Dates to Note!

Run for the Arts Forms Due: Monday, April 29rd
I've told the kids April 25th. If possible have them in by this Wed, April 25th, but if you need more time Monday is the latest!

Oregon Trail: April 25-26
Wagon's west, we're moving out! 

Run for the Arts: Monday April 29th
Due to Brown and Hunting-Knight being gone to Oregon Trail on the school's Run for the Arts day, our make up day will be Mon, Apr 29th from 1:30-2:00pm. I am looking for 2-4 parent helpers. If you are available to help during this time please let me know!

Lewis & Clark Rap Performance: Friday, May 3rd & May 17th
We will perform our Lewis and Clark rap for Friday After Meeting at 2:15pm on both of these days. It is a short 3minute performance but would love it if family and friends came to watch!

Explorer Wax Museum: Tue, May 14th, 5-6pm
Students will be dressing up and giving their explorer speech from 5-6pm.

Spring Open House: Thursday, May 23rd, 6:30-7:30
This evening, formerly know as Art Night, now allows for a more board range of student work to be displayed. Come enjoy and look through the work your child has done over the past months.

Oregon Trail Packing List

Dear Families,

The time has come to prepare for the Oregon Trail Overnight.  The following is a list of what your child needs to pack and what he/she is not to bring.

We will leave school at 9:00 am on Thursday, April 25^th and return around 1:30 pm on Friday, April 26^th. Your child will need a sack lunch for the first day. Everything in the lunch needs to be disposable.  Please write your child’s name on their lunch sack.

Clothing: (Please remember to label all clothing and bedding with your child’s name AND school) Students will carry their own bags so pack accordingly. Students may dress “pioneer style” if they wish. This may mean jeans and boots, or girls may wear long skirts (please wear warm clothes under skirts). Keep in mind that layers work best: long underwear, shirt, sweatshirt, warm jacket, and a coat (think layers). Students should bring the following (Pack in a large plastic garbage bag. Use masking tape and a marking pen to write the student’s name and school on the garbage bag. You should use an extra-thick garbage bag – thin bags tear too easily):

• One full change of clothes besides what is worn on the first day
• Jeans or heavy pants (girls may substitute a long skirt, but we will be outside most of the day so make sure they’ll be able to stay warm)
•  Shirt or blouse
• Warm jacket
• Underwear
•  Extra shoes or boots
• Raincoat or poncho (You can find emergency rain ponchos for under $2.00 at some stores)
• Gloves
• Sweater or sweatshirt
• Socks (extra pairs are a good idea!)
• Pajamas – something warm
• Lunch – packed separately from other gear
• Sleeping Gear: Students will be carrying all of their own gear and clothing – so pack accordingly! They will also be responsible for unpacking and repacking. Frequently the thin garbage bags rip, and bedding items can get wet.  You may want to send an extra garbage bag, pre-labeled.
• A sleeping bag or blankets and sheets – the cabins are heated.
• Pillow with pillow case

Personal Gear (put in a plastic bag or zip lock bag and store with clothes):

• Wash cloth
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste / floss
• Brush or comb
• Hand towel
• Soap
• Large plastic bag for wet or dirty items

**Please do NOT bring the following: money, cellular phones, radios/Ipods, electronic games, virtual pets, comic books, pocket knives, jewelry, card games, matches, curling irons, make-up or anything to eat (besides the lunch mentioned above), including candy or gum. (An afternoon snack on the first day and all meals will be provided.)

Medication

Place all medication needed by your child into a Ziploc bag labeled with your child’s name, school and teacher’s name. Give the medication directly to us first thing in the morning on April 19^th. Medication must be in original container. The directions on the prescription label must match exactly what you wrote on the parent/guardian authorization on your child’s health history form.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Starting New Units

Fun things are coming here!
There are two more months of school and they are jammed with fun and a lot of work!

Reading
We are starting novel studies this week. Last week students were introduced to several books and chose a book to read over the next 6-7 weeks. Students will be reading these books individually and then come together once a week to discuss the content and reflect on what they've read. All of the books incorporate another culture, which students may or may not be familiar with. Most of the reading will take place in school but students may need to take the book home on occasion if they need to catch up.

Science
Today we started our electricity unit. This is a great hands-on unit where students explore electricity and circuits with different variables.

Lewis & Clark
By now I'm sure you've seen your child's Lewis & Clark Journal come home as a part of homework. Students are learning about the expedition, the different peoples and places they encountered and the impact of this journey for the USA. Following this Unit (post field trip) we will transition into the Oregon Trail, and as a class go on a simulated journey west!

Explorers
Explorer contracts should have gone home over the weekend and the signed contract is due tomorrow (4/16). Over the next several weeks students will research their explorer (which they chose today), compile notes and put together a 3-5 minute speech. This has been a great activity in the past. Keep in mind, much of this project is an at home assignment. We will work periodically in class on it but multiple nights of homework will be directed toward this project.