Crumb Chronicles, Final Issue

Crumb Chronicles

***A Family Newsletter***

June 12, 2013 – Final Issue

Dear Families:

You haven't gotten rid of me, yet . . . here's one more brief newsletter. 

Please read Mrs. Kramer's message at the conclusion of this letter about a summer I.X.L. Math incentive program.  Students may begin to tackle some of those 5th grade objectives that correspond to next year's enVision math curriculum.  They are listed at the beginning of the summer packet that was sent home in your child's report card.  I am also offering my own incentive -- students who complete the summer "Step-Up to 5th grade Math" packet and return it to me the first day of school will receive one more "bow down" in the lunchroom in front of their peers.

I just discovered that I did not send home the information about the King Co. Library Summer Reading Program on the last day.  My apologies.  Please stop by any local branch to get your child started.

Thank you for everything this year -- it's been a lot of fun getting to know parents and students.  I would also like to thank all of you who had an opportunity to volunteer in our class and/or school this year.  We couldn't do any of this without all of the parent support.

All of my former students are welcome to visit their old class website over the summer (as I rebuild it!) to stay sharp on their skills before entering 5th grade.  It's not that far away . . .

Once again, thank you for letting me "borrow" your children.  They lifted my spirits continuously throughout the sometimes dark, wet, and gloomy days we get during a Snoqualmie school year.  Have a wonderful summer . . . I hope that the sun will bless us with its appearance throughout the season!

                                                                                       Sincerely,
                                                                                       Michael Crumb

Dear Snoqualmie Elementary Families~

      

It is hard to believe that our kindergartners are done for the year and that tomorrow is the last day for 1st - 5th grade. What an amazing school year it has been! Snoqualmie Cougars have worked hard and learned a lot this year. Even though summer vacation begins tomorrow afternoon I would like to offer a challenge to our Cougars. My challenge to all Snoqualmie Elementary students is to keep their math skills sharp by practicing on IXL at least 25 minutes a week during summer vacation. At the beginning of the 2013-14 school year I will be recognizing students that meet the 25min/week goal with a special lunch time treat. Special recognition will be given to the top students in each grade level who go well beyond the 25min/week goal. Click here to login to IXL.

 

Keep reading, practice your math and have a fun, safe, restful summer!

 

Sincerely,

Kerstin Kramer

Principal, Snoqualmie Elementary School

425-831-8050

kramerk@svsd410.org

Crumb Chronicles, Issue 13

Crumb Chronicles

***A Family Newsletter***

May 28, 2013 – Issue 13

Dear Families:

First of all, thank you so much for all of the "Teacher Appreciation" gifts I received this month.  Some came signed, others were left anonymously on my desk -- please accept my sincerest thank you for all of the: apples, posters, cards, gift cards, handwritten notes, art work, treats (of both the salty and sweet variety) . . . and many other items too numerous to list.  I truly do feel appreciated!

The school year is quickly winding down . . . there are less than two weeks left.  This week will be the last week of regular homework, and some of the regular routines have already come to an end (weekly spelling list and reading log entries, for example).  Another progress report did go home today.  The last day to turn in missing or late assignments will be Thursday, June 6, as report cards need to be submitted to the district's computers by midnight on June 9.  Report cards (and portfolios) will go home on the last day of school, Tuesday, June 11.

We still are finishing up quite a few things in class.  In reading, we will have the final opportunity for our 75 Latin & Greek root words this Monday, June 3 (tonight's homework is to study them for 20+ minutes).  The May reading project ("Creative Catalog") is due this Friday, and we our also finishing up our study of the classic novel Where the Red Fern Grows.

In social studies, students are conducting research and taking notes about one of the five major regions of Washington state.  Starting this Thursday, we will be going to the computer lab to create the final project -- an electronic travel brochure of the region using Microsoft Powerpoint.

In science, we will finish our energy unit, participate in a pond study in the S.E.S. wetlands, and dissect a squid.  The fun with squid will take place this Thursday behind the portables during the last hour of the day.  If you'd like to join in the fun, please let me know.

Because we have so much going on in the next several days, I'm going to push back our 3rd trimester independent project presentations to Friday, June 7 and Monday, June 10.

Thanks again for all of the goodies.

                                                                                          Sincerely,
                                                                                          Michael Crumb

Crumb Chronicles, Issue 12

Crumb Chronicles

***A Family Newsletter***

April 29, 2013 – Issue 12

 

Dear Families:

 

Students will begin taking the M.S.P. this Wednesday, April 1.  Tomorrow, to help kick things
off and get the them fired up, the school will host an M.S.P. breakfast for all 4th graders as
soon as school starts (students are welcome to "double dip" . . . breakfast at home and at
school).  Thank you to those who have sent in healthy snacks to share with our 27 students. 
We could use some more -- ideas include trail mix, granola bars, crackers, pretzels, fruit
(dried or fresh), veggies, fruit juice boxes, cheese sticks, bagels & cream cheese, sugar-free
chewing gum, etc.  Please remember that we have one member of the class with a nut
allergy.

 

With four days of testing spread across four weeks, this will have an impact on our regular
schedule and routines.  In addition, on nights before a testing date, I will NOT assign
homework.  I will also NOT collect reading log entries for the next two weeks; I will resume collecting one entry per week on May 13.  Finally, I will expect all students to get plenty of
rest on nights before testing.

 

There are many special events this month in our class.  This Thursday, we have some guest
teachers presenting all afternoon about nutrition and eating healthy (sponsored by
Beecher's Cheese, so no cost to us).  A volunteer from our community, Robert Wotten, will
come in for five periods throughout the month to teach the students about basic economics.  Finally, as you know, we have two field trips.  On May 23, we're attending a play ("Crash") at
the Seattle Children's Theatre.  I currently have 3 parents chaperones, but we have room for
a couple more.  On May 28, we travel to the campus of the U.W. to visit the Burke Museum.  Permission slips for both will be coming soon.

