Hello all,
We only have 19 school days left which means there is a lot to do between now and then. Here is a list of some of the things coming up.
Monday, 5/25, NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, 5/26, Rollerskating at Oaks Park, 1-3pm, Ks invited, drivers needed
Wednesday, 5/27, Swimming at Mt. Scott, 1-3 pm, Ks invited, drivers needed
Thursday, 5/28, K.1.2 Olympics at Park, 1-3 pm, Ks invited, volunteers neeeded
Friday, 5/29, K.1.2 Performance Night, 5:30 - 7:00, Trillium Courtyard
Needless to say, we will need as many parent helpers as possible during this week because of all the events. We are calling it Olympic Week. The students will be competing in athletic events against themselves and other students. Students will be learning about sportsmanship and how to be a good winner and loser. Every student will be recognized for their unique gifts they bring to Trillium and an awards ceremony will be done during the Performance Night.
Also, your students are currently in a performance group for the May 29th event. Please be asking them whose group they are in and how they are participating. If you have any questions just let me know.
Thank you to all the parents who came and helped for the Campout. It was a rousing success and was a lot of fun. A special thank you to Chad Torrey who helped secure the food at a very low price. Thanks for helping out Chad.
Book orders are due soon and this will probably be the last one of the year.
There will be a meeting for parents of incoming K students on Friday, May 22nd at 12:15 to discuss the new format. There will also be a meeting for my current Ks and 1st students to talk about which class they will be moving to and how that decision was made. I already know who I am sending these students to and feel free to ask.
For my current 2nd graders, we should know soon. If you have a specific request for a 3.4.5 teacher you must submit a written request to me or Stephanie explaining why this teacher would be best for your student. These requests do make placement a little more tricky so please keep them to a minimum. If you have thoughts please share them with me informally and everything will probably work out.
Intensives are coming up as well and if you are available to teach an Intensive class please pick up a form from Polly or I can try to get you one as well. Remember that Intensives are now K-12 so you could teach an upper level class. Thanks.
Billy
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Week of April 13
Hello all,
Sorry about the lack of communication via the web recently. I just can't seem to motivate. I know I talk to many of you, but for those of you who do not have access to me at school I know this can be a frustrating situation. Here is the update
2nd/3rd Grade Potluck
On Thursday, April 16th at 6:30 the Intermediate team and parents from that grade level are hosting a potluck event in an effort to answer questions that entering 3rd graders and their parents may have about the changes ahead. The event will feature transition activities for the students and parents along with a Q and A session. Please make a point to attend with your 2nd grade student.
Pet Day
This week's sharing is pets. Please inform me via email, billy@trilliumcharterschool.org, to let me know if you plan to bring a pet. The pet sharing will start at the beginning on Friday and will last till about 9:30 depending on the amount of pets coming to our community. Please make sure to only bring pets that will be safe around children. Thanks.
Inventions
We are focusing on Inventions, simple machines and inventors as we lead up to All-School Project Fair on Thursday, April 30th. We will be sending home a packet similar to the Mayan and Dinosaur units of earlier in the year. It will be exciting to see what our students will create in response to the focused instruction around inventions. The kids already have a ton of ideas but we are asking that they stay simple and use the knowledge they are gaining about simple machines for their inventions. There will also be a research option for students to research an inventor and possibly come dressed as them for Project Night.
Movie Day
On Friday, May 1st we will have a movie day of a read aloud book that we have read this year. It is a fun activity that the kids will deserve following the hard work involved in preparing for the project fair.
Campout
The campout is set for our class on the 6th of May. We will leave on Wednesday the 6th and return on Thursday the 7th around the end of school. We are in need of drivers and chaperones for this trip and it is a great time to build community and have a good time at the beach. We have enough yurts reserved for everyone but will be asking for extra money from people who plan to bring extra folks. The fee is usually $5 to cover the extra cost of food. Please try to attend if you can, but if you can't then your child is still able to go if they and you feel they can do it. This year we are going to Cape Lookout near Tillamook.
Snow Days
We still have no definitive plan for the three snow days that need to be made up at the end of the year. It is looking like some sort of part day thing for the 15th through the 17th but that is not set in stone. We will let you know when we know.
