December Writing Assignment

Now that Twelfth Night is over, we are diving right in to our next writing assignment. Students are being asked to write a 7 page book that will be bound in to a hard bound book by a professional publisher. 

Subject: 

Students are allowed to choose any subject they desire. Fiction, non fiction, poetry, or essay are all acceptable options. 

Length: The book is 7 written pages and 7 illustrations. Students may not go over, so editing will be crucial. 

Deadlines: 

12/9/14 - Topic chosen

12/9/14 - 12/18/14 - Rough draft written in class. 

Winter Break - Nothing, unless student did not finish rough draft. 

1/5/15 - Final draft in class (the final draft must be hand written onto the provided pages in fine tip sharpie)

1/6/15 - 1/7/15 - Illustrations

1/8/15 - Final draft turned in complete

Physics Midterms

To demonstrate understanding of the physics principles taught so far, students will work in groups of 6 to build a Rube Goldberg Machine. The requirements are listed below. 

Rube Goldberg Machine Requirements

1. Must stay within the boundaries of your area.

2. Must complete the stated goal.

3. Must include 8 transitions.

4. Must demonstrate the following principles:

          Kinetic energy

          Potential energy

          Gravity

          Buoyancy

          Spring force

          Tension

          Frictional Force

          Electrical Force

          Normal Force

          Magnetic Force

          Air Resistance Force

          Applied Force

          Acceleration

          Vectors

5. All principles must be labeled with free body diagrams and words.

6. Once the initial "button" is pushed, engineers may not interact with the machine in any way.

7. Teams may not purchase any materials. All materials must be scavenged.

8. Tape may not be attached to painted walls. 

Students will work in class and present their final machine at 12:30 on Thursday, December 18th. 

FACTS Class Postponed

This time of the year is crazy and a few parents brought to our attention that we have Twelfth Night this week, FACTS next week, and then the Core Knowledge Showcase. That was too crazy, even for me. 

FACTS will be rescheduled for late in January. 

Make Up Class Pictures

Joint March Field Trip

On March 12th we will be joining 7th grade for a bonus field trip the Oregon Jewish Museum. The museum is hosting a special exhibit that should not be missed. 

"Anne Frank: A History for Today (AFHT) made its North American debut at the Rockefeller Center in New York City. Created by the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, this historical yet intimate exhibit consists primarily of narrative text and color photographic reproductions. The exhibit depicts Anne Frank's life story using a wide selection of family photos and passages from her diary. Her biographical narrative is enhanced by testimony from Holocaust survivors and helpers. Historical context enriches the story through documents and photographs detailing the rise of Nazi power in Germany and the tumultuous events of the Second World War and the Holocaust that followed."  We will be leaving school at 11:15 and returning by 3:00. We will not be having hot lunch, so please plan to pack a lunch that day. If you would like to join us, please let me know.

Twelfth Night Play Bills

Wow, just wow!

11 Days and Counting Until Twelfth Night

Show time is only 11 days away. It is most definitely crunch time! Now that we have completed our Irish Potato Famine unit, we will be focusing on 12th Night, more 12 Night, and even more 12th Night. 

We could use lots of volunteers at this point. Mrs. LeMay has volunteered to help with costumes but we are still in need for make up artists to teach stage make up, parents to work with students to create scenery, and volunteers to help run lines. If you can help with one or more of these things, please let me know! 

Final Countdown

November 24th - Rehearse in class, both day and night casts

November 25th - Rehearse in class, both day and night casts

                            Playbills due

November 26th - November 30th - Rehearse at home ALL LINES SHOULD BE MEMORIZED

December 1st - Rehearse in class, both day and night casts 

                         Stage Make Up Class (Parent Needed)

                         Set building during the day (Parents Needed)

                         Props created

December 2nd - Rehearse in class, both day and night casts

                           Sets and Props finished

December 3rd - Dress rehearsal, both day and night casts

                          Stage set up

December 4th - SHOW DAY

                          12:15 - Day crew in costume with make up

                            1:00 - Matinee

                             Night cast ushering

                            3:30 - Students remain at school

                            3:45 - Set up chairs in gym

                            4:30 - Dinner at school (Cast Party)

                            5:30 - Night cast in costume and make up

                                      Day cast to work concessions, hand out programs, etc. 

