Foundation for a Better Life

11-20-09 9075

Conference schedule and bonus point opportunity below.

New Semester - It's a new semester. Everyone is starting off with A's again. They just need to keep them.

AR -- 12 AR points due by the end of the month.

Hats -- the hats the students have made are near completion. We will be selling them the week of conferences. The price that was set was a donation of $5 or more. A portion of the proceeds will be going to the leukemia society in honor of one of our classmates. This week we will be coming up with a 'work schedule' to sell hats. I am asking that students donate 45 minutes to an hour of time to sit at a table and sell the hats in the media center during conferences. This can be at a time that surrounds their conference. So, if your child could possibly hang out for a while to help sell, you might want to give them a time that fits your schedule. The class has grown pretty trustworthy, so I would not require you, the parent, to stay an assist. Students of our classroom will be able to purchase hats on Monday and Tuesday following Thanksgiving before they go on sale to the public.

Conferences -- As a child I always thought the meeting between my parents and teachers contained top secret information about me. I like the students to hear everything we have to say and participate in the conference. It keeps the communication very clear between all parties involved in the education of their minds. I encourage you to bring your child to the conference. It is not required, but welcomed. A list of scheduled times is below.

Video -- We will be filming the annual Vasicek Music Video on Monday. Please have your child wear blue jeans and a white shirt. The white shirt can be a collared shirt, polo, t-shirt, or whatever. Do NOT go buy anything new for this. Just get as close to jeans and a white shirt as possible. As many of you are aware, with the advanced technology and the power of Youtube sometimes these videos get some big publicity. Have no fear, if the Chippewa Valley media release form (on the back of the emergency card) was not signed at the beginning of the year, then your child will not be filmed.

Three Dollars -- The students are working on a secret project for Christmas that involves a gift for a classmate and a parent. I asked that each student cover half the cost by contributing their own money.  They are not to beg or ask for the money, but earn or find $3 for these two gifts.

Spelling Test on TUESDAY this week.  No school W / Th / F.

Movie Night -- Just a head's up on the next Movie Night. I know many of you wonder what you are going to do with your child on these half days of school while you are at work trying to earn those Christmas dollars. I am attempting to schedule a movie night for the Friday of conferences. It would be after school and get out around the normal end of the school day. Students that go to Latch Key can go after the movie is over. Again, this is an earned privilege depending on November SAIL and AR points.

Conference Schedule

What I NO for sure:  Critical thinking is the key to success.

So, this week during the spelling test I said, "Number five is no.  Your mom said, 'No, you can't go.  No, you cannot do that.'"  It was the easiest spelling word of the year!!!  The two letter word that every child has heard and understood the meaning of since before they were able to talk.  Probably a word that was on their very first spelling test ever.  So why did most students get it wrong?  They don't trust themselves.  On the actual spelling list was the word know but not the word no.  Oh, many of them gave me funny looks as I said the sentence, but most did not go with their gut instinct.  Instead they abandoned their thinking, and went with the word that was on the list.  They followed the rule even though it didn't make any sense.

I told them story of the Processionary Caterpillars.  It is a great story, and I encourage you to take two minutes to read it now as it would be a great dinner time discussion. See if they remember what the story really is about.  [The story].  The lesson being, we all know that leaders naturally think, but the followers must as well.  Know who you are following and make sure they are taking you down the path that you believe is right!  Bonus Point Opportunity:  If you do discuss this with your child, please tell him/her to tell me.   

The following day we did the Circle Tap game.  I will let your children tell you about it.  Some students really understood the connection to the caterpillar story.  I have since seen critical thinking, initiative, confidence, and leadership begin to emerge in the classroom. 

11-09-09 9005

The best week of the year so far!  Here are some of the highlights:

Spelling test average was 96.3%  Wow! ... No missing assignments on Wednesday or Thursday ... nice tight morning shows ... made hats to sell for charity ... won a pizza party from the science teacher for superior behavior... a super fun Holes movie night ... learned how to play Sardines and Ship Island ... several visitors to the classroom had compliments for the students.

