Bye for the summer!

We love you, Whitney!
Thank you for all you have done to make this a wonderful year for our children.
Have a great summer.

!!Moving Up Ceremony!!

Just a reminder that we will be having our Moving Up Ceremony tomorrow morning at 9:00.  It should take about an half an hour to forty five minutes.  Its going to be pretty low key and will allow some time for the kids to reflect on the feeling of completing a year at Trillium while I share a bit about each student.  Of course, anyone/everyone is welcome.  I am hoping to limit my crying.  Thanks.

Publishing Party Update

We have decided to move the Publishing Party to 2:00pm tomorrow (June 11th).  We will be doing our readings with Billy's class.  Also, we're hoping to do it outside at the park if weather permits.  Thanks!

A Few Events

Hello All!  I can't believe we only have 3 more days of school!  In the next 3 days we are going to be doing a few special things, so I wanted to give everyone a heads up.  First, our students have been working really hard on writing their own myths.  On Thursday at 1:00pm we are going to have a "Publishing Party" where those who would like to share what they have written will be able to.  

Also, at 9:00am on Friday we will be having a "Moving Up Celebration" in our classroom.  This will be a short event where each student will be recognized for all of their great work this year and will officially move up to their new grade level.  Around 11:00am that day we will have our second "Wheel Day."  The first one went over so well that the kids voted to have another one.  Same rules as last time, ask me if you have any further questions.  Everyone is welcome to any or all of these wonderful events!

Intensives Reminder

Instensives start Monday (June 8th).  Hopefully word got home to as to which intensive your child will be participating in.  If not, here is a class list.  Please try to send you child to school with the appropriate clothing and materials (If you are in Young Cyclists you will need a bike and helmet.  If you are in swimming you will need a swimsuit at towel).

Jibril-Young Cyclists

Julian-Young Cyclists

Gus-Young Cyclists

Moses-Young Cyclists

Joshua-Young Cyclists

Opio-Cooking

Ava-Cooking

Rose-Cooking

Anne-Cooking

Shiloh-Hiking

Jackson-Tinkering

Marley-Swimming

Emmy-Swimming

Tazwell-Reiki

Lukah-Reiki

Bela-Down on Trillium Farm

Peter-Down on Trillium Farm

Grace-Down on Trillium Farm

Natalee-Games at the park

Eric-Games at the park

Also, it would be great if K's could stay the whole day this next week.  It allows them to get a feel for full day school and gives us a chance to finish up projects before the end of the school year.

Take It or Leave It

Before Friday be sure to check to see if your child has any projects in Whitney's room.

There are clay and pipe cleaner sculptures on the white shelves. Also a couple things under the loft still left from the invention unit.

A few kindergartners have a tomato plant to take home from last week's garden class.


Susan

Fri. 6/5/09

Good Morning!!

Today is Friday June 5, 2009.
We will have an All School Meeting.
We will have 2 special sharings.
We will have a class meeting.
We will see if Rob, Sistine, and Willie May free the tiger. (from The Tiger Rising)
We will have Field Day!
1 o'clockers will remember to take their tomato plants home.
We will respect each other.
"We...will...have...fun!!...Love,...Whitney!!"

Morning Mystery Word:
NHUTRED
Thunder

Moses brought his leopard gecco ('Leopardy'), took him out of the box, held him while entertaining questions and comments. And the class (very respectfully) went wild, wanting to know...What makes him a boy? How does his tail fall off? Does he climb in your shirt and pants? And then Leopardy heaved a sigh of relief to be returned to the safety of his box with his questionless crickets.


Joshua: (while holding his very newborn brother, spoke very seriously) "This is my brother Zachary. Questions or comments?" Wow...



Class meeting (13 stayed on red stage for class meeting, 7 worked quietly on journals)

Nominations for moderator... Jibril, Gus, Rose, Marley.
Marley was voted to be moderator.
"We'll now move on to our first proposal."

First proposal submitted by Jackson: We will read part of a book at the end of each day.
Questions for Jackson: Do you mean a chapter book or picture book? Chapter book.
What if we don't have time? Then we wouldn't do it then.
What book? Different than our read aloud book, so the 1 o'clockers wouldn't miss anything.
A vote is called. Marley: "Now we vote to see if we vote. All in favor of voting? All in favor of the proposal? 11. All opposed? 0. The proposal has passed."

Second proposal submitted by Natalie: I would like there to be Wheel Day again next Wednesday and Thursday.
Marley: I open the floor for question, comments or amendments.
Whitney: I have an amendment that it be only on Wednesday and in the afternoon. Will you grant me the power to coordinate this with the other teachers so that we can have the park to ourselves?

Scribe had to leave before the vote was taken...

Thurs. 6/4/09

Good Morning!!

Today is Thursday June 4, 2009.

We will work on our myths.
1 o'clockers have garden.
We will have snack and recess.
We will begin answering our big questions.
We will have Wheel Day!
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud.
We will have reading workshop.
We will do some writing.
We will have ILP time.
We will work to keep our room clean.

"We...will...have...fun!!...Love,...Whitney!!"


Morning Mystery Word
LEHSWE
Wheels


Announcements:
All school meeting proposals:

1. "We would like the front parking lot to become a beautiful gathering space that embodies the spirit of Trillium..." It would be a year long process, working with an organization in Portland to help transform the space. But first we have to vote on it. If you are excited about this idea, then you should attend the vote is happening tomorrow at the all school meeting.

2. JC (Judicial Committee) forms should an advisor's signature.

3. JC decisions will be published as soon as they are approved.


Field Day:
Do not wear flip flops, so that you aren't tempted to take off your shoes for running. Sometimes there has been broken glass in that park.

