It’s exciting to start the new year with a book that features new thinking, and so I recently picked up a book released on the third day of 2012: Smart Thinking: Three Essential Keys to Solve Problems, Innovate, and Get Things Done. I’m an easy target for a product that promises to increase my creativity and efficiency!

Written by Art Markman, a professor of psychology and marketing at the University of Texas at Austin and long-time editor of the journal Cognitive Science, the book promises to show readers “how memory works, how to learn effectively, and how to use knowledge to get things done.” While some of the insights are mundane (get enough sleep, pay attention when you meet someone new), we all can learn from the author’s three main points:

Habits of the mind can be changed and harnessed to your advantage,
“High-quality knowledge” is an important requisite for Smart Thinking, and
High-quality knowledge from one field or discipline can be applied to related (and even unrelated) problems to great effect.
I’m especially interested in that second point. In a world that’s shrinking before our eyes (interconnected economies, truly international students who study and then apply their knowledge across multiple continents), it’s refreshing to realize that deeply knowing the technical aspects of a few disciplines can lead to the breakthrough application of ideas to solve tenacious problems.

For example, might someone with a deep understanding of the human cardiovascular system be just the person to consider how best to untangle the traffic-filled arteries of San Diego’s highways? Because one can’t apply deep learning to the multifaceted challenges of modern life unless “high-quality knowledge” is there in the first place, I began wondering:

What varied and rich sets of knowledge are individual Gillispie students already developing for themselves? (I’m thinking of those students who are trying to learn everything they can about: dolphins, robots, bridges, baking, etc.)
How can we help them expand the breadth and deepen the sophistication of what they know?
What captivating and important problems will they solve once they grow up and apply their incredible knowledge as “Smart Thinking?”
Steve Bunyak
Assistant Head of School

Can the success of yesterday’s blood drive be attributed to the laws of physics, mathematical phenomena, or something even greater?

The idea of the drive started as a pebble thrown into a pond by one teacher three years ago as a way to support a Gillispie family whose daughter was battling a recurrence of cancer. The family is healthy and well with children now in middle school, but the inspiration from the first drive caused a ripple effect, much like waves passing through water or air–one good deed so often leads to another, and then another.

Or perhaps a metaphor for this year’s drive should be a mathematics lesson on geometric progression? Now involved are two third grade classes representing twenty-seven ambitious students and two dedicated teachers. Additionally, every third grade family contributed baked goods to the event and seventeen parent volunteers took shifts supervising the student sales force. Parent Kelli F. packaged treats the afternoon before and the day of, showing that everything looks better with a ribbon and cellophane; three families baked delectable raffle prizes.

This year’s undertaking also taught us about flexibility and an open mindset—a half-hour before the drive was to start, the truck carrying all of the equipment broke down, so the event shifted from its intended location of the gym to a re-routed blood bank bus. Quickly, administrators (some in heals and some in ties) moved folding tables and chairs to the south parking lot.

Third graders learned the importance of setting and meeting goals and the thrill of exceeding expectations; every few hours throughout the day I was informed by very excited students of the grand total from the sales of raffle tickets and baked goods. Sixth graders practiced graciousness in greeting donors they knew with, “Hello, Mrs. A. or Mr. Z, thank you for doing this,” and in welcoming strangers to Gillispie with, “Hello, we are glad you are here.”

In all, over $2,000 was raised for the San Diego Blood Bank and 46 pints of blood were drawn, with an additional 12 donors registering for future donations—all record totals for the School. The vast majority of donors represented our own Gillispie parents, teachers, and staff. A huge thank you goes to Mrs. Hurley and Mrs. Davis for bringing us together for a noble cause. More than a science, math, or economics lesson, this annual event proves that the whole of a community is greater than the sum of its parts. Thank you to all who participated in whatever way to the success of this drive.

Alison Fleming
Head of School

As educators, we aspire to extend children’s ability to think critically. In order to do that, we must be critical thinkers ourselves, able to find our own way through difficult questions. On Thursday, January 5, a number of Gillispie’s teachers took the opportunity to be challenged in their own thinking by a master in the educational field, Alfie Kohn, who spoke at the University of San Diego.

Mr. Kohn has for many years been a sometimes controversial, always provocative leader in education. He asks us to think critically about our practices and reminds us that our children are not products, but human beings who should have a voice in their own education.

His first and perhaps most well-known book is Punished By Rewards, in which he pointed out the dangers of dangling rewards in front of children for simply doing what is expected of them. Today, he echoes the wisdom from Nurture Shock, the Gillispie faculty’s summer reading selection, that discusses the tendency of adults to constantly—and meaninglessly—tell children they are doing a “good job” upon completion of any activity. Such practices, which Kohn refers to as “verbal doggie biscuits,” are actually detrimental to the acquisition of qualities such as perseverance that will be most helpful to children as they grow up.

