MPI-etag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary/182008-10-12T10:20:44ZMovable Type Pro 4.21-enThe Children Bid Aloha to a Special Friendtag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.50972008-10-12T08:37:13Z2008-10-12T10:20:44Z'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free, 'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be, And when we find ourselves in the place just right, 'Twill be in the valley of love...Ms. Hussey'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free, 'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be, And when we find ourselves in the place just right, 'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
Simple Gifts was the perfect melody to sing for Margery Jacobson, office manager and administrative assistant for the preschool and elementary, who leaves Mid-Pacific Institute this week. At the school assembly in her honor, children queued up to thank her and share special memories of their interactions with her. Lori Abe, the character education teacher for preschoolers and K-2 grade levels, shared a delightful prayer -- actually a list -- of what the first and second graders wished for Miss Margie: ". . . that you can speak the same language that the people in Chicago speak;" ". . . . that your airplane gets you to the right place;" ". . . .that you get a good pair of walking shoes and really warm clothes. . . ." Margie will be taking with her to Chicago a beautiful koa album filled with children's notes, poetry, drawings, and photos to remind her of nearly twenty years of her life at Epiphany School and Mid-Pacific Institute. Truly down to earth, pragmatic yet compassionate, witty and unbelievably organized, Margie helped to make our lives manageable by attending to the daily minutiae of school business. And she had a wonderful, simple way of touching every person's life, students, faculty, and parents alike. Yesterday's assembly was poignant affirmation about her relationship with us. We wish Margie a safe journey as she travels back home to Chicago!
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The faculty of the preschool, elementary, middle, and high school
levels spent a full day of team building and professional development
working in various areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
They enjoyed continental breakfast and lunch together. The preschool
team conducted a webcam session with Reggio Emilia specialist Dr.
George Forman (we are consulting with him throughout the year via
webcam) to deepen their understanding of children's learning. The
elementary faculty began their second session with consultant Ermile
Hargrove on learning more strategies to help their students improve
attention, memory, and focus.
In the afternoon, all school faculties gathered at Kawaiaha`o Theatre to
share their "stories" of how they see the new MPI vision, developed by
the Board of Trustees and the MPI administration, fully implemented in
the next five to ten years. There is clearly energy and commitment
from all teachers about the new vision. The historic Friday meeting --
the first time the entire MPI faculty has met to discuss a school
initiative -- will be the first of many planning meetings to carefully
develop ways to implement the vision. We were reminded by facilitator
Cynthia Kitagawa of Insights that the journey or process far outweighs
the destination because it's how we fare in the process that is the
measure of success. You'll be hearing more about MPI's new vision.
Rest assured that the mission of the school remains the same, which is
to provide an educational program that develops the intellectual,
emotional, spiritual and physical dimensions of all students so that
they can become compassionate, lifelong learners and global citizens.
The flu vaccinations for all students with parental permission are this
Thursday beginning at 8:15am. The teachers will walk their students to
Scudder faculty lounge where there will be several parent helpers. The
vaccination process went well last year with very few children shedding
tears, and with so many nurses available to give the shots, the process
goes quickly. A word of advice: Talking too much about the vaccination
can make your child overly anxious and fearful. A few words,
reassuring hug and encouraging smile when you drop off your child will
do the trick!
I am asking for your support on two safety issues. I know that our MPI
grassy hills are inviting playgrounds. However, we had a near accident
after school last week when one of our children ran downhill on the
grassy slopes leading to the lower autoline, stumbled, and landed in
the road. This incident was reported to me by security, teachers, and
parents. Thankfully, there were no cars. So, we will not permit
students to play on the grassy hills. Please note that when teachers
take students outside, we never permit them to play on the grassy
slopes.
The second issue is in regards to double parking next to the cars
closest to the royal palm trees (upon entering the elementary school,
immediately to the right). Drivers entering the elementary campus
cannot see around these double-parked cars and exiting cars cannot get
by. Beginning this Tuesday, October 13, double parking will not be
allowed.
The only persons who should be parking from 7:40am during morning
drop-off (besides faculty with permits) are parents of preschoolers.
Otherwise, if you want to walk your child to school, or want to meet
with the teacher in the morning, etc., please park in the lower area by
the outdoor basketball courts and walk your child to the elementary
campus. We really like seeing so many of you on campus in the morning,
but parking is very limited, and we don't want to prohibit double
parking only after an accident occurs. If your child is a
kindergartner, please drop him/her off in autoline. And please drive
all the way around the turnaround to stop and drop off your child
rather than stopping midway.
Moon Over Manoa is next Saturday at the Sheraton Waikiki. Thank you,
parents, for your generous contributions to the class baskets. If you
were unable to drop off your donation last week, please do so by
Tuesday, October 14. Last I heard, there are about five hundred
attending this gala event. I'm looking forward to seeing many of our
preschool and elementary parents!
For our children,
Edna L, Hussey Principal
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Salsa, anyone? Ask the Fifth Graders!tag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.50582008-10-04T04:12:24Z2008-10-04T04:20:31ZMs. Hussey
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Thank you, parents and community, for supporting our recycling
efforts. There were so many bags of recyclables that just one, but two
monster-sized bins were necessary to haul away the volume of
materials. We will be bringing back the bins in the near future, so
keep saving your recyclable materials.
Next week Friday, October 10, is a professional in-service day for the
entire school faculty, thus there will be no school. Faculty from
preschool through twelfth grade will be working on professional
development projects. The elementary faculty will continue a second
session with Ermile Hargrove, a consultant for Schools Attuned, to
learn strategies for working with all kinds of learners. The preschool
faculty will be meeting via webcam with Reggio Emilia expert and
consultant Dr. George Forman (no, not the boxer!) on exploring
children's intent when they engage in an activity. After lunch
together, the entire MPI faculty will participate in an afternoon
session on how to implement MPI's school vision: Mid-Pacific Institute
will prepare students to make a difference in the world by embracing
change with creativity, collaboration, critical thought and global
awareness, guided by moral and ethical values. Parents and alumni will
be receiving in a few weeks a formal announcement from the Board of
Trustees about the vision-planning process. It will be a very
intensive day for the faculty, actually the first time the faculty from
all grade levels will be working together in mixed groups. We are
looking forward to this historic day of collaboration.
Final preparations are underway for Moon Over Manoa. If you have an
item to donate to your class' basket, you may drop off the item in the
morning autoline this coming Wednesday and Thursday, October 8 and 9.
