Year End Housekeeping

There are several things to keep in mind as the year is winding down. First of all, ALL library books are now check-out in school only. Library books may no longer come home. Children need to make sure they carefully check around the house for both SCHOOL library books and CLASSROOM library books. (Especially classroom books, I am missing several from the classroom collection.) Please return these books to school as they are found.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Popsicle Days: May 28 and June 10
  
• Discovery Days: June 10
  
• Half-Day of School: June 11
  

SUMMER ANIMAL CARE

Are you interested in taking one of our classroom pets for the summer? Several need homes! This includes our fiddler crab (fish tank –like set-up), hermit crab, hissing cockroaches (easiest to care for!), one goldfish and the Dwarf African Frogs (The fish and frogs could go together). Our Beta fish also needs a home. If you're interested, please send me an email or send a handwritten note. When the kids tell me their mom or dad said it's okay, I always tell them it's not okay until mom or dad send a note!

DISCOVERY DAYS VOLUNTEER

I am in need of five parent volunteers to help with my discover days project. It's a lot of fun! We'll be making Father's Day crafts, cards, and wrapping the crafts as gifts. I'll also need a parent willing to lend me an iron for the day. If you're willing to help please let me know. Lunch will be on me!

BAGS FOR YEAR-END CLEANING    

If you have extra plastic bags in your home please send a few. We'll be using them as we do year end cleaning and classroom maintenance.

I'm sure more ideas will come to mind. I'll let you know when I think of them!

Summer Reading Programs

In the next couple weeks I will be posting more information for you about summer reading and summer activities that will help your children stay academically fit. In the meantime, I wanted to make you aware of a great summer reading promotion I just found out about through the Michigan Education Association!

Check it out: Michigan Reads! The Detroit Pistons, Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers are partnering with the MEA to encourage students to read this summer. Through the "Michigan Reads" program, these three professional sports teams are offering incentives to students who read 10 books between June 14 and August 22.

Students who read approximately one book a week during the summer will get to choose a great reward from their favorite team, including free or discounted tickets, stadium parties, luxury suites, and other cool grand prizes. The program begins June 14!

Science News

For several weeks we have been learning about habitats--both schoolyard (in the woods behind the school) and classroom. In the classroom we have been learning more about the swimming frog--"Dwarf African Frogs," and we've also studied the hermit crab, red-clawed crab, fiddler crab, and the Mudskipper. Unfortunately, the classroom Mudskipper did not survive but most of the other creatures have been doing just fine.

Learning about habitats involves studying their set-up as well as what goes into a natural habitat. We looked at changes over time as we studied and documented the schoolyard habitat. We've also discussed how animals adapt to their environment and what their defense mechanisms are--both behaviors and how their body is developed.

Over the next few weeks we'll be looking at a farm ecosystem--a sustainable farm--one that doesn't just take from the environment, but gives back. We'll also set up terrariums in the classroom. These will be put together just before the end of the school year. Therefore, if you have large clean clear jars (with lids) we are still collecting them. Applesauce jars are the best in terms of size, but we'll also be able to use spaghetti jars.

Over the next few weeks students will be learning more about producers, consumers, and decomposers. We'll also look at food webs and the food chain.

Farm Field Trip--Rescheduled

See the attached field trip permission slip. We are going to try again!

I will need a new permission slip signed and returned since we are going on a different date.

Thanks for your patience!

Mrs. Perrien

Caps for a Cure

Next Friday, May 14 will be the school's 2nd annual fundraiser for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

Staff and students willing to donate $1.00 to help find a cure for this disease will be allowed to wear a hat or baseball cap for the day!

JDRF - Cure Diabetes wristbands will also be on sale for $1.00 during the lunch hour. Two of our own WZ kids with Type 1 Diabetes will be selling them.

Please consider wearing a cap and paying a dollar to support this worthwhile cause!

Waukazoo's very own Lynne Gallagher is riding again this summer in the JDRF/Ride to Cure Diabetes. I would also ask that you consider supporting Mrs. Gallagher in her ride!

Have a wonderful week!

4th Graders and Long Division

While working with some of the 4th graders this Monday--teaching mean, median, and mode--I discovered that many are forgetting the steps to doing long division. So, all this week students will be working in class and with homework on long division problems.

4th grade parents: please take a few minutes to review the homework with your child. Thanks so much for your help with this!

Learning about Michigan

During the month of May the Upper Montessori students will be learning about the state of Michigan--especially Michigan history. They have been challenged to use sources OTHER than the Internet! Most students today instantly turn to the Internet for research, without considering that many other sources are out there for researching.
I have asked students to find multiple book and/or magazine sources, although they may also use the Internet. Research topics include Michigan history, history of various aspects of the Michigan economy, and Holland history.

I would encourage you to discuss a visit to the library with your son or daughter. We ARE using the school library, but a visit to the Herrick library would provide a broader array of material to choose from.