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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, September 15-17, 2004 A-23 The Park Record Soaring Wings: a child's place Montessori teaches with 'peace object' and no grades Exceptional Real fzstate Values in Park. Citij By JARED WHITLEY Of the Record staff If grown-ups visit a class at Soaring Wings Montessori School, they can expect to find a lot of things - maps, sea shells, a bird named Dong - but no chairs they'll fit in. That's because everything in Montessori schools is sized for children, from chairs and desks to brooms and cups. "The idea in the Montessori classroom is that it's a child-centered classroom, not adult-centered," said Duna Strachan, the school's director, The educational philosophy started about 100 years ago when Italian doctor Maria Montessori provided a classroom with childsized equipment that "students could manipulate to discover academic concepts at their own pace," Strachan said. For example, at Soaring Wings, kids learn with solid geometric objects before they learn about the abstracts of geometry. "Our philosophy is to provide education for the whole child so that our graduates have their academics firmly in place, are independent, responsible, culturally aware, able to solve problems on their own and eager to learn more," Strachan said. When kids come to school, they are asked "what would you like to do?" Slrachan said, and select their own activity. There's no bulletin board or teacher's desk. Early childhood teacher Audra Walsh said she chose to be a Montessori teacher "because it speaks to me more than having 30 children silting at their desks and having me dictate to them." Classes at Soaring Wings all have a "peace object," based on Pristine Mountain Ranch Home Ifyou have ever wanted a brand new mountain home in Park City flaunting magnificent views from every direction, look no further. This home under construction will feature a welcoming spiral staircase accompanied by a water feature, a media room, and beautiful combination of wood and slate travertine flooring. A perfect family home for living the Park City lifestyle. Offered at Si,195,000 Mountain Ranch Tranquility This stunning home parades panoramic view* of all of Park City's finest ski resorts. backs up to open space, and provides a warm -ind rcLixcJ atmosphere for family and friends. An entertaining deck inviting beautiful sunsets is just ihe beginning. Offered at SI.275.000. GRAYSON WEST/PARK RECORD Soaring Wings teacher Sun Park reads to his class, which meets in the Park City library. the idea of American Indian immediately, 'Oh, I'm telling the emphasis on manners. talking sticks, where only the teacher!"' "Not every school leaches person holding the object can Seeing kids resolve their dis- manners like Soaring Wings," putes amicably Will said. gives Walsh Student Emerson Alvarez, 7, the optimistic said. "It's a good school and it is Our philosophy is to provide educa-feeling that a very good opportunity...what I like is it doesn't have tion for the whole child so that our ''maybe some- really grades." day there graduates have their academics firmly won't be war." Noelle Byrne, 7, recently Meghan learned about the food pyramid, in place...and eager to learn more." Ricci, 9, has which "leaches you about food been a Soaring and stuff." she said. - Duna Strachan Wings student Soaring Wings has approxi120 students, classes are Soaring Wings director since she was mately kept to 20 students each. Teacher^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ™ S h e to-student ratios vary from one to speak. Walsh's is a heart-shaped said, "It's really fun. You get to five in the toddler classes to one rock. When children have dis- do lots of games, PE, recess, and to 10 in the early childhood and putes, they take turns talking the teachers are really great too. elementary classes. They're fun, they teach you a lot The school is on the third and holding the rock. "I really have the children use and they play fun games. They floor of the Park City public library. Enrollment comes with that a lot to express how they make the lessons fun." Will Griffith, 8, is a long-time an annual registration fee of feel," Walsh said. "When they can't make it work, they come to student at Soaring Wings. His $395, plus tuition of $3,700 to me...at a lot of schools, it's favorite part of the school is its $7,990. Beautiful Glenwild Home Just Completed The reason why Park City is transforming into .i four season living environment is right here. The fully furnished masierpitte welcomes jnu with .) luxurious porte-cochere drive lending to the foyer which displays a beautiful waterfall that cajries to the first