Friday

Good Morning!!
Today is Friday October 30, 2009.
Its almost Halloween!!
We will do some fun Halloween games.
We will make skeletons.
We will eat worms!!
We will have snack and recess.
We will put on our costumes.
We will have a parade!!
We will be scary.
We will have fun!!
Love, Whitney

Morning Mystery Word:

RSYAC



SCARY

Halloween Reminder

Just a reminder that we will be having a costume parade tomorrow beginning around 11:40. Students should bring their costumes to school but not wear them in the morning. We will begin changing into our costumes at 11:20. If its dry enough, we will do the parade through the park. If not, we'll do it in the school. Also, we are not allowing any types of weapons with costumes. Thanks!

Thursday

Good Morning!!

Today is Thursday October 29, 2009.
We will have menu groups.
We will have recess/dance and snack.
We will have reading workshop.
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud.
We will write our spooky stories.
We will have our Wheel Day.
We will work on our mystery animals.
We will be curious.
We will have fun!!

Love,
Whitney

Morning Mystery Word:
OYSKOP

Reminder: Tomorrow is the Halloween celebration. Please *bring* your costume to put on before the parade. Please do not bring any weapons, even if they are just toys. If you have questions about what is or is not a weapon, please talk to Whitney.

Tomorrow is another all school meeting. They will be discussing Morgan's proposal for wearing helmets when riding pogo sticks at school. Django has a proposal that the bricks by the IFCC shoud be only for walking or sitting on, and not for running on. They will also discuss a 3-4-5 dance proposal.

The space was really kept clean during lunch and snack yesterday, so we will try that again today.

The marble jar is almost full, so we will have a special day soon!

The class read a chapter from Peter and the Starcatchers.

Morning Mystery Word:
SPOOKY

Esis Forms

Hi all! We have 10 students who do not have an ESIS sheet filled out for them. This is the basic information that PPS needs on every student. If you you're not sure if you have filled one out for your child, please check at the front desk with Ramona and she can help you. Thanks so much!

Wednesday!

Good Morning!!

Today is Wednesday October 28, 2009.
It is Julian's 7th Birthday! Happy Birthday Julian!!!!!!!!

We will have menu groups.
We will have snack and recess.
We will have reading workshop.
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud.
We will have writing workshop.
We will have elective blocks.
We will work to keep our room clean.
We will have fun!!
Love,
Whitney

Morning Mystery Word:
NASIDL

Writing workshop will be special today, because we will take a break from the stories we've been writing, and we will write ghost stories. The students can share their ghost story on Friday, if they want to.

There is an art magazine starting up here at Trillium. If you want to submit something to see if it gets published, you can take it to Ramona at the front desk with your name and Whitney's name.

If anyone wants to be on the social committee, it is meeting in Lindsey's room today during lunch.

Tomorrow is Wheel Day!! You can bring a bike (please lock it up outside), or a scooter, roller skates, skateboard, roller blades, etc. (which can be left in the classroom). Everyone must wear a helmet during wheel time.

Friday is the Halloween Party. Please *bring* your costume to change into later in the day. We don't want the costumes to get messed up during our other activities that day. There is a NO WEAPONS policy for the costumes. Please do not bring weapons, even if they are just toys.

If you would like to come watch the costume parade, please come around 11:30, or slightly earlier to help with costumes, if you can!!

Morning Mystery Word Answer:
ISLAND

Wheel Day!

A proposal was passed last Friday that we will have a "Wheel Day" this Thursday, the 29th. Each student is welcome to bring some type of (non-motorized) wheeled vehicle. We're thinking bikes, skateboards, scooters, roller skates, etc. We will then take twenty minutes in our afternoon to ride together at the park. This is of course optional but any student who participates must bring and wear a helmet. Scooters, skateboards, etc. can be kept in the class but I am asking that all bikes be locked up outside. Here's to hoping we're not in for a wet, wet ride!

