The Time of Year When Everything is Important!

When I was in high school, I wrote for the school's newspaper. My teacher always emphasized the importance of the "inverted triangle" style of writing: the most important news needed to come first! This week, I am not sure what is most important. We have a lot happening in our class over the next two weeks.

The Fun Stuff (or What I Think is Important!)

Please use these links to check out the excellent story in the Spotlight about our mini-boat and check The Red, White, and Blue Crew's voyage. 

Your student may also have told you about our recent visit to Mrs. Leeper's kindergarten class. The sixth graders were paired with a kinder and asked a series of questions to help prepare for our upcoming Santa Letters. We have received the kinder's Santa lists and will be writing responses this week. Next Tuesday, we will head back down to Grant Watts to deliver the messages and spend some time with our buddies. 

Christmas Party & The Sock and Book Exchange

Next Friday, at 1:45, we will be holding a grade level Christmas party. If you would like to join us, please let me know. We always need lots of volunteers. This year, we will have a movie, iPads, crafts, and treats for the students to enjoy. In addition, if your students would like to participate in an OPTIONAL sock or book exchange, please have your child bring a wrapped, gender neutral new pair of socks or new book, for a fun white elephant activity. Again, this is optional. 

Country Reports and Extension Project

Please remember, next week we will begin the presentation of our country report extension projects. Many students have already completed and turned in their work. Each student will take 1-3 minutes to share their project. This is not a formal speech, but your student may want to practice what they would like to share with the class when they present their project. I am looking forward to hearing and seeing their work. 

Canned Food Drive & Blanket Donations

We are off to a great start for our canned food drive. We are currently in the lead, with a little over 40 cans of food. I will be bringing in a sizable donation next week, but any support we can receive from families is greatly appreciated by our local Kiwanas group. The food drive will end next Friday, December 15.

Scrip

Finally, thank you to all of you for your support of the Scrip fundraiser. Jennifer Kilman has been responsible for filing the orders each week, while Joy Bruan has driven to Tigard (!!) to pick up the gift cards. We really could not do this without their time and energy. Thank you to everyone for making this fundraiser such a huge success!

Country Report Update

This week, the students have been hard at work on their country reports. We have been using computer lab time for research, language arts time to revisit skills like writing introductions, and social studies time to review the different economic systems. In other words, we've been busy. 

Unfortunately, we are not quite as on schedule as I had hoped to be. As a result, I have asked the students to finish writing their country report introduction this evening for homework. The thesis statements were completed in class. A hook and connecting, or bridge sentence, is all they need to add. This will help ensure we stay on track next week. We have also had less time to complete research; this means the research portion of the project is a more ongoing process than I anticipated. Please do not worry if your student has not completed his or her research; this will be finished in class. 

Otherwise, please encourage your student to keep working toward having their extension project ready for Monday, December 11th. I have six volunteers who have offered to present on that Monday. I will send out a list of dates for presentation tomorrow afternoon.

Thank you for your support!
Ms. Kinsman

The Blog Post I've Attempted to Finish for Four Days Straight

And here I am, still not finished at 4:44 on Thursday afternoon!

Conferences

How are we already to conferences and Thanksgiving? This year is absolutely flying by, and I know it is because we are having such a great year! Thank you to families that have returned conference schedule materials. I have everyone scheduled, but I am still waiting for a few confirmations. I will be sending emails out this evening to ensure we are ready for next week. If you have any last minute changes, please feel free to call the office at any time. They have access to my schedule and will make the necessary changes. I am also available to complete conferences over the phone. 

I would like your student to attend conferences! I find the students do well when they can hear and discuss their successes and areas needing improvement in person. On the other hand, I also understand when delicate topics are best handled by the adults. Either way, I look forward to meeting with you next week. 

Scrip Sales

Another HUGE thank you to your support of our sixth grade fundraiser. We had over $2,000 of Scrip orders this week. That is wonderful! We will be promoting another sale during conferences. If you are available to help sell Scrip on the Monday or Tuesday evening of conferences, from 5:00-8:00 pm, please let me know. We would like to have a table at the bottom of the stairs, where parents can stop and make a quick Scrip order. You will need to be able to collect checks or cash, ensure order forms are filled out correctly, and answer questions about the program. Please let me know if you are available to help, and I'll sign you up!

