As the end of the school year rapidly approaches, we are all feeling the need for more time - not only to finish the year but to plan for next school year. It feels like we'll have to start making the days longer to get it all done - or maybe we'll have to give up sleep. On second thought, I think we're already doing that! One of the things we are working on is creating class lists for next year. Teachers and I weigh several factors to try to create balanced classrooms, including gender, learning needs and personalities. With current students, teachers in the 'sending' level (the one students are leaving) meet with teachers in the 'receiving' level to discuss and decide next year's class placement. For Level 3 (7th/8th grade) next year, the placement process is a bit more complicated. Students at this level will be part of two different class groupings intended to accommodate the range of learning needs. For advisory times, science, social studies, art, physical activity and Out & About, students will be Advisory Groups, led by either Chris Stanton or Shannon Perry. For math and language arts, students will be in grade-level groups with differentiated instruction to meet individual needs within those groups. Sixth grade students visited both Level 3 classrooms on May 25. Class lists for all levels will be provided to families on Fri., June 11. On the morning of Mon., June 14, before Field Day, 3rd grade students will spend a couple of hours in their new Level 2 classrooms. Students will then return to their current classrooms for Field Day. The next day, Tues., June 15, we will have our Bridging Ceremony behind Marsh Hall on the campus of Pacific University at 11 a.m. At this event, we celebrate the students who are bridging from one level to the next and give special attention to our graduating 8th graders and high school students moving on to new schools. Parents and other family members are invited and encouraged to attend. All attending are required to turn in a signed consent/waiver form for Pacific University. Forms are available in the school office or at these links, for adults and minors. After the Bridging Ceremony, classes will return to school shortly before dismissal at 1:05 p.m. 'Our World in a Click,' an exhibit of Level 4 photography students' work, and an exhibit recycled-plastic mandalas by Level 1, 2 and 3 students are on display through June 5 in the Kathrin Cawein Gallery on the campus of Pacific University. The gallery is open 1-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat. FGCS students are invited to apply for enrollment in the Summer Success Academy, a summer learning opportunity sponsored by the Forest Grove School District. The program, which is a partnership among the District, Adventures Without Limits and the Boys & Girls Club, is open to students pre-K through 12th grade. More information is available at the District web site at http://www.fgsd.k12.or.us/. Registration forms and forms to determine eligibility for free or reduced tuition are available at the FGCS office. All students in the Forest Grove School District are invited to participate in the District's summer food service program, which provides free meals to children ages 1 to 18. Meals will be available at the following locations and times: FGCS is pleased to welcome Becky Tengs as a long-term substitute for Veronica Dolby in the Level 2 Peregrine Falcons classroom. Veronica will be on an extended leave of absence through the 2010-2011 school year. Becky is a familiar face around our school, having been a student teacher with the Falcons last year and a frequent substitute in many classrooms. She took over the Falcons classroom full time in March, when Veronica left to prepare for the birth to her beautiful daughter, Addy Sue. Becky is a 6th-generation native Oregonian born in Eugene. She earned her bachelor's degree in English from Portland State University and her Master of Arts in Teaching from Pacific University; she will earn her reading endorsement in August. Her favorite part of teaching is building relationships with kids; the best part of teaching at FGCS, for Becky, is the freedom to infuse her own ideas and creativity into the curriculum. In her free time, Becky plays on a competitive adult kickball league and enjoys hanging out with her husband, Eric, and her dog, Benson. We are delighted to welcome Becky as part of our school community. We're excited to announce that FGCS has received two grants to support the development of our new school garden at the Woodfold courtyard. In both cases, FGCS students were involved in developing the grant proposals and gave public presentations to support the applications. Fourth-grader Lucio Stagnitti represented FGCS before the Forest Grove City Council; Helen Thias, grade 5, and Solomon Clapshaw, grade 3, spoke on behalf of the school to the Forest Grove Public Arts Commission. The City Council approved a $900 community-enhancement