1/31-2/4 Reminders

Weekly Reminders: Rooms 20 & 21

Dear Room 20 & 21 Parents,

Isn't it great when we can say that we have put forth our best effort in all our endeavors? As humans, we find it difficult to meet this standard, but it doesn't mean that we don't strive to do so. In fact, having a clearly defined goal is essential if we are to achieve the standard of success we want for ourselves in our jobs, families, and obligations as residents and citizens of this country. To begin this month of February, we encourage all of our students and their families to discuss what it means to have the goal of putting forth our best effort in all we do. What does it look like? What steps can we take to get there? How can those around us help us achieve this goal? Best effort is something that each student can have as a goal if he or she understands what it means and what it feels like to accomplish this goal. If your student already grasps this concept, then encourage him or her to help their fellow students get a better picture of this level of performance by modeling it during their school day. Together, we can all work to do our personal best- it's a fun way to be!

Our blogsite addresses are:

Room 20 (Scourkes) http://rockhopperroom20.blogspot.com
Room 21 (Roels) http://gtfroom22.blogspot.com

Sacramento Trip:

We've had several inquires about the arrival and departure time for the Sacramento trip. The following times are approximate and just meant to give you a general sense of the timing. We have NOT received a completed itinerary from the travel company yet!

Meet at school at 7:00 a.m., leave for Sacramento at 7:30. Dinner in Sacramento around 5:00, depart Sacramento around 6:30, arrive home to San Jose between 9:00- 9:30 p.m. depending on traffic. Please note that these are NOT the confirmed final times.


Calendar of Events:
Tues. 2/1 Hyde Parent Night - 7:00 - Parents of incoming 5th graders
Wed. 2/2 5th Grade Hearing Testing

Thur. 2/3 Kennedy Parent Night - 6:00 - Parents of incoming 5th graders

Wed. 2/9 Lawson Parent Night - 6:30 - Parents of incoming 5th graders

Fri. 2/18 Spirit Day: Red, White, and Blue Day

2/21 - 2/25 Mid Year Recess: No School

Mon. 2/28 5th Grade Fitness Testing

Tues. 3/1 4th Grade STAR Writing Test

Tues. 3/1 5th Grade CUSD Persuasive Writing Test

Thur. 3/3 San Juan Bautista Field Trip

California Trivia Clue (student responses are REQUIRED):

When was CA’s public library system founded?

Sincerely,

Mr. Roels and Miss Scourkes
Rooms 20 & 21
Rockhopper Village
Portal School

Reminders for January 24-28

Weekly Reminders: Rooms 20 & 21

Dear Room 20 & 21 Parents,

What an exciting start to our week- today was Career Day at our school! We had 24 different different professionals on our campus sharing their insights about a huge variety of careers. We had a doctor, several different types of engineers, musicians, an attorney, an animal trainer, a toy programmer, a virologist, a swimmer, a fireman, a policeman, a chef, an optometrist, two private school owners, two dentists, and even an ultrasound specialist! It was a fascinating opportunity to learn more about potential careers for all of us. If you're a student, tell your family more about the speakers you met today; if you're a parent reading this reminder, ask your child what their favorite career experience was today and WHY!

Our blogsite addresses are:

Room 20 (Scourkes) http://rockhopperroom20.blogspot.com
Room 21 (Roels) http://gtfroom22.blogspot.com


Don't Forget....

Friday, January 28 is our Career Day dress-up day at Portal. This is the grand finale to our Career Day week, and we encourage everyone to dress for the job they imagine themselves having in the future. Have a great time preparing your outfit- it should be HIGHLY entertaining to see you all dressed for your profession!

Sacramento Trip:

We've had several inquires about the arrival and departure time for the Sacramento trip. The following times are approximate and just meant to give you a general sense of the timing. We have NOT received a completed itinerary from the travel company yet!

Meet at school at 7:00 a.m., leave for Sacramento at 7:30. Dinner in Sacramento around 5:00, depart Sacramento around 6:30, arrive home to San Jose between 9:00- 9:30 p.m. depending on traffic. Please note that these are NOT the confirmed final times.


Calendar of Events:

Wed. 1/26 Cicero's Pizza Night (also Mon. and Tues.)

Thur. 1/27 Field Trip to California Children's Theater to see Tom Sawyer

Fri. 1/28 Spirit Day: Career Clothes

Fri. 1/28 Field Trip forms for San Juan Bautista Mission due

Wed. 2/2 5th Grade Hearing Testing

Thur. 2/20 Sacramento Field Trip Permission Forms Due!

Fri. 2/18 Spirit Day: Red, White, and Blue Day

2/21 - 2/25 Mid Year Recess: No School

Mon. 2/28 5th Grade Fitness Testing

California Trivia Clue (student responses are REQUIRED):

Who was California's first millionaire?