                           6:00 - Evening Performance

                          8:30 - End of night! 

                           

                         

Irish Potato Famine Trials Begin Tomorrow!

Two weeks of preparation will now be put to the test. Tomorrow at 10:30 the first two trials will take place. Each group of three will present an opening statement, present at least two witnesses, two pieces of material evidence, cross examine two witnesses, and present a closing argument.

Today we reviewed the required elements and appropriate dress for the trial.

Students may bring a change of clothes if that change of clothes will enhance their presentation. Attorneys may wear dressy business attire. This would be a long sleeve button up shirt with a tie and slacks or a knee length skirt with tights and a blouse. Witnesses may wear attire appropriate to their character. For example, a farmer might wear overalls and a straw hat.

Students will be scored in several areas.

1. Group Work k-  I will be looking for how the group interacted, split up tasks, and followed through on their tasks.
2. Historical Understanding - This is assessed individually. I will be looking for understanding of the causes and effects and historical accuracy.
3. Oral Presentation Skills - Volume, eye contact, appropriate gestures, and body language will all be looked at.
4. Persuasive speech - Did they use the correct vocabulary to sharpen their argument? Did they select the appropriate facts to sway the intended audience?

Parents are more than welcome to join us for the cases. The first case will begin promptly at 10:45 and we will be done for the day no later than 12:00.

Fall Concert Update

Dear Cascade Heights Families,

As many of you know, the K-4 Fall Concert originally scheduled for Thursday, November 13, was cancelled as a result of the bad weather day.  The K-4 students worked very hard to prepare for their performance, and I know they shared in my excitement to perform their music for you.  Myself and the other teachers all agree that it is important to reschedule the concert.  We have agreed to combined the K-4 performance with the upcoming 5-8 concert on November 20.  This means that there is a slight change of schedule for the older children, along with an entirely new schedule for younger students.  Please read the details below, and do not hesitate to contact me directly if you have questions.  

Combined Fall Concert Featuring K-4 and 5-8 on Thursday, November 20th @6:00pm

5:45pm

K-4 students will arrive and gather in their respective classrooms by grade level.  Please keep your K-4 child’s coat with you, as they will not be returning to their classrooms at the conclusion of the concert.   

6:00pm

K-4 concert begins.  

6:15pm

5-8 students arrive and enter through the side door by the art room.  Parents may gather in the cafeteria until the K-4 concert is over.  Students will gather in the following rooms to tune and leave their cases and coats:

5/6 Band: Mrs. Hans

5/6 Orchestra: Mr. Vieira

7/8 Band: Mrs. Adams

7/8 Orchestra: Ms. Venture

Approximately 6:30pm

K-4 concert concludes.  There will be a brief intermission before the 5-8 instrumental portion of the concert begins.  Students in grades K-4 will be dismissed directly to their parents in gym at this time.  Please do not “save” seats for your K-4 child; they may sit up front, sit on your lap, etc.  (we need all the seats we can get for adult audience members!).  Families of K-4 students are welcome to stay for the second half of the concert, or may choose to leave at this time.     

Approximately 6:45pm

5-8 instrumental concert begins.  At the end of the concert 5-8 students will return to the classrooms to get their cases and coats.

Please keep in mind that both portions of the concert will be brief, and thank you all in advance for your flexibility and understanding.  It has been a delight working with these children to prepare for this performance, and I am excited for the students to share their music with you.

Best,

Mrs. Waroff       

Friday, November 14th Field Trip CANCELLED

Good Afternoon 8th Grade Families, 

I'm sorry to say, but we're going to have to cancel our field trip tomorrow. Between the weather and CAIS needing to reschedule us, we decided it wasn't in our best interest at this time. 

I'll see everyone on Monday morning! 

Snow Day Notifications

With snow in the forecast tomorrow, now is a great time to get signed up for Remind (formerly Remind 101).

