Much of this week was dedicated to conversations about our fundraiser for our class trip. Students had several conversations about establishing a business and they collectively decided that the following goals should guide their endeavor:
- Raise enough money to cover at least 100% of cost of trip (if any money is leftover, donate to a cause to be determined later)
- Learn business skills
- Work as a team
- Provide healthy choices for students
- Be role models for younger friends
- Create a profit-driven company with concern for health of customer
- Support a local business
The class also began to think about jobs within the business such as a CEO, an accountant, and a supply manager. Students interested in each job made speeches based on why they felt they were best for the job. Congratulations to those who participated and to those who were voted in to each job!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Partner Books - Final Touches!
Partner books are in the final stages! The students have bound the beautiful covers that they made with paper from their trip to the Center for the Book and are now adding the pages of their stories. The students will present their respective partners with this heart-felt gift on Tuesday at our final G.D. before break.
This year, students will be asked to leave their partner books at school for a period of time so that we can put these works of art on display for other families to enjoy before going to their permanent homes. We'd also like to ask you to join us on Friday, January 6th at 2:30pm for a special reading of partner stories. This will give you an opportunity to not only see your child's hard work, but also hear them read it to their partners. Hope you can join us! Please let me know if you have questions. Thanks,
Shanti
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Empty bins! Please help!
Wolf families,
Our book drive and River Church bins are very empty! Please remember to try to make a donation next week. Your donations will go far in helping families in need. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks!
Shanti
Our book drive and River Church bins are very empty! Please remember to try to make a donation next week. Your donations will go far in helping families in need. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks!
Shanti
Finishing Touches
The Wolves have been in overdrive this week to make sure their maps are just right for tomorrow's presentations. They've been sanding, painting, and hot glueing all the pieces together. They've also been locating individual watersheds and marking these out on their finished maps. Hope you can join us tomorrow at 2pm to see all of their hard work come together!
Shanti
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Book Drive and River Church!
Pages for Patients
The Willowwind community is working with Willowwind alumnus, Meg Richardson, and the City High Ambassadors to collect as many pages as possible by donating new and very gently used books for all ages, 0-99. These books will be donated to the UIHC library and in-patient book cart. As we can all only imagine, time spent in the hospital can be full of anxiousness and worry. The Pages for Patients Book Drive provides patients with books to keep them entertained while visiting UIHC. City High Ambassadors' goal is to collect 20,000 pages. If you are interested in participating there is a drop off bin by the Front Desk and outside our classroom door. Willowwind will collect books until Tuesday, December 21st. Please help bring a smile to the patients staying at UIHC.
Willowwind Food Drive
Please take a moment to donate a non-perishable food item, or two, or more. Students often enjoy raiding their own cupboards for non-perishable items they can bring in to donate. Food donation bins are located upstairs near the Front Desk, by our classroom door, and downstairs near the Preschool Lost & Found. Willowwind will collect nonperishable items until December 16th. Please help stock the River Church Food Drive shelves. Your participation will help many families throughout the Winter months.
The Willowwind community is working with Willowwind alumnus, Meg Richardson, and the City High Ambassadors to collect as many pages as possible by donating new and very gently used books for all ages, 0-99. These books will be donated to the UIHC library and in-patient book cart. As we can all only imagine, time spent in the hospital can be full of anxiousness and worry. The Pages for Patients Book Drive provides patients with books to keep them entertained while visiting UIHC. City High Ambassadors' goal is to collect 20,000 pages. If you are interested in participating there is a drop off bin by the Front Desk and outside our classroom door. Willowwind will collect books until Tuesday, December 21st. Please help bring a smile to the patients staying at UIHC.
Willowwind Food Drive
Please take a moment to donate a non-perishable food item, or two, or more. Students often enjoy raiding their own cupboards for non-perishable items they can bring in to donate. Food donation bins are located upstairs near the Front Desk, by our classroom door, and downstairs near the Preschool Lost & Found. Willowwind will collect nonperishable items until December 16th. Please help stock the River Church Food Drive shelves. Your participation will help many families throughout the Winter months.
Newsletter Updated and Presentations this Friday!