Enjoy the weekend ahead with your children. Perhaps a quiet afternoon at a nearby park or picnic at the beach. Simple is best.
For our children,
Edna L. Hussey
Principal
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Celebrating community at the Welcome Barbecuetag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.50162008-09-27T03:25:57Z2008-09-27T03:33:10ZMs. Hussey
pueo waving its wings. Parents clustered in small groups sharing stories about soccer games, children's sports-related injuries, and job-related intrigue. Fragrance of popcorn. Blue-tinged lips and teeth from flavored shaved ice. Tables laden with food. Relay games involving children and their parents. All this and two hours of relaxing fun under a spectacular blue sky with just a hint of trade winds. Many thanks to our Fifth Grade students and their parents, whose combined efforts created a flawless community gathering. Under the able leadership of Nicole Chung, she led the charge with calm and grace. We're grateful to the many parents at all grade levels who donated items for the event. If there's a lasting impression I'm left with after the Welcome Barbecue, it's community and the gift of our families!
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In the area of writing, the classroom teachers are introducing their
students to writing traits, that is, the specifics of what makes
writing effective, noteworthy, memorable. These traits are ideas (the
main point), organization (the overall design or structure of the
writing), voice (the general sound and tone of the writing), word
choice (the combination of words and expressions), sentence fluency
(the flow and rhythm of language), conventions (appropriate use of
grammar, spelling, and punctuation), and presentation (the visual
appearance of a piece of writing). The teaching of writing traits
requires looking at examples from published work, analyzing a variety
of student work, and applying the assessment criteria or rubric to
their own writing. Again, this is an instructional process experienced over time
and taught in developmentally appropriate ways.
We want inquiry to occupy a place of prominence in the continua since
inquiry approaches are the basis of our social studies and science
curricula. We also want to honor students' multiple ways of knowing,
especially if we posit that learners have multiple intelligences (e.g.,
linguistic, spatial, logical/mathematical, interpersonal, etc.).
The preschool teachers are likewise focused on the assessment of
learning through a process called documentation. Aided by video
recorders and digital cameras, the teachers capture episodes of
intriguing learning, moments during which a child is problem solving in
dramatic play, in the sandbox, on the playstructure, at the light
table, etc. Specific images are selected that tell a learning story,
and the preschool faculty analyze the underlying theories of learning
and development in these pieces of documentation.
In all these meetings from preschool through fifth grade, the conversation is always rich, the questions
thought provoking, and the ideas insightful. In case you're wondering
when we discuss the day-to-day issues such as changes in schedule or
fire drill procedures or where lunch cards should be placed, there's
discussion during recess duty, in the lunchroom, transitions between
classes, and some time during faculty meetings! The Intranet also
serves as a useful electronic medium where I post weekly memos and the
faculty can respond or post ideas. The exchange of email also
expedites communication. Next week's agenda: more discussion on the
performance continua.
Our CSAL boys' basketball team did well this week. A close game
on Monday, 26-29, in favor of Maryknoll, then on Thursday against
Hawaii Baptist, 37-6, MPI! In the meantime, practices begin for the
girls' basketball team.
If you are interested in having your child participate in
Heart-to-Heart with Kids, an afterschool support group for children who
have experienced a loss in their life, please submit the form that was
placed in last week's Friday packet.
Welcome, October, just around the corner. Time to start thinking about that Halloween costume.
For our children,
Edna L. Hussey
Principal
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Words! Ideas! Language!tag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.49732008-09-20T04:18:49Z2008-09-20T19:29:17ZMs. Hussey
isolated, antics, baffle, and implement.
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migration. The fifth
graders presented a theory of migration, which they are learning about
in social studies, explaining the migrations of the earliest people
living in North Africa (Mesopotamia) to Europe, Asia, North and South
America. They explained how this theory appears to be supported
through DNA testing. The students illustrated the migration patterns by
placing map outlines of continents and island groups and the
corresponding groups of people in their appropriate places on a large
sheet of paper. The point they were making was that all people,
regardless of skin color, cultural heritage, and homeland are a family
of races that can be traced to an origin. The fifth graders have a foundational beginning for understanding how
Native American Indians arrived in North America. There are wonderful
connections the first and second graders can make to this migration
presentation because they are currently learning about prehistoric
times long before human beings entered onto the timeline of creation.
Leslie Gleim, the preschool teacher for 3-year-olds, shared a language
in which she is a fluent speaker -- sign language. Having taught in an
early childhood setting with children having special needs, she
communicated frequently with her students using sign language. At the
assembly, she taught us the sign language for over twenty words, from
everyday greetings to gestures for some fruits, vegetables, and
children's favorite foods. Ask your children if they remember any sign
language from this week's assembly. (They are also learning sign
language for the alphabet in music class!)
We are so proud of our fifth and sixth grade boys who are playing
basketball in the Christian Schools Athletic League and proudly
representing MPI. The CSAL league is composed of seventeen schools,
each school playing in either the east or west division. MPI plays in
the west division with seven other schools. To date, MPI has won every
game! The scores and opponents are: MPI vs. Kamehameha, 30-10; vs.
Christian Academy, 40-13; vs. Saint Elizabeth's, 36-12; vs. Lanakila
Baptist, 68-11. There are two games remaining and a fellowship tournament, which will
include our fourth graders on the team. Go, Owls! Go, Pueo!
Even though high school may be several years away for your child, you might
think about attending the next coffee hour on October 21 with Principal
Richard Schaffer at 7:30am, followed by the Parent Community
Association meeting at 8:00am and guest speaker, Mark Hines, Director
of Educational Technology at MPI. The coffee hour and meeting will be
in Scudder Faculty Lounge.
Ms. Koshi's request for parent volunteers to clean and sanitize the
musical instruments received such an enthusiastic response that the
next two cleaning sessions are cancelled! Job all pau! Many thanks to
Nicole Chung, Alana Dean, Tammy Ishibashi, Monica Pang, and Kim
Soares. They even had time to spare, so they touched up the Epiphany
Conference Room and principal's display modules. Angels with dust cloths!
The recycling drop-off begins next Friday, September 26, and runs through the weekend. Please look for the large blue bin that will be stationed just at the entrance to the elementary school. Plastic, glass, and paper -- help us with our "Living Green" efforts and the yearbook project.
The Annual School Barbecue for our preschool and elementary families is
Saturday, September 20, 2:00-5:00pm. Join us for hot dogs, chili,
barbecued chicken (yes, grilled to perfection), salads, and desserts.
