Crestone Charter School: November 2006

Swedish Fish and Storytellers

A CCS Parent brings swedish fish and jello squares to celebrate her daughter's birthday and writer/ccs parent Peter Anderson introduces the interview process to middle school students who will be collecting stories from locals for their oral history and folklore project.

Water Testing in Middle School Science

After making several hikes to collect water samples from North Crestone, Spanish Creek and Cottonwood Creek, students tested the samples in class this week for pollutants. Maybe one of them will leave us a message on the blog regarding the results?

Obsidian Knives and Woven Belts

LINK students show obsidian chip knives they made using age-old chipping technique. Nick Chambers demonstrates chipping obsidian. Students use their legs as the loom for strands of yarn that will be woven into belts.

Fire

After the rubbing stick crew has done their work, bits of smoldering wood,ash and char form in the base holder. These coalese into an ember that is put into a handful of tinder the students collect. With breath and cradled palms the fire-makings are placed into the larger fire pit.

Caveman Alchemy

Mentor Nick Chambers shares his passion and life-experience with 5 LINK students on Wednesday afternoons in a course that traces the inventiveness and scientific discovery in the course of humanity from Fire to Plastics! It's called "Caveman Alchemy, and here are LINK students starting a fire using an ancient method, a giant rubbing stick, homemade rope of yucca fibers, and hard work. One team member keeps a steady drum beat as the fire-starters match the rythmn.

Catnip-Mice

Intermediate class made little mice cat toys stuffed with catnip. They will sell these as a fundraiser at the Holiday Bazaar at the Desert Sage after Thanksgiving.

BELTS!!!

Primary class worked with textile artist and CCS parent Jody Tucker to weave their own belts in wonderful two-tone colors.

Fun!

Scoping Mercury

Thomas set up viewing opportunities to see Mercury crossing the Sun on November 8th. I wasn't able to see it with the pinhole board, but apparently Primary students used shoebox viewers lateer and had success.

Support Friends from BOCES and Spec Ed

We are pleased to welcome the support of Tricia Barnes (occupational therapist)Katie Burns (physical therapist) Beth Day (staff psychologist)of BOCES San Luis Valley Special Ed unit, and Sherri Garcia the Special Ed coordinator we share with Moffat School. These professionals bring excellent support to our rural district.