Wolf families,
Our newsletter has been updated with curricular information about this month. Also, I wanted to remind all families about this Friday's watershed presentations. The start time has been moved up a little to 2:00pm because the Burrowing Owls will also be making a short presentation about their mapping project. If you can not make it until 2:15, please just be sure to walk in quietly as presentations will already be underway. Hope to see you Friday!
Shanti
Our newsletter has been updated with curricular information about this month. Also, I wanted to remind all families about this Friday's watershed presentations. The start time has been moved up a little to 2:00pm because the Burrowing Owls will also be making a short presentation about their mapping project. If you can not make it until 2:15, please just be sure to walk in quietly as presentations will already be underway. Hope to see you Friday!
Shanti
Monday, November 14, 2011
Center for the Book
Wolf families,
On Monday, November 21st, the Wolves will be headed to the Center for the Book with Buffy and the Burrowing Owls. On this trip, the students will get the chance to begin making paper for their upcoming partner book illustrations! What a cool way to start this project! We will leave right after lunch and will be taking the bus. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Shanti
On Monday, November 21st, the Wolves will be headed to the Center for the Book with Buffy and the Burrowing Owls. On this trip, the students will get the chance to begin making paper for their upcoming partner book illustrations! What a cool way to start this project! We will leave right after lunch and will be taking the bus. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Shanti
Thanksgiving Feast
Wolf families,
Next Tuesday, November 22nd, Willowwind students will be putting on their annual Thanksgiving Feast! This is a wonderful time for the school to come together and enjoy a home cooked meal together. Each class will be in charge of different aspects of the meal. This year, the Wolves have decided to cook mashed potatoes with gravy on the side and macaroni and cheese. The Wolves have put together a shopping list and have split up the duties of bringing in the items. Please have all items to school no later than this Friday. We also need parent volunteers to help with set-up, serving, and clean up. Please visit the Thanksgiving Feast spreadsheet to see what your child needs to bring and to sign up for a volunteer position. Feel free to sign up for more than one spot if you have the time. Thanks so much and please let me know if you have questions.
Thanks,
Shanti
Next Tuesday, November 22nd, Willowwind students will be putting on their annual Thanksgiving Feast! This is a wonderful time for the school to come together and enjoy a home cooked meal together. Each class will be in charge of different aspects of the meal. This year, the Wolves have decided to cook mashed potatoes with gravy on the side and macaroni and cheese. The Wolves have put together a shopping list and have split up the duties of bringing in the items. Please have all items to school no later than this Friday. We also need parent volunteers to help with set-up, serving, and clean up. Please visit the Thanksgiving Feast spreadsheet to see what your child needs to bring and to sign up for a volunteer position. Feel free to sign up for more than one spot if you have the time. Thanks so much and please let me know if you have questions.
Thanks,
Shanti
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Fall Conferences
Wolf families,
On November 10th and 11th I will be in Chicago presenting at the Progressive Education Network conference on last year's class play curriculum. These are also the dates for fall conferences. I will therefore be holding conferences on November 3rd and November 7th. Please sign up for a conference on the attached form: Fall Conference Sign-Up. I hope these dates do not inconvenience anyone. If none of these times work for you, please email me and we can schedule another time. Thanks for your understanding,
Shanti
On November 10th and 11th I will be in Chicago presenting at the Progressive Education Network conference on last year's class play curriculum. These are also the dates for fall conferences. I will therefore be holding conferences on November 3rd and November 7th. Please sign up for a conference on the attached form: Fall Conference Sign-Up. I hope these dates do not inconvenience anyone. If none of these times work for you, please email me and we can schedule another time. Thanks for your understanding,
Shanti
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Halloween Celebration and Dia de los Muertos
Wolf families,
On Monday, October 31st, preschool - 6 students will have a Halloween celebrations. In the week before, students will be working with their partners to create representations of different prairie animals. On the 31st, students are welcome to bring costumes to school and change into them after lunch recess. Families and friends are welcome to join us for both the costume and pumpkin reveal as well as fall treats in the indoor play space at 2:45pm. This year, Chef Gabby will preparing all treats with the help of the Cottontail Rabbits and Prairie Racerunners.
