Lower Loop Latest: Connecting Learning, Celebrations, and Community in the Lower Loop!

By Cushla Jones / November 08, 2024 / Lower Loop Latest, Learning Designers

Happy Friday! We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who helped make Halloween at VERSO a spooktacular success! We loved seeing so many creative costumes from both learners and families who joined in the fun—your outfits truly brought the magic to life! unnamed (22)

Lower Loop Latest: 360 Assessment Scales and Loy Krathong

Dear Lower Loop Families,

An extra-special shoutout goes to Sky and Sairung’s family, who generously donated their time and talents to provide face painting for our Lower Loop learners. From unicorns to ghosts, your artistry made our morning extra colorful (and maybe a little spooky)!

Thanks again to all for the laughs, costumes, and unforgettable memories!

In this edition of the Lower Loop Latest, I’d like to inform you of the schedule for ShowTimes for this quarter, introduce the new assessment measure included in your child’s report, and clarify expectations around how parents can request support or assistance for their child.

ShowTimes for Lower Loop @ VERSO

To make room for schoolwide events and our Beyond the Walls experiences with experts or specific locations, we’ve aligned our Lower Loop ShowTimes with other loops. The Lower Loop and Middle Loop ShowTimes will take place on the same day, 14 January 2025. Our ShowTime dates for the quarter can be found directly below this section.

Why? What better way to see scaffolded learning in action than by experiencing the Middle Loop’s ShowTime right after or before the Lower Loop’s!

We also heard and took into consideration that last year, families were often asked to come to school on multiple days in the same week. By coordinating these events, we hope to make it more convenient for families to participate and enjoy a full day of learning and celebration across the loops.

This quarter, we’re also excited to invite our C1-4 families to observe a model swimming lesson with Coaches Josh and Pry at the pool. EY4-5 parents have also received an invitation to come in and share their expertise, highlighting goals or hobbies they have developed through hard work—a perfect tie-in with this quarter’s Learning Lab theme.

Quarter 1 VERSO 360° Report | Learner Targets Explained

In your child’s recent 360° Report, you may have noticed a new assessment measure showing the learning targets they’ve been working towards within the module. At VERSO, we use a 4-point assessment scale based on what we call the Gradual Increase of Independence (GII). This model reflects the progression we aim for in learning behaviors, moving from Shared to Guided to Independent and at times Leading.

Some parents have asked, “How can I help my child reach the ‘Leading’ level?” While we appreciate your enthusiasm and support, the goal of sharing these targets is to provide insight into your child’s learning journey, rather than pushing them to reach the final stage. Each step is valuable, and we encourage growth at your child’s unique pace.

It is important to note that the goal for each learner is to develop towards the measure of Independent. Leading is when a learner demonstrates full independence, confidently applying their skills and knowledge without guidance. They take initiative, solve problems proactively, and often mentor or assist peers, showing a deep understanding of the task or concept.

So, What Is It All About?

The Gradual Increase of Independence (GII) is a reflective assessment tool used by both learners and Learning Designers to evaluate a learner's familiarity with a task and the level of guidance they need to engage with it.

This scale was originally developed as the Gradual Release of Responsibility by Pearson and Gallagher, inspired by educational theorist Lev Vygotsky’s concept of the Zone of Proximal Development. At VERSO, we’ve adapted it to place the learner, rather than the teacher, at the center of the learning process.

If you’d like to learn more about your child's journey to "Independent", please email their Learning Designer to schedule a ConVERSO. During this meeting, you can discuss the progress your child has made and explore the next steps in their development.

Respectful Reminder on Communication Pathways at VERSO

At VERSO, we value open communication with families. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child, we encourage you to first reach out to your child’s Learning Designer. Since your child spends the majority of their day with their Learning Designer, they are your best point of contact for any matters related to your child’s learning and well-being.

We understand that being a parent is not always an easy job, and there are times when communication with your child's LD needs to be more frequent. Recently, I was made aware of a situation where a parent was advising others to discourage their children from being friends with another learner. As part of our duty of care, I feel it’s important to address this concern as we seek to further develop and celebrate diversity, inclusion, and conflict resolution at VERSO.

At VERSO, we encourage learners to navigate relationships with respect and care. While we certainly teach learners to give each other personal space when they’re experiencing big feelings, and to seek alternative activities or games when tensions arise, we never tell them to completely avoid playing with one another. Our aim is to foster an environment where learners feel supported, respected, and able to resolve conflicts constructively, not by excluding others.

Thank you for working with us to create a supportive, compassionate environment where every learner feels valued and empowered to grow—together.

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Lower Loop ECA Pick up - New turnstile Exit Times

Continuing on from ECA last quarter, the Lower Loop turnstile gate will re-open from 3:55 PM - 4:15 PM to facilitate controlled entry and exit during peak times. Please note that the gate will still be closed daily at 3:00 PM to ensure the safe pick up of learners not attending ECA and will reopen again later.

Please plan your arrivals and departures accordingly.

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