Pink Out 2012

I'll admit it, I cried a little when I watched this video.  I didn't show this in class, but its message is profound for many.



What a moving tribute to the many cancer survivors and their families, as well as to the many family members of people who lost their lives to this disease.  My thoughts and prayers are always with those who lost their lives to cancer.    Cancer affects many.  Both of my maternal grandparents lost their lives to cancer and it has affected others close to me.

Tomorrow is game night!  I hope to see many of you there...put on your pink!

5th Grade Transition Meetings

Today the 5th graders met with Ms. Owens, an assistant principal at Harbor Lights Middle School.  She showed a video about 6th grade at Harbor Lights and gave the kids the opportunity to ask questions about middle school!

Waukazoo families are encouraged to attend a parent meeting on Thursday, February 9, to learn about Harbor Lights.  The time is 6:30-8:00 p.m.  The meeting will include a presentation for parents, an activity for 5th graders, and a tour of Harbor Lights Middle School.  Highlighted are the following topics:  school within a school environment, opportunities to earn high school credit, and numerous extra-curricular activities.  If you're unable to attend the meeting this Thursday, feel free to attend on Saturday, February 11 at 10:00 a.m.

If you have questions about Harbor Lights you are encouraged to call Dennis White, the principal.  He's also encouraging parents to schedule an individual appointment if they'd like.  Mr. White can be contacted at 616-786-1001.

Cool Teacher is Online

Check out our class photos.  The "Cool Teacher" segment will begin airing in two weeks, how cool is that!?  Thank you, Raveena!

http://www.wgvu.org/coolteacher/

--Mrs. Perrien

Valentines Party Information

Party Date and Time:  February 14 at 3 p.m.

If students bring a valentine for one, they need to bring a valentine for all!  We have 25 students.

***For our Valentine Boxes project this year we will need students to bring in an empty cereal box by Friday!

Thank you!!

Classroom Updates

Read on for two important classroom updates...

Field Trip:  The Gerald R. Ford Museum

When:       Friday, February 17, 2012, 9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Where:     Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (Grand Rapids)

Why:        To accompany our study of the three branches of government.

**The permission slip will come home on Monday for a signature.

Lansing

This year our students are scheduled to visit Lansing as our culminating social studies BIG FUN field trip; it’s also the final field trip we will be taking this school year (other than the 5^th grade annual trip to see the Grand Rapids Symphony and their May visit to tour Harbor Lights.)

We are scheduled to go to Lansing on April 12, 2012.  Our current plan is to visit the state Capitol and the Michigan Historical Museum, plus the Hall of Justice.  All of the places we visit are free; the only expense we incur is the cost of the charter bus to take us to Lansing.  In past years we have taken a Cardinal Charter Bus to create a sense of “cool” for this trip, but more importantly we need a charter bus because we depart early (8 a.m.) and arrive late (6 p.m.).  In past years we have raised funds for the bus by collecting and returning pop cans.  In 2010 this netted us approximately $150 toward the cost of the $900 (estimated) charter bus.  If someone would like to take over for me and run this fund raiser I welcome your help, but I will not be running this fundraiser on my own this year.  It took a lot of my instructional planning time two years ago to sort and return $150 worth of pop cans and I didn’t have a lot of parent help or support.

One possible option would be for families to collect and return pop can slips from Meijer or Family Fare between now and the date of the field trip.  I would need the help of a parent to organize and return these slips for cash that would then be turned over to Waukazoo.  We would use these to offset the INDIVIDUAL cost of the charter bus expense.  We would then have a final total for you the week of April 12.  Families that want to reduce their expense would collect pop can slips, families that don’t want to collect and submit pop can slips would be charged the divided cost of the charter bus.  (At this time, that estimated expense would be $36 per student.**)

Finally, I will be submitting a reimbursement form to the Waukazoo PTA for a portion of the field trip.  In past years, this has been $5 per student.  At this time, I cannot guarantee this as a reimbursement amount.

Thank you for your time!  Please let me know if you have any concerns or questions. 

Mrs. Perrien 

 

**We don’t want any student to miss this field trip due to the cost of the charter bus.  If your family is experiencing circumstances that would make this payment difficult, , please contact Mrs. Perrien.  No one will have to miss out!

A parent volunteer form will come home on Monday night.

Reading Groups Sign-Up--

Sarah...here are the charts!  --Mrs. Perrien

Students will pick at least two groups on Monday or Tuesday!

Market Days are Coming!

Once again, the Waukazoo third grade classes will be having their annual Market Day as a culminating activity to their study of economics. Terrific items will be on sale during the lunch hour on Friday, February 10^th.  Prices will range from 25 cents to $1.00. All money raised will be donated to

charity!