March 24, 2023

Greetings Gunston Families,

If you don’t have plans for either tonight or tomorrow afternoon, you might consider coming to Gunston to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I saw it last evening and very much enjoyed the show and felt a sense of awe and pride for the work of the students, with the coaching and support of Ms. Hatcher, our drama teacher. Experiences in middle school are important, students can try something new that stretches them and gently nudges them out of their comfort zone. That experience alone is important, but doing something that you didn’t think you could do, I think, allows students to expand their view of themselves and what is possible for them.

Another funny anecdote from a different interaction with a student. I happened to be in a class and the teacher commented on how well this student had done on a math summative, adding that he is smart. The student is one, whose name is called often and known by many! When I saw the student later in the day, I congratulated him on the good performance on the math summative. He said, “Dr. Wiggins, I actually studied. It was kind of like stealing. . .the answers were so easy to get.” I replied maybe it was a little less like stealing but more like a return on an investment – you put in the time and you get a good score on a summative! Again, this is another connection I want students to make. They have agency and control over the grades they get and over their learning. It’s been a good week at this middle school for sure.

Lastly, there has been some discussion about offering our two upcoming events in a hybrid format, the PTA meetings on 3/29(Spanish) and 3/30 (English), and the Coffee with the Principal on 3/25. We are not well equipped to offer quality hybrid events. So, we will offer virtual options after spring break. I will confirm dates and share those next week.

Have a great weekend. .. and come check out the spring play, if you are looking for some middle school fun!

Warmly,
Dr. Wiggins