Next Year's Teacher
We are moving forward with the search for next year's teacher (boo-hoo). The job will be posted on craigslist and elsewhere but if you know someone who may be qualified or interested (preferrably both) please let them know that the posting will be up in the next 2-3 weeks. We are looking for someone who is a certified teacher with experience in a classroom setting of primary students. Knowledge of the Trillium community and the way we function is always a plus. Hopefully we will have someone by the middle of next month.
Baskets
The basket ya'll contributed to is awesome! I can't believe all the stuff we have for the Trillium in Bloom event. Also, please make it a point to attend the affair as it is designed to highlight the things we do at Trillium and help involve the general community about what we do and how they can get involved.
Game Day
On Friday, May 8th, following the campout we will be having a video game day in our class thanks to Jupiter. We will need extra TVs for this day and it would be helpful if a couple of people could bring in their TVs. Only games that are appropriate for children should be brought. I will be bringing some old school Atari games. It would be nice to have the gamet of video game history like Atari, Nintendo, Playstation, Wii, That would be so cool. I know many of you may object to this sort of use of school time but Jupiter worked hard to create a proposal that could work and this is the beauty of democratic education. It was an interesting discussion during the class meeting and all sides were presented. Thanks for being supportive of this.
Keep on the radar
We have a performance night on the 29th of May, the Greek Olympics will be that week too which will involve swimming and rollerskating trips. Intensives are the week of June 1-5. We go to the Zoo on the 9th and the 12th will be planned as the last of class with everyone there (myself included).
Sorry about the lack of communication via the web recently. I just can't seem to motivate. I know I talk to many of you, but for those of you who do not have access to me at school I know this can be a frustrating situation. Here is the update
2nd/3rd Grade Potluck
On Thursday, April 16th at 6:30 the Intermediate team and parents from that grade level are hosting a potluck event in an effort to answer questions that entering 3rd graders and their parents may have about the changes ahead. The event will feature transition activities for the students and parents along with a Q and A session. Please make a point to attend with your 2nd grade student.
Pet Day
This week's sharing is pets. Please inform me via email, billy@trilliumcharterschool.org, to let me know if you plan to bring a pet. The pet sharing will start at the beginning on Friday and will last till about 9:30 depending on the amount of pets coming to our community. Please make sure to only bring pets that will be safe around children. Thanks.
Inventions
We are focusing on Inventions, simple machines and inventors as we lead up to All-School Project Fair on Thursday, April 30th. We will be sending home a packet similar to the Mayan and Dinosaur units of earlier in the year. It will be exciting to see what our students will create in response to the focused instruction around inventions. The kids already have a ton of ideas but we are asking that they stay simple and use the knowledge they are gaining about simple machines for their inventions. There will also be a research option for students to research an inventor and possibly come dressed as them for Project Night.
Movie Day
On Friday, May 1st we will have a movie day of a read aloud book that we have read this year. It is a fun activity that the kids will deserve following the hard work involved in preparing for the project fair.
Campout
The campout is set for our class on the 6th of May. We will leave on Wednesday the 6th and return on Thursday the 7th around the end of school. We are in need of drivers and chaperones for this trip and it is a great time to build community and have a good time at the beach. We have enough yurts reserved for everyone but will be asking for extra money from people who plan to bring extra folks. The fee is usually $5 to cover the extra cost of food. Please try to attend if you can, but if you can't then your child is still able to go if they and you feel they can do it. This year we are going to Cape Lookout near Tillamook.
Snow Days
We still have no definitive plan for the three snow days that need to be made up at the end of the year. It is looking like some sort of part day thing for the 15th through the 17th but that is not set in stone. We will let you know when we know.
Next Year's Teacher
We are moving forward with the search for next year's teacher (boo-hoo). The job will be posted on craigslist and elsewhere but if you know someone who may be qualified or interested (preferrably both) please let them know that the posting will be up in the next 2-3 weeks. We are looking for someone who is a certified teacher with experience in a classroom setting of primary students. Knowledge of the Trillium community and the way we function is always a plus. Hopefully we will have someone by the middle of next month.
Baskets
The basket ya'll contributed to is awesome! I can't believe all the stuff we have for the Trillium in Bloom event. Also, please make it a point to attend the affair as it is designed to highlight the things we do at Trillium and help involve the general community about what we do and how they can get involved.
