Friday Letter - 03.09.2012

3/9/12

Dear RiverRun Families,

This week we learned about four types of volcanoes: shield, domed, cinder cone, and strato. We have also continued our discussion of rocks. Today we looked at Moh's scale to determine mineral hardness. This will assist the children in identifying the various rocks we have in the classroom.

On Wednesday we went out to collect snow before it all melted away. Our plan is to test the snow and determine if it is safe to eat the snow. Right now the snow is in our freezer. Debbie and I are going to order a test kit or try to contact a person with knowledge in this area to work with us. We welcome any ideas or expertise.

The elders lead a conversation about prejudice with the whole class to complete their work on the book The Friendship. Another group of children read the book Runaway Slave. They summarized their reading and shared with the whole class.

We are collecting old ink cartridges and cell phones and giving them to Compeer program, a not-for-profit agency on Central Avenue in Albany. Compeer puts volunteers together with people who are recovering from mental illness and children who are at risk for foster care. The volunteers provide healthy social interactions with this at risk population. As part of peace education, we have been discussing kindness and how small or large acts of kindness can change a person's day or even his/her life. I encourage the children to take notice of their kind acts and to share them. We also have a “rock of kindness” which the children can write their names on and draw a picture once they feel they have done something kind. Josh, from the Compeer program, explained to the children what he was collecting the ink cartridges and cell phones for, and this gave an opportunity for me to point out that volunteers are reaching out to people in need, which is an act of kindness, and they may have a large impact on their lives.

Silver Graphics art work is due on Wednesday March 14. Silver Graphics is a company that creates items (totes, t-shirts, mugs, tiles etc.) made with your child's favorite art work. A letter with a list of items to purchase will be sent to you in the next few weeks. We are working on a piece to submit at school, but if you or your child have a special creation at home, please feel free to send it in by Wednesday. We will turn in one work from each child. The company will send us an example of what the work will look like, and then you may choose to purchase items displaying your child's work. Lots of parents use this opportunity to buy gifts for family and friends.

Don't forget to spring ahead. We are back on daylight savings time. I can already feel the energy rising in the classroom.

Dates:
March 20 Open House- 6:30-8:00
March 23 Field trip to the Albany Institute of Art & History
April 6 Bus trip to Regional Food Bank
April 24 Field trip to Merry Hill Alpaca Farm April 27 School pictures