March 28th- The Weekly Reminders

Weekly Reminders: Rooms 20 & 21

Dear Room 20 & 21 Parents,

Can you believe it? There is only two weeks until our spring break! These next two weeks are filled with preparations for our upcoming fine arts performance on the evening of April 7th, Family Science Night this Wednesday, and a huge assortment of curricular activities, including some in depth reading from our latest core literature book, Bridge to Terabithia. This is a great time for all of us to strive to do our personal best in each area; this is the most likely way to get the results that all of us want in our work! Let's start putting those end of the year goals into action right away, and we'll all enjoy the next two weeks to their fullest.

Our blogsite addresses are:

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

Disaster Relief in Japan- A letter from Mrs. Ales

Dear Murdock-Portal Penguins,

Portal School will begin, starting tomorrow, a coin drive to donate to the disaster relief fund for the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. We will donate all of our proceeds through the American Red Cross who have offices in Japan where funds can be directly applied. Each classroom -- as well as the office -- will have a coin-jar -- so please consider donating to this cause! We are accepting coins and bills (not checks). The fundraiser will be held from March 22nd to April 8th.

Additionally, from tomorrow until April 1st, at lunchtime, the Multipurpose Room will be open for 2-5th graders to make origami cranes and other art projects. (There will be parent supervision at this time.) Kinders and first graders may also participate by coloring posters that show our support. These also will be sent to Japan!

Finally, on April 6th during our Lunch on the Lawn, we will display our posters and sell handicrafts made by the students and also donate the proceeds to the disaster relief fund.

Thank you kindly for your support of this important relief fund effort for Japan!

my best,

Julie Ales


Announcing Family Science Night: Let’s Go Green!

When: This Wednesday, March 30^th 6:30-8:00 pm

Where: Murdock-Portal Multi-Use Room

Who: All Penguins and Families!

All students and families are invited to join us for "Let's Go Green" Family Science Night. Children and parents will enjoy ten interactive science activities promoting hands-on experiences focusing on the theme "Let's Go Green." The activities will be led by Murdock-Portal teachers, in conjunction with the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose. This event is optional and free-of-charge, open to all Murdock-Portal families, and pre-registration is not required. Children must attend with a parent. We look forward to seeing you on March 30th in the Multi-Use Room!

Geology Rocks Helpers: Urgent

Dear Parents,

We need more help with food donations, clean up and set up help for the evening of our play! Would you please be so kind as to sign up on the document, as soon possible using the link listed below?

Thank you!

Parent Sign Up

Sacramento Trip:

As you may recall, the tour company provides T-shirts for the students to wear on the Sacramento trip. Tomorrow we will be "sizing" t-shirts for our students in room 20 (room 21 is finished.) In an effort to speed this process along, I've asked them to double check the size of t-shirt that they wear. I have samples in the room, and will be using those as a guide. The sizes run large - I will be wearing a "youth large"! They have youth medium, youth large, adult medium as choices. I imagine many students will be in youth medium and youth large.

Curriculum Notes:

Language Arts- We began reading our next core literature book, Bridge to Terabithia, and we'll be fitting some lively discussion and reading in between our fine arts practices over the next two weeks. We'll also revisit our ability to summarize reading passages effectively so that we can apply what we've learned during previous writing work earlier in the year. Spelling resumes this week, and writing and grammar work will figure prominently in the remaining language arts time.

Math- As 4th graders, we are getting exposure this week to circles, symmetry, congruence, and maybe the basic points of perimeter and area. This unit has very specific vocabulary, so don't hesitate to ask your student about the appropriate terminology presented; the students can use the review. Our restaurant menus, which feature algebraic expressions as food orders, will be completed during our extended Friday math time this week- I'm getting hungry already!

Math - 5th grade continues to work on integers and the properties/axioms that guide algebraic thinking.
Science- Electromagnetism investigations are wrapping up this week; we are now using electromagnetism to create and use an old-fashioned communications device- the telegraph! It's amazing how much Twitter and texting have in common with this "short and sweet" message style of old, isn't it? Hands-on work and reading will both be used to summarize the concepts presented throughout this unit.

Social Studies- We continue to learn about the Post-Mission Era, a time period commonly called "Mexican California".

Calendar of Events:

Tues. 3/29 Student/Chaperone food & t-shirt orders due for Sacramento trip
Wed. 3/30 Family Science Night @6:30pm in the Multi-Use Room

Fri. 4/1 Report Cards go home

Wed. 4/6 5th Grade Math Placement Test - Level 1
Wed. 4/6 Earth Day Lunch on the Lawn @11:45am
Thur. 4/7 Geology Rocks! Performance @6:30pm in the Multi-Use Room
Mon. 4/11- Fri. 4/22 Spring Recess - No school.
Tues. 4/26 STAR Testing Begins
Thur. 5/5 Sacramento Field Trip

Thur. 5/12 5th Grade Math Placement Test - Level 2

California Trivia Clue (student responses are REQUIRED):

What California site hosted the Winter Olympics in 1960?

