Happy Holiday Gift for Teachers

Nothing warms a teacher's happy holiday heart like a big, fat gift card! Let's make Santa a generous guy for Brent, Nani and Priscilla this season. If you can, please send some $$$ to school with your child. Put it in an envelope with my name on it (Isabel D'Ambrosia). The teachers will collect the envelopes -- but really, they won't suspect a thing.

Cash is ok, but checks are better. Make them out to JSIS PTSA.

Happy Holidays!

Student Information Sheets

Student Information Sheets were sent home the other day. They need to be filled out with student info and returned. They haven't received many back, so if you haven't seen it, check the backpack.

Ribbon Dancing for 4th & 5th Grade Girls

Audition date December 10th, 3:45-4:45.
Schedule and permission slips were distributed last week.

This year, rehearsal days will be Mondays and Thursdays after school in Jan, March or April, depending on the performance date. If your daughter is interested, send in the permission slips by Friday, Dec. 4th.

Need more information or copy of the schedule & permission slip? Contact parent coordinator, Christie Rodgers, christie@ohana.org.

Surf, Sand and School Instead of Sleet and Slush?

Information about the February 2010 trip to Juan de Barrera school in Puerto Vallarta this February ---

Mexico!
Tired of the wind and the rain? Come to an informational meeting about the JSIS trip to Puerto Vallarta. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, Novemeber 17th, from 5:00 to 6:00pm in Room 206 (Ms. Margretta's room).

This educational trip takes place during the school break from February 15-19. JSIS students attend classes in the morning at our sister school, Juan de la Barrera, while parents work on school improvement projects. In the afternoon, families are free to relax, swim, and sightsee. Questions? Email Erin Branigan at braniganerin@yahoo.com

Conference Schedule

Check this list for your conference day and time.

Kids will be off school Monday Nov. 23 through Friday Nov. 27. Conferences are held all day Monday - Wednesday (11/23 - 11/25). The Thanksgiving holiday is Thursday and Friday (11/26 and 11/27).

Careful, the list is in alphabetical order, not time order.

Wednesday, November 18
Jasmine Arias 5:00 to 5:20
Aaron Castillo 5:30 to 5:50
Mitzi Mendoza 6:00 to 6:20
Enzo Moreno 4:00 to 4:30
Melissa Nunez 4:30 to 4:50
Brandon Rubio 6:30 to 6:50

Monday, November 23
Jean-Michel Alvarez 10:00 to 10:20
Nancy DeCoster 9:00 to 9:20
Mohammed Dopson 9:30 to 9:50
Andra Esterbrook 12:30 to 12:50
Anna Favour 1:00 to 1:20
Teya Heidenreich 11:30 to 11:50
Carolyn Lober 2:30 to 2:50
Julia Lober 3:00 to 3:20
Zsa Zsa Toms 1:30 to 1:50
Basquiat Vigil 3:30 to 3:50

Tuesday, November 24
Gabe Coffland 3:00 to 3:20
Aidan Denny 9:30 to 9:50
Lucia Minihan 9:00 to 9:20
Sara Sarmiento 1:00 to 1:20
Quintin Lee Serrano 3:30 to 3:50

Wednesday, November 25
Christian Amador 11:30 to 11:50
Sam Cooke 9:30 to 9:50
Sam D'Ambrosia 9:00 to 9:20
Marcos Munoz 11:00 to 11:20
Diego Roberts Buceta 11:50 to 12:20
Raina Zacks 10:00 to 10:20

February Trip to Mexico

Preparations are underway for the annual trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico!

The trip is planned for Winter Break (Feb 15-19, 2010), and is open to all JSIS students and their families. Students attend a half-day of classes at our sister school, Juan de la Barrera (JB), while parents volunteer, either in the classroom or helping to improve the school grounds. Afternoons are free for sight-seeing, swimming, etc.

Two JSIS teachers accompany the families. An orientation meeting will be held in early November, but as soon as possible we would like to get an idea of how many families are considering participating in the trip.

If you are interested, please contact Erin Branigan (braniganerin@yahoo.com), preferably by Nov 1. Please visit the JSIS website to view a list of Frequently Asked Questions from previous years.