Alfie Kohn reminds us that children naturally possess a desire to learn and an excitement about learning; therefore, the ultimate benchmark is whether children love to figure things out (at Gillispie, we ask the children to ask themselves, “What do I do when I get stuck?”). Rather than focusing on rigor and grades, Kohn believes the school’s the focus should be on meaning, engagement, and understanding, with curriculum that encompasses problems, projects, and questions.

At Gillispie, teachers hold many of Kohn’s ideas in high regard. In the early childhood program, projects often emerge from children’s ideas. In the elementary school, teachers often begin a unit of study with essential questions. Both divisions of the school agree that the old model, where teachers are the sole purveyors of all knowledge to students, is ineffective in the 21st century.


 Although most teachers have read Alfie Kohn’s work, his books and  essays don’t compare to seeing him in person. Thanks to the Gillispie Endowment for Excellence in Teaching, eight of Gillispie’s teachers, joined by Ms. Fleming and Mr. Bunyak, were able to do just that.
Margie Edwards
Director of Curriculum

At this week’s Grades K-2 and 3-6 assemblies, educators from PlayIt Safe visited to discuss “stranger danger” with the younger children and bullying behaviors with the older ones.

Some of the advice for K-2 students included:

–Your biggest weapon is your voice, because noise attracts attention. The best phrase to call out is not “Fire,” which can cause people to run away from you, but “Stranger, Stranger, 9-1-1!”

–Your secret weapon is confidence, which the speakers compared to the way in which tiny Chihuahuas can outbark and fend off much larger dogs with their mighty confidence.

–Your strongest weapon is your legs, so use them to run to a safe place where people gather (your home, your school, a store or cafe). Children may know not to talk to strangers, but shouldn’t even stop to listen to them.

Older children reviewed the W.I.N.N.E.R. technique for handling anti-social behavior (from PlayItSafe materials):

• W–Walk away from the bully and say nothing; keep moving and don’t look back!
• I–Ignore the comment.
• N–No Attitude: Deflect the power of the bully’s words. Saying “Whatever,” or “So what,” aren’t effective. Attitude only attracts attitude.
• N–Nice: Change the subject and say something nice to the bully. Then keep walking.
• E–ESCAPE! Refuse to fight. Just say, “Back off! Leave me alone!” Attract attention with your voice.
• R Report it. If you see someone being bullied, go tell the adult who needs to help. If you are in a group, go with your group to remove the target from the bully–there’s strength in numbers.

Teachers and administration will be looping back on these lessons during the weeks ahead. Parents may access more information on the PlayItSafe website: http://www.playitsafedefense.com/.

Alison Fleming
Head of School

Because schools exercise a co-parenting role each day, safety is always a top priority. With this in mind and based on parent input from fall coffees, The Gillispie School has arranged for a visit by Tracie Arlington of PlayItSafe. Next Wednesday, January 18, she’ll be speaking to students during the Grades K-2 and 3-6 assemblies. Ms. Arlington and her organization come highly recommended and with much experience working with children.

For K-2 students, the PlayItSafe team will present their “Stranger Awareness” assembly which, as the organization describes, is “designed to teach children through role-play the importance of awareness and setting appropriate boundaries. Students will learn to recognize inappropriate behavior and to trust their instincts when someone or something doesn’t feel right. Students learn the importance of reacting quickly, using their voices to attract attention, and that escaping a bad situation should be their #1 goal.” During the interactive assembly, PlayItSafe will involve students in role-playing scenarios in age-appropriate, entertaining ways.

For Grades 3-6, the PlayItSafe team will present the “Keep Your Power” bully-proofing assembly where “children will learn through role-play to recognize the different types of bullying behaviors: teasing, excluding, name calling, etc. Verbal self-defense, zero tolerance, and several “Power Protectors” will be discussed and demonstrated, along with what ‘normal conflict’ is. Students will also learn the importance of displaying confidence, remaining calm, reacting quickly, and using their voices to attract attention if necessary. [They also] will demonstrate how children can help each other when experiencing bullying.” Students will participate in role-playing to “demonstrate their ‘power protectors.’”

For more information, such as assembly overviews and guidance on reinforcing lessons at home, visit the PlayIt Safe website.

Alison Fleming
Head of School

January 5, 2012

While most of us enjoyed the holiday season and rang in the new year surrounded by family and friends, I’m sure that we can all think of a close family member, relative, or friend who has had to face recent health challenges. Perhaps he or she has even needed a blood transfusion as a result of an accident or illness?

My aunt Diane, who lives in Massachusetts and suffers from leukemia, recently went to the hospital for what she sadly refers to as a “routine” blood transfusion. After a long, uncomfortable trip in my father’s pickup truck, her weak and bony body spent the entire day sitting in a chair in the waiting room. She was eventually sent home with the unfortunate news that there would be no blood for her that day. She would have to go home and try again tomorrow. Three thousand miles away, I donated blood in her honor the next day. It didn’t help my aunt, but it felt gratifying to help some other person in need.

