Upcoming Calendar Events:
Monday, May 30th: NO SCHOOL Memorial Day
Friday, June 3rd:
Links to music/videos for student talent show due to Karen Torry by the end of the school day on Friday, June 3rd. Our Out & About/Talent show for level 2 students only will take place on Wednesday, June 8th.
Friday, June 3rd:
Level 2 O&A to Hagg Lake
BUS LEAVES at 9:15am
We are excited to celebrate our year together in Level 2 with an Out & About to Hagg Lake.
NOTE: Students MUST bring a water bottle, raincoat layer, walking shoes and a sun hat. Students who receive school lunch will be provided with a sack lunch. The bus departs at 9:15 am, and we will return to the school at 1:30pm.
Friday, June 10th: "Classroom Campground" tent drop off deadline
Do you have a family tent that our Puffins could borrow for a week?
We are very excited to turn our level 2 classrooms into a learning campground from 6/13-6/15. To create this fun backdrop for our activities, we need folks to loan out tents. The tents must be clean (with all their parts and poles) and big enough to hold at least 3 people. If you are able to support this activity, please send in a tent with your child by Friday, June 10th. Please note that we won't be able to accept tent loans after 6/10. Tents will be sent back home with kiddos on Wednesday, June 15th. Many thanks in advance!
Please email with any questions!
Puffins: [email protected]
Plovers: [email protected]
Wednesday, June 15th:
Bridging Ceremony at Taylor-Meade Hall at Pacific University map
9:30am- 11:30am
At FGCS, our annual year-end Bridging Ceremony honors students in 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th grade who are moving up or 'bridging' to the next level at FGCS or who are moving on to high school. This year, we are planning two bridging ceremonies, one for 2nd and 4th graders and one for 6th and 8th graders. All students will attend these ceremonies during the school day.
PLEASE NOTE: Because of the current surge in Covid cases, we're trying to limit attendance at about 50% of capacity this year, and we must limit guests at Bridging to 2 per Bridging student.
For level 2, ONLY family of 4th graders are invited to attend. Here are details for this year:
Bridging ceremonies will take place on Weds., June 15 at Taylor-Meade Auditorium on the campus of Pacific University. June 15 is the next-to-last day of the school year.
- Puffins & Plovers: The lower school (2nd/4th) ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. Weds., June 15.
- The upper school (6th/8th) ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. Weds., June 15.
Pacific University will offer rapid testing on site and strongly encourages people to wear masks. Masks will be available at the door.
Thursday, June 16th:
Field Day and Last Day of School- 3:20pm dismissal
A message from Art Teacher Stephanie:
Yearbook is on sale now for $20.
To purchase a yearbook please go to www.treering.com/validate and enter the number 1016052158063632. Students are now creating the cover of the yearbook. A yearbook is a great way to remember their time this year. If you have any questions please email Stephanie at [email protected]. Thanks for all your support!
What’s happening in the Puffin Nest?
Our current science weather unit: The Birth of Rocks
This week in science we continued our study of volcanoes. Your child learned about different kinds of volcanoes and how the thickness of the lava can explain the shape and eruption pattern of the volcanoes. Using lava made out of water and flour, they tested how different lavas create different shapes and trap gases differently. We solved the mystery, “Why do some volcanoes explode?”
You can support this week’s learning by watching this high definition video of lava flowing in Hawaii with your child: http://video.link/w/iel. See if you can figure out the shape of the volcano that’s producing the lava. (hint: the lava is pretty thin so it doesn’t trap the gas very well.) Good luck!
Out & About
Students enjoyed a "fossil dig" in the Backyard Garden this week as we extended our studies of rocks, geology, and patterns of earth features during our O&A. With a partner, students uncovered fossils and artifacts in a small replica of stratified layers of earth. We made observations about the characteristics of each layer including color, texture and feel, and uncovered objects like arrowheads, coral fossils, and even shark teeth! Students used context clues and hypothesized if the artifacts found came from a marine or dry land environment, or reflected something once living or nonliving.
Writing Workshop
Students are finishing their informational biography books during writer's workshop.
Our Process and Goals:
- Begin the informational writing journey by choosing an inspirational change maker to learn about.
- Conduct research and gather notes. As they read a biography about this person, students locate information in the text about childhood, overcoming obstacles and accomplishments
- Use an outline to organize the information from their research.
- Write an interesting beginning and conclusion.
- Write paragraphs with a topic sentence, facts and relevant details.
- Read, revise, and edit.
- Include headings, text boxes, and pictures with captions in our finished books.
Read Aloud
Our storytelling adventure continues with our current read-aloud:
The Wanderer by Sharon Creech
The Wanderer combines storytelling, adventure, family relationships, and compelling characterization to tell a tale of a difficult journey to another land and to a sense of self-awareness.
A Reminder about Level 2 Homework:
In Level 2, our homework is on the honor system. We ask families to develop and sustain this important practice at home in a way that works best for you. Having a regular routine (time/place/materials) will ensure that your child will be prepared to tackle their required homework in Level 3 more easily.
Math: at least 30 minutes (or more) of math practice each week.
Practicing multiplication math facts at home is a GREAT way to support your kiddo!
- 3rd graders should work on: 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's and 6's
- 4th graders should work on all multiplication facts for 2-12's.
We also recommend that students engage in 10-15 minutes of a math activity (math website or game) and then complete one page in their math workbook at least 2 days per week.
All level 2 kiddos brought home a math workbook (or packet) for homework practice in November. Let us know if they are ready for a new book!
For computer practice, take a moment to set up a free account for your child:
- Khan Academy: instructional videos and problem solving practice
- Prodigy: answer math questions, complete quests, earn rewards
- SumDog: solve math problems while playing video games
- Math Game Time: no account set-up required, select grade level & play!
- The public library is a great resource. Make sure your kiddo has access to lots of “good fit” books that they are excited to read. Check out our Level 2 Book Recommendations HERE.
- Read-alouds and audio books work too! Also, listen to your child read out loud, and ask them questions about their reading & thinking.