Tuesday October 27th

Good Morning!!
Today is Tuesday October 27th 2009.
We will have menu groups.
We will have snack and recess.
We will have reading workshop.
We will lunch and recess.
We will have music with Heidi.
We will have read aloud.
We will work on our mystery animals.
We will work more with maps.
We will respect each other.
We will have fun!!
Go Blazers.
Love,
Whitney

Morning Mystery Word:
T E C U S O S M
C O S T U M E S

Monday

Good Morning!!
Today is Monday October 26th 2009.
We will have menu groups.
We will have snack and recess.
We will have garden with Amanda.
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud.
We will have writing workshop.
We will have elective blocks.
We will be curious.
We will have fun!!
Love,
Whitney

Morning Mystery Word:
B E M L S A R
M A R B L E S

Announcements:
We will have a "Wheel Day" on Thursday (More to come on that soon).
We will be doing Halloween activities on Friday followed by a costume parade. Please do not wear costumes to school in the morning. Instead, bring them and we change into them before the parade.

Friday

Good Morning!!

Today is Friday October 23, 2009.
We will have an ALL SCHOOL MEETING.
We will talk about our trip tot he World Forestry Center.
We will WORKSHOP OUR BOOKS WITH A PARTNER.
We will have snack and recess.
We will have a CLASS MEETING.
We will have read aloud.
We will work to keep our room clean.
We will have fun!! Love, Whitney

Morning Mystery Word:
RUFSFRTAT


Movie night tomorrow night starting at 6:30 Its the Great Pumpkin and at 8ish Coraline or Little Shop of Horrors. Details outside the classroom.

Class meeting: we have a few proposals and some options to move up a level of responsibility.

Next Friday we will be doing something for Halloween. Whitney will announce on Monday what the plan is for the day's festivities and whether we will be wearing costumes on that day.



Morning Mystery Word:
Star Stuff (from Peter and the Starcatchers)

Possible Donations

Hi all! Wow, we had an absolutely wonderful field trip today. Thanks so much to all the chaperones who could make it and thanks so much to the kids for being so responsible and respectful during our trip. It was an amazing day. As we all know, our budget is a bit slim this year and I was thinking that I might throw out some ideas for some possible donations that our class could use:

1). A CD player would be great for our class. Our old one stopped working. Text-To-Tape Books are really helpful for our developing readers and also I am trying to incorporate more music and singing into our daily activities. If anyone has an old mini stereo that they can part with, we could surely use it.

2). A shoe rack would be helpful. Having our kids wear indoor shoes vs. outdoor shoes in our classroom has been great but its also been a bit messy. There is space underneath the risers and some space by the coat rack but unfortunately we currently have a spill over of slippers/shoes. I would also be excited to build something if we could get an initiative going on that.

3). Any help with snacks is very appreciated. Most kids have their mid-morning snack from their lunch each day but end up very hungry during the afternoons. Around 2:00 I often give many students another snack. School snacks come out of our budget for field trips and school supplies. If you are able to drop off a bag of pretzels or anything else every few weeks, it would really help.

4). Lastly, I've been planning on purchasing this book for a while but have been caught up in getting our read aloud/teacher practices books as of late. Its called "An Awesome Book." Its written/illustrated by Dallas Clayton. Check out his website (You can view the whole book) at www.veryawesomeworld.com/awesomebook/inside.html He has a deal where each book purchased is matched by a donation to schools, children's hospitals, etc. Perhaps we could have one donated to Trillium and you could keep a copy. This book is inspiring and captures the ideals, dreams, and aspirations of our amazing group of wonderful kids.

I hope that this doesn't feel like too much. We have such an amazing community right now that even without these things we will achieve so, so much. Thanks!

Thursday October 22

Good Morning!!

Today is Thursday October 22, 2009. (Audrey updated the calendar)
We will go to the World Forestry Center.
We will have read aloud.
We will work on our Mystery Animals.
We will be on our Field Trip behavior.
We will have fun!!

Love,
Whitney

Morning Mystery Word:
LEFDI IPRT

The class talked about good field trip behavior: Using a normal voice on the train; No running around on the train; Keeping control of our bodies; Stay together with our class, even though the other classes are also going on the field trip.

Julian lost a tooth during the meeting!!! Congratulations, Julian!! Everyone was very excited for him. Whitney gave him a plastic bag for his tooth.