Students will also be celebrating Dia de los Muertos on Wednesday, November 2nd from 9:00 - 9:30am. Please join the students for a variety of presentations as well as the traditional alter. Danielle has placed a sign-up sheet with volunteer opportunities at the front desk with Amber.
Hope to see you at all at these exciting events!
On Monday, October 31st, preschool - 6 students will have a Halloween celebrations. In the week before, students will be working with their partners to create representations of different prairie animals. On the 31st, students are welcome to bring costumes to school and change into them after lunch recess. Families and friends are welcome to join us for both the costume and pumpkin reveal as well as fall treats in the indoor play space at 2:45pm. This year, Chef Gabby will preparing all treats with the help of the Cottontail Rabbits and Prairie Racerunners.
Students will also be celebrating Dia de los Muertos on Wednesday, November 2nd from 9:00 - 9:30am. Please join the students for a variety of presentations as well as the traditional alter. Danielle has placed a sign-up sheet with volunteer opportunities at the front desk with Amber.
Hope to see you at all at these exciting events!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
ITBS Testing: 10/19 - 10/25
Wolf families,
On Wednesday, the Wolves will begin ITBS testing. The testing will continue until the following Tuesday. Testing can be nerve racking for children and it is therefore important for parents and teachers to calm nerves and ensure that students are eating appropriately and sleeping well the night before testing. Please talk to your students about the importance of rest during this time.
It is also extremely important for the benefit of all children that your child arrive at school between 8:15 and 8:25am so that they are ready to begin testing promptly at 8:30am. Our class time is extremely valuable and starting testing on time means that we can end on time and move on to other curriculum. It can also be very disruptive for other students when a child walks into the classroom when testing has already begun (research shows that disruptions like this can greatly alter test scores!). I therefore ask you to make every effort to ensure that your child is at school early. Thanks for you help in ensuring a serene testing environment for all students.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
On Wednesday, the Wolves will begin ITBS testing. The testing will continue until the following Tuesday. Testing can be nerve racking for children and it is therefore important for parents and teachers to calm nerves and ensure that students are eating appropriately and sleeping well the night before testing. Please talk to your students about the importance of rest during this time.
It is also extremely important for the benefit of all children that your child arrive at school between 8:15 and 8:25am so that they are ready to begin testing promptly at 8:30am. Our class time is extremely valuable and starting testing on time means that we can end on time and move on to other curriculum. It can also be very disruptive for other students when a child walks into the classroom when testing has already begun (research shows that disruptions like this can greatly alter test scores!). I therefore ask you to make every effort to ensure that your child is at school early. Thanks for you help in ensuring a serene testing environment for all students.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
ITBS Testing: 10/19 - 10/25
Wolf families,
On Wednesday, the Wolves will begin ITBS testing. The testing will continue until the following Tuesday. Testing can be nerve racking for children and it is therefore important for parents and teachers to calm nerves and ensure that students are eating appropriately and sleeping well the night before testing. Please talk to your students about the importance of rest during this time.
It is also extremely important for the benefit of all children that your child arrive at school between 8:15 and 8:25am so that they are ready to begin testing promptly at 8:30am. Our class time is extremely valuable and starting testing on time means that we can end on time and move on to other curriculum. It can also be very disruptive for other students when a child walks into the classroom when testing has already begun (research shows that disruptions like this can greatly alter test scores!). I therefore ask you to make every effort to ensure that your child is at school early. Thanks for you help in ensuring a serene testing environment for all students.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
On Wednesday, the Wolves will begin ITBS testing. The testing will continue until the following Tuesday. Testing can be nerve racking for children and it is therefore important for parents and teachers to calm nerves and ensure that students are eating appropriately and sleeping well the night before testing. Please talk to your students about the importance of rest during this time.
It is also extremely important for the benefit of all children that your child arrive at school between 8:15 and 8:25am so that they are ready to begin testing promptly at 8:30am. Our class time is extremely valuable and starting testing on time means that we can end on time and move on to other curriculum. It can also be very disruptive for other students when a child walks into the classroom when testing has already begun (research shows that disruptions like this can greatly alter test scores!). I therefore ask you to make every effort to ensure that your child is at school early. Thanks for you help in ensuring a serene testing environment for all students.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Watershed Mapping
The Wolves have begun choosing locations for their mapping project. Check out all the great math the students used to calculate the area of each part of the grid! Tomorrow, students will begin to look at topographical maps. Next week, we'll start creating sketches of topographical maps of our respective sections of the grid.
