Civil Rights Movement Scavenger Hunt

Use the link below to access the online scavenger hunt. Be sure to carefully record your answers on the record sheet provided. 

Scavenger Hunt Link

Hoop-a-Thon is On!

Last week, we held our kick-off assembly for the annual Hoop-a-Thon, our school's biggest fundraiser of the year. I hope you received the information sheet and envelope from your students. Families can continue to collect donations through the week of the event, January 22-24. The donation envelopes are due back to the school on February 1st.

There are a lot of great prizes, but the class with the most donations will win a basketball cookie party. I would like to encourage all the kids to try to gather at least one small donation for this event and try to win this cookie party!!

If you would like to volunteer at the Hoop-a-Thon, the sign-up link is here. It is a lot of fun to watch the kids shoot hoops. I am always astounded by their awesome shooting skills. Mr. Girres does a great job preparing them for the event.

Lately in Class...

With only two days last week, I had to get creative with our lessons. I found this great art project and article about Rosie the Riveter, the iconic woman from the image below. We kept the theme going by completing a health lesson on goal setting and having a "can do" attitude. It was a lot of fun, and as you can see, the kids did a great job on this project!

I also sent home the first homework assignment of the new year. It was a simple note taking task to help prepare for next week's writing assignment. The students will be asked to write a five-paragraph essay on personal hygiene for middle schoolers. As with most of our writing homework assignments, they will be due back on Thursday morning. 

This week we got back into the swing of things by working on another story from our language arts adoption, and we started a new science rotation with Mrs. Ashley's maternity leave substitute, Mrs. Rice. Altogether, it has been a highly productive week. It was great to have a break, but it has been nice to return to my students and start the new year off strong. I am looking forward to an excellent 2019!

- Ms. Kinsman

Look at All the School We Have!

Families, I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving break. I know we are all going to need the rest, given the busy weeks we have ahead. I have a few reminders for next week and some mention of upcoming events.

Homework

Thank you to those students who returned their Country Report Extension Project assignment papers. We will be wrapping up the writing portion of the project this week and will start the Extension Project presentations on Friday. Remember, this is not a formal speech. More an opportunity for the students to share their learning and get feedback from their peers. 

On Friday, I will send home a regular writing homework. It will be due back December 6th, followed by a second writing assignment due on the 13th. I will probably send home a short writing assignment on the 14th to turn in before Christmas break starts on the 19th. 

Service Learning & Fundraising

There are many service learning and fundraising projects happening in the coming weeks. The leadership and KC clubs are heading up a can drive, blanket collection project, and are supporting our Scrip drive. In addition, the fifth grade will be holding a book fair December 3-7th. Finally, the OPPO will be holding Santa's workshop from December 10-14th. I know they are looking for parent volunteers if you are interested in helping out. 

Christmas Party

The sixth grade will be holding a Christmas party on December 19th. Like the Halloween celebration, it will be held at the end of the day, from 2:00-2:50. I know I have one parent volunteer, but if you are interested in helping out, please let me know. 

On the note of volunteers, now that Mrs. Chase (our amazing and wonderful student teacher) is done with her placement, I will be needing more parent volunteer support. If you completed a volunteer form at Back-to-School Night, you might be receiving an email with a request for help.

Have a wonderful week!
-Ms. Kinsman

NOvember

NOvember

Yep, that's right. Get your babysitters on speed dial. It's No School November. The students and I went through their planners and marked the days we will be missing school. I've also included a list below. While I miss the working with the kids on those days, I am looking forward to conferences and the holiday season.

November 8-9: Conferences
November 12: Veteran's Day
November 21-23: Thanksgiving Holiday Break

Halloween

Thank you to all the parents who helped make our Halloween party a success. The kids' costumes were great, and the team felt like the students had a lot of fun. 

Scrip

Scrip orders are due on Monday. If you are interested in ordering Scrip, I have included a link to the form here. Please be sure to make your checks out to Otto Petersen. We will be planning two more orders before winter break, as well. There will be plenty of time to get your holiday gift cards before Christmas.

Conferences

At this year's conference, we will be reviewing your student's progress report and discussing any concerns and/or goals you have for your child. I would like to invite students to attend. Ultimately, they are the one who decides their success! If you would prefer not to have your child present, I understand. I am also comfortable asking the student to step out for a moment if necessary. I am looking forward to meeting with all the families this year.  

Awesome October

Halloween

Wow! Our first holiday of the year is already upon us, and the sixth grade teachers could use your help! Below, I have included a list of tasks that could use the support of some parent helpers. Again, if you are interested in one of the specific tasks below, please let me know. 

Our party will run from 2:00-2:50 on Wednesday, October 31. If you are coming to the party, you MUST have a background check on file and check in at the front desk before coming upstairs. 

