Hi Temescalian families,

This week TBS celebrated our beautiful diverse brains!

We kicked off each morning with brain themed discussions including talking about our dreams, the surprising things our brains do, and we also put our minds to the test with some brain teasers!

A big highlight of the week was diving into neurodiversity. We got to attend a panel hosted by middle schoolers, where they shared their personal experiences related to neurodiversity. It was beautiful for our community to come together and hear their stories. Many students found meaningful connections, they saw both “mirrors” (things they related to) and “windows” (new perspectives) during the panel. In science, we explored topics about autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other ways brains work differently, and we celebrated how unique and amazing every brain is!

We also took some time to learn about how light affects our sleep and watched this video: How Light Exposure Affects Your Sleep Schedule. It was a great reminder of why putting screens away before bed is so important!

Another piece of our brain week included spending time with our 8th-grade buddies, taking turns reading aloud to them and listening as they read to us. We read books that focused on brains, growth mindset, and neurodiversity. Some of the books we explored included: How Your Brain Learns to Read, Why Johnny Doesn’t Flap, Sarabella’s Thinking Cap, Just Ask!, The Boy with the Big, Big Feelings, Captain Starfish,  and Your Fantastic Elastic Brain. 

To wrap up the week, we had an incredible hands-on experience with Camera Obscura by MUZ! The visiting artists, who go by the collective name MUZ, transformed the back of a U-Haul truck into a giant pinhole camera, providing an immersive and artistic exploration of light, perception, and history. Students learned about the historical significance of the Camera Obscura, worked on an activity packet, and took turns stepping inside the truck to see the projected images firsthand.

This week was full of fun, learning, and celebrating the amazing ways our brains work. We challenged our thinking, explored new ideas, and left with a greater appreciation for the power of our minds. Here’s to keeping the curiosity going!

PS- You may hear students come home talking about a field trip fundraiser, I promise more information is to come! Thank you as always for being supportive!

In community,

Aly