Maleke is Learn For Life Student of the Week

Adriana is October's Student of the Month

Hunter is also October's Student of the Month!

Get A Load Of These Characters!

Whose scaring who?

Yikes!

Girl Power!

Arrrrrrrrrrrgh!

Opera in the hallway.

Thank you Taylor (and family)  for bringing dry erase markers in for our class!

Healthy Halloween!

Just a quick reminder that our class is having a Halloween Party tomorrow.

Portland After-School Tennis on KGW this Morning!

A few of our kids were falling asleep in class this afternoon
(which isn't normally what happens here at James John) 
 Kids involved in the PAST&E program had a sleep over.
 KGW stopped by early this morning around 4 a.m. to check out the fun.

Our Librarian Ms. Rolfe got caught in her own web of reading!
Actual web courtesy of James John Parent & local artist Lori Epp

$500.00 Oregon College Savings for your Kid!

Looking to promote reading?

The state has a reading game and  simliar to Multnomah County Library's summer reading game.  The prize is  $500 put in an Oregon College Savings Plan.  To win, students must do 3 things:

1)complete the gameboard by coloring in the squares for every time they read

2) read 3 books from the recommended book list. 

http://www.ost.state.or.us/Read/Recommended%20Reading%20List%202010.pdf

3) Mail, submit their form online or turn their form in to me by March 18, 2011

Parent/guardian and child must have  a valid social security number to win.  On a private note, this program has been going on for four years, and I have not yet heard of an instance where a family has had trouble with  their information being used any other agency (read ICE).  I have all the materials in the library.

-Ms Rolfe

Student of the Month Assembly

As completly crazy at it may sound.  And it sounds crazy.  Our school is having our Student of the Month Assembly this Friday at 1:15.  Congratulations Adriana B. and Hunter Cox! 
Hmmm Trick or Treat?  You decide.

Talking It Out with Ms. Nahurski

by Gabby Ford

Ms Nahurski is our school guidance counsleor.   I chose to interview Ms. Nahurski because I like people who help people.  I had a few questions for her.  Here's what she said.

Did you like school growing up?

  "Yes, I did., a lot.  I especially liked elementary school."

What are some things that you like about our school?

  "I like working with our great staff and helping the families in our neighborhood."

How did you become a school counselor? 

  "I took classes at Lewis & Clark College.  I also did internships at several different schools, watching other counselors and practicing new skills."

What do you like best about being a school counselor?

  "I love getting to know kids and trying to help them feel better about themselves.  I also like helping them to get along better with each other."

What are some jobs that you have at our school?

  "I teach lessons in classrooms, lead small groups in my office.  I also talk with kids one on one when they are having problems."

What other schools have you worked out?
  "James John School is my first position as school counselor, and I've been here seven years.  Before that I interned at Rose City Park Elementary, Franklin High, Hosford Middle, and Beaumont Middle School."

What do you think makes our school special?
  "I think it's the support that comes from the community of people who send their kids to school here, the kids who learn here and the commited teachers and staff."

What should our next read aloud be?

What should our November Read Aloud be?
Post your suggestions or email me

Portland After School Tennis & Education

I just got back from the Portland After-School Tennis & Education open house and my head is still swimming.   After watching the kids do some tennis drills, Taylor & Deondre gave me a tour of their super nice classrooms where they read, learn about other cultures, engage in life skill activities and receive one on one help with their homework.

 All of this happens at the St. Johns Racquet Center just a block from our school.  The program is 3-6 Tuesday through Thursdays.  Summer programing is also available.

PAST&E is a program that has partnered with our SUN School.  If you are looking for a high quality after-school class for your child, I highly recommend looking into this program. 

Always the quietest kids in the hall.

Maleke Rocks!

Last month Maleke brought in a really cool GEODE that his dad had found a while back.  When I saw him struggling up the stairs with it, I thought  maybe he had brought a bowling ball in his backpack.  Along with being a super fun to look at- we found that it made a great paper weight.



Keeping Fit With Mr. Barnes

by Taylor Wassmuth

Mr. Barnes has been at our school for a long time.  He has been teaching P.E. since I was in Kindergarten.  He's probably the best P.E. teacher the school has ever had.  I got a chance to interview him.  Here's what he said:

Did you enjoy school when you were a kid?

  "I enjoyed most of school, but I liked playing at home more.  Recess and P.E. were my favorite."

What was your favorite subject in school?

  "I (of course) loved P.E, but I really enjoyed math and would like to teach High School Math someday."

Did you ever want to quite school?

  "At first I thought going through High School would be enough, but soon realized, that to get a good job, I would have to go to college.  Which I ended up really enjoying."

Have you every wanted to be anything instead of a P.E. Teacher?

  "I started into college wanting to be a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) but I got bored."

Why do you like being a gym teacher.(And you can't say the summers off.)

 "I do like the summers off, but I like that I get to play games with kids every day that I loved playing as a kid. What could be better than that?"

