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What’s Happening at Chrysalis | October 17th 2012

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Autumn’s blustery winds and overcast skies haven’t darkened student enthusiasm at Chrysalis! We’ve kicked off the year with some exciting new student opportunities. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and our blog for updates!

North Campus News

Picture of Guide Dog PuppyWe’ve added the only high-school-approved, Guide Dog program, in the state of Washington! Currently, seven families are participating and are excited to welcome the puppies in early November. Students will bring their puppy to school for training and guidance from the advisor. After a year of thorough preparation, the dog is paired with its future family. This class strengthens student responsibility and accountability. In early October, the students went to the Microsoft campus to see other families receive their dogs and get a feel for what to expect in November. Watch the video of their experience: http://chrysalisdogblog.tumblr.com/

Picture of Service LearningAnother new class this year is Service Learning. Participating students leave campus once a week to donate time to various organizations. It’s an inspiring opportunity that promotes leadership and community involvement. We are working with organizations such as: Hopelink, American Cancer Society, Friends of Youth, Jubilee Reach, Baby Corner and many more. Check Facebook and our blog for photos and updates.

Picture of Photography ClassWe’ve increased our photography classes this year to three days a week. Students travel to different locations to receive onsite guidance and direction to improve their photography skills. Students experience unique opportunities to challenge and hone their skills. A few of the locations they have visited are: Chateau St Michelle, Craven Farms, Cottage Lake Park, Wallace Falls, Mercer Slough, to many a few.

Chrysalis is excited to announce Katie Schecter as our “Featured Student.” She will be recognized and given an award at the October Woodinville Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Based on her continuing leadership skills, academic excellence, community service and school pride she earned this distinction. Congratulations Katie, you make us proud!

The Chrysalis chapter of JSA (Junior State of America) is in full swing. During the first presidential debate, our JSA students gathered at a member’s house to view and have a spirited discussion! After the lively exchange, they volleyed the pros and cons of what they watched. More JSA gatherings are in the works! Election season is always a time busy time for our JSA debaters as they prepare for the Fall State Convention being held this November 10-11th at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue.

South Campus News

This Thursday, October 18th from 3:30- 5:00 pm, kicks off our first of four events at the South Campus, celebrating the theme “Around the World in 180 Days.” The Elementary students open the series with the “AMERICAS.” Enjoy a school performance or browse student artwork and presentations. Come learn about Native Americans, early Colonization and experience their food and culture. All South Campus students and parents are welcome to join the celebration and are encouraged to bring “AMERICA” themed cuisine!

Picture of Safeco FieldHave you experienced Fridays at the South Campus? This year at the South Campus, we are excited about our first ever Field Trip Class! On Fridays, students and staff venture off campus once a month for a field trip adventure. The remaining three weeks of the month, students are in classes learning, creating, and participating in activities based upon where we go on the field trip. Each month is a new adventure! We toured Safeco Field in September and are looking forward to our field trip to the Woodland Park zoo this coming Friday, October 19.

Ian McGowan

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1997 Graduate
Rowing
2000 Sydney Olympic Games

 

 

 

California: Rowed six in the 2003 silver medal Pac-10 Varsity Eight, and the Bronze medal IRA Varsity Eight… Member of 2002 Varsity. . .rowed six in 2002 IRA and Pac-10 champion varsity eight.

National Team: Teamed with Cal senior Jake Wetzel in the U.S. Olympic Quad placing seventh at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games…finished ninth in the U.S. double scull at the 1999 World Championships in St. Catherines, Canada…finished 12th in the U.S. double at the 1998 World Championships in Cologne, Germany…competed as a sculler in the ’97 and ’98 Nation’s Cup and the ’96 and ’97 Jr. World Championships.

Personal: Undeclared major…played football and rowed in high school…born in 1979 in Seattle, WA.

(Retrieved from http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-crew/mtt/mcgowan_ian00.html)

Christian Niccum

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1997 Graduate
Luge
2006, 2010 Olympics

 

 

 

In the summer of 1990 Christian was scouted at a USA Luge youth screening camp held near his home in Seattle, Washington. It didn’t take long for the US Luge Association coaches to recognize his athletic potential and in short order Christian was on his way to Lake Placid, NY to get on the ice. Little did he know at the time that Lake Placid would become a second home for the next fifteen years.

Christian quickly moved his way up the ranks of young sliders, not only in the US, but around the world. He went on to win four consecutive World Jr. Champion titles en route to becoming one of the USA’s most decorated young sliders. Transitioning to the senior circuit, Christian continued to make his way to the podium, winning six international World Cup medals. In 1998, he narrowly missed an Olympic team birth and stood by to watch his teammates win the first ever US Olympic luge medals.

By then, having spent the better part of his life living on the road on the luge circuit, Christian took two seasons off from competitive sliding and took up coaching while he refocused on his on future and goals. The medal winning performance of his former teammates in Salt Lake City in 2002 inspired Christian to come back to competitive sliding and the time spent coaching provided him a sharpened eye with which to refine his own skills. In 2006, he made his Olympic debut and has since continued to climb the sliding ranks. He finished sixth in the Men’s Doubles event during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

(Retrieved from http://www.qsports.net/web-niccum.html)

Brett McClure

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1998 Graduate
Gymnast
2004 Athens Olympic Summer Games

 

 

 

Brett McClure enters his second season as assistant coach at Stanford. He worked for four seasons as an assistant coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Before coaching, McClure was a world-class gymnast, competing for the U.S. men’s national team for seven seasons.

