Leave of Absence and Teaching Abroad

I have requested and the school board has approved my request for a leave of absence next year. Both, Kelly and I, will be receiving training for the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, overseas, and then practice teaching in an overseas IB school.

It's a great opportunity since the district is expanding the IB program here in Bellingham and the training, travel and all other expenses are paid for!

I'll be back in the Fall of 2010, a little bit more worldly wise and very proficient in IB! Parents, thank you for the end-of-year gift. The hanging basket is now gigantic and is the envy of the entire neighborhood. See you in 2010!

The hanging basket (Thank you!!)

Oxford, our IB training location(?)

Our IB school(?)

End of the Year

The field trip aboard the Adventuress benefited from very cooperative weather! Thanks to the sun and fair winds, we were able to comfortably learn more about the environment of Bellingham Bay and our watershed, marine biology, navigation, and seamanship. Thank you to all the parents who helped make this field trip a memorable one.

We also wrapped up our online presentations of Where in Washington. Students got to present clues to our school's location, online, using knowledge of our local history, geography, civics, and popular activities. They also received clues from six other schools and then dove into library and online resources to try and solve the mysteries of their locations, as well. They correctly located five out of six mystery schools. Not bad!

We are staying focused on the learning these last few days. Please help your student be prepared for our last set of learning presentations, next week. The students will share their learning about Washington State history in a series of team presentations to the whole class, using technology for their visual aids. They will also present their book recommendations to small groups, with visual aids.

Our last class activities will be organizing student portfolios, Field Day, sharing our Yearbooks and sharing at our last Class Meeting.

Literature Circles

The students have selected their next literature circle books and we have started on our last set of literature circles. For the first time this year, we had to form two literature circles for the same book. Katherine Hannigan was the popular author and her lucky title was Ida B. Our books for this round of literature circles are:

Where in Washington

The WASL is over an we can start learning, again! One of the things we will be learning about in the next few weeks is our own state of Washington. We will participate in an online mystery where we use live videoconferencing to obtain clues about the location of other schools, research the clues, and then declare a location. Here are some of the sites we can use to help us with our clues:

1. Direction from the Capital
Washington State Maps
Map Collection

2. Historical Events
Washington State History Encyclopedia
Washington History
Washington State Historical Society
Timeline
Pacific Northwest History

3. Nearest body of water (see Terrain)
Washington State Maps
Map Collection

4. When did people first settle? (see Historical Events)
Washington State History Encyclopedia
Leaders & elected officials

5. Terrain (see Direction from the Capital)
Relief Map
Washington State Maps
Geography of Washington
Map Collection


6. Nearest state park (see Direction from the Capital/Terrain/Nearest Body of Water)
Washington State Parks
Washington State Map Browser
Washington State Outdoors

7. Native American culture (see Historical Events)
History of Bellingham
Washington State Native Americans
Tribal Dreams (scroll down to find an extensive list of WA state tribes)

8. Recreational activities to do in the summer (See Terrain & State Parks)
Washington State Tourism
Visiting & Recreation in Washington
Landmarks
Go Northwest-->Popular Destinations

9. Main industry
Washington State City/Town websites

10. Hottest Tourist Attraction
Washington State Tourism
Visiting & Recreation in Washington
Landmarks
Go Northwest-->Popular Destinations

11. Population of your town/city
Washington State City/Town websites
Population information
US Census
City Density

12. Famous/infamous person (see Historical Events)
Washington State History Encyclopedia
Leaders & elected officials

Basic Information
Department of Transportation
Counties
State Symbols
Climate data
Washington on Fact Monster
Interactive Gallery
Go Northwest-->Washington
City Search

and more

Experience Washington - the official site of Washington State tourism.

Symbols of Washington State - information about official state symbols & elected officials. Includes a "find your legislator" link.

Wikipedia - a free online encyclopedia. Can be edited by anyone, so information needs to be verified. Lots of information!

"Find-It!" - Washington State - look up state and local government information by subject, keyword, title or type of government (city, county, state)

Washington State Maps - 5 different maps with specific information on each - physical map, elevation, rivers, highways & counties of the state of Washington

Washington State Parks

History Link - online encyclopedia of Washington State History

WASL Testing Begins this Week

Thank you for helping your student be successful with the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) by:

• Making sure your student is rested.
  
• Making sure your student is properly nourished and starts the day with a good breakfast.
  
• Making sure your student gets to school on time.
  
• Making sure your student is in attendance during the next two weeks.
  

The WASL will be completed in two more weeks. Until then, thank you, again, for your extra efforts to help your student do their best to "show what they know" on the WASL.