Harvest Preserve
The Wolves spent the afternoon walking to Harvest Preserve. The preserve is a beautiful sanctuary right off of Scott Blvd! What an amazing piece of land just a few miles from Willowwind! The Wolves walked to the preserve and spent much of the walk discussing the ridges and valleys of the east side of Iowa City. These conversations will serve as a great base for examining topographical maps. Walking up and down hills made the locations of waterways extremely apparent to the students. We ate lunch on the banks of the pond pictured above and then spent some time hiking the trails. The students especially loved jumping the rocks across the pond!
Picture Day
Tuesday, October 11th is picture day! Order forms can be picked up at the front desk. Please fill them out and return them to Amber no later than Tuesday before school.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Walk/Bike to School Day: This Wednesday
This NEXT Wednesday, October 5th is national Hike It / Bike It to School Day! We are so excited to be participating in this nationwide wellness initiative!
Students and families who live close enough to safely walk or bike to school may do so from home. Those who do not, can park at the First Avenue HyVee (812 South First Avenue). We will be gathering on the South side of the building near the bike path. Parents are welcome to join in the walk or bike with their child. The route will be marked with balloons. HyVee's nutritionist is donating fruit and drinks for breakfast and she wants to join us for the walk. We will aim to leave the parking lot around 7:45 a.m.
K-6 students will be practicing sidewalk and street-crossing safety this week as a part of their Movement class. They have discussed the importance of bright clothing and biker's should be reminded to always wear a helmet.
If you choose to bike, bring a lock!
Whether from your home or from HyVee's parking lot we hope to see you join in!
Students and families who live close enough to safely walk or bike to school may do so from home. Those who do not, can park at the First Avenue HyVee (812 South First Avenue). We will be gathering on the South side of the building near the bike path. Parents are welcome to join in the walk or bike with their child. The route will be marked with balloons. HyVee's nutritionist is donating fruit and drinks for breakfast and she wants to join us for the walk. We will aim to leave the parking lot around 7:45 a.m.
K-6 students will be practicing sidewalk and street-crossing safety this week as a part of their Movement class. They have discussed the importance of bright clothing and biker's should be reminded to always wear a helmet.
If you choose to bike, bring a lock!
Whether from your home or from HyVee's parking lot we hope to see you join in!
Field Trip: Harvest Preserve, Bring Your Bike!
This Wednesday afternoon, the Wolves have the opportunity to explore Harvest Preserve. This beautifully restored land is just a few miles away from Willowwind. Since Wednesday is also walk or bike to school day, we thought this would be a wonderful opportunity for students in the Wolf class to decrease their carbon footprint and bike to a nearby location! Please bring your child's bike and helmet to school on Wednesday. If your child does not have a bike, please let me know as soon as possible.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Newsletter Updated
The newsletter has been updated. Please check it out to find out important information about curricular activities for the month of October.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Harvest Fest: Volunteers and Supplies Needed
Wolf families,
This year's Harvest Fest will take place on September 25th. The Wolves have chosen to run two games: the Maze and face painting. We need students and their families to sign up to volunteer to run each activity. Please sign up on our sign up sheet: Harvest Fest. We also need the following supplies:
- face paint
- brushes
- hay bails for maze
If you can provide any of these items, please let me know. Also, if you'd like to serve as the point person for organizing supplies and volunteers for Harvest Fest, please email me. Any help is much appreciated!
Thanks,
Shanti
This year's Harvest Fest will take place on September 25th. The Wolves have chosen to run two games: the Maze and face painting. We need students and their families to sign up to volunteer to run each activity. Please sign up on our sign up sheet: Harvest Fest. We also need the following supplies:
- face paint
- brushes
- hay bails for maze
If you can provide any of these items, please let me know. Also, if you'd like to serve as the point person for organizing supplies and volunteers for Harvest Fest, please email me. Any help is much appreciated!
