Author Archives: Old Town Academy
Sci High San Diego STEM High School Presentation, Thursday Feb 19, 6:30 in 7th Grade Room
OTA Parents, please join us Thursday night to learn more about a new charter high school for San Diego. Bill Hixson, lead developer of the project-based STEM High School, will be there to tell you more about his new school. Bill is a software entrepreneur who after selling his company “retired” into a second career in teaching. He focused on STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math) education and worked on school turn-around teams in NYC, in addition to teaching on the faculty of Colombia Teachers College.
We believe this school will be a good fit for OTA students, with a strong faculty and a curriculum focused on independent learning (the school will be incorporating Project Trees) and mathematical & scientific literacy. Internships will be a large part of the program starting in 11th grade, and its project-based, blended learning model will integrate in-class and online learning activities within each project.
The projected opening date for the new high school will be the 2016-2016 school year. All parents are welcome but parents with students in grades 5th-8th are particularly encouraged to attend Thursday to learn more.
2015 Star of India Trip! (Photo-Video SlideshowS)
“Two Days Before the Mast“…. the fifth grade is back… thank you to all Parent-Volunteers and to Mrs. Cook for making the trip possible… TWO Slideshows below!
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*** Thanks to Steve Shupper ***
*** Thanks to Alexandra Carter ***
2015 Star of India Trip! (Photo-Video SlideshowS)
“Two Days Before the Mast“…. the fifth grade is back… thank you to all Parent-Volunteers and to Mrs. Cook for making the trip possible… TWO Slideshows below!
*** *** ***
*** Thanks to Steve Shupper ***
*** Thanks to Alexandra Carter ***
5th Grade Basketball Lab with Coach Curry (Video)
Individual Skills → Team Skills → Game Skills!
Recess Reminders: Guidelines For… Fun, Safety, Skills
Dear Fifth Grade Students:
Exercise (scientists tell us) makes you smarter, happier, and better looking; and we want to make sure every OTA student gets plenty of it every day (in whichever sport or activity they choose to play — Basketball, Volleyball, Four Square, Soccer, Football, Wall Ball, Jump Rope, Catch, Tag, Obstacle Courses, Conditioning, etc.).
To help ensure that everyone has fun, plays safely, and gains skills every day (and to help us all remember our few Recess Rules) we’ll borrow the Yellow card/Red card system used by soccer referees.
Thank you for Playing!
Yellow Card as first warning for…
- Playing recklessly/ unsafely (slide tackle, playing too fast, high kick, etc.)
- Breaking the game rules*/ Cheating/ Ignoring Out-of-Bounds (*Help choose the rules • Sign the Pledge!)
- Over the Fence: Kicking/ Throwing the ball/frisbee/etc over…
- Length of the Field: Kicking/ Throwing the ball/frisbee/etc. the whole … (Pass it to, not through!)
- Into Another Player: Kicking/ Throwing the ball/frisbee/etc full force into another player.
- Walking through another group’s game.
- Kicking away another group’s ball/ frisbee, etc. when it comes into your field.
- Arguing with the Referee (Teacher or Student): nothing to talk about, we all know the Recess Rules by now!
Red Card (sit out for rest of day) after a second yellow card or for:
- Obscene Language: Automatic Red Card
- Dangerous or Violent play: Automatic Red Card
*Two red cards in a week means you miss 3 days of recess
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OTA Recess-Team Sports: Six “Smart Practice” Soccer Games
Q2 Math • ThatQuiz “TargetScores” Project Tree
Click the “Live” links (blue) in the Project Tree to open up each ThatQuiz Project-Challenge. Start at the bottom and climb as high as you can go!
Old Town Academy Welcomes Sarah Rock
We are pleased to announce that Ms. Sarah Rock will be joining Old Town Academy K-8 Charter School this year as our 5th Grade Teacher.
See below for Ms. Rock’s Bio
Education: Ms. Rock graduated from Vanguard University of Southern California with her Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Mathematics. She received her teaching credential and Masters in Education from Azusa Pacific University.
Teaching Experience: Ms. Rock spent the last two years leading project-based classrooms in the San Bernardino elementary school she attended as a little girl!
Hobbies: Cooking, reading, going to the zoo, and exploring San Diego.
Favorite Books/Things to Read: Love Does by Bob Goff, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.
Favorite Subject(s) in School: Math and Science.
Fun Facts: Miss Rock will soon be Mrs. Cook. She is getting married in December and is so excited!
5th Grade 2014 Renaissance Art Project • Thank You Mrs. Smith!
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Hi all! We had another fun day doing art. We have moved into the Renaissance period which began in the 1400’s. This period was a time of rebirth and prosperity. The invention of the printing press brought the world closer together with the influences of art, science and math.One of the most famous artists of the time was Leonardo da Vinci. He was known as a “Renaissance man” because he had several talents (other than being an artist) which reflected the various opportunities of the time.Today we drew the Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous work of art.Enjoy!
Karem (Kaylie’s mom)
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Core Knowledge: “Art of the Renaissance” Curriculum