We will also be doing Scrip gift card sales at this year's Santa's Workshop. We will be selling $5 Starbucks, Cold Stone, and Burger King cards. Again, we need parent support to help manage those sales. If you available to "man" a Scrip table during the day, from December 11-15, please let me know and I'll add you to our volunteer list.

Homework and the Holidays

This week, I introduced our country report. Students have been assigned a country from the Americas to research, write a report, and complete an extension activity. This evening, your student should be showing you the extension report options and come back tomorrow morning with a decision on which project they will complete. The assignment sheet also includes the important due dates. Please note that research does NOT need to be completed by tomorrow. I will give some additional time after Thanksgiving to finish this portion of the project. 

In the coming weeks, I will not be assigning additional writing homework, as I would like the extension project completed at home. The formal writing piece will be completed in class. The students will need to be ready to present their projects the week of December 11-15. Each extension project is a little different, so I do not have a set of standard expectations for the presentation. However, the students should come with a completed project, which they can discuss with the class, on December 11. Presentations should be fewer than five minutes in length. 

Have a wonderful weekend! See you soon,
Ms. Kinsman

Trying to Keep Track of the Week

The coming week and a half has a number of special days. It probably doesn't help that the elementary, middle, and high schools are all on different schedules! Please see below for a (hopefully) helpful guide.

Wednesday, November 1	Visit from Nate (Maritime Museum) to finish painting and preparing our boats.
Friday, November 3	Pajama Day; 6th Grade Read-In; Pride Assembly
Wednesday, November 8	School and Evening 6th Grade Music Performance Evening Show at 6:30 Students Arrive at 6:15 Be sure to buy some Scrip (more information to come)
Thursday, November 9	No School: Report Card Preparation Day
Friday, November 10	No School: Veteren’s Day

It will be a busy, but fun, two weeks! Conferences are also just around the corner. I will be sending home scheduling information soon. We will likely wait until conferences to pass out report cards. This will give us a wonderful opportunity to discuss your child's progress and goals for the year. 

Have a Happy Halloween!

-Ms. Kinsman

Halloween Looms Before Us...

Whew! What a busy couple of weeks we have had here in the sixth grade. The coming month is filling fast with a number of activities and projects. Let's start with next week!

Halloween

On Tuesday, October 31st, we will be holding our Halloween party at 1:40pm. It will go for an hour. I have one parent volunteer helping to gather food, but could use a couple more for food prep and general support throughout the party time. If you would like to join us, please feel free to send a quick email, and I'll put your name on the list.

Scrip

The sixth grade is starting a new fundraiser. We will be selling Scrip. If you have never purchased scrip before, it is basically buying gift cards for local stores and getting a cut of the value of the card. For instance, we get 4% of every Fred Meyer gift card we sell.

In the past, the office has sent home scrip information, placed the orders, etc. However, very few people participated. We plan to change this! The sixth grade team is pre-purchasing gift cards to sell directly to families! We think we will have a lot of success and have a lot of ideas on how to boost interest.

Here's where you could help: we need a few parent volunteers who would be willing to man Scrip tables 1-2 times a month, maybe help place and organize orders, or coordinate volunteers. Other than working a Scrip table, much of the scrip work could be done from home. If this sounds like something you would be interested in helping with, please let me know.

The Fun Stuff

We had another visit from Nate, our mini-boat expert, on Monday. We worked on priming our vessels, designing flags and stickers, working on our first letter to the sister school in Japan, and putting the finishing touches on our instructions if our boat is lost. Our time with Nate is busy, loud, but incredibly productive. Not only are our students learning more about boats, but the writing and organization of this project is proving a valuable experience for the kids.

Everyone is busy working on the boat project.

What Else?

