Welcome toSaline Area Schools

Heritage staff members (Andrea Collins, Katie Huang, Katherine O'Keeffe and Kevin McCown) collaborated to put a project in motion for Saline students. The idea came from the Ohio PBL Conference that district staff attended last summer. 

Students were to create their own personal masks, and then present short Spanish children's stories about them - using their Spanish nicknames to identify themselves.

Kevin McCown worked on the art piece and Andrea ​Collins facilitated the social-emotional piece for the students, considering the driving question: How can increased self-awareness decrease negative interactions and strengthen peer relationships?

Katie Haung presented the project while Andrea contributed the social-emotional piece, reading some books and leading the discussion on expected and unexpected behaviors. Students planned their masks in the classroom and then took that into the art room where they physically created the plan on paper. 

Kevin then showed students how to create the masks, paint and protect. 

In the near future, students will use these masks as the inspiration to the poems we are about to write, back in the classroom again. In addition, Katie O'Keeffe is using the mask idea to create a play with the kids.

Assistant Principal Alex Schukow, supported this collaborative project from the beginning. "...It is a great experience for our students in sharing about their authentic selves and developing positive peer interactions. Looking forward to seeing our students continued progress." 

Meeting #3 - April 16, 2019
How do we help our students see themselves within stories they encounter in school?

WARM-UP
Windows, Mirrors, and More
Individually reflect on how you have seen yourself (or not seen yourself) in stories

In triads, take 10 minutes to discuss how you have seen yourself (or not seen yourself) in stories.  Further, discuss WHY it’s important to see self and others in the stories? Why might an individual from an undeserved, oppressed group need a story to be a blanket or an escape hatch?

 

“The Squadrupleees”-SHS Service Learning team      

“The Zurfendurphs” - SHS Scientific team

East Lansing, MI – On Saturday, April 13th, Saline Destination Imagination sent 8 teams to the Michigan Destination Imagination State Tournament at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan Creativity Association (MICA) hosted an innovative, fun-filled State Destination Imagination (DI) Tournament.  Over 200 student teams from around the state presented their creative solutions to a number of mind-bending STEAM-based (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and service learning challenges. 

The SHS Service Learning team named “The Squadrupleees” comprised of: Anya Hurst, Arabella Wotton, Annie Liemohn, and Ashlyn Stager (not pictured) place second in the Service Learning Challenge at the Secondary (HS) level.  Their Team Manager is Ginger Liemohn.  The team not only performed a deeply moving 8-minute skit that had the audience and Appraisers in tears about the serious topic of clinical depression, but also raised over $700 for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), which is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health advocacy organization.  NAMI.orgprovides support, raises awareness, and advocates for the improved treatment and to help alleviate the stigma of mental health to improve the lives of 60 million Americans affected by mental health conditions.

The SHS DI Science Team, “The Zurfendurphs” placed 1st in their category.  Team members include:  Zach Rein, Kyle Schnitzer, Cameron White, Ryan Schwartz, Connor Wright, India Pruette.  Their Team Manager is Jennifer Schwartz.  They created a performance that shared the medical research they did about what parts of the brain control various functions of our bodies. A larger-than-life replica of the brain showed how a human character reacted to deficiencies in various regions of the brain. Their performance highlighted their strengths in all areas of the STEAM curriculum, as well as their problem solving, communication, creativity and teamwork abilities.

Meeting #2 - April 3, 2019

Welcome & Introductions
Culturally inclusive curriculum in a safe & supportive environment.

SAS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Meeting #1 - March 18, 2019
Welcome & Introductions

All members of the Committee introduced themselves and shared a little background about themselves.