Waters Elementary
4540 N. Campbell Ave. Chicago, IL 60625  (773)534-5090 
School Hours 8:15 - 3:15
​Office Hours- 8:00am to 3:45pm
​
  • About Waters
    • News >
      • This Week at Waters - Principal's Newsletter
      • Calendar
      • Cafeteria Menus
    • Admission / Enrollment
    • Medical & Dental Requirements
    • Policies and Procedures
    • Contact
  • Student Learning
    • Before & After School
    • Social-Emotional
    • Core Subjects
    • Fine & Performing Arts
    • Gardening & Environmental Science
    • Extracurriculars >
      • Academic Teams & Clubs
      • Sports
    • Additional Resources
  • Waters Community
    • Local School Council
    • WatersToday
    • Get Involved
  • COVID Guidance

Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

9/13/2017

 
We're back! 
And the spirit around the school seems high.
Our field ecology schedule kicks off at the end of this month and there are tons of things to prepare at every grade level.

Some of the ways that the ecology program carries on the legacy of progressive education, 
is by asking parents to help me prepare for our trips, 
by asking parents to attend the trips, 
and by inviting parents to participate in the trip activities and learning.
I learn new stuff every time I teach, from K-8. 
As a school we learn, 
we grow, 
we become more interwoven as a community. 
If you stay at the school K-8, 
and participate in the Ecology program, 
I hope that you will come away a little more grounded in this place we live in,
a little more knowledgeable about the lake,
 the River, 
the natural areas 
and the consequences of bad land use choices. 
I hope that we will all become stronger voices for  a restored, 
healthy, 
just,
and peaceful world.

Here are some of the things that I need help with right away:
Some one to help oversee the sorting line at lunch time, 
even for a half hour. 
This accomplishes a number of things: 
1) it helps the youngest kids and new children to learn the ropes with a friendly hand;
2) it shows the custodians that we care, and understand the added burden that is placed on them;
3) we get to see our little community in action,
their courage and enthusiasm.
(Just watch!)
Lunch sorting goes from 11:15 until 12:30 or so. 
Let me know if you can do a shift.

More stuff!

1st Grade: we will soon be doing our leaf collection,
 an activity that begs for many helping hands,
 including afterwards to sort and press the leaves;

2nd Grade; River trips begin in October, on Tuesdays. 
We need to prepare trip journals. 
This just means folding 100 card stock sheets;

3rd Grade: first Mighty Acorn year. 
We need to prepare their 3-year hard cover journal books. 
This means collecting and taping oak leaves and spine labels, 
and pasting in maps, songs, and non-fiction pieces for 70 kids;

4-5th Grades:  I need to re-sort through the journals for any changes in the classrooms, 
or new comers;

6th grade: I need to prepare year-long field journals for River studies. 
This means, 
folding card stock covers and 8 sheets of paper for the inside,
including benthic organism 
and chemical test sheets, for 100 kids;

7th grade: 
similar to above, 
except, for Lake Studies. 
for 70 kids;

8th grade: 
garden maintenance, 
harvest activities 
and special projects supervision very helpful.

Monday mornings, after drop off, 
is a good one if you would like to work together with others in the Conference room. 
But, if you would like to set your own time, 
or take stuff home, let me know. 
Yeah team! 
We are on our way!

Mr. Leki

Comments are closed.
    Ecology Program & Calendar
    PictureMr. Pete Leki, Waters Ecology Program Founder and Director
    Visit the Waters Ecology Program Website for current/historical writings, films, photos, and interviews.

     Email: 
    petelekisan@gmail.com

    Links
    Water Ecology Program Website
    Riverbank Neighbors
    Friends of the Chicago River
    Forest Preserves of Cook County
    Openlands
    North Park Village Nature Center

    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture

CPS’ Non-Discrimination Statement: cps.edu/nondiscrimination

Copyright © 2020