Observations
of Student Performance
If one was to be the “proverbial mouse in the woodwork”, then one would see several informal demonstrations of student performance at Colegio Maya during the course of the school year. Below is a brief listing of the various events that the ‘mouse’ would see:
Content Areas Showcase
Originally several year ago, the school hosted a Science Fair every year where students presented their projects and also competed in various ‘hands-on’ science contests (ex. Bridge building, making musical instruments, constructing vehicles made out of fruit/vegetables, etc.). With the initiation of a formal curriculum development cycle and as a follow-up step to the implementation of the newly developed curricula, departments were asked to present a showcase event in the year following their curriculum development. These showcase events have taken the place of the original science fair and have provided opportunities to be exposed to various novel ideas within each content area while still maintaining a ‘hands-on’ approach. Currently, our math department is preparing for this year’s showcase event, given that they went through their formal curriculum revision last year.
Performing and
Fine Arts (PAFA)
The drama performances at the secondary level provide for
some fine observations of student performance. Yearly, separate middle school
and high school productions are presented to the Maya and greater community.
Seasonal concerts are held throughout the school year where students in grades
PK-12 perform. In addition, the high school students participate and earn
recognition in the AASCA drama and music festivals that are held. Each year the
PAFA department organizes and presents a PAFA festival to present and celebrate
the students’ artistic demonstrations. Through all of these efforts the
momentum has been building in order to realize a dream in constructing the
current new Performing and
Knowledge Bowl/Destination
Imagination
A fine extension of student learning that is demonstrated in extra-curricular activities are the students’ performance in the Knowledge Bowl (9-12) and Destination Imagination (2-8) competitions. Apart from the students enjoying themselves while participating in the programs, they also have had some success with the Knowledge Bowl teams winning their AASCA competitions in 1999 and 2003 and the Destination Imagination teams winning in 2004.
Athletics
In a time where many schools are facing a drop in student participation in school athletics, Colegio Maya continues to field competitive teams which represent the school well in spirit on and off the field/courts. Throughout the grade levels, basketball, soccer and volleyball teams are organized. At the high school level, the championship banners that hang in the school gym are evidence of the success the teams have had in regional AASCA competitions. The icing to these student accomplishments are the several Good Sportsmanship trophies that the teams have won.
Clash of Colors
Commonly called “the most fun activity of the school year” and “perhaps the best demonstration of who Colegio Maya is as a community”, the Clash of Colors is a day where all students in grades 1-12 come together to participate in a cooperative/competitive day of games and contests. The seniors are leaders of the colored teams which each have students from all of the grades. The demonstration of school spirit, cooperation and communication between all of the students while competing is truly something to see!
… and
in closing:
One high school student when recently queried as to how we
might best communicate to the SACS visiting team how our students perform, he
replied, “Have them just ask me! I would be glad to share with them all that
our school is about and who we are, what we do and what makes us special!”