Culture Day coming up

Does your family participate in cultural activities that you would like to share?

Families are invited to introduce your culture and share information in a 10-15 minute mini-lesson for small groups of kindergartners. Materials  could include various things such as: a game, display of clothing or other items, photos to show, story book to read, craft/dance/musical instruments to try, etc. For example, one family will be setting up a small tipi and sharing some tools used by Nez Perce Indians.

The date and time of this event are TBD soon.

Time and space are limited but we will include as many families as possible. Please email your class parent or teacher if you are interested in sharing your family’s cultural traditions with the class.

Thank you kindergarten families!

Swimming Thursday, Parents needed Feb 9, Culture Day!

Swimming Thursday, confirmation pending
We have class swim scheduled for this Thursday. Volunteer confirmations are required or we will cancel (some of you got an email from me asking you to confirm).  Be sure to put your child's swimsuit, towel, and goggles in a “swim bag” in their locker. Avoid tights or tie-shoes on swim days. If you aren’t signed up for Thursday’s swim but can come and help, let me know. We might need you!

More opportunities to help in the classroom!
We have some exciting activities coming up and need some parent help. I’ll put a signup on the parent board or you can email/text/call me to sign up. Thank you for making these activities possible for our class!!

We need 6 parents from 8:45-11:30 on Tuesday, February 9
On Feb. 9, our class and Ms. Crozier’s class will be having a culminating activity for their forest studies unit. We need parents to help set up activities in the gym, guide students through activity stations, and break down the activities at the end. The goals is well-organized, amazing-fun for the kids. Let me know if you can help.

Culture day, Date TBD
Sometime in late winter/early spring, the kindergarten would like to have a “culture day” to help introduce all of the kids to cultures that their peers are part of. Ms. Miles would like to be inclusive to the cultures of all class families. Families participating will provide a 10-15 minute mini-lesson or activity to multiple small groups (could include various things such as, a game, display of clothing or other items, photos to show, stories to read, craft/dance/musical instruments to try, etc.). For example, Jeremy & I will set up a small tipi and share some tools used by Nez Perce Indians.
Does your family participate in cultural activities that can be shared?
Would you be willing to share any of your family’s cultural traditions with the class?
You can sign up on the board or contact me directly for more information.

Thanks all!!

Margaret FiveCrows
(Henry’s mom and room parent)

Monday is bring your favorite toy day, library books due

Remember library books are due on Mondays

And this monday (NOV 30) is 🐶 Bring your favorite toy day
Our class earned a "Favorite Toy Day" so each child can bring one toy to show and share. If students do not want to share the toy they can tell about it and then put it back into their backpacks for home play. Some students just want to show and tell and they have reservations about other children playing with "their" toy; if your child doesn't mind sharing their favorite toy they will have an opportunity to have it out during choosing time.

Tuesday is PTA Meeting: FREE PIZZA + BeSmart Presentation
Please join the PTA and fellow Buckman families in the school cafeteria on Tuesday, December 1 at 6pm for the last meeting of 2015. The first 30 minutes will be a pizza free for all and social time. Then volunteers from the BeSmart campaign will give a brief presentation about how we can work together as a community to keep our kids safe from unintentional shootings as a result of children's access to unsecured guns. Q&A and open discussion follow this brief presentation. For more information about BeSmart please visit -www.besmartforkids.org. You won't want to miss the valuable information presented. Free childcare provided.

Wednesday evening is 🚸Anxiety in Children Workshop
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, “anxiety disorders affect one in eight children. Research shows that untreated children with anxiety disorders are at higher risk to perform poorly in school, miss out on important social experiences, and engage in substance abuse." Come and learn some great strategies to help support your children!

Contact Sada Dewey, sdewey@pps.net or Diane Meisenhelter, dmeisenhelter@impactnw.org for more information.

Friday - 🎒 Name homework is due
You can find information here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8od1LL8JoelaGhjSXE2Y1UzTTVTS21QSjE1VkRXNnNZYk5F/view?usp=sharing

Next Monday PTA Clothing Center - 4 Volunteers Needed!
Monday, December 7 is Buckman's day to volunteer at the PTA Clothing Center. Volunteer hours are from 9:30am-1:30pm at 3905 SE 91st Ave, Room B-60 (Marshall HS Campus). This is a really fun place to volunteer. I would recommend giving it a try if you have the time. Please contact Meredith Vorhees if interested: mmvorhees@gmail.com

Other calendar items
There is much more coming up. See more here.

Are you getting the school email newsletter?
Hopefully, you are receiving the email newsletter sent from the office. You can see the content on the homepage here: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools/buckman/. If you are not receiving this news, please check your spam folder and/or contact the office to make sure you are on the list.
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Thanks and see you at school,
Margaret
(Henry's mom)

Run for the arts, lost photos, coming up

THANK YOU for the swim rescue.