Woolly Bears in Room 12 !

Katlyn surprised us today when she brought BEARS INTO THE CLASSROOM!

Not real bears.  Woolly Bears, that she found at her Aunt's Farm. 

We looked them up on Wikipedia and learned a ton of interesting facts. 

Ask your 3rd Grader what they learned about these fuzzy little caterpillars.

Homework Raffle

No, we're not raffling off extra homework.  As we all know, homework is due every Friday morning.  For the past few weeks I've been telling kids that if the whole class can get their homework in on time- that we will have dougnuts on the following Monday.

Well, it hasn't happend yet.  I'm not sure it will.  We always have a few kids that forget.  So we are going to try a different incenetive for gettiung homework in on time.  Each 3rd Grader who hands in their homework on time this Friday will get a raffle ticket.  We will then be raffling off two or three really great prizes each week.

What are the prizes?  I have no idea. I guess I'll know by Friday.  Parents, if you have any ideas- let me know.  I'm open to suggestions. 

Green Bean Books

 If you're looking for a great independent bookstore to go to with your family, and feel like Powell's is too far away, check out Green Bean Books on NE Alberta St.   I just went there this afternoon with my family and I was amazed at not only how many great books they had, but how they all seemed to be "hand picked".  No matter what you or your 3rd Grader are in the mood for- Jennifer can help you find just the right book.

And yes, they do have a nice selection of grown up books.

 

http://www.greenbeanbookspdx.com/

Our Pile of "Leaves"

Autumn is all about change.  Weather changes from warm to cool.  Days change from long to short.   Trees seem to blush at the coming frost before shedding all of their leaves.

Our class has been discussing what we’d like to change.  Whether it’s “leaving” something we don’t want to do anymore, or “leaving” our room a little cleaner. This is our pile of “leaves”.

-Mr. L

Julio is a "Reading Machine"




"It's perfect kickball weather!" - Thea

 

Meet Our New Principal: Ms. Shelby

by Thea Sawyer

This year at James John School we have a new principal. Her name is Ms.Sheby.

I was very lucky to get an interveiw with her because she is very busy.

Here is what she said . . . .

 What was your favorite subject in school?
   "Reading.  I won a reading contest in 2nd grade and the prize was a book,".

Was homework to easy for you?
   "Easy for reading and writing but math was a little chalenging,".

What was the job you had before?
  "I was a teacher for a teacher for Kindergarten and 4th grade."

For how long? 
  "For thirteen years."

What was it you dreamed of becoming a child?
  "I always wanted to be a teacher.  My older sister taught me how to read."

Whose steps did you want to follow in?
  "My 8th grade teacher who I had for Language Arts and Social Studies."

Why was that?
  "He opened my eyes to the injustices in the world and the importance of working for the equity of everyone."

Why did you decide to become a teacher?

  "I was inspired by the poor performance of my eldest son's teachers.  I knew that all kids deserve better."

What do you like best about your job in school?

  "I like collaborating with the staff and working with kids."

Have you ever considered a profession in High School or Junior High or even College?

  "Yes, I have thought of  working at a college or  in a middle school."

Was college challenging or easy?

  "It was very interesting and challenging at the same time."

What classes did you take in college?

  "I took classes on Education Law, Finance, Evaluation, Leadership, tons of courses."

Did you drop out of any school?
 "No, but I transferred from University of Oregon to Portland State and Lewis & Clark College."

Were you a good artist in school?
  "I was okay, but I loved the (art) classes."

What are some of your hobbies?

  "I like reading, spending time with my family and dog, camping, gardening, sewing.  My first sewing project was an apron for my mother that I made in Home Ec."

Did you grow up in Oregon?

  "Yes.  I'm a fifth generation Oregonian, which means my family goes a longs ways back. My Great- Great-Great Grandparents lived here.

Coolest Science Experiment Ever!

http://www.brooklynspaceprogram.org/BSP/Space_Balloon.htm

Remember Picture Day is Today.

Our class is scheduled to have School pictures taken this afternoon.

Kruger's St. Johns Farm Stand

We just got back from the Kruger's Farm Stand on Lombard.  Large selection of (mainly local) fresh produce and the prices weren't too bad either.

Interesting Article in Today's NY Times on Bullying

"What is that thing?"

How many times when you have been out hiking or at the park with your kids have you been asked that question?  They see an interesting looking bug or plant and they expect you to know what it is.

I came across this amazing Google application called Project Noah.  Using your iPhone camera you can shoot an image of pretty much anything that is a living organism- and it the ap will tell you what your looking at.

Cost of the Ap:  Free
Looking like the smartest person in the world to your kid: Priceless

Load to your iPhone Here

• 
  All
• 
  Plants
• 
  Mammals
• 
  Birds
• 
  Invertebrates
• 
  Fungi
• 
  Reptiles
• 
  Amphibians
• 
  Fish
• 
  Pets
• 
  Other