From the Director’s Chair
Greetings DECATS Families!
Time flies when you are having fun! The first week of DECATS was a huge success! Our first courses of the day, Manners to Morals and Perspectives, are the hallmark of our program. In Manners, Scholars experienced the power of the handshake. Executive Functioning Scholars practiced the skills of impulse control and shifting between tasks smoothly. Wellness Scholars investigated the importance of nutrition, exercise and stress management. Values and Morals Scholars explored morality and ethics and began brainstorming ideas for a service project to support the larger community. In Perspectives, we introduced our core philosophy — “better at” does not mean “better than” — and began cultivating the skills of self-awareness, leadership and creative thinking.
Mr. Ramirez, Mr. Dalton and our graduate assistants led us “With Great Power” each day in our morning and afternoon assemblies. The energy level is through the roof! It is exciting to have our parents join us once again for our assemblies each day. Scholars are actively engaged in singing, dancing, and celebrating all things DECATS. We’re sure that you’ve heard some of the songs on your way home each afternoon!
Highlights from our wide variety of courses include: Scholars using their spidey senses in “Mind Over Matter” solving complex ciphers. “Which Art in Heaven” Scholars practicing their Michaelangelo skills by drawing while laying under their desks a la the Sistine Chapel. Scholars are interviewing and working on their scripts in “You Heard it Here First”. “Lego Robotics” Scholars are constructing and programming their robots. It’s impressive to see such high levels of creative and critical thinking from our Scholars in such a short period of time.
Let us know what your Scholars are saying about their DECATS experience. If we may use your comments online and in other projects, let us know that as well. We are on a mission to provide a qualitatively differentiated learning experience in the realm of education, boldly devoted to excellence in mentoring, learning and developing young leaders to use their gifts for the betterment of the world around them. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to work with your children.
We look forward to continuing our journey “With Great Power” with your Scholars next week!
With gratitude,
Dr. Kendall Shamas
Program Director, St. Anne