 

Today, a progress report will come home with your child.  They can talk to me before school
or at recess about how to make up any missing assignments.

 

                                                                                               Sincerely,

                                                                                               Michael Crumb

 



Crumb Chronicles, Issue 11

Crumb Chronicles

***A Family Newsletter***

April 4, 2013 – Issue 11

Dear Families:

The class has earned a "read-in" for tomorrow's early release day.  We will still have our final spelling opportunity and specialist, but the rest of our class time will be an extended D.E.A.R. time.

Although there is no official homework over spring break next week, the rough draft of the March/April reading project ("A Tale of Two Lives") is due the week we get back.

In about a month, 4th graders will be taking the M.S.P. ("Measurement of Student Progress").  Testing will take place for our class on the first four Wednesdays in May (May 1: all-day Writing 1, May 8: all-day Writing 2, May 15: Reading, and May 22: Math).  For both the reading and math sections, students will be taking the test online in the computer lab.  The writing sections are strictly paper and pencil.  Please note that all of the school's 4th graders will take the writing portion on the same days, but the reading and math will occur on different days for different classrooms (we only have one computer lab, after all).  Finally, the school will be sponsoring an M.S.P. kick-off breakfast for all of our 4th grade classrooms tentatively scheduled for April 30 (confirmation will be coming soon).

We would like to provide some healthy snacks for our class during these four days of testing.  If you can, please donate items to share for at least 27 students and send them in anytime after Spring Break.  Ideas include: trail mix, granola bars, crackers, pretzels, fruit (dried or fresh), veggies, fruit juice boxes, cheese sticks, bagels & cream cheese, sugar-free chewing gum, etc.  Please remember that we have one member of the class with a nut allergy.

Testing can be a stressful and intimidating time for many students.  For this reason, we will spend some time reviewing basic test-taking skills and completing practice tests similar to what your child will be seeing on the actual test.  The purpose of this time is to learn successful test-taking strategies and to reduce the anxiety associated with these types of tests (a.k.a. "opportunities").

We are well into our final trimester, so expect to see a progress report in the near future. (and please turn in 2nd trimester portfolios if you haven't already done so).  Thanks . . . I hope some spring weather returns next week.

                                                                                                   Sincerely,
                                                                                                   Michael Crumb

Crumb Chronicles, Issue 10

Crumb Chronicles

***A Family Newsletter***

March 11, 2013 – Issue 10

Dear Families:

Today, students received their third, and final, progress report for the 2nd trimester.  The last day to turn in major assignments for this grading period will be this Friday morning.  Report cards and portfolios go home on Monday, March 18.  Speaking of portfolios, if you did not send back the 1st trimester portfolio, please have your child bring it in this week.

The 4th grade has two wonderful field trips planned for the remainder of the school year.  I wanted to give you an early heads up, because they happen to fall only a few days apart.  On Thursday, May 23, we will a attend a production of Crush at the Seattle Children's Theatre.  The Snoqualmie Elementary P.T.S.A. has generously paid for our bus transportation to the Seattle Center and back; the admission fee will be $11.50 per person.  Chaperones are welcome, but those spaces are limited (and chaperones will need to purchase their ticket, also).

On Tuesday, May 28, we will take the "First Nations Tour" at the Burke Museum, and I will offer the "Mr. Crumb Tour" of the University of Washington.  It looks like the cost per student (entrance to the museum plus transportation costs) will be $13.  Parent chaperones are free for this one, and we can take as many as we want.  Please contact me if you are interested in helping out with either of these field trips.  Permission slips will go home in sometime in May.

Let's cross our fingers that the sun will reappear sometime this week -- it's time for spring!

                                                                                                        Sincerely,
                                                                                                        Michael Crumb

Crumb Chronicles, Issue 9

Crumb Chronicles

***A Family Newsletter***

February 7, 2013 – Issue 9

Dear Families:

We will hold a couple of celebrations in class next week.  The first one, on Thursday the 14th, will celebrate Valentine's Day the last hour of the day.  This will be very low-key -- a game and some time to pass out Valentines and/or treats.  Students are not required to bring Valentines or goodies . . . it will be up to you.  I only ask that if your child is bringing anything to pass out, that he/she bring one for everyone in the class.

The next day, February 15, the entire 4th grade will celebrate the conclusion of our N.W. Coast People unit with a potlatch.  Students will rotate through four activities in their assigned clans that connect to what they've learned about the first nations of this region.  We would love help from families to gather the following supplies:

• Plastic forks (30)
• Paper plates (30)
• Bags of raffia (several)
• Jerkey
• Smoked Salmon
• Berries (I guess blueberries and strawberries are in season somewhere in the world-- I've been told they're available at Costco)

Just shoot me an e-mail if you are planning to send any of these items in.

Next week I will be passing out details of our 4th grade science project.  Every 4th grader in our school will plan and conduct a science investigation which will be graded and then displayed at the S.E.S. Art & Science show on March 22.

In math, we've been working to build our understanding of fractions and, starting this week, decimals.  We just finished up the district writing assessment and have been working to improve sentence fluency in our writing.  Very soon, we will have our 50th Latin & Greek root word card to study . . . a "happy" opportunity is just around the corner.  I'm planning on completing the 2nd progress report for this trimester, and having it ready to send home before mid-winter break (Feb. 18-22).

Have a great weekend . . . it's almost here!

                                                                                             Sincerely,
                                                                                             Michael Crumb