Volunteers for Monster Mash Bake Sale

I received a request for volunteers at the Monster Mash Bake Sale from Michiko Sakai, Tia’s mom in the Japanese 5th grade. She needs 4 volunteers from our class.
From 6 to 7 pm – 2 volunteers
From 7 to 8 pm – 2 volunteers

If you are interested, please contact her at michikokendall@hotmail.com.

She also welcomes baked items for the sale.

Thanks.

5th Grade Haunted House -- More Information

The next organizing meeting for the 5th Grade Haunted House at the Monster Mash is this coming Monday, October 19, 4:30pm. There's still time to get involved.

Here's the full update from Glyde Hart King --

Thanks so much for your interest in this year's haunted house!

Our theme of Wax Museum will be very easy to produce and decorate, which was why we chose it. Remember that the BEST way for us to be scary is to be in cool costumes and to be able to stay still for a short period of time. However, eyes can follow people through the room. Movements can be slow but deliberate and robotic. Have you ever seen those guys that pretend to be statues at Seattle Center? They do it for hours... it is very strange and beautiful even in broad daylight.

Here are the characters we have so far:
Griffin = The Joker
Glyde = Miss Haversham
Julia Meno = Phantom of the Opera
Daniel Leong = Dracula
Maria Garcia = the wicked witch (of the west?) Aidan & Alec Denny = Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or siamese twins Cavan Sperry = severed head Mike Sheets?
Ada Bowles?
Uly McNabb?
Owen Oliver?

Here are some needs:
Cool chairs
Velvet rope barriers
Odd set pieces such as pillars or candelabras Extension cords

I have a sound effects cd that will run throughout.
I also have clip lamps and a string of black lights I have asked my middle school drama students at Salmon Bay to get involved. We'll see what they come up with. Some of them are former JSIS students.

Anything else?

Our schedule:
Monday Oct. 19, next meeting, 4:30-5:30pm on the stage at JSIS Friday Oct 23, set up part one, 4-6pm on the stage at JSIS Saturday Oct 24 3-6pm set up part two on the stage as JSIS Wax Museum - 7-8pm Clean up 8-9pm

Please sign up to help with the Haunted House this year. It is going to be awesome!

Tracy Peltier will be in charge of the "Touchy Feely" room and Glyde will be in charge of the Wax Museum. If you are interested in the Touchy Feely, please contact Tracy at mike@ech-ps.com. If you are interested in the Wax Museum please contact Glyde.

Thanks so much! And boo - ha-ha-haaaaaa!

Glyde & Griffin.
kingofharts@mindspring.com

PS - Here's the scoop on the Wax Museum for those that missed it the first time...

The exhibit will be the kids themselves. It will be as big or as small accordingly.

Each child that would like to participate will choose a character from literature, from history, from film... that has a morbid, twisted, gory, haunted past.

Good examples include: Marie Antoinette, Joan of Arc, Frankenstein, Dracula, Ivan the Terrible, Mary Queen of Scots, Werewolf, Jesse James, Rasputin, etc.

Each child will dress up as this character and write up a small poster describing that character's BRIEF story written in letters big enough to read in the dim light. (remember no weapons but stage blood is cool). Try to look pale and waxy.

The story poster will be placed on a music stand. The child will be placed beside the music stand in the Wax Museum exhibit.

The child must be able to stay relatively motionless for ten minutes. Then there will be a swap-out and the kids will get a ten minute rest. So, it will be ten mins on and ten mins off for one hour only. (7-8pm)

There will be a red velvet (?) rope between the audience and the characters in the wax museum. There will be no contact between the audience and the exhibit.

5th Grade Haunted House

There's still time to get involved in the 5th Grade Haunted House (on the stage at the Monster Mash, Saturday, October 24, 6:00 to 8:00pm). Contact Glyde Hart King, Griffin's mom from J-5, to sign up to scare those kindergarteners! Glyde's email -- kingofharts@mindspring.com

Sign Up for 5th Grade Activities

5th Grade is packed with events and activities -- and all of these need volunteers!

Contact Ms. Nani if you are interested in helping with any of the following:

Fifth Grade Play (premiers in the springtime)
Food Composting (the greening of our lunchroom needs adult oversight)
Landscaping (5th Grade has traditionally studied and maintained the NW corner of the school grounds)
Yearbook (Photos, essays and memories of elementary school)
Graduation (in June -- cake, ceremony and a party)

Homework Club

Ms. Nani says that one hour of homework every night is normal. If your child is having trouble fitting all that in, there is help -- it's "Homework Club"!