Game Day
On Friday, May 8th, following the campout we will be having a video game day in our class thanks to Jupiter. We will need extra TVs for this day and it would be helpful if a couple of people could bring in their TVs. Only games that are appropriate for children should be brought. I will be bringing some old school Atari games. It would be nice to have the gamet of video game history like Atari, Nintendo, Playstation, Wii, That would be so cool. I know many of you may object to this sort of use of school time but Jupiter worked hard to create a proposal that could work and this is the beauty of democratic education. It was an interesting discussion during the class meeting and all sides were presented. Thanks for being supportive of this.
Keep on the radar
We have a performance night on the 29th of May, the Greek Olympics will be that week too which will involve swimming and rollerskating trips. Intensives are the week of June 1-5. We go to the Zoo on the 9th and the 12th will be planned as the last of class with everyone there (myself included).
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Dear Families
I have stalled to write this letter because it is hard for me to put on paper how I feel about this circumstance. In my time at Trillium I have come to love this place and your children very much. No matter where I go I will bring Trillium and its spirit with me. However, as many of you know, I was not able to be in control of where my family would end up after this year. Our journey will take us to Minneapolis for at least the next four years. Not what we had hoped for but an exciting step nonetheless.
As a team we have already been discussing options for next year and will be posting for the position soon to find the best possible educator for your children. This is a priority of mine and I will be involved with my team in helping select the new teacher. We all know the position is mentally demanding and I will, ideally, be able to help train the incoming teacher before the end of the year.
That said I did want you guys to know my time table. I plan stay on to the end of the year and then leave. I may even drive the UHaul to school the last day. Sarah has to be there on June 8th and we will be looking for ways to cut down on the separation time as much as possible. Please understand that those last few weeks will be frantic and I will appreciate any help in the classroom during those times.
Finally, I understand that some of you may feel a gut reaction to attempt to switch your students out of our advising because you may be more familiar with another teacher. I encourage you to be patient with the hiring process before you make any requests to myself or Stephanie. It will be important for the students to maintain their community as they head into next year. I believe this is really important for the 1st graders. However, I do understand special circumstances and will be open to hearing your concerns and working to find the best solution for your individual child.
I wanted to thank all of you for everything you have given me this year and over the years. Your confidence in me as an educator and your trust of me with your blessed souls has inspired me to become a better teacher. I leave Trillium a more confident teacher with a firm grip on my ideals as an educator. I can only hope that I have left Trillium a fraction of the impact it has left on me and my family. Peace to all. We will miss you very much!
Billy
As a team we have already been discussing options for next year and will be posting for the position soon to find the best possible educator for your children. This is a priority of mine and I will be involved with my team in helping select the new teacher. We all know the position is mentally demanding and I will, ideally, be able to help train the incoming teacher before the end of the year.
That said I did want you guys to know my time table. I plan stay on to the end of the year and then leave. I may even drive the UHaul to school the last day. Sarah has to be there on June 8th and we will be looking for ways to cut down on the separation time as much as possible. Please understand that those last few weeks will be frantic and I will appreciate any help in the classroom during those times.
Finally, I understand that some of you may feel a gut reaction to attempt to switch your students out of our advising because you may be more familiar with another teacher. I encourage you to be patient with the hiring process before you make any requests to myself or Stephanie. It will be important for the students to maintain their community as they head into next year. I believe this is really important for the 1st graders. However, I do understand special circumstances and will be open to hearing your concerns and working to find the best solution for your individual child.
I wanted to thank all of you for everything you have given me this year and over the years. Your confidence in me as an educator and your trust of me with your blessed souls has inspired me to become a better teacher. I leave Trillium a more confident teacher with a firm grip on my ideals as an educator. I can only hope that I have left Trillium a fraction of the impact it has left on me and my family. Peace to all. We will miss you very much!
Billy
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Week of February 17
Homework
Review the Mayan Project Descriptions and help your student decide on a project.
Big Word: e a h c l l g n e
SHARING: Bring in something that is really, really old
Theme Unit
We are beginning our Mayan Unit and will be sending home project descriptions and information sheets this week. Please help your students explore the area(s) they are interested in and help them decide on a project that they want to do. They can do more than one but they should finish one before they start another. Their will be a Mayan Project Fair on March 20 from 11-1. That is the Friday before Spring Break.
