A Glimpse at our XQ Super School Submission

Over the past few months a team of staff and students have been working together to draft our submission for the XQ Redesign High School project. We made it past phase one and we submitted our phase two proposal last week. We will hear if we have made it to the final phase on April 1st. There was a lot of great conversations that came from this work. The recurring theme over and over again by the students is that they want to see their education have meaning to them and their life after high school.

Even if we don't win the $10 million through the XQ project to rebuild our facility and build our Super School from the ground up, we can still fundamentally shift our approaches to instruction. It will take courage, collaboration, out of the box thinking, and most importantly commitment. Below you will see excerpts from our submission and "student voices," so that you can start thinking about how you can be part of the change.

A bold and compelling idea will be at the center of our school:

A school designed around vibrant participation in a student interest themed environment. We will empower our students to access pathways through exploration of different fields. This access and exploration will allow our students to engage in learning that will prepare them for a life of learning and career opportunities. Each Pathway would have a direct connection with the industry. Senior year they take a cap stone course. If they are working directly with industry they may leave high school with a job or an internship while they are in college. Student choice, relevance, community engagement and an empowered student body; welcome to Fairfield High School Discovery Academy.

Two Virtual Student Experiences: 

Our students awake to their school text wake-up service of choice. Their electronic assortment of assignments and announcements are organized with an elegant app. They arrive at the Cognitive Cafe on campus and select their healthy smoothie and warm sandwich.

They reach their “Learners Choice” session just after the ambient music starts on the PA, no jarring bells of old. Subject Matter Experts (SME) from the community start their workday as guides in the multiple career and project-focused Choice sessions.

Jose heads for the Health & Wellness Wing after his Learner’s Choice surgical simulator session. He finds his integrated team of Language Arts and Science teachers are finalizing the setup for the UCLA Medical Center videoconferencing session with Residents regarding their lessons learned in their journey. He already checked his blog post on his expectations and planned questions for today. He had a few tips from his Integrated English teacher and his Science teacher suggested further inquiry and refinement of a question he posted.

The English teacher departs the Health Wing and strolls past the dirt and native plant exhibition of the Landscape Architecture class and drops in to see Jasmine in the Service & Industry Wing. Jasmine’s capstone project was both her Learners Choice project and a major part of her Integrated Design class. The entrepreneurship module of her class was 20% online with her nearby community college. Her required community service led her to the Rotary Club where she met her mentor who advised her on her capstone project. Her effort was a comprehensive website and promotional plan matching local volunteers with local events. Jasmine has to take care of her grandmother three times a week, so she has taken advantage of the evening classes her school now offers.

Student choice, relevant learning, community engagement and an empowered student body. Welcome to our Super School.

Video Conversations with Students: 

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! 

Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!

The Pineapple Room Grand Opening

This week is the Grand Opening of the Fairfield High Pineapple Room!!! A place  for teachers to share, learn, practice, and play.  The pineapple is a symbol of those intangible assets we appreciate in a home: warmth, welcome, friendship and hospitality. This new room on our campus is the brainchild of a group of staff that want to open up the channels of communication on campus and provide a fun and engaging "spot" for staff to go. 

There is a lot of movement in the world of education on "hacking education." A hack many are attempting is the "un-conference" approach to professional development. Hence, the advent of the Pineapple Chart. Here are some links to info on the Pineapple Chart  School Hackers  and Cult of Pedagogy. The general premise is that we can learn so much from observing and sharing with others, But many get stymied by time or fear of the unknown. The Pineapple Chart is the welcome sign that encourages others to enter and learn and provides a general frame for what could be observed.  Now, fast forward to FHS!! Our Pineapple Room is taking the chart to a whole new level!! 

All are welcome to the Grand Opening Event this Wednesday during collaboration. Let's keep rethinking education. Let's SHARE, LEARN, PRACTICE, and PLAY!!! The possibilities are LIMITLESS!!

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! 

Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!

Spreading Kindness...

