A Few Ferry Beach Notes

Hello All!
Thank-you to so many of you who attended conferences.  We have a few notes about Ferry Beach based on your questions.

Departure:  Tuesday, April 3rd at 7:00 AM (note this is different than the time that was originally published).

Return: back at CBMS: Friday, April 6th at 4:15.

Snacks:  Students are welcome (and encouraged) to pack a snack for both the bus ride there, and the bus ride back.  Diane and I will keep the snacks in a safe place for the return trip.

Movies:  If your student has a PG movie on DVD your student can bring it.  It will be put in the voting for movies going to Ferry Beach and back again.

Cameras:  If your student wants to take photos on the trip, the camera needs to be a "stand alone" camera.  Cell phones and ipods are not allowed at Ferry Beach.  They are allowed on the bus.  We will collect them when we arrive, and Diane and I spend some time on Thursday charging them up for our return trip :) If your student is packing a cell phone / ipod, please have them pack it in a Ziploc bag with a charger, and with their name on the bag.

I think that's about it.  We are looking forward to our trip! Curtis will be here with the Audubon students, and he is looking forward to that trip as well.

Winter Notes

The Quest Team enjoying skating and sledding during recess... even as the first day of spring approaches....

Thank-you to Ms. Clymer and Ms. Flynn!
Ms. Clymer and Ms. Flynn joined team Quest for the months of January and February.  During this time, they helped out with instruction in math, science, reading, writing, and engineering.  Their last day was March 13th.  Mr. Taylor has returned as of March 15.

Ms. Clymer teaching a whole class lesson on Geometry

Ms. Flynn helped out with Project Lead the Way - Design and Modeling

Winter studies on Quest - This winter, Quest students studied geography, astronomy, measurement, and engineering.  When we first returned from break, we studied geography by Skyping with "mystery classrooms" asking students yes and no questions to find out where they were in the world.  Students from these mystery locations asked us yes and no question to try to find out where we were located.  We Skyped with classrooms in the United States, Brazil, Canada, and Croatia.  Students showed excellent collaboration skills throughout this unit.

Students working to solve a Mystery Skype with a class in Croatia.

In the middle of January, we began Project Lead the Way, Design and Modeling.  In the spirit of integration, we focused on the mathematical components of this unit, going more in depth with volume and measuring with rulers and dial calipers.  Students tried their hand at isometric drawings and multiview sketches, and we finished the unit using Geogebra to draw geometric figures.  In Integrated Inquiry, we studied astronomy, and included lessons on measuring the angle of light and how it affects shadow length.  We read about space, and wrote about space.  Most of our days were spent studying math, science, and engineering.  For the rest of March, we will have the majority of our day focused on mathematical concepts.  Students will be learning about data analysis, decimals, geometry, and coordinates for the majority of their day.

Students timing each other for solving their puzzle cubes.  We will use this data to best "market" our product.

This week we will begin our study of Greek Mythology.  Your student will be reading one of the following books:  D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths, The Adventures of Greek Heroes by Wiseman, or Greek Myths by Cynthia Coolidge.  We will be focusing on comparing and contrasting myths and also focusing on how these myths are referenced in modern speech and literature.

Parent / Student / Teacher Conferences are this week!  If you have not signed up for a conference, and would still like to, please sign up on the CBMS home page.  We will have conferences Tuesday and Thursday nights from 3 - 8 pm.


Recess - Recess has been going very well on Quest. Students have been sledding, skating, and building forts in the snow.  Students are able to borrow skates from bins in the gym lobby.  Thank-you to all who have contributed skates, helped their student remember snow equipment, or have contributed box tops so we can have this experience each day.  It looks like students will need to keep bringing snow pants, mittens and boots for a while.

Ecology Week - Last week, Jennie Hempey came to our classrooms to talk about Ferry Beach and encouraged students to take good educational risks regardless of the field trip they chose.  Students took a survey to recommend students with whom they would like to room.  We will be looking over these lists, and will accommodate as many requests as possible.

The girls and boys will be in two different dorms this year.  Our boys will have Mr. Drake as their dorm parent, and Mrs. LaRock and I (Melissa Williams) will be the dorm parents for the girls.  Students will be separated by teams, and by floors.  Quest girls will dorm with Quest girls, and Quest boys will room with Quest boys.  Mr. Taylor will be in Waterbury with the students attending the Audubon trip.  We are all looking forward to these field trips! Students went home with permission slips and additional information.  Please send this paperwork in before March 26th.  Thank-you!