Post date: May 30, 2016 8:55:59 PM
Hello Room 25 Students and Parents.
A four day weekend seems like a good warm-up for summer vacation – something we can certainly get used to! The calendar is packed with great stuff from now until graduation and so I think that this email will be just a wordy preview of each of those events.
Tuesday, May 31 (tomorrow):
1. Tents: Tenthosts should bring their tents to school, with a name tag on as many of the components as possible (at the end of last year’s trip we had many poles, stakes, and bags). We’ll be getting into tent groups and setting them up out on the field after recess and then kids can leave their tents at school.
2. Personal Graduation Page: On Wednesday of this past week I explained this and read a bunch of “I Am” poems to the kids and provided them with a template that Mr. Dowling sent to me. The kids can use any format that they wish as well as include subtle background graphics that support their piece. Thisdocument should link to each and they should be done and ready for Marcy to print them on Tuesday.
Wednesday, June 1:
1. This is student appreciation day, but hey, for me, what day isn’t? The “DCS Has Talent” show has about 40 acts, so kids, prepare to be patient, supportive, and hopefully entertained. There will probably be an intermission (extended recess) after about half of the acts have performed.
2. Vocabulary quiz for set 14
3. Bring your duffle-bag to school today, because at 2:00 we’ll be loading cars and the bus for our departure for the foothills and our rafting of the South Fork of the American River. Sometimes Easy Bay traffic slows us down, but we’re hoping for a 5:30 arrival at Camp Lotus. Check the packing list, linked from here, paying particular attention to the footwear that you’ll use for rafting. Waterproof heel-strapped sandels are great (Teva, Keen, etc) as are old tennies. Sunglasses and a hat will be good as well.
Thursday & Friday, June 2 and 3:
Rafting Trip: The water levels of the SFA are controlled daily at the Chili Bar dam and the rise doesn’t reach Coloma until about 11 AM, so on Thursday morning there will be time for a relaxed breakfast and games – if you have something for that (football, Frisbee, paddleball, etc) please bring it. The plan is to be on the road by about 4:30 on Friday, getting us to DCS a bit after 7:00.
Monday to Friday, June 6 to 10: I’ll be teach Google Apps stuff to 50 teachers in Hawaii, and Rob Keller will be helping our class to keep the fun and learning going in room 25 for the week. He’ll be implementing a “Zombie” project that rooms 29 and 26 have already done as well as teaching two lessons of his own. The usual routines of vocabulary, current events, and curiosity slides will continue as well.
Thursday, June 9:
Design Challenges (Science Fair, part 2). I have been uncharacteristically quiet about this whole thing and I’m really not sure why. When the kids and I discussed science fair months ago, we got fairly excited about doing the usual bridge, tower, and catapult projects as well as some other “build, code, or destroy” projects as well. I hope that my detachment from the whole thing hasn’t impeded anyone who is interested and/or participating. I’ll build in two one-hour sessions during the week so that the interested kids have some class time to work on something, even if it is small. Design, engineering, and construction interest and skills are diverse, but in my experience, only increase with exploration.
Friday, June 10:
Field Day: For their whole DCS career, these kids have participated in Field Day activities organized by Mr. Snyder and run by the 8th graders. Now it is their turn to rise up and give the younger kids equally fun and rewarding experiences. I hope that our class in particular steps up where needed and shows the maturity and selflessness to work hard for the benefit of Mr. Snyder and the whole k-7 crew. Lunch on this day, by the way, is a pre-order barbecue.
Monday, June 13:
Pool Party: All of the 8th graders will be leaving DCS at 9:30 and walking to the Los Ranchitos Cabana Club (lrcc.org) to play in their pool, grass, and basketball court. Parents, please pick them up at about 1:00 at the pool (near San Tomas Aquino & Campbell Ave – stones-throw from “my” taqueria).
Tuesday, June 14
No big events planned (yet), but this is an early dismissal day.
Wednesday, June 15
Deep breath; this is a busy and important day. We’ll be going to Moreland Community Center for graduation practice in the morning and I’m sure that Jane and Susan will be calling you to help with the timely and quick drive over and/or drive back at about noon, I think. Graduation itself is, according to my calendar, at 5, but any information from Lisa Hiatt and the graduation committee supersedes mine, of course. The graduation party follows the ceremony and ends at 9:30. Seventh grade parents host and chaperone that event and I’ll be there for a bit to help if/as needed.
Thursday, June 16
The end-of-the-year assembly is a time for 8th graders to give their sage and amusing advice to upcoming middle schoolers and to “walk the stage” in destination high school groups. After that we’ll do some final room cleaning, discuss/coordinate summer plans, and share good-byes. I’m excited for these kids and their further journeys but also not eager to end our incredibly beautiful schooldays, trips, and friendships.