January 14

Dear Families,
Warm greetings to you! I hope you have all had a chance to look at your child’s personal academic goals for 2009. I’ve noticed many of the students working really hard already in this New Year. Please check in with them about their goals each week – how do they think they’re doing? I am really pleased with the thoughtfulness and sincerity that has gone into this work and am delighted with the students for their efforts.
What’s going on this week:
 A special guest from Thailand (Ms. Punapha) has visited our classroom. She is a guest of Mary Beth Harris (Orion teacher) and is going into willing classrooms to teach about her country. We learned about Thai customs, traditions, and some Thai language. The students REALLY enjoyed this experience!

 The students are focusing on editing in writing. We are discussing how to be careful and thorough editors and why it is important. We are lucky enough to have a special guest coming in to help with this as well! Mary Anne Sheahan will come in to talk to the students about how writing, and especially revision and editing, are part of her daily work.
Some children are working on helping Mary Anne with a piece she is writing for the Shelburne News. (This was a voluntary assignment.) This is an article about the Little League program. One lucky and hardworking student will be chosen to have their article published in the Shelburne News!!

 We have FINALLY started our VT studies. We kicked them off with students sharing what they already know about Vermont. Currently, we are working on a “Vermont Scavenger Hunt.” The students are using the web and working together with a partner to find the answers to a variety of questions related to VT history and geography. The students’ VT maps are on their way – we’ll move into VT geography studies after the scavenger hunt.

 Attention!! – Map 4 came home last Friday! All students will be quizzed on Map 4 – Famous Landmarks – this Friday. Many students made passing this map on quiz 1 a goal for themselves. Please make sure your child is practicing at home.

REMINDERS AND IMPORTANT DATES:
 The PTO’s Red Barn fundraiser packet came home last Friday. This supports the PTO and it’s grant program.

Calendar:
1/14/09 CSSU School Board meeting 7:00 p.m. CVU
1/15/09 6:00 p.m. pizza--6:30 p.m. program: Positive Parenting Workshop, “Top Ten Drug and Alcohol Parent Traps” with Margo Austin. Read more
1/19/09 NO SCHOOL--Martin Luther King Day
1/19-1/23/09 International Cultures Week
To celebrate our school's diversity, every day our cafeteria will prepare unique dishes from different cultures. All families are invited to attend their son/daughter's lunch period to enjoy the festive meals. Along with our delectable lunches, part of the morning announcements will be recited in foreign languages to enhance our cultural awareness.
1/23/09 PTO International Cultures Potluck Dinner 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Bring sneakers to this event so you can join the festivities in the gym after dinner.