Clara Barton Open School

I is for Independence

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The Options Progam: A Key Element of Barton's Mission

By Julie Ristau

My son brought home a great looking comic book today that he created in his options class, and I found myself thinking back on some of the other projects and stories I have heard coming out of his options experience. There was the antique airplane drawing class, the energy movement group, and the beginner’s chess to name just a few.

Have you ever wondered how this remarkable Barton program keeps rolling? Just imagine the task of collecting, organizing, and supporting all of those wonderfully diverse ideas that come home twice a year in your kids’ backpacks. (45-50 classes offered in each session)

Well, meet Rus Thomas. The incredible man behind the curtain of Barton’s options program.

I had the pleasure of chatting with him a few weeks back, and came away from his little nest on the first floor smiling with wonderment again at the talent and passion so evident in the Barton teaching community. Rus devotes 20 hours a week to Barton’s Options Program and handles everything from recruiting new ideas for classes to organizing and assigning all of the options that are presented each of the three six week sessions. Not to mention the tireless attention he gives to every student (and parent) who needs encouragement, ideas for how to teach their class or just a dose of plain old “can-do attitude”.

The morning I was visiting him, I found him in the middle of coaching young girl through a challenge she was encountering with teaching a guinea pig class. Rus took all the time she needed to give the student moral support, assuring her of who was signed up and making suggestions for the curriculum. When she skipped away, troubles lifted, Rus turned to me and said, “that is why I love this work”.

Rus is a studio artist by trade, and he brings that sensibility to the puzzle that is the Options Program. His keen understanding of how the program grows from and reflects the Open school philosophy is evident. The program depends upon parental and community involvement, incorporating Barton families into school programming in a meaningful way. Rus directs the program with craftsman like quality—understanding the importance of every moving part while imagining the whole.

Next time your child brings home the call for options, consider the role that it plays in the school, the joy of children teaching children, parents involved alongside staff, and enter into the wave that is the Barton Options Program. And if you have a question about how it works, or what it is like, Rus is just a phone call away.

Click here for more photos from Options offerings.
Click here for a short description of the Options program (go to Page 9).

Wild Rumpus Book Fair TODAY!

Who: You, Your Family & Friends
When: Wednesday, November 15 from 2-8 PM
Where: Wild Rumpus, 2720 West 43rd Street in Linden Hills (map)
Great Books
Great Entertainment
Great Treats
Great Fun!
A portion of sales that night will be donated to Barton in the form of a credit for book purchases. Remind your friends and family!

H is for Home Away from Home

Books and Fairy Tales

First and second graders from Rooms 102. 104, 106 and 108 took their school spirit downtown on October 31st.  They had a great tour of the Center for Book Arts and made fabulous tunnel books.

Later that week, Rooms 102, 104 and 106 celebrated the end of their fairy tale unit with a "Happily Ever After" Author's tea.  Students read original fairy tales and displayed their wares - magic wands, "Magic Numbers" books, and pop up books.

For more photos go to Room 102's website.

Spirit of Peace Sculpture

Some Barton classes participated in the dedication of the Spirit of Peace sculpture at the Lyndale Park Peace Garden October 25th.  The sculpture is modeled after the folding of an origami paper crane, an international symbol of peace.  Boulders surrounding the sculpture explain the steps in the process of folding origami cranes.  As part of the dedication ceremony, kids and adults placed paper cranes they had folded at the base of the sculpture.

G is for Glen!

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Spirit Day!

Here are some photos from school spirit day -  

F is for Friends

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