Coupla Things wk33 (5/14/17)
Post date: May 14, 2017 8:28:53 PM
Happy Mothers Day!
Maker Faire: This coming Friday is the all-school field trip to the Maker Fair in San Mateo. Laura has confirmed drivers, made car groups, and written driving/parking instructions. We will leave school at around 11:30 and stay until about 4 or 5, depending upon endurance and interest. Here is the schedule from their website, and there is lots to do and see that is not listed.
Rafting: The abundant melting snowpack will provide quite the adventures this year, and the rafting company assures us that they will heighten safety procedures, even if it means rafting different portions of the river than we've done in the past. The rafting page of my site explains things in detail, but, in summary, boat groups will be formed with student and teacher input, but the kids will be forming their own tent groups, with the tent owner acting as "host". Each homeroom will be responsible for two meals (two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners). We are hiring a bus that can take about 60 passengers, but each homeroom should also have a van for overflow kids and luggage and a chaperone.
CAASPP Testing: This coming week the kids will be doing standardized testing for one to two hours per day. We teachers are not allowed to see the tests, but the practice problems that I've done online do test some of the kinds of thinking and knowledge that are valued at DCS and can be important indicators of learning. Parents, please make sure that your kid comes to school each day with their Chromebook fully charged.
Jury Duty: I have been summoned for jury service this coming week so I'm counting on the kids to be flexible and responsible if/when I might have to miss class. Monday morning I'll be at school, but the website says that I have to be available to report, at 1 hour notice, starting at noon.
Vasona: Every year I host a "boating and barbecue" event for DCS alumni at Lake Vasona in Los Gatos. This doc has details. If possible, please mark your calendar for Sunday, July 9 from 11 to 2 -- hope you can join in!
Gradebook: Today I added scores for current event sheet # 19 and curiosity slides numbers 27-30. I'm still behind on putting scores onto the Pay if Forward essays.
San Francisco Trips: I'm confident that both trips to SF taught new things about the art, culture, communities, history, and current events. The addition of scooters as a mode of transportation for two of the four days is a "keeper" idea and I appreciate that the 17 kids and two parents who went last week kept their riding relatively safe -- we were able to go to more places and stay longer. And get really tired!
Constitution Test: After two months of social studies lessons focusing on our amazing Constitution, it is time to find out what the kids learned and remember. I'll be putting together a test to see what "big picture" topics they have come to understand as well as some particulars that are worthy of memorization. There will also be an opt-out alternative assignment that I'll tell the kids about on Monday.
May 19: Field trip to the Maker Fair
May 26: Staff development day (no school)
May 29: Memorial Day (no school)
May 31 to June 2: 8th grade rafting trip
June 2: Last middle school dance
June 9: Field Day
June 13: Maker Day at DCS
June 16: Last day of school