by Robert

All does a design challenge every Tuesday and Thursday. It’s a mix of science and math, problem solving, teamwork, and imagination, helping kids develop skills for jobs later in life. It can be easy or something really hard.

What happens is that Al gives you something you have to figure out. She gives you guidelines and tells you what materials you can use. The best part is there are no wrong answers. It’s all about creating your own answers. What’s also cool is that it’s for all ages. Yes, even high school students can d it and it can be fun.

A couple of Tuesdays ago the design challenge team had to build a tunnel that Al could fit through. The rules were they could only use newspapers, tape, and boxes. They could also use walls and furniture.

Everyone worked together to figure out how to do it. They realized they had to measure Al to see how big the tunnel would have to be.

The team put the tables close together and put chairs on top of the tables. Then they laid newspaper across the chairs to create a tunnel that Al could fit through.

Al said, “They wouldn’t have thought about coming together like this when they first started. All they wanted to do at the beginning of the year was build something on their own and be done with it. Now they are working together and coming up with a plan and thinking of ways to build things better.”

Paige (Luka’s mom) sent us photos she took while monitoring this afternoon. She writes: A spontaneous “humandala” on the court today. Just another reason I love Kino Kids :-)

Enjoy a fun evening out with family and friends at our Fall Family Festival here at Kino School, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. We will be offering a BBQ Dinner for just $6.00. Tickets will be available for other games , booths, and activities for kids. Relax and enjoy live music by the Kino students and by Bob Hanshaw’s (Kino’s music teacher) band, Boreas.

Heather to her Marine Biology class:  “May I direct your attention to the reproductive cycle of algae?”

To help students and parents plan ahead, teachers have put together a schedule of the extended (that is, over night) field trips they have planned so far for this year.

October 11-14:          College trip. Vanessa and Jennifer will take students to see ASU and NAU. They hope to fit in a side trip to the Grand Canyon.

October 20-22:      Backpacking to Hutch’s Pools.  Join Heather and Chris on a three day backpacking trip in the Coronado National Forest/Catalina’s to Hutch’s Pools.

November 14-16:  Junior High Retreat – Catalina State Park

January 9-14:   Marine Biology trip. Join Heather and Chris on a 6 day Marine Biology trip to Southern California.

March 11-17:  Washington, D.C. Trip.   Join Heather and Chris on a fun, educational trip to Washington, D.C.They’ll be flying to Washington, but keeping costs down by camping at Chris’ brother’s house.

April 11-14:  Backpacking trip in the Rincon Mountains.   Join Heather and Chris on a four day backpacking trip to the Rincon Mountains.

This schedule will undoubtedly change as more trips are added. Occasionally trips are cancelled if not enough students are interested.   Every field trip that includes both boys and girls will have both a male and a female adult along.

The Sweet Tomatoes at Stone and Wetmore will give Kino 20% of everything you spend there between 5:00 and 8:00 tonight — as long as you get a beverage and you have a flyer. You can get flyers from the front desk or Nancy can e-mail one to you.  What a great excuse to eat out tonight!