Only 5 days left to vote for our new read aloud book.

Make sure you vote for the book you want to hear read aloud in January.  It looks pretty close. ------>

Have a Safe & Happy Winter Break!

Room 12 kids can't wait for break!  See you all back here next year!

Mr. Leach is absent today.

I am very sorry to be gone on one of the "funnest" school days of the year.
I am out today due to a family illness.  Ms. Ikada (retired JJ teacher) will be filling in for me today.  She is fantastic.  Your 3rd grader is in for a great final day before winter break.

Have a great Winter Break!  I triple dog dare you!

Holiday Homework Packet

 We are wrapping up another great week here at school.  I wasn't going to make a homework packet for the long winter break- but all week your kids pleaded and begged me for one.  

So, they are coming home with a large packet that should keep them busy for awhile.  They don't have to do all of it.  Your 3rd grader needs to pick  three of the math pages that are just right for them.  There is also a word search, crossword and several lined pages for them to write about what they did over break and a reading game.

Hopefully the homework packet will come in handy for any long car rides to relatives that you may have planned.

Tell your kids not worry, it's not due til next year!

James John T's are goin' fast!

Jesus found his size.

These Organic t-shirts designed by our PTA Parents Jason Leisge & Ben Fogarty are in the office and going fast.
$9 for kids
$13 for adults
With all profits going to James John PTA.

Pizza with Portland Police

 We had a Pizza lunch today with Portland's Finest
today in the cafeteria as part of their outreach program with PPS Nutritional Services.

Katlyn was impressed that there were three pizza choices!

Burgerville Night fundraiser Tonight! Potluck Tomorrow Night!

From 4- 8 tonight St. John's Burgerville will be donating 10% of all sales to James John School PTA.

Also, don't forget the PTA Potluck tomorrow night at school from 6- 7:30

Congratulations Adriana! Learn for Life Student of the Week.

New James John Shirts Are Here!

Ben Fogarty  & his kids modeling the super cool new shirts.

Trashcan Joe at James John

Trashcan Joe came and tore it up at yesterday for a Young Audiences Assembly.  

The quartette gets their name from a banjo fashioned out of parts of a trashcan.  Cap'n James Cook calls his invention a "trashcanjo".   Thumping "garbage can" bass,  melodic accordion, blazing "cornet" and great harmonies had all the kids rocking out to their folk/jazz/blues swing.  

Last Day for Book Fair!

Silverware Drive

Got some old  forks & spoons laying around the house?  James John School is having a silverware drive to use in the cafeteria.
Currently we are using plastic sporks that are expensive and wasteful.  Also, who wants to eat with a plastic spork?
We need to collect around 500 forks & spoons.
So ask your friends, neighbors and relatives.  And help us get off plastic.

Congratulations to Katlyn! Learn for Life Student of the Week

Mr. Leach is Absent Today & Tomorrow

I am out today and tomorrow.  One of our favorite guest teachers, Ms. Wilcox, will be filling in.

December Events @ Green Bean Books

Dazzling December Events at

Green Bean Books!

Tuesday, December 7th- Weekly Story Time, 11-11:30.

Thursday, December 9th- Bookmaking Around the Globe Class! Book Focus- Ethiopian Wish Scrolls, 3:30-4:30pm, For Kindergartners and First Graders, $8 with Materials Included- Call to Sign-up, 503-954-2354. 

Tuesday, December 14th-Weekly Story Time, 11-11:30am.

Friday, December 17th- Special Christmas Story Time, 11-11:30am.

Saturday, December 18th- Author Visit: Eric Kimmel reads The Spider's Gift: A Ukrainian Christmas Story.  Afterwards children get to make shimmering spiderweb ornaments for free, 2:00pm, Please call to sign-up for craft activity.

 

Tuesday, December 21st- Weekly Story Time, 11-11:30am.

Saturday, December 25th- Closed Christmas Day.

 Tuesday, December 28th- Weekly Story Time, 11-11:30am.

Green Bean Books
1600 NE Alberta Street
Portland, Oregon 97211
503-954-2354
www.greenbeanbookspdx.com 

(reposted from greenbean books)

Fun in the SUN!

SUN School Showcase was Friday Night.  The Auditorium was packed and the kids really turned it on.

Makai (Deondre's brother) blooming in PAST&E Song.

Taylor in a PAST&E Musical Number.

Nani belting it out in the Girls Group Choir

James with way, way too much flash.

Jesus & James (Nani's brother) also known as the Fabulous Marimba Brothers

Crazy Awesome James John Shirts Coming Soon!

National Geographic Book Sale @ Oregon Convention Center

National Geographic Preholiday Warehouse Sale - December 3-5, 2010

National Geographic is bringing truckloads of books, maps, globes, toys, clothing, luggage and more to its warehouse sale in Portland, Ore., in December. The event will be held at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Portland, from Friday, Dec. 3, to Sunday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Fourteen tractor trailers will be loaded with almost everything that National Geographic has offered for sale in the past five years. Many of the items seen in National Geographic gift catalogs as well as 300 book titles will be available. Prices will be discounted up to 90 percent.

“This year’s sale is one of the largest ever. We have more than 600 different products — that’s 200,000 of the best-quality books, maps, DVDs, toys, travel accessories and gifts from around the world,” said Bill O’Donnell, National Geographic’s director of sales, publishing.

New to the Portland sale this year will be a display of rolled and framed prints of some of National Geographic’s most iconic photographs. Also, for the first time in many years, educational materials from National Geographic School Publishing will be featured.   (reposted from http://occepoint.typepad.com/)

For more info visit the event website

SUN SCHOOL SHOWCASE TONIGHT 5:30- 7 in the Auditorium!

