Questions to Ask Your Child:
Why do people need plants?
What does community mean?
How are you going to help our community with all of your new information about plants?

Important Dates
For all school dates, please refer to the calendar on our website: https://truckeecharterschool.org/calendar/

Thursday, June 15 @ 5:30: Celebration of Learning
Friday, June 16: fieldwork at the community garden
Friday, June 23: last day of school, early out

Happy June birthdays to: Ashlyn (3) , Erick (21), Josh (22)

Highlights
Thank you to all the parents who came in to help the kids become experts on plant parts: Eric, Liza, Alison, Jenna, Kristi, Danielle, Liz, Neil, John, and Matt

Thank you to drivers who brought us to the Olympic Heights garden: Katie, Nayeli, Eric, Jenna and Kristi

Thank you to drivers who signed up to drive to the Gu Gu Drum Group, even though we took the bus, I appreciate your volunteering: Carrie, Danielle, Liz, Nayeli, Alison and Kat.

Thank you to Carrie, Danielle, Liz, and Jenna for helping the kids with their portfolios, it is a huge help!

Thank you to SunMie for all of your help in the school garden. Your expertise was much appreciated!

As this is the last newsletter for the year, thank you to all of you parents and your children for a fun and wonderful school year! Can’t wait to do it again come September. Have a sunny summer!

We are still using 2 online programs, Raz-Kids for reading and Front Row for math. Letters went home about both programs. Use them at home, especially over the summer.

Etc.
Send your kids to school with sunblock on and a hat for recess.

“I can explain how the parts of a plant help it grow, survive and make new plants”

Students are becoming experts on a specific plant part and will present their findings to the class. We are also working on art projects to show the different parts of the plant.

“I can ask a question and plan an investigation about plant”

Students are coming up with their own questions and conducting an investigation to find the answer. Our second case study, Sowing the seeds of love, will begin at the end of May and take us right until the end of the year.

As for our much anticipated build day, I am currently talking to our foreman to come up with a date. I’ll try to give as much notice as possible, as we’ll need lots of help!

Questions to Ask Your Child:
What are some different parts of the plant?
What part are you becoming an expert on? Tell me about that part.
Tell me about your investigation? What are you testing?

Important Dates
For all school dates, please refer to the calendar on our website: https://truckeecharterschool.org/calendar/

Wed and Thurs, May 3-4- parents helping in the class with expert groups.
Monday, May 15- garden visit in Olympic Heights
Friday, May 19- GuGu Drum Group (Arts for the Schools) and NTHS
Monday, May 29- NO SCHOOL

Happy May birthdays to: Nathaniel (1), Polina (18), Reese (25)

Highlights
Thank you to our drivers who took us to the River School Farm: Sara, Randy, Denise, Liz, and Meghan. It was super last minute and you all really pulled through!

A continued thank you to Jenna for HOM. The kids love it!

We have started using two new online programs, Raz-Kids for reading and Front Row for math. Letters went home about both programs. Use them at home!

Etc.
Warm weather is here????? Send your kids to school with sunblock on and a hat for recess.

After spring break we will be starting our new and final expedition on the life science standards, including what plants need to survive, how plants change the environment to meet their needs, and the relationship between plants and their environments.

Questions to Ask Your Child:
Describe the weather to me today using your observation skills.
What do you forecast the weather will be tomorrow, why?
How can we prepare for the weather tomorrow?

Important Dates
For all school dates, please refer to the calendar on our website: https://truckeecharterschool.org/calendar/

Monday, April 3 – our crew will present to the SELS board.
Thursday, April 6 – Fire Safety Assembly
Monday, April 10 – Friday April 14 – Spring Break, NO SCHOOL
Friday, April 21- Dia del Nino (The Day of the Children) Assembly

Happy March birthdays to: no April birthdays

Highlights
Thank you to everyone who brought in extra disinfectant wipes and tissues. We always end up running out, so we appreciate all donations. Let’s keep our healthy children healthy!

We have started using two new online programs, Raz-Kids for reading and Front Row for math. Letters went home about both programs. Use them at home, especially over spring break.

Thank you to Danielle, Alison, Carrie, and Jenna for continuing to help during literacy time. The kids love your presence and having someone to read with them!

Etc.
Even though spring is here we are still getting cold and snowy weather. There is still a lot of snow on the playground. Even though it may be warm, boots should be worn for recess. Kids have been coming in after recess with wet and cold tootsies!

We are wrapping up investigations of pushes and pull and have our final challenge during the first full week in February. Students will be solving a problem with a partner: I can use the design process to build a marble roll that will make a marble change speed and change direction and move an object. They will present their final design to the crew with their partner.