The focus next week will be to get more students passing their multiplication quizzes.  We will be taking the x5 and x6 quizzes this week on Tuesday and Thursday.  Once we get through the x12's, then we will offer redo's to students needing to retake a quiz they did not master.

Curriculum next week continues to include the fantasy genre, government, energy, and multiplication.  Any discussion you can have about taxes, government, or energy will be helpful in building a knowledge base for your child.

11-07-09 8945

A rocky Monday morning ended up turning into a great week.  The students received a glowing report from the substitute on Wednesday, and the majority of them did well on their tests and quizzes this week.

Coming up we will be learning about government, energy, and multiplication.  Any time you can squeeze in a real-world example or a dinner time conversation on those topics will be helpful.  For reading we will continue to focus on non-fiction and on the fantasy genre.  For writing the students are working on their second publishable piece.   It is called a personal narrative.

Movie Night will be Friday.  Holes is the movie.  Students will be invited based on AR and SAIL points.  Admission to the movie is to either donate towards the pizza or bring a dessert or snack to share with the class.

What I Know For Sure: A little support can make a difference.

This week I attended Challenge Day at Chippewa Valley High School.  This is a very powerful experience for students, and I hope each child I teach receives an opportunity to attend Challenge Day at least once.  It was amazing to see the facilitators take a group of 80 high school students, who are strangers to each other, and get them to open up and share all the baggage they have.  After hearing some of their stories, I was appreciative of my own upbringing.  I was also saddened that these students protect their image so much that they don't share their real feelings with even their closest friends.  It was also amazing to see the students from different stereotypical cliques (jocks, nerds, goth, etc.) publicly apologize to and accept each other for who they really are.  There were many boxes of tissue used and many tears shed -- from the football players to the lonely student.  

The facilitators talked about how to create a better school environment, how to keep it real, and even how to hug.  The day was about stepping out of the box that society puts you in and just being yourself.  From the powerful day I confirmed that building a supportive community in the classroom is the way to teach.  I learned a few new techniques and statistics that will drive some of what we do on the SS Integrity.  I have already seen changes not only in the actions of some of the students, but in the depth of their thoughts.

10-31-09  8887

We had a great week on the SS Integrity this week.  We finished up Discovery.  Most students seemed to really enjoy the simulation.  On Monday we will be assessing how much they actually learned from all the fun role playing.  We also finished publishing our first writing piece.  On Friday we shared them with our classmates.

The Halloween party was well planned by the students.  A few pieces were missing here or there, but for the most part they did a great job!

November is when we start hitting multiplication, so be sure they are studying their multiplication facts with flashcards.  Knowing these quickly will help reduce frustration in all future math classes.

Tuesday there is no school for the students.

What I Know For Sure:  A mother's job is not easy. 

It's not easy to raise a child in today's world.  Anita Renfroe does a great job of using humor and song to illustrate this from a mom's perspective.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYukEAmoMCQ.  Maybe she will write one for teachers. 

10-25-09  8827

Pretty routine week here on the SS Integrity.  The good news is the MEAP is behind us, and we can go full steam ahead.  The students are becoming a great team, but still could use some work on their focus.  They simply don't read directions.  Or they read them and come up with their own directions to follow.  I haven't quite figured that one out yet. 

Don't forget 8 AR points are due this Friday.  Also, this Friday is the Halloween party around 2:45.  The students have planned it.  They seem pretty organized, we shall see if they can execute the plans.  A ticket to the party is all assignments being turned in.  If not, then the students can use their party time to complete their assignments.

This week is Red Ribbon Week.  Watch this one minute video for some motivation to talk to your child about drugs, alcohol, and smoking.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6tsCdSuFrs.   Additionally, if you can email the third effect of smoking mentioned in the video, you will earn your child an extra credit point.   (1) blood clots (2) fatty deposits in arteries (3) ????.  CAUTION:  Don't watch if you are eating.  There are some graphic examples of smoking effects.