There is a very important all school meeting tomorrow. There will be some proposals made, and the kids can vote on them. There are proposals for helmets when riding pogo sticks, an upper school Halloween party (upper school only). They will also be voting on chairs for some committees.

There is a spooky movie night on Saturday. There is a sign outside the classroom with details, and there was also an e-mail that went out on the parent list that gave details.



Morning Mystery Word Answer:
FIELD TRIP

Wednesday

Good Morning!!
Today is Wednesday October 21, 2009.
We will have menu groups.
We will have snack and recess.
We will have reading workshop.
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud.
We will have writing workshop.
We will have ELECTIVE BLOCKS.
We will be curious.
We will have fun!! Love, Whitney

Morning Mystery Word:
BASORDTRA
?

!! Field Trip On Thursday !!

This Thursday we will be taking a field trip to The World Forestry Center. We will be taking the MAX so we don't need drivers but chaperones are a great help. A few things to remember:

*If you have not filled out all of the paperwork from The Home Visit Packet, please do so before Thursday. We need to have a Field Trip Permission Form filled out for each student.

*If possible, please send your child's lunch in a brown paper bag. This will be an active day and I would hate for any of our students to lose a favorite lunch box.

*If you are chaperoning, please try and bring a backpack in order to carry a few lunches.

*We will be doing a short hike after lunch. Please have students dress accordingly.

*Please try and have your child at school by 8:45 Thursday morning. We will be leaving to catch The MAX at 9:00 sharp.

Thanks everyone, this trip will be a blast!

Tuesday

Today is Tuesday October 20, 2009. (Ivan reads and updates calendar.)
We will have menu groups. (Math games - many kids switch classrooms.)
We will have snack and recess.
We will have reading workshop. (Time when everyone works on building reading skills. Some have reading time on their own and a few kids have one on one with parent volunteers)
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have MUSIC with Heidi.
We will have read aloud. (Peter and the Starcatchers)
We will work on our MYSTERY ANIMALS.
We will work to keep our room clean.
We will have fun!!
Love, Whitney

Morning Mystery Word:
NKASL
SLANK (character in Peter and the Starcatchers)

Thursday: FIELD TRIP!! To the World Forestry Center - right next to the zoo. We're taking the MAX, bringing lunch and taking a little hike around the arboretum. Sign up outside class to come along! More the merrier. Might be a good idea to bring lunch in a paper bag, so that favorite lunch boxes and bottles don't get lost during the many adventures of the day.

Lots of questions about the bringing of little brother and sisters and attempted stories about favorite lunch boxes and bottles.

Maybe we'll have a vote if we will read the next Peter book in the series after we finish Peter and the Starcatchers.

Monday 10/19/09

Good Morning!!
Today is Monday October 19th 2009.
We will have Menu Groups.
We will have snack and recess.
We will have garden with Amanda.
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud.
We will have Writing Workshop.
We will have Elective Blocks.
We will be kind to each other.
We will have fun!!
Love, Whitney

Morning Mystery Word:
N Y O A M D
M O N D A Y

Announcements:
Whitney is so, so glad to be back.
We will be going on a field trip this Thursday to The Forestry Center. We will be taking The Max and leaving at 9:00. We will eat lunch there. If anyone would like to come, please sign up outside the classroom.

Friday

I'm sorry that blogging has been so spotty this week.
We have had some sickies at home and so I have not been able to stay in class every morning.

Hope to be back in action on Monday.

Susan

Silent Auction

Be sure to check out the silent auction items in the lobby. These are art items that are still available following the Trillium In Bloom art sale. Sign up for a number in the binder which is on a table near the multipurpose room, and then write down your number and your bid on the sheet next to the item(s) you'd like to buy. The auction will end on Friday at 12:15. These items were donated, so all of the money will go directly to the school!

Thursday

Good Morning!!

Today is Thursday October 15, 2009.
We will have menu groups.
We will have snack and recess.
W will have reading workshop.
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud.
We will have writing workshop.
We will dream up an adventure.
We will sing and dance.
We will be kind to each other.
Whitney misses you.
We will have fun!

Love,
Yvonne

Morning Mystery Word:
HADRUTYS

All School Meeting committee jobs are available. Yvonne will talk to those interested to help them decide if it's something they want to do. All School Meeting is tomorrow.

