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.
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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.