10-16-09 8734

Despite being the first two rounds of MEAP testing, Voyage 6 was jam packed with fun. Students engaged in a lively and impressively thoughtful debate about their "Dead or Alive" mission. Using Science Court the students were able to distinguish the difference between things that are alive, dead, and non-living. How well could you do? Try putting feathers, chicken bones, leather belts, and leaves into the categories. The students also had to decide how "potential for life" fits into the picture. Good dinner time discussion. 

But the fun didn't stop there. We have introduced a mini-economy to our classroom. Students have their own checkbooks and are going to be 'paid' for their weekly jobs. They must maintain enough 'money' to pay for rent on their desk and other necessary items. Leftover money may be used for 'wants' (i.e. luxuries or privileges). But wait, there's more...in social studies the colonists have made it across the Atlantic Ocean and are now in the process of claiming land in the New World. Each team has developed their own strategy for success. Teamwork and planning are essential to survive in the New World. Which colony will become the most successful? Stay tuned.

All this fun, two rounds of MEAP testing, and the students still managed to tie their class spelling record of 91%. And...a few more people have achieved their AR goals.  It's happening ladies and gentlemen. The bar has been set and most students are genuinely interested in raising it higher.  Thanks for the home support with the reading.

Progress Reports go home Friday (today). If your child received a "meets standards," then they are currently receiving an A or B. If your child received "does not meet standards," then they are currently receiving a C or lower. AR points are noted as well. Remember 8 points are due by the end of the month. (For reference, by this point in 5th grade some teacher require 20 AR points). Soon, your child will have science / social studies tests to study for and math facts to memorize. If they are behind in their reading, fourth grade may become overwhelming in a hurry -- and there is no government bail out plan. There is no reset button at the trimester. They will simply have to buckle down and catch up to their peers that have put in the time to read each night. If reading is not able to occur at home, I can accommodate by allowing 5 hours of reading time each day at school. I do not like to exercise this option as it will inhibit their social interactions and great discussions from which much of their learning occurs. This system would also require the student to take home every subject for homework to be completed by the next day.

Just a head's up: The Halloween Party is currently being planned by the students. I have vetoed a few ideas, and think they are on track with the parameters I have provided. We shall see what the committees end up deciding. They may be asking you for donations. If it sounds outrageous, please let me know.

What I Know For Sure: Life is short, so make the most of it.

This week Miami Elementary experienced the passing of a member of the teaching staff. This loss has caused me to pause and reflect on life, death, and everything in between. Relatively speaking, our existence on this planet is a very short period of time. In the grand scheme of things what could possibly one do in such a short period of time? Nine months with your child in some regards seems like a lot of time. Nine months with your child seems like only a fraction of what is needed. I found this on the Internet. Make the most of every minute with every one you know.

If you want to know the value of a year, ask a person who has just failed the university entrance exam.
If you want to know the value of a month, ask a mother who has just gave birth to a preemie.
If you want to know the value of a day, ask an editor of a daily newspaper.
If you want to know the value of an hour, ask a person who has just been stuck in an elevator.
If you want to know the value of a minute, ask a person who has just missed a bus.
If you want to know the value of a second, ask a person who has a relative that has just died in a traffic accident.
If you want to know the value of a tenth of a second, ask a person who has just won the second prize.
 

10-11-09 8686

This week ended on a very high note. The students loved running through the halls for the Dolphin Dash. Many of them earned Dolphin Dash dog tags to add to their growing collection. Friday also was the Kayak Club award ceremony during lunch. Mr. Bulgrin gave out kayak dog tags to those students earning them for September.

In the classroom, each team packed their ship and started sailing across the Atlantic Ocean. We played with money and introduced the highly popular Video Game math. Movie night was a huge success. The students made some great connections between our class and the Olympic hockey story of Miracle.