There's also shaved ice, popcorn, lots of fruit, and games. Three
cheers and pueo hoots for the Fifth Grade parents and students who are
responsible for the campus picnic, especially Nicole Chung who has
single-handedly organized this event. See you tomorrow!
For our children,
Edna L. Hussey
Principal
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But then came the extraordinary in the ordinary --tag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.49272008-09-13T02:56:56Z2008-09-13T03:06:34ZMs. Hussey Such was the event this past Wednesday morning when the entire school, from preschool through high school, gathered in the gym to honor their Cambodian friends from the Future Light Orphanage of Worldmate. These 30 teens are all orphans who live at the orphanage and attend school in Cambodia, along with 350 other children, ages 5 to 22. In an impressive display of cultural exchange, the MPI hula halau, directed by kumu hula Lanakila Casupang, performed a colorful hula about the rainbows over Manoa. The Cambodian students sat on the floor in front of our preschoolers and elementary children, enjoying the hula. Then the Cambodian students performed three dances, accompanied by drum and wind instrumentalists. We were amazed by the dancers' tilted posture, precision steps, and fingers delicately curved back to perform expressive hand movements. Some of the preschoolers seated up close tried to mimic the dancers' hand motions as they watched the performance. At the end of the performance, the entire audience gave our Cambodian friends a rousing standing ovation. But then came the extraordinary in the ordinary --
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Out
among the world's great peoples may thy children go, Bearing forth thy
kindly spirit, Brotherhood to show. I looked across the gym, embracing
this extraordinary moment, grateful to be part of this unique community
and special place.
Read the heartwarming article in today's Honolulu Advertiser, Section
E, front page, featuring President Rice and his foster son, Houch
Chhoeung, who is one of the Cambodian dancers. President Rice was
united with his foster son for the first time.
Our afterschool program is settling into routines. It's a wonder to
see so many children with busy lives after 2:30pm! Tennis. Ballet.
Japanese. Choir. Chinese. Volleyball. Piano. Guitar or ukulele.
Contemporary Dance. We are happy to offer these enrichment classes. If
you have any questions or concerns related to these classes, contact
the instructor directly. If, however, your questions are not
addressed, please call the Principal at 441-3800.
As explained at yesterday's `Ohana meeting, the faculty has been
working since this past summer on revising the kindergarten through
fifth grade performance continua for math, writing, and reading. The
intent is to give parents clearer, more accurate information about
their child's learning. The revision process began with a small group
of teachers who researched reading and writing criteria and various
assessment rubrics. Student writing will be assessed along a writing
continuum with five or six performance levels (e.g., beginning,
exploring, expanding extending, etc.), and reading along five similarly
labeled levels of performance. Each level is defined by descriptors --
statements about the quality of the product or performance. Teachers
will look at six aspects or traits of student writing, such as ideas
(the writer's main point), organization (the overall design or
structure of the writing), sentence fluency (the flow and rhythm of
language), and conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation). For
reading, we will evaluate a student's reading strategies, listening and
reading comprehension. We are refining the math continua so that it is
more reader-friendly. More information will be available as the
continua are completed.
The election season is upon us! The classroom teachers are discussing
the election process to some degree that is developmentally appropriate
for each grade. Students in grades three, four, and five are likely
delving into the democratic process and campaign issues more than the
other grade levels. We encourage you to talk informally about this
aspect of citizenship -- voting -- because it is one of the essential
rights and responsibilities of maintaining a democracy. Yes, the sign
wavers are upon us!
We hope you're planning to attend the preschool/elementary barbecue on
September 20, next Sunday, 2:00-5:00pm. The Fifth Grade parents and
students are responsible for the barbecue. Please bring the entire
family, and don't forget to return the r.s.v.p. form so that we can
plan the food accordingly.
In memory of all who have been deeply affected by the tragedy of
September 11 -- peace and hope for a better future for all children.
For our children,
Edna L. Hussey
Principal
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The Real Curriculum -- How to Thinktag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.48892008-09-06T09:10:32Z2008-09-06T09:21:28ZAt the Open House sessions these past two weeks, teachers prepared PowerPoint slide presentations about what and how their students will be learning (curriculum and instruction), a typical school day from 7:40am to 2:30pm, how student learning is assessed, special...Ms. Hussey Now that parents have had some time to digest the information and file the handouts, let's consider for a few moments what I call the "real" curriculum -- beyond reading, spelling, writing, mathematics, and beyond learning about science and social studies through an inquiry approach.
Consider the real curriculum: learning to be passionate about learning, being ready to take risks, being mindful learners, thinking critically, having multiple strategies to problem-solve, working independently and collaboratively, persevering, caring for and being of service to the community.
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Education
is not the filling of the pail but the lighting of a fire. Parents
and teachers alike need to understand the big picture about education
and to keep at the forefront what matters the most about learning -- how
to think.
Many thanks to our Parent `Ohana who provided the refreshments for both
Open House evenings. These parents, many of you who are reading this
webpage, provide invaluable support in sharing your time, talent, and
treasure. Many thanks to the parents who've been volunteering as lunch
supervisors in Wilcox Dining Room and as nap supervisors in the
preschool on Friday afternoons.
The 2009 Yearbook Staff (high school) and the MPI Recycling Club are
sponsoring a recycling-awareness event on September 26, 27, and 28.
MPI will receive the 5-cent value for each beverage container collected
in the bin based on a weight to volume conversion. All proceeds will
benefit MPI student projects throughout the year. You may drop off your
empty HI-5 aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic containers in the
elementary school morning and afternoon autoline on Friday, September
26. Here's the drop-off schedule for September 27 and 28: Saturday,
9:00am-4:00pm, and Sunday, 9:00am-4:00pm. Look for the big blue bin
just as you take the right turn toward the elementary campus from the
guard gate. It will be parked on the right side in front of the palm
trees. Recycle!
If your child is interested in attending the varsity regular season
football games at Aloha Stadium where Pac-Five is a participant (MPI is
part of Pac-Five), please call the office at 441-3800 for football
coupons. MPI students may enter the varsity football games at Aloha
Stadium free with their MPI student I.D. card and the designated
Pac-Five coupon for each game.
Please note that Maile Way exit will be closed on September 12 after
the morning drop-offs (closed after 8:15am). After the morning
drop-offs, all cars will be routed to exit through the main gate on
Ka`ala St. The middle and high school students will be off-campus for a
school spirit picnic and are not returning to campus, so Maile Way exit
will be closed in the afternoon.
By today, all afterschool classes will have begun (Chinese, Japanese,
ballet, tennis, choir, piano, ukulele, guitar, and preschool music).
