Bike in North Portland This Sunday!

Portland Sunday Parkways is this Sunday and it's in North Portland.  Come out and enjoy the fun!

Meet Matt Morton, Your Portland School Board Member

Matt Morton is our PPS School Board Member representing our cluster and we couldn't be happier.
He stopped by this spring and visited with our class.  

SUMMER OF READING BOOKLISTS

This summer, don't forget to read with your kid.

Check out Multnomah County Library Great Summer Reading Program.

Looking for great books?  Check out their booklists.

See our own fabulous James John School Librarian Ms. Rolfe's Summer Reading List for incoming 3rd Graders

Jennifer at Green Bean Books compiled a great summer reading list for our kids going into 4th Grade.

Have A Great Summer!

Class 2010-2011

Thank you Parents for making this year, the best school year ever for your 3rd Grader.  Teaching means always saying good bye.  Although some years the good byes are harder than others, this year was one of the hardest.  Through the tears in your children's eyes this afternoon- I was reminded again of the profound influence of a caring classroom.  On my best days, I have tried to teach your child with my whole heart and like parenting, it can sometimes be heart breaking work.  Today was one of those days.

Thank you for your trust, support and active participation this year, your 3rd Grader will never forget it.

Have a great summer,

Sam Leach

 

Mr. Ferrarro Ball

Chris' cone fit just right.

This morning we went into the gym and played Mr. Ferraro Ball.  It's sort of like kickball, except to get out-- the team in the outfield has to get the ball to the pitcher right away.  When the pitcher bounces the ball- any runners not on a base are out.  There were several cones in the gym when we walked in this morning, so we added a rule that kids had to kick and run the bases wearing the cone.  The game may be renamed Gnome Ball.

Victoree is ready to run.

Action shot.

There could be several runners on the same base at a time.

Cameron getting ready to kick.

Best Part of Me Poems Posted

Our Poems just came down from Starbucks this afternoon.  Just in case they didn't survive the trip home in your 3rd Graders backpack.  They are posted on our Student Writings Page

Thank you to Sara, Kelly and everyone at Starbucks for supporting our work.

Last Day of 3rd Grade Tomorrow!

Mailboxes this afternoon.

Tomorrow is our last day of school.  Your 3rd Grader came home with lots of good stuff today.  Please empty their backpack and have them bring it back tomorrow.  We will be filling it again.

If you have any pack animals such as mules or alpacas grazing in your backyard, have your kid bring them as well, and we'll load them up as well.

Picture of an actual 3rd Grader leaving Mr. Leach's Class.

Our Final 7:59 CLUB

THANKS PARENTS for getting your 3rd Grader to School on time all year long. 

Room 12 Auction

Kassandra (former student) and Julio's sister, helped us  out.

 Our class has created a lot of really great artwork this year.  Some of it by individual kids and some of  it by table groups.  Each month a new table group is formed and their first job is to decide what their group name will be and to create a flag.  This year we started with Native North West Animals, then went on to Portland Bridges, and finally Planets.  These are large pieces that all of the kids want to take home.  At the end of each school year I give each student $6,400.00 in play money and we auction the pieces off.

It's a great economics lesson- and really fun to watch.

Adrianna thumbing through her funds.

  

"Try to get a number in your head, before you bid."

Victoree trying to decide how much she wants to spend  on the item.

Jesus is really concentrating.

Each kid put their name on the back of their money.  One of our rules is that you can only bid using your money.

  

In case of a tie (each kid wanting to spend $6,400.00 on a single poster) it comes down to Bear, Salmon, Mosquito- our version of paper, rock scissors, 

 

Victoree was the winning bid for the "Racoon Poster"

Gabby was the highest bidder for the "Burnside Poster"

The bidding was heated.

Orlando won the Sellwood Bridge Poster

Deondre had the record bid for the Mountain Lions Poster.

We only got through half of our items up for bid.  The Auction will continue tomorrow.

Check Out Our Last Field Trip

We walked down to the WPCL under the St. Johns Bridge Friday.  See the whole trip on Our Super Fun Field Trips Page

Turns Out. . . We All Scream For Ice Cream.

Thanks to our wonderful PTA for scooping out a great Ice Cream Social after school today.


Chevella worked the Vanilla . . .


Doris dished the mint. . .


While Justine unloaded the Chocolate. Big thanks to our award winning PTA for all their tireless efforts this year making James John a great place to grow.