weekly update

Ridgeline Montessori
Public Charter School

Public Charter School District 4J

2855 Lincoln St., Eugene, OR 97405

(541) 681-9662 fax: (541) 681-4394

Dmitria's Class Update

December 11th eNews for Room 20

Quote of the Week: "The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice." - George Eliot

Anyone interested in a classroom picnic Friday - parents welcome to join for an early and more celebratory lunch?

BIRTHDAY'S:

Happy Birthday to Celeste who will turn 10 December 24th. Belated birthday wish to Zach for his birthday November 27th. We will have a birthday celebration with movie and popcorn (and juice if available) every last Friday of the month.

THANK YOU'S:

Thank you to Anne Love for coordinating a table for our classroom at the River Road Holiday Sale. Jack and Molly helped to sell items that our class made- paper cranes and other origami. Thank you Celeste for making a whole set of ornaments to sell, and thank you Daisy for making bracelets to sell as well.

Thank you to Heather Karr and Ute Hostick for joining us at the Jordan Schnitzer Art Museum, for a quick Tour of Asia, and a fun Dragon Art Activity in their amazing Art Center. It was really fun to take public transportation (bus and EMX), and experience green travel at its best. (I was so glad to have Heather along with the importantly-timed bus ride! - You were a great help!) Thank you to an anonymous donor for a book on the Heartland of America. Thank you to Kristina Schmale for her continued laundry support, and to Renee Sorseth for her continued support for art with Helen.

FIELD TRIP NEXT WEEK: CASCADE RAPTOR CENTER

Wednesday, the 17th, we will be leaving at 9:15 for our visit to the raptor center from 9:30-11:30. All parents are welcome to join in. We are studying up on birds, mostly raptors, and willl study more on the birds of this center before our visit. Please make sure your children bring extra clothing for this higher elevation and outside event. It is always colder and wetter up there in the hills near Spencer's Butte.

I hope to have a set date for next week to our neighbors at the Cascade Manor to visit the folks there to play Bingo or other games.

We are enjoying a vertebrate visitor for the week - Sebastien's King Snake. It is very mellow and colorful! Feel free to have your household pets visit if you'd like (preferably ones that stay in cages or fishtanks, or terrariums). An ideal Montessori Elementary classroom has all 5 classes of vertebrates - fish, bird, amphibian, reptile, mammal.

General Whole Class Academics: Our academic focus these weeks has been on GEOMETRY(Perimeter, Area of Quadrilateral, Triangles, Circumference, and soon, Area of Circles), and GEOGRAPHY. We are also reviewing Fractions - equivalencies, changing Improper Fractions to Mixed Fractions, and using our wonderful Montessori math materials to help conceptualize the idea.

We are all working on US maps as well as completing very basic (and beautiful!) relief maps of the US with salt dough. Each student will then pick a state to do another salt dough relief map and a state report, with specific criteria (that will begin in January). If you can add any extra practice with memorizing the 50 US states and their capitals that will be of great help when they start memorizing and testing on each region in January.

Please continue to help your children practice their math facts, specifically times tables. Please encourage your children to read a chapter book at night time, or sometime in the evening. It will help to discuss the elements of the story - characters, protagonists, plot, setting, conflicts and resolutions, lessons, morals, any personal or text to text connections?

Thank you! Dmitria and Sarah

Teaching Philosophy

Weekly Class Schedule

Questions? Call (681-9662) or email Dsokolow@ridgeline.org

RIDGELINE CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

Saturday, 12/13 Parent's Day Out 11am-2pm (sign up in the office)
Monday, 12/15 Budget Committee Meeting (parents welcome) 2-3pm
Monday, 12/15 Site Council Meeting 6-7:30pm
Monday, 12/15 Please bring food and toiletries for Joy of Sharing
Tuesday, 12/16 Please bring homemade pictures for residents of Cascade Manor for Joy of Sharing
Tuesday, 12/16 Janell's Class to the Grassroots Garden
Wednesday, 12/17 Please bring coins and money for the March of Dimes for Joy of Sharing,
Thursday, 12/18 Please bring a holiday letter written to a patient of Sacred Heart for Joy of Sharing
Thursday, 12/18 Lost & Found
Friday, 12/19 Choice Day—repeat any of the events of the past four days
Friday, 12/19 Bonnie's Class Sidewalk Sale 8:00-8:20 and 1:00-1:45pm
Saturday, 12/20 Winter break begins - Enjoy your vacation!
Tuesday, 1/6 Classes Resume - doors open at 8:15am

Room 20 Classroom Rights created by the students, 2008-2009

with suggestions from Dmitria and Sarah

I have the right to be heard without being interrupted.

I have the right to choose my work and where I sit within limits.

I have the right to freedom of movement and to care for my own body.

I have the right to my own space.

I have the right to teach and be taught, and help others.

I have the right to be included in activities of my choice.

I have the right to feel emotionally and physically safe and not threatened.

I have the right to keep order and harmony.

I have the right to say what I think (within limits of respect and responsibility.)

I have the right to keep my personal items safe, and respect other people’s property.

I have the right to care for people, materials, and our environment.