We will be starting our next expedition on weather & climate during February. We will be answering questions like:
What is weather?
How can we predict weather?
How does weather influence our clothing and activity choices?

I would love your help if you know any local weather experts.

Questions to Ask Your Child:
How can you make a marble change speed, direction and move an object?
What is weather (mid-February)
What observations have you made about the weather? (mid-February)

Important Dates
For all school dates, please refer to the calendar on our website: https://truckeecharterschool.org/calendar/

Tuesday, Feb. 14- Celebration of empathy and caring, in the class at 2:30.
Feb. 20-24- Ski Skate Week, no school.

Happy February birthdays to: Carolina (9)

Highlights
Thank you Jenna for continuing to educate us about new foods with your Harvest of the Month presentations. We are a lucky crew to taste such good food!

Tahoe SAFE Alliance came in Jan. 30 to talk to us about being safe. Ask your child how they can keep themselves safe.

Etc.
Winter is here! Please make sure your child comes to school with boots, jackets, snow pants, gloves, hats, etc. We go outside every chance we get and I want to make sure they are warm. Bring slippers to keep here over winter. The kids can take off their wet winter boots and keep their feet toasty warm.

Also, please make sure book bags are returned daily. Books bag are coming back more frequently, but we are still having the left home some days.

In January we will be continuing our investigation of pushes and pulls.

Questions to Ask Your Child:
How did you make a marble go fast/slow?
How did you make a marble change direction?
How did you make a marble knock down a target?
How did you make a marble jump from one ramp to another?

Important Dates
For all school dates, please refer to the calendar on our website: https://truckeecharterschool.org/calendar/

Happy January birthdays to: Charley (2), Alex and Paloma (3), and Lexie (31)

Highlights
Thank you Jimmy for coming to our rescue as foreman of our build project. You dedication to our Crew is amazing! Thank you Eric for your continued work as our fearless fieldwork coordinator.

Also, thank you for all of the holiday well wishes. They were much appreciated and I feel very loved

Winter is here! Please make sure your child comes to school with boots, jackets, snow pants, gloves, hats, etc. We go outside every chance we get and I want to make sure they are warm. Bring slippers to keep here over winter. The kids can take off their wet winter boots and keep their feet toasty warm.

Also, please make sure book bags are returned daily. We are having a problem getting the back to school. We might have to revisit book bags going home if is continues to be a problem. Thanks!

**We will need a lot of volunteers for our build day in many different capacities. Please see Eric Brown’s email for sign up opportunities!

Questions to Ask Your Child:
What ideas did you come up with to help improve the SELS community?
How did you decide what you would build to improve the SELS community? (we surveyed the elementary school)
What are you building to improve SELS?
What does teamwork mean?
How are you going to use teamwork on build day?

Important Dates
For all school dates, please refer to the calendar on our website: https://truckeecharterschool.org/calendar/

Build Day: Wednesday, Dec. 14 @ 10:00am
Celebration of Learning: Thursday, Dec. 15 @ 6-7:30 (in the classroom)
No School: Dec. 10-Jan. 2, we return to SELS on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Happy December birthdays to: Griffin and Siena (17), Gage and Kennedy (22), and Jack (26)

Highlights
Thank you to parents who drove us on our building fieldwork- Sasha, Meghan, Eric, Alison, and Jessica. Thank you to the parents who drove us to the Discovery Museum in Reno- Sarah, Meghan, Kat, Kristi, and Jenna. Fieldwork is a huge part of the learning at SELS and it is wonderful that we have parents committed to making sure we get there safely!

Thank you for a very successful Bear Walk! We appreciate all the donations and they are already being put to good use!

Thank you to Jenna for our pear tasting for Harvest of the Month and our upcoming sweet potato tasting!

Bring slippers to keep here over winter. The kids can take off their wet winter boots and keep their feet toasty warm.

Case Study #2, On the Job!, is in full swing. We have learned how to use many tools safely, written about them and sketched them.

This month we will be putting our knowledge to the test and building our own geoboards (possibly some other things time permitting) and writing about & illustrating the tool of our choice. At the beginning of Dec. we will be starting the final part of our expedition, How do we contribute to community?, by building something that improves the SELS community. We will be surveying 1-5 grade students to see what they would like to see on campus. Once we have a project then we will follow the engineering process to design and build! We will need lots of parent support on build day (TBD December, more information to follow).

It’s cold outside! Your child is welcome to bring slippers to school — they can change out of wet winter shoes to keep their feet toasty warm.

Questions to Ask Your Child:
Tell me about the tool you chose to write about and draw.
What tools are you using the make your geoboard? How do they work?
What are the poems for the tools you learned? (i.e. Hammer- This is the way we pound our nails, pound our nails, pound our nails. This is the way we pound our nails, so early in the morning!)

