A Quick Update

Deat Families,

Firstly, just a quick reminder that we are petitioning for prop 39 school sites. The school site that was given to us is in an undesirable location and is virtually unusable for our current needs. We are encouraging all staff, parents, and students to sign a form letter stating our wish to be offered a more suitable site. We are also going to encourage parents and students to be present at the official board meeting on Tuesday, March 23. It will be held sometime in the evening. I am not sure of the exact time as of yet.

Next, I want to congratulate the fourth graders on the wonderful job thay did for our "Wax Museum" last Thursday. They were all so excited about being experts on their California figures. The entire school visited our classroom and asked questions of each student. They were all tired afterwards. Go fourth graders!! Biographies will be sent home soon!

Also, if you don't know already, some of the fictional narratives written by students and their
illustrations will be published in Frye Lights, Donna Frye's newsletter. When it is finished, I will have copies in the classroom for all to enjoy. I would also like to publish all narratives and illustrations in a class book. Is anyone willing to take the writing and drawings to a printer and get an estimate of cost?

In science we are studying crystals and rocks. Students have engaged in hands-on activities to make crystals, igneous and sedimentary rock, and this week they will make metamorphic rock. Shortly there after we will be taking a look at weathering. We will also be taking a field trip in mid-March to the Ruben H. Fleet museum to look at electricity and later the application of electricity at the Automotive Museum where we will view an electric car! The cost will be $10.00. I will let you know the date as soon as I have it.

Learning about California in Social Studies continues as we read our adventurous book, "By the Great Horn Spoon". Students have compared prices during the gold rush period to costs now. When do you think things cost more? Ask your child. I think you will be surprised. They are involved in answering review questions, drawing, and will be looking at the diseases of that time starting this week. We are also starting to read about California Indians. My goal is for groups of students to prepare posters identifying the differences between indian tribes as well as write a legend. I am looking for donations of books that are specifically legends to give students' examples.

In writing, we are just beginning to study the elements of writing a summary, a fourth grade standard. If their summaries are like the rest of their writing, I plan to look for excellent results.

The math unit we are studying is all about decimals and so far so good. I thought it would be more challenging, but most students have grasped the lessons. We have been using concrete representations (base-10 blocks and money), visual representations, and trying three strategies to add or subtract decimals.

Please stop by to see your child's beautiful oil paintings of the California poppy. I would like to make a quilt for the srtist who came in to teach. We need fabric, batting, embroidery and regular thread. Who can help???

Also, the fourth grade is responsible for the meal on the family night in April. This is an area I would like to get some input and help on. What are your ideas for the meal? Anyone know where we can get it donated from? Are you willing to set up a game night to go along with that night. We will be charging $3.00 for the meal and $0.50-$1.00 to play the games and we need prizes! Help!!!!!

That's it for now!
Kim