Upcoming Events
Friday, May 18th FGCS Bike Ride!
The annual FGCS Bike Ride will take place on Friday, May 18 starting at 1:30 p.m. from the school parking lot.
All student riders must have a signed permission form/waiver of liability to participate in the bike ride. Click here to download a form or pick up a copy in the school office. If you can't make it in, contact Karen Torry at [email protected] or 503-359-4600 to have a copy sent home with your student.
Students in 4th-8th grade may ride on their own with parent permission; students in 1st-3rd grade must ride with a parent/guardian or adult rider approved by a parent/guardian - sorry, we cannot make any exceptions to this. The full ride is a 6 miles loop; a shorter out and back option is 2 to 2.5 miles. We strongly recommend that younger and less-experienced cyclists choose the shorter route. Please check your inboxes for an all-school message with more details about the ride.
Wednesday, May 23rd Gales Creek: Outdoor Survival Stations ALL DAY O&A
Chaperones Needed!
Monday, May 28th NO SCHOOL Memorial Day
Wednesday, May 30th "B" Street Trail Hike: 10 essentials stations.
Early Hike! We will be walking out the the trail head at 9:30am, and returning to the school at 11:30am
Chaperones Needed!
Wednesday, June 6th Level 2 Adventure Hike & Picnic. ALL DAY O&A
The bus will depart FGCS at 9:15am - return to the school at 1:45pm
Chaperones Needed!
Friay, June 8th Last day to bring in "Tower of Books" Challenge
The challenge is a part of our suggested reading homework. It is built on two core ideas: to encourage students to read some different genres of books and authors they may not try otherwise, and to give them a fresh and motivating way to keep track of their reading.
If your student has not yet finished their tower, they can continue to work on it over the summer as a way to encourage and track reading, but will not need to worry about bringing it into school. Participation in the challenge is always optional.
Monday, June 11th FGCS Bridging Ceremony
1:00-2:30 p.m. at Taylor-Meade Auditorium (Pacific University)
This event honors our 'bridging' students (2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th graders) who are moving up to the next level at FGCS or the high school. Parents and other family members of bridging students are encouraged to attend. Doors will open for the event at 12:30 p.m. and the event will start at 1 p.m. Click here for a map of the Pacific University campus. Please note that the 2:30 p.m. end time is approximate - the ceremony may run longer.
Students may be dismissed to parents immediately after the Bridging Ceremony, but you must check out with me before taking your student. Students may not self-release after Bridging. Puffins not going home with parents after the ceremony will be dismissed at the usual time and place.
Tuesday, June 12th Field Day and Last Day of School- 3:05/3:20pm dismissal
Level 2 Suggested Weekly Homework:
Reading Homework
Spend at least 20 minutes reading (outside of school) every day.
Reading is on the "honor system" and we ask that you help your kiddo to develop a daily reading routine with good-fit books. At fall conferences, your kiddo brought home the Tower of Books wall poster, which is a fun (and optional) reading genre challenge.
Typing Homework
Level 2 students have typing homework to develop and support important keyboarding skills. Please practice at least 20 minutes per week on: Typing.com
Math homework
It is strongly recommended that your student practice math skills
at least 30 minutes (or more) per week.
This can be completed online with Dreambox or Khan Academy. Students can also play math games, or complete worksheets (you can find grade level workbooks online or at the Learning Palace).
Current 4th grade Math Topics:
- Area & Perimeter
- Measurment & Data
4th grade Geometry Homework
Area & Perimeter
Measurement & Data- Watch mini-lessons & work through practice problems
on Khan Academy
All 4th grade math students should be practicing their multiples DAILY.
4th graders have set goals and made plans for daily practice and have identified the numbers they needs to work on (ie. 6’s, 7’s, 8’s, etc.). Check in with your kiddo about this!
What's Happening in the Puffin Nest...
In class, We concluded our Oregon Trail Storypath Unit
Episode 9: Celebrating the Journey’s End
- This week, our wagon train reached the Dalles. From here, our families will travel to different places. Some may go to Oregon City, others to Fort Vancouver, and some to the Willamette Valley.
- Students shared the story of their journey on the Oregon Trail with a presentation at our All School Meeting.
As our Oregon Trail unit draws to a close, we are already looking ahead to new project work!
Our next science unit focuses on geology.
Students will complete hands-on activities and research to discover answers to the following questions:
- How can patterns in rock formations, rock layers & fossils tell a story about the past?
- What is Earth made of, and how does it change over time?
- What evidence suggests the effects of weathering and/or erosion by water, ice,wind or vegetation?
This week, students travelled to the backyard garden and learned how paleontologists and geologists learn from the past by studying clues like fossils and stratigraphy (layers of rock).
Reading Workshop: Book Clubs
These small group "Literature Circles" engage students in vocabulary study and rich conversations about shared readings. Students can express their opinions, predictions, and questions about a text in a productive, structured way while developing their reading, speaking, and thinking abilities.
Students are finishing up their first book, and getting ready to explore a new book in their book club group. Ask your kiddo to tell you about the book they are reading!
Our Book Club Books:
- The Wanderer
- View from Saturday
- Flora & Ulysses
- Because of Winn Dixie
- Bridge to Terabithia
- Holes
- The Mouse & the Motorcycle
- Cricket in Times Square
- How to Train Your Dragon
- Clementine
- The Genius Files
- Ella Enchanted
- Time Cat