8th Grade Students Staying Warm on a Cool Day (10 of 12 are pictured)
Middle School Cardboard Request:
The middle school class is looking for large sheets of cardboard for their Songfest props. Refridgerator or big screen tv boxes would be great. Please let Karen or Eric know if you have something that might work or if you have any questions.
Cascadia Newsletters Online:
To view Cascadia News and Events online (with colorful photos) go to our website at cascadiaschool.com and click on the Newsletters option along the left side of the home page. The bi-monthly Cascadia Connections is also posted on the website with photos of students in every classroom providing visual examples of the themes and concepts that are written about in that issue. Cascadia Connections is a great way to share the unique and exciting Cascadia learning experience with extended family members, friends, and/or prospective families.
Thank You!
Jennifer and Mike Bilic: Donation of hand sanitizer dispensers, located in the hallways for easy access.
Bill Draper: Donation of hand tools to middle school tool shed.
The Hutchins Family: Donation of great new books to our library.
October 26, 2009
NEWS & EVENTS
Wednesday, October 28, 9:00–10:00 am: Paul Quackenbush will be at school for retakes of student photos and/or photos of students who may have been absent on the photo day.
Friday, October 30, 6:30 – 8:30 pm: Annual upper elementary costume party. Each year our 6th grade students plan a Halloween costume party for their upper elementary classmates with creative games and a scripted “Haunted House”. Parents are welcome to drop off and pick up children or stay for the fun. This event is chaperoned by upper elementary staff members, and is for currently enrolled Cascadia students only. Please contact an upper elementary teacher if you have any questions.
Thursday, Nov. 5 and Friday, Nov. 6: School closure for Parent Conferences. Please reserve a conference time on the schedules posted at each classroom.
Wednesday, Nov. 11: School closure for Veteran’s Day holiday (all schools and government offices are closed on this day).
Fall Festival Photos Just a Click Away:
To scroll through a colorful collection of fall festival photos featuring Cascadia students at every age level participating in all the festivities, please use this link: Cascadia Fall Festival, 2009. Clicking on the first photo puts the album into 'scrolling' mode. The 'slideshow' or 'fullscreen' modes offer the sharpest presentation of each photo against a black background. This web album, and similar ones that I am planning to offer to parents for a variety of school events, are only accessible through the link that I am supplying to you with each set of photos (they aren't accessible to the general public).
PTO News - Important dates and information:
*Please pay the $30 PTO activities fee by Friday October 30. These funds help Cascadia offer fun student and family events, support school activities and purchase items needed for all the students. Make checks payable to Cascadia PTO and place in designated envelopes outside each classroom and in the office. Thank you!
Logo wear items for sale for Elementary age students and adults.
*Logo wear order forms went home last week (pink sheet for the elementary families and green sheet for the middle school) and are due Friday October 30. See the display next to the office and on the MS bulletin board of all the fun colors and items. Show your school spirit and order your logo wear today.
Logo wear clothing display for Middle School age students and adults.
Middle School News (compiled by 7th grade students):
The Explorations class in the middle school is off to a great start this year. Explorations is a new class that we are offering to begin implementing some of the more practical components of a Montessori Middle School program. It is built upon Montessori’s concept of incorporating micro-economies and occupations in the middle school curriculum. At Cascadia we are developing ways for our students to be engaged in meaningful work (work that benefits the community in some way) that might also have the opportunity for the exchange of goods and services. These are some of the Explorations that we have started on:
Beautification
We take on responsibilities around the school to make it more beautiful. We are currently putting together our ideas for what we will be doing next. Thus far we have cleaned the sheds by getting rid of a lot of miscellaneous items and re-organizing the tools and P.E. supplies. We also spread the bark chips around the track and the play structure. Most recently we have decorated the Fall Festival and designed the seasonal decorations that are near the school entrance.
(by Faith, Zane, Jennifer and Emma)
Vermicomposting
Our group’s goal is to eliminate the amount of compostable material that Cascadia throws away. In order to accomplish this we need to start by educating each class about what can be composted in our worm bins and what cannot. Thus far we have been maintaining a worm bin and making the large cedar worm bin suitable for use. We emptied all the material out of it, cleaned the inside and outside and treated the entire bin to protect it from the elements. Next we are going to repair some parts of the worm bin that have broken and are purchasing more red wiggler worms so we will be able to compost more. Shortly the plant crew will be doing some plantings with our castings. Our long term goal is to be able to sell some castings to our community.
