A Summer of Learning for our MICDS Faculty & Staff

Seven Faculty and Staff Members Attend ISTE Live

Thanks to our Chief Information Officer, Stewart Crais, and divisional heads Amy Scheer, Jen Schuckmann, and Scott Small, a group of faculty and staff attended ISTE’s (International Society for Technology in Education) National Conference in Denver at the end of June. This year, the ISTE Conference hosted over 18,000 people and covered a wide range of topics, including integrating technology with project-based learning, artificial intelligence, VR/AR, and digital citizenship. Attendees also connected with others and learned from experts within the field.

MICDS attendees included:

• Elegan Kramer, Director of Instructional Technology and Digital Literacy
  “This is my third time at an ISTE conference and I always walk away overwhelmingly energized with new ideas. What made this conference special was bringing a small group from school who walked away equally overwhelmed with excitement for instructional technology and digital literacy.” Elegan also presented a snapshot presentation on Split, Splice, & Separate the Video Making Process to Alternatively Assess Students’ Knowledge (also presented at STLinSTL 2023).
• Robyn Williams, Lower School Coordinator of Instructional Technology
  „This year’s ISTE conference was an incredibly enriching experience for me, made even better by attending with colleagues from across our school. Our shared experiences fostered a new depth of collaboration and allowed us to have meaningful discussions that deepened my understanding of the topics presented. The sessions where teachers and students shared their innovative uses of technology were especially inspiring. Hearing firsthand about their successes and challenges provided valuable insights. I also gained practical skills from hands-on sessions like stop motion using clay, 3D printing, and incorporating the Cricut machine. These will directly benefit our students as we expand our Makerspace offerings. Overall, this collaborative experience at ISTE has equipped me with new knowledge, skills, and connections, and it has energized me for the new school year.“
• Thomas Buffington, Lower School Librarian
  „ISTE Live has been on my radar for a few years now, and I’ve been so thankful for the opportunity to experience this conference in person, in the company of my MICDS friends!  Throughout the experience, we were fortunate to connect with one another and professionals from all over the world with the common goal of best supporting our students in a world of changing resources and advancing technology. Each of us came away from the week with valuable insights, new ideas, strategies, and activities which may directly inform our daily routines as practitioners of technology-enhanced pedagogies. With this boost of energy, I look forward to entering the 2024-25 school year poised to best serve our students and support my colleagues!“
• Laura Pupillo, Lower School Science Specialist 
  „This was my first time attending the ISTE conference and I felt fortunate to attend with my colleagues. What a great experience it was attending sessions with Robyn, our Lower School Instructional Technology Coordinator, while dreaming up future collaboration projects for Lower School students. During STLinSTL, I had the opportunity to explore microbit coding and was thrilled to see so many class offerings at ISTE. Between the two conferences, I feel like I have a solid foundation for implementing microbits into Lower School Science. Furthermore, I got to explore stop motion with claymation, additional circuit tools, and some additional ideas for engineering projects which all have numerous connections to the science curriculum. Additionally, I came away winning some free Professional Development for the Ozobots which undoubtedly will bring some additional ways to further integrate the Ozobots we already use.“
• Bethany Kavanaugh, Middle School Librarian
  „This was my first time attending ISTE, and while I was nervous to go, I am so thankful I did! It was an unforgettable experience and I feel I came away pumped and excited with so many new ideas and plans to bring back into our libraries regarding literacy, digital citizenship, collaboration, and how to continue to fuel the excitement MICDS students already have within our libraries. There is nothing quite like being surrounded by other educators who are passionate about their fields, and all of us working together towards a common goal—providing the best possible future for our students.“
• Travis Menghini, Upper School Math & Science Teacher
  „As a first-timer at the ISTE conference, I was both excited and slightly overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the event and all of the technology on display. Unlike a traditional conference with workshops, I was surprised to see the variety of other activities that were offered during the conference, such as poster sessions and the Expo Hall. At the conference, I learned about a variety of products that other teachers are using across the world and made a few new friends along the way. What I enjoyed most about the conference was the chance to deepen my relationships with my coworkers.“
• Tanya Roth, Upper School History Teacher
  „The ISTE conference was like Disney World for teachers—but better (in its own ways). I had never attended such a large and truly international conference, with so many options for attendees to learn in different ways. Many times, conferences focus on having attendees sit in a big lecture and listen while they watch slides, but ISTE offers more than that. This was inspiring and helpful as a teacher, just to see new methods of teaching and to bring back new strategies that will be helpful with my students. I was grateful for opportunities to talk one-on-one with representatives from different edtech organizations, like Linewize/Classwize, which we implemented this fall; Class Companion, which I use for formative work with students; Adobe; Instructure, the parent company of Canvas; Brisk, and WeVideo. There were unique opportunities to ask questions and see how these tools will best benefit my students and me. One of the outstanding features was the Google Gemini hands-on experience. And, beyond the tech, getting to spend time with colleagues from across our divisions was phenomenal. I’ve worked with some of these colleagues for years, but going as a group to an event like this helps make us a stronger community and team.“

We are excited to bring back and implement our learnings from the ISTE conference, and look forward to having another group join us at next summer’s joint conference (ISTE + ACSD) in San Antonio!