Class Potluck
We will be having our second class potluck of the year at Heather and Ness's house on NE 14th Place. The event will be held from 1-3 on Saturday, February 21. Please bring a dish to pass. Try to keep the food kid friendly and not too sugary. Ness is a wonderful storyteller and will be open to leading the students through a tale. The house is a wonderful space for our community but we will be all responsible for keeping everyone safe. Thanks! We will have an announcement on the class door with the address. The house is near Prescott on 14th Place.
Lice and Cleanliness
Since the lice just does not want to stay away from our school this year I think it is time to institute tough measures until the situation is resolved. Until Spring Break please have students put their coats either in their cubbies or in a bag hanging on the coat hooks. We can't have coats touching. Lunches can live near the coat space instead of in cubbies. Also, make sure that you are washing your child's coats especially if they have been invaded by the little disgusting critters. I will keep spraying the room with anti-lice spray and have rid our community of the carpet and my wonderful red chair that will be missed by many. Hopefully we will all be able to work together to get this under control.
Nutrition and Snack
Please keep donating to the snack fund if you have the means. Everything is tight at our school right now and Nephyr is the snack buyer. It is great if she doesn't have to ask for reimbursements. Thanks.
Report Cards
For those of you new to our school we do have report cards and they will be coming soon. I was hoping to have them in your hands by today, but that was overly optimistic. My new goal is next Monday, February 23 and no later than Friday, February 27. They are very involved and take time that many of us teachers don't have. I like writing them but I don't like the amount of time they take. Thank you for your patience.
Conferences
Conferences are coming up and I will be posting my schedule very soon. I will be starting on Friday, March 6 and only be doing them on Fridays and the first Monday of Spring Break. If anyone needs special arrangements then that is always possible but please try to keep to the schedule as it helps me plan my daycare and family life. I can't wait to meet with ya'll and talk about your kids.
Volunteers
I love volunteers and it is so great to have all of you in class. I apologize if I don't always have the most important things for you to do, but many times it is simply helpful to have another body in the room. I am looking for a morning helper on Mondays and for someone to take a reading group on Tuesdays and Thursdays if anyone is interested. Thanks!
Intensives for Adults
The TFT is organizing an Intensives for adults session scheduled for Saturday, March 14th. They are looking for some more presenters if you have something that may interest adult learners in our community. Talk to TFT or Nikos (Thalia's dad) for more information.
Review the Mayan Project Descriptions and help your student decide on a project.
Big Word: e a h c l l g n e
SHARING: Bring in something that is really, really old
Theme Unit
We are beginning our Mayan Unit and will be sending home project descriptions and information sheets this week. Please help your students explore the area(s) they are interested in and help them decide on a project that they want to do. They can do more than one but they should finish one before they start another. Their will be a Mayan Project Fair on March 20 from 11-1. That is the Friday before Spring Break.
Class Potluck
We will be having our second class potluck of the year at Heather and Ness's house on NE 14th Place. The event will be held from 1-3 on Saturday, February 21. Please bring a dish to pass. Try to keep the food kid friendly and not too sugary. Ness is a wonderful storyteller and will be open to leading the students through a tale. The house is a wonderful space for our community but we will be all responsible for keeping everyone safe. Thanks! We will have an announcement on the class door with the address. The house is near Prescott on 14th Place.
Lice and Cleanliness
Since the lice just does not want to stay away from our school this year I think it is time to institute tough measures until the situation is resolved. Until Spring Break please have students put their coats either in their cubbies or in a bag hanging on the coat hooks. We can't have coats touching. Lunches can live near the coat space instead of in cubbies. Also, make sure that you are washing your child's coats especially if they have been invaded by the little disgusting critters. I will keep spraying the room with anti-lice spray and have rid our community of the carpet and my wonderful red chair that will be missed by many. Hopefully we will all be able to work together to get this under control.
Nutrition and Snack
Please keep donating to the snack fund if you have the means. Everything is tight at our school right now and Nephyr is the snack buyer. It is great if she doesn't have to ask for reimbursements. Thanks.
