One of the greatest resources we have during our summer academy is our full-time counselor, Mr. Henderson. During the school year, Mr. Henderson serves the Meramec Elementary community, and we are extremely lucky to have him with us during the summer. In his role as counselor, Mr. Henderson is there for students who might be having a rough moment and need someone with which to talk. He also teaches lessons in the classrooms connected with the themes introduced during our assemblies.
Today he visited the 5th graders to discuss a special school in Chicago called Urban Prep Academy. He showed the students this clip:
In debriefing the video, students discussed the mindsets in relationship to the video and themselves. They picked up on the teachers having empathy for the students because of the long hours they work to help them learn. The class also discussed the flexibility of the students at Urban Prep to be able work so diligently from the time they entered the school and grow to be prepared for college by graduation.
One of our fifth graders reflected, "What surprised me was that you had to go to school everyday, and you have to keep trying and trying even if you are from a tough neighborhood. You don't ever want to give up. You have to work hard if you want to go to college."
The conversation closed with the class comparing their experience here at Elementary Summer Academy with what the students might experience at Urban Prep. They commented on the realization that the teachers are here to help them and that, as students, they can definitely show persistence and optimism in their learning for the half day they are at Glenridge this summer. What a great example of a mindset for learning!
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