Please remember to send your child to school with the necessary
accoutrements such tennis racket, water bottle, music book, etc. Better
yet, make this your child's responsibility to remember, not yours.
Perhaps mark all the dates on a calendar at home and have your
child check the calendar each week.
The Christian Schools Athletic League games begin the following week.
The League consists of nearly 20 private, independent schools on O`ahu.
All parents have received a hard copy of the September calendar and a
downloadable copy is posted on the website. Note the dates for the
CSAL games, which all begin at 3:30pm. Boys' basketball begins this
coming Monday, September 8, at Mid-Pacific. Our 5th and 6th grade team
will play Kamehameha School. If you have time, come and cheer them on!
For our children,
Edna L. Hussey
Principal
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The Business of Learningtag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.47372008-08-30T04:24:52Z2008-08-30T04:35:31ZMs. Hussey
In the tradition of most schools nationwide, we held an Open House for Kindergarten and Multiage 1st- 2nd grades this past Wednesday evening, while parents of preschoolers met for a session on the documentation process. The Open House for Multiage 3rd-4th grades and 5th grade will be next Wednesday, September 3, 6:00-8:00pm. The specialists (teachers of art, physical education, character education, and music) provided a brief overview of their content areas. These teachers, experts in their fields, teach across several grade levels each day (think about their ability to shift instructional strategy from hour to hour) and are aware of the developmental needs at each grade level. The specialists also have the privilege of teaching every child every year, so they have the advantage of observing the physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development of each child across the span of possibly eight years! These areas are critical to each child's growth and are as important as academic content. Throughout the school year, you'll be hearing more about the integration of content and skills as foundational to the program.
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I encourage you to attend, as much as possible, the various parent
sessions offered throughout the year. The next parent session on math
instruction is November 13, 6:00-7:30pm. Gail Parrino will return to
explain how the concepts for multiplication and division are taught.
If you learned a whole new way of doing addition and subtraction at the
first math session, you'll walk away from the second session learning
more about the ways in which traditional algorithms (procedures for
problem solving) are limited compared to how your children are learning
today. Although not scheduled at this time, we will also be offering a
session on writing assessment in October or November.
Parents of preschoolers experienced first-hand the process the
preschool faculty undergoes when analyzing video documentation about
children's learning. By demystifying "documentation," parents gained a
clearer understanding about how the teachers look at video or
photographs, speculate about what's going on in the mind of the child,
and discuss at length the extraordinary learning in what appear to be
ordinary moments. Block-building and sand play are not mere "play" but
opportunities for rather sophisticated learning and problem solving for
our youngest students.
Important reminder: If your child is enrolled in an afterschool class that begins AFTER 3:00pm (e.g., Japanese, ballet, tennis, etc.), you must enroll your child in the afterschool program. Children cannot be waiting for an afterschool class unsupervised, regardless of the grade level. Please check the schedule for your child's afterschool class(es) and call the office if you need to enroll your child in the afterschool program. You may also pick up your child then return later for the class or wait with your child to avoid afterschool program costs. This policy is to ensure the safety of your children.
I hope you make it a point to check the teacher weblogs before or after
reading the Principal's weekly letter. Set aside some weekend time to
deepen your understanding about your child's learning experiences.
Here's to all of us who work to keep the home fires burning -- celebrate
Labor Day by carving out some rest and recreation time with your
family. They're only children for such a short time!
For our children,
Edna L. Hussey
Principal
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Transitions and Math for the 21st centurytag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.40432008-08-24T00:14:29Z2008-08-26T20:07:42ZMs. Hussey Dear Parents of Mid-Pacific Institute:
At the closing of our second week of school. we applaud our students for their ability to adapt and adjust to the rhythms of school life in a relatively short time. We are especially observant of students new to Mid-Pacific and how well they are making sense of our school culture. As adults, we might forget the complex learning of returning to school or entering a new school community. Consider these challenges: ]]>
• navigating an unfamiliar environment, such as a classroom or campus • adjusting to the expectations of different teachers (most of our students work with five teachers each week) •
learning procedures (what to do if you're late to school, how to get
lunch in the dining room, where things go in a classroom, how long a
turn is on the tire swing, where to put homework, which items that need
to be packed for homework, etc.)
Of course, first and third
graders in the multiage classes have the benefit of learning these
procedures from the second or fourth graders in their classroom. And
students who attended Mid-Pacific's summer enrichment program have had
six weeks to help in their transition to MPI. Thankfully, our small
class size, friendly students, and guidance from a very caring faculty
and staff -- as well as parents' consistent, patient support --contribute
to our students' success in transitioning from summer activities to the
regular school year.
This past Tuesday evening, national math consultant Gail Parrino
presented a thought-provoking and engaging session on mathematics
instruction for the 21st century. She compared 20th century
instructional methods to the new style mathematics class (21st
century). Working alone, getting the one right answer, using a single
prescribed procedure, and completing as many problems possible are no
longer acceptable practices for this century. Today, students work in
a variety of groupings, communicate understanding about mathematics
orally, in writing, and in drawing, use more than one strategy to solve
a problem, consider their own reasoning and the reasoning of other
students, and thoughtfully work on a few problems during a class
session. She underscored the importance of developing number sense in
all children rather than merely rote performance. Through
demonstration and sharing student work samples, Ms. Parrino helped
parents shift their view of mathematics as finding one correct answer
using a set procedure to mathematics as thinking processes and multiple
ways of finding answers.
If you were unable to attend the presentation
and would like a copy of the handouts, please contact the school office
at 441-3800 to request a copy. Many parents approached me the
following day, enthusiastic about what they had learned. We intend to
invite Ms. Parrino back to MPI to address the teaching of
multiplication and division. Thanks to all the parents who were able
to attend the session and to our parent `Ohana for the refreshments and child supervision.
The purpose of our monthly school assemblies is to build and strengthen
community by having different classes share what they are learning. We
also acknowledge students and staff celebrating birthdays that month,
and invite our faculty and staff to share something about themselves.
Our next assembly will be Thursday, September 18. Parents are invited
to attend the assembly beginning at 8:15am and lasting until 8:45
generally.
Mrs. Schultz extends her warmest appreciation to the parents who have
been volunteering their time to assist with lunch supervision in the
dining room. We could still use more volunteers so that current
volunteers won't need to come in as often. Please call the school
office if you are available to supervise. Lunch is 11:30am-12:25
daily.
