Dear Parents and Portal Students,
As the holidays draw near, we all seem to become more and more busy. Not only is it a hectic time at home, and at work for the parents, but it’s also a time when there are many activities in addition to the normal amount of work at school for your child. Just like adults, students may be feeling the stress of a very active and sometimes manic time of the year. It’s a good time for families to take a big breath, relax, and slow down if possible. Taking time to talk to your child about school activities can help reduce stress and keep everyone centered so that they can celebrate and enjoy their time together. And the best part of the season is.......just nine days until our vacation!
Fine Arts Performance News:
As you know, our performance of Geology Rocks is this Thursday, at 6:30. Please have all performers here by 6:00pm. They should report to their classrooms for costuming!
We usually have treats for the performers and family after the show. We currently just have enough to feed the performers, but not the families. We are asking that every family bring a little something to share. Some ideas might be:
- vegetable tray
- fruit tray
- meat tray
- crackers
- cookies
- drinks (gallon jugs are preferred)
- water
- juice
- milk
-any other yummy finger food item that you and your family would
enjoy sharing. Thank you for helping to be part of our team!
Mega Skill of the Month - Initiative!
Initiative can be defined as the readiness and ability to be the one to start something. For each of our students, initiative can be shown by enthusiastically beginning any necessary task: class work, homework, chores around the house, personal cleanliness, good manners, etc. The point is to be ready to begin and to DO IT! Especially in this holiday season, taking the initiative to do the next right thing is something that everyone can appreciate.
Essay in Social Studies:
We have finished taking notes and have begun the outline portion of our essay. Students are working in class, but may continue to use their notes at home if they would like to work at home too.
Important Dates to Remember:
12/10 Kitchen Science Due
12/11 GEOLOGY ROCKS PERFORMANCE 6:30pm! Students should arrive at school NO LATER THAN 6:00pm.
12/16 Winter Band Concert 7:00pm
12/18 Final typed copy of Native American Essay is due
12/18 Field Trip to the Nutcracker Ballet; bring sack lunch!
12/19 4th grade math- test on Ch. 4/5 (multiplication/division concepts)
12/19 Spirit Day - Crazy Hair
12/21 - 1/5 Winter Recess
California Trivia
Q: After raiding the nests of other birds, which bird found in CA replaces the eggs with its own?
Good luck!
Mr. Roels & Miss Scourkes
Monday, December 8, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
December's First Reminders!
Dear Parents and Portal Students,
We hope you all enjoyed a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday with friends and families. Now, our focus returns to school activities for the next few weeks, including our exciting fine arts performance next week! Of course, there are other curricular and social events coming up, so please read on for more news......
Mega Skill of the Month - Initiative!
Initiative can be defined as the readiness and ability to be the one to start something. For each of our students, initiative can be shown by enthusiastically beginning any necessary task: class work, homework, chores around the house, personal cleanliness, good manners, etc. The point is to be ready to begin and to DO IT! Especially in this holiday season, taking the initiative to do the next right thing is something that everyone can appreciate.
Essay in Social Studies:
We are working on our first research essay this year. The students will be using classroom materials to write about a Native American Tribe. The students are researching and note taking with a partner as well as working on a structured outline. They will then write their essay from the outlines they have created. A form with details and dates is coming home today and is to be signed and returned tomorrow. Thank you!
Next Unit in Science:
We are currently completing a short personal health unit called “Too Good for Drugs.” When we complete this course, our classes will begin our next major unit for the year, entitled “Environments.” The focus will be on ecosystem development, maintenance of healthy ecosystems, and interdependence within ecosystems. We’ll begin some preliminary reading and setup prior to the holiday break, then dive in to the investigations in the new year!
Fine Arts Performance News:
Thank you to the volunteers who have already started helping us prepare for our performance on December 11. Our backdrop will be put up this weekend, and our costume requirements were shared with students today. As always, some clothing items and props are provided by us, and some items are student responsibilities. Ask your actor what he or she might need to be prepared- we’ve asked our cast to be ready as soon as possible! If you offered to volunteer and haven’t been contacted regarding your availability or food donation, please let us know!
Important Dates to Remember:
12/3, 12/4 Oral Presentations
12/3 Barnes and Noble/Willow Street Pizza Night 4pm-???
12/5 Report Cards go home
12/8 Lawrence Hall of Science Assembly 1:40pm
12/10 Kitchen Science Due
12/11 GEOLOGY ROCKS PERFORMANCE 6:30pm!
12/18 Final typed copy of Native American Essay is due
12/18 Field Trip to the Nutcracker Ballet
12/19 Spirit Day - Crazy Hair
12/21 - 1/5 Winter Recess
California Trivia
Q: At what oceanside amusement park in CA can a person ride a wooden roller coaster and a 1911 carousel?
Good luck!
Mr. Roels & Ms. Scourkes
We hope you all enjoyed a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday with friends and families. Now, our focus returns to school activities for the next few weeks, including our exciting fine arts performance next week! Of course, there are other curricular and social events coming up, so please read on for more news......
Mega Skill of the Month - Initiative!
Initiative can be defined as the readiness and ability to be the one to start something. For each of our students, initiative can be shown by enthusiastically beginning any necessary task: class work, homework, chores around the house, personal cleanliness, good manners, etc. The point is to be ready to begin and to DO IT! Especially in this holiday season, taking the initiative to do the next right thing is something that everyone can appreciate.
Essay in Social Studies:
We are working on our first research essay this year. The students will be using classroom materials to write about a Native American Tribe. The students are researching and note taking with a partner as well as working on a structured outline. They will then write their essay from the outlines they have created. A form with details and dates is coming home today and is to be signed and returned tomorrow. Thank you!
Next Unit in Science:
We are currently completing a short personal health unit called “Too Good for Drugs.” When we complete this course, our classes will begin our next major unit for the year, entitled “Environments.” The focus will be on ecosystem development, maintenance of healthy ecosystems, and interdependence within ecosystems. We’ll begin some preliminary reading and setup prior to the holiday break, then dive in to the investigations in the new year!
Fine Arts Performance News:
Thank you to the volunteers who have already started helping us prepare for our performance on December 11. Our backdrop will be put up this weekend, and our costume requirements were shared with students today. As always, some clothing items and props are provided by us, and some items are student responsibilities. Ask your actor what he or she might need to be prepared- we’ve asked our cast to be ready as soon as possible! If you offered to volunteer and haven’t been contacted regarding your availability or food donation, please let us know!
Important Dates to Remember:
12/3, 12/4 Oral Presentations
12/3 Barnes and Noble/Willow Street Pizza Night 4pm-???
12/5 Report Cards go home
12/8 Lawrence Hall of Science Assembly 1:40pm
12/10 Kitchen Science Due
12/11 GEOLOGY ROCKS PERFORMANCE 6:30pm!
12/18 Final typed copy of Native American Essay is due
12/18 Field Trip to the Nutcracker Ballet
12/19 Spirit Day - Crazy Hair
12/21 - 1/5 Winter Recess
California Trivia
Q: At what oceanside amusement park in CA can a person ride a wooden roller coaster and a 1911 carousel?
Good luck!
Mr. Roels & Ms. Scourkes
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