What an AMAZING week on campus. FHS staff and students held nothing back during the Great Kindness Challenge! Doors were decorated, free hugs were given, positive posters were hung all over campus, clothes pins with positive messages were pinned, post it notes with encouraging words were left for EVERY SINGLE student to see upon entering 1st period. That would have been a lot, but there was more. Two fundraisers were also going on during the week. Students and staff were collecting money for "Coins for Kenya" and socks, gloves, and parkas for "Skate for Change." The philanthropy was abundant on campus all week!! Here is the link to the article written by The Daily Republic http://goo.gl/ZVeR2W  Here is the link to the article written by The Vacaville Reporter http://goo.gl/yp7wgr

Since our Safe School Ambassadors and PTSO were leading the activities and events, this positive vibe will not end with the Great Kindness Challenge week. We will continue to reinforce kindness, generosity, and servitude every day for the rest of the school year.

We are helping to build the future of tomorrow in everything we do at FHS. If we are able to provide experiences for our students that broaden who they are then we are being successful. When we have students reaching out to support one another with a kind word that can help turn someone's bad day around that is success. A smile and a kind word can go a long way. If our students feel safe, happy, and cared for they will be that much more prepared to learn in our classrooms! Let's keep this momentum going FALCONS!!

HALL OF FAME

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! 

Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!

An Idea and Some Courage .....

An idea followed by some courage to try the idea is all it takes to make a positive change and a difference in the world. Think about the advances we are surrounded by on a daily basis that started as a single idea: the light bulb, the internet, the iPhone, Facebook, Twitter, the laptop, the list goes on and on.

Growing up I heard I message daily, but I wasn't too sure how true it was. Me and my siblings were reminded on a daily basis by my father that, "You can make a difference in the world." Each night as we sat down to the dinner table, the seven us trying to vie for food and attention, my dad would get our attention and begin to give us our daily dose of "wisdom." He had a very natural way of telling us stories from the past that had me especially wide eyed and mesmerized. Stories about the days he was life guard at the pool, the year he shot up from a little shy of five feet tall to just under six feet in high school and how he spent a short time leading a life as a potential monk in the monastery (that obviously did not pan out for him, thank goodness.) I heard my dad remind us so often that we can change the world that it became a part of who I am at the core.

I fundamentally believe that each and every one of us has the potential to change the world. We may not make life altering decisions that impact world peace, but we impact those that we come in contact with each and every day. We have the opportunity to take an idea and either act on it or let it sit idle. It is a rather simple equation really. Take an idea that you have to improve a process, a person's day, a moment, add a little courage to carry it out and see what the results are. It may not be perfection the first, second, or even hundredth time, but with tenacity and the drive to commit to that idea you will see results.

We have dreamers, innovators, and courageous leaders among us at FHS. I would like to highlight a few this week.

Kelly Briggs fully believes in the tenets of AVID. She is teaching it for the first time this year and has committed to sharing an AVID tip of the week with everyone via her blog on a weekly basis. Kelly is creating positive change for staff and students through her easy to follow strategies that work. Her ideas are spreading. http://goo.gl/eC8MzR

Lieutenant Colonel Avery joined the Super School redesign project and is taking it several steps further. He has led a few Wednesday collaborative days on rethinking classroom design, he tweets about ideas he gleams from articles and professionals he comes in contact with, and he now has a blog where he is sharing his trials with Genius Hour/20% time and is working on developing a teacher "share" room. A room that is not a staff room but a room that teachers go to share ideas, lessons, best practices, and resources. His ideas are spreading. http://davidavery.blogspot.com/

An Idea and Some Courage.....

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! 

Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!

Passion is Contagious....

Passion is contagious. You know that person that is super excited about an idea and keeps talking about it, writing about it, e-mailing about it, and sharing it with everyone that they meet? 

When I meet one of those people it always sparks intrigue with me and I want to find out more for myself. The passion and excitement can't be contained within when someone loves and believes in something. It is then passed on to those around them. 

I really realized this with my two daughters this weekend. Back when I was in middle school I took up ice skating. I haven't t skated in years and haven't talked about it much with my girls. However, I still have my last pair of skates and have kept them in good condition because it was a memento of great memories. 