Report Cards
For those of you new to our school we do have report cards and they will be coming soon. I was hoping to have them in your hands by today, but that was overly optimistic. My new goal is next Monday, February 23 and no later than Friday, February 27. They are very involved and take time that many of us teachers don't have. I like writing them but I don't like the amount of time they take. Thank you for your patience.
Conferences
Conferences are coming up and I will be posting my schedule very soon. I will be starting on Friday, March 6 and only be doing them on Fridays and the first Monday of Spring Break. If anyone needs special arrangements then that is always possible but please try to keep to the schedule as it helps me plan my daycare and family life. I can't wait to meet with ya'll and talk about your kids.
Volunteers
I love volunteers and it is so great to have all of you in class. I apologize if I don't always have the most important things for you to do, but many times it is simply helpful to have another body in the room. I am looking for a morning helper on Mondays and for someone to take a reading group on Tuesdays and Thursdays if anyone is interested. Thanks!
Intensives for Adults
The TFT is organizing an Intensives for adults session scheduled for Saturday, March 14th. They are looking for some more presenters if you have something that may interest adult learners in our community. Talk to TFT or Nikos (Thalia's dad) for more information.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Week of February 3
Homework and reflections
Please bring back the Reflection questions that were handed out last week. If you don't have one there are some extras on the front shelf. Ask if you can't find them. Please ask your kids these questions and write down their responses. Some of the older kids could do their own writing and reflect on their own. I am hoping this will create a conversation at home as well as at school and help out with interviews which will happen this and next week.
Coats, Lice and Bears
In response to the lice that was in our room, Nephyr, Yvonne and I cleaned the room over the short break. We are also asking for ideas in order to help it not happen again. The best idea that I have had so that coats will not be all over each other is that students can put their coats in a backpack and then hang the backpack. Another option is to put the coat in the cubbie and have the lunch be on the shelf above the coats. We are trying to make sure that it does not come back as we all know how much of a pain lice can be. Let me know if you have any ideas.
Theme
On Friday the 6th, we will be closing out our unit on Egypt and will be having a project and work display set up in our classrooms from 11-1 on Friday. Students will be displaying things they did for our Egypt unit and some of their chosen work for their portfolios. Please try to attend to see your kids work.
Potluck
Saturday, February 21 looks like the best day to have our Winter Potluck. Heather and Ness (Elsie's parents) have offered up their house and wold love to host our community for a 1-3 potluck. We will have a food sign up list outside the classroom and will ask people to bring a board game for fun and enjoyment. Thanks Heather and Ness!
Field Trip
We are on our way to Tears of Joy Theater on Friday the 13th. We will need chaperones for the event but we will be traveling by train. It would be helpful for volunteers to plan to pay their own train fare. The economic realities have hit home. We will be seeing a production of "When Animals Were People."
Report Cards
Report cards are coming along but I am taking a little more time to assess and reflect with students than I planned. I hope to have them out a little after Valentine's Day. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Snack
Snack time is getting much more pleasant and Nephyr is continuing to get good solid snacks for the kids. Please remember to donate money to the snack folder if you have the inkling. It is really awesome for the kids to have fresh fruit available almost everyday. It makes me happy.
Class Meeting
Our meetings lately have taken a more haphazard approach, but we meet in a more timely way. Students are encouraged to bring proposals to the meeting which is on Wednesday or at the beginning of morning meeting. Jupiter and I are currently doing some things for his new proposal to bring back Pokemon Club. We are working on rules that he has come up with. If this passes I will make sure to monitor it a lot more. One rule I am insisting on is that an adviser must sponsor their group be in attendance. Other proposals are in the works. The kids are really starting to take the proposals to heart.
Portfolio Work
Students are working on going through their work to decide on pieces for their portfolio. They will be choosing pieces to enter into an online portfolio. This is called the E-Pearl program that if you all have 3-4-5 students then you may know something about it. We will be looking for parent volunteers to help out with entering pieces.
Pictures
Pictures are online at shutterfly.com thanks to April (Hunter's Mom). They are so cool and should be updated as we get more. April is doing awesome with that. Thanks April.
Login - billysk12@gmail.com Password - 4trillium
Scholastic Book Orders
We can order books online. Here is the link, login and password
http://pcool.scholastic.com/parentordering/login.jsp
Talk to Jennifer Sample (Emma's Mom) if you have any questions. These are very affordable books and the more we buy the more our classroom gets.