Finally, this week we should be wrapping up our partner interview projects. My hope is we can hold a gallery walk of the projects early next week. I am so impressed with the quality of multi-media project that students are producing this year.

We are also taking our first unit test in reading, to assess where students are at with their independent reading and comprehension levels, completing a persuasive writing pre-assessment, we have science test over genetics early next week, and are still hard at work on our geography simulation. As you can see, there is never a dull moment in sixth grade!

When the camera comes out, they get a bit distracted! However, these are your students hard at work on the second assessment of the day!

Have a great rest of the week!

-Ms. Kinsman

Some Quick Announcements

Picture Day and Homecoming

If your family is purchasing pictures of your child, please make sure to send the picture envelopes tomorrow morning. I think you can order additional prints after the pictures are taken, as well.

We also have the high school homecoming parade tomorrow afternoon. Orange and black clothing and/or spirit wear adds to the festivities. Students may change after pictures, during their lunch, if necessary.

Upcoming Halloween Party

We are planning to have a sixth grade Halloween party on Tuesday, October 31st from 1:45-2:45. If you would like to help with food or activities, please let me know as soon as possible. I might also need a parent to do some food shopping ahead of time. If you really love bargain grocery shopping, please let me know, and I'll put your skills to the test!

Box Tops and Other Fundraising Opportunities

If you have any box tops you would like to donate for the fourth grade fundraiser, they are currently collecting for the fall drive. In addition, we sent home paperwork last week for a Taekwondo fundraiser. This is a great opportunity for our PTO to make a decent amount of money. 

Finally, our PTO is also looking for volunteers to work the student store. If you would like to help out, please contact the PTO with your contact information. Here is a link to their website: http://ottopetersenparentorganization.weebly.com/ . 

Have a wonderful three day weekend!

Mini-Boats Require a lot of Sanding!

Our first visit with Nate from the Maritime museum was a huge success. I hope your students came home and shared what a fun afternoon we had! From sanding hulls, to mixing epoxy, all the students were busy helping to prepare our mini-boat for its voyage. This includes writing special instructions to attach to the vessel to help it avoid the fate of other similar boats.

I am excited for our next visit with Nate, when we will finish assembling our boat, adding paint, a name plate, and discussing our first meeting with the sister school in Japan. All around, this is going to be a wonderful experience!

Don't forget, tomorrow is crazy hair day! 

Have a great weekend! 

A Lot to Share

Checking Grades

Below I have included a Google Slide show to review how to best use Synergy with your student. About half the class was able to check their grades on Thursday using StudentVue. If you have any questions, please let me know. Grades from last week should be updated by tomorrow morning.

What Have We Been Up To in Class?

Last week, we started our Caravans simulation. Students are in teams, called Caravans, traveling the world and seeking treasures. Along the way they will encounter a number of trials, including disease, storms, and team challenges making their journey more exciting. Travel dots will be awarded to caravans with the most complete, and well done assignments. Here's a shot of the teams working on their caravan banners.

In addition to the fun we've been having in social studies, we are also hard at work on our partner interviews. Many students will be starting their digital presentation this week. Please, if you have not taken the opportunity, student access to a Gmail/Google account will help ensure this process is a smooth one for your student. I have a classroom account for those students that did not set up a personal account, but classmates will be able to access one another's work. This has been a problem in the past. Thank you for your support with technology.

Upcoming Events

On Thursday, Nate, from the Columbia River Maritime Museum, will be here to start our mini-boat project! We are super excited. Here is what I know so far: On Thursday, we will begin assembling our mini-boat. Nate will also provide about 45 minutes of question and answer time. In addition, the captain of the boat we will be taking to sea (!?) to launch our mini-boat is awaiting federal approval, but we should expect a field trip in November to release our small vessel. 

On Friday, our school is having our first spirit assembly, Pride Ticket store, and Crazy Hair Day! I am already planning my special 'do. I'll be sure to post pictures early next week. 

Have a great week! 

Ms. Kinsman

Geography Help

Students, here is the digital version of the Geography dictionary. Remember, if you are aiming for an Exceeds score, you must find an actual location for each of terms. Google is a useful search tool. Try entering phrases such as, "example of a delta".

