Please send bags to school tomorrow. There are many items that I will be sending home.The backpack may not be enough. Send in extras if you have them. Thank you!

Dear Lower School Families,

Lower School students want to share a few more songs with you. Next Tecolote Tuesday, 6/6, will be our last Tecolote Tuesday of this school year. During the assembly, a Disney-themed performance with small groups and solos will be presented by the students. Please attend if possible.

I look forward seeing our students shine.

Musically,

Molly Markstrum

Last Friday, we headed out to Santa Cruz Island. What an amazing day! In all the years I’ve taken this trip, I have never experienced such perfect weather conditions. The water was like glass all the way out to the island. Once there, we saw numerous island foxes. The island was full of color from all the rain this year. It was a beautiful experience for all of us. 

For my students who want to see Joni performing “Chelsea Morning,” here it is. 

“Chelsea Morning”

by Joni Mitchell

Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning, and the first thing that I heard

Was a song outside my window, and the traffic wrote the words

It came ringing up like Christmas bells and rapping up like pipes and drums

Oh, won’t you stay

We’ll put on the day

And we’ll wear it ’till the night comes

Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning, and the first thing that I saw

Was the sun through yellow curtains, and a rainbow on the wall

Blue, red, green and gold to welcome you, crimson crystal beads to beckon

Oh, won’t you stay

We’ll put on the day

There’s a sun show every second

Now the curtain opens on a portrait of today

And the streets are paved with passersby

And pigeons fly

And papers lie

Waiting to blow away

Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning, and the first thing that I knew

There was milk and toast and honey and a bowl of oranges, too

And the sun poured in like butterscotch and stuck to all my senses

Oh, won’t you stay

We’ll put on the day

And we’ll talk in present tenses

When the curtain closes and the rainbow runs away

I will bring you incense owls by night

By candlelight

By jewel-light

If only you will stay

Pretty baby, won’t you

Wake up, it’s a Chelsea morning

Upcoming Tests, Projects, & Quizzes

Unit 9 Math Test–Tuesday, 6/6/17

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Upcoming Events

Poetry Reading–Friday, 6/2/17 (8:30-9:30)

End-of-Year Party (for students), 6/7/17 (10:00-10:50)

Lower School Track & Field Day–Wednesday, 6/7/17

Closing Ceremony–Thursday, 6/8/17 (9:00)

Tuesday

1. Read for 20 minutes and record it in your reading log. 
   
2. Complete math study link 9.8.
3. Practice reciting your poems and practicing your songs.

Wednesday

1. Read for 20 minutes and record it in your reading log. 
   
2. Complete math study link 9.9.
3. Practice reciting your poems and practicing your songs.

Thursday

1. Read for 20 minutes and record it in your reading log. 
2. Complete the unit 9 math study guide.
3. Practice reciting your poems and practicing your songs.

To view photos for the event, please click on the photo below.

In fourth grade social studies, we have been learning the difference between rights and responsibilities, communicating fairly, solving problems collaboratively, and treating others with respect. We discuss different ways that we can be positive leaders in our school and in our community at large. The Citizenship Breakfast is such a special culminating event because it gives the fourth grade students the opportunity to think deeply about what citizenship really means and what it looks like in action. We are so thankful for our guests for providing positive role models for our students, giving them something to strive for as they grow and learn.

The event kicked off with each student sharing what they appreciated about their special guest of honor as well as what being a good citizen meant to them: voting, taking care of the Earth, standing up for the rights of others, providing medical help for those in need, serving in our military, donating to a charity, giving food to the hungry, donating clothes to a local goodwill, adopting pets that need homes, being honest, obeying the law, helping others, and much more.

The keynote address was given by Diane Hall, who runs a non-profit called Little Star Pony Foundation, providing assisted pet therapy. Little Star is a two-foot miniature horse that visits retirement homes and works with hospice patients and children with special needs. Diane’s foundation was inspired by her hospice work with Gwendolyn Strong, a local girl who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) at 6 months old.

After learning about the Foundation and the important work Little Star does, each fourth grader had an opportunity to receive a kiss from the miniature horse.

A heartwarming highlight of the event was the unique connection between the keynote speaker, the miniature horse, and one of the special guests being honored at the Citizenship Breakfast—Gwendolyn’s mother Victoria Strong. Victoria is a writer, advocate, and founder—along with her husband Bill—of the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation, named after their late daughter to raise awareness and fund research on SMA.

Additional guests of honor included: Kent Wojciechoski, a retired police officer; Mary Fanaro, Founder of Omni Peace which has built eight schools for children in Africa; Janet Adderley, Founder and Artistic Director of The Adderley School for the Performing Arts; Adam Estabrook, a fireman; Brett Werner, a local organic farmer dedicated to saving family farms in the counties of SLO, Ventura, and Santa Barbara; Master Dave Wheaton, owner of Martial Arts Family Fitness; Kristen Fuerst, an ice skating coach; Kate Sulzbach, a riding coach (and Laguna alumna); Nathan Schley, a math tutor; Marcia Nogrady, a teacher; Angela Rockwell, Executive Director of ASAP (Animal Shelter Assistance Program); Dr. Will McClintock, Marine Scientist at UCSB; and Dr. Brett Grube, a local orthodontist.

Last Wednesday, our class took a field trip to La Purisima Mission in Lompoc. This mission has a fabulous Student Living History Day. On these special days, the mission comes to life. Docents carry out the activities one would have seen when the mission was in operation. Here are some of the activities our class was able to experience:

Some things you may see or do during living history:

Adobe making         Soap making             Gristmill

Blacksmithing          Leather work             Monjerio

Cuartel & Soldiers    Chumash music        Basketry

Hide tanning            Spinning & weaving   Animals

Pottery making        Candle making          Mission store

Cooking                  Chumash games       Gardens

Upcoming Tests, Projects, & Quizzes

Unit 32 Spelling Test–Thursday, 5/25/17

Unit 9 Math Test–Thursday, 6/1/17

__________________________

Upcoming Events

Field Trip to Santa Cruz Island–Friday, 5/26/17 (7:45-5:30)

Memorial Day/No School–Monday, 5/29/17

Poetry Reading–Friday, 6/2/17 (8:30-9:30)

Lower School Track & Field Day–Wednesday, 6/7/17

Closing Ceremony–Thursday, 6/8/17 (9:00)

Monday

1. Read for 20 minutes and record it in your reading log. 
2. Complete math study link 9.5.
3. Complete spelling lesson 32.

Tuesday

1. Read for 20 minutes and record it in your reading log. 
   
2. Complete math study link 9.6.
3. Practice your poems for the poetry reading. Remember to work on PETVIBE (pace, eye contact, tone, volume, inflection, body language, and enunciation).

Wednesday

1. Practice your poems for the poetry reading. Remember to work on PETVIBE (pace, eye contact, tone, volume, inflection, body language, and enunciation).
   
2. Complete math study link 9.7.
3. Log onto Spelling City from any computer or mobile device, login, and access your spelling words for practice. There are games and practice tests. Make sure you don’t take the real test. If you would like to practice another way, here are some of the options we discussed in class:
   • Use your spelling worksheet to make flashcards and practice quizzing yourself.
   • Write each word five times.
   • Practice spelling words verbally with a parent.
   • Practice with any other method that you already know and use.

Thursday–No homework due to Santa Cruz Island trip