Login - billysk12
Password - trilliumcs
Levels of Independence
Students are responding to the levels of independence and are using the criteria to move up in their language about behavior. Luna is our first level 3. Just a little explanation. All students start at level 1. In order to move up to level 2 they should be participating in class activities, listening to students and teacher and showing respect to others. They then apply to the class by sharing why they think they should move up. There is a brief discussion among the students and then we vote. The criteria for level 3 is that a student is challenging themselves.
Please bring back the Reflection questions that were handed out last week. If you don't have one there are some extras on the front shelf. Ask if you can't find them. Please ask your kids these questions and write down their responses. Some of the older kids could do their own writing and reflect on their own. I am hoping this will create a conversation at home as well as at school and help out with interviews which will happen this and next week.
Coats, Lice and Bears
In response to the lice that was in our room, Nephyr, Yvonne and I cleaned the room over the short break. We are also asking for ideas in order to help it not happen again. The best idea that I have had so that coats will not be all over each other is that students can put their coats in a backpack and then hang the backpack. Another option is to put the coat in the cubbie and have the lunch be on the shelf above the coats. We are trying to make sure that it does not come back as we all know how much of a pain lice can be. Let me know if you have any ideas.
Theme
On Friday the 6th, we will be closing out our unit on Egypt and will be having a project and work display set up in our classrooms from 11-1 on Friday. Students will be displaying things they did for our Egypt unit and some of their chosen work for their portfolios. Please try to attend to see your kids work.
Potluck
Saturday, February 21 looks like the best day to have our Winter Potluck. Heather and Ness (Elsie's parents) have offered up their house and wold love to host our community for a 1-3 potluck. We will have a food sign up list outside the classroom and will ask people to bring a board game for fun and enjoyment. Thanks Heather and Ness!
Field Trip
We are on our way to Tears of Joy Theater on Friday the 13th. We will need chaperones for the event but we will be traveling by train. It would be helpful for volunteers to plan to pay their own train fare. The economic realities have hit home. We will be seeing a production of "When Animals Were People."
Report Cards
Report cards are coming along but I am taking a little more time to assess and reflect with students than I planned. I hope to have them out a little after Valentine's Day. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Snack
Snack time is getting much more pleasant and Nephyr is continuing to get good solid snacks for the kids. Please remember to donate money to the snack folder if you have the inkling. It is really awesome for the kids to have fresh fruit available almost everyday. It makes me happy.
Class Meeting
Our meetings lately have taken a more haphazard approach, but we meet in a more timely way. Students are encouraged to bring proposals to the meeting which is on Wednesday or at the beginning of morning meeting. Jupiter and I are currently doing some things for his new proposal to bring back Pokemon Club. We are working on rules that he has come up with. If this passes I will make sure to monitor it a lot more. One rule I am insisting on is that an adviser must sponsor their group be in attendance. Other proposals are in the works. The kids are really starting to take the proposals to heart.
Portfolio Work
Students are working on going through their work to decide on pieces for their portfolio. They will be choosing pieces to enter into an online portfolio. This is called the E-Pearl program that if you all have 3-4-5 students then you may know something about it. We will be looking for parent volunteers to help out with entering pieces.
Pictures
Pictures are online at shutterfly.com thanks to April (Hunter's Mom). They are so cool and should be updated as we get more. April is doing awesome with that. Thanks April.
Login - billysk12@gmail.com Password - 4trillium
Scholastic Book Orders
We can order books online. Here is the link, login and password
http://pcool.scholastic.com/parentordering/login.jsp
Talk to Jennifer Sample (Emma's Mom) if you have any questions. These are very affordable books and the more we buy the more our classroom gets.
Login - billysk12
Password - trilliumcs
Levels of Independence
Students are responding to the levels of independence and are using the criteria to move up in their language about behavior. Luna is our first level 3. Just a little explanation. All students start at level 1. In order to move up to level 2 they should be participating in class activities, listening to students and teacher and showing respect to others. They then apply to the class by sharing why they think they should move up. There is a brief discussion among the students and then we vote. The criteria for level 3 is that a student is challenging themselves.
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