A few weeks ago my niece had a birthday and we celebrated it at an ice rink. My girls skated for the first time and I ventured back on the ice. On the way home from the party I started sharing stories of my fond memories of skating. I didn't even realize what I was doing at the time, but I now know I was sparking interest with my girls. As soon as we got home I pulled out my old skates to see if I could squeeze my feet inside. That was not going to work. But, my oldest daughter was beside herself when we tried them on her and they fit!!  During the week that passed the three of us searched Ebay for skates for me and my youngest daughter. Fast forward to the three day weekend. My girls and I spent two of the three days on the ice. Now, they are begging for lessons and can't stop talking about skating. Why am I sharing this story about ice skating??

As parents, teachers, and caring adults we have so much influence on children's lives. When we share our passions and show our vulnerability kids want to be part of that world. Without even trying we are role models. Without even trying we persuade others to try new things and follow in our footsteps.  When you are passionate and believe in something the energy can be intoxicating! 

What is it that Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Daniel Pink, and Oprah Winfrey have in common? They all believe in their "mission" so deeply that everything they say and do reflects that belief. 

Each of you has something you strongly believe in. Ask yourself this, in what ways is that passion coming through each day? Are you allowing yourself to be the real you? I only found out recently that we have three teachers on campus working on original pieces to be published. These teachers write because they love it! Let's share what makes us happy! 

As I often do, I give you another challenge. Tap into your beliefs and your inner drive.  Share with others what you are passionate about. Find joy and excitement in what makes you happy and pass that on. Be passionate and in turn be contagious. 

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! 

Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!

Leading the Pack and Forging New Ground

Fairfield High is leading the pack and forging new ground. At our second round IPR meeting last week we discussed many things. A theme that continued to come up no matter what we were talking about was the integration of technology at FHS. It is clear that we have a "critical mass" in terms of EdTech @FHS. To date we have sent 33 teachers to attend a GAFE, Google Apps for Education, Summit. The outcome of the summits have been plentiful: two different Tech Slams at staff meetings, Twitter challenges for both teachers and students, 95%+ implementation of Google Classroom, and many colleague to colleague how to's and collaborative discussions on how to change the face of instruction.

What we are seeing at FHS doesn't happen everywhere. It is happening here because the teachers truly believe in adapting and delivering instruction in such a way that is engaging, creative, and stimulating for students. It is happening here because teachers feel safe to take risks and try new things.

We are now embarking on new ground. Yesterday more than half of the 9th grade class received their 1:1 personal Chromebook. By Thursday of this week every single 9th grader on our campus will have his/her own Chromebook to use at school and at home. As a site we will continue to work together collaboratively to ensure that the instruction that is delivered follows the SAMR model. We want to ensure that the Ed Tech integration is not just Substitution or Augmentation, but that it is Modifying curriculum/delivery and ultimately Redefining how the material is delivered/taught.

As Falcons we are not afraid to lead the pack and forge new ground. We embrace new ideas and accept the challenges that are placed in front of us. We are determined to ensure success for ALL of our students. I am truly proud to be a FALCON!!

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! 

Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!

A New Year...A Fresh Start

These two weeks away from work have been an amazing two weeks for me. It has allowed me to concentrate on my family, enabled me to recharge, and hit my personal reset button for the second half of the school year. I am truly excited about what 2016 has to offer!

So many people make New Year resolutions. Some are able to make them come to fruition while others try but struggle to stick to their lofty ideas of radical change. What if we think of the new year as a Fresh Start instead? Just like we start out the school year in August charged and pumped about great lesson ideas we want to try, we can do the same for the New Year and the new semester. Both students and teachers have been away from the "daily grind" for over two weeks now and are ready for some mental stimulation.

Let's embark on the New Year of 2016 with as much gusto as we can. Continue to stretch yourself and your students to new heights. Make your lessons relevant for your students so that they are engaged and taking away with them skills and strategies that will set them apart from their peers in the ever changing job market.

Make your work day FUN!! Remember why you got into education. You didn't get your teaching credential so that you could give students tests. Nope, you spent time earning your highly respected teaching credential so that you could be in front of young minds on a daily basis sparking their creativity and excitement for learning new things.

If you haven't yet hit your own personal restart button, DO IT NOW!! This is 2016: a New Year, a Fresh Start, and a time of endless possibilities......

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! 

Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!