Congratulations Battle of the Books Kids!

Our Battle of the Books kids were honored today at our awards assembly.  We had four kids from Room 12 that battled this year.

Nani, Thea, Taylor and Emily participated in Ms. Rolfe's Battle of the Books.

Congratulations to our Students of the Month

Congratulations James, Victoree and Jesus, our Students of the Month for March

New Student Writings Posted

We have been writing up a storm in Room 12.
Check out the new student writings at the top of the blog.

Principal Shelby Sure Taught Us A Lesson!

Katlyn took copious notes

Today Ms. Shelby stopped by our class and taught a great strategy for dealing with Word Problems.  As you have probably noticed in the homework, many of the math problems that your third grader is asked to do are Word Problems, which is a nice way of saying Story Problems.  We don't use that term anymore because of all the painful emotional baggage we adults have associated with the term.

The kids (and I) were thrilled to have Ms. Shelby stop by and help us with Word Problems.

It was a great lesson, and we all learned a lot.

Principal Shelby explaining the objectives of the lesson.

Great Job on Attendance!

Thank you Parents for getting your Third Grader to school on time this morning. I know it's hard after being off all last week. This morning we had 22 kids in our class on time, with 2 tardies and 2 absences. I think that's really impressive. Thank you for helping them make it on time!

Thanks Trinity (& Family) for the Clorox Wipes

Reading Garden

Join us Saturday, April 2 as we transform the front area of the school into a Reading Garden. We will be digging out a path, laying pavers, planting, etc.
Materials provided through a generous Building Healthy Community Grant from The Home Depot Foundation. Fun starts after 9:30, and will go all day.

Stranger Danger Alert!

 Apparently, their was an attempted abduction last Wednesday of a  student as they walked to George Middle School.
At school, we have been talking about Safety all month.
Ask your third grader what they should do if a stranger tried to talk with them.
Have a Safe Spring Break.

Congratulations Hunter! Our Learn for Life Student of the Week!

Ms. Elisa, our Learn for Life Teacher, "Knighting" Hunter as Student of the Week.

Hunter & Mr. Murphy Celebrating.

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Top of the Morning to Ya!
Today is St. Patty's Day.  Instead of pinching those who are not wearing green.  We decided to think of people at school that we feel lucky to work with and make shamrocks for them.  Today we will be taking these shamrocks off of our door and giving them to those people.
No School Tomorrow.  Have a Great Spring Break!

Oh, Barnacles! Spring Break Fun Packet Coming Home Tomorrow!

Coloring courtesy of Gabby. 

Your Third Grader will be coming home Thursday for a very long Spring Break (Friday March 18th and not returning until Monday, March 28).  That's 10 days of fun.  So, in order to help them (and you) over the long break, besides coming home with a big smile- they'll also be coming home with a big homework packet.  They do not have to complete the entire packet.  Please have them do at least two of the math pages and read (or read to them) two of the animal articles and write a response about what they learned.   They can also write about all of the fun adventures they had over Spring Break.
Packets are due Monday (3/28) when they get back.

Have a Super Fun Spring Break!

-Mr. L.

James' Birthday Party

James had a great Birthday Party tonight!

His Mom and Dad made a lot of delicious food.

James with his family and Julio and Kassandra.

Happy Birthday James!

James turned the big 0 9 today. His Mom brought in Pizza.

As with every student in Room 12 who has a birthday, James was treated to a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday.

Join the Club

This Monday our class will be starting a new club.  There are no enrollment fees, no annual fees, no dues of any kind.  In fact, this club will be giving prizes to it's members.  Each week, club members will be eligible to receive amazing prizes.  It's easy to join.  Just make sure your third grader is at school and lined up with our class either outside on the playground, or in the gym when it's raining by 7:59 AM each school day. Everyone lined up will get to sign in on the 7:59 CLUB Roster.  On Friday afternoon, the third graders who have made the roster every day that week- will be rewarded.

Make Beautiful Music Together

Here's a site you and your third grader can go to compose your own song : http://inbflat.net/  Choose from 20 different instruments.  Start and stop them at anytime.  It always sounds great because everyone is playing in the same key.  Let me know how your tunes turn out.

New Recess Sightings

The picture I uploaded onto our Recess Sightings Page may look old, but they're not.

SUN School Winter Showcase Tonight!

2,430 Pounds of Food!

That's how much food our School collected during our "Second Wind" week of giving to Oregon Food Bank.

Congratulations James! Our Learn for Life Student of the Week

Testing, Testing . . . 2 . . 3

Kids taking round 1 test back in November.

We just completed our second round of Oaks Math Testing and our class did an amazing job.  I wish that I could post scores here, but I can't.  As you know, your third grader has been working incredibly hard all year long and today's test scores prove it!

Thank You Chalk Ink Markers!

Today we received a generous donation from our friends at  Chalk Ink Markers !

A few years ago I was standing in line at Starbucks and I noticed how cool their signs were.  I asked the barista what they used and she said Chalk Ink.

I figured that if these great markers could sell coffee, maybe they could also help our class learn to spell and increase vocabulary.  So, I started using them on our Word Wall.

These markers are not cheap, so I wrote to Chalk Ink and asked if they'd consider sponsoring our class.

As you can see, today we received a monster package of Chalk Ink Markers!  Thank You Chalk Ink!

Victoree, Brenda, Orlando, Malke and Elias in front of our Word Wall with our surprise.

Eat at St. Johns Burgerville anytime tonight between 4-8 and support our PTA.

Mr. L. is still out.

I am home sick again today.  Unfortunately Ms. Hoffer was not available today.  However, Joanna Suckow is in for me today.  Joanna has subbed at James John quite a bit.  She is the daughter of our Reading Specialist at James John, Joyce Suckow.  I hope to be back at school tomorrow.
Tomorrow is a late start day.  School starts at 10:00.

Congratulations Thea! Our Learn for Life Student of the Week!

Getting Twisted at International Games Night

Tonight was International Games Night. A few of our Third Graders enjoyed Twister.




















Thanks for the Photos Gigi!

March's Focus: SAFETY

Katlyn shows Ms. Nahurski her saftey plan.

This month, as a school, we are focusing on Safety.  Given the recent tragedy involving one of our students being injured at crosswalk last month, we have been talking a lot about how we can get to and from school safely.  Our wonderful school guidance counselor, Ms. Nahuski, visited us today and we talked about how we can be safe at home, at school and out in the neighborhood.

We identified safe places and safe people.

It's important that kids have their home address and their parent's phone numbers memorized.

We also talked about how to be safe online. Never talk or text with anyone online that they don't know and never, ever give out personal information.

Ask your third grader about their safety plan.

Dr. Seuss Day

Today was Dr. Suess's Birthday.  We spent the afternoon celebrating everything Suess.

Ms. Rolfe, our wonderful School Librarian.

Ms. Ikada, retired James John Teacher, showed us how to make Oobleck

Everyone got to to try it.

Its not really a liquid . . . .

. . . . and not really a solid.

But it is totally messy.

Ms. Besses

Ms. Angela brought in her chickens.

We tried to write some silly short stories like Dr. Suess.  

Below are videos of a few of the kids reading their stories

All the Who's in Whoville.