Jesus practicing Marimbas for tonight's Showcase!

Come check out all the cool stuff your kid has been doing during SUN School.  There's going to be music, dancing, puppets and dramatic theater!  What's that- your child isn't in a SUN School class yet?  Tonight is a great intro of what SUN has to offer your child. 
Hope to see you there!

What's Happening @ St. John's Library

Here’s what’s going on for kids at your library in December!

FOR FAMILIES (Space at programs is limited. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, except as noted.)

Book Babies

Storytime for children 0-12 months with adult.

Mondays, 10-11 a.m.

Hora de Cuentos

Se presentan cuentos, canciones y rimas en español para familias con niños de 0 a 6 años de edad.

Los jueves hasta el 16 de diciembre, 5-5:30 p.m.

Family Storytime

Storytime for children 0-6 years with adult.

Saturdays, 11:30 a.m.-noon (except December 25)

FOR KIDS AND TEENS

Teen Lounge & Homework Center

Use library computers to access the Internet and write papers; get homework help from trained staff and online tutors; or just do your homework and listen to music while hanging out with your friends.  For teens in grades 6-12.

Wednesdays through December 15, 2:45-5:45 p.m.

Find information on all Multnomah County Library events at http://www.multcolib.org/events/.  Thank you, 

-          Jennifer, on behalf of the St. Johns Library

We Had A Great Field Trip!

We had a wonderful time at the Portland Art Museum.  Thank you Jeanette, Pedro, Kimberlee, John, Gabby, Adam, Guillemina and Mr. Fairbanks for coming along and helping us make it home.  I know there were several other parents that wanted to come along and couldn't,  you'll be on our next trip.

Go to the Field Trip Page at the top to see all of the pictures

Field Trip Tomorrow!

Here are the details for tomorrows trip: Leaving St. Johns on Tri•Met at 9:15ish. Arriving @ Portland Art Museum hopefully by 10 Leaving Portland Art Museum on Tri•Met @ 12:30 and arriving back to school by 1:30. Thanks to all of you who have volunteered. We have plenty of parent volunteers for this trip. Here's hoping for dry weather!

Portland Art Museum this Wednesday

Wednesday we will be going with Ms. Johnson's class on a field trip to The Portland Art Museum.
Trudy in the Cafeteria will have sack lunches prepared for those kids who buy lunch at school.  If you haven't gotten your 3rd Grader's Parent Permission Slip and dollar for bus fare you have tomorrow and Wednesday.

Thank You Parents!

After 26 conferences over the past two days I am tired but thankful.  Not just thankful that conferences are over, but thankful that I get to work with such a great group of kids.  Your children are all incredibly hard workers and very deep thinkers.  Where do these great kids come from?  They come from you.  Great, hardworking families.  You are helping them get to school on time, helping them with homework at night and showed up to your kids conference- even though- maybe it was your third one that day, or you had to hassle to your boss to get the time off.  You did what you always do, you made the effort and showed up and support your kid.  So in case you third grader doesn't tell you, I will. 
Thank you.
I hope you have a restful Thanksgiving Break

-Mr. Leach

Green Machine Assembly with PGE

Bri, JR and Tamara, from Portland General Electric, visited our school today and put on a fantastic assembly called The Green Machine.  We learned about all of the sustainable and renewable energy options that are being developed for a greener planet.

Mucho Frio Fire Drill Today

Student Led Parent Teacher Conferences

Next Monday & Tuesday are Parent Teacher Conferences here at James John School.
Yesterday students started choosing pieces that they are going to show at conferences.  

Since the conferences are led by your 3rd Grader, it is critical that they show up with you to the conference. 

At Student Led Parent Teacher Conferences you will see:

• A portfolio of your 3rd Graders work.
• Your 3rd Grader's Developmental Reading Level
• Scored Writing
• Scored Math Assessments 
• A preview of content areas covered on their upcoming Progress Report.
• Anything else that your 3rd Grader wants to share.
• Any concerns or questions that you may have.

Importing & Exporting with Port of Portland

Brooke, Abby & Kenny from  Port of Portland stopped by this morning and helped us to learn about imports and exports.  We played a matching game to learn which items we import and which items we export here in Portland. We also learned about which items we can recycle and compost.  

We then checked out where our clothes came from by checking the tag.   We found these countries on a world map and colored them in.

Some of us tried checking our own tags- which was hard.

Off to another Great Week!

Well, we all survived Monday.  It's always a little bit of a jarring start after the weekend.  The kids did a great job on Friday with Ms. Wilcox.  I received a text from her that said "AMAZING KIDS!"
 I asked her if they were "extra recess good", or "doughnuts good".  She said, "Doughnuts for sure!"
So that's how we started the day.

All but about eight kids have turned in their book reports that were do last Friday.  I talked to those kids today and they all assured me that they would have them in soon.

Our class did FANTASTIC on the State Reading Tests that we took a few weeks back.  I'll be sharing your child's score with you at Parent Teacher Conferences next week.  Be sure and check the Calendar on the sidebar for your time.

I'm also working up a homework packet stuffed with fun that will keep your little turkeys busy all week.

Mr. L is absent today.

Ms. Wilcox will be in. She is a regular at James John. I'm sure it will be a great day. I'll see everyone on Monday.

Our Next Read Alouds . . .

I stopped by Green Bean Books this morning and did some book shopping for our class.  Jennifer was super helpful.  
I told her how much we enjoyed Because of Winn Dixie, so she suggested another book by Kate Dicamillo, The Magician's Elephant.

She also suggested a new book by Adam Gidwitz called A Tale Dark & Grimm 
Leave a comment and tell me what books your Third Grader would like to hear read this year?

No School Thursday is Veterans Day