Run For The Arts!

Hello Parent Partners!

Today a sponsor sheet was sent home with your child (again, instead of in their Friday folder) so that your child can get sponsors for this event.  Run For The Arts supports so many great programs in schools - for us, it meant the opportunity to learn about Taiko Drumming!

Deadline # 1 is Friday, April 16, 2010, which is the day when the kids run.  If all sponsors are collected before then, feel free to send the sheet into school and I will gather for the event.  After the children run, their laps are tallied, sponsor sheets are sent home and money is collected accordingly. Deadline # 2 is TBA.  Thanks for your support of this very valuable arts program! Jennifer
 

A couple of Spring notes...

Hello Parent Partners -

I hope you had a restful and relaxing time with your little one over Spring Break! As we get back into the swing of things, a couple of notes...

- Usually, all school information is sent home in Friday folders but today we sent home a career day flyer.  As part of school spirit, if your kiddo has dreams of what he or she would like to be career-wise, kids are welcome to dress the part this Friday, 4/2. (Note: school dress code still applies.)

- The April volunteer schedule is now posted on the volunteer page of our blog.  Please let me know about any changes or adjustments. Thanks for helping us out!

- Last, but not least, please remember to send a healthy snack each day with your special little one!

Keep an eye out for the April update to be posted soon! Thanks for reading, Jennifer

Happy Spring Break!

Hello Families -

I wanted to take a moment to wish you a relaxing and, hopefully, sunny week! Just a note on Friday folders:

- This past Friday, report cards were sent home in your child's folder.  Please note that music grading was done by the classroom teacher (think: Jack & the Beanstalk in class as well as Taiko Drumming) and music with Mr. Kaiser will now resume for the third trimester. If you see blanks for grading (even if a grade was marked for 1st trimester), it just means that the skill was not graded during this trimester.

- Also sent home in your child's folder were the lyrics to some songs for our upcoming evening performance: Jack & the Beanstalk (Thursday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m.) It is not required that your child practice over Spring break but it is recommended that, when possible, the children practice the songs specific to his/her character as the performance approaches.

Thanks for all of your support! Have a nice week, Jennifer :)

Project Second Wind: 3/8-3/12!!!

Project Second Wind is here! The week of March 8th – 12th is the week that Forest Park families come together to donate food and money to the Oregon Food Bank. This year we are trying to raise 17,000 pounds of food. We will be able to reach that goal if each student brings either:

> $7...Every dollar donated enables the Oregon Food Bank to collect and distribute 5 pounds of food

OR 

> 35 pounds of food...Some suggested items are: canned meats (tuna, chicken, etc.), canned vegetables, canned fruits, canned and boxed meals, peanut butter, pasta, rice, cereal, 100% juice, etc.

 If your family is able, please help out the Oregon Food Bank by making a donation this week.  Thank you!

Don't forget: Friday is Pajama Day!

Hello Parent Partners -

Just a reminder that tomorrow is not only Read Across America but it is also a chance for your kiddo to wear his or her cozy pajamas to school!  Please remember that the school dress code still applies, slippers need to be able to be worn outside and only one small "stuffie" is okay per customer. Please do not send pillows or blankets to school with your child. Thanks and have a great weekend! Jennifer

March Update from Room 128

Dear Parent Partners,

 

February flew by in a flurry of activities and events!  Thanks to all for your support of the Forest Park Foundation Auction.  It was a huge success – our classroom paintings alone contributed about $3,500 to the effort!   With the unseasonably warm temperatures, it feels like Spring already! Aside from Spring Break (mark your calendars: 3/22-3/26), March is full of Spring events.  Here is some more information…

 

Literacy

We have taken a break from reading groups for a couple of weeks as I had the chance to meet with individual children about personal reading skills and goals.  Our author study continues into the month of March.  We have been focusing on Mo Willems and his craft features, which include speech bubbles, different uses of font…ellipses and split panel illustrations. 

 

Math

For whole group math, we have begun investigating an exciting new unit about geometry.  For the next few weeks, the children will explore two- and three-dimensional shapes.  We will connect the concept of geometry to the world around us.  Look for opportunities to talk about shapes with your favorite mathematician!

 

Science

In the coming week, we hope to have our garden plot weeded out! (E-mail me @ jwalker2@pps.k12.or.us if you and your kid(s) are interested in helping us out after school!) In anticipation of Spring and an upcoming literacy unit on seeds, room 128 will be busy turning soil and planting the first seeds of what we hope will be a bountiful salad celebration towards the end of the

school year.

 

Social Studies

February was full of events – from national holidays to in-school activities! Probably, the most of exciting of which, was Taiko drumming! The children learned about the culture and geography of Japan while also pounding the heck out of “Taiko” drums. J  A great time was had by all and we are so grateful to the many volunteers who took the time to join in the drumming fun!  Of course, February was a time to celebrate our friends – and valentines – the one and only “100^th Day Of School” and past and present presidents. 

 

Art

In celebration of the Chinese New Year, the children created beautiful, wax-resist watercolor paintings.  They are proudly on display outside of our classroom (and above!).  During literacy centers, the children have been exploring the art of Henri Matisse and the technique of “cut out” art, using painted/colored paper to create artistic scenes or pictures.  Look for their own “cut out” art coming to a home near you!

 

Theatre

Please mark your calendars for our rousing rendition of “Jack & The Beanstalk” set for:

Thursday, April 8^th @ 6:00 p.m.

 

A gentle reminder to please send a healthy snack everyday with your child! Thanks to families for their continued support and assistance in the classroom! Please do not ever hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns. Cheers, Jennifer

 

 

Field Trip Tuesday 3/2 - Pack sack lunch!

Reminder: Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 2^nd is our class field trip to see the “True Story of the Little Pigs”!

 

Please remember to send a cold (sack) lunch for your child as we will eat an early lunch in our classroom.  Also, if you could make sure your child has a healthy snack for the morning and, if necessary, an after school snack, we would really appreciate it!

 

(It is okay for your little one to dress for the theatre experience but please do not forget that the kids have P.E. and will need appropriate shoes.)