Eric Kimminau, Lower School Teaching Associate, Takes Youth Mental Health First Aid

You’ve heard of First Aid courses, but did you know that there’s a Mental Health First Aid course too? At the end of last school year, Eric Kimminau, Lower School Teaching Associate, completed the Youth Mental Health First Aid program which is run by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. According to the MHFA website, „Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a five-step action plan to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.“ This course was a full eight-hour day. „It was super helpful in discussing tough situations that might come up with our students‘ mental health,“ reflected Kimminau. „I look forward to using the tools I learned from this professional development experience to help guide kids through tough times and identify some struggles that kids are experiencing.“

Dr. Sheila Powell-Walker, Director of Student Support, is very familiar with the YMHFA program and recommends it. „I think the YMHFA training is another tool that teachers and others who work with children can put in their toolbox,“ she said. „It’s important for all of us to have some basic understanding of the signs of emotional distress and the important steps we should take to ensure the well-being of all students.“ Dr. Powell-Walker has been youth mental health first aid trained in the past and is recently recertified. In the past, she was even certified to lead the training.

As a reminder, if you ever have any concerns about your child’s emotional well-being, our school counselors on our Student Support team would love to help. Please do not hesitate to contact them.

Dr. Marberry Attends "Math Spa/Bootcamp" in the Mountains

Middle School Math Teacher Dr. Jody Marberry recently had the privilege of attending the Math In The Mountains conference—a math teacher’s dream professional development opportunity. „It was an unparalleled experience,“ said Dr. Marberry. „Described aptly by Paul Zeitz as a ‚math spa/bootcamp,‘ the conference allowed me to engage deeply in mathematical exploration, fostering an environment where I could play, think, and wonder about math alongside fellow enthusiasts. The camaraderie and shared passion for mathematics among participants were truly inspiring. Moreover, the breathtaking location of Jackson, Wyoming, added an extraordinary dimension to the event.“

Diane Broberg, JK-12 Math Department Chair, and Dr. Jody Marberry, Middle School Math Teacher, Continue MCTM Summer Series on the Road

Six MICDS Educators Attend PRIMED 

Summary by Melanie Duffy, Upper School Dean of Students & History Teacher

The MICDS Mission calls for commitment to our community through character. Character education and development is an integral part of what happens at all levels at MICDS. Over the summer, a team of our educators, including Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning Dr. Sally Maxwell, Dean of Faculty Grace Lee, Director of Student Support Dr. Sheila Powell-Walker, Dean of Curriculum & Instruction Elizabeth Helfant, Middle School Dean Eric Taylor, and Upper School Dean of Students & History Teacher Melanie Duffy, dedicated a week in partnership with UMSL University and their Character Education-based program called the PRIMED Summer Institute.  

The UMSL PRIMED Summer Institute continued to build foundational knowledge for our team.  The Summer Institute allows educators from around the world to come together in affinity for growing their toolbox and implementation strategies to live into their school’s mission and develop effective programming around character education. The MICDS team studied, shared, and evaluated our experiences collectively to make recommendations on how to further implement character education programming at all levels.  

MICDS has shared a partnership with CharacterPlus with several faculty and staff participating in programming this year. Character Plus‘ mission is to promote positive character development in young people by partnering with schools and families, and it provides character education evidence-based processes, expert support, and professional resources. Attending the Summer Institute allowed our staff to have more specific training in the PRIMED principles. 

What is PRIMED? 

Primed is a character education development model based on six principles. They are:

Prioritzing character education
Relationships
Intrinsic motivation
Modeling
Empowerment
Developmental perspective

Dr. Marvin W Berkowitz is a renowned character educator (a Sanford N. McDonnell Endowed Professor of Character Education and Co-director of the Center for Character and Citizenship at the University of Missouri-St. Louis) who has dedicated decades of research on evidence-based practices and thought-provoking field experience into a clear set of principles that leaders, administrators, and teacher-leaders can implement to help students thrive. Our team enjoyed working with and learning from him and many other character educators.

Dr. Katy Nichols, Lower School Music Teacher, Participates in Modern Band Conference

This summer, Dr. Nichols attended the Modern Band Summit in Fort Collins, Colorado at Colorado State University. The conference is sponsored by Little Kids Rock, which is similar to The School of Rock where many of our Lower School students take lessons. „I took Modern Band 101, which approaches music through a rock band lens,“ said Dr. Nichols. „It teaches kids how to play instruments such as the guitar, keyboard, drums, and ukulele in ensembles. Then, it helps students perform, improvise, and compose in rock, pop, hip-hop, and R&B styles of music. I took classes such as beginning a modern band, rock band for elementary, ukulele for lower school, and hip-hop for littles. I cannot wait to begin implementing aspects of the modern band approach into our Lower School music curriculum!“