As an athlete, McClure earned a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games as member of the United States team. It was the highest finish for the Americans at the Olympics in 20 years.

McClure earned national titles in the pommel horse in both 2001 and 2004 and competed in six U.S. Championships where he earned a total of 12 medals. Internationally, McClure competed in over 20 competitions, highlighted by the Olympic Games. In addition, he competed in three World Championships, twice helping the United States to silver medals.

McClure retired from completive competition in 2006 to concentrate on coaching. After four seasons with Air Force, he will bring his expertise to The Farm with the intention of helping the Cardinal bring back the national title in 2011.

(Retrieved from http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-gym/mtt/mcclure_brett00.html)

Yina Moe-Lange

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2011 Graduate
Alpine Ski Racer
2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games

 

 

 

Yina graduated a student from Chrysalis School and had a flexible schedule that allowed her to fit her school work into her busy ski schedule. In 2010, in order to fulfill her Olympic dreams, Yina worked non-stop in the gym and on the snow. This included ski training in Chile, Germany, Austria, and many other places within the US and Canada.

Yina was selected to represent Denmark at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. Yina competed in the alpine ski events of giant slalom and slalom.

Prom

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May 4th, 2012 was an eventful day for Chrysalis! Parent conferences kept many busy with consulting teachers collaborating on schedules for next year, while Chrysalis students used their ‘free’ day off to prepare and ‘pretty-up’ for prom.

Around fifty kids danced the night away at The Courtyard Hall while enjoying this year’s “Black and White” theme. Brendon ‘bartended’ and entertained making his unique and fabulous fruit drink concoctions that tasted as delicious as they looked! MaryKate kept the chocolate fountain flowing – the biggest decision being which combination tasted better, the rice crispy treats with bananas in chocolate or strawberries with brownie bites! Margaret danced her way across the floor encouraging students to snap some shots with friends in the ‘photo booth’, while Tammy wandered around with the official yearbook camera capturing candid pics of the evening’s events. Students danced and laughed their way through three hours of music, food and fun. The evening ending with a lovely slow dance from the City DJ, a heavy metal classic for a select few, and then after prom activities and movies for many students.

A big thank you to the Chrysalis teachers who worked so hard to make prom seem so effortless – a lovely night was had by all

   

Lodie Grubb Chrysalis School Review

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Chrysalis has been the perfect fit for my son. I moved my son from public school to Montessori school in the 4th grade because he was not getting what he needed in the public school system. He sat in the middle with the system: no learning disability and no exceptional gifted abilities. An average boy. Popular with his friends, athletic and not interested in sitting in class for hours on end.
Much of his day was spent with his teacher shaming him for being “off task” and not focusing. He lost his confidence and disliked going to school.

Montessori worked for a few years, but then became very rigorous academically in the 7th grade. The same thing began to happen again. I could see his confidence being affected. This beautiful child is an average student, but an exceptional human being. He deserved more. He deserved to be in an atmosphere that rewards him for who he is and encourages his interests.
For 8th grade, I found Chrysalis! It has been a game changer!

Chrysalis customizes education to each student.  My son hated homework…he gets it all done at school before he leaves. My son hated the repetition of Math problems. He works one-on-one with a Math teacher to learn individually. Time is not wasted on things he already knows. They can concentrate on his personal learning needs.  My son is happy and confident. There are about twenty 8th graders and he has many friends. He looks forward to going to school each day and is learning like never before. He looks forward to staying at Chrysalis through High School and is already talking about what colleges he would like to go to.

Lastly, I must share and experience: His English teacher stopped me one day when I ran into school to drop something off. In the past, this would have incited dread in me. She said, ”I just want to tell you how wonderful your son is.” I cried. I have never been told that by a teacher. He is a wonderful boy. Thank you, Chrysalis!

Poetry Night

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Chrysalis school presented Expressions – a night to celebrate the spoken and written word. The seed for the idea came from student, David Rollins, who had recently experienced a Poetry Slam and wondered if we could host something like that. From there grew the idea of a “spoken and written word” evening. Fourteen students performed or shared spoken word poetry, micro-fiction or songs. We transformed our theater into a 1950’s style coffee shop.

Spoken word poetry, according to the poet Sarah Kay, is the “art of performance poetry”, poetry that won’t just sit on paper. Micro-fiction tells a story in 500 words or less, the art of telling a big story in the fewest words. Part of the fun comes from the audience participation. Everyone was encouraged to respond to lines and phrases they enjoyed by snapping their fingers or offering a vocal “yeah”, and the audience really got in to it.

We presented two sets of performances, ending each set with the original music of Zane DeYoung. David Rollins, Rehana Asmi, Kevin Burns (read by Sarah Harris), Joe Filer and Michael Giordano shared their poetry. Brittany Wilson and Chris Dubois shared a piece of micro-fiction. Teacher Mary Kate Meyer read the work of Christina Sagrelius, Jenny Lefelman, Gavin Stener, and Owen Shuh. David Rollins read a piece by Forrest Martinez. Teacher Deborah Jacobson served as host and also read a piece from Adelle Pickard.

Additional writing was displayed on the walls, including research papers, creative writing and essays. Several students wrote book reviews, encouraging our guests to try a new book. The whole event showcased the many creative writing talents of our students.

Over 70 people attended the event. With all of the positive reviews, we plan to hold another spoken word night next year.

Our Campuses

Chrysalis High School and Middle School
15900 Woodinville-Redmond Rd NE
Woodinville, WA p: (425) 481-2228

Chrysalis Elementary Campus
17005 140th Ave NE
Woodinville, WA p: (425) 481-2228

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