Commitment. Community. Christ. The GRCS 3 Cs. I often pause in my walks around school and ask, “How are the 3 C's being experienced by our students right now?” Evergreen’s K-5 winter enrichment week and our partnership with Van Andel Education (VAEI) Institute offers some exciting answers:
Commitment - We lead lives of purpose
Students explore that purpose through hands-on, inquiry-based learning alongside our own Evergreen teachers and the masters from VAEI. During our launch on Valentine’s Day, students modeled the spending of nonrenewable energy, predicted the difference in distance traveled by a small balloon vs a large balloon, ranked household appliances by energy consumption, and more.
Community - We’re better together
We take this belief to the next level by our regular K-5 interactions. All of the examples above offered students the opportunity to collaborate with others from different grades. There is so much power in the moment when a 5th grader patiently helps a kindergartner understand the task at hand. Equally as exciting is when a 1st grader’s energy over a given project inspires a 4th grader to engage in a more invested way.
Christ - We’re rooted in Christ
We are grateful for the world that He has created. Downtown, on Van Andel’s STEAM-focused campus, students were asked to consider what resources are available simply through God’s natural creations. The idea that all creation sings his praise takes on a new meaning when we consider the abundance of energy found in the sun, rivers, and the wind.
I hope you’ll close out our experience with us by attending our multiage CREW presentations on Friday, March 8 at 9:00 AM. Look for more information in teachers’ newsletters. I trust that you, too, will see our 3 Cs on full display as our students show off their learning from yet another successful enrichment week.