Daniels Elementary Challenge Lab 2012-2013 Mrs. Mitchell: Welcome Back to the Challenge Lab 2012-2013!

I am so glad to see so many familiar and many new faces this year!

The first eight weeks my study groups are starting out learning about Elections. In grades 2-5, we are focusing on the candidates and four of the issues they are faced with in this election: The Economy, Education, Health Care and the War in Afghanastan. We will learn about the electorial college next week. Parents and Guardians, please share some of your thoughts with the kids around the dinner table. I want the students to learn to about the issues, and make connections to how the decisions that our government makes impacts our lives.

On November 2, 2012, these students will hold a "press conference" performance in the cafeteria to share the issues with our student body. We will have a slate of Obama's and Romeny's to answer question from our student reporters. More to come on this topic! Then we will have students voting on election day for their candidate of choice. My first grade is studying American symbols and I will also include election discussions.

Once this event is over, our study groups will resume topics I have created for each grade level!

The drop-ins to the lab are looking good! That tells me many of our Daniels students are mastering their academics in their regular classes!

Many of the teachers are sending students with extension activities. Mrs Coulter's and Miss Fawcett's 2nd grade has sent some of their class to extend on studying scientific opposites. I am looking forward to seeing their final product. Mrs. Rosales is sending students to work on Spiders that bite!

We have started our 3rd grade chess group. They are in training, and after the 2nd six weeks, I will open it up to 4th and 5th graders.

As we get into the next six weeks, we are in store for lots more critical thinking in the Challenge Lab!

I am inserting some pictures from our Student Council Election. It was very successful and every candidate that ran was amazing. I wish we could include everybody, we it demonstrates to me how many potential leaders we have here on our campus! I will find committees and other areas to use those that did not get an official job! Can't wait!

I will continue to post and update once a week. Please let me know how you like our site.

Thanks to all the students, teachers, parents and our administrators Mrs. Billeiter and Mrs. Alejandro for making the beginning of this year fabulous! Expect the Best and Work for Success!

Warmest Wishes,
Mrs. Marilyn Mitchell
9/27/2012

The following pictures are of our student candidatesrunning for offices that gave speeches, or introduces themselves to the student body for this years Student Council Election. They all were impressive!