Mayfield Junior School: Keep Calm and Learn Something New

The creation of our brand new D-Lab on campus has sparked a new turn for faculty professional development at Mayfield. Learning to create and push comfort zones is imperative as teachers are encouraged to ask the same of their students. This fall faculty and staff began a new professional development series called ‘Keep Calm and Learn Something New.’ Drawing from the tenets of the Holy Child Goal 6: “Holy Child Schools promote the personal growth and development of all who participate in the life of the school”, the series focuses on growth – both personal and professional, and challenges teachers to cultivate their own growth mindset with new experiences.

In October the first round of classes was set up either before or after school with opportunities to explore mindfulness, learn to sew or develop improvisational skills. On Friday, November 11, a full day was set aside to take things a little deeper and celebrate the connection to Goal 6.

In the morning teachers and staff both led and participated in creative activities such as weaving lessons, gardening, music exploration and tinkering in the D-Lab while also taking a few moments to make sandwiches for the eighth grade outreach with St. Francis Center.

After lunch all gathered for the first MJS “Unconference” – active round table discussions on innovative educational tools and ideas. With the goal of open conversation and idea sharing, teachers chose from topics such as using design thinking at MJS, bringing the arts into every classroom, using doodling as a way to enhance learning and teaching digital citizenship in an age of incivility.

The day was a positive experience for all and space and time for new ideas and growth will remain a focus as the series continues throughout the year. Nicole Wirth, faculty member and professional development coordinator summed it up, “The more time we spend trying new things ourselves, the more open we will be to try new things with our students.”

Mayfield Junior School, 405 South Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, (626) 796-2774 or visit www.mayfieldjs.org.