Outside the Box – Juliann Talkington and David Kozan

On Monday, Elena Rankin, founder and former principal of First Christian Gymnasium, a private school in Kaluga, Russia, and her family visited the Panama City Renaissance School. Kaluga is located about 120 miles southwest of Moscow. The school offers advanced academics and training in English and has fifty students.  When the school opened ten years ago, it was operated as a private school. To avoid the significant regulatory challenges associated with operating a private institution in Russia, the school is now operated as a home school. First Christian Gymnasium initially had a rocky relationship with the nearby public school. After the students from the First Christian offered to represent the public school in academic competitions, the relationship improved substantially. During their visit to the PCRS, Elena and her family observed in the Level 60 English/History class and taught the students a few words of Russian.

Outside the Box – Juliann Talkington

Don’t forget school starts on Wednesday, August 11 and orientation for the 2010-2011 school year will be held Monday, August 9.  Orientation is a great opportunity to meet your child’s teachers, talk with parents, have your children meet other students and to learn more about what is planned for the year.

Schedule of Orientation Events • Monday, August 9, 2010

4:00 – 4:15 Early Bird Orientation Registration. List A School Supplies Drop-Off (Room 3).

4:25 – 5:00 Alternative PE/Art/Community Service Program requirements and training. Grade 1 and higher parents.

4:45 – 5:00 Academic book and material pick-up. Kindergarten and higher parents.

5:00 – 5:30 Meet and greet.

5:30 – 6:45 Orientation.

4:00 – 6:45 Student activities (Room 8).

Outside the Box – Juliann Talkington

On a warm spring day a few weeks ago, the Panama City Renaissance School Enrichment (after school) Program students learned about gardening. The kids had a great time digging, planting, and watering. What a beautiful addition to the front of the school. Now everyone that drives down Baker Court can see the vibrant colors of pansies. Thank you Mrs. Estes and Ms. Harwood for coordinating this wonderful project.

Outside the Box – Juliann Talkington

Thanks to Lisa Tubridy and Alex Dense, the Panama City Renaissance School students were able to participate in National Lab Day at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division last Thursday. The kids learned about mines, robots, weapons design, computer-aided manufacturing and acoustics. It was a wonderful opportunity for the students to spend the afternoon with science and engineering personnel and to experience “real world” science and engineering.

Outside the Box – Juliann Talkington

Science was part of the preschool Spanish class last week. The kids mixed vinegar and water and then added baking soda very slowly. It bubbled. When the bubbles settled they added a little more baking soda. Finally they added some fruit, vegetables and bits of spaghetti. These items sank to the bottom, then rose to the top, then sank to the bottom again. It was an acid-base reaction that produced carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide attached to the objects and pushed them to the surface, releasing the carbon dioxide to the air, which allow the objects to sink again. What fun!

Outside the Box – Juliann Talkington

What a fun day! On Friday, the preschool, kindergarten and first grade students participated in egg hunts. The kids loved collecting the brightly colored eggs and opening them to see what was inside. For the spectators, it was wonderful to watch the the array of colors as the students ran past with their colored baskets. Then it is was a treat to watch the older students race while they tried to balanced eggs on spoons.

Outside the Box – Juliann Talkington

On Wednesday, first graders from the Panama City Renaissance School visited the Panama City Junior Museum. It was a great opportunity for the students to reinforce what they had learned in class with different teaching aids.The kids explored exhibits on Florida flora and fauna, the body, water and music. And of course they had a great time spending an afternoon “off-campus”.

Outside the Box – Juliann Talkington

On Monday, the Panama City Renaissance School students celebrated Lantern Festival. Lantern Festival is a Chinese holiday celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month of the Chinese calendar. During this festival, children go out at night carrying paper lanterns. This holiday officially ends the Chinese New Year celebrations. As part of the Panama City Renaissance School festivities, the students made colorful, paper lanterns.

Outside the Box – Juliann Talkington

On the Friday before Valentine’s Day, the school was filled with hearts and Valentine’s Day regalia. The kids colored pictures, decorated hearts, exchanged cards and gifts, hung hearts on their cubbies and had in-class parties.  It seemed like the school was covered in pink, red and white.  The students had a great time celebrating this holiday with their friends and teachers.

Outside the Box – Juliann Talkington

On Presidents Day the Panama City Renaissance School (PCRS) honored the nation’s Presidents with classroom activities. As part of the curriculum, the first grade PCRS students learn all the Presidents. As a result, this was a great day for them to show what they had learned. In the preschool and kindergarten classes, the students colored pictures of the Presidents, made Lincoln penny puppets and flags. The older students discussed Presidents Day in their history classes.