We also saw the expansion of comfort zones this week. Some boys put on a boxing routine to present the Captain’s Hat, and one student sang “The Climb” to her classmates because she thought it fit our class well. All that excitement plus positive reports from every special’s teacher earned them their first “10.” A scientific surprise awaits them on Monday.

The big game – “The MEAP” -- is next week. Please be sure your child is getting plenty of rest and a good breakfast. We will be testing on Tuesday and Thursday.

Reminders:
• Late permission slips are not accepted. Please model responsibility and the respect of other people’s time by adhering to deadlines. The simple solution is to always turn items in early “just in case.”
• 8 AR points are due by the end of the month.
• Anybody wanting to cut some fleece into rectangles for the class can contact me.

What I Know For Sure: A little courtesy goes a long way.

The house next to me was recently sold and is currently being “flipped” by some contractors. I often see these guys arriving to work as I am leaving in the morning and staying until well after my eyes are shut for the evening. Yesterday as I was pulling out of my driveway, one of the gentleman came sprinting out of the house waving for me to stop. I rolled down my window to talk with him. He simply said, “I know we have been working late and running lots of loud equipment for the past few days. Has it been disturbing you at all?” I replied that it didn’t affect me in the least. I thanked him for his consideration and was on my way.

That gesture, as simple as it was, sadly surprised me. Really the gesture of common courtesy should be exactly that – common. It is truly not hard to impress someone by a simple act of respect and courtesy because so many people in today’s society have lost that skill. Teach your children to capitalize on the fact that a little common courtesy can go a long way in a society that can often be self-centered.
 

10-04-09  8578

Thanks to all the former and current students who came to the JDRF walk.  Miami was represented by staff, students, and parents.  I am guessing together about $2000 was raised for juvenile diabetes research.  Hats off to you!

Check out the new spelling activities for the child of the digital world.  Completing some of these online activities will count as a Bingo square.  Let's see if the average can go from 91% to 92%.  Raise that bar.  Probably the most dramatic increase I have ever seen in one week! 

Dolphin Dash is Friday.  Wear yellow if you have it.  Students bringing in a donation will get a Dolphin Dash Dog Tag.

Movie Night for some Room 24 students is Friday.  Students with 10 or more SAIL points will be invited to watch Miracle.   Donation / dessert is what is needed for admission.  Pizza / popcorn / pop will be available for dinner.

Students earning 15 or more SAIL points will receive a Kayak Club dog tag this week and be able to bring in their personal listening devices (iPods, mp3, etc) on Friday.

Serious Tie day went well.  Leaders emerged.  Lessons were learned.  I was surprised by 4 students not turning in their work on Friday.  I hope there was some major read-a-thons going on this weekend.  Thank you all for supporting the importance of reading and being responsible.

For those of you that may not know, I teach a learning theory course at Oakland University.   I use much of the research on the brain to make this 4th grade classroom as brain friendly as possible.  After all, it is our most valuable resource.  I came across this interesting 2 minute video while planning lessons for my class.  You can earn your child extra credit by telling me what the two-word term that is used to mean "replaying the entire learned sequence at night."   This video gives you one more reason to make sure your children are getting enough sleep.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI96e38zMj4

09-30-09  8536

The students had a near perfect day today.  The spelling test average went up from 80% to 91%!!!!   They received a perfect 10 in art.  The superintendent came in and read a poem about doing the best you can do in school.  The students had some great questions.  Unfortunately, many students did not achieve their minimal AR goal this week.  The dreaded serious tie is rearing it's head a week earlier than normal this year. 

09-22-09  8497

We have some phenomenal spellers.  The class average on the spelling test was 80%.  That is a great average for the first spelling test of the year.  I anticipate this making it into the 90% range soon.   I customized the number of words and number of Bingos required for each child to assist in setting them up for success.  Lists went home on Wednesday.