This hard copy of the Principal's weekly letter is the last for the
year! Please look for the remaining letters on the MPI website
(www.midpac.edu). You will receive an automatic reminder once my
letter is posted weekly to visit the website. Remember that your
child's classroom teacher will also be posting weekly weblogs.
Important reminders:
• Afterschool classes registration and payments due dates are noted on the flyers.
• Open House next Wednesday, August 27, for parents of preschoolers
through second grade. 6:00-8:00pm in Wilcox Dining Room and
classrooms.
• The Flu Immunization Clinic (see packet for information and
registration) will be on Thursday, October 16, 8:00am-1:00pm, at MPI.
• Morning drop-off for students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade begins at 7:00am.
• The MPI uniform shirt (t-shirt or collar shirt) should be worn
daily. Other MPI special events shirts (e.g., Ho`olaule`a) may be worn
on Fridays only..
• Parents must call the school office to explain any student pick-up
arrangements other than the usual. We will not permit children to get
into other cars without your authorization.
• The Office of Institutional Advancement is working on an online all-school directory.
• School Photo envelopes are due by Wednesday, August 27.
• September events related to the preschool and elementary will be put
on an events calendar on the elementary webpage (p5.midpac.edu). The
rest of the calendar will be posted on the webpage soon.
• Remind your children to make sure that they retrieve their own jackets, backpacks, etc. when they leave school.
Thank you, parents, for ensuring your child's smooth back-to-school
transition. Early bedtimes. Evening routines. Breakfast (other than a
doughnut!). Healthy snacks and lunches. Talking with your child about
how school went that day. Such is the stuff school success is made of!
For our children,
Edna L. Hussey
Principal
]]>
First week successestag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.39882008-08-15T03:54:36Z2008-08-15T03:58:59ZWe’re off to a wonderful beginning of school year 2008-2009! The entire week has been running smoothly for the most part with so many indicators — very few tears when children said goodbye to their parents in the autoline or...Ms. Hussey
We’re off to a wonderful beginning of school year 2008-2009! The entire week has been running smoothly for the most part with so many indicators — very few tears when children said goodbye to their parents in the autoline or just before entering classrooms the first day of school; the broad smile on many children’s faces as they’ve walked onto campus; teachers talking animatedly in the faculty workroom and on their way to their classrooms; relatively few phone calls to the office, even on the first day of school; and the feeling that we’ve settled into a comfortable rhythm early in the school year. I’m trying my best to learn the names of our new students, who’ve been patient with me as I ask them to repeat their names. I’m getting there!
The entire school gathered in the dining room on Thursday morning for our welcome assembly to introduce the faculty and staff to the children and to introduce all of our new friends from preschool through fifth grade. Ms. Jenkins, the K-5 physical education teacher, reviewed playground rules via a PowerPoint presentation and ]]>
As I had explained to all new parents at the orientation sessions, we
are sending home packets this week and the next because of all the
enclosed information. Ordinarily, these packets are sent home with
your child on Thursday afternoons (check your child’s backpack). We
are offering instruction in Japanese, Mandarin, ballet, guitar/ukulele,
piano, tennis, and choir. We realize that some classes overlap, so you
and your child will need to make the best decision. We have worked with
our afterschool instructors for several years; three are MPI faculty.
Please observe the due dates noted on the forms, which should be
returned to our office. The “CSAL” form refers to the Christian
Schools Athletic League for students in grades 4-6. Several of our MPI
students participate in this league after school, and we play with
other schools such as Maryknoll, Waiolani Judd, Hawaii Baptist Academy,
Le Jardin, etc.
We are beginning our second year of full implementation of Math
Investigations, the K-5 math curriculum. Our investment in Math
Investigations has been worth the time and effort, particularly evident
in the enthusiasm students have about learning math. They don’t want to
skip math class! And we’re finding that our students are developing
many more problem-solving strategies. I ask that you attend the special
parent evening session on Tuesday, August 19, 6:00-7:30pm, in the
dining room, featuring math specialist Gail Parrino, consultant for
Math Investigations. She worked intensively with classroom teachers
last year and continues to provide support to our faculty. I only
learned of her availability two days ago, so I apologize for the late
notice. If you would like to better understand how your children are
now learning math in the 21st century, I heartily encourage your
attendance. Please return the enclosed form to the office by Monday,
August 18.
After one week of school, I have some reminders:
• Our primary mode of communication is through the website:
www.midpac.edu. It is the easiest and most cost effective means to
communicate with everyone quickly. If you go to the
preschool/elementary website or your child’s classroom teacher’s
webpage, the right sidebar asks you to enter your email address so that
you’re notified automatically about any updates. As a service to all
our parents, Ms. Jacobson will enter the email addresses you have
provided so that you can receive these notices to check the website for
updates.
• Unless there is an absolute need to send home a packet, we will not
be sending packets home. Check your child’s backpack. Please continue
to check the website weekly.
• Please carefully check the enclosed class list in the packet. If
there is any information you need to change or remove, please contact
Ms. Jacobson at 441-3801 or email mjacobson@midpac.edu as soon as
possible. A new class list will be enclosed in next week’s packet.
• Students should be wearing the MPI uniform shirt daily. Special MPI
events’ shirts such as Ho`olaule`a, MPI baseball camp, or the 1908
shirt should be worn on Fridays only.
• Every first Friday of the month is “Choice Day.” Students may wear
“free dress” following the guidelines on page 29 in the Elementary
Handbook and page 46 in the Preschool Handbook.
At least one parent should attend the Open House for your child(ren).
Each teacher will explain the class curriculum, instructional and
assessment methods, special class projects and activities, and student
expectations. The Open Houses will be August 27 for preschool through
second grade and on September 3 for grades three through five. Both
Open Houses begin at 6:00pm in Wilcox Dining Room and will end about
8:00pm in your child’s classroom. We are unable to provide childcare
during Open House, so please make arrangements for your children. Your
participation in Open House is critical to your child’s success as a
learner, so plan on attending.
Have you been keeping up with the Olympic Games? While the games do
inspire strong feelings of patriotism, even more amazing is to see the
wonders of human strength and the incredible tenacity and determination
of every athlete. It’s mind-boggling to consider the years of training,
self-discipline, and personal sacrifice required for a few minutes’
performance. Well, now I’ve been encouraged to pick up the speed and
incline on the treadmill!
