Friday, October 4th, 2013

Homework:

1) Choice novel assignment #2-due Thursday

2)Willamette story-due Monday, October 7th

3) River choice research #3- due Thursday, Ocotber 10th

3) Any math and Spanish homework due on Monday, October 14th




Caleb needs to bring in ecore on MONDAY

Eaglefern on MONDAY, don't be late or we'll leave you behind with the drunk polar bear who hides in the school when we're gone. Yes, that's a thing.

Good job to the few of us who got through the week without stabbing anyone with a fork.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND DON'T LICK THE PROJECTOR c:

Thursday, October 3rd, 2013

Homework:

1) Type RD of My Life is a River-tomorrow

2) Timeline card-due tomorrow

3) River skyline sillouette-tomorrow

4) Any math and Spanish homework due on Monday, October 14th


HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AND DON'T LICK THE PROJECTOR c:

EAGLE FERN!

Dear Families,

Eagle Fern is just around the bend! Here's a very full list of things to know/do/be aware of!

Friendly reminder - our school does lots and lots of fundraising all year long for the GO FUND - this fund is to ensure that all children get to participate in all activities at SES. Please ask for a scholarship if you need it. And, all students on free/reduced lunch recieve trips 1/2 price, just let Kristy in the office know. WE WANT EVERYONE TO GO!

**REQUEST** Do you have a thermarest to loan? Many students will be in the gym and will need one! Please label it with your name and phone number and bring it in to the office! Muchas gracias!

For our trip to Eagle Fern next week, students need to be at SES by8:45am on Monday, October 7th. We return by bus on Wednesday around 2pm to reflect in our classrooms until the 3:15 dismissal.

Where to meet on Monday morning:  Meet on basketball courts if dry or in the auditorium if wet.

Students should find the area for their core teacher. Go there with luggage clearly labeled with student name. (Teacher will have masking tape for labeling if needed, but ideally it is done prior.)
Students will take daypack onto bus with them--so it should contain supplies such as pencil, color pencils, a sack lunch, and water bottle.

Medications:  Parent/guardian turns medications in original container into nurse after filling out a form that will be available at check-in. This includes ALL medications, even over-the-counter ones such as aspirin or throat lozenges.

Food allergies or dietary restriction:  Please let your student's core teacher know ASAP if there are any allergies or restrictions to certain foods so that we may accomodate them, if possible, or  if you will be bringing supplemental food due to an allergy or restriction.

Birthdays:  If your student has a birthday while we are on this trip, please inform core teacher.

Behavior:  Have a conversation with your student about appropriate behavior while at camp with a whole lot of other middle schoolers. Though we are at a camp, it is still considered school time, so those rules still apply.
We want all students to have fun and to learn. In order for that to happen we will need adequate rest during our down time. Also, encourage your student to be friendly with and speak with students they may not know. It's a great time to meet new people or get to know others better.

Contact:  Contact number of Eagle Fern Camp for emergencies (no cell phone reception at camp):   (503) 630-4978


Packing list:

• o   Clothing for all weather – layers, warm, cold and rainy 
  (rain coat, boots or sneakers, change of socks and undergarments, hat for campfire, pajamas, etc)
  o   Sleeping bag and pillow ( (if they are not in stuff sack, please place in garbage bag labeled with student name; sleeping pad if you have it)
  o   Hygiene items (deodorant, toothbrush, etc.)
  o   Water bottle
  o   E-core journal and pencils
  o   Flashlight
  o   Sack lunch for first day
• o   Daypack
  
• o   Optional:  Musical instruments for campfire, sports equipment, deck of cards, book

DO NOT bring any valuables such as electronics  (there is no cell phone reception at the camp).
DO NOT bring any personal snacks as food is not allowed in cabins (but do bring your own lunch for day #1).

Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013

**Student note:
I'm changing the font of the blog. If this comes as an inconvience to you, please contact Cori and I will change it.

Homework:

1) Type RD of My Life is a River-Friday

2) River research sheet-find and mark 6 rivers-due TOMORROW

3) Timeline card-due Friday

4) We are going to the Willamette river tomorrow so bring ecore, layers, lunch, water bottle, pencils/pens, backpack, and a good attitude. Thank you.

