Eagle Rock Talk
October 2004, Volume 1, Issue 3
Character Trait of the Month:
Dates to Remember:
- October 4 - PTA/Volunteer Academy
- October 6 - 1/2 day
- October 8 - No School
- October 13 - 4-5 class “Washington Trout” field trip
- October 15 - Science Workshop
- October 19 - Zoo field trip
- October 20 - 1/2 /day
- October 29 - Halloween Olympics
From Director's Chair | Student Council | Fall Conferences | Report Cards | Drop-Off and Pick Up | From the Editorial Staff | To Parents | Science Workshop | Halloween Jokes and Stories
We’re Off and Running!
Notes from the Director’s Chair
I can hardly believe that we have the first month of school beneath our belts! Transitions into changes have been smooth and, for the most part, free of trouble. Our first Monday morning at Stillwater went well, with the bus supervisor getting a very positive phone call from the bus driver for that route. She relayed that our students conducted themselves incredibly well; she had never had a group of students so well-behaved. Good going, students!
We are eating lunch together in the new room, and that, too, has been a change for the better. Students are building new friendships among students of all age groups, and wasting less food (cold lunchers are taking home what they would normally have tossed out). Our four new lunch tables seat us comfortably, and the classrooms no longer smell like tuna fish all afternoon!
The 4-5 classroom now has a west-facing window, and we have a cross-breeze on warm days for the first time ever, thanks to a window donated by the Houser family and installed by the school district.
We received new paint on our exterior walls in the summer, making all the buildings the same color. Landscaping and planting of grass on our play field are in the planning stages - let’s hope for a mild autumn so it can proceed.
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Eagle Rock's First Student Council is Created
Last June when the fifth graders from Eagle Rock went to Tolt for their first meeting with all the district fifth graders, student body representatives were called down to be introduced to everyone. We didn't’ have anyone! So this year we are creating our first Associated Student Body with the election of officers on November 2.
Students in grades 4 and 5 are campaigning for the offices of President, Vice President and Secretary. Grades K-1 and 2-3 will elect their own representatives to be on the council to round out our executive board. Candidates for the three offices will be required to give a speech one week prior to elections, and will be allowed to post a total of 3 campaign posters (these must be completed by students).
Duties of the Student Council will include determining various special days (such as dress-up days); assisting teachers and staff; instilling school spirit through various events; making morning announcements over the intercom; leading the daily flag salute; posting and retiring the flag in front of the school; and fulfilling other leadership roles at Eagle Rock.
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Conferences are Coming Up Soon: Changes in the Works
Parent-teacher conferences are coming up the week of November 1. Originally conferences were set at report card time to discuss academic progress (late November or early December). In the last few years, the date has been moved closer to the beginning of the school year to accommodate “goal-setting,” with the students involved in the process (as early as October at one time).
Last year (and this year) the conferences fall the first week of November. Staff members at Eagle Rock feel that the awkward placement of the conference time meets neither of those purposes; it is too late in the school year to be effective in goal setting, and too early to discuss report cards. It is also too soon for students to be effective in demonstrating their competencies, and no significant materials have accumulated for their portfolios.
So this year at Eagle Rock we have decided to make this conference time available to talk to you about your child’s work habits, areas we perceive as strengths, and those where additional work in indicated. This will be a time when the parents will meet with the teachers (a true “Parent-Teacher” conference), and students will not attend the conferences in the fall.
We will, however, arrange for student-led conferences in the spring when your child can demonstrate their progress over the course of the year.
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A Brand New Report Card (Again!)
Ah, yes. Report cards. A, B, C, D; 4, 3, 2, 1. It seems that someone would find the perfect way to report on student progress that is insightful, caring, honest, understandable, precise; one that builds self-esteem without sugar-coating the truth; one that is both comprehensive yet easy for teachers to use. We keep trying!
Last year we tried one method, a sort of sliding progress report. Mrs. Harris didn't make it past the first reporting period. Mr. A. and Mrs. Taylor stuck with it for the whole year. But we all agreed that it needed fixing.
The school district is in the process of reviewing several report card prototypes for use district-wide, and some are being piloted this year. Eagle Rock is piloting a modified version of the card used by the Snoqualmie School District.
Teachers worked on the report card over the summer to customize it to our district, and we will be trying it out this year. We hope you will bear with us as we shoot for perfection in reporting your child’s progress to you.
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Drop-Off and Pick-up Procedures
We have parents driving past the bus in the morning, and not waiting for the bus to leave. This is a safety issue as they are coming to the parking lot past the bus fairly fast. I have several complaints. Drop off in the morning some parents need to be reminded to park if they need to help their student out of the car, so the other parents who drop and leave can do so.
Greetings from the Editorial Staff
Hello, Eagle Rock! We, Sara Ullman, Jessica Pitts, Mackenzie Woelz, and Cameron Byer are the new Eagle Rock newsletter crew. We are excited to say that our Eagle Rock Newsletter is not only about upcoming events, but it will include jokes and stories (all will be appropriate). So enjoy our additions to this, our first issue!
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To Parents, Community Members, and Interested Parties
- Step 1 - Contact the teacher if it is a situation regarding the instruction of student.
- Step II - Contact the building principal with concerns/questions that have not been resolved at the teacher level. If questions or concerns are general in nature, it is appropriate to contact the principal directly.
- Step III - If concerns/questions are not addressed adequately at the building level, the superintendent or designee is the next contact source.
- Step IV - Concerns of the general nature that have not been adequately addressed by the Superintendent’s office, may be directed to the board of directors in writing, through the Superintendent’s office.
Questions and/or concerns about these guidelines can be directed to the Superintendent’s office at 425-844-4504.
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Science at Eagle Rock
Please join the ERMA staff on Friday, October 15th from 3:30-7:00pm to learn more about Sciencing with children in a workshop presented by Pat Orell, a Science Education Specialist with the Attic School in Lake Forest Park.
Find out for yourself why your child gets so excited about Science. Contact Julie Taylor at taylorj@riverview.wednet.edu or call 425-844-4903 if you are interested in attending.
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Halloween Jokes and Stories
Why do witches fly on brooms? Because vacuum cleaner cords aren’t long enough.
What is a witches favorite subject in school? Spelling.
What do you want to be for Halloween?
Jeremy Patsy says “I am going to be a vampire, because I love blood and I love vampires and fangs”.
A Scary Story
When Jeremy’s Mom was little she went trick or treating. She went to her friends house and opened a pot and there was a head sticking out of the salad.
Isebela says that she wants to be a hippy, because she likes hippies and thinks that they are funny.
Halloween Olympics
Mr. A says that you can look for some old favorites when it comes to events like Musical eyeballs and mummy wrap. New ones will include tombstone toss and pumpkin words.
From Director's Chair | Student Council | Fall Conferences | Report Cards | Drop-Off and Pick Up | From the Editorial Staff | To Parents | Science Workshop | Halloween Jokes and Stories
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