I notice that the more I read the more I am able to draw parallels in my life. Reading is promoted in many ways and for many reasons in our country and throughout the world. Whether it is a novel or a great non-fiction story there is something to be learned and applied from what is read.
From my personal experience I know that in reading the stories of sports figures or heroes of wars gone by to fictional accounts of life in Afghanistan there seems to be something I learn from every story. There seems to be a connection I make in a personal way that helps me to better understand life. I apologize for the gratuitous philosophical venture...but it is true, we are all living a story we call life...as the author John Eldredge says, life is meant to be lived and experienced. I know I sometimes forget that there is life beyond the television and that I need to turn it off and get out there and create some of my own experiences that only reality TV could believe!
Read a good book and get out there and find an adventure!
Yours,
Cody Claver
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Summer Fun
With the advent of summer (I know there was snow just yesterday but try to think positive!) it seems to open up endless possibilities of fun and frivolity. I remember many of those summer days myself as a child, playing baseball with the neighborhood kids, begging my mom to take us to a movie to get out of the heat, and going to the city swimming pool and having that feeling of being on hallowed ground inside the swimming pool fences!
Modern conveniences cannot replace the experience of getting out and DOING things. The fun and frivolity does not come by living through something (i.e. a video game) but by getting out and living the experiences. The things that were fun to me in the 70's are the things that are still fun today because it all comes through personal discovery. If you are a student reading this, get out and have fun and experience. If you are a parent, encourage your kids.
IDVA has many summertime meet and greets around the state. I would encourage you to keep checking the website and find one close to you and attend. It provides a good opportunity to stay connected with families that are new as well as returning to our school. Attending also deepens the connection with other families that are educating their children in this unique model.
Have a great summer, have fun, and read a good book occasionally! Hope to see and hear from you soon!
Respecting Your Choice in Education,
Cody Claver
Head of School
Modern conveniences cannot replace the experience of getting out and DOING things. The fun and frivolity does not come by living through something (i.e. a video game) but by getting out and living the experiences. The things that were fun to me in the 70's are the things that are still fun today because it all comes through personal discovery. If you are a student reading this, get out and have fun and experience. If you are a parent, encourage your kids.
IDVA has many summertime meet and greets around the state. I would encourage you to keep checking the website and find one close to you and attend. It provides a good opportunity to stay connected with families that are new as well as returning to our school. Attending also deepens the connection with other families that are educating their children in this unique model.
Have a great summer, have fun, and read a good book occasionally! Hope to see and hear from you soon!
Respecting Your Choice in Education,
Cody Claver
Head of School
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The Great Things IDVA Students Do!
Last Friday, April 4th IDVA had students participating in two events that truly demonstrated great achievements. First, Rebekka Lynn served as the IDVA school wide representative to the Idaho State National Geography Bee Competition held in Boise Idaho. Rebekka (known to her friends and family as Bekka) participated in several rounds of preliminary questions along with over 100 other school wide winners. So the competition was fierce just showing up in Boise. The goal of the preliminary rounds is to achieve one of the 10 coveted spots on the stage for "The Finals". Well guess what...Bekka (she counts me a friend) earned the 9th spot!
So it was, on to The Finals...for The Finals and for the first time in the competition spectators were allowed. Competitors were vying for the right to represent Idaho at the National Geography Bee in Washinton, DC.
The questions were fast and furious and we in the audience tested our own mettle by trying to match wits with 4-8 graders (kind of felt like an episode of Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader). I felt pretty proud of myself through most of the questions, ok not all...
Bekka did a phenomenal job in the final round and ended up fourth overall! What a wonderful accomplishment for her personally and how she represented her family and school. IDVA is very proud of her efforts!
On that same day IDVA was holding the state finals for the IDVA Science Fair. There were 8 finalists that presented their projects and conducted personal interviews with three very high powered judges including the science content specialist for K12 Inc. Dr. Dan Frank and the State Department of Education Science Coordinator Mr. Scott Smith. The competition was intense as there was such a variety of projects. There was a tie for second between Ben Alexander "Teeth Brushing" and Caroline Patton "Is There a Bigger Egg in That Peanut Butter" and taking the top prize was Aaron Taylor "Building on Bentonite".
We want to congratulate all the participants of the various competitions at IDVA. We are very proud of the accomplishments and the courage that students take on to participate in these events. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
Supporting Your Choice in Education,
Cody Claver
So it was, on to The Finals...for The Finals and for the first time in the competition spectators were allowed. Competitors were vying for the right to represent Idaho at the National Geography Bee in Washinton, DC.
The questions were fast and furious and we in the audience tested our own mettle by trying to match wits with 4-8 graders (kind of felt like an episode of Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader). I felt pretty proud of myself through most of the questions, ok not all...
Bekka did a phenomenal job in the final round and ended up fourth overall! What a wonderful accomplishment for her personally and how she represented her family and school. IDVA is very proud of her efforts!
On that same day IDVA was holding the state finals for the IDVA Science Fair. There were 8 finalists that presented their projects and conducted personal interviews with three very high powered judges including the science content specialist for K12 Inc. Dr. Dan Frank and the State Department of Education Science Coordinator Mr. Scott Smith. The competition was intense as there was such a variety of projects. There was a tie for second between Ben Alexander "Teeth Brushing" and Caroline Patton "Is There a Bigger Egg in That Peanut Butter" and taking the top prize was Aaron Taylor "Building on Bentonite".
We want to congratulate all the participants of the various competitions at IDVA. We are very proud of the accomplishments and the courage that students take on to participate in these events. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
Supporting Your Choice in Education,
Cody Claver
Friday, April 4, 2008
Who Better to Choose Than Parents?