For our children,
Edna L. Hussey
Principal
]]>
Final chapter: Inspiring learnerstag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.39372008-07-26T23:29:46Z2008-07-26T23:36:45ZIn our final chapter highlighting the last week of summer school, we begin with gratitude to many of our parents who supported their children’s learning by reading the weekly updates on the website or in the Friday information packets. Heartiest...Ms. Hussey
In our final chapter highlighting the last week of summer school, we begin with gratitude to many of our parents who supported their children’s learning by reading the weekly updates on the website or in the Friday information packets. Heartiest appreciation to our talented faculty who truly inspired your child’s enthusiasm and interest in reading, writing, visual artistry, computer graphics, mathematics, science, theater, Lego robotics, nature, or entrepreneurship. Our student aides — all Mid-Pacific students or alumni — were excellent assistants in the classroom. It was a full six weeks of fun learning for all, including the faculty!
]]>
The Ocean Expeditions’ students narrated a
PowerPoint presentation of their four-week adventures hiking, sailing,
swimming and learning in-depth about Hawaii’s rich landscape. The
Money-Doesn’t-Grow-on-Trees class raised $700 through their one-day
sale of handcrafted items and foods. Proceeds will go to the American
Red Cross for survivors of the Iowa floods and earthquakes in China. We
ended the assembly with the Lego Robotics class demonstrating two
obstacle courses the students created and tested the durability and
engineering of their robotic cars. The entire assembly cheered the
students whose cars successfully completed the obstacle courses.
Earlier this week, several classes hosted “open house” events for
parents and friends to visit their classrooms and take a more careful
look at students’ learning. This past Wednesday, we held another
Afternoon Camp assembly to showcase more of the skills students had
learned with respect to sports, computers, and science.
During the next two weeks, we prepare for the first day of the regular
school year, August 11. The faculty will participate in weeklong
meetings and classroom preparations beginning August 4. The school
office is open daily, 7:00am – 3:30pm.
Summer School 2008 closes with fond memories of our children immersed
in fun learning experiences. We look forward to seeing all of our
students and families in Summer School 2009! A hui hou!
]]>
Chapter Five: Celebrations of Learning tag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.39312008-07-20T09:53:29Z2008-07-20T17:35:39ZAs we look forward to our last week of summer school, the students, faculty, and staff invite you to several celebrations of learning. • Our end-of-summer-school assembly is Friday, July 25, 11:00am, in the dining room. We’ll feature the remaining...Ms. Hussey
As we look forward to our last week of summer school, the students, faculty, and staff invite you to several celebrations of learning.
• Our end-of-summer-school assembly is Friday, July 25, 11:00am, in the dining room. We’ll feature the remaining classes that have not yet had an opportunity to do their presentations. We have been so impressed with every class that has presented at previous assemblies, so we’re hoping to end summer school with a splash!
• On July 24, the Afternoon Camp sessions will gather in the dining room at 2:00pm for another assembly to showcase other student skills and talents. This past Wednesday, the Afternoon Camp students showed us some of the computer skills they’ve learned in a six-week learning unit called “Passport” to four different countries. Another group demonstrated some of the volleyball skills they’ve been practicing, as well as running and catching skills. They ended their presentation with a team huddle and cheered “Owls!” Students in art camp have made opihi shell jewelry, pinwheels, habitats for their insect creations, and small canvas paintings using one-point perspective.
]]>
July 23, the Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees classes will feature
several items in their long-awaited sale — bookmarks, flower pens,
beaded jewelry, musubi, popcorn, fabric bags, and many other
one-of-a-kind student-crafted items. The sale will be held on Wednesday
morning, and all classes will have a chance to visit the sale. Please
remember to have your children come to school on Wednesday with some
spending money. Ideally, this money should come from their own
allowance or money they’ve earned so that the experience of spending it
will be much more meaningful to the students. Proceeds from the sale
are going to China’s earthquake survivors and the many families
devastated by flooding in Midwest USA.
• The same day (July 23), The Camera! Lights! Action class hosts their
Red Carpet screening of their original film shorts in their classroom.
It’s my understanding that a few classes are having their own “open
houses” — parents will be visiting during the morning at their own
leisure to participate in some activities with their children.
During summer school, we’ve had four practice fire drills. Overall, the
students have followed the evacuation procedures and have behaved in a
safe manner. Students practiced evacuating to the baseball field or to
the grassy area by the parking lot.
I do hope you’ll be able to attend any or all of the events this week.
Your children are having a truly fun summer (though hot as it may be,
the classrooms are all air-conditioned, and we have those balmy Manoa
breezes) with one more week ahead!
For our children,
Edna L. Hussey
Principal ]]>
Week Four: Summer of Learningtag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.39242008-07-14T02:42:55Z2008-07-14T03:37:08ZWe celebrated our fourth week of summer school with another student assembly featuring the work of several classes — Jump Start Kindergarten, Lego Robotics, Reading and Writing Workshop, and The Genius of Inventions. Our assemblies are important occasions for students...Ms. HusseyWe celebrated our fourth week of summer school with another student assembly featuring the work of several classes — Jump Start Kindergarten, Lego Robotics, Reading and Writing Workshop, and The Genius of Inventions. Our assemblies are important occasions for students to proudly share their learning and to build our summer school community. Unlike the regular school year, we have students from many other O`ahu schools and from other countries, as well as faculty from other schools, so we make an extra effort to ensure that students and faculty are experiencing a sense of community through these assemblies. And we have had wonderful attendance by our families who seem to be enjoying these presentations as much as the students. ]]>
What did we learn during this assembly? The overall theme in Jumpstart Kindergarten is about water — its properties and importance as an essential element for sustaining life on earth. One class has learned about ways to conserve water and sang a lively melody espousing conservation. Another class is engaged in an inquiry about water — students generated a number of questions about water — and has been finding answers to their questions. This past week, they were learning about things that sink or float in water and speculated on various reasons for their observations. One student is determined to find the smallest rock that will sink in water!
Small groups of students in one of the Reading and Writing Workshop classes prepared posters and speeches about their favorite authors. Many are “into” reading several books by the same author such as Patricia Polacco and Beverly Cleary and experiencing the same kind enthusiasm that adult readers have once they’ve found their favorite authors.
They understand an author’s writing style, main characters that might be found in succeeding books, or an author’s favorite settings. And these authors are inspiring students to write their own stories. Journal writing is an extended period during which time students select their own writing topics. Several students have often told the teacher — “Could we please have more time to write?” Ahh, music to a teacher’s ears!
