Comments on: The “Big Read” – 2010 http://nola.ncgs.org National Coalition of Girls' Schools - Annual Conference New Orleans - June 16-18 2010 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:42:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Linda Mines http://nola.ncgs.org/the-big-read-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Linda Mines Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:41:22 +0000 http://nola.ncgs.org/?page_id=33#comment-17 GPS (Girls Preparatory School, TN) has had a connection with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina for a few years. 1. Several students from New Orleans schools relocated to Chattanooga and enrolled at GPS. 2. Three faculty members and fifteen students participated in a four-day Winterim Habitat for Humanity build in New Orleans during February 2007. 3. On several occasions during the past few years, the Friday morning Current Events presentation for all students has included specific information about the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the community and on-going recovery projects. This year, as we looked for ways to participate in the NCGS Big Read: 1. Selected senior English students will read and discuss excerpts from 1 Dead in Attic by Chris Rose, columnist for The Times-Picayune in New Orleans. 2. Students enrolled in Democracy in a Global Setting have completed a unit on Hurricane Katrina and the U. S. government’s response to the crisis. During this unit, students have researched, discussed and analyzed governmental responses with a goal of creating a framework for a more positive response to future disasters. 3. GPS is offering a seniors-only trip to New Orleans on May 26- May 30, 2010. Students will participate in a re-build project. Linda Mines, History Department Chair, Girls Preparatory School (TN) After recently looking over a packet that I received from the Federal Reserve in Atlanta while attending an Ethics in Economics conference, I decided that the 39 seniors enrolled in Discrete/Economical Topics will do a 4-day video/curricular investigation into Katrina’s Classroom: Financial Lessons from a Hurricane. This series focuses in on three families directly affected by Katrina, their survival stories, and the need for financial responsibility in everyday life as well as during a disaster such as Katrina. Themes of financial responsibility, preparation, and decision making are woven throughout. By watching in the stories, engaging in the discussions, and participating in the activities, the students will learn: • Distinguish between needs and wants (encompassing the concept of scarcity). • Explain why wise financial decision making is the key to meeting needs and attaining wants. • Identify fundamental tools and practices that are required to become financially responsible. • Predict the consequences of failure to plan financially. • Relate the benefits of financial planning to their own lives. • Apply fundamental financial practices and tools. To add to the relevance of this discussion, two of our students reloated from New Orleans to Chattanooga and are in two of my three sections of the course. With them having recently completed their presentation in chapel the significance should be present and bring added meaning to the discussions and subsequent internalization of the material. Chris Zeller, Girls Preparatory School (TN) faculty member GPS (Girls Preparatory School, TN) has had a connection with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina for a few years.
1. Several students from New Orleans schools relocated to Chattanooga and enrolled at GPS.
2. Three faculty members and fifteen students participated in a four-day Winterim Habitat for Humanity build in New Orleans during February 2007.
3. On several occasions during the past few years, the Friday morning Current Events presentation for all students has included specific information about the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the community and on-going recovery projects.

This year, as we looked for ways to participate in the NCGS Big Read:

1. Selected senior English students will read and discuss excerpts from 1 Dead in Attic by Chris Rose, columnist for The Times-Picayune in New Orleans.
2. Students enrolled in Democracy in a Global Setting have completed a unit on Hurricane Katrina and the U. S. government’s response to the crisis. During this unit, students have researched, discussed and analyzed governmental responses with a goal of creating a framework for a more positive response to future disasters.

3. GPS is offering a seniors-only trip to New Orleans on May 26- May 30, 2010. Students will participate in a re-build project.

Linda Mines, History Department Chair, Girls Preparatory School (TN)

After recently looking over a packet that I received from the Federal Reserve in Atlanta while attending an Ethics in Economics conference, I decided that the 39 seniors enrolled in Discrete/Economical Topics will do a 4-day video/curricular investigation into Katrina’s Classroom: Financial Lessons from a Hurricane. This series focuses in on three families directly affected by Katrina, their survival stories, and the need for financial responsibility in everyday life as well as during a disaster such as Katrina. Themes of financial responsibility, preparation, and decision making are woven throughout. By watching in the stories, engaging in the discussions, and participating in the activities, the students will learn:
• Distinguish between needs and wants (encompassing the concept of scarcity).
• Explain why wise financial decision making is the key to meeting needs and attaining wants.
• Identify fundamental tools and practices that are required to become financially responsible.
• Predict the consequences of failure to plan financially.
• Relate the benefits of financial planning to their own lives.
• Apply fundamental financial practices and tools.

To add to the relevance of this discussion, two of our students reloated from New Orleans to Chattanooga and are in two of my three sections of the course. With them having recently completed their presentation in chapel the significance should be present and bring added meaning to the discussions and subsequent internalization of the material.

Chris Zeller, Girls Preparatory School (TN) faculty member

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