Sharing for tomorrow is a picture. It can be any kind of picture. It does not have to be a photograph, it can be a drawing also.

The class meeting will be on Tuesday.

The kids were reminded to wash their hands alot, and cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough.

Children are to stay home if they do not feel well. If they have a fever, they should wait an entire 24 hours before coming back to school.

The kids were also reminded not to share combs, hats, coats, etc. There has been some lice in the school.

Julian's birthday is on the calendar for October 28.

Morning Mystery Word: THURSDAY

Wednesday

Good Morning!!

Today is Wednesday October 14, 2009
We will have menu groups.
We will have snacks and recess.
We will have reading workshop.
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud. (Peter and the Starcatchers)
We will have writing workshop.
We will have ELECTIVE BLOCKS.
We will be curious.
We will ave fun!!
Whitney misses you.
Love, Yvonne

Morning Mystery Word:
TRONH
NORTH

October 22 is our field trip to the Forestry Center.
We'll be taking the MAX. We need grown ups to come along, so sign up outside the class.

Tuesday

Good Morning!!

Today is Tuesday October 13, 2009.
We will have menu groups.
We will have snack and recess.
We will have reading workshop.
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have MUSIC with Heidi.
We wil have read aloud (Peter and The Starcatchers).
We will have writing workshop.
We will PLAY A GAME together.
We will have fun!!
Whitney misses you all so much.
Love, Yvonne

Morning Mystery Word:
MICARAE
AMERICA

Monday - Week 5!

Good Morning!!

Today is Monday October 12, 2009.
We will have menu groups.
We will have snacks and recess.
We will have GARDEN with Amanda.
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud.
We will have writing workshop.
We will have ELECTIVE BLOCKS.
We will respect each other.
We will have fun! Love, Yvonne

Morning Mystery Word:
MUATUN
AUTUMN

Whitney wants you to know that he misses you already! And, he is encouraging you to earn a responsibility marbles this week.

We are reading all of David Shannon books (No, David!, David Goes to School, Alice The Fairy)

Can You Volunteer for Trillium in Bloom?

Can you help with Saturday's Trillium in Bloom event? We still need volunteers for the 10-3 daytime and 7-10 evening events. If so, you can email Mel at
Mdydesign@yahoo.com

Chinook Book Sales

Hi everyone. Don't forget that Chinook Book sales are going on until the end of October. You should all have gotten sales envelopes in your take home folders outside the classroom. There are extra envelopes available in the lobby. The books are $20 and the school receives $10 for each book sold. Chinook books have over 300 great coupons for many local businesses including New Seasons, Fred Meyer, OMSI, and Burgerville. If every family sells just one book, we can help support Trillium in a significant way. Books will be available in the lobby Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings. Please help support the school with this great fundraiser!

Thursday Morning

Good Morning!!

Today is Thursday October 8, 2009

***NO SCHOOL TOMORROW!!***

We will have menu groups.
We will have snack and recess.
We will have Reading Workshop.
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud.
We will have our class meeting.
We will have writing workshop.
We will play a game together.
We will be kind to each other.
We will have fun!!
Love,
Whitney

Morning Mystery Word
RHONT LEPO

Yesterday was the first day that everyone was stumped by the morning mystery word. It was PIRATE.

Whitney will be gone next week, and Luna's mother Yvonne will be here.

Take a look at the school website (http://www.trilliumcharterschool.org/) to learn more about Trillium In Bloom which starts tomorrow night and runs through Saturday.

You need to have four documented deeds you've done for the community in order to move up to the next responsibility level during the class meeting today.

No sharing this week, because there's no school tomorrow. Whitney wasn't sure yet what next week's sharing will be, but we will do sharing next week.

The class read David Goes To School by David Shannon. Some of the students knew other books that were also by David Shannon. They took some time to compare the covers of the different books by David Shannon. He has a unique style, and the class is going to explore having your own style of writing.

There is a sign up sheet outside the classroom for chaperones for our class field trip to the World Forestry Center on Thursday October 22. We will be riding the max, leaving at 9 a.m. and returning after lunch. Please sign up if you'd like to help.