Homework Club is held Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings in the cafeteria, between 9:00 and 9:20am. Senorita Priscilla is there, along with Harumi sensei (the J-5 instructional assistant) to help.

Parent/Guardian - Teacher Conferences

Parent/Guardian-Teacher conferences are on a different schedule that they were last year. Instead of endless weeks of early dismissal, the district has gone to an all-day schedule. So -- the kids have three days off school -- November 23, 24 and 25. That's the three days before the Thurs/Fri Thanksgiving holiday, so the kids have a whole week off. Conferences will be held 11/23 through 11/25.

The down side of this plan is that it doesn't allow enough time for each teacher to meet with all 56 of their kids (each teacher sees two classes per day). So Spanish 5th grade will have conferences with Ms. Nani only. If you have questions or comments for Sr. Hester, send him an email or call.

Another thing I noticed is that they aren't doing any late afternoon or evening conferences. Conference appointment times start at 9:00am and end at around 3 or 4:00pm. Contact Ms. Nani to sign up for an appointment if you are not yet scheduled. (Sign-up was at Curriculum Night, which was September 30.)

Check Out a Math Book

Sr. Hester has a set of 5th Grade Everyday Math "reference" books, in English, in his classroom. They don't use them in class, so they are available for you to check out and keep at home during the school year. Contact Sr. Hester if you would like to have one at home.

Haunted House Details

This just came in from Glyde Hart King (Griffin's mom, J-5) about the 5th Grade Haunted House. The Haunted House will be held at the Monster Mash on Saturday, October 24, 6-8pm.

Dear 5th Grade families,

Please sign up to help with the Haunted House this year. It is going to be awesome!

Tracy Peltier will be in charge of the "Touchy Feely" room and I will be in charge of the Wax Museum. If you are interested in the Touchy Feely, please contact Tracy (Teya's mom, S-5).

Here's the scoop on the Wax Museum:

The exhibit will be the kids themselves. It will be as big or as small accordingly.

Each child that would like to participate will choose a character from literature, from history, from film... that has a morbid, twisted, gory, haunted past.

Good examples include: Marie Antoinette, Chucky, Joan of Arc, Frankenstein, Dracula, Ivan the Terrible, Mary Queen of Scots, Werewolf, Jesse James, Rasputin, etc.

Each child will dress up as this character and write up a small poster describing that character's BRIEF story written in letters big enough to read in the dim light. (remember no weapons but stage blood is cool). Try to look pale and waxy.

The story poster will be placed on a music stand. The child will be placed beside the music stand in the Wax Museum exhibit.

The child must be able to stay relatively motionless for ten minutes. Then there will be a swap-out and the kids will get a ten minute rest. So, it will be ten mins on and ten mins off for one hour only. (7-8pm)

There will be a red velvet (?) rope between the audience and the characters in the wax museum. There will be no contact between the audience and the exhibit.

Remember, the more the student can stand (or sit) still... the scarier it will be. I will give some coaching in this beforehand.

Adults will provide mood lighting, cool chairs, red velvet ropes, dry ice... and will help herd the cats.

Anybody interested? Please let me know - adults and kids.

For example - Griffin is going to be John Dillinger, the famous gangster. Glyde is going to be champion cat herder.

Our schedule:
Monday Oct. 19, 4:30-5:30pm, planning meeting on the stage at JSIS
Friday Oct 23, 4-6pm, set up part one on the stage at JSIS
Saturday Oct 24, 3-6pm, set up part two on the stage as JSIS
Saturday Oct 24, Wax Museum - 7-8pm
Saturday Oct 24, Clean up 8:30-9:30pm

Cheers and BBBBOOOOO-ya!
Glyde Hart King, kingofharts@mindspring.com

Curriculum Night This Wednesday, 9/30 (also E.D.)

Curriculum Night is this Wednesday, September 30, from 6:15 to 8:00pm. Meet Ms. Nani, Senor Hester and Maestra Priscilla and find out what the kids will be learning all year. (In general, Curriculum Night is for parents/guardians only.)

Also -- Wednesday is an early dismissal day -- 1:30pm!

Monster Mash Haunted House Meeting Tonight!

Boo! It's already time to plan the 5th grade Haunted House at the Monster Mash. Meet at the Mosaic Coffee House (43rd & 2nd Ave. N.E., in the church basement) from 4:30 to 6:00pm today.

