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

Spanish for lower El Update

October 21, 2008

"Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire." -William Butler Yeats

PREVIOUSLY-

We began the year by looking at the world and finding the twenty countries where Spanish is spoken today. We briefly discussed the origin of Spanish and the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. We've also been reviewing our greetings, colors, numbers and telling time.

We made class libritos (booklets) with our own photos and responses to "Cómo estás?" A few things you could do at home with your children to reinforce and practice the Spanish language:

You could ask them: Cómo estás? (How are you?) They may respond with: Estoy bien, mal, súper bien, enojado/a, cansando/a or asi-asi. Qué hora es? (What time is it?) They may respond with: Es la una, son las tres, son las cinco, son las doce y media etc... Cómo te llamas? (What's your name?) They may respond with: Me llamo _____ or Mi nombre es _______.

SONGS-

We have been singing several songs in Spanish. The following songs are sung to the tune of "Are you sleeping brother John?

I. "Buenos Días, Buenos Días, Cómo estás? Cómo estás? Muy bien gracias, Muy bien gracias, y usted, y usted?"

II. "Red is rojo, green is verde, blue azul, negro black. Yellow amarillo, purple is morado, brown café, gray is gris."

EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS-

This week we began learning about "El Día de Los Muertos", an important Mexican cultural holiday that takes place November 1 & 2. We started making "Calavera" masks (skeleton masks) which we will continue into the next week. On October 31 we will be celebrating in a small way "El Día de Los Muertos" with songs and cultural activities in the classroom. We will be trying "El Pan de Muerto" (Bread of the Dead) a traditional sweet bread made specifically for this Mexican holiday. There is also a wonderful, free exhibit at the Maude Kerns Gallery until November 7. I will be volunteering as a gallery guide for the exhibit on Thursday, October 23 (2-3 pm) and Friday, November 7 (12-3 pm). Please feel free to come by and say hi! The Maude Kerns Art Center is open M-F, 10-5:30 pm and on Saturday's from 12-4 pm. It is a great opportunity to learn more about Mexican culture! For more information call 345-1571 or visit www.mkartcenter.org.

VOLUNTEERING-

If you would like to volunteer or have any ideas or suggestions for fun Spanish cultural activities, please contact me by email at: moname33@yahoo.com

MUCHAS GRACIAS!

Hasta la próxima, Monica

Questions? Call (681-9662)

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