Weekly Update 2-24-10

"Citius, Altius, Fortius" is the Olympic motto which, when translated from these three latin words, means "Swifter, Higher, Stronger". These words exemplify the goals of the great athletes from around the world, their thrill of victory and their agony of defeat. We hope you are enjoying the Olympic games as much as we are.

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday- March 2- Read Across America Day!

We'll be celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday with lots of reading, games, music and of course, pajamas!! Students may wear pajamas and bring blankets, sleeping bags, pillows and one stuffed animal. Make sure they have outside shoes for recess!

This Friday, February 26th, Living History Museum Day!

Science Fair Thursday, March 4th

Future Field Trips-

March 10th The Tacoma Art Museum

March 17th Winn Luke Art Museum

Here's What's Going on in the Beacons' World:

Reading: Together we read a summary of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Nights Dream." The Middle School will be performing a version of this play this Friday morning for the whole Lower school. All are welcome to attend. The performance starts at 9:15 and is about an hour.
We also have wrapped up reading assessments and we're ready to dive into new novel groups. We will be reading two novels in class, "Midnight on the Moon" by Mary Pope Osborne and "From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler"- a Newberry Award winner by E.L. Konigsburg.

Writing: We were busy writing letter to Olympic athletes this week. We sent letters to: Apolo Ohno, J.R. Celski, Scott Wescott (Gold medal- snowboard cross), Julia Mancuso (two silver medals in Alpine skiing), Ryan Miller (Goalie for US Hockey Team), Ski jumper Anders Johnson, and Hannah Kearney (Gold Medal moguls).

Math: Time for some more time. Just when the Beacons were rocking on time in class and homework, they took an assessment that showed that many students still need some more work. We'll be doing some more time work until we know they are solid in this important skill.

Science: We're wrapping up our science fair projects and Lunar colonies to be on display for the science fair next Thursday night. The Beacons can't wait to show off their creative ideas.

Social Studies: This Friday is THE BIG DAY!! Students have been working so hard on our Living History Day! I purchased trifold display boards for the students to use as part of their presentation. (It's also a great preview for how they should place their Science Fair information). The Beacons are THRILLED to be a Greek god or goddess. They are loving making learning come alive! I hope to see you on Friday from 2 to 2:45.

"I think the athletes are definitely capable. But at the Olympics anything can happen." Apolo Ohno

Looking forward to another great week at Seabury!
-Tamara and Betsy

Weekly Update February17, 2010

Upcoming Events:

We need your Help! We have had 9 tardies in the last 2 days! While we understand that things happen in the mornings, please remember that class starts promptly at 8:15. It is difficult for your child to get caught up after we have already started our daily classwork. This is especially important on days when we have specialist's classes first thing in the morning. We thank you in advance for helping to get your Beacon here on time!

February 26th Friday 2:00-2:45

Greek Gods and Goddesses Living History Museum

March 4th Thursday Science Fair

Wednesday March 10th Tacoma Art Museum

Wednesday March 17th Wing Luke Asian Art Museum

March 11th and 12th

No School Parent Teacher conference

April 5th-9th Spring Break

Here's What's Going

on in the Beacons' World:

Reading: Students have been completing reading assessments and working on skill development with SRA cards. Next week, we'll begin novel studies again.




Writing
Beacons' are learning to write letters
and address envelopes. I even received
a letter from a Beacon in the mail!
I mailed three out of the country
to India, Germany and Ireland! We're also doing some writing about the Olympics. Next week, we'll write letters to our favorite Olympic athletes. I bet Federal Way's own, J.R. Celski, bronze medalist in short track speed skating, will be getting lots of mail! Perhaps, so too will Apollo Ono!



Math: It's about time! We've taken a detour from the textbook and we're spending some time learning the basics of time. Most of the students have a good foundation and are rapidly able to put that knowledge to work! Keep asking lots of time questions (especially quarter to and quarter past questions) at home. As far as we are concerned, you can never get enough of time!


Science: We're wrapping up our class science fair project, "Craters on the Moon." Look forward to seeing our display at the science fair on March 4th. How are the projects at home coming? Feel free to contact Mrs. Ritchie anytime with questions.



