Classroom News: April 11th

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

Students are busy preparing for their student led conferences which are coming up quickly! It appears that almost everyone has signed up for their child's conference. If you haven't yet, please be sure to stop by the school office to sign up for a time. I look forward to seeing you on Thursday night!

Students will continue to prepare for their conferences this week. I am very impressed with the fluent and expressive reading I am hearing while students prepare to read aloud. Students will be reflecting upon how they have grown throughout the school year by looking at their goals from the beginning of the year, as well as rereading their earliest writing pieces.

I'm hoping to begin free verse poetry this week. We had a great time last week reading the students' free verse poems from last year and students were excited to start creating poetry on their own.

We are hoping to finish the bird models that we have been working on SO hard- in time to share them with you at conferences. Students researched native birds and have been learning about their birds' interdependence within their 'watery ecosystem'!

I will see you all very soon!

Sincerely,

Sherry

Classroom News: April 4th

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

Spring is here! The Barn Swallows were able to enjoy somewhat warm weather last Tuesday as they went to the school garden to plant peas and flower bulbs. We have also started a seed project in the classroom and students are keeping journals on their seeds. Last Friday we heard our first shouts of 'It sprouted!' I wonder what the seeds/seedlings will look like on Monday after the weekend!

Students worked very hard writing a Spring Break paper last week and they are looking forward to sharing it, along with other great work, with you during Student Led Conferences, which are on Thursday, April 14th. Sign ups for conferences will be out soon. Three families are in the room at a time, the conference will take 30 minutes or less and the time slots are from 9:00-12:00 and 4:30-7:30 (with the last appointments starting at 7:00). Student Led Conferences are a time for students to share all of their hard work with you! Students are working hard to prepare for this big day. We look forward to seeing you there!

This week for our Out and About we are going to start by picking kale that has overwintered in the garden. Then we will make our way to the UCC kitchen to make a quinoa, kale, and vegetable soup. Cooking is always tricky with only two adults and we would love to have at least one more parent join us! Would you like to come? Thank you!

We will have some all day outdoor trips coming up and we hope you will consider volunteering to join us! The dates are not confirmed yet, but we are planning on studying tide pools at Oceanside and/or Cannon Beach, as well as learn more about the wetland ecosystem at Jackson Bottom Wetlands. When I have confirmed dates, I will be sure to let you know!

It's also gardening time! We plan on getting our hands dirty again (and hopefully often!) and will be going to the school garden as much as possible. Students remembered the amazing garden pesto we made in the fall and have already started their basil seeds in the classroom. Will we have pesto before the school year begins?! Time will tell!

Thank you Barn Swallow Families!

Sincerely,

Sherry

Classroom News: March 14th

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

Your child is about to become an author of our class book on local birds! We are sending our book to a publishing company that will make hard cover copies of the class book. If you are interested in purchasing one or more copies of our book, please send your order form to school by tomorrow, Tuesday, March 15th. (The book will be mailed out to the company on Wednesday.)

I hope you all enjoy spring break next week!

Sincerely,

Sherry

Classroom News

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

Level 1 is looking for some dedicated students (with adults) who are interested in helping out at the Empty Bowls night. When I asked the class who was interested in coming to help, I had almost the whole class raise their hands! If you would like to volunteer with your child, please email me at S.Reuter@FGCSchool.org and I will have Erin Morgan and Teresa Perrin contact you. (Erin: E.Morgan@FGCSchool.org Teresa: T.Perrin@FGCSchool.org)

Thank you in advance! It's going to be a fun night!

Sincerely,

Sherry