I also included a link to the cool website I shared in class, that compared the sizes of different locations on Earth. Enjoy learning more about our beautiful Earth! 

The True Size App

The Good News and the Even Better News

The Good News

The good news is... our first homework assignment is due tomorrow! I feel pretty good about the number of students who have said their homework is already completed. Again, the purpose of our weekly writing homework is to get a little more practice in each week, and to help student learn independence and responsibility around tracking materials to and from school.

By the end of the week, grades should be updated in Synergy. The last few kinks are being worked out of the program and new report card. I'll send out an email letting families know when it is a good time to check to see if homework and assignments were turned in on time.

The Even Better News

The even better news...our classroom was one of five in the Portland Metro area selected to participate in a mini-boat program through the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Why is this so exciting? Your students will be helping to assemble a small, unmanned craft, which will be sent to Japan with a number of measuring devices on board. We will be working with the museum to track the vessel's voyage, measure ocean conditions, and share results with a sister school in Japan. 

I am still learning all the details of this incredible opportunity, but I cannot wait to get started next month. I believe this experience will prove to be unforgettable for this year's class. More information  will be coming your way soon!

Finally, graded work is now being returned to your student. I am trying to help students to remember to check their mailboxes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. If you have any questions about scored work, please let me know. 

Have a wonderful evening,
Ms. Kinsman

So Many Important Papers

This afternoon, I had your students empty their mailboxes for the first time. There were a few notices from the school I wanted to quickly discuss. The first two are notices about using Synergy ParentVUE. This allows families to check grades from home. You'll notice I also have a link on the right hand side of the screen. 

While ParentVUE is an invaluable resource, we recently made changes to our report card, which are not yet reflected in the grade book. As a result, I am waiting to enter data into our electronic system. I will be sure to let families know when the system has been updated and grades are current online. In the meantime, if I am noticing a pattern of missing assignments from your student, I will be sure to let you know. If you have any concerns, I am here to take questions as they arise.

I also sent home information about the OPPO's movie fundraiser. If your family would like to order movie tickets, please feel free to send an envelope with the order form and money back to school with your child. We will make sure it gets to the office. 

Tomorrow morning I will be distributing our first weekly writing homework assignment. Please expect this in your child's backpack. Remember, the homework is not due until the following Thursday morning. It will then be returned to your student, with a grade, on Friday morning. Your student will have an opportunity to analyze and reflect on their work and make a plan for improved writing the following week. The next week's assignment will also be attached. 

It has been a great week. The kids and I have settled into a nice routine, and we are learning a lot! Thank you again for all your support. You have wonderful students!

Have a great weekend,
Ms. Kinsman

And Now the Fun Begins!

I hope you all had an excellent back-to-school week! I know I was exhausted by Friday afternoon, and expect many of your students were tired, as well. Now that the fun of the first week is over, we will spend the upcoming week experiencing some of the more "normal" routines of sixth grade. 

On Monday, we will be breaking our students into their new math classes. It is a lot of fun to teach different groups of students throughout the day, and a good opportunity for your student to practice moving from one teacher to another. All the sixth grade teachers are looking forward to getting to know your students.

We are also starting our first language arts story, conducting a partner interview in writing, and beginning our geography unit in social studies. I guarantee it will be a busy week! On Friday, you can also expect your student's first homework assignment. More information will follow.

Finally, as part of the partner interview project, your student will be making an awesome multi-media presentation using an app called AdobeSpark. It is a wonderful, free (with no ads!), resource, which allows each student to create their own narrated slide show about a fellow classmate. This was a hugely successful project last year, with one exception: using only one Google Account for logging into the program made it nearly impossible to save the different projects without overwriting data. 

Last year, I kept track of student writing assignments using a Google Drive account shared by my whole class. However, it was challenging for each learner to keep their Google docs, presentations, and other projects protected, as the whole class could access one another's work. As a result, I am asking parents to explore creating Google accounts for your student. It is a relatively easy process, with a lot of information from Google about how to protect your young user. If you do create an account for your student, please make sure they know the user name and password. This way they can create a completely secure AdobeSpark project, and access the Google tools from school to work on and save assignments. 

