Room 21 Newsletter, October 12, 2006

CLASS NEWS

These past couple weeks have seen the students present short skits of possible events in our Storyline town of Huk-toocht. They also made Topic Books to put their Storyline work in. For the books we marbled paper and did our own bookbinding.

We are still reading Maniac Magee, ask your child about the story and the powerful writing Jerry Spinelli uses. Our first Math unit is just about over. We’ll use the concepts learned through the year, our next unit is on 3D Geometry and volume.

FIELD TRIPS

Last week we took a wonderful trip to Bull Run where the class got a chance to see where Portland’s water comes from. We tested the water for clarity and temperature, looked for Macro-invertebrates, walked along the stream and in the forest.

This week we went up to Mt. Tabor along with Capstone students from PSU to see where that water goes before it gets to our homes. Next Wednesday we go to the Salmon River at Wildwood to study forest and river habitat. Because of the distance to the site and the great things we take time to do, we probably won’t return to school until about 4:00pm.

NOTE

Later this month I will be gone for a week. Ben Needham, Sarah Jones, and I are all attending the International Storyline Conference in Scotland. This is an opportunity to see Storyline in action on its home turf and meet with teachers from around the world who also use Storyline in their classrooms.

REMEMBER PARENT / TEACHER CONFERENCES

November 20, 21 and 22, this fall. If you haven’t signed up yet come by or contact me to choose a day and time for your child’s conference.

RAINWATER GARDEN

Don’t forget the first Saturday of each month! From 10am to 1pm there are garden work parties where you can get dirty (or not) while helping out and learning about our rainwater garden. You can get more information from M. Wilk 503-232-3831

DATES TO REMEMBER

Wed. Oct. 18th: Field Trip to Wildwood
Friday Oct. 20th: Picture Day

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

I need someone to drive out to Clackamas next Thursday Oct 19th to pick up our Chinook Salmon eggs. I’ll give you directions to the Fish & Wildlife office and a small container to carry the eggs. Times are somewhat flexible, though I’d like the eggs to arrive here at school while the students are still here so they can see them go into the tank.