High Sierra Day Three

Here are the last of the pictures from our awesome trip to High Sierra Outdoor Institute. We had a great trip and really enjoyed the experience.

Click here to view the Day 3 Pictures

High Sierra Day Two

Well it has been a very long day. We started with a nice French Toast breakfast and went right into our first learning experience of the day. The students learned about the ear canal while simulating a deer hearing a predator. The students then broke off into their hiking groups for their different classes. Without giving everything away I will let the pictures and the students speak for themselves when they return. We had a fantastic Mexican themed dinner and then headed to campfire for songs, skits, thoughts, and of course s'mores. Everyone is doing great including the parent chaperones who have been working very hard.

We should be returning around 2:30 tomorrow afternoon. I will keep the office notified about our progress. Remember someone will need to check out the students from either myself, Mr. Phillips, or one of the office staff upon our return.

View the Day 2 Album Here

Day One High Sierra

We have made it and had a great day. We got here and had a very informative Orientation Hike followed by a delicious pizza lunch. We then took a nice hike and learned about our 5 senses. Next we had some free time and visited the canteen to fill up on snacks. The students were then challenged with a few puzzles that they needed to complete as a group. It was nice to see the teamwork come together to solve these puzzles and challenges. We wrapped up the day with a fantastic pasta dinner and a night nike. The students participated in a really cool experiment using life savers. They are currently getting ready for bed and getting ready for a busy day again tomorrow.

View the entire album here.

Update for May 17th

Happy Sunday,

It is hard to believe that there are only three weeks left in the school year.  That does translate to 13 days and a lot is happening in Room Echo and at STREAM. 

California Mission Project

This week students will be working on their Slide Show and Video or Animation presentations that are due on Friday, May 22^nd.  Check in with your student to see how they are progressing.  These can be accessed at home via their Google Account.

Rough drafts of the Mission Project Report will be returned to the students to complete for their final report that is due on Friday, May 28^th.

On June 1^st and 2^nd students will be presenting their Mission Projects.  This week they will have the opportunity to select which day they will present.  Parents are invited and encouraged to attend their student’s presentation.  A schedule of presentation times will be forthcoming.

Last Day of School Activities

A school wide earned party will be hosted by STREAM on the last day of school, Thursday, June 4^th.  Details are still in the works but it will be a day of fun and celebration.  As mentioned this is an earned event.  Students must maintain attendance, classroom participation, behavioral, and academic expectations to attend. 

I am also looking for parents to organize and help with a classroom lunch on the last day of school.  Please email me if you would like to help.

Odds and Ends

I hope you have had the opportunity to take a look at the classroom garden.  It is growing nicely thanks to the students taking on the daily responsibilities of maintaining the garden and plants. 

Next week on Wednesday, May 27^th, Room Echo students will participate in a Skype phone call with the developers of our Handouts application.  Students will be able to speak to the developers asking questions about the program and giving the developers their feedback on ideas and changes they would like to see to the program. 

Two summer camps are being offered at STREAM for STREAM students this summer.  A MythBuster Science Camp will be offered from June 15^th through June 26^th and a Lego Robotics Camp from June 29^th through June 3^rd.  Enrollment forms have been sent home with your students and are also available in the office.  Please note that space is limited in both of these camps.

The final two Track My Progress Tests will be taken this week with the results on their report cards.

This is also the last week of Genius Hour.

Important Calendar of Events – Please keep handy for your reference.

·      Friday, May 22^nd – Video/Animation and Slide Show due.

·      Monday, May 25^th – no school – Memorial Day Holiday.

·      Wednesday, May 27^th – Skype Handouts call.

·      Thursday, May 28^th – last in class day to work on California Mission Project.

·      Thursday, May 28^th – second semester Showcase.  Details to follow.

·      Friday, May 29^th – California Mission Project due.

·      Monday, June 1^st – California Mission Project presentations – day 1.

·      Tuesday, June 2^nd – California Mission Project presentations – day 2.

·      Tuesday, June 2^nd – Open House 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm.

·      Thursday, June 4^th – Last day of school.

(Click on the image to see all pictures.)

Mid Week Update

Good Afternoon,

My apologies for not getting this update to you sooner as I was out sick yesterday.

This week is very busy week for Room Echo. We have a field trip tomorrow and the rough drafts for the Mission Project Essay is due this Friday, May 15^th.

Regarding our field trip to the Pioneer Museum in Paradise tomorrow, Wednesday, May 13^th, I have asked the students to dress for the experience if possible. They will also need to bring a bag to carry home the mementoes that they will create; a water bottle; and a cloth napkin (paper is ok if you do not have cloth).  The weather is a bit cooler in Paradise so it is recommended that your student bring a jacket or sweatshirt.  Lunch will be provided but please pack a light snack. I will be taking many pictures and will post them upon our return.

On Friday, May 15^th, the rough draft is due for the Mission Project Essay. I have asked students who are behind to work on them at home. Please check in with you student to see how they are progressing. Many students are done or very close to being done.  As a reminder timeliness is a part of the final project grade.

This weekend I will send home an update with what the rest of the school year looks like as well as information about summer camps being offered here at STREAM.

January 14 - Update

Dear Parents,

We have had a successful start to the year 2015. The students have returned excited, enthusiastic, engaged and ready to learn.

Students are reviewing and familiarizing themselves with multiplication and division facts.  They are working on multiplying large numbers (100s and 1,000s) looking for patterns in their problem solving.  They are also learning to use different strategies to solve word problems ie: working backwards to find the solution.

We will be starting Literature Circles within the next week.  Students will be grouped and focused on analyzing the different text features of the book they are reading.

Your student is also learning that Legos are not just for play but to learn.  We are focused on science and engineering as they learn about the different types of gears and how they “mesh” together to make an object move.  They are also are learning how weight controls velocity.  During Tech Time your student has been building a “puff mobile” in which they must construct a vehicle that will go the furthest distance by just a puff of air.  Here again they are learning about weight distribution and aerodynamics.  Their creativity is definitely helping them to think about the possible designs to develop the automobiles of the future.

Within the next month we will begin the study of the California Regions and Missions.  Students will begin to research their projects looking at it from the eye of an architect and developer.  They will create drawings, a 3D model and provide information to persuade other students why they should visit their selected mission.  They will create a power point presentation and/or a visual display to convince others why they should visit their historical mission with an emphasis on the specific California Region in which their mission was built.  Parents will be invited to view the presentations.

Upcoming happenings and events:

January 12^th – February 6^th   Playground Coin Drive

January 19^th                           No School – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 20^th                           Blueberry Twist Lunch and Benefit Dinner

January 27^th                           Windsync Contemporary Musical Group Performance Field Trip

February 13^th                         No School – Lincoln’s Birthday

February 16^th –  20^th             No School – Mid Year Break