If you have any questions about creating a Google account, please do not hesitate to reach out. I have a link to my school account to the right of the screen. I'll be sure to answer any email questions as promptly as possible. 

Thank you for all your support this past week. I am looking forward to seeing your students tomorrow morning!

Computer Lab Expectations

Please use the link below to join the conversation on behavior in the computer lab and digital etiquette.

Welcome Back 2017

Welcome to the sixth grade! Your students are about to begin their final year of elementary school, and I am honored to be the teacher to prepare your son or daughter for middle school!

I'm the one on the right, although the other two are pretty capable!

We have a great year in store! I am looking forward to seeing many families at this evening's Back-to-School night, from 6:30-8:00 pm. Please feel free to bring supplies, or wait until the first day of school. Also, if you are not able to make it out to the school, all the information I am covering this evening will be available on the blog early next week. In addition, I will be sure all the important paperwork is sent home with your student on Tuesday.

Otto Petersen has many changes in store for the year! Not only do we have a wonderful new principal, Matthew Wilding, but a new counselor, a PBIS update, many new staff members and...Outdoor School this spring! The sixth grade team is excited to be bringing this wonderful program back to Scappoose families. 

I cannot wait to tell you all about it this evening!

-Ms. Kinsman

You Are Now Parents of a Middle Schooler!

Thank you so much for the wonderful year. I had such a great time with all your students; they were an absolutely amazing group of kids. I hope you all have an incredible summer. Please be sure to stay in touch in the coming years. Happy Summer!!!!

The Countdown Continues

I'll start with some fun pictures before I get down to business. Here's some shots from our kindergarten visit on Thursday. It looks like we might be headed back on the 19th to help the kinders build space ships! Again, I am so impressed with the sixth graders' patience and coaching when working with these young learners. It is a lot of fun to watch. 

Speeches

We will begin our "How To" speeches tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for helping your student prepare for this final project. If your student would like to bring materials to share with the class, they are welcome. If they are planning on bringing in an animal, please let me know, so I can schedule accordingly.

Field Trip

We will be heading to Oaks Amusement Park on Wednesday. Please make sure your students arrive to school on time. We will depart as close to 8:30 as possible. Please also make sure your child comes with a lunch and beverage. While the concession stands are open, the lines are long. Students will want to make sure they do not waste time waiting in line for food!

The End is Officially Here

I was just telling the students how each year I find myself in a panic in May because I may not have enough material to carry us through to the end of the year. Then, I'll start planning June, and my panic becomes focused on how I don't have nearly enough time to do it all! We have a busy couple of weeks ahead of us! Here's what we have planned so far...

"How To" Speeches

Today, the students and I worked on a lesson to introduce the "How To" speech. This will be a homework assignment for the week. The rough draft of the speech is due on Friday, and we'll begin presentations next Monday, June 12. I found a website with a number of sample topics here. Please encourage your student to have fun with their topic and practice a lot! We don't have much time to deliver the speeches, so I'll have to cut off students who are running too long. I can't wait to see what the kids will teach me this year.

Upcoming Events

Below is a list of fun activities we have planned for the end of the year. I'll try to post updates with pictures and reminders of any materials the students will need for the activities. Please feel free to let me know if you would like to volunteer. We are always looking for extra help. 

June 7: 4th Grade Play, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" at the high school

June 8: Visit to Kindergarten at Watts to help with science experiment 

June 9: Oaks Park permission slips and $5 due; Rough Draft of Speech Due

June 12: Speeches due!

