Spring is here! Thinking about having your child join CSI? Take a look at a day in the life of our current students!
CSI Connect
Featured news and information by and for the Campbell School of Innovation community.
Updated Fri, Apr 18th
We are embarking on an exciting evolution of what was previously known as the "Bug Project." Based on valuable feedback from both students and teachers, and in keeping with CSI's innovative spirit, we've rebranded and broadened the scope to the "Design Project."
This shift recognizes that design isn't always about fixing a problem. It can also be about taking something that already works well and making it even better! This new framework offers our young innovators greater flexibility to explore their passions and creativity.
Students have been diligently seeking to understand, learning through the design process, and leading with the goal of creating a better community. They are eager to share their incredible learning journey and the results of their hard work at our whole school Innovation Showcase on Thursday, April 24th, from 1:50 - 3:30 p.m.
Want to learn more about the exciting things our students are doing? Be sure to watch our latest Wolfpack Wonders video episode for additional updates on the Design Project. We can't wait to see the amazing ideas our students will share at the Innovation Showcase!
Updated Thu, Mar 27th
Ms. Hilker's News Media Innovation Hour students have launched our latest "Wolfpack Wonders" video newscast, a vibrant production showcasing CSI news stories.
The students, driven by a desire to understand how news is consumed in the modern age, delved into the world of video production. After recognizing a student preference for video content, they took on the challenge of crafting their own newscast from start to finish.
This project was a true learning experience, with students practicing "Seeking" by exploring current news consumption habits, "Learning" the intricacies of video production, and "Leading" by sharing their finished product with the entire CSI community.
The "Wolfpack Wonders" video is a testament to their scriptwriting, acting, filming, and editing skills. Check out the video and see the future of news in action.
Updated Fri, Mar 21st
Driven by the central question, "How might we increase acts of kindness at CSI?", students engaged in Seeking, Learning, and Leading, with an emphasis on empathy and innovation. Throughout the Kindness Design Sprint sprint, all TK - 8th grade students worked on targeting the learning objectives: "I can treat others with respect and kindness" and "I can contribute ideas to improve my community." Students utilized their creativity and problem-solving skills to design an act of kindness and led the way by testing it out! We encourage everyone to watch the Wolfpack Wonders Kindness video and to continue spreading kindness throughout our CSI community!
Updated Tue, Mar 11th
TK transformed their classroom into a grocery store to allow parents and staff members the opportunity to shop around. They had different assignments and jobs such as: a baker, cash register, barista, pharmacist, janitor, and police officer. The students practiced the roles that they were given. Parents and staff also engaged in the fun by purchasing items with play money. Overall, the class had to work together to keep the store going!
Updated Thu, Feb 20th
CSI participated in another year of a full day of play! The students were encouraged to play without screens, structure, or adult direction. CSI students had a blast playing outdoor games, board games, and socializing with other students in different classrooms! There are endless benefits from a day of play:
- Play can help children develop cognitive, physical, creative, social, and emotional skills.
- Play can help children build resilience, confidence, and tolerance.
- Play can help children learn to solve problems, get along with peers, and practice empathy.
Take a look at some photos throughout our Day of Play!
Updated Fri, Jan 3rd
Uptown students led the way by creating our very first Wolfpack Wonders video, starting with the question: How do CSI students celebrate the winter holidays?
Throughout the project, students embraced our values of Seek, Learn, and Lead. Seeking input from their peers by interviewing and asking thoughtful questions to uncover unique holiday traditions. Learning about real-world video production while also deepening their understanding of our community. Leading by creatively sharing these stories in an inspiring and impactful way, taking the project from concept to completion. This effort highlights their ability to collaborate and think critically to share stories within our community.
As with any creative project, there were valuable lessons learned. One reflection was that we can improve audio quality by helping interviewees hold the mic closer or possibly using two microphones next time.
We’re excited to continue creating more Wolfpack Wonders videos to share the stories of our CSI community. Enjoy our first video and let us know what questions you'd like answered in future episodes!
Updated Wed, Dec 4th
This outreach program allows students to learn, bake, and share their baked goods as an act of kindness using the power of baking to make a difference. Students learned how combining math, science, reading, and baking know-how, adds up to delicious bread! King Arthur Baking Company donated materials to all fourth graders so they can practice baking at home. They have been encouraged to bake something for their family and then give a baked good gift to someone in their community. Students enjoyed this experience and are excited to bake over the holiday season!
Updated Fri, Nov 29th
At CSI, we believe in the power of student voice and community collaboration. This fall, we launched the Clean Campus Design Sprint, a hands-on, school-wide initiative inspired by our Spring 2024 Student Studer Survey Data. The survey revealed an opportunity for growth: the statement “I think my school is clean” had the lowest agreement. This sparked an important conversation and led to our guiding question: How might we share the responsibility of keeping our campus clean?
Aligning with our Profile of a Graduate Learning Targets, we focused on two key areas:
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Collaborative: I can share in a positive way with my partner or team.
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Innovative: I can contribute ideas to improve my community.
The design sprint kicked off in October by building empathy. Students watched video interviews with our custodians, Mr. Jimmy and Karon, who shared what they love about their roles and the challenges they face. These heartfelt insights set the stage for students to develop creative solutions.
Next, students worked in buddy groups to observe specific campus spaces, brainstorm ideas, and storyboard their solutions. This phase emphasized Seeking and Learning as students took time to understand the problem and propose thoughtful improvements.
In November and December, our TK-8 classrooms will test and provide feedback on one of our favorite student-generated ideas. During this phase, students will be Leading as they take ownership of the testing process and Seeking as they gather feedback to refine their designs.
Stay tuned for updates as we continue this journey toward a cleaner, more connected campus. Together, we’re making a difference!
Updated Wed, Nov 27th
World Kindness Day is dedicated to promoting and celebrating acts of kindness. This day serves as a reminder of the positive impact that kindness can have on individuals, communities, and the world at large. It encourages people to perform intentional acts of kindness and foster a culture of compassion and generosity. Here are a few acts of kindness that we would like to highlight from a 3rd grade class.
In the first photo, one of our students was able to translate a voting ballot for a new student at CSI to ensure that her vote was accounted for correctly. Our bilingual students have been very helpful in supporting those who need translations, whether it is another student or their teacher.
In the second photo, we have two classmates who are playing Jenga together. One of the students noticed that the other was not playing with anyone so he asked if he would like to play a game of Jenga together. This act of kindness made the other student very happy and was an opportunity to gain another friend!
