Week 18

Weekly Greetings!

It is hard to believe we are just about done with our first semester of school! This week there will be more enrichment activities for Christmas interwoven into our regular routine. In addition there will not be any spelling this week, but I will still be sending homework with a math fact sheet and a language activity page nightly as usual. Also, please remember the Christmas program will be on Wednesday at 6:00pm and there will not be any G.A.P. that day. Finally, there will be an early release on Friday at 2:15pm. Our class party will be after lunch at 1:15pm and I will be attaching a sign-up sheet for snacks. I hope some of you can join us!

Even though for the last few weeks we have tried to make one last academic push before ending our first semester, we did make time to use the Makerspace room for an art project. It was great that everyone was in class that day. With all the different sicknesses and people traveling, it has been rare for everyone to be in class on any given day. When the students finished their project, they could explore materials in the room before we had to clean up.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday with family and friends! School will open again for the second semester on Monday, January 7. It will only be a three-day week, though, due to a basketball tournament. Teachers will in-service that Thursday and Friday.

Kind Regard,

Julie Brown

Week 17

Weekly Greetings!

It is amazing to me that we only have two more weeks of school before vacation! Also, that will be the end of our first semester, marking half way through the school year. Since the last week before vacation is always filled with festive activities, I have been continuing to make an academic push the last few weeks to complete our 2nd quarter.

Tim Lorenzini had to reschedule for after vacation, as the refuge office was closed on Wednesday due to a national day of mourning the loss of President George H. Bush. But, we were fortunate to participate in another special activity the next day. During our usual pod class time, we were fortunate to have a music concert on Thursday to enjoy some Christmas music.  Our visitors played traditional carols from around the world on a variety of stringed instruments. It lasted for 45 minutes, and the students listened intently. The kindergarten class even participated with the final song!

When I was gone a little over a week ago, I  got a wonderful report from the seasoned teacher who substituted for me. Here is a quote from her notes to me. "I enjoyed the day with the students. They were all kind, caring, respectful, helpful, and hard working." I wanted to pass that on to you all because I have to agree with her observations. It has been a pleasure to be working with this group, and sometimes it is good to share that with others.

I hope you have a great week!

Kind Regards,

Julie Brown

Week 16

 Weekly Greetings!

It has been my experience that these next few weeks will go by quickly, with the holiday break rapidly approaching. Each week, we will be fitting in a special activity, before we break for Christmas. On Wednesday this week the class will begin looking at migratory birds in preparation for the Tetlin Refuge annual bird count in December. Also, the students will begin drawing and writing about some of the birds for the Migratory Bird calendar contest through the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service.

As for last week, the class visited the Biomass power plant and saw the 100-year-old steam engine that is powering the electricity at the school. Tony Lee gave them a great tour, and when we discussed what they learned on our return to class, I was pleased at how much everyone gleaned from the experience.

The drama S.T.A.R.S. pod class that I am teaching this quarter was able to act out a mock trial on Thursday at the Tok District Court. There was a really good audience turn out also, and the students did a great job in the short amount of time we had to work on it. The next few weeks will be in preparation for the Christmas program.

I hope you have an awesome week!

Kind Regards,

Julie Brown