YESS Breakfast & Unit 2 Projects

Good morning everyone,

This morning I officially turned my calendar to the last month of school, I cannot believe it!!! The weeks are skipping by. Last week went by especially fast because of how busy it was. Between meetings about 8th grade night, the YESS breakfast, and the last minute cancellation of classes on Friday for walk outs, it seems like there was barely any time for the kids to be working in class! However, last week was important for the kids as they started and finished their Unit 2 project. This week they are presenting them, they turned out so cool and I'm excited to hear the reflection they wrote as they are presenting both a written essay about their favorite lesson and an artsy PSA poster! Pics to come.

Here are some shots from this week:

My cutie pie mentor leaders in their fancy YESS shirts with their fancy tri-fold at the fancy YESS breakfast!

Here is a cool shot I got from the red for ed protest at the Denver capital to support teachers' fight for more funding. It was awesome to feel solidarity among everyone and to feel support by a lot of people who were not teachers. (I went after work hours by the way, ha!)

Until next week,

Ms. Castro

Surveys For YESS Classes

SSIS SEL Documentation

The survey we will be taking today is called the social-emotional learning scale. As I am sure you know, in our YESS classroom we talk about a lot of important things. This survey will help me to learn how well I did this year as your teacher.

When you are taking the survey, this time I want you to think about yourself AFTER you've experienced this year in the YESS program.

Remember, there are no right or wrong answers to these questions, only answers that are true for you. Please do your best to answer all of the questions, and if you are unsure ask me for help.

SSIS SEL Part 1 link:
https://goo.gl/forms/tVF29r1IyqDp1JtC3

SSIS SEL Part 2 link:
https://goo.gl/forms/FnA3iX9NLKmTWBuv2

Accountability, Peaceful Conflict Resolution, & Mentor Leader Meeting

Welcome back all,

Last week flew by as we were kept busy with a jam packed schedule. On top of tackling our Accountability lesson & Peaceful Conflict Rsolution lesson, we had many deadlines to meet... "We" meaning my Mentor Leaders and I. With the YESS Breakfast coming up, as well as the YESS End of Year Event at Broncos Stadium, we made sure to complete our speeches, script, tri-fold, and senior slide show. Oh, and did I mention we recieved our YESS shirts this week!!! Pics to come! (Thanks, Jamie!)

We also had a special treat on Thursday as Diane came to film my 5th block run through our peaceful conflict resolution lesson. We discussed the past and present influential world leaders in the peace movement, broke down the 7 steps of coming to a peaceful resolution when faced with conflict, and partook in some entertaining, yet informational, skits representing a non-peaceful conflict resolution vs. a peaceful one representing the 7 steps. It was so much fun, I can't wait to watch the footage back that Diane caught!

Pictured above is a sweet little moment where all the mentor leaders from all YESS schools were together at one time rehearsing the script for the year end event. How cute! They're going to nail it.

Here is our ACHS trifold that my mentor leaders and I put together featuring some of the best/most interesting work from the past year in here. ~Graffiti brought to you by YESS Mentee Keifer Rodenberg~ way cool!

Until next week,
Ms. C

Testing, Gender Bender day, & PROM!

Another week in the books here at Adams City!

There is not much to report curriculum wise as last week was state wide testing. I worked as a hall monitor and a proctor and luckily I saw many of my students on during testing days so I was able to give them whispers/high fives of encouragement!

Thursday after testing was Gender Bender day for our spirit week and some of my students really got into it... Yes, all of these students are male identifying, ha! I love that they don't take themselves too seriously, they are hilarious. Kahlil (far left) looks just like his mom and Carlos (second to the left) is wearing a real weave and his mom's heels... I CAN'T WITH THEM!

Also, this past weekend was the Senior Prom! I went with some teacher friends and embarrassed the kids on the dance floor, it was great! But in all seriousness, I probably teared up about a total of 4 times because I could not handle how grown up my students looked. They really went all out, I was so stunned at the sheer beauty and class of my seniors! Seeing my boys in suits reminded me of the amazing young men they are becoming and how lucky and honored I am to be able to send them into society and the beginning of adulthood. These three boys in particular (below) are some of the most gentle, kind hearted, sincerely genuine humans in my life and I am so happy to keep up with what they will accomplish in the future. *tear*

Jorge and Jen! Jen is the one who won the Daniel's fund. Jorge is a student who I have known for years, I have watched them both come out of their shells and become comfortable in their own skin over the years and it was amazing to see them in their truest most fabulous form. They busted a move together in the middle of the dance circle, I was SCREAMING! I love them!

Until next week,
Ms. Castro

Emo Trolls!

Welcome back everyone,

The weeks are flying by as summer is approaching faster than I can comprehend! We started the week off with the first introduction to Emo Trolls, which lead us to reflect back on our emotions related to our Hot Buttons and Sphere of Influence. I exploded a soda bottle all over the floor to demonstrate someone who allows feelings to bottle up and eventually blowing up, causing negative debris which affects everyone around them and leaves them half empty.

We identified the different trolls and related them to how we deal with stress. My students got to know each other on a deeper level by sharing their personal reflections to each Emo Troll, this was a vulnerable exercise as they revealed not so positive attributes about ourselves and how we can sometimes act out when under pressure.

Lastly, toward the end of the week, we turned our trolls into super heroes. We identified the negative coping habits belonging to the troll and we gave super heroes super powers, identifying the positive ways we can CHOOSE to deal with stress and negative emotions and/or thoughts. Here were some of the project turn outs- SO CUTE!

Until next week,
Ms. Castro

Midterms & ~Mentor Leader Moves~

Welcome back, everyone!

The week before break got out went by in the blink of an eye. Although, for many of my students that week went by in the exact opposite way as they were stressing big time over mid-term testing from other classes. I allowed them to use that last week to get studying and tutoring done and, to my delight, they really did take advantage of it. It was almost eerie how quiet and focused my classes were that week but it showed me how serious they were about their grades so that was refreshing. I also gave make up assignment opportunities where students who have zeros on assignments could choose a credible article on the topic they were absent for/missed and they can make it up for up to 75% by having a 15 minute conversation with me about it. A few kids jumped on the opportunity and it was nice to sit and chat one on one in a way that lets me know what they've learned conversationally rather than via worksheet.

My mentor leaders also took a field trip with me to Westy to see Ben's room and meet all of the other program managers and mentor leaders. They were excited to see who else was in their position in other schools so that was super adorable to see them outside of their comfort zones yet advocating for getting things done regarding the breakfast/ End of Year Event, etc. Deadlines, phew! The end of the year is coming at us faster than we think so staying on top if it after spring break is crucial.

On the way to the meeting they definitely did not let me pass Little Man's without stopping, ha! How cute are they? They didn't know each other well at all before this year and now they are good buddies, I love seeing that. I'm going to miss them so much when they graduate.

ALSO! GREAT NEWS! 

NOT ONE BUT TWO OF MY SENIOR MENTOR LEADERS RECEIVED THE DANIELS FUND SCHOLARSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

WoOoO, go Jen and Haaron (middle and right ones in the pic)! I have been emotional all morning, I am proud beyond words and excited to see the doors that this opportunity opens for them. I am also interested in how their stress levels will begin to even out to a healthy level because being a Mentor Leader, a senior, applying for schools, scholarships, financial aid, etc. is TAXING mentally and emotionally! Now they are on the euphoric side of the stress level to where they have the options but are not exactly sure which road to choose. What a wonderful stress to have :-)

Until next week,
Ms. C