Today's word is NORTH POLE

Wednesday

Good Morning!!

Today is Wednesday October 7, 2009.
We will have menu groups.
We will have snack and recess.
We will have read aloud.
We will have writing workshop.
We will have ELECTIVE BLOCKS.
We will respect each other.
We will have fun!! Love, Whitney!!

Morning Mystery Word:
REPASTI
?

Important announcements: No school on Friday.

Trillium in Bloom is happening Friday and Saturday. Check out trilliumcharterschool.org

Class meeting is Thursday. If you are interested is becoming a level 2, then document four good deeds that you did for the community (drawing pictures is fine).

They named all 7 continents and all 4 oceans. What is the largest ocean? Pacific

A Few Reminders

Hi all! Just a few quick reminders I wanted to throw out,

1). There is no school this Friday. It is a district wide teacher planning day. We will have our class meeting on Thursday.

2). If you have not yet filled out a criminal background check, please do. They are available at the front desk. We need one filled out for anyone who volunteers in the classroom or chaperons on a field trip. If you have filled one out in the past, there is no need to do it again.

3). If possible, please have your child bring a pair of slippers to class. Many already have them and its been great. Not only does it keep the room a lot more clean, but kids have been very excited about their comfy, cozy feet.

4). I will be out all of next week. Unfortunately my father was recently diagnosed with cancer and I will be home next week with him as he undergoes surgery. Yvonne (Luna's mother) will be our sub. She is an absolutely wonderful teacher but it probably wouldn't hurt to remind the kids that being on their best behaviour will help everything run smoothly. I will still be checking my email all week long and will be available by phone as well.

And 5). You all have amazing children. I am so excited by how strong our class is this year. They are so eager to learn, play, lead and create. This is going to be a great, great year. Thanks!

menu groups description

Menu Groups:
Math time - activities, games. Your teacher (some kids will work with Brian, some with Beth, some with Whitney) for menu time will have a big list of different activities on a menu - maybe 8 activities to choose from. We will have appetizers - to warm us up for thinking about math. We will have entree - your main course - your big activities. Then when there is about 10 minutes left, there might be a time to wind down, wrap things up with something light and fun and that would be our desert. Menu groups are going to be different from last year when menu groups meant going to garden, music, art. We are still going to have those classes, but this year the term 'menu groups' will mean playing math games.

Tuesday

Good Morning!!

Today is Tuesday October 6, 2009.

We will have menu groups.
We will have snack and recess.
We will have reading workshop.
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have MUSIC with Heidi.
We will have read aloud.
We will have writing workshop.
We will be curious.
We will have fun!! Love, Whitney

Morning Mystery Word:
TASAURLAI
AUSTRAILIA


Do you have an extra boom box/ cd player at home? The one in our classroom is broken.

No School on Friday! No sharing this week. We will have our weekly class meeting on Thursday. This is a time when we hear proposals for the class and we also talk about levels.

Yvonne (Luna's mom) is going to be our substitute teacher for all of next week. Whitney will be going home (to Coos Bay) to be with his father who will be in the hospital.

Slippers!

Hi all! Wanted to let you know that we are going to try having a slipper policy in our classroom for this year. I wrote a proposal saying that while in our class we would wear slippers or indoor shoes and then change into outdoor shoes when we go out to recess. The proposal passed unanimously. I think this will be beneficial for two reasons. 1). It will keep our room much, much cleaner. 2). I think it will help the kids transition from recess and other activities into learning. Like putting on your thinking shoes.

I'm hoping we can all have slippers by the end of this week and I'm encouraging the kids to bring in ones they are excited about. Of course, they don't have to be slippers. Crocs, a different pair of shoes, whatever will work just fine. They don't need to be new either. I would encourage not bringing in just socks as the occasional tack or staple can end up on the ground by accident. If you have any questions, please let me know. Beth has implemented this in her classroom already and has said its worked great. Thanks!

Monday - Week 4!

Good Morning!!