Our student with leukemia was admitted to the hospital again.  We send him our most positive thoughts.

The end of Voyage 3 could be characterized by the term "choppy seas."  There was one math assignment sheet that was classwork on Wednesday.  If it was not completed during math time (or Picture Day wait time or the 30 minute library time), then it was due at 9AM on Thursday.  Since I was out of the building on Thursday, technically the papers wouldn't be checked until Friday.  That is 24 extra hours.   7 of the 22 students in attendance did not bother to turn in this assignment 48 hours after it was due. Yes, the 'serious tie' day seems to be on the horizon.

For extra credit for your child, watch this 3.5 minute video and email me the end of this quote: "And, the one extra degree of effort in business and life...separates ___  ___ ___ ___ ___!"    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BA3oc4NZes

Helping Your Child At Home 

Math:  Work on telling time / elapsed time.  Have your child calculate the time of a car ride or the time until bed time.

Reading:  Model reading with your child each night.  Have your child summarize the chapter or the page to you.

Writing:  Write a letter or email to a friend/relative using paragraphs with topic sentences and details.

SS:  Have your child calculate distance and locate cities on a state map.

Science:  Discuss/make a model of an animal or plant cell.

Technology:  Look up the endangered "Tree Octopus"

09-18-09 8411

Voyage 2 was extremely busy.  You can check out all the photos under the Voyage Photo tab.  The field trip was a success on many levels.  Not only did we learn a lot about science, but the team building paid off the following day.   In social studies we started a simulation called Discovery.  During this Discovery unit students will be able to experience the life of some of the first travelers to North America.  The teamwork on the first assignment was top notch.  Probably one of the best I have seen in the years I have run this simulation!  Perhaps the field trip had something to do with it.

Many students are making great use of their class time and rarely go home with unfinished papers.  It is nice to see this so early in the year.  Thank you, parents, for talking with your child each night and ensuring their work is complete.  There are a few students that have almost used up their Oops passes.  Organization and responsibility are traits that need to be mastered to ensure success in fifth grade. 

Reading Resorts.  The fourth grade teachers have assessed all the students and identified skills that each one needs to work on.  For 40 minutes each day we will assemble the students in groups to work on these targeted skills.  This all begins next week. 

Picture Day is Wednesday.  The students will have a sub on Thursday as the district needs me to be elsewhere on that day. 

What I Know For Sure:  Setting children up for success starts early. 

"What I Know For Sure" is a title borrowed from Oprah Winfrey's column of the same name.   These are just varying perspectives on bringing up children in today's technofied and fast-paced world.  Sometimes this section will contain my thoughts and other times it might include articles or videos others have created.

I didn't really know what to write about this week, and then an email from a former parent popped into my inbox.  It provided me with food for thought, so I thought it might be a good way to kick off this particular segment. The article originates from the website www.BeatTheRecession.com.

Are You Living An Entitled Life?

It seems like every day I hear someone talking about what they "deserve." Some examples:

"I work hard, so I deserve a nice vacation."

"The kids are only young once, they deserve the best of everything."

"I've worked all my life, so I deserve to retire in comfort."

"I've paid my dues so I deserve a promotion/raise."

"I've never had a nice car, so this time I deserve a convertible sports car."

The problem is, almost all of these statements end with some variation of, "But I can't afford it so I'll have to go into debt to have it." What these people don't seem to understand is that none of us "deserve" anything. Nothing irritates me more than hearing someone talk about how they can barely afford food, are making only the minimum payments on large debt balances, and have no savings, yet they are planning a very expensive vacation because, "I work so hard, I deserve a break." It's like a kid who feels like he "deserves" to have the same toy as the neighbor's kid, simply because the other kid has it.