There has been a recent report published by The Friedman Foundation that brings attention to the beliefs of Idaho residents as it relates to parental choice for their children's education. The complete report is posted at http://www.edexidaho.org/viewpoints.php?id=12. The results are interesting to say the least and what it clearly points out, parents are looking for more educational choices that meet the needs of their children.
One statistic the survey reflects is that when given a menu of educational choices (charter school, private school, home school and traditional public school) only 4% of Idahoans would choose a traditional public school. That certainly would make one (especially lawmakers) ponder, "what is happening that would cause parents to feel that way?"
Conventional thinking says that the experts in education know what is best for children. There is merit in that statement. It is true that those with education training and certification know and understand the processes of how best students learn. This has to be acknowledged. There is an important element that also must be respected by the education professionals. Nobody knows a child better than the child's parent. And that is the heart of parental choice in education. When parents are provided the choice to forge a partnership with the educational institution that they believe (after careful research and understanding) will best meet the emotional needs and learning style of their child that provides the child with a strong opportunity for experiencing meaningful learning.
It is clear from reading the Friedman Foundation report that Idahoans strongly (maybe even passionately) support the concept of school choice options. With that being the case it is also important that local policy and decision makers also understand the wishes of the people. Don't be shy about making those beliefs known.
Supporting Your Choice in Education,
Cody Claver
One statistic the survey reflects is that when given a menu of educational choices (charter school, private school, home school and traditional public school) only 4% of Idahoans would choose a traditional public school. That certainly would make one (especially lawmakers) ponder, "what is happening that would cause parents to feel that way?"
Conventional thinking says that the experts in education know what is best for children. There is merit in that statement. It is true that those with education training and certification know and understand the processes of how best students learn. This has to be acknowledged. There is an important element that also must be respected by the education professionals. Nobody knows a child better than the child's parent. And that is the heart of parental choice in education. When parents are provided the choice to forge a partnership with the educational institution that they believe (after careful research and understanding) will best meet the emotional needs and learning style of their child that provides the child with a strong opportunity for experiencing meaningful learning.
It is clear from reading the Friedman Foundation report that Idahoans strongly (maybe even passionately) support the concept of school choice options. With that being the case it is also important that local policy and decision makers also understand the wishes of the people. Don't be shy about making those beliefs known.
Supporting Your Choice in Education,
Cody Claver
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Turn April Fool's Day Around
On this the proverbial "Day of Fools" might I urge you to think about a different spin. Take some time today and do an act of genuine kindness to a brother, sister, family member, friend, neighbor, or someone who looks like they need a nice gesture. Recently I hit upon an idea that is gaining popularity, paying for the next person in line. What I found was a great sense of doing something nice for someone and although I did not see the reaction, I could just see their look of bewilderment and then their genuine smile. Another way I have tried to give for the sake of giving is to leave an extra large tip for a waiter or waitress again, a way to say just because.
I think too of the times I spent summer days at my grandmother's house on her farm outside of Drummond, Idaho (check your geographical knowledge of Idaho) mowing her vast expanse of lawn and pasture, tearing down old unused buildings, hauling away well worn equipment, and trimming the vast expanse of forrest she called "trees in her yard". I still think of the sense of accomplishment not for my personal gain but for her gain. That I did something for her of significance that she was unable to do any longer.
Inevitably whether or not you give with your money or give with your time, sweat, or labor, giving is the key. Try a new spin and instead of a prank, demonstrate genuine kindness.
Supporting Your Choice in Education,
Mr. Claver
I think too of the times I spent summer days at my grandmother's house on her farm outside of Drummond, Idaho (check your geographical knowledge of Idaho) mowing her vast expanse of lawn and pasture, tearing down old unused buildings, hauling away well worn equipment, and trimming the vast expanse of forrest she called "trees in her yard". I still think of the sense of accomplishment not for my personal gain but for her gain. That I did something for her of significance that she was unable to do any longer.
Inevitably whether or not you give with your money or give with your time, sweat, or labor, giving is the key. Try a new spin and instead of a prank, demonstrate genuine kindness.
Supporting Your Choice in Education,
Mr. Claver
Welcome to my Blog!
Well, the time has come for me to enter into the blogging arena that Bror Saxberg so aptly communicates in and frankly, it is about time! I look forward to the coming days of utilizing this forum to communicate out and to also hear back from our students, parents, staff and school community members. I will be fairly informal with no formal agenda other than to communicate at times issues that are facing the school, items of interest, activities and maybe a personal rant or rave that relates to our school :)...
We are currently entering into the season when school wraps up and the finish line of the marathon we call a school year is in sight! We start dreaming of having a few minutes to breath again, rest a little and enjoy the warm summer breezes. Thinking about that fresh clean smell of the chlorine and seeing the clear water at the city pool, feeling that chill up your spine as you jump in for the first time. Ahhh...summer...enjoy it one and all...but before you do...
Please take time to re-register for the 2008-09 school year! We are beginning the planning and preparation efforts for the next school year and your choice to come back to IDVA next year is important to our planning efforts. Thank you for taking such a vital role in the education of your children. We want to continue to honor that commitment.
Valuing Your Choice in Education,
Mr. Claver
We are currently entering into the season when school wraps up and the finish line of the marathon we call a school year is in sight! We start dreaming of having a few minutes to breath again, rest a little and enjoy the warm summer breezes. Thinking about that fresh clean smell of the chlorine and seeing the clear water at the city pool, feeling that chill up your spine as you jump in for the first time. Ahhh...summer...enjoy it one and all...but before you do...
Please take time to re-register for the 2008-09 school year! We are beginning the planning and preparation efforts for the next school year and your choice to come back to IDVA next year is important to our planning efforts. Thank you for taking such a vital role in the education of your children. We want to continue to honor that commitment.
Valuing Your Choice in Education,
Mr. Claver
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