Our mission: Dawson School is dedicated to excellence of mind, body, and character. We prepare students, through challenging and relevant learning, to become creative, resilient problem-solvers who bring their best to the world.

List of 10 news stories.

  • FUSION 2019 is live!

    FUSION is Dawson's annual collection of literary, visual, and audio work from students K-12. This year, every grade is represented, across over 100 works. FUSION is published online: Find a link on the Portal and the Dawson homepage. So much wonderful work: Congratulations to all!
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  • MISSION STATEMENT

    Dawson is in the self-study phase of re-accreditation. As part of this effort, after a year-long process with faculty, staff, and trustees, Dawson has approved a new Mission Statement.

    "Dawson School is dedicated to excellence of mind, body, and character. We prepare students, through challenging and relevant learning, to become creative, resilient problem-solvers who bring their best to the world."

    We are proud to implement this statement as a full reflection of Dawson's program and goals.
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  • Respect. Compassion. Courage. Integrity.

    Dawson School challenges its students to achieve excellence not only in mind and body, but in character. The school adopted four virtues years ago as points of emphasis and focus for us all: respect, compassion, courage, and integrity. Every day, our campus strives to live these values, through gestures big and small. Which virtue did you exemplify today?
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  • Dawson Athletics Ranked #12 Statewide

    Dawson Athletics has been ranked No. 12 statewide - all sports, all classifications - by Mile High Sports Magazine! Earning this recognition from 350+ schools is a testament to the breadth and depth of Dawson's program. Congratulations to our committed students, excellent coaches, and supportive teachers, families, and fans. We couldn’t have done this without everyone involved! #dawsonpride
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  • Dawson Again Named BEST OF BOULDER

    We are delighted to announce that Dawson was recognized as the best private school in the region in Boulder Weekly's "Best of Boulder" poll for the 13th year. We are honored to have so many people recognize the value Dawson brings to the community, and the importance of excellence in education. 
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  • DAWSON WELCOMES OVER 150 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO CAMPUS

    Dawson College Counseling is pleased to welcome over 150 colleges and universities to campus to meet with students and staff this fall. We are proud of our relationships with these fine institutions, and of the remarkable students they come to meet. Welcome - we're glad you're here!
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  • HAIL TO DAWSON

    In honor of fall Spirit Week, do you know all of the words to Dawson's school song?

    Hail to Dawson true,
      with our colors white and blue.
    We pledge to you our Mustang pride
      linked in purpose, side by side.
    As we strive today
      let our motto say
    "Nothing without labor";
      Hail to Dawson all the way!
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  • Dawson Diversity Statement

    Dawson actively promotes and embraces the exchange of diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds through curricular design, community involvement, and the integration of our four virtues – respect, compassion, courage, and integrity – into every aspect of our community life. It is our responsibility to provide a safe and inclusive learning environment for all members of our community, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, ability, or religion, as well as to cultivate in each student the ability to make empathetic, socially responsible decisions.
                                                                                                                                  -- Dawson Diversity Statement
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  • Dawson Offers New "Distinction in Coding and Innovation"

    Dawson recognizes the interest and demand for skills around the creative use of technology: Interested Upper School students can now earn special recognition on their transcript if they meet the requirements of a new Disctinction in Coding and Innovation. Students will finish the program with a mastery of several programming languages, will have integrated creative technology projects into classwork, and will creatve five major programming projects. Contact Mr. Nickerson for more details.
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  • Flags of Dawson

    Recognize these? We have lunch underneath these flags every day, but do you know what they represent?  Over its 47-year history, Dawson has enrolled students from many countries - and those countries are each represented here. If you are attending Dawson from a country that is not included here, please let us know, so that we can add your flag!
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Archive

The Learning Zone & The Performance Zone

RuthAnne Schedler, MS/US Math Department Chair
The Dawson math department would like to ask you to join us as we contemplate ways that math classrooms can become centers of lively mathematical thinking and learning. This week's Food For Thought comes to us through the ideas of Eduardo Briceño, a learner, leader, speaker, and writer devoted to enabling a more learning-oriented world.
 
Eduardo Briceño leads Mindset Works, the leading provider of growth mindset training services and programs for schools and businesses. It helps organizations cultivate learning-oriented cultures and systems. He started it in 2007 with the foremost growth mindset researcher, Carol Dweck Ph.D., and education expert Lisa Blackwell Ph.D.
 
Eduardo Briceño contends that we go through life alternating between two different zones - the learning zone and the performance zone. When we are operating in the learning zone, our goal is to improve. In the learning zone, we do activities designed for improvement, concentrating on what we haven't yet mastered. In the learning zone, we have to expect to make mistakes, knowing that we will learn from them. In the learning zone we are messy and deliberate; we make mistakes and get feedback; we trust that the consequences of our mistakes will not be catastrophic. Activities and expectations in the learning zone are very different from what we do when in the performance zone when our goal is to do something as best we can. In the performance zone we concentrate on what we have already mastered and we try to minimize mistakes. In this TedTalk, Eduardo Briceño asks the question: If we are working hard but not improving, could it be because we are always operating in the performance zone?
 
 
If this Food For Thought gets you hungry for more, please email RuthAnne Schedler at rschedler@dawsonschool.org for more. Second helpings are available in the way of related articles, video links, and books. RuthAnne is also happy to just hear your thoughts.
 
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Dawson School

10455 Dawson Drive | Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado 80026
Map | Phone: (303) 665-6679
Voted Best Private School