Interdisciplinary Education is a Better Model

by Bob Graves, Head of Marywood-Palm Valley School

Published as Op-Ed in The Desert Sun, Nov. 24, 2012

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Education leaders have agreed that the old model of the individual teacher lecturing to students from the front of the class and isolating on a single subject such as history, math or science is long outmoded.

In an ideal learning environment, teachers from different subjects are encouraged to collaborate across disciplines with common themes. Learning in one subject is reinforced by shared concepts and topics in another. Such an approach is interdisciplinary in nature. It can be as simple as English and history teachers in the same grade tying literary texts in with historical narrative. To be even more daring, it can ask math students to write in a journal, explaining their thinking as they solve various problems.

An interdisciplinary approach to learning has many advantages. A student may develop a better grasp of science if math principles accompany this phase of study. The study of history may be heightened when the student writes about it in an English class. The concept offers endless learning possibilities. Use math to help teach science. Use history to aid in teaching English. Use the performing arts to enhance the learning of social studies.

Educators and researchers are discovering  that there are many ways to learn and many ways to teach. Teachers are most effective when they have the freedom to find the optimal means to reach each student. Numerous studies have shown that in an interdisciplinary environment, students experience improved critical-thinking skills, are better communicators, and exhibit greater self-confidence. When allowed to actively participate more in their education and to discover connections between disciplines, students learn more. Unfortunately, when educators play the math and statistics game demanded by current state and federal education laws, the student suffers. In an educational environment that demands more and more statistical accountability through testing and the achievement of strict benchmarking standards, there is little time for interdisciplinary learning, let alone collaboration between teachers and disciplines.

Education in America faces many challenges. A better-educated America will enjoy a brighter future. Interdisciplinary education is but one example that teaches for a lifetime. The time has come for education to learn to work smarter.

Marywood-Palm Valley School’s Middle School drama program won four awards from the Desert Theatre League on Oct. 14, for its Spring 2012 production of the original musical, "S.S. Metanoia."

"S.S. Metanoia" was nominated for nine of the 11 nominations the school received from the DTL for performances from the 2011/2012 season.  The Upper School received two nominations for its production of "Bullshot Crummond."  The Middle School drama program had not previously entered in the mostly high school and professional-level competition.

 
The Middle School musical won Outstanding Choreographer (Kim Phillips and Krisann Kontaxis), Outstanding Musical Director for Youth Theatre (Ken Sarkis and Chris Griffin), Outstanding Lead Actress (Sasha Chasen), and Outstanding Production of a Musical (S.S. Metanoia). 

Call the box office at 760-328-0861 to purchase tickets to "The Bee," an Upper School Musical premiering on Nov. 8! 

Box Office: 760-328-0861

Ticket Cost:  $10 General, $15 Reserved

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2012 Community Service Week

January 18th, 2012 – Rancho Mirage, Calif  --  The Marywood-Palm Valley School will hold its annual Community Service Week January 23rd – 27th.  This annual event allows students to learn about local non-profit community service organizations. A new component of the 2012 edition of Community Service Week will include project-based events associated with four (4) different organizations. These events enable students to engage in service projects to benefit each local non-profit entity. The Marywood-Palm Valley School has a rich history of community service, encouraging its students to take active roles in being of service to local philanthropic groups.

Managing the full week of events is Barbara Klein, coordinator of  community service for Marywood-Palm Valley School. “We are very excited about this year’s Community Service Week,” she notes.  “Students will actually be making items that the service organizations can use, whether that be making inspirational posters for the American Society for Suicide Prevention, decorating money jars for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or decorating a senior’s facility for Valentine’s Day,” offers Klein.

Head of School Vince Downey is proud of the enthusiasm his students bring to Community Service Week. “The importance of service to community has long been a tradition at Marywood-Palm Valley,” Downey says.  “We take great pride in helping our students learn the value of giving back and contributing to those in need. We want our students to be leaders in community service.”