Today is Monday October 5, 2009.
We will have menu groups.
We will have snack and recess.
We will have GARDEN with Amanda. (We will have garden every Monday in our new garden room!)
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud. (Peter Pan)
We will have writing workshop.
We will have ELECTIVE BLOCKS. (There are special classes happening with different teachers on Monday and Wednesdays from 1:45-3:15.)
We will work to keep our room clean.
We will have fun!! Love, Whitney!!


Morning Mystery Word:
TAQEROU
EQUATOR


Announcements:

Bring slippers to wear in the class by the end of the week. Socks are OK but something with soles would be better in case there is a tack on the floor.

No school this Friday - teacher planning day.

To make a proposal during the Friday class meetings, just write a proposal on a regular sheet of paper.

Reading Workshop Helper Training

There will be a short training session this Wednesday after school in Whitney's room for anyone who wants to help this year with reading workshop. If you think you might want to help with reading at some point this year, and you are available Wednesday, please come. If you can't make it Wednesday, that does not exclude you from volunteering - please still let me know at anytime throughout the year if you would like to help. Leigh Ann (gantee2003(at)yahoo.com)

Call for Parent Support Group Ideas

Stephanie Hinkle is seeking information about what kind of support groups parents want and need to help them in their daily lives. Examples are a support group about teenage angst, a support group to help girls build self-confidence, a support group to understand young boys, etc. Whatever ideas you have about support groups our school could offer, please email Leigh Ann or Susan or talk to one of us in person, and we will get the information back to Stephanie. If you prefer, you can also contact Stephanie directly: stephanie (at) trilliumcharterschool.org and let her know your ideas!

Firday Morning

Good Morning!!
Today is Friday October 2 2009.
We will have breakfast together.
We will have sharing.
We will have read aloud.
We will have snack and recess.
We will have a class meeting.
We will be geographers.
We will respect each other.
We will have fun!!
Love Whitney

Reminder: Today is a half day.

Reading Workshop Tool Box

Ways to figure out a new word.

Reviewing tools...

1. Look at the first and last letter.
2. Make a guess.
3. Look at the picture for clues.
4. Brain warm up. Look at the title and cover of the book for clues.

Today's new tool is...

5. Take a book walk! It is like a movie preview and gets you ready to read a book just like a preview gets you ready to watch a movie. Look through the book and get to know it, look at the cover, maybe see a few words you know, see what the story might be by looking at the pictures. Whitney modeled a 'book walk' by looking at a book called "From Caterpillar to Butterfly"

"Your job today is to do a book walk. Guess what the book is about and then you can go back later and read it and check yourself."

Thursday Morning

Good Morning!!
Today is Thursday October 1, 2009

We will have menu time.
We will have snack and recess.
We will have reading workshop
We will have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud.
We will have writing workshop.
We will work more with maps.
We will be geographers.
We will have fun!!
Love,
Whitney

Morning Mystery Word:
POEREU

Tonight is the sleepover from 6:00 - 8:30. We will be there for two and a half hours, eating pizza, showing our talents, dancing, playing with a parachute, and other fun activities.

Sharing tomorrow is something from a tree. Anything from a tree that is not dangerous or too messy.

Starting next week, Whitney would like it if people would bring in slippers. This will help keep the room clean as it gets more and more muddy outside this winter. Changing into slippers will also help with the transition from recess time to school time. Any indoor footwear will work: crocs, sturdy socks with bottoms on them, slippers, etc.

Before menu groups the class pretended their bodies were planet earth. They talked about where the North Pole would be (the top of their heads) and the South Pole (their feet) and the Equator (in the middle, where a belt would go). Then they learned two new terms: northern hemisphere (all the land and water north of the equator) and southern hemisphere (all the land and water south of the equator). Then they played "Simon Says". "Simon says touch the equator!"

Morning Mystery Word Answer: EUROPE

Thursday

Good Morning!!

Today is Thursday October 1, 2009.
We will have menu groups.
We will have snack and recess.
We will have reading workshop. (See Leigh Ann to help during this time)
We wil have lunch and recess.
We will have read aloud. (Just finished Ivy and Bean and hopefully starting Peter Pan today)
We will have writing workshop.
We will work more with maps.
We will sing and dance.
We will be GEOGRAPHERS.
We will have fun!! Love, Whitney!!

Morning Mystery Word:
POEREU