Please consider paying it forward and honoring a friend or family member in your life who has received blood by donating at the annual Gillispie Blood Drive on February 1 between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. in the gym.

To make an appointment, please click on the link below:

This is a public blood drive (meaning everyone’s welcome!), so please pass on this information to your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred (in fact, the Blood Bank won’t visit unless we meet a minimum quota of 30, so schedule today!).

Erica Hurley
Grade 3 Teacher

P.S. Don’t miss The Gillispie Blood Drive & Bake Sale

**Third Graders will be selling family-sized baked treats to benefit the San Diego Blood Bank.

December 15, 2011

One of the gifts of the holiday season is the opportunity for spending time with multiple generations, and Gillispie dedicates this Friday’s holiday programs to grandparents and dear family friends who have shared their wisdom and touched the lives of young children. Below are thoughts from some Gillispie children.

From some of our kindergartners:

• I love to spend the night at Grandma’s because she makes the best macaroni and cheese.
• I love to go to the desert because I like to ride motorcycles with grandpa!
• I love to check the rat traps with grandpa [in the tomato garden].
• I love to play board games with my grandma and grandpa because it’s fun.
• I love my grandma because she feels nice.

In an acrostic poem written by a third grader describing her grandparents:

• G reat storyteller
• R emarkable cook
• A wesome
• M agnificent teacher
• M emorable person
• A n Italy lover

• G reat frog feeder
• R emarkable boat driver
• A wesome style
• N ice looking
• D elightful Grandpa
• P erfect traveler
• A mazing person

May this holiday season bring your family’s generations together to share their love, energy, and unique perspectives.

Alison Fleming
Head of School

P.S. Don’t forget to join us tomorrow for Grandparents & Special Friends Day and our annual holiday programs.

• The Gillispie Choir performs at the beginning of each show:
• Preschool Rm. 2 through Prekindergarten: 9-9:30 a.m.
• Grades K-2: 10:30-11 a.m.
• Grades 3-6: 1:30-2:15 p.m.

December 8, 2011

It is an amazing accomplishment for our families to once again participate at the 100% level during this year’s Annual Giving Campaign. I am grateful to each family for its commitment to our mission and to Campaign Chairs Jill S. and Alex S. Director of Development Nancy Torns is commended for her consistent, tireless efforts to realize a successful conclusion to our most important annual fundraising endeavor. Happily, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Alison Fleming
Head of School

December 1, 2011

As a teacher, I consider myself a lifelong learner. My ongoing professional development has helped me grow as an instructor by improving my teaching practices, which results in a better Spanish education for my students.

Recently selected to speak at the annual national convention for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages in Denver, Colorado, I presented (in cooperation with my Spanish teaching colleague at Stella Maris Academy) a session titled, “Project Based Learning: Culturally Rich Projects for the K-8 Classroom.” Participants learned how to bring together the studies of culture and grammar with 28 creative and culturally relevant projects with examples of some successful projects made by our students.

In addition to presenting a session, I was able to attend a dozen other sessions that helped me learn new ways to incorporate technology into my classroom, energize students to talk about art in Spanish, use music in the classroom, and incorporate authentic Spanish literature into my curriculum. As a complementary experience this December, I will attend the local workshop 21st Century Teaching and Learning as organized by the Foreign Language Council of San Diego.

I am grateful to have my professional growth supported in so many ways: the Gillispie Endowment for Excellence in Teaching, my encouraging faculty colleagues and administration, and the School’s overall climate as a community of lifelong learners.

Carol Radchik
Spanish Teacher

November 17, 2011

To my delight, Gillispie children at a recent K-2 assembly shared the following details about why they’re thankful. I grouped some of their thoughts into categories and included some connecting language, but preserved their choice of words, which is uniquely theirs.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Alison Fleming
Head of School

I’m thankful for my family and that we take care of one another—I love my sisters and brothers, my parents and grandparents

I’m grateful for moms and dads because without them, we couldn’t survive

I love my pets and animals (cats, dogs, fish, frogs, elephants, bunnies, and piggies)

I’m glad I have a home, food, shoes, a cozy bed
. . . and for the sun, the ocean, nature, for life on Earth and in the universe

I’m grateful for present giving and holidays

I’m thankful for school (reading, P.E., recess, science, and art to name a few); for my teachers and friends

I appreciate my dad’s company; that he’s on TV; and he’s winning trials

I embrace Legos, ear piercings, video games, I-pads, electricity, cars, the La Jolla Rec Center, Hawaii, and Mount Everest

I love sports (soccer, baseball, basketball, dodge ball, gymnastics, and football)
. . . singing, music, dancing, fun, swings, and slides

I’m thankful I have good health (including strong bones and a heart); that I’m myself; and for being alive

I’m thankful for God, love, life, peace on earth, and the whole wide world.