Thanks,
Shanti
Details for Camping Trip
Wolf families,
I can’t tell you how excited I am for our upcoming camping trip! The Wolves have decided to move the location of their trip to Kent Park because Lake Macbride has closed their canoe rental shop early this year. After our trip on Wednesday to Kent Park, the students were excited to hear that the park has canoes as well as over a thousand acres of diverse terrain. Kent Park also has the added benefit of Brad, an extremely knowledgeable naturalist that will accompany us on our canoe trip.
The Wolves spent much of Friday morning planning meals, preparing a packing list, and dividing responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning up, and setting up camp. The students have worked together to determine almost everything that you see on the attached document. PLEASE READ: Wolves Camping Trip Information Sheet.
This week, the students will also work together to create a rubric of goals that address the following categories:
There is a wealth of information in the document attached above but please do not hesitate to post questions directly under this blog. Just click on comments and you'll be able to post. If you have a question, others may have the same one! You’re also always welcome to email questions.
Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!
I can’t tell you how excited I am for our upcoming camping trip! The Wolves have decided to move the location of their trip to Kent Park because Lake Macbride has closed their canoe rental shop early this year. After our trip on Wednesday to Kent Park, the students were excited to hear that the park has canoes as well as over a thousand acres of diverse terrain. Kent Park also has the added benefit of Brad, an extremely knowledgeable naturalist that will accompany us on our canoe trip.
The Wolves spent much of Friday morning planning meals, preparing a packing list, and dividing responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning up, and setting up camp. The students have worked together to determine almost everything that you see on the attached document. PLEASE READ: Wolves Camping Trip Information Sheet.
This week, the students will also work together to create a rubric of goals that address the following categories:
There is a wealth of information in the document attached above but please do not hesitate to post questions directly under this blog. Just click on comments and you'll be able to post. If you have a question, others may have the same one! You’re also always welcome to email questions.
Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!
K-6 Field Trip to Kent Park
This past Wednesday, K-6 students took a field trip to Kent Park to research the attributes of a prairie. What an amazing way to kick off our year long study! Students spent the day carefully maneuvering their way through a forest of 10ft tall cup plants, studying the biodiversity of prairies versus mowed lawns, and using dichotomous keys to identify plants. Ms. Brooke posted a wonderfully descriptive blog about the trip. Please check it out to hear more: Prairie Racerunners. You can also check out pictures of our exciting day at: Prairie Research.
Older students had the added challenge of doing all of this while having their younger partners in tow. I overheard one Wolf kindly asking one of her partners, who had charged far ahead, to make sure he was in eye-shot of her while constantly encouraging her trepedatious other partner to continue through the unknown prairie. Never mind the fact that she herself was trying to find her way through the maze of plants that lay ahead. I was amazed by not only this moment, but the overall concern and patience all of the Wolves had while serving as not only caretakers, but also educators of their younger friends. What a wonderful opportunity for the Wolves to not only increase their own knowledge of the prairie, but also challenge themselves to serve as constant leaders. I was incredibly proud of each and every one of them.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Goal Setting Conferences
Wolf families,
Goal setting conferences will take place on September 22nd and 29th. This year, I'd like to ask students to attend the conferences so that they can be a part of this process and take on responsibility for their goals. Please sign up for a conference at the following link: Sign-Up Sheet. You can also access the sign-up sheet under the important reminders section.
Goal setting conferences will take place on September 22nd and 29th. This year, I'd like to ask students to attend the conferences so that they can be a part of this process and take on responsibility for their goals. Please sign up for a conference at the following link: Sign-Up Sheet. You can also access the sign-up sheet under the important reminders section.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Newsletter Updated and New Photos!
Wolf families,
Our newsletter has been updated. Please visit the newsletter tab or just click on the news icon above to see these updates. The newsletter contains information about our curriculum for the upcoming month and is a great way to stay up to date on class happenings. There is also an archive section in which you can find newsletters from past months.
There are also photos from our first few weeks of school under the photos tab. As always, you can download any of these photos by right-clicking on the image and saving the image to your computer.
Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend!