We had a great turnout for swimming by so many helpful parents. Here is the group being led by our very own pied piper. Thank you so much for changing your day around to help out last minute!!

Run for the Arts reminder

Thank you to all of the families that helped with Run for the Arts. Please bring in your sponsor sheets and pledges. We need to turn in our donations to Young Audiences this week.

Teacher request

Please check you child's backpack regularly.

LOST - Clementine’s pictures

Did anyone take those home by mistake?

Coming up

See what's ahead at: http://miles103.blogspot.com/p/class-calendar.html

Locker bats have arrived, need a prep-work volunteer

Did you get a glimpse of our locker bats? LOVE.

Does anyone have time to put together some "backpacks" for the kids' forest projects. It will involve picking up supplies, hole punching, and tying strings. Probably 5 or so minutes per backpack and we have 25 so a couple of volunteers would be great. Can be done at home or wherever. Ideally finished over the next week. Please email or text me if you can help.

Thanks,
Margaret

Volunteer assignments (so far)

Thank you again for all your feedback in the volunteer survey. We have a schedule! There will probably be adjustments as the year goes on but this gives us a great start.

Swimming volunteers

For those assigned so far (Jennifer Cockrell, Taryn Mazza, Jonah Ferber, Molly Quin, Em Chin, Christopher Robert Baird, Jonah Ferber, Daishau, Jeremy FiveCrows, Mo McFeely, Daishou), I sent appointments to your calendars. You can also see the schedule here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19Nrl64cV60EvKTGKwfesKXxxXN5Wlc70EAwwywnNZAs/edit#gid=1050423757

Please let me or Ms. Miles know if you need to make any changes to the schedule.

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Classroom volunteers

I think I have spoken to those of you who have planned ongoing commitments to the classroom (Bernadette Pearson, Molly Quan, Lisa Fredrickson, Sean and Charmian, David Kirchfeld, Violet Aveline, Jessica Harris, Jennifer Cockrell). The schedule is here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19Nrl64cV60EvKTGKwfesKXxxXN5Wlc70EAwwywnNZAs/edit#gid=381204570

Please let me or Ms. Miles know if you need to make any changes.

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Many of you not scheduled yet

Many of you have “some” availability and we still have openings in the classroom volunteer schedule. 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19Nrl64cV60EvKTGKwfesKXxxXN5Wlc70EAwwywnNZAs/edit#gid=381204570

Ms. Miles doesn’t NEED volunteers to show up, the class has planned activities. But at certain times of the day, small group activities can help boost learning for the kids. I can put you on the schedule with what works for you (coming the same time most weeks, alternating weeks, choosing some specific dates to come, etc). Please email me with your desired activity and schedule.

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Please continue to watch for opportunities

There will be OTHER ways to support the classroom: field trips, special projects, bulletin boards, etc. You will hear about them through email and on the parents notice board next to the classroom door.

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For all volunteers

I’ll just say once again, FLEXIBILITY is important.
Plans and classroom needs change. You may be asked to do different activities as the year goes along. Ms. Miles needs you to be flexible but wants you to feel successful in your role; please let her know if you have concerns or questions.

Your child's READINESS is required.
When volunteering, please be sure your child knows you may not be working with him/her.
• If your child can accept this, great - come an volunteer.
• If your child cries, or has difficulty when you work with others and leave, Ms. Miles will have you wait to volunteer at a later date when your child is ready.

And please be sure your background check is submitted. (no cost - do it online here: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/departments/security-services/1106.htm).

I’m doing this for two classrooms so I have a lot of details to keep track of. Please let me know if I have missed anyone in the schedule or if you have questions. I’m bound to get some things mixed up at some point.

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THANK YOU all so much, 

Margaret 

Got pumpkins? Our kindergarten needs 90 small ones

Hi class,

This is a little random. But we need 90 small pumpkins during the last week of October for a grade-level activity. All the kindergartners will be doing a pumpkin hunt together. Other classes are taking care of other parts of the preparation and materials. Our class is in charge of having 90 small pumpkins at school by October 27.

So…this is a little random but if you have pumpkins, or know someone who has pumpkins, or don’t mind going somewhere to pick up 90 pumpkins - please let me know. 

Free is fabulous since we can use class funds elsewhere. Maybe your uncle is a pumpkin farmer and can use a tax deduction.

BUT more likely, we have money to pay for this activity so you can be reimbursed if you can pick them up.

Thank you so much!

And happy weekending,

Margaret FiveCrows

(Henry’s mom and room parent)

503-545-2765