This morning our students were introduced to Comstock Chill Skills:  6 socio-emotional tools the staff developed to help our community work calmly, aka:  "Chill".  7th graders worked in the cafeteria, and 8th graders met in the Drama room.  Teachers, our counselor and administrators introduced the skills.  Our leadership students enacted skits to show everyone some good examples of when to use them.   Each skill is accompanied by a corresponding sign language symblo and everyone was instructed to remind each other, students and adults alike, when a skill might come in handy.  The skills are:
I Calm Myself
I Visit My Personal Haven
I Use My Words
I Tune-In
I Have Patience
I Let It Go

We are piloting a cart of 30 Chromebooks in a few English classes this year.  Students are thoroughly engaged with online content while working rigorously on standards.   Here Ms. Cleek's class watches an interview with Maya Angelou, author of the poem "I know why the caged bird sings".  They have been studying this poem and are learning more about the author as they delve into the Biography genre.  Notetaking is done AVID style:  using Cornell Notes and the Cornell Way:  a deep system of notetaking that allows students to link learning, review and revise notes and develop them into a more polished writing product.

Consisting of Department Chairs and Administration, the Leadership team discusses relevant initiatives and ideas to bring to the school.  Our agenda for this meeting will give you an idea of our direction for this school year: 

SRCS 5 Year Strategic Plan:  The Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Education, Superintendent Socorro Shiels and Sonoma State University Dean of Education, Carlos Ayala, have begun work on a 5 year strategic plan for our schools.  Details of the plan will be presented to employees and then to the public with town hall meetings.

21st century learning:  Our team will examine current school practices with the 21st century skills in mind.  We will brainstorm to continue to build on the 4 Cs of Collaboration, Creativity, Communication and Critical thinking.  The 2 additional Cs developed by California:  Content and Civic Literacy, and our added Comstock "C" of Compassion.

AVID:  The Cornell Way.  Currently our 2 AVID classes are using many effective strategies that we would like to bring into the entire school.  The Cornell Way will be one we will delve into in September.  See attached link to learn more about it. 

Student elections and student government  We are launching a true student government after many years without one.  Students should have a voice in the school.  Elections will occur in September for ASB President, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer, 7th & 8th Grade Presidents and Vice Presidents.  A student senate will also be convened with representatives from each 5th period class.  Our new Leadership Teacher, Alie Young, is organizing it all with the help of her 28 Leadership students.

Back to School Night Ideas - We will be brainstorming displays and information to bring to our families for our September 19 back to school night. 

NEW DIGITAL Yearbook:  This year's yearbook be handled by leadership class.  A digital yearbook is in the works.