We are in the full swing of fall, preparing for harvest fair, studying photosynthesis and leaf morphology, starting a new book group on fantasy on Friday, volunteering in the garden and the list goes on!
First a few logistics
- Tomorrow, Thurs 10/18 - Travel to JEAN's Farm - Please come ready for any kind of weather and temperature!
8th Graders - Turn in your 8th grade paperwork, we hope to start off campus by the 29th!
6th Graders - OUTDOOR SCHOOL - Please be at school Sun 2:30. We return Tues 7:30pm!
Service - I've had lots of questions about service. Attached is the sheet all students received.
The basic breakdown is this...
Garden - 2hrs each quarter = 8 total - 1 reflection (May always volunteer on Wed late open)
School - 2 projects (3hrs each) (great example is Harvest Fair)
Community - 2 projects (3hrs each) (great example: pack food at food bank, participate in dia de los muertos procession, buddy walk or diabetes walk...)
That breaks down to 1 project per term plus 2hrs of gardening.
In addition each grade level has their own personal project they create and complete
6th - Home project to be done through Friendship. I believe they are presented at Forest Festival
7th - Community project - completed during winter that could be organized and done in a group.
8th - Cohorts - they meet regularly with Jan/Tara.
Homework:
Due Friday - Photosynthesis Assignment. This should take more than 1/2 hour to do so break it up and do it over a few days. Students have the assignment sheet.
Students should also have finished - Old Growth Forest Ecosystem & Journal Entry & Spirit Bear Reflection.
I will not assign Ecore Essential questions to take home this weekend as Outdoor School is upon us and I want student to focus on service journaling. I will send home their journals this weekend to complete a few things. Please help your child return it to school safely.
In class we have been discussing how to have a class discussion - tagging on to another person's ideas, agreeing/disagreeing, continuing a thought vs each response directed at me and then I call on another student. We are also working on reduce socializing when it's time to be a student and how to turn on our brains and be engaged. I encourage you to have thoughtful conversations with your child in these areas. My goal is for students to be self starters, have intelligent discussions and create their own learning and less teacher directed.
One last thing...I'm looking for a parent who would like to help me hang artwork, organize the class, manage printing fotos of trips and posting a fun student board...I would love for a student to be my TA as his/her school service too! If you find yourself with some time and would like to support me keeping my class looking snazzy and up to date..please let me know. (Lea comes in on Friday mornings, thank you! Maybe a Mon afternoon or Tuesday).
Ooops, promise - this really is the last thing. I need a few more Chaperones for the next two Thursdays.
Thurs 10/25 - Tillamook Forest (yellow bus!) - 1-2 more parents - all day!
Thurs 11/1 - Hopkins Tree Farm - This is a great trip! You will lead groups in a managed tree plot - using really fun tree measuring tools, wear a cool green vest with lots of pockets and be in a beautiful spot! Must be willing to jump in there even if you don't know what you are doing! Or, if you have tree experience - like logging, woodworking..anything that involves wood, your stories are well received.
Hope this helps! (sorry for being longwinded)
Take care, Cori