Sincerely,

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

3/21-3/25 Weekly Reminders

Weekly Reminders: Rooms 20 & 21

Dear Room 20 & 21 Parents,

Conferences have begun, and we're happy to report that our students have done a nice job so far of reviewing their goals, setting new goals when appropriate, and participating in the conferences as expected. Parents have also been great about sharing information, concerns, and achievements pertaining to their child with us. Thank you to all for making these meetings so productive! Once again, please be sure to check your conference schedule time and plan on arriving promptly for this 20 minute meeting with us; the majority of our conference times have another conference immediately before or after your scheduled time. Spring conferences are a unique and valuable experience that are only available at Portal!

Our blogsite addresses are:

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

Disaster Relief in Japan- A letter from Mrs. Ales

Dear Murdock-Portal Penguins,

Portal School will begin, starting tomorrow, a coin drive to donate to the disaster relief fund for the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. We will donate all of our proceeds through the American Red Cross who have offices in Japan where funds can be directly applied. Each classroom -- as well as the office -- will have a coin-jar -- so please consider donating to this cause! We are accepting coins and bills (not checks). The fundraiser will be held from March 22nd to April 8th.

Additionally, from tomorrow until April 1st, at lunchtime, the Multipurpose Room will be open for 2-5th graders to make origami cranes and other art projects. (There will be parent supervision at this time.) Kinders and first graders may also participate by coloring posters that show our support. These also will be sent to Japan!

Finally, on April 6th during our Lunch on the Lawn, we will display our posters and sell handicrafts made by the students and also donate the proceeds to the disaster relief fund.

Thank you kindly for your support of this important relief fund effort for Japan!

my best,

Julie Ales


Announcing Family Science Night: Let’s Go Green!

When: Wednesday, March 30^th 6:30-8:00 pm

Where: Murdock-Portal Multi-Use Room

Who: All Penguins and Families!

All students and families are invited to join us for "Let's Go Green" Family Science Night. Children and parents will enjoy ten interactive science activities promoting hands-on experiences focusing on the theme "Let's Go Green." The activities will be led by Murdock-Portal teachers, in conjunction with the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose. This event is optional and free-of-charge, open to all Murdock-Portal families, and pre-registration is not required. Children must attend with a parent. We look forward to seeing you on March 30th in the Multi-Use Room!

Geology Rocks Helpers:

It was great to meet with all our stage, prop, and costume parent helpers; it sure is fantastic to have such capable support! If you still have an urge to contribute to our play preparations, food needs, or setup/cleanup for the evening, just add your name to the sign up sheet link below:

Parent Sign Up

Curriculum Notes:

Language Arts- As we prepare to begin our next core literature book, Bridge to Terabithia, we'll be reviewing the aspects of the realistic fiction genre. We'll also revisit our ability to summarize reading passages effectively so that we can apply what we've learned during previous writing work earlier in the year. Spelling will resume after our conference schedule ends, and writing and grammar work will occupy our remaining language arts time.

Math- As 4th graders, we are involved in gaining a firm understanding of 2-dimensional geometry concepts. This unit is heavy with vocabulary, so don't hesitate to ask your student about the appropriate terminology presented; the students can use the review. We are also making excellent progress on their restaurant menus during our extended Friday math time to learn effective use of algebraic expressions!

Math - 5th grade continues to work on integers and the properties/axioms that guide algebraic thinking.
Science- Electromagnetism investigations are ongoing during our short conference days. We're squeezing in investigations pertaining to electromagnetic strength and practical uses for electromagnetic components. Hands-on work and reading are combined to give everyone the greatest opportunity to understand this essential piece of our contemporary technological life.

Social Studies- This week we begin learning about the Post-Mission Era, a time period commonly called "Mexican California".

Calendar of Events:

Mon. 3/21 Parent Teacher Conferences continue until the end of the week. 12:30 Dismissal.

Fri. 3/25 Parent Teacher Conferences end (last day of early dismissal @12:30 schedule)

Wed. 3/30 Family Science Night

Fri. 4/1 Report Cards go home

Wed. 4/6 5th Grade Math Placement Test - Level 1
Thur. 4/7 Geology Rocks! Performance 6:30 Multi-Use Room
Mon. 4/11- Fri. 4/22 Spring Recess - No school.
Tues. 4/26 STAR Testing Begins
Thur. 5/5 Sacramento Field Trip

Thur. 5/12 5th Grade Math Placement Test - Level 2

California Trivia Clue (student responses are REQUIRED):

Where was the state’s first newspaper published?