June 14: Oaks Park Visit

June 15: Last day of Math
June 16 or 19: Life tournament (If you have the game of Life, and you are willing to allow your student to bring it to class, please let me know. I would like the students to be able to play in groups of four). This activity is a fun culmination of our recent personal finance unit. Be sure to ask your student to share how they are doing on this activity.
June 16: Grade level awards; Ice Cream Social (2:00)
June 19-20: Art Workshops
June 21: School-Wide Move; Kickball tournament (with a real life, professional kick ball pitcher!)
June 21, 6:00 pm: Art Show, Mural Unveiling and Bake Sale
June 22: Last Day of School- Early Dismissal; Class Awards; Field Day

Yep, We're Still Testing...And Other Interesting Bits from the Week

State Testing

Today we started the "multiple choice" portion of the state math test (many of the questions are fill in the blank, rather than multiple choice), which will continue for the rest of the week. Many students are also still needing to finish their writing performance task. Luckily, we have a break from testing next week before we begin the math performance task.

Timbers Field Trip

If you have not already, please be sure to send your student to school with a signed permission slip and $10 for our upcoming Timbers field trip. I would like to have all permission slips returned by Wednesday. At this time I only have two parent chaperone volunteers. If you would like to join us on the trip, please let me know and I'll add you name to the list. Remember, tickets are also $10 for adults.

Catapult Project

The catapult project for Miss C.'s science class is also due on Wednesday. Your student may bring in their projects tomorrow or Wednesday morning. Any projects not removed from Miss C's room by the end of the week will end up in the garbage. Make sure your child knows how the project is getting home if you would like to save their work.

What Else is Going On?

This week we are also working the rough drafts of our Maya, Aztec, and Inca newspapers, we are starting a new book report, and we have a special Mother's Day project in the works. Despite all the testing, we are trying to maintain our routines and offer engaging relevant instruction for the end of the year.

The Next Few Weeks

Thank you to all the families who sent in extra pencils and snacks. It has helped the classroom tremendously and seeing the outside donations has helped slow food requests from students with packed lunches. I really appreciate the support!

This week, we are continuing our state test adventures with the Language Arts performance task. Students are asked to read a series of articles on the same topic, reflect on the information within the reading, and then use the information to write an expository, narrative, or persuasive piece. It is a very demanding task, but the students are working hard. 

Next week, we will begin math testing. First we will have a week of multiple choice items, followed by a week off. Then, May 15-19, we will conclude state testing with the completion of the math performance task. I can't wait!

On May 10th, the sixth grade team will be heading to Portland for our annual Timbers soccer game field trip. More information will follow soon. I have room for five chaperones, but tickets are not free. If you would like to join us, please let me know. The cost is $10.

A Few Quick Notes for the Week

This week's writing homework has to do with executive functioning skills. I had students complete a short survey to help them reflect on their strengths and weakness in the classroom environment. If you have an opportunity, please take a minute to look through the survey with your child. It is interesting to see how they think they perform in the different areas. Some kids seem very in touch with their performance, some are very hard on themselves, while others appear pretty satisfied with their skills. Enjoy!

A helpful chart from Mrs. White

I also have a special plea: we are running out of pencils, tissues, and boy are these kids hungry! For most of the year, I have tried to have a few snacks available to students that do not pack lunches. But, in the last few weeks, I have a number of students asking for food. I do not mind sharing, but I also am spending quite a bit of money at Grocery Outlet supplying these snacks. If you would like to make a small donation (think granola bars, string cheese, crackers), it would be much appreciated. If you are a cold lunch packer, please take a moment to check with you child to see if they are feeling hungry throughout the day. Some students are eating their whole lunch at snack time! Any pencils or tissues are also welcome!

Finally, report cards will be coming home with your student on Thursday afternoon. Please look for the envelope. I will also include a small slip of paper for the parents to sign indicating you have reviewed the report card. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail or telephone call. 

It's Spring!

State Testing

I hope all of you had a relaxing and refreshing spring break. In the last week, we have fully gotten back into the "spring" of things with the start of state testing. This week, your students will be finishing the first section of the language arts test. In two weeks, we will begin the essay portion of the exam. All of the kids are working very hard, taking their time, and being exceptionally respectful in the testing environment. 

You may have also noted the lack of writing homework last week; as a gift to the class, I do not assign writing homework on the weeks we have state testing. I hope the students are taking the opportunity to get outside and get some fresh air every afternoon. As we approach math testing, I may assign short writing assignments. More information will follow.