There are definitely budding inventors in the Genius of Inventions’ class. They brought their inventions to the assembly and sold us on them! Having researched past inventors and their inventions, students tried their hand at replicating some of the classic inventions such as the first moving picture (images pasted on the inside of a cylinder with slots, which, when spun, creates an effect that the image is moving) or a closed circuit that turns on a miniature fan. Last week a student asked me what things I could use help on, so I explained that I usually keep my office door in locked position. When I’m in a meeting in my room, I’ll sometimes have to leave momentarily and close the door behind me, which means locking myself out of my office! So she cleverly devised a system. Now when I push the door stop as I leave my office, the door stop hits a chime that sounds like a door bell followed by the sound of a cow (moooo!) — a musical reminder that I need to unlock the door. How d’ya like that?!
The last presentation wowed the assembly. The amazing vehicles created by the students in the Lego Robotics class captivated even our usually squiggly preschoolers.
They demonstrated their fastest cars, a vehicle that climbed a ramp and turned itself around to go downhill, another vehicle that could jump a ramp, land on the other side of the ramp, and keep moving, and yet another vehicle equipped with a rotating “arm” to move a ball forward. Small teams of students who have learned to collaborate quite successfully with one another have designed all of these vehicles.
Just before the end of the assembly, students in the Magic of Sewing class proudly walked to the front of the room donning their newly crafted and knitted woolen scarves and hand-sewn fabric bags. I’m quite amazed by the concentration and discipline required by our young students (as young as first grade!) to complete their projects. Alas! I have only two weeks to learn how to knit. (The children keep me reminding me that I had expressed interest when summer school began and are holding me to this.)
We will be planning an assembly for the summer camp sessions on July 17 at 1:00pm and July 23 at 2:00pm. Students in these afternoon sessions have been very busy and are just as eager to share what they’ve been learning.
Thanks for getting your children to summer school of time, sending them with healthy snacks, asking them about what they’re learning, and reading the content of the Friday packets. Your participation in these ways is important in helping them enjoy and value learning.
For our children,
Edna L. Hussey
Principal
Chapter Four: Learning is Fun — Unlimited!tag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.39232008-07-14T01:57:19Z2008-07-14T02:03:35ZWe celebrated our fourth week of summer school with another student assembly featuring the work of several classes — Jump Start Kindergarten, Lego Robotics, Reading and Writing Workshop, and The Genius of Inventions. Our assemblies are important occasions for students...Ms. Hussey
Jump Start Kindergarten, Lego Robotics, Reading and Writing Workshop, and The Genius of Inventions. Our assemblies are important occasions for students to proudly share their learning and to build our summer school community. Unlike the regular school year, we have students from many other O`ahu schools and from other countries, as well as faculty from other schools, so we make an extra effort to ensure that students and faculty are experiencing a sense of community through these assemblies. And we have had wonderful attendance by our families who seem to be enjoying these presentations as much as the students.
]]>
The overall theme in Jumpstart
Kindergarten is about water — its properties and importance as an
essential element for sustaining life on earth. One class has learned
about ways to conserve water and sang a lively melody espousing
conservation. Another class is engaged in an inquiry about water —
students generated a number of questions about water — and has been
finding answers to their questions. This past week, they were learning
about things that sink or float in water and speculated on various
reasons for their observations. One student is determined to find the
smallest rock that will sink in water!
Small groups of students in one of the Reading and Writing Workshop
classes prepared posters and speeches about their favorite authors.
Many are “into” reading several books by the same author such as
Patricia Polacco and Beverly Cleary and experiencing the same kind
enthusiasm that adult readers have once they’ve found their favorite
authors. They understand an author’s writing style, main characters that might
be found in succeeding books, or an author’s favorite settings. And
these authors are inspiring students to write their own stories.
Journal writing is an extended period during which time students select
their own writing topics. Several students have often told the teacher
— “Could we please have more time to write?” Ahh, music to a teacher’s
ears!
There are definitely budding inventors in the Genius of Inventions’
class. They brought their inventions to the assembly and sold us on
them! Having researched past inventors and their inventions, students
tried their hand at replicating some of the classic inventions such as
the first moving picture (images pasted on the inside of a cylinder
with slots, which, when spun, creates an effect that the image is
moving) or a closed circuit that turns on a miniature fan. Last week a
student asked me what things I could use help on, so I explained that I
usually keep my office door in locked position. When I’m in a meeting
in my room, I’ll sometimes have to leave momentarily and close the door
behind me, which means locking myself out of my office! So she
cleverly devised a system. Now when I push the door stop as I leave my
office, the door stop hits a chime that sounds like a door bell
followed by the sound of a cow (moooo!) — a musical reminder that I
need to unlock the door. How d’ya like that?!
The last presentation wowed the assembly. The amazing vehicles created
by the students in the Lego Robotics class captivated even our usually
squiggly preschoolers. They demonstrated their fastest cars, a vehicle that climbed a ramp and
turned itself around to go downhill, another vehicle that could jump a
ramp, land on the other side of the ramp, and keep moving, and yet
another vehicle equipped with a rotating “arm” to move a ball forward.
Small teams of students who have learned to collaborate quite
successfully with one another have designed all of these vehicles.
Just before the end of the assembly, students in the Magic of Sewing
class proudly walked to the front of the room donning their newly
crafted and knitted woolen scarves and hand-sewn fabric bags. I’m quite
amazed by the concentration and discipline required by our young
students (as young as first grade!) to complete their projects. Alas! I
have only two weeks to learn how to knit. (The children keep me
reminding me that I had expressed interest when summer school began and
are holding me to this.)
We will be planning an assembly for the summer camp sessions on July 17
at 1:00pm and July 23 at 2:00pm. Students in these afternoon sessions
have been very busy and are just as eager to share what they’ve been
learning.
Thanks for getting your children to summer school in time, sending them
with healthy snacks, asking them about what they’re learning, and
reading the content of the Friday packets. Your participation in these
ways is important in helping them enjoy and value learning.
What glorious summer skies! Keep cool.
For our children,
Edna L. Hussey
Principal
]]>
Chapter Three: Yes, it takes a village . . . tag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.39122008-07-03T21:56:18Z2008-07-04T00:25:59ZAt the Diamond Head/mauka end of the elementary campus are about 25 pots filled with soil and new plant buds soaking up the summer sunshine. The students in one of the Math Adventures session planted the seeds a week ago...Ms. HusseyAt the Diamond Head/mauka end of the elementary campus are about 25 pots filled with soil and new plant buds soaking up the summer sunshine. The students in one of the Math Adventures session planted the seeds a week ago and have generated a set of questions about their plants for which they’ll find answers through observation and measurement. These students were also solving multiplication problems in many different ways by showing their thinking process outlining unit blocks on graph paper. In an adjoining classroom, the other students worked on fractions using puzzle pieces, played a dominoes-like game using fractions, and subdivided shapes on computer-drawn images to indicate fractions.
