Welch Crew News: April 10, 2014

Welcome back after what we hope was a relaxing and enjoyable Spring Break! We always look forward to returning to those smiling faces, and a plethora of stories from the crew. We also return to a new Design Principle with a focus on the Natural World. With the changing seasons and desire to be out and about in our natural world, we hope you enjoyed this week’s homework!

Expedition Express

Ready, Set, Go! : Just before Spring Break, we wrapped up our second case study “Slip-Sliding Away”. Although we didn’t have much snow to conduct our experiments, we were able to make do! Using the scientific method, we conducted experiment regarding how friction impacts snow sports, such as ice-skating, skiing, and snowboarding.

Special thanks to all of the parents who joined us for our “Friction Fieldwork” at Regional Park: Arthur Rader, Monique Long, Kris Hansen, Steve Cherneff, Alison Schwedner, Jill Penwarden, and Tina Cook.

Expert: Cooper Waldron from Smooth Rides in Truckee visited the classroom to discuss the science behind waxing skis and snowboards. Students were thrilled to see a waxing demo and carefully took notes on the entire process. Their detailed lists served as a pre-writing activity to write an informative paragraph using transitional words and phrases.

Play Ball! : Last week we launched our last case study called Play Ball. In this case study, we will be investigating a variety of ball sports and how specific equipment help athletes perform at their best. We are excited to continue using the scientific method with a many hands-on experiments, in and out of the classroom.

Overnight: Our spring campout will be on Thursday, May 15 in the Truckee area. More info. coming soon!

Crew News

Scholastic Book Orders: There are only two book orders left. April’s book order will come home next Tuesday and will be due the following week on April 22. We also continue to purchase new books for our classroom to keep interest levels high. New titles can be found for both comprehension check-ins with teachers, as well as in the classroom library. We are always on the hunt for great titles, and captivating content!

Nevada County Library: We are winding down our library visits for the year with only a few left on the calendar. Our next walk to the library will be on Thursday, April 17. Please be sure to collect all lingering books in your home to avoid overdue fees and charges.

Swimming: This past Wednesday we had our first of four swim lessons at the Truckee High School through TDRPD. Students were excited about swimming and we were very impressed with how the children kept track of their belongings. If possible, write your child’s name on their things to help keep us organized! Thank you Mark Wasley, SunMie Won, and Nikki Riley for joining us at the pool. We are in need of a dad on Wednesday, April 23. Please let me know if you can join us or sign-up on the Google.Doc link below.

https://docs.google.com/a/truckeecharterschool.org/document/d/1b1bVVZ8RW01A-3WycpG9wlx2k6VeEq1xSP1Aq0W3p30/edit

SELS News

Smarter Balance Test: The California Smarter Balance Testing window runs from April 28-May 9 for 3^rd-8^th graders. This test is replacing the former STAR test and will test students on the new Common Core State Standards. Participation in these tests is essential so please make sure your child is present at school during the testing dates above. Specific testing dates will be given once our schedule is set. Only the 3^rd grade students in our crew will be tested. A well rested child with a healthy breakfast is the best way to be successful. Sign-ups for parents to bring healthy snacks will be forthcoming.

SELS Signature Event: The PTC is working on the final details of the 1^st Annual SELS Signature Event to kick-off summer. Dates are still tentative, so keep your eyes and ears open for the announcement. If you are interested in helping plan and organize this event, the PTC will be meeting weekly for the next 8 weeks. Signature Event planning meetings will be held each Tuesday at 12:30 pm in M-6 at SELS. Please consider joining in the planning stages of this great event.

Dates to Remember: