adding an extra bill to my pile. But I also wanted to consider a school with a purpose and quality of education. A good education is what counts! How is SCCS helping your children to grow? SCCS has helped my kids with their communication and to interact with others. What is one way SCCS has surprised you? SCCS has surprised me with the involvement of the teachers with their students and how they are always helping not only the students, but their families as well. It shows that they care. How do you like to spend time with your family? I enjoy spending time reading with my kids especially because English is not our native language. While we read, I correct them, or if I am reading to them, they will correct me. It is a way of including, all in one, things they learn in school and things that we learn from each other. Bates Family Anna (SCCS 3rd grade teacher) and Stephen (Covenant Seminary student) Where are you from, and in what type of school did you grow up? I grew up in Asheville, NC and attended a Christian traditional school PreK to 12th grade. Talk about your desire to work at SCCS. SCCS blends so many things that I am passionate about: children, urban schooling, experiential education and training children to know and love Jesus. I get to learn and grow alongside my class.

Working at SCCS is a dream come true. How is SCCS helping the children in your class grow? How is it helping you grow? SCCS looks at kids as multi-dimensional beings. We don't put kids in a box. Seeing them learn to love each other in hard circumstances, and lean hard into the Gospel and prayer has helped us all grow in grace.

Meet the…

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Every day, the kids teach me about trusting God and forgiveness. Also, the support at SCCS is unbelievable and has helped me grow exponentially as a first-year teacher. What is one way SCCS has surprised you? When I visited the school last spring, seeing all of the work hung in the halls and beautiful classrooms scared me to death. How would I be able to do that with my class?! Turns out that having flexible, low-pressure classrooms, using living books and giving children time to be creative within boundaries is the trick. Also, my class makes me laugh every day! If you were a "living book," which one would you be, and why? Probably some sort of science book with cool pictures – those are the books I like best. Garrett Family Heather, Tim, Libby (PreK-4), Alice (2), & Carolyn (4 weeks) Where are you from, and in what type of school did you grow up? Tim grew up in southwest Missouri and Heather grew up in Philadelphia. We were both public school kids. Talk about your decision to send your child to SCCS. As I'm sure many can relate, we first wrestled with if and when to send her to school. Once we decided Libby would go to pre-school, SCCS quickly became the obvious choice. SCCS parents at our church had great things to say, and we loved that it was a Christian school close to our home, with small class sizes and a wonderful community of families. How is SCCS helping your child and your family to grow? We have appreciated the sweet, gentle and structured environment SCCS has provided for Libby to develop friendships and grow socially, spiritually and academically. Similarly, our family has benefitted from getting to know other SCCS families in the throes of child rearing. What is one way SCCS has surprised you? We have been surprised by how deeply not just Libby's teacher knows her, but also the other teachers, administration and staff. There is a real sense that the entire school is invested in our child. If you were a "living book," which one would you be, and why? Little House in the Big Woods. Despite the difficult circumstances of frontier living, we romanticize about that simpler time when all the spheres of life (family, commerce, church, school, community) were much more tightly integrated. The family working the land together, handmade gifts at Christmas, and fiddle music at home around the fire at night.

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Quotable Quotes

by the students of SCCS (on what he is learning in school) “Colors, … and how to move my eyebrows!” ~ Mason, PreK-3 “I’ll obey you later, okay?!” ~ anonymous, PreK-3 As the students were writing stories, Aria asked how to spell “Abraham”. After Mrs. Christophi wrote it down, Aria looked at it for a moment and said, “I write it a little differently.” She took the pencil and wrote very precisely below where her father’s name was written: “DAD”. ~ Aria, PreK-4 “Animals don’t bite you in heaven.” ~ Weston, Kdgn.

At Three by Joy Turner,

SCCS PreK-3 Teacher

I think we are most decided at three, Sure of what we want, certain of what we need. Having nothing dissuade from our intended end,

Eyes fixed forward with a confident grin, I think we are most decided at three.

I think we are most courageous at three, Bowing to duty on bended knee.

Tying up boots and ready to march, Rolling up sleeves and facing the dark,

I think we are most courageous at three.

I think we are the boldest at three, Trusting with our hearts so abandonedly.

Mustering up faith to put it to work, Brave in uncertainty, believing in hope.

I think we are boldest at three.

I think we are most forgiving at three, tossing offenses into the breeze.

After fell tears and feelings amuck, to dust off our pants and hand them our truck,

I think we are most forgiving at three.

Yes, God is so good to show us our best, I think we’ll be three at the Sabbath Rest.

(Hebrews 4:8-10& Matthew 18:3)

the Gateway

a bi-annual newsletter of south city community school

Mailing address: 724 Dover Place

St. Louis, MO 63111

www.sccommunityschool.org

www.facebook.com/sccsstl

the Gateway :: south city community school Volume 7 :: Issue 2

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Grandparents & Friends Day Thurs 4/3 :: 10am – 11:30am ~ T/Th PreK-3

& T/Th PreK-4 classes only Fri 4/4 :: 9am – 11:30am ~ all other classes SCCS, 4926 Reber Place 63139 Join us for a brief presentation and visiting the children in classes!

Trivia Night: Think Different Saturday April 5th, 2014 :: 7pm-10pm SCCS Gym, 4926 Reber Place 63139 For details and to register online: sccommunityschool.org/calendar/trivia-night/

SCCS Annual Arts Festival Tuesday May 20th :: 6:30 – 8pm The Journey Sanctuary