5) River research-due TOMORROW

6) Any math and Spanish homework due on Friday

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AND DON'T LICK THE PROJECTOR

Tuesday, October 1st, 2013

Homework:

1) Choice novel assignment #1- due TOMORROW

2) River research sheet-find and mark 6 rivers-due Thursday

3) Service journal page 64-due TOMORROW

4) Timeline card-due Friday

5) SBT journal entry #5-due TOMORROW

6) Any math and Spanish homework due on Wednesday

Room 210 Update

Dear Families,                                                         Sept. 29, 2013

**NOTE** please use cori.longstreet@gmail.com as my email contact...the pps email so too frustrating! I'll still be checking it, but prefer gmail. Thanks

Well, fall is definitely here.  Whirling leaves, rain clouds, electricity in the atmosphere - I actually witnessed a downed power line cracking like a whip in front of my house yesterday...quite scary!

Here’s a look at what’s happening in our classroom and in the field:

 Reading:  We are in the middle Sees Behind Trees, we have been discussing rights of passage and ways the students are earning more freedoms and responsibilities as middle schoolers. We are also beginning our first Choice Novel. Students should be reading 20-30 minutes a night and will have weekly journal entries that are given as homework. I hope to set up our Evernote accounts this week and give journal writing a try on the computer. Please contact me if you ahve questions or concerns.  

Writing:  Monday we will continue working on our Life as a River Memoirs and students will begin writing vignettes with an emphasis on transitioning between events, exploding the moment and experimenting with leads and conclusions.  I am hoping this will be fun, as we share about ourselves and develop our writing skills.

All students should have either turned in their 3 main life events and river feature connections and their drawing of their life as a river by this last Friday, or be ready to turn them in on Monday. Ask your child to share with you...they are quite amazing.

Field Studies:  This week we will visited Balch Creek to study forces of construction and deconstruction at work, creek features and played a hilarious game of sardines. We are still working on safety and appropriate behavior while turning on learning minds while in the field. It’s a great skill to cultivate. Ask your child to see their Ecore (Due Tuesday) to get a sense of our day and his/her level of engagement.

This week we head to the East Esplanade to experience the story of the Willamette as an introduction to our Great American River Memoir project that weaves writing and social studies as students study one US river in depth. It would be great if you had conversations about which river your child might be interested in studying. They will get a homework assignment on it soon.

 Environmental Core:  This past week we simulated the world’s water and the water cycle and had some very thoughtful discussions about water use and our dependence on a very small about of fresh water available to the world.   Some of the questions that came up:  How do scientists measure the percentages of types of water?  Why has the percentage of available fresh water in the world dropped in the last 20 years?  What will happen in the future?  Who owns the water?   

 Service Learning:  What a fun Mystery Harvest Box experience we had this week! Our class made some very interesting dishes from food harvested from our school garden! All students participated either as Head Chef, assistant chef, server, or plater. We had a great time sharing it all with our buddies (it was very chaotic) and thanks to the parents who supported this project! We couldn’t have done it without Emily & Renee and of course Sustainability Wonder Lady Steph! Students turned in their first Service Learning Reflection on Friday.

 Speaking of Service – My goal for students is to have their first school or community project completed by OCT 26, the Harvest Faire (that will give us plenty of time before end of quarter). Here are a few opportunities:

•   After school help in the classroom with projects

-       Painted Paper (in prep for our river mural…several students have shown interest and we could really use a parent to organize it after school for an hour one day)

-       Class photographer (print weekly pictures and update our community bulletin)

•   Harvest Faire

•   No Ivy Day (October 5) http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/article/356479

•   Dia De La Raza Cultural Night and Fundraiser for Casa Verde (non profit organization in Nicaragua) :  Sat., Oct. 12 from 6-9.  I will send out more information about this fun event as a separate email.

Upcoming events:

Ø Mandatory 8^th grade parent & student meeting Wed., Oct. 2 at 6:30 pm in auditorium

Ø Nicaragua:  Informational night about the June trip to Nicaragua for 8^thgrade Spanish students- Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6:30 room 207 (Jan is organizing this!)

Ø EAGLE FERN – Oct 7-9. There is school Thurs 10/10, and NO school Friday 10/11 (strange week)

Wew! This was a long one…As you can see, we are busy. I hope your child is in the swing of school, creating healthy homework habits and is looking forward to a great fall season.

Be well, Cori