Thursday, October 31, 2013

 Fun with Reading Harvest Festival
      Diversion con el Festival de Lectura
     Sacajawea Elementary School
              Tuesday, November 12
Martes, 12 de Noviembre
        
Be there at 6:00 p.m.!                         
*Stories read aloud and free book for students!                       
*Free meals for our families!               
*Literacy strategies to help our students!
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Esten aqui a las 6:00 en punto
* Libro gratis para estudiante!
*Cena gratis para nuestras familias!

* Estrategias en literature para padres
con ninos lectores!

Friday, October 25, 2013

Sacajawea Receives $10,000 Science Grant

During our awards assembly on October 24th, Sacajawea Elementary was presented with a $10,000 check from the Monsanto Fund. This will fund a project we call "Scientific Inquiry as a Gateway to Reading, Writing, and Math."

Elissa W, Yasmine V, Callie Mae W, and Juliana H (Left to right above) were selected to receive the check on behalf of the school. They have already demonstrated excellent online writing skills through their classroom blogging project in 3rd grade and through their online writing projects in 5th grade. Brett Lolley, Project Manager at Monsanto Seeds in Nampa, presented the check during our school awards ceremony.

Mr. Miller and Mr. Webster worked together to write the grant application this spring, before we left for summer vacation. We will implement hands-on scientific inquiry units at each grade level. The most important aspects of each unit will be building student inquiry skills and the knowledge and curiosity on which to build future scientific investigations. In addition, we will use these units to provide leverage for increasing student reading, writing, and math achievement. A special emphasis will be placed on internet-based nonfiction reading and high quality writing, supporting the Common Core State Standards. We will purchase another small mobile computer lab that can be moved from class to class to engage our students in authentic online written communication through blogging and other formats.
Why do we want to do this science and technology project?
  • Because students need to have a strong understanding of science to be successful in the next generation. 
  • Because science is naturally engaging to students. Inquiry skills need to be developed beginning early in our school careers (as early as preschool and kindergarten). 
  • Because one of the most important skills for success in the next generation will be clear written communication.
See a news article about this at The Press Tribune.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

How To Eat Fried Worms - 4th Grade


The fourth grade team at Sacajawea recently finished reading How To Eat Fried Worms, a well-known novel by Thomas Rockwell. As a culmination, they analyzed the similarities and different editorial choices in the more recent movie by the same name.  Some of their teachers also put on a little show with a eating exhibition with "gross" foods.

You can see we sometimes had a hard time holding it together.  Some of us did a nice job adding a little extra drama of our own.

Edible "delights" included dog food (really), kale smoothies, Snickers candy served from a baby diaper, a protein mix that looked a lot like muddy water, and pickled pigs feet.  It was unanimous, that the pickled pigs feet was the worst of the bunch.  

All of us finished up with "dirt" and "worms."  This dessert was a nice treat.

Down goes the dogfood

Really pretty bad

"Muddy Water" anyone?

A little drama

Watching the students was well worth a queezy stomach


A green smoothy


A "Value Pack" of Pigs Feet - We didn't find that much value.


"Dirt" and "Worms"



Slirpping up the last worm.  Maybe our next unit will be on etiquette.


Thursday, October 10, 2013

Sacajawea Picture Retakes - Tomorrow - October 16th


Reminder: Sacajawea Picture Retakes are Oct. 16th.

Anyone who purchased a package on original picture day and would like to have a retake needs to return the old picture package to the photographer on this day.

Thank you!

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Family Math Night at Sacajawea - Proud of our Mathematicians

We are so proud to be Skyhawk mathematicians. We had a blast playing with math. More than 440 people attended.

We..
  • Stacked
  • Made patterns
  • Found new ways to solve problems
  • Estimated
  • Played "Speed"
  • Laughed
  • Solved Puzzles
  • Rolled dice
  • Played online games
  • Competed
  • Ate pizza
  • Learned

Thanks to such a great Sacajawea community who is so committed to "Academic Excellence For Everyone." Thanks to Mr. Miller, our lead organizer, and to all of the teachers who stayed to play after a long day.  Thanks to our many volunteers from the community and from Caldwell High School who helped interact with families, making this a fun night.
























Sunday, October 6, 2013

Carnegie Library's 100th Birthday Celebration

The Carnegie Library turns 100 this year.  This is a celebration of the priority placed on books and learning in Caldwell and across the country.  A community event is being planned to celebrate. Students from some of the elementary schools and CHS will perform; speakers will speak; refreshments will be served. The historic building will be open for self-guided tours. It should be a fun community celebration designed to honor a piece of Caldwell's history.

Sacajawea's Mrs. Olsen has been a key member of the planning committee for this event.


Please come join us!
Carnegie Library 100th Birthday
Oct. 10th 6:30 p.m.
Free to the public

Friday, October 4, 2013

Seeking: Part-Time Americorps Service Position Available at Sacajawea Elementary School

Hiring: Part time Americorps Service position available at Sacajawea Elementary School

Member Duties : 

  • Work with early elementary students on reading, writing, and math activities.
  • Members assist teachers both in and out of the classroom, providing tutoring services one-on-one and in small group settings.
  • Assist teachers in facilitating parent and community involvement.


Program Benefits : 

  • Education award upon successful completion of service, Living Allowance, Training . 


Terms : 

  • Position is part-time (about 920 hours per year)
  • Permits attendance at school during off hours.
  • Permits working at another job during off hours. 


Skills:

  • Teaching/Tutoring, Strong Academic Skills, Communications, Problem-Solving.
  • Bilingual candidates are strongly desired.


Contact Information:

  • Paul Webster at Sacajawea: 208-455-3333 / pwebster@caldwellschools.org
  • Barb Syska at Lewis-Clark Service Corps: 208-792-2084 or 1-800-423-8239


Apply at: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=6137&fromSearch=true