Sincerely,

Mr. Roels and Miss Scourkes
Rooms 20 & 21
Rockhopper Village
Portal School

The Week's Reminders: 1/18-1/21/11

Weekly Reminders: Rooms 20 & 21

Dear Room 20 & 21 Parents,

We hope you enjoyed our Monday off from school to honor the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. . The message of equality for all and love for our fellow man remains a goal for our society and many others around the world. This week at school, all of us can embrace this philosophy in our interactions with our fellow students. Treat others in the same manner you wish to be treated, give all people an equal opportunity for happiness and success, and conduct yourself in a loving and caring way in your dealings with other people. If we all make this our DAILY practice, what a great world (and school community) we will have!

Our blogsite addresses are:

Room 20 (Scourkes) http://rockhopperroom20.blogspot.com
Room 21 (Roels) http://gtfroom22.blogspot.com

Sacramento Field Trip Update - Chaperone Still Needed!

Mr. Roels still only has only two parents signed up for the Sacramento field trip to chaperone! It would be really be ideal if there was a third parent for his class. The cost for parent chaperones is $80.00. If you expressed an interest previously in being a chaperone and are waiting to send in your registration, or if you are now interested in going along as a chaperone, please let us know by tomorrow! Thank you!

Unclaimed present!

Of the many wonderful presents I've received, there is one bag without a tag. :( It is bright blue and has small circles on it. Inside are Gardenia lotion and perfume. If this gift is from your family, will you please let me know? I'd love to thank you.

Miss Scourkes

A Note Regarding the Explorers Test

The Rockhopper Social Studies teachers have decided to assess students in a different way for this short unit on Explorers. In place of a paper and pencil exam, some students will be performing a skit or interview, others will be singing, or creating a poster. The students have been working in small groups, have chosen an explorer to research and present to the class, and have been given a lot of freedom in regards to how they will share their information. The students are showing amazing levels of enthusiasm and creativity! We are looking forward to their presentations!

This week's Science Investigation Check (I-Check)

Tomorrow our science students will be given an assessment of their understanding of our first investigation in the Electricity and Magnetism unit. This assessment, known as an I-Check, is an open book and note assessment. The questions ask our students to apply their understanding of the concepts to questions that are variations of our own investigations. There are multiple choice and short answer questions as part of the format. In short, they must apply the knowledge they have to new situations posed by the questions of the I-Check. To prepare, it would be wise to review the content of the readings, look again at our investigation notebook sheets, and have materials organized and with you for tomorrow's class. I'm sure our group will demonstrate their understanding of magnetism without difficulty. Good luck to all!

Calendar of Events:

Wed. 1/19 PSCO Meeting 6:30
Wed. 1/19 Science I-Check, Investigation 1

Thur. 1/20 4/5 Band Concert 6:30 p.m.

Thur. 1/20 Social Studies Explorer Test

Wed. 1/26 Cisero's Pizza Night (also Mon. and Tues.)

Thur. 1/27 Field Trip to California Children's Theater to see Tom Sawyer

Fri. 1/28 Spirit Day: Career Clothes

Wed. 2/2 5th Grade Hearing Testing

Thur. 2/20 Sacramento Field Trip Permission Forms Due!

Fri. 2/18 Spirit Day: Red, White, and Blue Day

2/21 - 2/25 Mid Year Recess: No School

Mon. 2/28 5th Grade Fitness Testing

California Trivia Clue (student responses are REQUIRED):

At what oceanside amusement park in CA can a person ride a wooden roller coaster and a 1911 carousel?

Sincerely,

Mr. Roels and Miss Scourkes
Rooms 20 & 21
Rockhopper Village
Portal School

Reminders for Jan. 10-14

Weekly Reminders: Rooms 20 & 21

Dear Room 20 & 21 Parents,

We had a wonderful first week back at school, and this week we are all readjusted to our early wake-up times, school and home assignments, and our relationships with friends. Since this month is Common Sense in our Megaskills calendar, we recommend that our students practice this skill by preparing their clothing choices carefully for our cool mornings, checking their assignments for required elements before bringing them to school on their due dates, and using respectful and courteous language when working with others to get what you need. When we practice sensible behavior, we increase our ability to be responsible for ourselves, and we also make the lives of those around us safer, easier, and happier! Try it out this week and see for yourself how true this can be!

Our blogsite addresses are:

Room 20 (Scourkes) http://rockhopperroom20.blogspot.com
Room 21 (Roels) http://gtfroom22.blogspot.com

Sacramento Field Trip Update

This is a reminder to all our families that our registration forms and checks for the May 5, 2011 trip to Sacramento are due to us at school on January 20, 2011. This field trip is tied directly to our social studies curriculum for this year, so we expect our students to attend. If you have any issues regarding attendance, please contact us via e-mail or in person; we can speak privately to resolve any situations that may arise for you or your student. If you need a replacement registration form, we do have extras available- please request a form from your family room teacher. The cost is $115.00, and this covers all field trip expenses including transportation, museum entry fees, and meals. There are no special terms or conditions for this trip, so simply fill out the form, sign and date it, and include your payment. Thanks to all of our families who have already turned in their forms, and we look forward to receiving the remaining outstanding forms in the next two weeks.

