The Gillispie School

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2009-2010 Events

June

M, June 21: Summer Session begins

2010-2011 Key Dates

T, Sept. 7, 2010: First Day of School

M, Oct. 11: No School (Faculty In-service Day)

M-F, Nov. 22-26: Thanksgiving Break

M-F, Dec. 20-31: Holiday Break

M, Jan. 17: No School (M.L. King, Jr. Day)

F, Feb 11: No School (Faculty In-service Day>

M-F, Feb. 21-25: Winter Break

M-F, April 18-22: No School (Spring Break)

M, May 30: No School (Memorial Day)

Th, June 16, 2011: Last Day of School (noon dismissal)

Welcome to Sixth Grade

Mrs. Adams
Ms. Adams
Math Teacher, x.111
Contact
Room 16

Ms. Stralla
Lead Teacher, x.111
Contact
Room 16

August, 2009

Dear Gillispie families,

Welcome to sixth grade! We are excited to introduce ourselves as your students' teachers for the coming year.

Jen Stralla, lead teacher: Although new to the Gillispie community, I have more than seven years of teaching experience in public and charter schools. Last year I taught eighth grade classes including honors literature and writing in Rancho Santa Fe, but I am thrilled to be returning to sixth grade, which I taught for three years along with middle school drama at New West Charter Middle School in Santa Monica. Sixth grade is my absolute favorite grade to teach!

Growing up in San Diego, I attended UCLA, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theater. I earned my single subject English and multiple subject teaching credentials at Cal State San Marcos and cleared my credentials at USD. Utilizing my theater background, I always try to involve creative dramatics in my classroom to really bring the curriculum to life. I also try to appeal to the multiple intelligences of students - and am excited to discover and foster the varying ways in which students can learn.

Susan Adams, math teacher and middle school application coordinator: Unlike Jen, I am a Gillipsie "oldtimer" having enrolled my two children in K and pre-K in the early 1990's. Now those children are both in college and I am starting my tenth year here as a math teacher.

Prior to teaching at Gillispie, I taught middle school English at private schools in North Carolina and Maryland and at La Jolla Country Day School. I still think of myself as an east-coaster, having grown up in suburban Washington, D.C. and earning a BA at Wake Forest University in North Carolina and an MA in English at the University of Virginia.

Of all my teaching jobs, sixth grade math at Gillispie is my favorite. I love the time I have to personally consider and develop each child's math talents. We all learn differently, and identifying each person's strengths and building on those is my passion.

Warmly,

Jen Stralla and Susan Adams