Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Be Optimistic - Character Traits That Lead To Success

Optimist Flyer
We know that certain character traits make a difference in school and in life.  This next couple weeks we will focus on optimism. 

Optimism means that you expect the best.  It is a positive attitude.

Rather than expecting to fail at something, you determine to do your best and you expect it will work out great.
Impossible to Possible

You have a choice of saying:

  • I'll bet I'm really gonna hate this book.
  • I'll probably fail at this too.
  • Everything bad always happens to me.

Or …. You can live life with a more optimistic attitude.

  • I'll bet this is going to be a great day.
  • I have worked hard and I’m gonna do great on this.
  • They say we can’t do it, but I think we can figure it out.

People like to work with people who have a positive attitude.  Be optimistic! It will lead to great things.

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Meet Sacajawea's AmeriCorps Aides!

In January, we had two AmeriCorps aides start working with the Kindergarten and First Grade students. Emily Cataline is the daughter of Mrs. Amy Cataline and her husband Mark.  She graduated from Caldwell High School in 2017 and is attending College of Western Idaho (CWI) at night for an Elementary Education major.  Her favorite part of working at the school is making connections with the students and seeing their growth.  Becca DiCrasto is our other AmeriCorps aide.  She is the daughter of Lynette and Robert DiCrasto.  Becca graduated from Black Forest Academy in Kandern, Germany and she will be attending CWI  as an education major next semester.  She enjoys watching the students grow academically.  Welcome to our school Emily and Becca!

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Sacajawea Elementary's Choir Visits the Capitol!

On March 7th, the Sacajawea Choir traveled to the Idaho State Capitol in Boise to perform for "Music in our Schools Week".  They sang five songs in the rotunda.
It was a wonderful opportunity for these budding musicians!



Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Connection Making - Character Trait Focus

Parents, we share this as one of our series on Character Traits for success.  Making connections is something that can happen at home as well.

We know that certain character traits help us be successful in learning and in life.  These next couple weeks we will be focusing on the character trait of "connection making."  Great learners are always making connections.  We think of examples.  We compare what we are learning now to other things we have learned or experienced.  Connection makers are constantly comparing and contrasting.  You might hear a connection maker say something like, "Oh, that is like that one time when ...."

Here’s the deal.  When we make connections between new ideas and other knowledge we already have, it helps the knowledge to stick in our memories.  Our brains need connections to make things stick and make sense.  A connection maker will automatically begin comparing stories with each other.  They will try to compare multiplication with addition and then will compare multiplication with division and division with fractions.  They will compare what they read today with what they heard their grandpa say about something.  There are so many fun ways to make connections.

Be a connection maker.  It makes learning more fun and makes you a better learner.

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Sacajawea Elementary's Fantastic Reading Night!

On Thursday, March 1st, Sacajawea held their annual Reading Night.  Over 350 people joined us to read or get books read to them, play games, do a scavenger hunt for story elements in books, make bookmarks, play Dr. Seuss Trivia on the computer, and learn how to take AR tests.  We had two special visitors at our event, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Cat in the Hat!  Thank you to Book It Forward for attending and giving away almost 200 books to our students.  Thanks also to Fiona May from the Caldwell Public Library for coming and giving away many books as well.  Our Book Fair was open so people could buy books as well.  The evening was topped off with cocoa, cookies, and lots of smiles!
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El jueves, 1ro de marzo, de las 6pm a 7:30pm, Sacajawea tendrá la Noche de Lectura Anual. Las sesiones comienzan a las 6:00 y 6:30. El tema sera de Dr. Seuss para coincidir con el cumpleaños de Dr. Seuss. Si gustan, pueden venir vestidos en sus piyamas mientras que escuchan historias y juegan juegos de lectura, seguido por chocolate caliente y galletas. Cada niño recibirá un libro gratis. También, tendremos una Feria de Libros durante ese evento. Vengan a disfrutar una tarde de entretenimiento familiar!






























Dr. Seuss Dress Up Days Were a Success!

Last week Sacajawea Elementary had "Mustache" Monday, "Fox in Socks" Tuesday, "Wacky Hair" Wednesday, "Green Day" Thursday, and "Twins" Friday.  Here are some pictures of the first and second grade students and some teachers celebrating this week!