DEEP

Educators at all levels of instruction are looking for the golden ticket: the key to unlocking a student’s intrinsic motivation to want to learn. Once that key is discovered, a student’s level of school enjoyment and satisfaction rises exponentially. Every day, our teachers are experimenting and implementing various strategies to unlock their student’s intrinsic motivation to learn. This is not a new concept to education. Multiple studies, papers, books, seminars, and educational resources have been produced within the last two decades that reinforce the importance of intrinsic motivation to increase a student’s interest, motivation, and enjoyment of school.

See resources for motivational theory philosophies

DEEP is an exclusive FRCS Elementary Elective Program that takes place twice a month on Friday afternoons, from 1:45-3pm, September-April. DEEP offers a variety of age-appropriate electives taught by FRCS teachers, administrators, parents, and grandparents who volunteer their time to pass along a specific skill, interest, or hobby to our students. DEEP electives are not graded; there are no tests or prescribed curriculum. The courses are intended to allow students to dive in and learn for the sheer joy of learning.

Elementary families will receive a DEEP catalog before school begins and again in December. Parents and students will be asked to pick their top three choices. Within the first week of school, students will be assigned their elective for the first semester, and then around Christmas break, their elective for the second semester.

The first two semesters of DEEP were a smashing success with our students. Now it’s time to plan out what we can offer them in the upcoming school year. We’d like to offer 20 or more different electives in order to keep the classes small (6-8 students). Do you have a hobby, skill, or a passion you’d like to share with the next generation? If so, please complete the DEEP Instructor Application.

Here are some examples of the electives that might be offered (listed alphabetically):

• 3D Printing
• Architecture
• Arts & Crafts
• Aviation/Model Rockets
• Baseball
• Basic Building/Construction
• Basic Woodworking
• Bugs & Insects
• Chess
• Computer Programming
• Cooking
• Dance
• Drama/Theater
• Electric Motors
• Fishing
• Gardening/Horticulture
• iMovie Making
• Keynote/PowerPoint
• Knitting
• Leadership
• Lego Robotics
• Maintenance & Repair
• Math Club
• Medical
• Minecraft
• Music (lessons)
• Science Projects
• Sewing
• Simple Machines
• Weights

P3 Hours

Every non-faculty DEEP teacher will be a volunteer. FRCS parents who teach an elective will be awarded a minimum of 40 P3 hours if the elective is taught for a full year; 20 hours for one semester.

What is required?

• You are a disciple of Jesus Christ and have a vibrant, growing faith
• You have a passion for your subject matter and passing it on to the younger generation
• You commit to prepare for and teach eight lessons per semester
• You are an FRCS parent, grandparent, or someone recommended by an FRCS family
• You complete our DEEP Instructor Application

“I just completed my 2nd year as a DEEP Arts & Crafts instructor. I feel very thankful for the opportunity to share my love of art with my student and the time I get to spend with them creating and having fun! Spring 2018 I used nature as inspiration. Just a few of the many projects we made were glazed ceramic bird feeders and herb gardens in recycled rotisserie chicken containers. My students loved seeing the seeds grow and develop into living plants that they and their family could enjoy. By exposing the students to many creative, new things, you never know what impressions and passions you are igniting within them and that brings me joy!” ~ Natalie Marcus, Parent and DEEP Instructor

“I had fun at my first DEEP class. It was Dance. My grandma and grandpa and my two sister came to watch me at the end. I [also] really liked Fit Fun because we got to exercise and eat snacks.” ~ Adelaide, student

“My favorite part of DEEP was that we got to make boats out of Legos and put paper clips in to see how many paper clips they could hold before they sank.” ~ Josiah, student

“What I enjoyed about my DEEP class is that it taught us about the human body and what goes on in our body.” ~ Elias, student

“What I enjoyed about my DEEP class is that you get to learn about new games and have fun playing games.” ~ Tyler, student

“What I enjoyed about my DEEP class is that I was able to learn how to do CPR.” ~ Chloe, student

“What I enjoyed learning about in my DEEP class is that I could learn how to help people when they need help.” ~ Nickolas, student

“I enjoyed learning how to make new things that are allergen-free.” ~ Skylar, student

“In Awesome and Allergen Free, the food was great and I got to explore new friendships.” ~ Lorelai, student

“It is one hour of freedom to do what you’re truly passionate about.” ~ Amber, student

“She taught us how to save people’s lives in a very fun way.” ~ Alexandra, student

“It was fun to make your own Lego creations!” ~ Jonah, student

“You get to bring your own games and have fun. You don’t have to do math; you just get to have fun!” ~ Ruby, student

“I loved my DEEP class.” ~ Ave, student

“My DEEP class told me that we need exercise and food. It’s pretty fun! We get to do dance exercises, too!” ~ Kendal, student

“Mrs. Eitzen always inspires all of the classes in the school.” ~ Ketch, student

“Our teacher put so much work into it, and all the kids had fun making the paper crafts.” ~ Emery, student

“In our ‘YOU Book’ class, it was amazing to watch students chose their subject matter and design their own photo book with photos and art, headlines and captions. With anticipation, we all waited for those photo books to be printed, shipped and delivered. It was rewarding to hear what students liked most about their book and why they chose their subject. What a pleasure it is to see the students’ photo books.” ~ Linda Dunbar, DEEP Instructor