Our newsletter has been updated. Please visit the newsletter tab or just click on the news icon above to see these updates. The newsletter contains information about our curriculum for the upcoming month and is a great way to stay up to date on class happenings. There is also an archive section in which you can find newsletters from past months.
There are also photos from our first few weeks of school under the photos tab. As always, you can download any of these photos by right-clicking on the image and saving the image to your computer.
Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend!
Newsletter Updated and New Photos!
Wolf families,
Our newsletter has been updated. Please visit the newsletter tab or just click on the news icon above to see these updates. The newsletter contains information about our curriculum for the upcoming month and is a great way to stay up to date on class happenings. There is also an archive section in which you can find newsletters from past months.
There are also photos from our first few weeks of school under the photos tab. As always, you can download any of these photos by right-clicking on the image and saving the image to your computer.
Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend!
Our newsletter has been updated. Please visit the newsletter tab or just click on the news icon above to see these updates. The newsletter contains information about our curriculum for the upcoming month and is a great way to stay up to date on class happenings. There is also an archive section in which you can find newsletters from past months.
There are also photos from our first few weeks of school under the photos tab. As always, you can download any of these photos by right-clicking on the image and saving the image to your computer.
Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Upcoming Field Trips
On Friday afternoon, the Wolves will be take a short walk down to Ralston Creek to begin looking at the quality of the water in this creek. Please have your child dress appropriately (shoes/sandals and clothes that can get wet).
Next Wednesday, September 7th, the K-6 classes will head to Kent Park to begin our yearlong study of the prairie. Students will meet with a naturalist and learn about the attributes of tall grass prairies. Students will be outside for most of the day and should dress appropriately for that day's weather. We will all be taking a bus to the park and we therefore ask that each family contributes $5 per child to offset the cost of transportation. Please send this money to school with your child by Tuesday, September 6th.
As always, please contact me with any questions.
Next Wednesday, September 7th, the K-6 classes will head to Kent Park to begin our yearlong study of the prairie. Students will meet with a naturalist and learn about the attributes of tall grass prairies. Students will be outside for most of the day and should dress appropriately for that day's weather. We will all be taking a bus to the park and we therefore ask that each family contributes $5 per child to offset the cost of transportation. Please send this money to school with your child by Tuesday, September 6th.
As always, please contact me with any questions.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Wolves Camping Trip!
As many of you may have heard from the excited buzz of your children, the Wolves will soon be going on an overnight camping trip! This trip will serve not only as an incredible community building activity, but also give students the opportunity to challenge themselves both physically and mentally. Camping together this early in the year is exciting, as it will foster your child’s growing independence. I am personally thrilled to spend this time with the class and have the opportunity to watch their independence continue to grow between this early overnight and our extended trip at the end of the year. What a perfect way to work together, push our limits as individuals and as a team, and use the natural world as our classroom. With the goals of personal growth and team building as well as our water curriculum in mind, students have worked together to come up with an itinerary that includes canoeing, orienteering, wetland activities, shelter building, cooking over an open fire, a night hike, and much more!
The trip will take place on September 19th at Lake Macbride. We will leave Willowwind at 8:45am on the 19th and will return by the end of the school day on the 20th. Carly, Christine (our new Movement teacher who has worked with School of the Wild at Lake Macbride), and I will be chaperoning the trip. In terms of group supplies, we are in need of tents and canoe transportation (Lake Macbride’s boat rental will be closed for repairs and we therefore need to rent canoes from another location). If you have either a tent that we can borrow or a way to transport canoes, please email me as soon as possible. In the coming weeks, students will work together to create a packing list and plan menus for every meal. I will send these details out when the students finalize plans but please let me know if you have any questions in the mean time.
The trip will take place on September 19th at Lake Macbride. We will leave Willowwind at 8:45am on the 19th and will return by the end of the school day on the 20th. Carly, Christine (our new Movement teacher who has worked with School of the Wild at Lake Macbride), and I will be chaperoning the trip. In terms of group supplies, we are in need of tents and canoe transportation (Lake Macbride’s boat rental will be closed for repairs and we therefore need to rent canoes from another location). If you have either a tent that we can borrow or a way to transport canoes, please email me as soon as possible. In the coming weeks, students will work together to create a packing list and plan menus for every meal. I will send these details out when the students finalize plans but please let me know if you have any questions in the mean time.