If you can't make the meeting but would like to participate in this great creative venture, contact Glyde Hart King (Griffin's mom J-5) at kingofharts@mindspring.com or 579-6984.

Walking Field Trip to Meany Hall October 16

On Friday, October 16, the class will take a walking field trip to Meany Hall at the University of Washington to see a dance group. Fun!

Class Count and Adios Ternik

Our class currently has 28 students. We had 29, but Ternik has left us to go to school in Tacoma. We'll miss him.

The Japanese 5th grade has 26 students. Ms. Nani believes there is a waiting list for JSIS 5th grade, so one or both classes may still get a new student or two.

Volunteer Opportunity -- Spanish Class

Sr. Brent Hester needs one or two volunteers to come in two days per week (any day from Tuesday - Friday) to help with filing. Even if you can do one day, that would be so helpful!

Our class is in Sr. Hester's room in the afternoon, but you may be able to work in the morning if that's more convenient.

Contact Sr. Hester if you can help.

Advanced Learning Packets -- Reminder

Just a quick reminder that Advanced Learning packets are due October 8.

Completing both the parent and teacher forms and submitting them by the deadline means your child will be tested for "Spectrum". Hamilton, Eckstein and Whitman middle schools all offer Spectrum classes. The test takes place this fall to qualify for NEXT fall.

"Spectrum" classes in middle school involve only Language Arts (Engligh) and Social Studies classes. Advanced, or "honors" math is separate. A test for admission to honors math will be administered at the end of 5th grade.

For more information about advanced learning opportunities in middle school, contact me. There's a lot to know and information from the district can be spotty.

5th Grade Haunted House at the Monster Mash

Remember the haunted house on the stage at the Monster Mash? Did you know that it's traditionally put on by the 5th graders?

There will be a meeting of 5th grade families who would like to participate in creating the Haunted House this year. Our theme will be "Wax Museum." Glyde Hart King (Griffin's mom from Japanese) is leading the effort.

If you would like to help, please attend the planning meeting at the Mosaic Coffee House (corner of 44th Street and 2nd Avenue NE, just south of Dick's on 45th, in the basement of the church) on Monday, September 28 from 4:30 to 6:00pm

If you can't make the meeting, but would still like to participate, please contact Glyde Hart King at kingofharts@mindspring.com.

The Monster Mash is Saturday night, October 24 from 6pm to about 8:30pm. Set-up for the MM and the haunted house is that Saturday afternoon.

Let's scare those kindergarteners!

After School Theater -- Robin Hood

Tami Oki has organized an after school theater class. Flyers will go home with the kids, but if you're interested, contact Tami to sign up as soon as possible. The deadline is Friday, September 25. The play will be “Robin Hood.” The class is for grades 3-5 only. There is space for 20 kids, but Tami says it fills up quickly.

Interested? Call or e-mail Tami Oki (the J-5 room rep), tamaraoki@wonderanimal.com or 524-1116.

Camp Kirby Meeting Notes

Here are some notes from the Camp Kirby meeting yesterday --

The entire 5th grade goes to camp October 6 through 8 (Tuesday through Thursday).

Parent/guardian volunteers are still needed at camp. Take a couple days off and enjoy Samish Island with the kids! It's also an option to just come for the day.

We need parent/guardian volunteers to teach "classes" at camp. The kids attend these classes all day Wednesday. There will be six class sessions, with six to ten classes taking place each session (36 to 60 classes total!) Classes are about 50 minutes each. Parent/guardian teachers should try to bring/donate any supplies needed for their class, but talk to Nani if that is a problem.

If you would like to teach a class, let Nani know by Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Ideas for classes are listed below. These are the kinds of things parents/guardians have presented at camp in the past:
Board games
Fire making without matches
Basket weaving
Sports (all kinds)
Dream Catcher making
Challenge course
Nature Walk -- plants/animals
Paper crafts
Sewing
Knot tying
Beach walk/tidepool survey
Watercolor painting
Chess
Nature drawing
Poetry
Music/singing

Other things to know about camp:

1. Camp cost is $70 per student. Parent/guardian volunteers are $35. Parents/guardians can also elect to just come for one day (no sleepover, but meals included) for $10. Scholarships are available. Donations to the scholarship fund are also much appreciated.