Human Growth and Development

This afternoon your student will be bringing home information about our human growth and reproduction unit. We will begin instruction next week. If you would like to look over the curriculum, or if you have any questions, please feel free send me an email. All of the materials we cover in class are available in the main office for you to preview. 

Please also take a moment to remind your student of your behavior expectations while covering this material. I have a very strict "zero-tolerance" policy for inappropriate call-outs and/or language. Students who cannot self-manage during this unit will be asked to leave class, will receive a referral, and may possibly not return to class until we are done with the unit. 

Science

Ms. C wanted me to let you know that catapults will be due on May 3rd, and the yellow folder and catapult packet are due by May 5th. The catapult project is an at-home assignment. If you have questions, please feel free to send Ms. C any queries. She is excited to see what the students create. 

Crazy Hair, Book Fair, and our Looming Spring Break

Upcoming Events

We have a few fun upcoming events. Tomorrow is crazy hair day! I am super excited to see the awesome hair arrangements this class creates. Next week, our PTO is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair. Students will be able to make purchases during our regularly scheduled library time, Monday and Thursday morning. In addition, the fair will be open during recess on Tuesday and Thursday. If after school times become available, I will let the students know.

Spring Break

Next week, we will have a half-day on the March 24, marking the start of spring break. As we move into this time of year, you might notice your student's behavior shifting at home or at school. With middle school just around the corner, the kids become increasingly excited for the end of the year. When we return from break, we will spend some time reviewing classroom expectations and start discussing study skills and habits for middle school. 

Maybe it was my years away from teaching sixth grade, but last year I noticed a sharp decline in performance after spring break. It also doesn't help that state testing takes place immediately after the break, creating an artificial sense of, "Okay, I've learned everything I need to know for the test, so now I'm done!" As as result, students do become more restless. I have some engaging activities planned for the spring and still a lot of material to cover. Any support families can offer at home, in terms of reviewing expectations, maintaining conversations about grades, etc. is welcome. I am always here to answer questions and offer help. 

I am looking forward to the coming break and getting recharged for the end of the year! Have a wonderful weekend!

Last Minute Announcements!

Twin Day

The KC Club's Kindness and Compassion Week will conclude tomorrow with TWIN DAY. Encourage your student to find a friend to match up with tomorrow. Have fun!

Grade Level Fundraisers

The sixth grade is currently running a fundraiser to help support end-of-year field trips. We are selling Otto Petersen t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other athletic wear. The ordering process is simple: visit the school website, click on the link, and place your order! T-shirts purchased online can be shipped to the school for free. We will also have sales throughout the year. We appreciate your support.

The fourth grade is also currently holding their annual clam chowder sale. Sixth graders are welcome to help support through selling of their own. Or, if you have a favorite fourth grader, give them a call and order a batch. Your purchase helps support the amazing field trips the fourth grade provides.

Middle School Forecasting

Middle school is just around the corner, and that mean spring forecasting. Next Tuesday, March 7, the middle school counselor will be here describing the middle school electives, schedules, and procedures. Your student will be coming home with a form for you to review, sign, and return to the school. Keep a look out for this material next week. 

This is an exciting time of year, but as we move into the spring I want to encourage all the students to remain mindful of their study habits (homework and classwork completion), behavior, and physical well-being. We still have a lot to cover this year, and I am looking forward to the fun!

Persuasive Writing

This week we are starting our first persuasive writing piece. You will be working with a partner to persuade Ms. Kinsman and your class that you and your partner should NOT have writing homework next week. 

Click on the link below to create an outline before you begin your piece. Be sure to print your digital outline before leaving the computer lab. They will not save!

Digital Persuasion Map

Valentines and Basketball

It has been too long since my last blog post! The days we managed to make it to school last month were incredibly productive. In fact, last week I saw the strongest performance on our language arts weekly skills test of the year. Also, student performance on content area work has been stellar. Thank you for sending your students to school ready to learn and work hard!

