Getting back at it.

Hello parents,

I know it's been a while since I wrote anything on the class blog, and I apologize. Our last inquiry was a difficult time for me with prep time. Every week I lost prep time to guests, trips, and activities that we were involved in. The blog was a casualty of not having enough prep time to meet the needs of my planning and evaluation. However, that project is over now, and I don't anticipate being that busy again, hopefully.

Yesterday a note went home about an open mic event at the Mendel Art Gallery on Sunday at 2pm. Our students have been invited to perform their poems there, if they'd like to. I need to let the Mendel know approximately how many students will be in attendance, so I'd like to know today or tomorrow if your child will be attending. The school art exhibit is on so it's a nice time to view art.

Our class will be starting a new inquiry unit on space. As part of this unit, students will learn about the solar system, seasons and tides, and space exploration. After learning about space, we will then explore properties of flight. I plan to tie these two themes into Art, Language Arts, and Phys. Ed.. We  will explore science fiction and Aliens in Language Arts while learning how to write narrative (fictional) stories. In art we will learn new techniques around drawing perspective, 3D, and positive and negative space. In Phys. Ed. we will tackle outcomes from the curriculum with space themed games as well as looking into the training an astronaut needs to be in physically tip top condition.
During this unit, we will have some additional support from Mrs. Engel, and Mrs. Anning's replacement. (I'd tell you her name, but I've drawn a blank on her last name.)

I will be away from school starting Tuesday next week for a 2 weeks duration. I will be having my nose straightened out. It's never ideal timing to be away from school for two weeks, but the impact of my deviated septum on my sleep has been fairly great - which makes me unacceptably forgetful. (At least that's what I hope is causing my forgetfulness. :) As of this moment I do not know who my replacement will be, but we are hopeful to have the same person fill the entire vacancy for continuity.

I also want to thank all of the parents and students for the Costco gift card I received at Christmas time. I finally figured out what I wanted - and put it towards a kayak. I'm super excited to be able to explore river systems this summer. Thank you so much everyone, it was a great gift.

Have a great day everyone.