Important Dates
For all school dates, please refer to the calendar on our website: https://truckeecharterschool.org/calendar/

Tuesday, Nov. 1- Fieldwork Discover Museum in Reno
Friday, Nov. 4- Fieldwork visit to architects/construction site
Monday, Nov. 7 book bags start coming home, please return the contract before this date.
Wednesday, Nov. 9- Early Release
Friday, Nov. 11- Veterans Day – NO SCHOOL
Monday, Nov. 21-25- Thanksgiving Break – NO SCHOOL

Happy November birthdays to: Bentley (18)

Highlights
Thank you to parents who drove us on Summit Day- Al Martin, Katie Old, Sarah Swan, Sasha Lerner, Jessica Sotelo, and Kat Newell. Also thanks to all the parents that took time out of their day to join us on this wonderful hike! Thank you to parents who drove us to the Cashore Marionettes- Kat Newell, Megan Ruiz, Alison Schwender, Jenna Shropshire and Liz Bowling

Thank you to Jenna Shropshire for teaching us about architecture and the many steps that it takes before we actually build. The kids had a blast with you!

And finally, thank you family members for teaching us about tools, your time and expertise was invaluable!
Larry Hunter for teaching us how to use the level and tape measure.
GrandPa Jerry (Rio’s grandpa) for teaching us to use the hammer, handsaw, pliers, wrench and square.
Jimmy Bowling for teaching us hot to use sandpaper and drill.
Chris Ruiz for teaching us to use the brace and bit.
Carrie Hunter for teaching us to use the screwdriver.

Questions to Ask Your Child:
What tools have you learned about?
What type of tool is it?
How do you use it safely?

Important Dates
For all school dates, please refer to the calendar on our website: https://truckeecharterschool.org/calendar/

Tuesday, Oct. 18- Cashore Marienettes at NTHS (Arts for the Schools)
Oct. 24-28- early release, goal-setting conferences. Sign up by Oct. 7 at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RIDR3FqeivEtP_0yWw4jsaSO6aEXSCdN6c9Ko4cK9c4/edit?usp=sharing
Monday, Oct. 31- Bear Walk

Happy October Birthdays to: Judah (10), Rio (21), Abraham (28)

Highlights
Thank you to parents who drove us on our adventure hike, Eric, Liz, Meghan, Jenna, Nayeli, and Carrie! It was a blast

Also, thank you for getting in all the paperwork, we are almost at 100%!

FYI- Eric Brown is our crew fieldwork coordinator. If you have questions about fieldwork (i.e. driving, coming on fieldwork, times, dates, etc) let him know. He has sent out emails about upcoming fieldwork and is using Google Docs for sign ups. Please read his emails and look at Google Docs that he sends out, they will answer many questions you may have.

Here are some of the ways we apply SIERRA Norms:
S. – Strength: I can stand up for myself and others. I have confidence and courage.
I. – Integrity: I can do the right thing even when no one is watching.
E. – Empathy: I can understand others’ feelings, abilities, and situations. This helps me better understand why people act or respond as they do.
R. – Respect: I can treat people and objects well. I can listen and create a community that is built on safety and trust.
R. – Responsibility: I can fix my own problems, take initiative, and do my best.
A. – Adventure: I can take risks and try new things.

Questions to Ask Your Child:
What are some good/bad crew behaviors you have learned from reading books?
What are some ways you have learned to solve small problems?
What does ‘crew’ mean? (a group of people that work together)
Would you rather be a part of a crew or with a bunch of passengers?

Important Dates
For all school dates, please refer to the calendar on our website: https://truckeecharterschool.org/calendar/

September 20: School Picture Day
September 23: Adventure Hike
September 23: All School Dance @ 6pm
October 6: Gratitude Evening
October 7: Summit Day
October 18: Cashore Marionettes (Arts for the Schools)
Late Oct/Early November: Home Depot

Highlights
This Friday we have our first Buddy Meeting. Our ‘buddies’ are the Akers Crew and Connolly Crew. Each month we meet with the older kids and participate in different activities and learning.

Thank you to Denise for volunteering to be our Monday copy, laminator, etc. person! Thank you Liz for assembling our crews’ book bags, thank you Jenna for being our crew’s PTC rep! Thank you Stacey for being our Friday Folder person! Thank you Eric for volunteering for the very large job of fieldwork coordinator!

If anyone is interested in being our Harvest of the Month rep, please let me know. Harvest of the Month is a monthly event that introduces children to tasty and healthy food.

If you singed up for helping in the classroom, we will probably start in Oct or Nov, as soon as I am able to start pulling reading groups.