Social Studies: We're counting down the days until our Friday, February 26th, presentation of our Greek God and Goddesses' Living History Museum. We are making our props in class and many students have all of their costume parts. Please feel free to contact Mrs. Gellert anytime with any questions.



The most important thing in the Olympic games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.
- Pierre de Coubertin (founder of the modern Olympic Games)

Looking forward to another exciting week with your Beacon,

Betsy and Tamara

Be My Valentine!

Happy

Valentine's

Day!

I LOVE MY

VALENTINE'S DAY

PARTY !

We had fun frosting cookies!

Want a bite of mine?

YUMMY!

Two talented Sharks stopped by to bring a homemade Valentine cupcake to

Mrs. Ritchie and Mrs. Gellert

Mine is SOOO good

Look what I made!

I love to READ, READ, READ!!

This is a pretty cool
invention!

That's ME when I was young. I love Barbie!!

Look at my special Show and Tell my Grandmother sent me! It's from Europe!

We had a surprise visit from Mrs. V. and her precious daughter. Look how much her baby girl has grown! Now that's a special valentine!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Weekly Update February 10, 2010

Upcoming Events:

NO SCHOOL tomorrow, February 11th

and also

NO SCHOOL Friday, February 12th

and also

NO SCHOOL Monday February 15th

Our school days off for Thursday the 11th and Friday the 12th are Teacher In-Service Days. We'll be here from 8 a.m. until very late each day working on curriculum development and working on our accreditation.(The latter of which we have been working on for 2 years! We're nearly complete; however there is much more work to be done).

Sunday is Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!

Monday the 15th is also a day off from school; however, it is a federal holiday celebrating Presidents' Day.

Please remember to have your child back at school on Tuesday. We will have missed them and can hardly wait to see them again!

Here's What's Happening in

Beacons' World!

Reading: Students have working hard on their S.R.A. which helps them in reading comprehension skills, language arts, spelling, vocabulary and grammar. It also is an excellent preparation for standardized tests because it offers the opportunity for a student to gain experience with multiple choice questions along with higher level thinking skills.

Writing: Attention parents! Your Beacon is in need of memorizing his/her home address!! We are writing friendly letters and it is imperative that your child learn how to write his/her address ie.the house number, street address, city, state and zip code. Please work on this over our extended break for it will be part of their spelling test next Friday.

Math: The Beacons have proved they are dividing machines! While some students still need to develop their math facts, they all understand the concept of division. They will get plenty of practice at this in the future. For now, we're moving on to a mini-unit on telling time. Students will get a chance to practice telling time and problem solving the passage of time.
Quizzing your child at home on both digital and analog clocks will help reinforce these important skills.

Science: Beacons explored the scientific process by working on two different experiments. Last week we investigated the effects of color on temperature. The Beacons then designed their own experiments using thermometers, water, ice and insulation. It was wonderful to see them working through the first steps of the scientific process; asking "What if" and "How", formulating hypotheses and designing experiments to test their ideas.
This week we learned more about the craters of the moon. We first checked out possibly the coolest website ever, google earth- moon. Follow this link to see all the site has to offer, including actual close ups of moonscapes, videos from the Apollo missions and more:

www.earth.google.com/intl/en/tour.html/#v=0

After touring the moon we developed the questions: How are craters formed and how does the shape of meteorites affect the shape of craters on the moon? After selecting different "meteorites" each student made a hypothesis. Then, bombs away, we got to test the meteorites by crashing them into a flour mixture. Next week we'll complete the scientific process when we analyze our data and formulate conclusions.

Social Studies: The Beacons are all excited about researching their Greek god or goddess for our February 26th (2:15p.m.-2:45 p.m.) presentation of our very own Living History Museum! I've sent e-mails to many parents regarding their child's costume. If you have questions about your Beacon's costume, just let me know. It's going to be a fun, wonderful and educational time!

We hope you and yours enjoy Valentine's Day with your loved ones! We certainly love your Beacon. Thank you for the privilege of teaching your child!

"When you're in Love, you can't fall asleep because reality is better than your dreams"

~ Dr. Seuss

We're looking forward to another exciting week with your Beacon,

Betsy and Tamara

XOXOX, Happy Valentine's Day 2010