Blog

What a day at the Dozer Store! On September 19th, our students not only shopped up a storm but also showed some incredible skills that go far beyond just buying a new squishy toy. The store brought in a fantastic 366 Dozer Dollars—a testament to all the hard work everyone is putting in.

First, a quick rundown on how our Dozer system works. Elementary students who are on time and have good attendance receive a "Dozer Dollar" for their punctuality. They can then choose to spend these dollars at the Dozer Store, which opens every other Friday, or they can save them up for a bigger prize that usually comes at the end of each quarter. The store is stocked with popular items like pencil packs, stickers, fidget toys, notebooks, erasers, and squishy toys.

With so much on offer, it was inspiring to see how our students handled the shopping experience. Even with the store limit of five students at a time, there were no signs of frustration. Instead, those waiting their turn showed amazing patience and self-regulation. We saw them expressing enthusiasm and support for their friends, excited for them to find something they love. This cooperative spirit continued inside the store, where many students displayed remarkable kindness. They were often seen sharing new discoveries, offering suggestions, and encouraging one another, which truly fostered a collaborative and respectful environment.

Beyond the fun of shopping, our Dozer Store is a real-world classroom for financial literacy. It's been great to watch students think about their purchases. Many are already grasping the concept of saving, choosing to hold onto their Dozer Dollars to make a bigger purchase later. This kind of thoughtful decision-making is a huge step in understanding the value of money and planning for the future.

The lessons don't stop when they leave the store. We've heard many students talk about how they plan to keep their new items safe in their backpacks. This pride in their new belongings shows they're learning the importance of ownership and responsibility. They're not just buying things; they're learning to care for them.

The Dozer Store isn't just a place to spend Dozer Dollars—it's a place where our students are growing, learning, and showing some truly admirable qualities. It's a joy to watch them navigate these new experiences with such kindness and maturity.

“I wish we had this when we were freshmen.”

That's the overwhelming feeling from the seniors who spoke at our Freshmen Seminar this week. “Freshmen what?” you might be asking yourselves, and the answer is exactly. Freshmen Seminar is not a typical class; It’s a guide to high school success, created from a blend of curriculum and the real-life experiences and advice of students who've been there and done that. It’s a powerful example of how our most seasoned students are stepping up to support the newest members of our community.

At first, our seniors were a bit skeptical. They thought they'd just be “holding hands,” and that the class would be a waste of time. But they quickly realized it was so much more. This was a chance for them to share personal, honest advice you can't get from a textbook. As one senior put it, “This was very personal—it is real people with real experiences and advice for their exact situation.”

“Real Talk” from Our Seniors

The class got right to the point. After a quick introduction, our seniors jumped into a short message on a specific topic, followed by a Q&A session. They shared their own struggles and successes, sharing what they learned about topics like:

• Time Management: Juggling school, extracurricular, and a social life without getting completely buried.
• The Cost of Procrastination: One senior bravely shared how a lack of sleep and less than ideal planning affected them and their trajectory into their future, specifically mentioning that they now have more stress with studying for the SAT than they might have if they had made different choices.
• The Power of Organization: The seniors went beyond the basics. The Student Senate President and other seniors taught freshmen everything from how to keep a binder neat (no more just shoving papers into their backpacks) to creating a focused study space. A freshman mentioned, “I didn't know how much even just having my phone next to me could affect my ability to study and learn well!”
• Balancing Everything: Senior Benson Hayton even talked about one of the specific challenges that students face: wanting to do everything. Senior after senior supported this, emphasizing that the freshmen should be aware that there is such a thing as participating in too many things, with one phrase standing out in particular, “Once you figure out school life, you can figure out social life.” 

What really surprised the seniors was how much the freshmen were listening. “Most of them were actually listening, which was pretty surprising,” one senior said. After the talks, the freshmen asked a ton of questions, making the senior presenters feel like their advice was genuinely helpful.

A Teacher's Perspective

Our high school science teacher, Mrs. Brittney Smith, who teaches the class, is just as excited about it as the students. “I love that there is a class that helps set our kids up for success and help them adjust to the transition into high school,” she said. In the past, she tried to fit this type of guidance and skill learning into her biology course, but she loves that there is now a dedicated space to go into more depth.

Even in these early days, the class has created some special and memorable moments. Mrs. Smith’s favorite memory so far was watching students learn how to have respectful discussions. During a debrief, several students mentioned how nice it was to have a discussion where they felt everyone was actually hearing and responding to them, rather than just waiting for their turn to talk. She also loves watching her senior teaching assistants get so invested in the conversations and want to chime in with their own advice.

A Class for Everyone

At the end of the day, it turned out that it wasn't just the freshmen who were learning. As they prepared their talks, the senior speakers were reminded of their own high school journeys. “Me and several other seniors were learning from our talks as we listened and gave them,” one student admitted.

And the freshmen are already putting the advice to the test! One freshman said the class was “very helpful” because the advice came from people who “KNOW” what they're going through, and they decided to skip football this year in favor of getting a strong foundation in academics and music. Zoe, another freshman, believes the class will be helpful “in the long run,” getting her ready for both the rest of high school and college. All the students, seniors and freshmen alike, are hopeful that this will be the first of many classes and experiences that teach them “real-life” skills.

The Freshman Seminar has quickly become something new and exciting on campus. It's a place where students can connect, share wisdom, and give our youngest high school students the tools they need to not just survive high school, but to “own it.” It's one simple example of how our community supports each other and what it means to be a part of something bigger than yourself.

Sixth Graders Unleash Their Inner Designers and Authors!

We're thrilled to announce that our incredible sixth-grade students have officially become published designers and authors! After weeks of hard work, they've completed their Magazine Project, and the results are truly amazing.

These budding writers and designers tackled every aspect of magazine creation from the ground up. They immersed themselves in research, wrote compelling research papers, crafted insightful editorials and engaging reviews, penned poems, and even designed their own eye-catching advertisements. Every page of their magazines, from concept to completion, was a testament to their creativity and hard work. We couldn't be prouder of the talent and dedication they displayed throughout this challenging and rewarding project.

"LIMITLESS" — A Monumental Achievement for Our Yearbook Team!

This year, our annual student-created yearbook, Monumentum, is appropriately titled "LIMITLESS," and it's a true reflection of the boundless effort put in by our dedicated yearbook team. These students have poured their hearts into documenting the memories of this academic year, working tirelessly to take and collect pictures, write engaging articles, collect data, and painstakingly edit every detail. From concept to print, they've built each page from scratch, showcasing their incredible commitment and skill.

We recently celebrated their monumental achievement with a special yearbook celebration, providing some time for students to sign each other's books before the high school headed out for their last Beach Vespers of the year. The energy in the room was palpable, a testament to the community they've built and the memories they've captured.

We are so incredibly proud of all their hard work, teamwork, and dedication. We can't wait to see what amazing things happen when they take this yearbook to Publication Workshop next year! And who knows, maybe our newly minted sixth-grade designers are already practicing the skills they'll need to carry the torch and lead the design and production of future yearbooks! The future of Monumentum looks bright and, dare we say, LIMITLESS!