Culminating the end of Marywood-Palm Valley Community Service Week will be the annual school Walk-A-Thon. In previous years, this event has raised approximately $20,000 each year for a non-profit community service organization in the Coachella Valley. The 2012 recipient will be SafeHouse of the Desert. SafeHouse provides emergency and long-term shelter, intervention and outreach services to runaway, homeless, exploited, and other youth in crisis.

The schedule for the Marywood-Palm Valley School 2012 Community Service Week:

Monday, January 23rd -  Leukemia & Lymphoma Society representative will speak to students, explaining blood cancers by using a video and interactive skit and discuss the impact students can make helping local patient families. Students will decorate money jars for the organization’s Pennies for Patients program. The program allows students to collect spare change over a three-week period in February or March in honor of a local student blood cancer survivor.  Students will then be responsible for placing the jars in the community.  They will monitor the jars over a 3-week period to raise money for the organization.

Tuesday, January 24th - Desert Cove Boutique Assisted Living representative will speak about the organization which opened in January 2012 to assist the aging population.  Students will be going to the facility to decorate for Valentine’s with the Theme, “Seniors are Sweethearts.”

Wednesday, January 25th -  The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will present its mission to students and then lead them in two activities in preparation for the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk.  The first activity is to make inspirational posters that will be placed along the walk to encourage participants.  The second activity will be to make dog toys that will be donated to dogs and shelters who participate in the Paws for Prevention part of the program; shelter dogs are invited to walk along with survivors. 

Thursday, January 26th -  SafeHouse of the Desert will send one of its former teenage clients who will make a presentation about the organization’s mission and benefits.  This is part of a teen outreach program. The TAY (Transitioned Aged Youth) will talk about the organization’s Cup of Happy program, and Birgit Phillips will be speaking about SafeHouse of the Desert/Safe Place. 

Friday, January 27th -  Walk-A-Thon for SafeHouse of the Desert to be held at the football field at Marywood-Palm Valley School.

Marywood-Palm Valley School’s High School drama program won four awards from the Desert Theatre League on Dec. 4, for its November 2010 production of the Broadway musical “Seussical.”

The school won Outstanding Musical Director for Youth Theatre (Chris Griffin, Jr.), Outstanding Choreographer for Youth Theatre (Kim Phillips), Best Actor (Casey Jones, played Cat in the Hat); the school tied with Palm Desert High School for the Outstanding Production for Youth Theatre award.  A cast of 16 Marywood-Palm Valley actors performed in the production.

Dave Richardt, who directed the play and was nominated for Best Director in this year’s DTL competition, said, “The students and volunteers worked hard and deserved this recognition.  Everyone’s level of commitment to this performance was outstanding, and it showed on stage.”

 
Richardt won for Best Direction for Twelve Angry Jurors in 2010, and his high school productions at Marywood-Palm Valley have received 19 nominations over the past three years. 

“Seussical” is one of the most performed shows in America.  Tony Award winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty have brought to life our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie, and Jojo, the little girl with a big imagination.  “Seussical” captures the spirit of imagination as the colorful characters transport the audience from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.

For Marywood-Palm Valley School Athletics, congratulations are in order!

Firebirds Varsity Football won a Majestic League championship with its 48-46 victory over Cornerstone on November 4. 

Firebirds Varsity Volleyball beat Packinghouse last week, 3-0, and finished 12-6 overall.  The team reached CIF playoffs for the 8th consecutive year!

Firebirds Cross-Country leaders Alexia Velarde ‘12 (Girls) and Bob Knee ‘13 (Boys) both won Majestic League individual championships!  Velarde won her third consecutive Majestic League MVP award.  The Varsity Boys' Team are the Majestic League Champions for 2011.
Go Firebirds!!!

MWPV athletes will be honored at the Fall Sports Awards Night on Nov. 16, 6 p.m., in the Gymnasium.

Call the box office at 760-328-0861 to purchase tickets to "Gusto's," an original Middle School opera premiering on April 28!