Sincerely,

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

Conference Week #1: Reminders

Weekly Reminders: Rooms 20 & 21

Dear Room 20 & 21 Parents,

Conferences begin on Thursday, and we're excited to sit down with all our students to review their goals, set new goals if appropriate, and compliment them on the good work they're doing here at Portal! It is also a great time for parents to share information, concerns, and achievements pertaining to their child with their teacher. Please be sure to check your conference schedule time and plan on arriving promptly for this 20 minute meeting with us; the majority of our conference times have another conference immediately before or after your scheduled time. We know that these spring conferences are a valuable experience for all of us!

Our blogsite addresses are:

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

Interested in helping out?

Yes, it is now roughly a month until Rooms 20 and 21 will perform the incredible play entitled "Geology Rocks!" If you've ever wondered if learning about rocks, minerals, fossil fuels, geologic time, and tectonic plates could be funny, then you won't want to miss our upcoming fine arts performance on Thursday, April 7th at 6:30pm in our multipurpose room at Portal.

We are looking for additional interested parents to help support us with the following jobs:

Painting Art Coordinator – Organize the installation and repair of backdrops.

Painting Art Assistants – Help the coordinator repair and repaint backdrops.

Prop Art Coordinator – Organize and inventory of props.

Prop Art Assistants – Help the coordinator with props.

Costume Designers – Help to design and make costume pieces.

Food Coordinator – Organize snack donations for potluck on the night of the show.

Organize parents to help with set up and clean up on the night of the show.

Food Donators – Donate food for the potluck.

Performance Crew – Help transport, set up, and take down sets.

I’m flexible - Let me know what I can do to help.

THANK YOU to all who has already signed up! If you are interested in ANY of these volunteer opportunities related to our play and haven't already notified us, please sign up below on the Google Doc we've created for this purpose called "Parent Sign Up". Click on the link below and then list your name in the column under the job with which you would like to help. We will be meeting this Wednesday, March 16 at 11:45am in Room 20 with those interested parents who can attend.

Parent Sign Up

Curriculum Notes:

Language Arts- In the Year of the Boar core literature book is now completely read, and we plan on testing our comprehension of the text on Wednesday of this week. Our writing practice in the persuasive and response to literature genres is well under way; we're now polishing up drafts of several assignments for insertion into our writing anthologies. "Geology Rocks" has already begun to showcase our oral language abilities in a scientific context- we've got a talented group of performers this year!

Math- 4th grade is using restaurant menus during our extended Friday math time to learn effective use of algebraic expressions, and we are moving into our huge unit on geometry beginning tomorrow!

Math - 5th grade has developed and strengthened our algebra skills over the last couple of weeks. We created generalizations for patterns and learned to graph basic equations on coordinate planes. Our quiz on generalizations, patterns, and coordinate graphing will be tomorrow. We'll be working on integers beginning Wednesday..
Science- Currently, we are doing the first electromagnetism investigations to reinforce the connection between electricity and magnetism.

Social Studies- We're currently working on our Missions Activities Menu, reinforcing concepts we have learned and will test our knowledge of this unit on this Thursday, March 17.

Calendar of Events:

Wed. 3/16 Year of the Boar Comprehension Test

Wed. 3/16 PSCO Meeting 6:30
Wed. 3/16 Parent Volunteer Meeting @11:45 in Rm. 20 for "Geology Rocks"
Thur. 3/17 Social Studies Missions Test
Thur.3/17 Parent Teacher Conferences begin (early dismissal @12:30 schedule)
Fri. 3/25 Parent Teacher Conferences end (last day of early dismissal @12:30 schedule)

Wed. 3/30 Family Science Night

Fri. 4/1 Report Cards go home

Wed. 4/6 5th Grade Math Placement Test - Level 1 (notice the date change)

Thur. 5/12 5th Grade Math Placement Test - Level 2 (notice the date change)


California Trivia Clue (student responses are REQUIRED):

What U.S. city led the country in gold production until the Gold Rush in CA?

Sincerely,

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

Reminders for March 7-11

Weekly Reminders: Rooms 20 & 21

Dear Room 20 & 21 Parents,

Conferences are fast approaching, and we're excited to sit down with all our students to review their goals, set new goals if appropriate, and compliment them on the good work they're doing here at Portal! This week we are getting into our fine arts performance practice in earnest; students are memorizing their lines, learning song lyrics by heart, and preparing to venture onto the school stage for the first time this year. All this activity, and still......we have math, language arts, social studies, and science that continue to entertain as well! As springtime approaches, it is apparent that all of our students are ready for the challenges (and fun) that lie ahead.