(by Jordan, Josh, Will and Robert)
Planting Crew
So far the plant group has accomplished a lot. We started building a fully functioning greenhouse complete with light shelves and trays (it has wheels so is mobile). We plan to have the greenhouse rotate through classrooms allowing all students access to it. We are currently working on getting material and seeds for the house. We eventually hope to sell the products we grow for a little extra money. All in all we hope that our efforts will create some extra reserve for the school and bring the whole school together to help with the project.
(by Cole, Devin and Tyler)
Recycling Crew
This year our goal is to implement a school-wide recycling program to reduce the amount of waste that we generate. So far we have cleaned and organized the trash/recycling area by the dumpster. We have also constructed a survey for the teachers that will help us understand how well the classrooms are recycling, and if they need help to be more efficient. We are off to a great start and foresee success!
(by Maura, Travis and Jessica)
Cascadia Montessori School
October 16, 2009
NEWS & EVENTS
Thursday, October 22: Middle School theater trip to The Tempest by the Blue Monkey Theater in
Portland. Transportation is by charter bus.
Thursday, October 22, 6:00 – 8:00 pm: Cascadia School Open House. All Cascadia students and
parents are invited to return to school anytime between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Children will
be the teachers for an evening as they present work to their parents and teachers from every
class level will be available for conversation.
Students Giving Lessons to Parents at Spring Open House, 2009. A Lower Elementary Student
is using the Grammar Boxes (left) and an Upper El Student Solves a Square Root Problem (rt).
Lower El Students Prepare a Geography Demonstration for a Parent (left) and an Upper El
Family Discusses Their Son's Research Project with his teacher, Betty Skundrick (rt).
Friday, October 23: Orchards-Burton Fire Station #6 will be visiting our lower elementary classes
to present a fire safety program, including a tour of the fire engine.
Wednesday, October 28, 9:00–10:00 am: Paul Quackenbush will be at school for retakes of student photos and/or photos of students who may have been absent on the photo day.
Friday, October 30, 6:30 pm: Annual upper elementary costume party (upper el. families should
refer to the message from evite.com that was sent to all parents this week for more information).
Middle School News: We want to thank all of the families who attended the Middle School Information Meeting on Thursday evening (10/15). We had a wonderful turn-out along with great conversation. The focus of this meeting was to provide more information about some of the exciting programmatic changes that have occurred in the middle school since last year, particularly in Field Studies (integration of math and science). The conversation focused on what Field Studies is, some of the philosophical components behind it, objectives of Field Studies, what a typical day looks like, the scope and content of the curriculum, and how parents can support their child’s progress.
The “Field Studies Primer” letter is available on the Field Studies website, http://classjump.com/fieldstudies/ under ‘articles’. The website is a great way for parents and students to check on what we are doing in class. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Eric via email (eric.cascadia@gmail.com), phone the school or just stop in!
Beautification Day Improves Campus:
Cascadia families joined together recently for a seasonal school and grounds cleanup day. Thank you everyone who participated, including: Terry Baker, Bill Draper, Chris Sherman and Derek Timmons for pressure washing the concrete areas around the building, the Blackwell Family, Lewis Family, Demert Family and Greg Adams for pruning, weeding and cleaning windows, and the Hall-Rogers Family for installing the beautiful planters around the front doors.
7th Graders Maura Blackwell and Jennifer Lewis Volunteered to Clean Classroom Windows.
Cascadia Parents Beautifying the Entrance and Pruning / Weeding the Grounds.
Cutting and Hauling - a Cooperative Effort!
Extra-Curricular Class Reminders:
Weekly after-school drama classes, offered at Cascadia School through the Northwest Children’s Theater, are beginning on Monday, October 19. There will be two classes every Monday, at 3:30 and 4:30 pm organized by age level. In general, children aged 6 to 9 will be in the 3:30 class, and ages 9 and up in the 4:30 class. All classes take place in the upper elementary classroom and are $15.00 per class, charged to Cascadia statements at the end of each month of attendance. Please sign up on the main bulletin board if your child is interested in attending Drama.
Cascadia’s chess club had its first session on Tuesday afternoon this week and will continue to meet every Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in the upper el. classroom. Chess is led by Cascadia parent volunteers Al Balsiger and Francoise Renaud. There is no charge for attending chess club throughout the year but a $20.00 materials fee is required to cover expenses. Please refer to the Chess Club signup sheet for more information and/or to sign up.
Fall Festival Fun!
Middle School and Upper Elementary students pitched in to help organize one of the most enjoyable Fall Festivals in recent memory on Friday, 10/16. 8th graders Calvin Goon and Justin Koga invented a new Apple Toss game for the occasion (photo below) and their classmates operated a bingo game for younger students, offered face painting to all interested children and organized a very successful bake sale!