grant for the garden and the Public Arts Commission awarded $500 for art work that will enhance the garden. All FGCS families and the Forest Grove community are invited to be part of an exciting event coming to the school garden May 28-June 6. The Village Building Convergence (VBC) is an annual event at sites across the Portland metro area that brings people together for building projects that promote community and sustainability. Our VBC project involves the construction of an artistic and educational gated entryway to our new school garden at the Woodfold courtyard (19th & Main St., 1 block from FGCS). The project will involve cob construction, a green roof and informational kiosks. Students and others have contributed ideas to the beautiful design you see above. We will build primarily with reclaimed materials. We're excited to have local metalsmith Eric Canon, Woodfold Mfg. and the Friends of Historic Forest Grove as partners in this project. We need many hands to make the VBC project a success, so please find a way to get involved. We're seeking donations of clean sand and straw for cob construction as well as old metals to decorate our gate. Help is also needed coordinating food, washing dishes and more. For more information, please contact Erin Morgan at e.morgan@fgcschool.org or Teresa Perrin at t.perrin@fgcschool.org. Here is a schedule of work parties and other events: Public/Community Events - All Welcome May 28 School-Wide Kick Off & Work Party 2-5 p.m. Food & mud mashing! May 29 Work Party 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Complete fence skeleton and raise eco-roof. Food provided. May 31 (Memorial Day) Work Party 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Soil prep, planting and art. Food provided. June 4 (No School Day) Work Party 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 5 Work Party 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Install gate, cob construction, clean up. Food provided June 6 Friends of Historic Forest Grove Garden Tour - Our garden is a stop on this annual tour of community gardens. Volunteers needed 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to complete work, clean up and CELEBRATE@ Come work, learn and play in the garden this summer with Erin Morgan, our Americorps member, Out & About Coordinator and co-leader of the student garden club. Erin is offering two sessions of a garden-focused day camp during the month of July. The day camps will take place at the school garden on Main Street just south of 19th Ave. (Woodfold courtyard). Students should come prepared to be outside and get dirty! Each session will offer explorations of healthy garden ecosystems, music, outdoor games, art activities and a field trip to a local park or farm. Bring a nutritious lunch and refillable water bottle. These classes are open to the community, so please spread the word! Here are the details: Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Session 1 (ages 6-9) July 5-16 Session 2 (ages 8-12) July 19-30 Minimum class size: 8 Maximum class size: 15 Cost $100/student for each 2-week session *Students are welcome to sign up for both 2-week sessions. Contact Erin at e.morgan@fgcschool.org or 503-359-4600 to discuss requests for exceptions to the age limits. Please fill out this registration form and turn in with payment (cash or check only) to the school office or mail to FGCS, 1914 Pacific Ave., Forest Grove, OR 97116. May 28-June 6 Village Building Convergence (see article above for details) May 31 Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL June 2 Celebration of Learning 5-6:30 p.m. At FGCS: Levels 1 and 3 classrooms will be open; refreshments in Level 3 rooms At the Old Train Station Building, 19th & Main: Level 2 Migration Museum At the School Garden (Woodfold courtyard), 19th & Main: Garden tours and information about the Village Building Convergence June 4 Teacher Work Day - NO SCHOOL June 14 3rd Grade Students - New Classroom Visits Field Day Levels 1, 2 & 3 - Lincoln Park June 15 Last Day of School - 1:05 dismissal Bridging Ceremony 11 a.m., B Street Farm June 17 Board Meeting 7 p.m.
FGCS All-School Newsletter May 2010
Principal's Corner
Wrapping Up This Year, Preparing for the Next
by Vanessa Gray
Class Lists
Bridging Ceremony
Student Artwork on Display at Cawein Gallery
Summer Success Academy Open to FGCS Students
Summer Food Program Provides Free Meals for Children
Meet Becky Tengs
GARDEN NEWS
FGCS RECEIVES 2 GRANTS TO SUPPORT SCHOOL GARDEN
VILLAGE BUILDING CONVERGENCE STARTS MAY 28 IN THE SCHOOL GARDEN
Drawing by Donna Van DykeSummer Fun in the Garden with Erin
CALENDAR
All events at FGCS unless otherwise noted
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All School News is a publication of the Forest Grove Community School, 1914 Pacific Ave., Forest Grove, OR 97116. For more information, phone us at 503-359-4600; fax us at 503-359-4600(fax) or visit us at www.fgcschool.org.