Our blogsite addresses are:

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

Parent Survey is now online!

It’s Survey Time!! We would like to invite you to take part in our annual School Survey. Your feedback on the survey is critical to the school as the survey results are used by the School Site Council to create our school goals. The survey will be “live” until Monday, March 14, 2010. After the survey, we’re having a raffle for a group of kids to have lunch with Mrs. Ales! Fun!

To complete the survey, follow these steps -- Go to the school website, www.portalpenguins.org, and:

1) Click on the link to the survey.

2) Complete one survey for each child attending Murdock-Portal.

3) After you have completed the survey, print the last page of the survey – fill in your child’s name and room number and return this slip to the classroom teacher to enter in to our raffle!

Thank you for your participation in making our school a wonderful place! Again, your feedback for the survey is so important and we value your input.

Note: If you tried to take the survey during the break and had some technical problems, we believe that they are all sorted out, so you may log on and take the survey now.

Interested in helping out?

Yes, it is now less than FIVE weeks until Rooms 20 and 21 will perform the incredible play entitled "Geology Rocks!" If you've ever wondered if learning about rocks, minerals, fossil fuels, geologic time, and tectonic plates could be funny, then you won't want to miss our upcoming fine arts performance on Thursday, April 7th at 6:30pm in our multipurpose room at Portal.

We are looking for interested parents to help support us with the following jobs:

Painting Art Coordinator – Organize the installation and repair of backdrops.

Painting Art Assistants – Help the coordinator repair and repaint backdrops.

Prop Art Coordinator – Organize and inventory of props.

Prop Art Assistants – Help the coordinator with props.

Costume Designers – Help to design and make costume pieces.

Food Coordinator – Organize snack donations for potluck on the night of the show.

Organize parents to help with set up and clean up on the night of the show.

Food Donators – Donate food for the potluck.

Performance Crew – Help transport, set up, and take down sets.

I’m flexible - Let me know what I can do to help.

If you would be interested in ANY of these volunteer opportunities related to our play, please sign up below on the Google Doc we've created for this purpose called "Parent Sign Up". Click on the link below and then list your name in the column under the job with which you would like to help. We will plan on meeting with those interested parents sometime next week.

Parent Sign Up

Parent Teacher Conferences:

In last Thursday's folder, you were sent the parent/teacher conference appointment schedule. Thank you to all who returned their forms already! If you have not already signed and returned your confirmation, please do so as soon as possible. We have worked hard to fit all of the conferences in within a reasonable time, and with 30-31 students each, there are not many slots left open throughout the conference period, so it is difficult to reschedule. We understand if you cannot make the assigned time due to a prior commitment, but it would help us tremendously if you were able to conference with us on the assigned date and time.

Curriculum Notes:

Language Arts- In the Year of the Boar reading and work is being wrapped up (one chapter to go!) Our writing practice in the persuasive and response to literature genres is well under way; we're now polishing up drafts of several assignments for insertion into our writing anthologies. "Geology Rocks" will showcase our oral language abilities in a scientific context- an earthshaking development, to be sure!

Math- 4th grade is using restaurant menus to learn effective use of algebraic expressions, including how to use simplification and other problem-solving strategies to determine the identity and value of an unknown variable. We also learn how to convert an order into algebraic terms, and we practice describing our algebraic expressions in words too. It's a super fun unit, and the culminating activity is especially good!

Math - 5th grader are developing and strengthening our algebra skills also. We are creating generalizations for patterns, learning to graph equations on coordinate planes, and working with both positive and negative integers.
Science- Next up, we dabble a bit in electromagnetism to wrap up the Electricity and Magnetism section of studies before moving on to our next major scientific unit, Solid Earth.

Social Studies- We're currently working on our Missions Activities Menu, reinforcing concepts we have learned.

Calendar of Events:

Wed., 3/9 5th grade students meet with middle school counselors (Note: NOT a parent meeting!)
Mon., 3/14 Learning Day (no school for students)

Thur. 3/17 Social Studies Missions Test
Thur.3/17 Parent Teacher Conferences begin (early dismissal @12:30 schedule)

Fri. 3/25 Parent Teacher Conferences end (last day of early dismissal @12:30 schedule)

Wed. 3/30 Family Science Night

Fri. 4/1 Report Cards go home

California Trivia Clue (student responses are REQUIRED):

What was the original name of the town that became San Francisco?

Sincerely,

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