floor. The balance between nature and amenities is well worth seeing. Offered at Great Build Lot Stan building the dream home you have always wanted minutes from Park City. This gorgeous view lot has much acreage 10 ofter while surrounded by wildlife as you look a Glenwild and the Canyons Ski Resort. Trails for hiking and biking right out of your back door .ire easily accessed from this secluded retreat. OtTered at Si 15,000. PowerSchool use requires watchful eye in yet, Derby said, so teachers "get calls from parents wonderOne large problem with ing why their kid has so many PowerSchool is user friendliness, zeroes." Derby said. Sometimes parents "It sends a false message to don't correctly interpret, -the parents, and I don't know if these information and assume students are parent's' who aren't' s~rnarFJ are doing worse thaffUhey actual- enough to read their computer ly are. screen, but I do know it happens "Parents sometimes micro- frequently," Derby said. manage their kid's life, and that's Sometimes parents or students their business." Derby said. incorrectly judge the weight of For example, teachers enter different assignments. For every assignments in ahead of time, day a student simply comes to which show up on PowerSchool, class, Derby gives him or her one but without grades, because the point, which he translates into a assignments haven't been turned weekly grade. • Continued from A-21 As an example, if students come to class every day, but bomb a final assignment, they could have 10 As and one F, but the F is worth 40 percent of their grade, Derby said. " "I think they ougRTto be able to figure that out, but frequently they're not able to figure that out," Derby said. "It's not user friendly enough for the parents." But problems with PowerSchool like this are easily addressed, Derby said. "I think for the most part it serves as a good tool for parents to be able to see what's going on with their kids," Derby said. PowerSchool can be especially useful for parents who are out of town a lot, and want to see how their children are doing. "Park City has a lot of traveling parents/' Thomas said. School secretaries have everyone's IDs and passwords, if parents and students don't have them. "Although those have been sent home - they tend to lose them," Thomas said. PowerSchool is available online at pcschools.us, ssummit.kl2.ut.us, and nsummit.kl2.ut.us. (*%• r*- m a EH "1 s HELJ Incredible \&1 lie! Fully furrJjhcd with new rjk and carpet. Greoi rental history! Sleeps four with jetted tiijb jyid ihgn walking diiiince to PC Rssori. On bi;s rquj^ wiih ourdoor pool, hat tub, and laundry facility. Pouibk jcller financing. Seller to pay 12 mo. of H . O A d u o wiih succeisful CIOK by 9.30.M. 512^,500 -fit* 1yW l I 4L JJ-S-'JU'i wine 9ar V-tan? ' omi'jn, soon In Main Sin.-*:' 4I _' FREE Bus Servicel Television I Closet Door L •! Microwave FRIENDLY REMINDERS FROM QUESTAR GAS TO GET YOUR FURNACE READY FOR WINTER. With cooler weather just around the comer it's time to have a licensed heating professional perform a routine maintenance inspection on your furnace. Clean or replace the filler Furnaces need to breathe. Keep combusHon-oir openings dear. Check the blower belt and oil ihe blower motor. Keep the area around your furnace dear and unobsiTucted. Make sure the blower doors are replaced properly. Use the \ j_ _ - - • - 4 L" l!*'!l Here are some other things you can do yourself: Remember Don't Drink and Drive u 0 Dresser Enjoy Your Fail! i Bathroom Mirror Refrigerator i ii' il'B Check to see thai the vents in the house are unobstructed. Do not store combustible material such as paint thinners, gasoline, etc near your furnace. Your seasonal inspection is also an ideal lime to make sure your spaceand water-heating equipment has a G r e e n Sticker. A G r e e n Sticker indicates your appliance has been properly adjusted for the gas supplies entering Questar Gas's system. Call a licensed healing contractor or visit www.questargas.com for more information and to determine whether a Green Sticker is required in your area. '. • "•;• -. - - '? ^'; ^Vi Having your furnace properly maintained will bring you peace of mind and may even lower your gas bills. A list of licensed contractors in your area is available by calling: Rocky Mountain Gas Association: Salt Lake City: (801) 832-9490 Outside Salt Lake City: (800) 729-6791 Or you can visit their Web site at www.utrmga.org. A list of contractors is also available in your local Yellow Pages under "Heating." CLUESTMR QUEST* Gas Questor Gos is celebrating 75 years of keeping Utah worm and is committee/ to doing everything possible to provide safe and reliabie service a' rates among the lowest in the nation. mtBi WH |