Everything that falls into the, "I deserve it" list is a want. How often do you hear someone say, "I deserve to have food and heat?" Rarely, if ever. The necessities are assumed. You will have heat and food, even if you have to turn to a government program or family assistance to get them. But there are no programs for sports cars or nice vacations. Even retirement is rapidly coming off the list of things that will be provided for you. Those "want" items are on the individual to provide and many people cannot afford them. However, they see others having them and they think, "I have a job similar to his or a wage similar to hers, so I deserve that vacation, too."

It's understandable. When we're kids, most of us are taught to bring enough treats for the whole class and to make sure that no one is left out of the fun. If one child can't afford something, the other children (or their parents) must pick up the slack to avoid leaving anyone out. We're taught that everyone deserves to participate, no matter their ability or merit. We're fed the notion that everyone is equal and is entitled to the same things, even if others have to pick up the slack to make that possible. That teaching carries with us into adulthood and, when we see others enjoying things like vacations, cars, etc., we want them, too. We feel like we deserve them because, hey, we're just as good as that other person. We work hard, we're good people, so we should be allowed in on the fun. But entitlement is a fairy tale that we need to outgrow.

The problem is that once we become adults, there isn't a teacher or parent there to enforce the fairness rule. It's a tough lesson to learn that just being present isn't enough any more. (And the more you were indulged as a kid, the more painful this lesson is.) In adulthood, we have to earn what we get. We have to save and sacrifice for our needs and, especially, wants. As an adult, you no longer deserve anything simply because you are a good person who works hard. There isn't anyone who's going to make certain that you get to participate in the fun, just because you're part of the class. You have to make and earn your own fun. If you fail to save and act responsibly, what you "deserve" might be nothing.

We need to learn this lesson in a hurry because continuing to believe in the entitlement fairy tale is getting many people in trouble. They buy expensive toys, clothes, and vacations to keep up with their peers and it creates a cycle of debt that's hard to get out of. But this isn't the worst consequence of this fairy tale. Ultimately the entitlement fairy tale has greater consequences than large quantities of consumer debt. That would be bad enough, but if you believe in the fairy tale long enough it endangers the greatest "I deserve" and "I want" of them all: Retirement.

I hear too many people say that they "deserve" to retire at sixty-five (or earlier with good karma). They believe that they will magically be taken care of, even if they retire without any savings. But the problem is, they "deserved" everything else along the way, too, and now there is no money for retirement. No one deserves retirement. Unlike when you were a kid, it isn't all going to work out regardless of what you do. Chances are your employer won't help you and the government probably won't be able to help you either. No one is going to come along and make sure that you're on equal footing with everyone else, just because you showed up for work every day. That means the burden is on you to earn the retirement you want, not deserve. No matter how hard you work, or how much time you put in, or how good you are, you don't deserve to retire. You have to earn it. The truth of the matter is, the retirement you "deserve," based on your savings habits, might be one of eating dog food, working at a low wage job, and living in low income housing.

If you want to retire, you're going to have to do a lot of saving to get there. That means letting go of the idea that you deserve a lot of toys throughout your life. It's definitely a trade off, and one that isn't always fun. It's not fun to pass up the elaborate cruise that you "deserve" (because you worked so hard) in favor of an IRA contribution. But look at it this way: You're still doing something positive and rewarding with the money that you worked so hard for. Rather than taking the cruise, which is an immediate gratification, you're investing in your retirement, which is a long term goal. You're still getting something you deserve in return for your hard work, it's just not the instant gratification that you seek. Do this often enough throughout your life and you'll have a tidy nest egg by age sixty-five. That's not to say that you have to give up all the fun in your life, only that you have to choose wisely and remember that you don't "deserve" anything, particularly if you can't afford it. Quit believing in the entitlement fairy tale and start believing in saving and spending wisely. Otherwise, you aren't going to like the things you "deserve."

