Classroom News: Week of September 24th

Dear Barn Swallows,

We have enough volunteers for our trip this Wednesday, September 26th, to Gales Meadow organic, heirloom vegetable farm!  If you are interested in joining us, you are welcome.  Please remember to send your child to school that day with a full water bottle, rain gear, waterproof boots, extra warm clothing, and a healthy lunch.  School lunch orders will be made into a sack lunch that day.

We are still in need of 3 to 4 more adult volunteers for our big trip to Zenger Farm on Monday, October 15th.  This will be an all day trip and adult volunteers are necessary in order for us to make the trip.  We will be learning more about where our food comes from and see how it's grown in a way that takes care of nature.  We would love to have you join us!  Please email me at:  S.Reuter@fgcschool.org    Thank you!

Last week students finished their self portraits.  They will be hanging up soon!  Early in the week, we went on a sidewalk chalk art walk.  We discussed how you can 'find' stories in art.  Students stopped along the way and 'found' and described imaginative stories from the chalk art.  We also studied apples throughout the week.  We read many books about apples and gathered apple facts together.  Then students had an Out and About at my house (in Forest Grove) where they helped collect cider apples under our big apple tree.  Students also learned more about chickens and eggs, as they explored my chicken coop and found an egg that Edna the hen left in the next box.  Students demonstrated a lot of care as they 'earned the trust' of my four rabbits, who live with the chickens.  They fed them clover, dandelion greens, grass, and apple cores.  All of the students were so kind and considerate!  (See photos at the top right of the page.)  On Thursday Max's mom, Limor, brought a cider press to the Backyard Garden.  Through teamwork and positive communication, the Barn Swallows worked together and pressed cider.  We really enjoyed learning about where cider comes from and how it is made.  Thank you Limor!

Students learned about the five finger rule when choosing a book.  Please ask your child to explain how to use this rule as you read books together at home.  We continue to build community and to get to know each other through playing many simple games, learning new greetings, and singing songs.  We are off to a great year!

If you are interested in joining our classroom community, there is a garden work party this Friday, September 28th in the Backyard Garden from 1:30 to 3:00.  This would be a great opportunity to meet other school families and to get your kids together, making a difference in the garden.  The Backyard Garden is in need of TLC and we would love to have you join us!

Thank you families!

Sincerely,

Sherry