Halloween Party Tasks 

• Go to Winco to purchase 60 reasonable priced, but decent tasting apples. Also purchase enough small caramels (bulk) and cheesy popcorn (popped and cheap!) for the whole sixth grade student body (about 165 students).

• Arrive before party to cut apples

• Stay through party to pass out food

• Stay after party to help clean up

The students are welcome to wear costumes to school on Halloween, but please remember: no gore, weapons, or masks. We are also asking students to NOT to apply make-up during the school day (this includes using markers to decorate your body!). 

Google Accounts

I was hoping our district would be establishing Google Accounts for our students this fall. Unfortunately, it looks like this may not be the case. In the meantime, I have a project I would like the students to work on, which really works much better if they have a Google account. As a result, I am asking families if they could please create an account in the meantime. I will be sending home a form with your student on how to accomplish this task. If your child already has an account, they can use that. Please watch for this form before the end of the week.

Look at all the fun we have learning with technology! This is the class studying vocabulary with  Quizlet!

Progress Reports and Conference Scheduling

Next Friday, November 2, we have no school. This is to give teachers time to prepare progress reports for fall conferences the following week (November 8-9). The progress report is new to elementary schools, and I am still learning about this process. However, I am looking forward to sharing information about your student's progress at conferences. 

Conference scheduling is also different this year. Rather than sending home a sign-up request, parents will be able to log into Signup.com to schedule a time. I will be sending home more information about this process soon. In addition, watch for information in the school's newsletter. 

Fundraisers!

Thank you to all the families who supported our first round of Scrip fundraising. A special thanks needs to be extended to Anne P. and Mindy H. (parents) for helping make sure our order was picked up and organized. The sixth grade team appreciates you participation! 

Our next round of orders will go out the week of November 5th. I will have order forms available at the OPPO's Thirsty Thursday event and will send home notification next week. I know the OPPO would love to see you there, as well! Their support helps keep our field trip costs down and provides classroom monies for supplies. It is a super fun event; I look forward to seeing you there!

How Has it Already Been More Than a Month?

Busy Sixth Graders

Time is flying by in sixth grade! We have been working hard and have now moved more into the routines of the school year. This includes our weekly writing homework expectations, more science and social studies instruction, and a nearly a full unit from our language arts curriculum. 

Our biggest project of the first quarter, the partner interview, is also well underway. Student pairs have been meeting to interview one another in order to create a narrated slide show about their peer. This week, the students will be finishing up their scripts, and will hopefully begin the technology portion of the project before the week's end. My hope is to be able to have the work completed by fall conferences so families can see what their students produced.

Scrip Sale

This week, we should also be sending home information about our first Scrip sale. Please join sixth grade families in supporting our effort to fund raise for an end-of-the-year celebration trip to Oaks Amusement Park. If you have never purchased Scrip before, it easy! Here's how it works:

1. Choose from a number of gift cards available through the Scrip program. They have a number of local options, including Fred Meyer, Papa Murphy's, and Starbucks.

2. Fill out a Scrip order form. If your student forgot their form, you may use the following link HERE, or pick up a form from the main office.

3. Send your order form, and a check or cash payment back to school with your student by Monday, October 15th. Please make checks payable to Otto Petersen Elementary.

4. Orders will be sent home or ready for pick-up on October 19th.

Halloween is Coming

Halloween is just around the corner. If you are interested in helping out with our team party, please feel free to send me an email. I will also reach out to parents who filled out 'Parties' on the volunteer form. If you have time to run errands, like picking up paper supplies and food items for the party, please also let me know. We will hold a the grade level celebration on Wednesday, October 31st, from 1:55-2:50.

The Business of Being in Ms. Kinsman's Room

We are now well underway and having a great time. Again, I am so impressed with our class. They are working hard and adjusting well to the demands of sixth grade. 

I want to thank those families that made it to Back-to-School Night. Most of my presentation focused on work expectations, grading, and special sixth grade events- namely Outdoor School. I have included a slideshow about grading below. If you have any follow up questions or concerns please let me know. I do not have much information about Outdoor School at this point, other than we will be going sometime in the spring. As we hear more information, we will pass it onto families.

First, please note the link below. After Back-to-School night, families were provided with log on information for Synergy, our grade reporting software. As your students prepare for middle school, I think it is important for students and parents alike to be aware of how to check assignments. If you have problems logging in, please contact the main office, and they will help you out.

Secondly, it is important to understand how to interpret the ParentVue information. The program is not well suited for reporting proficiency grades (i.e. does your student exceed, meet, nearly meet, or does not meet the sixth grade standard). In order to help avoid confusion, I created the following guide. Please use this information when reviewing your student's scores. 

Again, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about your child's performance. I want to ensure they all have a successful year!