2. Parent/guardian volunteers can ride up on the school bus with the kids, or carpool. Some volunteers will need to carpool since there is limited space on the bus.

3. We leave for camp Tuesday, Oct 6 at around 9:30am. So drop off kids (with their camp equipment) at the regular time on Tuesday morning. Return from camp is at 2:30 or 3:00 on Thursday, Oct 8. You can pick up your child early or at the regular time (3:30), or he/she can head to LSA or take the bus.

4. Make sure you have a copy of the list of what to bring to camp. But -- don't bring anything that's not on the list (especially electronics, cell phones or extra food). Pack warm clothes -- kids can get cold at night! (Adult volunteers are allowed to bring cell phones.)

5. Parents/guardians will be asked to donate snacks to camp. Bring your donation to school a few days before we leave. More details about this to come.

6. If you would like more details about the schedule while kids are at camp, or details of which other kids are in your child's cabin, or guidelines for camp volunteers, contact Ms. Nani or Sr. Hester.

Camp Kirby Parent Volunteer Meeting Tonight, 6:30pm

Nani is holding a meeting meeting for parents who are volunteering at camp tonight Wednesday, September 16 from 6:30 to 7:30pm in her classroom (402) at JSIS. Parents who aren't attending camp but would like more information are also invited to attend the meeting.

Advanced Learning Applications Due October 8

JSIS doesn't offer advanced learning classes ("Spectrum" or honors), but many middle schools do. If you think your child may be interested in advanced learning classes next year in 6th grade, then they must apply and be tested this fall.

APP/Spectrum/Advanced Learning application packets are now available. The forms will not be automatically sent home; you must pick one up at the school office. Forms are due back to the office Oct. 8; but don't wait till the last minute, because a teacher recommendation form must be submitted along with the parent application.

Science Kit Inventory

Nani could use help with an inventory of our new science kits, as early as tomorrow morning (Wednesday 9/9).

Nani also mentioned that it's going to be a BIG week -- she doesn't need any apples for the teacher, but she does like chai lattes!

The First Big Thing -- Camp Kirby!

I stopped by this afternoon to ask Ms. Nani what's on her mind. She says "Camp!"

Our kids go to 5th grade camp Kirby Tuesday through Thursday, October 6, 7 and 8. Information about camp goes home with kids tomorrow, and it must be returned by September 17.

Nani is holding a meeting meeting for parents who are volunteering at camp on Wednesday, September 16 from 6:30 to 7:30pm. Parents who aren't attending camp but would like more information are also invited to attend the meeting.

Updated School Supply List

Here's the updated school supply list for Spanish 5th Grade --

Bring these items for yourself:

1 3-ring binder w/subject dividers (SP)
1 water bottle
Pencil box (preferably one for each class)
4 composition books (EN)
1 pencil sharpener
1 scissors
1 box colored pencils
1 pkg. mechanical pencils
6 3-pronged pocket folders (EN)
1 flash drive

And bring these items to share with the class:

1 pk. #2 pencils, sharpened
2 glue sticks
1 composition book (SP)
2 eraser (not pencil top)
1 hand sanitizer
1 box tissues
1 dry erase maker (SP)
1 disinfectant wipes
6 pocket folders w/fasteners

Green School Needs 5th Grade Volunteers

This message is from Tami Oki, the J-5th grade rep:

Ms. Nani tells me that JSIS will be partnering with Cedar Grove Compost and getting JSIS a little greener! We’ll be a certified “green school.”

Nani needs 4 volunteers from 5^th grade to volunteer for the lunchtime composting project. Volunteers must attend a meeting at JSIS Thursday, September 3 at 1pm. The 5th grade volunteers will be trained in how to show other students how the lunchtime composting program works. So that we start off the school year right, they’ll be on duty the first week of school at lunch time!

If you’re out of town and can’t volunteer this time, don’t worry; all 5th graders will have the opportunity to participate in this program. E-mail me and let me know if your student is interested. TamaraOki@WonderAnimal.com

Thanks,

Tami

Welcome to Spanish 5th Grade!

Hi Spanish 5th Grade!

Welcome to the JSIS Spanish 5th grade blog. I'll be updating this all year with information about 5th grade activities, events and responsibilities. There are a lot of these in 5th grade, so bookmark the blog to stay in the loop. I'll also be sending reminder emails with a link to the blog when it gets updated.

It's going to be a great year!