Ms. Hindle Explores Literary History in Summer Sabbatical

By Louise Hindle, Upper School English Teacher

“William and I took a long walk in the rain,” wrote Dorothy Wordsworth in one of her journals. This was one of many long walks the siblings took together, and with others, in and around the village of Grasmere during 1799-1808. Their home, Dove Cottage, has come to be associated as the home of the English Romantic movement in literature: a place where words were crafted and articulated out loud; where poetry and prose were forged in the presence of nature. Even today, Grasmere, nestled in a valley of the English Lake District, is not especially accessible or populous. Grasmere has cafes, bookshops, small hotels, and craft stores. For the community, there’s an elementary school, the village church, and a village green. The ‘fells’ (read hills or mountains) tower above the settlement and embrace it like a precious secret. Beyond the village rests Grasmere Lake and, a little further, Rydal Water. Over the years, Dove Cottage and its gardens and orchard have been preserved as the home of the Wordsworths. Near to Dove Cottage is a museum for visitors to understand the lives of the Wordsworths and their creative community. Most recently, the Jerwood Center was built to protect and accommodate the Wordsworth archive. 

As a Brit, a keen hiker, and a romantic poetry enthusiast, I had already visited Grasmere a couple of times: July 2024, however, was a particular highlight. Thanks to the generosity of the Edward M. Rivinus Memorial Summer Sabbatical, I spent an additional two days in the U.K., focusing my time in the Jerwood Center exploring the Wordsworth archive. From letters through to journals and commonplace books, I was looking at manuscript and digitized materials from this pivotal moment in literary history. With a particular focus on the women and their everyday lives as companions, sisters, mothers, and writers, I wanted to learn more about their contributions, their talents, and their challenges. It’s hard to describe the thrill (and the trepidation) of seeing the folds of a 19th-century letter and the scratch marks of ink. As each day went by, I tried my best to discover the person behind the writing, paying attention to how they documented their life from talk of the weather, updates on friends and neighbors, through to philosophical reflections on the world. I had hoped to take a glimpse into their world, to better understand what fueled this moment, and even, perhaps, to gain some insight into their writing process. It was, however, so much more than that. This was an immersive experience through archival materials, greatly enhanced by the physical opportunity to hear, see, and re-imagine the ‘sources’ of so many literary outpourings. 

Hardly a day goes by without us being reminded of the numerous benefits of being outdoors, of walking, of connecting with nature. I’m already sold on all of those messages: my experience at Grasmere helped me appreciate even more the long influence of these messages in and through literature; and the ways in which through nature, we might begin to learn more about ourselves and those we encounter along the way. 

Back at school, my literary journey continues: it inspires my interactions with students when we talk about what we’ve read and are aiming to read; I already know that some of these materials will show up as examples of the writer’s process in my curriculum. Beyond this, my research is starting to form its own terrain, perhaps as a course on ‘Landscape, Literature, and the Lived Experience.’

William Wordsworth declared Grasmere to be, ‘the loveliest spot that man hath ever found.’ If some of the writings of those who visited and collaborated in that spot kindle students’ literary curiosities, it was a trip worth taking!

Christopher Barker and Alyoska Díaz, Upper School Spanish Teachers, Explore Magic in Spain and Portugal

Upper School Spanish Teachers Christopher Barker and Alyoska Díaz enjoyed a trip to Spain and Portugal where they met up with many magicians and learned about the ways they perform, structure their magic schools and shops, and also how they teach classes. „I got to do a fair amount of impromptu performing while I was there and visit a magic festival, a magic museum, and several magic shops,“ said Barker. „I learned some great strategies and effects from the people who own schools in Spain and Portugal, which I will be implementing in my Winter Term class, Card Magic!“ Barker and Díaz will also incorporate much of what they learned into their magic shows outside of the school day. Barker also completed a four-day conference for magicians in Las Vegas called Magic Live, where he learned more performing techniques and magic theory.

Here’s a list of the following magicians they met and the places they are from, as well as the different businesses they run:

• Marcos Waldemar and Kiko Pastur (La Llave Encantada in A Coruña / El Museo de Magia in Santiago de Compostela)
• Gonçalo Gil (Escola de Magia Porto – Lisboa, Porto, Portugal)
• Roberto Lolo (Sarria, Galicia, Spain)
• Samuel Moreno (Tomiño, Galicia, Spain)
• Sara Rodríguez (Vigo, Galicia, Spain – Magia en la Manga school)
• Edu el Mago (Madrid, Spain)

Barker said, „It’s great performing magic in Spanish and English! I’ve been asked to perform for the Spanish-speaking population at Wyland Elementary, so it certainly helps to have that range of ability.“ Barker incorporates magic whenever there is time to do so in his Spanish classes at MICDS. Otherwise, it is his passion outside of the classroom and is the focus of his Winter Term class.

Congratulations to all of our teachers who learned so much this summer! We can’t wait to see what you implement in the classroom, on the field, and everywhere at MICDS in between!