Constitutional Convention

PICTURES AND VIDEO BELOW

This final social studies unit is titled The Making of a State, and third graders learned how Colorado became a territory and then a state.  As part of the process to become a state, there were many Constitutional Conventions.  This is where bills were voted on and passed, and laws became part of the Colorado Constitution.  

With a partner, each student wrote a bill for Graland (18 students = 9 bills).  The nine bills were voted on by the class and narrowed down to two.  For our class, the two bills that moved on were:

• Lower School students can participate in the Gates Invention Program
• Graland will host a Crazy Free Day once a year (students can choose what they wear and do)

The other three classes did the same and their bills that moved on were:

• Students can bring sack lunches to school
• Lunch and snack time can be eaten outside
• Homework will be reduced to 30 minutes per night
• Students can choose their own specials classes
• There will not be a dress code
• Students choose the game on Game Day in PE

The final step of this process took place yesterday and today.  All eight bills were presented to the third grade and voting booths were set up for private voting.  After all the votes were in, the two bills that passed (there was a tie) was presented to the grade, with Mr. Juan Botello, Graland's Director of Finance and Operations, and Ms. Ronni McCaffrey, Head of School present. 

    

    

The bills that passed were...Students can bring sack lunches to school AND Third grade students can participate in the Gates Invention Program.  Ms. McCaffrey spoke to all of our students about the importance of this process. She wanted to hear the reasons these bills are important to our students. She wanted to hear why these bills should be signed by the Governor, or in our case, Ms. McCaffrey.  She made sure the students understood that not all bills presented to the Governor get signed.  :)

Click here to see a video of Ms. McCaffreys visit.  It's hard to hear, but its fun to see her come and speak to our students!

Click here for a link to the school website sharing this great event with our community!