Expedition Express: What the Cell?!
We are now fully into our spring expedition “What the Cell?!” Before the break, students made a comparison of a cell and its parts, to something else (a city, factory, farm, phone, the Chicago Cubs, etc). I love the creativity many of the students have shown in this assignment. The next project will involve mitosis, meiosis, and then we will begin to dive into DNA and heredity. When we begin to talk about heredity, expect the students to come home with lots of questions about family history or genetic traits. This is one of my favorite subject to teach!

All of this work will be necessary for students to understand the places we will be visiting on our spring fieldwork (April 25-28). Five pairs of students turned in applications/cover letters to me to be liaisons for our fieldwork. Those liaisons will be in charge of all of the planning coordination and logistics at each of the stops will make during the trip. As soon as the liaisons have confirmed our trip I will send out a more detailed schedule.
We are beginning to look for chaperones and other volunteers for spring fieldwork. We will be spending 4 days/3 nights in the Bay Area and camping at Half Moon Bay. Please put your name down on the google doc to sign up (or email Jen Wilkin).

Crew News
Goal-setting conferences will be held on March 29th, which is a minimum day for middle school only. I will be sending out a google doc for you to sign up for a time slot. Today I will be helping the students reflect on their goals, and they will be responsible for bringing their goals home to you and talking about how best to revise them.

SELS News
• Goal Setting conferences (middle school minimum day): 3/29/17, 12:00-5:30
• Spring break April 10-14
• Bay Area Fieldwork: April 25-28

For a full school calendar, see here: https://truckeecharterschool.org/calendar/

Highlights
I want to highlight parents and students for getting to school on time, especially with all the winter weather we have experienced. Almost all of the students get to school on time every day. Thank you for all (parents and students) respecting our crew learning time.
I also wanted to highlight the whole crew on leading a successful community meeting two weeks ago. I unfortunately had to miss it due to a family obligation, but the crew stepped up, worked together, and did a fantastic job without a lot of help. A great example of the Williams Crew students using the adventure SIERRA norm.