Have a great summer!

-It's been an excellent year. I've really enjoyed working with all the creative, diligent, kind-hearted, smart kids in this group. I'll miss seeing you all every day! Please email me a schedule of your baseball and soccer games (mbonner@taoscharterschool.org), and I'll come see them if I can.

Over the summer, keep your skills sharp and get ready for Mr. Jones' class by continuing the D.E.A.R. habit of reading for at least 20 minutes every day. Practice and build your math skills using links like Math Playground and IXL.

-Solar Eclipse: Be sure to get outside on Sunday evening May 20th to see the annular solar eclipse - the first one visible in North America since 1994! It will begin at 6:28 p.m. and last until sunset, with the maximum peak of the eclipse going from about 7:30 to 7:40 p.m. A partial eclipse will be visible in Taos, but if you ask your parents to drive you a little bit south, it will be worth the trip. Albuquerque is right on the main path of the eclipse, so the closer you get to ABQ, the better it will look (see the NM eclipse map and NASA video in the links). Get to a place that has a good, clear view of the western horizon. Remember, NEVER look directly at a solar eclipse - you could permanently damage your eyes doing that. Instead, use a pinhole projector like I demonstrated in class on Wednesday. Welding goggles may be another option if you can find some.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

-Wednesday is our last classroom day of the school year. We'll be doing textbook return, and cleaning out desks and cubbies. Students should bring in a cloth grocery bag (or 2) so they can take home their supplies and belongings. Please check your homes for any items that need to be returned to school: textbooks, classroom library books, etc. and bring those in on Wednesday. Also, please send in any used cardboard boxes if you have some at home that we could have for paper recycling. Thanks!

-Field Day Plan: K-4th grade Field Day is Thursday from 10:30 - 1:45 at Kit Carson Park (in back, past the Little League Field). Before we go, we'll watch the end of the film version of "Holes," then finish cleaning up the classroom. At about 10:00, we'll hop the bus down to the park. The forecast says it'll be warm and sunny and we'll be outside all day, so students should dress for PE, wear sunblock/ hat/ sunglasses, and bring a water bottle and a snack. Parents are invited! The District will provide free lunch (hot dogs) for all students, or you can bring your own. At about 1:30, I'll distribute student awards and 4th marking period progress reports. Parents may pick students up at the park by 1:55, or at TCS at 2:50 as usual. Buses will run on the regular schedule.

-Friday is report card pick up day in the district. TCS 4th graders will already have their reports so they do not need to come in to school on Friday.

For Tuesday:

-Reading: Finish the novel Holes and all the chapter titles. Bring them into school on Tuesday.
-Summer Book Swap: Bring in your used books to trade on Tuesday.
-Field Day for K-4th is Thursday from 10:30 to 2:00 at Kit Carson Park. Parents are invited!

Over the weekend:

-Reading: Read the next 40 pages in Holes from where you left off Friday. Complete the whole novel if you have time. Don't forget to keep up with writing the chapter titles.
-Career Project: Deliver your thank you letter to the person you interviewed.
-Summer Book Swap: Bring in your used books to trade on Tuesday.

For Wednesday:

-Reading: Read p. 101-123 in Holes, and write a a title for each chapter you read.
-Wacky Week: Wednesday is Cross-Dress Day.
-Overdue Library Books: Please bring in all your TCS library books to check back in for summer inventory. Lost or damaged books will cost $25 each.
-Field trip permission slips are due Wednesday.
-Talent Show: Friday at 1:00 in the gym! Parents are invited.
-Summer Book Swap: Tuesday, May 15. Please bring in your used books to trade with 3rd/ 4th/ 5th graders!

For Tuesday:

-Reading: Read pages 69-88 in Holes, and write a title for each chapter you read.

Bandelier Field Trip

On Thursday, May 10, the fourth grade class will be taking a hiking field trip to Bandelier National Monument.

During the morning, we’ll take a 2 ½ mile loop hike on Tsankawi Mesa to tour Anasazi cliff dwellings. In the afternoon, we’ll have a picnic lunch, and then hike Frijoles Canyon to explore the main ruins. Students should be prepared for the elements and wear sturdy sneakers or hiking boots, and a hat to block the sun. They should also bring a small backpack with sunscreen, their own lunch, and at least one water bottle.

There's a transportation charge of $8 per student for those kids who didn't pay the one-time $35 bus fee in the fall: Josh, Trempealeau, Jesus, Kaili, Sakura, David, Lauren, Andrew. Please send cash, or a check made out to the school by Wednesday. If we have time on our way back to Taos, we’ll stop for ice cream in Espanola, so kids should bring $4 or $5 cash for that stop.

Students should be at school ready to go at 8:15 a.m., and we’ll return by 5 p.m.

Parents are invited to come along with us to help chaperone. There will be plenty of room on the bus. If you drive yourself, please realize that school rules require that students ride the bus on the way TO Bandelier. You may sign them out at the end of the day and take them home yourself at about 2:30 when we leave the park.

Permission slips went home with students today. Please sign those and send them back to school by Wednesday.

Spelling List 5/7/12

1. Anasazi
2. Ancestral Pueblo
3. cliff dwelling
4. viga
5. artifact
6. cistern
7. petroglyph
8. kiva
9. cavate
10. pottery sherd
11. archeologist
12. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Over the Weekend:

-Reading: Holes p. 48-68.
-Career Project: Due Monday.

-Field Trip: On Thursday, May 10 we'll be heading to Bandelier National Monument for a day of hiking and exploring Anasazi ruins. I'll send home more info and permission slips on Monday.

For Friday:

-Career Project: Steps 6 and 7. Bring your board in on Friday if you're ready early and want to present.
-Spelling: Study for the quiz.
-Reading: Read pages 28-47 in the novel Holes. Write a chapter title for each chapter you finish.

-Summer Book Drive: 4th graders, do you have any old books (2nd, 3rd, 4th grade reading level) at home that you've already read that you'd consider passing on to another student? If so, please bring them in any time starting Friday. Next Tuesday, we'll get together with the 3rd and 5th grade classes and have a book swap.