After School Enrichment Classes
Don't forget to sign your child up for our optional After School Enrichment program. Let the learning continue after school! Willowwind is offering a variety of exciting classes for your child to participate in. The After School Enrichment classes begin on September 14th and go through November 17th. Classes are $110 for one or $210 for two. If your child is a full-time ASP friend just pay $190 for two courses.
After School Enrichment Classes Include:
Fiber Arts and Textiles (Every Wednesday 3:30 - 4:30)
Painting (Every Wednesday 4:40 - 5:40)
Spanish Club (Every Thursday 2:30 - 3:30)
Creative Drama (Every Thursday 3:40 - 4:40)
Please see this flyer for more information.
After School Enrichment Classes Include:
Fiber Arts and Textiles (Every Wednesday 3:30 - 4:30)
Painting (Every Wednesday 4:40 - 5:40)
Spanish Club (Every Thursday 2:30 - 3:30)
Creative Drama (Every Thursday 3:40 - 4:40)
Please see this flyer for more information.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Willowwind's Nutritional Practices
Willowwind students are continually thinking about their impact on the world around them. We have been spending our first few group discussions talking about the impact of food waste and what we can do to reduce our own waste. Please check out this link, nutritional practices, to find out more about these practices. There's also a nutritional section under the curriculum tab. Thank you for supporting our students' efforts!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Running Club!
I am extremely excited to announce the first session of running club! Sessions will occur every Wednesday from 3:15 - 4:15pm and will begin this Wednesday, August 24th. Please add your child's name to the spreadsheet at the link below by Tuesday afternoon if you would like your child to join. They will need to bring running clothes appropriate for that day's weather and running shoes.
We will be spending the next several weeks preparing for the Run for the Schools 5K on Sunday, October 9th. It is not mandatory for running club members to run in this race but it would be great for as many members as possible to participate. Additionally, once a week sessions will not be totally sufficient for students to prepare for the length of this race. I ask that all students that are participating in running club (even if they are not attending Run for the Schools) run at least once or twice a week aside from running club to ensure that they are continually getting their bodies ready for long-distance running. Students are welcome to do this running during recess if they are not able to do it after school. Please let me know if you need suggestions on length of runs, locations, or safety concerns.
This year, I am opening up enrollment to all Burrowing Owls and Wolves (3rd-6th grades). However, I am unable to safely supervise this many students on the run because of varying running levels and will therefore need parent volunteer(s) each week. Please add your name to the spreadsheet at the link given above if you can help out any Wednesday between August 24th and the end of October (if the weather stays warm, we will extend sessions into November). You DO NOT need to be a runner to help out. If you'd like to use this as an opportunity to start running yourself, please join us! We would love to have you! If I do not have enough parent volunteers, I will need to limit numbers so please help if you have the time. We also need parent volunteers to lead both walking and running groups at Run for the Schools. Please add your name to spreadsheet if you are interested.
Hope to see your child on Wednesday!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Surveys
Parents and students: please check the sidebar for links to our parent and student surveys. We'll use this information to help create goals for this year. The surveys will also help me get to know you. Students, please submit the survey by Monday, August 22nd. Parents, please submit by Friday, August 26th. Thanks and please let me know if you have questions.
Using the Blogs
A great way to interact with our class is through our blogs. Just click on the comments button right under the post that you would like to comment on. Post questions under the blog tab or make recommendations for books under the shelf tab. Students, if you’d like to make a comment on one of the blogs and do not have your own email address, you can use your parents email address. You can also receive updates whenever this page is updated by filling out the email form at top of this page. If there is a particular blog post that interests you and you want to be updated every time someone makes a comment on that post, just click on the “Subscribe by Email” button when you make a comment and you’ll automatically get email updates. Happy posting!
Wolf Class Website: Now Open for Viewing!
Welcome to our website! Browse around and check out all of the features of this website. Parents and students, if you want to see something on this site that isn’t already here, drop me an email from the contact tab. Any feedback is welcome! This is YOUR website so let’s make it what you want it to be.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)