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If you were on campus this past Tuesday, you may have seen excited Kindergarten through 6th grade students walking quickly (trying very hard not to run) from class-to-class as they enjoyed our very first Library Celebration event of the school year: Round Robin Reading.

For this activity, the regular school day pauses for 30 minutes as students and teachers gather together to enjoy a wonderful story or picture book together. Each class began with their own teacher in their own classroom. After about 10 minutes, each class moved on to enjoy a story from a different teacher in a different classroom. Isla Z. and her class first went to Mrs. Matsuda’s 4th grade classroom. “I love the books!” she said. After her class visited Mr. Bennie, fifth grader Jenaley H. said, “I like visiting other teacher’s classrooms and listening to other teachers read to us.”

With one more 10-minute rotation to go, students made their way to their last story time with another teacher. When asked what they liked about Round Robin Reading, Jack H. said, “Running!” while classmate Jett P. said, “We get to listen to fun stories!”

Once again this annual tradition was well-loved and enjoyed by all! 

For the month of January our kindergarten class learned about the polar regions “traveling” to the Arctic Circle as well as down to the most southern part of Antarctica. Students learned about the animals that lived there and how they, along with people, survive in such cold & harsh conditions. To celebrate the end of their unit, the students went on a field trip to SeaWorld San Diego. While it was a long drive, the visit was well worth their time in the cars.

Upon arriving, it was quite cold and overcast which seemed appropriate with their first stop to the exhibit “Wild Arctic.” As soon as they walked in they were greeted by beautiful white beluga whales. Then they continued to watch 2 large walrus swimming right up to the glass. Students got to touch an ice wall, crawl through ice tunnels, & even compare their hands to a polar bear’s.

In just a few steps they then went from the Arctic to Antarctica to see the penguins. This was a highlight for many who got to watch hundreds of penguins move about, swim, and eat. Penguins ranged from the majestic Emperor penguins to the curious Chinstrap penguins.

Before heading over to see the next incredible polar animal, the orca, students stopped for lunch before heading to see other sea creatures such as turtles, sharks, & sea lions. They were also able to catch a dolphin show and enjoyed the sun finally coming out creating warmth and a beautiful blue sky. The day ended with them seeing the orcas swim and then doing a little shopping at the gift store.

When asked what was their favorite part of the day, John Harding, said it was the dolphin show, with many others in agreement. Amaris Alvarez enjoyed the penguins, & Audrey Freidrich shared how her mom liked the Beluga whales as she had never seen one before. Mrs. Trudeau loved the whole experience with her students stating, “There is nothing like watching the excited faces of children seeing real live animals that have come right off the pages of the books & pictures we have been reading and looking at in the classroom all month long. It was truly a wonderful and special experience.” 
 

Ever wondered what really goes on in an operating room? Our Anatomy and Physiology students recently got a firsthand look, diving into the world of orthopedic surgery with guest instructor, Dr. Fuller. This hands-on lab provided an unforgettable experience, offering valuable insights into fracture repair, bone structure, the intricacies of surgical procedures, and a peek behind the curtain of a medical professional's daily work.
From learning some terminology to understanding the real-world application of fracture repair, students had plenty to share about this unique opportunity.

"The orthopedic surgery lab was a really great hands-on learning experience," shared Sydney Van Zant. "It helped me better understand fractures and what factors go into repairing them. It also gave a good recap on the structure of bones, learning about the diaphysis, epiphysis, and metaphysis again." Sydney highlighted the critical importance of considering the growth plate during fracture repair, explaining, "Like the two examples that Dr. Fuller showed, when repairing the model, we had to be precise and make sure not to drill or cover any parts of the growth plate on the femur." She also learned the importance of precise screw placement, experiencing firsthand how a misplaced screw can lead to complications.

Faith Hayton echoed Sydney's enthusiasm. "I really enjoyed the orthopedic surgery lab. It was more helpful for me to do something hands-on and make connections about what we’ve learned in class." Faith described the process of attaching a plate to realign the bone, using surgical tools like drills and screws. "It was cool to use the tools a surgeon would and drill holes, measure them to see what type of screw to use, put the screw in, and align the plate," she explained.

For Grace Hayton, the lab offered a glimpse into the realities of medical practice. "I really enjoyed the orthopedic surgery lab yesterday. It was really cool to see what residents and doctors do in real life. It made it seem less scary and more interesting than I thought it would be," she commented. This hands-on experience solidified her interest in medicine. "I think overall, this helped motivate me to go into the medical field even more because I like the actual work," Grace shared.

The lab also fostered a deeper appreciation for surgeons. "This lab was very helpful for my learning, and I learned a lot about surgery and how they do it," said Caroline Keough. "I found it really interesting how it worked and the tools that were used. The fact that the bone was like a real bone, how it felt and worked, was especially interesting. It gave me a deeper understanding of how surgeons work and a greater appreciation for them."
For some, the lab sparked new career aspirations. "The orthopedic surgery lab was really interesting, and I personally feel like it opened up some possible career paths for me," remarked Maidah Khan. "After the lab, I started thinking about possibly going into surgery, and it also rekindled my passion for cardiology."

Carter Leichty was struck by the similarity between surgical tools and everyday hardware. "Yesterday's lab was super fun. I learned a good amount of things. I didn't know that the equipment they use is very close to hardware tools like drills and screws," he observed. He also gained a deeper understanding of the precision required in orthopedic surgery. "I learned that one mistake can make a huge difference in the healing process, say you drill the hole in the wrong place or the metal plate is placed incorrectly. These things can really affect the patient's healing process."

Keathy Sanchez reflected on the bone repair process. "In the Orthopedic surgery lab, I learned how a broken bone can be put back in place to repair it. I learned how the screws are inserted into the bone, as well as how to place the bone," she explained. She also recognized the practical applications of this knowledge. "I believe this can be used in my daily life when I want to know about a break and how to repair it. It may also be helpful to know what happens in a surgical procedure if a friend breaks a bone," Keathy said.

Overall, the orthopedic surgery lab was a valuable and engaging learning experience, offering students a unique opportunity to explore the world of medicine and potentially shape their future careers.

A big thank you to guest speaker Dr. Fuller and teacher Dr. The for making this experience possible for our students.