09-16-09 8405

Day 7 of school and we took a pretty adventurous field trip.  Some may have said the 4th grade team was nuts.  Some may have said we wouldn't be able to make it all happen so quickly, much less for free.  Well, it happened, and it was really a good time.  Whether they were learning about moths, butterflies, snakes, trees, the marsh, the meadow, or some valuable life skills, the trip was highly educational.  Some kids were able to experience their first roasted marshmallow on a delicious s'more while others ooooh'd and ahhhh'd over the cool cabins and bunk beds.  Finishing up with some songs and a campfire debrief was the perfect ending to the day.  I bet the kids slept very well. 

I would like to thank my former OU professor, Mr. Mike, for opening up the facility to us and providing us with his expertise at no cost.  This made the trip very affordable in an economy like ours.  And thanks to the very generous Miami PTO, the bussing and supplies were also paid for.  Last, but certainly not least, a big thank you to the parents that chaperoned, transported items, tended fire, organized s'mores, or generally kept the day flowing problem free.  With a field trip like this one, where the teachers run stations, it is always a a bit scary.   It was a big success and I think it set the tone for the year -- Work hard.  Play hard.   Thank you all.

09-12-09  8375

Voyage 1 is now complete.  I hope your children made it home excited and maybe even a little worn out.  I know I was.  Between experiments with pennies, putting computers together, team building games, burning the anchors that hold us back, and all the back to school assessments, I was appreciative to have a 4 day week to start off the year.

All in all in the class did well.  Soon they will be running like a finely tuned machine.  We saw a glimpse of this machine Friday when they efficiently whizzed through a social studies lesson in 20 minutes.    They also did a great job of setting the prices in their class snack shop.  They made sure their was variety and different prices to accommodate each student's "budget."

Thanks to all of you that came to Meet the Teacher.  I do realize that your babies are growing up and it is sometimes hard to let them do so.  It is even harder to let them make mistakes or fail.  After Friday's activities the class knows that we celebrate mistakes as they can provide insight into ways to make us better.  Keep the painting of the fire fighter in mind this year.  It will all make sense at the end.

I am still missing a few people's email addresses and video release forms.  I will have to limit the photos or videos that are placed online until those forms are completed.   If all parents are able to sign the forms, then the VasiCam can go into operation and Oakland County Intermediate School District would like to come and make an educational video of the class. 

09-08-09  8321

What a great first day.  We had an awesome kick off assembly in which metal bars were bent, bats were broken, water bottles blown up, and telephone books were ripped.  It showed that you can do anything you put your mind to.  This was followed up by the President delivering a similar message of work hard and don't make excuses.  All in all, it was great first day.  A big thank you to all the parents that donated supplies to the classroom.  We sincerely appreciate it.

Homework for the night was to (1) make sure parents sign the handbook form and fill out the emergency card (2) bring in a dirty penny (3) bring in some words, stickers, photos to decorate their "lockers."

Meet the Teacher tomorrow @6:30.  Please send me your email addresses bvasicek@cvs.k12.mi.us

09-07-09 8306

If you have been following the news lately, you undoubtedly have heard the controversy over President Obama's address that will be given to students across America on the first day of school.  I am proud to say that Chippewa Valley is not one of the districts censoring the elected leader of our great country.  Chippewa Valley trusts its teachers and principal to approach the speech in a manner fit for an educational setting, and they trust that the President will keep the speech focused on the back to school message.  The White House just released a transcript of the speech about an hour ago.  As expected, it is simply a speech to inspire youngsters to do their best this year despite circumstances or people in their life that may drag them down.  I have decided to seize this wonderful teaching opportunity to support the message that I will be echoing to the students during the first day. After the address, we will talk about the Presidency and how his message applies to our classroom.  I encourage you, the parent, to watch the address as well and have some meaningful conversation at dinner time with your child.  

08-31-09   8269

A big thank you to all the parents setting their  children up for success by filling out the form below.  I have already come up with a year long plan that will celebrate your child's strengths and strengthen their weaknesses.  I appreciate you taking the time before the chaos of the school year ensues to show commitment to your child's education.