Commemorative Apple Toss Game
Gone Fishin'
More great Fall Festival photos are coming. Please look for the link to a web album of all the fun in next week's newsletter!
Cascadia Logo Wear is Coming… The order forms for elementary students were sent home today (the pink page) and are due on Friday, October 30th (middle school orders will be sent on Monday). Look for the sample clothing display in the hallway next to the office early next week!
Thank You!
The Hutchins Family, The Brown-Miler Family, and the Peel Family for donating many wonderful books to the Cascadia Library.
October 7, 2009
NEWS & EVENTS
Friday, October 9: School closure for Inservice Day.
Monday, October 12: Lower Elementary trip (both classes) to Pomeroy Farm in Yacolt, WA, a pre-electrical farm offering living history programs for children. We will be participating in their Fall on the Farm program. Transportation is by chartered buses.
Lower Elementary Students Visiting Pomeroy Farm in fall, 2006
Wednesday, October 14, 3:30 – 4:45: Experimental Film and Zine Making class begins, 6th – 8th grades, in the middle school classroom.
Friday, October 16, 3:30 – 5:30: Cascadia Fall Festival! Please join us for our annual seasonal celebration (details below).
Thursday, October 22: Middle School theater trip to The Tempest by the Blue Monkey Theater in
Portland. Transportation is by charter bus.
Thursday, October 22, 6:00 – 8:00 pm: Cascadia School Open House. All Cascadia students and
parents are invited to return to school anytime between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm. when children
become teachers for an evening as they present work to their parents. Teachers from every
class level will also be available for conversation and / or to explain classwork.
Friday, October 23: Orchards-Burton Fire Station #6 will be visiting our lower elementary classes
to present a fire safety program, including a tour of the fire engine.
Pizza Lunch Reminder:
During 4-day weeks, like our current week, pizza lunches are served on Thursday. If your child has prepaid for pizza lunches or is planning to order it this week it will be served tomorrow, Oct. 8th.
PTO News:
Come celebrate this beautiful season at Cascadia's Annual Fall Festival, Friday October 16, from 3:30-5:30 pm at school. Enjoy games with prizes for the kids, face painting, apple tasting, spiced cider, popcorn and fun for the whole family.
Middle School Student Hosting a Bingo Game for Younger Students at Fall Festival, '08
Additionally, Middle School students will have their annual bake sale to raise money for their Tetons Science camp trip this spring.
The Middle School community welcomes donations of any baked goods for their annual Fall Bake Sale fund raiser. Please bring in your yummy treats on Friday October 16 by noon to the Middle School classroom. Thank you for your help!
Middle School Bake Sale Fundraiser at Fall Festival, 2008
Annual Cascadia PTO Activities Fee. All families, please look in your child's take home file on Monday afternoon for the annual family activities schedule and request for the $30 PTO activities fee. This fee, for every Cascadia family each year, covers the cost of organizing all of our special family and school events as well as special items for the school. Envelopes will be posted outside each classroom door and in the office for your $30 check, payable to Cascadia PTO (a different account than the school's). The PTO activity fee is due by Friday October 30. Thank you for all your support!
Cascadia Logo wear is coming... the display and order forms come out at the end of next week.
Drama Classes Beginning Soon:
Weekly after-school drama classes will be offered at Cascadia School through the Northwest Children’s Theater. Classes will be offered on Monday afternoons in two age ranges: Lower Elementary Drama from 3:30 to 4:30, and Upper El / Middle Drama from 4:30 to 5:30. Drama classes are $15.00 per class, charged to Cascadia statements at the end of each month of attendance. Please sign up on the bulletin board near the family files (or, call the office) if your child is interested in attending Drama.
Chess Club Starting Soon:
Cascadia’s chess club will be getting underway next Tuesday, 10/13. Chess is led by Cascadia parents Al Balsiger and Francoise Renaud, and will meet from 3:30-4:30 pm on Tuesdays. Please refer to the Chess Club signup sheet on the main bulletin board for more information and/or to sign up. There is an annual $20.00 registration fee for chess club to cover the cost of materials, but no other class fees are assessed.
Thank you parent volunteers (Francoise and Al) for making this class possible!
Upper Elementary Head Lice Alert:
A case of head lice was reported to upper el. staff this week, and all upper elementary students were checked for lice or nits (one additional case was discovered). We will continue conducting weekly checks for the next month or so. If we find infestation parents will be notified and asked to remove all evidence of nits and lice before returning their child to school. An informative article about head lice was published in the Oregonian this week offering practical advice for treatment options and dispeling some commonly held myths (take the True or False quiz to test your understanding!). You can access this article at: http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2009/10/delousing_keeping_your_wits_ab.html
Fall Festival, 2008