Monday, November 8th: Level 2 kiddos will be bringing home a math workbook (or packet) for homework practice. See the "Homework-Schedule-Class Info" tab above for more information.
Thursday, November 11th: Veterans Day, NO SCHOOL
November 24th-26th: Thanksgiving Break, NO SCHOOL
2021-22 School Year Calendar
Donations Needed!
In preparation for our final NW Story path episode on November 17th, we are calling on Puffin families to make a small food donation. Our final episode involves a special celebration with a feast of traditional foods which we will celebrate outside.
We need your help to make it really special!
Please take a look at our food list below, and select an item (or items!) that you would be able to donate.
NOTE: To comply with state laws and to be safe for food allergies in the classroom, please send only commercially packaged food items.
As these donations are all dried/package sealed items, you can send your donation in with your student any time between now and the 16th of November.
- Dried Berries (blueberries/strawberries/huckleberries)
- Dried Roots (vegetable chips)
- Dried Meat- (Jerky: salmon/turkey/elk or beef)
Dressing for Cold & Rainy Weather :
To ensure comfort and general happiness, please make sure that your kiddo is prepared for the weather.
- Students should wear or bring weather/activity appropriate footwear and an outer jacket that can repel water.
- Having an extra layer in the backpack (warm sweater/hoodie) to put on after being outside is really helpful.
- We have also seen a lot of cold hands lately, so please consider keeping a pair of warm gloves in your kiddo's backpack.
Recess: Twice Everyday
NOTE: Students can always bring extra clothes/socks/shoes and masks (these can be kept in backpack or tote bag that they hang on their hallway coat hook).
If you need any help getting rain gear/warm gear for your kiddo, please let us know!
What’s happening in the Puffin Nest?
NW Coastal People Storypath: EPISODE 7
This week, our NW Story path encounters another critical incident.
During the middle to late 1800s, new settlers from the United States traveled to the Northwest Coast, which was part of the Northwest Territories, and started establishing communities and laying claim to the land.
This week, a settlement appeared near the students’ village followed by a land dispute and a smallpox outbreak. The action began when students received word that the people of the settlement were going to cut down the trees in the forest for lumber and that all native people must stay out of the forest.
Next, a message from the settlement arrived asking for food and other supplies, as some of the new settlers had fallen ill. The villagers were concerned for their own safety because smallpox outbreaks had killed the people in other NW coastal villages.
Students gathered together to decide what to do. Through discussion of these two events, students considered the conflicts that can result when two different groups of people come together.
To encourage reflection, we discussed these questions:
- Why do you think there was misunderstanding between the two communities?
- Why were the two groups fearful of each other?
- Are there situations like this today in which there are misunderstandings between different groups of people?
- What do we need to remember when two different cultures come together?
- What can we learn from the encounters of new settlers and native people of long ago?
After topic discussions and planning, students worked independently to write short narrative about their experiences with the settlers from their character's perspective. Our focus as writers this week included: beginning with a lead sentence to spark interest and draw the reader into the story, focusing on the important event by providing interesting details in order, and ending with a reflection.
During our In & About this week, students learned and played games that were once played by Native American children. These games were simple and used materials found in nature, and helped children learn life skills like patience, taking turns, and managing emotions. We found that the games we played either helped us learn a skill, or were based simply in luck. Students got to play a few rounds of bowl & dice, stick dice, and make their own buzzer toys.
Level 2 "Inclusive Community" Read-Aloud Series
Beginning the second week of November, we will engage a weekly "Inclusive Community" read-aloud series. Through these read-alouds, we will learn about and celebrate diversity in our community.
November: Indigenous People’s Month
- Stolen Words
- Shi-shi-etko
- Shin-chi’s Canoe
- We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga
- Fry Bread
- We Are Water Protectors