Battle of the Books!!

Battle of the Books, BOB, is a reading incentive program for students in grades 3-8. Students read books and come together as a class to demonstrate their abilities and test their knowledge of the books they have read. This year marks the 4th year for Cascade Heights and we are very excited to see who will win.  The official book list will be revealed at Family Reading Night on March 7th, 2013.

Family Reading Night

You are invited to join the CHPCS community for a free night of literacy fun! Each classroom teacher will be reading a fabulous book and leading a fun project for child and adult pair to enjoy. Sessions will be filled on a first come, first served basis, so get your slip in soon. This night is NOT just for primary students. Middle school students are encouraged to attend. Please remember that every student needs an adult to work with them. The main objective of the night is to provide a fun literacy night for families to enjoy together. Each session is 30 minutes beginning at 6:30 p.m..  Don’t forget to stay for cake in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday at the end of session 2 AND to get the Battle of the Book list.

Free Parent Support Classes!

News Release from: North Clackamas School District
NORTH CLACKAMAS OFFERS FREE CLASSES TO SUPPORT PARENTS
Posted: February 11th, 2013 8:49 AM

Parents are their child's first teachers, playing a vital role in a student's school success.  To maximize their impact on children's learning and character development, North Clackamas Schools is offering a number of free classes for parents in partnership with Metropolitan Family Service and Northwest Family Services.

Parents from Oak Grove and Milwaukie to Clackamas and Happy Valley are invited to attend any of these upcoming sessions.

Ready Set Go, a free kindergarten readiness program for preschoolers and their parents, is offered Tuesdays at Wichita Center, 6031 SE King Road in Milwaukie on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  For more information, call Maria at 503-353-5663.

G.E.D. (General Education Degree) Preparation Classes in Spanish
This on-going class is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lot Whitcomb Elementary, located at 7400 SE Thompson Road.  To register for the class, offered through Clackamas Community College, contact Ally Meyer at allisonm@metfamily.org or call 503-353-5672.

English Language Class
This class will help you learn English and practice English conversation skills. The drop-in class is offered Tuesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. at Linwood Elementary (11909 SE Linwood Ave.) through March 12.  Free childcare is provided.  For information, call Susan Hamann at susanh@metfamily.org or call 503-353-5463.

Open computer lab for families
This drop-in program offers free computer access for families on Mondays through Thursdays from 1 to 2 p.m.  in the community room at Oak Grove Elementary, located at 2150 SE Torbank Road.  For information, call Kati at 503-501-8582.

Parent Power: presented by Northwest Family Services
Ardenwald Elementary:  6 to 8 p.m. in March 5, 12, 19 & April 2 (Tuesdays) -- English
Riverside Elementary:  6 to 8 p.m. in March 5, 12, 19, April 2 (Tuesdays) -- English & Spanish

This free parent workshop for families with kids age 4 to 13 will help you:
-- Motivate your child to be responsible
-- Gain control through choices
-- Enjoy your role as a parent
-- Model good communication skills
Free childcare is provided.  To register, visit: www.lastingrelationships.org or call 503-546-6377.  See sample podcasts at http://www.nclack.k12.or.us/Page/18006

Science Project Links

Here is a reminder of what is included in the science research paper and how the engineering project differs from the research project:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/18L0vpRw6BLLKvK-PXHqyWcSeS0AdCgiB3Gwijf3OIdE/edit

Go here for a sample science research paper:  http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_sample_final_report.pdf

Calling all Drivers!

Good Afternoon, all you wonderful chaperones!

As you know, this Friday is Student-Led Conference Day, but NEXT Friday is our Field Trip Friday!!  The 8th Grade is lucky enough to go to the Oregon Culinary Institute for a lesson on manners, etiquette, and the civilized consumption of food.  (And since we are a sensory-immersion school, it only makes sense to try out our skills by eating a multiple-course lunch!)

We will be getting dressed up and heading downtown, so I wanted to comment on what the dress code expectations will be for that day.  I am hoping that we can get a bit gussied; I imagine nice pairs of pants, perhaps some dresses, and maybe even some nice shoes.  I would ask that we shy away from denim, and instead opt for outfits that have collars, creases, and cuffs.

Since we'll be looking good finding ourselves downtown, I thought that we would also take in some of the other finer things life has to offer.  I have scheduled a reservation for a self-guided tour at the Portland Art Museum for the morning block of time, so please have your student arrive in fancy duds first thing in the morning.  School will begin at 8:00am, as usual, and will end at 3:30pm.  We will simply remain dressed up all day, even after returning to school after lunch.  (For that reason, please do not send your student in uncomfortable shoes.  It will make for a very uncomfortable day of being on his/her feet.)

IN ORDER FOR THIS PLAN TO BE CARRIED OUT, WE WILL NEED A FEW PARENT DRIVERS.  I am paying for our students' lunches with our Field Trip Fund, but my hope is that parents might pay their own way at the Oregon Culinary Institute.  Last year, our meals were $7 each. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO DRIVE US ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH, PLEASE SEND ME AN EMAIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  (IN PAST YEARS, WE HAVE HAD PLENTY OF PARENT VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS ONE, SO WE WILL ACCEPT DRIVERS ON A FIRST COME/FIRST SERVED BASIS.)

Thanks so much!

Caged Bird

In the month of February, our class will read excerpts from the third text in our Core Knowledge sequence, entitled I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou.  It is a heartbreakingly beautiful depiction of her experience growing up in the American South during a period of extreme racism.  Angelou poetically highlights race relations, notions of identity and literacy, as well as sexism in American society.  But because she approaches these topics head on, some of the content found in the book contains very adult themes.  For this reason, students will not read the entirety of the novel.

I consider this to be a special opportunity for our eighth graders.  In her book, Angelou paints a very specific and clear picture of a perspective and experience quite different from most of our own.  It is this very reason that Core Knowledge has included it in its curriculum, and why it is the introduction to our unit on the Civil Rights Movement.  We will be reading selected chapters that highlight the strengths of both the content and style, and will not include the more "difficult" chapters in our studies. 

I will certainly be approaching these subjects with respect and maturity, which I will also expect out of our students. 

Please feel free, as always, to contact me with any questions you may have.

A Note from the Room Parent Coordinator!

Hello 8th graders and Families,

Next Thurs Jan 17th at 3:45 in our classroom is our first meeting to get started with our graduation plans and t-shirt decisions.  I know a lot of 8th graders are interested in being a part of this process so this time works best for them.  If you would like to help and CANNOT be at the meeting please let me know.  If you have suggestions or ideas send them to me prior and I will share them with everyone. 

Thank you to everybody who pitched in for Mr. Harvey's holiday gift.  We were able to give him a $85 gift card to Freddy's!  Don't worry to those who didn't there will be other opportunities in the future.

If you 8th grader want to attend mttg and you are unable please let me know, I can be their school "adult" and help with carpool.

Happy New Year,
Mandi