Hoop-A-Thon

You have hopefully seen the collection envelopes and announcements regarding the upcoming Hoop-A-Thon. This is a great fundraiser for our PTO, and I would like to see all the students participating. If you child has not brought home an envelope, please have them grab an extra from me or the front office. Even a small donation goes a long way to support the field trips, assemblies, and all the extras our PTO helps fund.

Valentine's Day (and the candy)

Oh, boy. Valentine's Day. The most anxiety inducing holiday of the sixth grade year. It has been the sixth grade tradition to hold a team Valentine's Day dance and party for many years. Don't worry: it is very low-key. Mr. Jeremiah puts together a fun playlist of dance music, and the rest of the teachers offer activities and snacks in their classrooms. It is a lot of fun!

I also allow students to pass out Valentine's Day cards in the afternoon. This is not required, but I do ask that if you student brings cards, they bring one for each of their peers. I'll send home a hard copy of our class list with your students soon.

So much candy!!!

 I am also holding a classroom discussion about the staggering volume of candy distributed during this holiday (see image above). While I love candy, and take no issue with small treats in the classroom, I was hoping we could come up with a more creative way of celebrating Valentine's day (without ruining the fun). Do you have any suggestions? Do most parents/families feel like the amount of candy at Valentine's day is okay, and I shouldn't worry so much? Let me know, and I'll take all considerations into account. There is a 'comments' section below. Or, if you would feel more comfortable, please feel free to email me with your concerns or ideas regarding Valentine's day treats. 

Report Cards

Report cards should be coming home this afternoon. There is an insert for parents to sign, indicating you have reviewed your student's report card. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's performance, please do not hesitate to call or email. 

What Else Could I Possibly Have to Share?

I want to give a special thanks to our mystery guest from Wednesday, Jason Nelson. The students loved hearing about his experience as a longshoreman. Congratulations to Daniel and Braden for figuring out his profession.

Next week we will be starting our Maya simulation- one of my favorite units of the year. We are nearly done learning about early human migration and settlements in the Americas. We will also be reading Freedom Walkers, a wonderful non-fiction book about the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 60's and will be working on our first persuasive writing piece. 

I am looking forward to a busy winter. Let's hope we have a bit more school in the coming weeks!

Welcome Back!

The new year is upon us, and we are off to a running start. This week, the team has decided that we will NOT be holding a make-up Christmas party. Instead, we will save our funds for some end-of-year fun (who knows: we might need to celebrate the Fourth of July here at school!). If, however, your student purchased a book or socks for the gift exchange, Mrs. Angelo has graciously offered to come up and lead the exchange tomorrow afternoon. 

Going Back in Time...

Before winter break began, we did manage to fit in some fun. We had a visit from the amazing film producer, John Waller, who was our third mystery guest of the year. Not only did he share some of his work, but he brought his drone! See below for some awesome pictures from his visit.

We also visited our kinder buddies and read aloud their Santa letters. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera, but the students had great fun sharing their letters and coloring holiday themed pictures with the little guys. It has been fun watching your sixth graders interact and act as role models for the younger students. I look forward to continuing our visits as the year progresses.

We also had a fun Ugly Christmas Sweat Day and Hooty Prize movie celebration. Despite our missed days, the weeks before winter break were productive and fun.

Paul was our Mystery Guest winner!

Checking out the cool drone.

Ugly Christmas Sweaters!

Quick Announcements

A couple of quick announcements: Mrs. VanDomelen, our district nurse, wanted us to let you know about a free heart health screening available on January 18, from 8:00am-3:00pm. It will be held at Scappoose High School. Here's a link for more information about this program: www.playsmartgetscreened.org

As we get back into the swing of things, please remember students will be assigned weekly writing homework. This is always due on the last day of the week. This week's assignment asked the students to write a letter to Ms. Hessong requesting a guest speaker of their choice for an assembly. In addition, you should be seeing science homework a couple of times a week through the end of January. Thank you for you support in helping students develop good study skills before the middle school homework demands of next year!


Have an excellent week! Happy New Year!