On an additional note, Miss Scourkes and Mr. Roels both have only two parents signed up for the Sacramento field trip to chaperone. It would be really be ideal if there was a third parent for each class. The cost for parent chaperones is $80.00. If you expressed an interest previously in being a chaperone and are waiting to send in your registration, or if you are now interested in going along as a chaperone, please let us know as soon as possible if you can attend. Thank you!

Volunteer Parent Needed!

One of our current spelling homework correctors moved over the break, and Room 20 needs another parent to help correct spelling homework each week. Currently Mrs. Sridhar is correcting one set, but this does take up valuable time when she could be working with students. We have all of the instructions, models, and current scores to help you get started and will have you practice with Mrs. Sridhar at the beginning until you get the hang of it. Being a weekly corrector would be a huge help to our classroom. Is this something you would consider? Please let Miss Scourkes know if you are interested. Thank you!

Unclaimed present!

Of the many wonderful presents I've received, there is one bag without a tag. :( It is bright blue and has small circles on it. Inside are Gardenia lotion and perfume. If this gift is from your family, will you please let me know? I'd love to thank you.

Miss Scourkes

Calendar of Events:

Mon. 1/17 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. (No School on this holiday)'

Wed. 1/19 PSCO Meeting 6:30

Thur. 1/20 4/5 Band Concert 6:30 p.m.

Thur. 1/20 Social Studies Explorer Test

Wed. 1/26 Cisero's Pizza Night (also Mon. and Tues.)

Thur. 1/27 Field Trip to California Children's Theater to see Tom Sawyer

Fri. 1/28 Spirit Day: Career Clothes

Wed. 2/2 5th Grade Hearing Testing

Thur. 2/20 Sacramento Field Trip Permission Forms Due!

Fri. 2/18 Spirit Day: Red, White, and Blue Day

2/21 - 2/25 Mid Year Recess: No School

Mon. 2/28 5th Grade Fitness Testing

California Trivia Clue (student responses are REQUIRED):

One-fifth of California’s electricity is generated from what type of source?

Sincerely,

Mr. Roels and Miss Scourkes
Rooms 20 & 21
Rockhopper Village
Portal School

January 2011 First Reminders

Weekly Reminders: Rooms 20 & 21

Dear Room 20 & 21 Parents,

Welcome back to one and all! It's now 2011, and the second half of our school year begins in earnest this week. We hope that our students are refreshed, well-rested, and ready for the excitement of new challenges. Both of your teachers want to thank our students and their families for their incredible generosity during the holidays; your kind words, personal notes, sharing of your time and talents, and thoughtful gifts really make us realize once again how fortunate we are to be teaching at Portal. We truly have a GREAT community of students, parents, and staff :)

Our blogsite addresses are:

Room 20 (Scourkes) http://rockhopperroom20.blogspot.com
Room 21 (Roels) http://gtfroom22.blogspot.com

Sacramento Field Trip Update

This is a reminder to all our families that our registration forms and checks for the May 5, 2011 trip to Sacramento are due to us at school on January 20, 2011. This field trip is tied directly to our social studies curriculum for this year, so we expect our students to attend. If you have any issues regarding attendance, please contact us via e-mail or in person; we can speak privately to resolve any situations that may arise for you or your student. If you need a replacement registration form, we do have extras available- please request a form from your family room teacher. The cost is $115.00, and this covers all field trip expenses including transportation, museum entry fees, and meals. There are no special terms or conditions for this trip, so simply fill out the form, sign and date it, and include your payment. Thanks to all of our families who have already turned in their forms, and we look forward to receiving the remaining outstanding forms in the next two weeks.


Calendar of Events:

Mon. 1/17 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. (No School on this holiday)

Thur. 1/20 4/5 Band Concert 6:30 p.m.

Wed. 1/26 Cisero's Pizza Night (also Mon. and Tues.)

Fri. 1/28 Spirit Day: Career Clothes

Wed. 2/2 5th Grade Hearing Testing

Thur. 2/20 Sacramento Field Trip Permission Forms Due!

Fri. 2/18 Spirit Day: Red, White, and Blue Day

2/21 - 2/25 Mid Year Recess: No School

Mon. 2/28 5th Grade Fitness Testing

California Trivia Clue (student responses are REQUIRED):

This body of water, located in California, is one of the world’s oldest lakes. What is its name?

Sincerely,

Mr. Roels and Miss Scourkes
Rooms 20 & 21
Rockhopper Village
Portal School