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).

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