Dear Riverview Parents,
Often times my monthly newsletter article is geared toward sharing an overview of what is happening at Riverview: the big-picture view. This month I will share an up-close view of learning and teaching at Riverview.
Starting this year, chocolate milk has been removed from lunch to help provide students with a healthier menu. As you might imagine, this did not sit well with many students. So much so, that the students of Ms. Grazda’s third grade class started asking their teacher, “Why?” Ms. Grazda grabbed hold of this question and guided her class through the process of making their voices heard. The students researched chocolate milk and its place in schools. They identified evidence to support a formal request to return chocolate milk to the lunch menu. As a class, they wrote and presented a letter (a copy of the letter is posted on our website) to the Director of Student Nutrition, Krista Garand, with their argument. Ms. Garand scheduled an appointment with the class and answered all the points of their argument, which was followed up by a focused and well-informed discussion between the students and Ms. Garand. She was effective, and a majority of students (16 of them) changed their position on the issue.
Through the experience, students authentically engaged in persuasive argument, research, the writing process, and civic engagement. They used critical thinking skills and had their thinking challenged in a real way by Ms. Garand. Evidenced by the number of students who changed their position, we are truly developing open-minded young people!
As I watched this experience unfold, I could not help but be excited about the authentic learning occurring. This was powerful learning that was not really about the chocolate milk. A learning experience is authentic when it starts from student questions and desires to know something, as did this experience. The students engaged in a real and civic process in which their voices were heard, responded to, and treated with respect. Such treatment impacts students’ understanding of how their voices can be used in their community. As one student stated, “This makes me feel bigger, like I am seen and known, like I am a person.” Such a learning experience directly supports a key piece of our mission, “Ensure each student develops the skills and attributes for lifelong learning and has the ability to compete and contribute in the global community”.
Now, don’t be alarmed! We are not bringing chocolate milk back into our cafeteria at this time, and again, it’s not about the chocolate milk. Appropriately so, another student reflected upon the learning, “It’s been so much fun; it makes up for not being able to get chocolate milk!”
Doug Geygan