Just about every member of summer school attended the premiere viewing of short film subjects by the Lights! Camera! Action! class. We enjoyed eight different pieces completely authored, created, directed, and edited by the student filmmakers. Clearly, it’s all in the editing and the willingness to collaborate. The Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees class sold 160 bags of popcorn and made over $40 for the American Red Cross Relief Fund to help survivors of the China earthquake.
]]>
Lego Robotics), Cindy Hoddick (Sewing and
Knitting Magic), Bruce Black (Ocean Expeditions), Iris Ching (Keiki Fun
n’ Sun), Noe Vitarelli (Jump Start Kindergarten), Leigh Oshiro (Keiki
Fun n’ Sun), Michele LeBlanc (Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees), Jen
Matsumoto (Jump Start Kindergarten), and Leah Lorenzana (The Genius of
Inventions) are all regular MPI faculty in the preschool or
elementary. Shawn Williamson (Math Adventures), Leah Correia (Camera!
Lights! Action!), and Erin Doherty (Reading and Writing Workshop) have
worked in our previous summer school sessions. We welcome our new
faculty — Valerie Gee-Butts (Reading and Writing Workshop), Norbert
Larsen (Math Adventures), and Pam Yoshihiro (Money Doesn’t Grow on
Trees) who is taking over the next three weeks for Michele Leblanc.
The Afternoon Camp faculty members are Will Chock (sports), Kaycie
Uchida (art), Darwin Bohnet (science), Meredith Enos (theater), and
Brian Daniels (computer). The camp sessions are more fast-paced and
may have larger or smaller numbers of students in each camp session,
compared to the morning sessions. There’s quite a wide range of
activity in the afternoon, and the students are doing an amazing job of
transitioning into each session.
In addition to the faculty, we are pleased to have the assistance of
several MPI alumni and high school students, nearly 20 of them! They
are cheerful, cooperative, responsible, and caring individuals who are
wonderful student aides. Every teacher has a student aide. The
children are well supervised and are able to interact with faculty and
older students.
Next week Friday, July 11, we will have another student assembly in the
dining room at 8:30am. Five classes will be sharing what they’ve been
learning. You’re invited to attend the assembly, which will be about 30
minutes.
Thanks for returning the Friday packet each Monday so they can be
re-used each week. We trust that you’ve been reviewing the teacher’s
weekly letters and your child’s assessment reports. I do review all
student reports, observe classes, and talk with the teachers, so I have
a fairly good idea about how things are going. The faculty welcomes
your questions or concerns. The best way to reach a teacher is to call
our office at 441-3800, and we will relay your message to the teacher.
As the nation celebrates Independence Day tomorrow, July 4, we hope that you and your family enjoy a safe holiday together.
For our children,
Edna L. Hussey
Principal
]]>
Chapter Two: Summer School Sharingtag:www.midpac.edu,2008:/elementary//18.39032008-06-28T01:08:25Z2008-06-28T01:34:56ZWe are having fun! And learning, too! At our assembly this morning, students from some of our summer school sessions shared what they’ve been learning. One of the Reading and Writing Workshop sessions taught by Ms. G. explained that they’re...Ms. HusseyWe are having fun! And learning, too! At our assembly this morning, students from some of our summer school sessions shared what they’ve been learning. One of the Reading and Writing Workshop sessions taught by Ms. G. explained that they’re writing various pieces using an aspect of their five senses to convey detail and make their writing come alive. The other group of older students in Reading and Writing Workshop are reading science fiction and learning to appreciate the characteristics of this genre. Students are reading and writing everyday because that’s how these skills are further developed and strengthened.
]]>
Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees did quite well on
their popcorn and cookie sales — a total of over $150 or 142 bags of
popcorn and 190 bags of cookies! They explained that $100 of this
amount will be used to purchase the materials to make the items for the
really big sale the last week of summer school, and the remaining
amount will be added to earnings from the last sale. The students will
be making jewelry, lemonade, fruit punch, bookmarks, and offering
services such as nail painting and temporary tattoos. Students are
still lining up the entertainment for the sale. Start having your
children earn the money they can spend at the sale on July 23, rather
than just giving them money. The earning and purchasing experience
will be much more meaningful for your child. All proceeds will go to
the American Red Cross to support recovery efforts after the earthquake
tragedy in China.
Students in the Sewing and Knitting Magic class taught by Ms. Hoddick
proudly displayed their handcrafted items from a “knitting knobby,”
their elegant woolen shawls, and “cast-on” stitches. I’ve visited this
class several times during the past two weeks, and I’m amazed by their
dexterity and memory! (Still haven’t learned to knit, but I will!)
Our last presenters from Mr. Williamson’s Math Adventures class
impressed us with the math facts they’ve learned — the number of
minutes in a day (1,440), the number of decades in a century), cups in
a pint, quarts in a gallon — the kind of practical information that
sometimes comes in handily. They’re also learning about making graphs
and charts using data they’ve collected, such as the height range among
students in the class.
Our next curriculum-sharing assembly is July 11 at 8:30am in the dining room. If you have time, please join us.
I just came in from visiting Mr. Bohnet’s Science Camp, which is
offered in the afternoon. On Wednesday, the students took a walk
outside and collected a variety of pods and seeds from our natural
environment. Today, they were removing the seeds from pods, placing
them in a paper cup, and putting a wet paper towel over the seeds.
When the students return on Monday, they will be surprised to see which
seeds have germinated. Another concept they learned about today was
surface tension using a cup filled with water, a sprinkling of pepper
into the cup, and a dab of dish soap on a fingertip. They placed their
fingers into the cup of water. Run this experiment at home and see
what happens!
Next Wednesday, the Lights! Camera! Action! session has invited the
other classes for the premiere of their first animation projects.
Students can bring in a quarter to purchase a popcorn snack, and the
proceeds will go to the Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees class for their
charitable cause.
Thank you, parents, for remembering to send the Friday packets back to
school with your child each Monday morning. Next week’s packets will
be going home on Thursday, July 3. The Ocean Expeditions class with
Mr. Black begins June 30, so we will be having ten more students on
campus. Please remember that July 4 is a national holiday, so no school.
We’re enjoying your children — they are bright! enthusiastic! cooperative! creative!