Camp Notes Coming Home!

Bette’s and Joe’s Class         Camp Dainava 2018

Dear Families,

       Camp is in 4 weeks! Today we are sending:

• Permission slip
• Overnight Medical Form (Required by district)
• District required “Communication Protocol”
• What to pack list and camp rules
• Volunteer verification form – brief, for to be turned in to Karen at the office

Please read this note carefully and keep it somewhere safe and retrievable!!!

       First, sign and return the permission slip! Please mention any special health concerns, ‘good to know’ routines, fears, etc., that will help me keep your child comfortable. Also, include emergency contact information.

       MEDICATION!!  If your child takes medication regularly please let his or her teacher know in writing!  Medication should be in its original pharmacy container with the doctor’s prescription label. It is helpful if medication is enclosed in a Ziploc bag, clearly labeled with you child’s name and administration instructions.   ALL MEDICATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE TEACHER THE FiRST MORNING OF CAMP!  Students should not carry medication in their luggage. Please attach a note to indicate your child’s medical needs. If you suspect your child will need Tylenol or another over the counter remedy, we need a note of permission as well. Any special information needs to be in writing.

     PACKING:  Please read the attached packing list. No electronic games or equipment are allowed.  This is camp! Each child should pack enough reading material for rest times and down times. Cards and board games are ok.  Leave valuables at home. Make sure your child has good sturdy outdoor shoes.  Sandals are not good for hiking.  They do not protect the feet well enough. Pack for Michigan:  If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute!

       FOOD: SEND A SACK LUNCH ON WEDNESDAY! We will eat our lunches at camp. Contact me with any food concerns specific to your child. Also, let us know if you can donate or solicit donations of food.     THURSDAY IS THE FAMILY POT LUCK! Come and join us in the beautiful camp setting.  We will have a campfire and night activities.

       BACKGROUND CHECKS! Remember, all parents who will be alone supervising children or spending the night must submit to a background check. This can be done at the office. 

       Students must be with adults at all times.  They cannot be sent unsupervised to a room, etc.  Also, please do not take your child from camp without telling me!!! I will be doing frequent checks, and I need to know where every child is!!!

Upcoming Events

Bette’s Class Notes

Here are some upcoming events for Bette’s Class

April 17 (Tuesday) Camp planning meeting 6-7

·      (Followed by AAOCC meeting, 7-8:30)

April 26 (Thursday) Rural Education Days, Saline Fairgrounds

May 2 Language Arts M-STEP Test

May 3 Math M-STEP Test

May 8 No School for Election Day

May 11 Salmon Release, Flat Rock Michigan

May 23, 24, 25 Camp Dainava!!

Other events we are working on include “The Farm” at St. Joe’s Hospital, Rolling Hills Water Park, and don’t forget the Ice Cream Social

Camp Meeting- Please try to make it to our first camp-planning meeting! We will give you an outline about how camp works and answer questions. We need lots of help. There are a variety of things that need to be done, so we look forward to working together to create this amazing outdoor learning experience for the kids.

Rural Education Days is presented by students who participate in the 4-H club. We will learn a lot about Agriculture in Michigan and get to sample some products and meet some live farm animals.

M-Step – I’d like to share some thoughts Karen Siegel wrote to staff about the M-Step:

““Prepping” your students

It is important that students feel calm, rested, and safe while taking the test. There are some students who may actually enjoy the experience while others will be challenged. Remind your students that they should do their best because it helps up learn more about our teaching and helps our school show the ourselves and our community how we are doing.

I’m recalling some of the pieces of Priti Shah’s presentation that might be relevant here:

·       Math anxiety in students is most often caused by anxiety in adults. Model ways that you manage anxiety for your students (and parents.)

·       Students perform better on tests when they take walks before the testing session begins. Walks in the city are good - walks in nature are better. (The playground seems like a nice in-between.)

·       Rest and sleep hygiene is important. The hippocampus consolidates memories during sleep. Children need 8-10 hours of sleep. Screens should go off at least one hour before sleep.  Talk about sleep hygiene with students.

·       Food is important. Check in with your students to be sure they aren’t going into the experience hungry.

·       ‘Cramming’ is not helpful. Trying to cram in new lessons for the MStep is not helpful at this point. It is helpful to give students opportunities to practice recalling what they have already learned.

As I write this, I’m realizing that the best ways to “prepare” for test taking are also the best ways to live healthy, balanced lives. I know about and share many concerns about the politics and philosophy around this particular test. But, in this immediate context, it doesn’t serve our students or us to reflexively associate this test window with stress and anxiety and negativity. Instead we can see it as a learning opportunity to build and practice habits that promote healthy living.

Salmon Release will include Edie’s Class and the 8^th grade students who have been helping us maintain the tank. We will go to a park on the Huron River in Flat Rock and the children will release the fish so they can head for the Great Lakes!

Computer Use- I just want to remind you that it’s a good idea for parents to check in on children’s g-mail account periodically. It’s best if your children know you have oversight. You were sent a letter in the beginning of the year with your child’s login information. If you don’t have it, let me know and I can help you with that. Eight and nine year olds are a little young for managing this type of electronic media. We have had a few incidents with students finding out someone has gained access to their account. (Sometimes it’s because they fail to log out) Sometimes the email is used to “pass notes” (as we used to in the old days with paper). They can be simple, appropriate communications, but sometimes they are not. There has also been a whole new protocol to learn with “sharing” documents. This can be a wonderful opportunity to collaborate, but sometimes we have to talk about how to manage “ownership” and sharing and “un-sharing”. Just a reminder.