Other announcements:
Moses: Is anyone allergic to reptiles? Because I am bringing in his leopard gecco.
Natalie: Will we have another share day? Can we bring in animals for a share day?
Whitney: Yes, you and parents just need to talk to me about it first.


Everyone was excited that there was a little time to finish a chapter from The Tiger Rising.

Wed. 6/3/09

Good Morning!!

Today is Wednesday June 3, 2009.
We will form hypothesises. (big word!)
We will talk about Intensive choices.
We will read more of our book.
We will have snack and recess.
We will work on our myths.
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud.
We will have reading workshop.
We will have our elective blocks (for the last time this year!)
We will ask questions.

"We...will...have...fun!!...Love,...Whitney!!"

Morning Mystery Word:

GIHTE

Eight! (8 more days of school!)

Announcements:

Tomorrow is Wheel Day! You can bring anything with wheels. Just bring one choice. If you bring your bike, lock it up outside. You must bring a helmet and wear it the entire recess. You don't have to bring wheels. You can just play on the play structure.

Bella is going to a place with three pools.
Joshua..."I don't want to leave school!"
Opio talked about his clothes getting caught in his bike.
Natalie...Are you going to be a teacher next year? Whitney: Yes, I am.

And then everyone wanted to get a drink and go to the bathroom before talking about hypothesises.

Tues 6/2/09

Good Morning!!

Today is Tuesday June 2, 2009.
We will read a myth.
We will ask big questions.
1 o'clockers will have music with Heidi.
3 o'clockers will work on their myths.
We will have snack and recess.
3 o'clockers will have garden.
1 o'clockers will work on their myths.
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud. (new book...The Tiger Rising by Kate D'Camillo)
We will have reading workshop.
We will have ILP time.
We will be curious.

"We...will...have...fun!!...Love,...Whitney!!!"


Morning Mystery Word:
PELXERO

Announcements:
Shiloh is back from Michigan where he was at a wedding.
Today is Eric's sister's birthday...so if you see her in the hall say Happy Birthday.
Rose would like to listen to School House Rock.
9 days till school is out.
Natalie would like to listen to Frog Town.
Bella...School Rocks!
Grace's brother isn't allergic to milk anymore.

• Thursday is Wheel Day.
• Friday is Field Day.
• Intensives start are next Monday through Thursday. Polly will be coming around in the next couple days to share with us the options for the week.
• Tomorrow is our last day of elective blocks.

Big Questions
Why do flowers only grow in spring?
How many spots does a ladybug have?
How was the earth made?
Why did the Mayans leave their cities?
What makes a thunderstorm?
Why do birds fly? And how?
How could the dinosaurs be born? How could they start?
How did we really get here? Because a little kid could get married to his mom so how could it go on and on and on?
Why is there no oxygen in space? And why is there oxygen on earth?
Do we know if space ends?
How did they know there is such a thing as space?
How did humans evolve?
What would happen if the twin towers didn't happen?
Why do we have gravity?
Do numbers end?
How does the earth spin?
How do we make nail polish?
How did we get stars?
Where did we come up with all these questions?
What's going to be for lunch today?
How do we know the weather and how come it is not always right?
How is the sun burning even though space is very cold?
How do we know how hot the sun is?
What did it look like before anything was made?
How do people survive space?
Is Pluto a moon or a planet?
Why can't you play golf in space?
Could there be more than 9 planets?
Why does the river pull people back or down so fast?

Mon 6/1/09

"Good Morning!!"

Today is Monday June 1, 2009.
We will have an emergency class meeting.
We will reflect on performance night in groups.
We will have snack and recess.
We will talk more about "why mythology?"
We will dream up our own ancient Greek gods/goddesses.
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud.
We will have reading workshop.
We will have elective blacks.
We will work to keep our room clean.

"We...will...have...fun!!...Love,...Whitney!!"

Morning mystery word:
TRIWNGI

WRITING

This week we are really going to focus on writing. Today we are going to write about our performance night and about our own ancient Greek gods/goddesses. We can tell a story with words and with pictures - focusing on beginnings, middles and ends.


Other announcements:

Bella's dog is having puppies.
Lots of comments about mice - a thorough accounting of mouse sitings - in the wild and in captivity.
Last day of school June 12.
Intensives start next Monday.
K-5 chess tournament will begin today at 11:45 with Brian.



Emergency class meeting:
Last Friday we passed a proposal that this Friday would be Wheel Day (bringing roller blades, scooter, bike, skateboard, anything with wheels and a HELMET) and have one of our recesses be a time to play.

However, on Friday there is going to be an all school field day. So, Whitney is proposing that we switch Wheel Day to Thursday so that we pick a day when we can have the park all to ourselves. Jackson calls the vote, another seconds. All in favor of voting now....16...against...2. All in favor of the amendment...17...against...1.

Thursday will be our wheel day at Patton Park. This will happen during one of our recess times for about 20-30 minutes.


Morning message time wraps up with the reading of the Greek myth about the twin eagles, then move into reflection on Friday's wonderful performance night.

You'll be assigned a partner and one person will tell the story of your very most favorite part of performance night and then we are going to write that memory or story. When you are done, you partner will tell their story. Then you will write the story of your partner's story.

What were some of your favorite parts?

Getting to be with my friends.
When you gave us all medals.
If you weren't there, you could tell your favorite part of preparing for the night.
Playing four square.
Doing a great job on the show.
The folk dance and the Persephone part.
When the kindergartners did the frog dance.
Eating Greek food.
I liked all the plays.
The food was really good and I helped make the apples.
I helped to make it with rice. I don't know what is was but it looked like rice.