Science Fair Across the Grades

Science Fair Across the Grades

The teachers at Cascade Heights are very excited about the science fair. We believe that the opportunity for students to embrace the scientific process and conduct meaningful research about topics important to them is incredibly important. All students at our school participate in the science fair. Kindergartners begin the process, working with Mrs. Ketel to wonder, test, and make observations about the test. In 4^th grade, they conduct their first independent project. Ms. Cantin guides students through the process, simplifying the vocabulary and processes to make it accessible. As they progress through middle school, students are asked to create projects that are more meaningful, research deeper, use progressively more difficult vocabulary, and work more independently. Parents with children in multiple grades may see this first hand. A 6^th grader will be asked to do basic research about their project, while 8^thgraders will be expected to use multiple sources, cite them correctly, and show meaningful notes. The timeline remains the same for all 4^th – 8^th graders! If you run into questions about the level of expectation for your child or children, please feel free to approach the teachers, we are more than happy to clarify what we are looking for at each grade. We thank you for your continued support.

Cold Weather Policy

Winter Outdoor Recess Policy for Cascade Heights Public Charter School

          It does get chilly in our part of the country, and students and families need to be prepared for it.  Teachers will use the following guidelines and their own best judgment in ensuring your child is safe and relatively comfortable during the cold months of the year.  You can do your part by sending your chidren to school with the following:  coat, warm hat, gloves or mittens, scarf (ideal), warm boots (ideal).  If you are unable to acquire the basics, please contact your child's teacher or Mrs. Denman, and we will happily help you.

          Students need fresh air daily, and it helps reduce illness (being cooped up in a room with recycled air is the best way to spread germs), a bad case of the wiggles, and sleepy brains.  As such, we will do our best to ensure daily fresh air for students, following the policy outlined below.

Please note: 

·       Frostbite CANNOT happen unless the ambient temperature (actual temperature+ windchill) falls below 32°F.  Fingers may hurt, be cold and numb, but they are not frostbitten.

·       Hypothermia can happen under a variety of temperatures and situations.  Someone submerged in water that is 70°F for an extended period of time will succumb to hypothermia.  Someone ill-equipped for the weather and left outside without movement at 20°F will eventually succumb to hypothermia.  Students who wear coats (and possibly hats or hoods) at 35°F or so for 15-20 minutes, and who are (hopefully) moving, have no danger of hypothermia.

          This policy was drafted taking into account average activity level, average recess time, and average regional temperatures for Portland, OR (the fact that our children are NOT used to the average temperatures of Fairbanks, AK was taken into account!). 

Not accounting for windchill factor:

Children will eat outdoors and may make the choice about coats, etc.:  41°F and above

Teachers will require the wearing of coats (for activity time of recess):  40°F and below

Teachers will require the wearing of a hat and gloves/mittens (students without will not participate in the activity):  35°F

Eating (snack and lunch) will occur indoors with outdoor recess following one of the below guidelines:  40°F and below

Normal outdoor recess:  26°F and above

Shortened outdoor recess (5 to 10 minutes):  18°F-25°F

Indoor recess:  18°F and below

What you can do to ensure your child's comfort and health with the above policy:

·       Send them to school with a coat, hat, mittens/gloves, and scarf

·       Tell them they must wear the coat, hat, mittens/gloves, and scarf

·       Send them with plenty of quality-calorie food for snack and lunch, as well as fresh water

·       Tell them about the children in Fairbanks, AK, who go out to recess like normal unless it's colder than -20°F!).

·       Teach them how to zip or button their coats

Fall Music Concert

From Mrs. Waroff:

Hello Cascade Heights Families,

We are so excited that the Fall 5-8 Band and Orchestra Concert is just under two weeks away.  The students in each group have been working very hard to prepare their repertoire for the program, and I think they are sounding great!  We will continue to work hard on refining our music before our program on November 20.

Just a reminder about the details of our concert:

Performance:  Thursday, November 20 - 6:30pm @ Cascade Heights Gymnasium 

Arrival Time:  Please plan on arriving by 6:15pm.  More details about which classroom each group will gather in to follow.

Dress Code: Concerts are a very special occasion.  Children will always perform better and play more confidently when they know they look the part!  Please see the guidelines below:   

Girls - Dress pants and blouse or dresses are acceptable.  Shoulders must be covered and dresses must reach knee length.  Uniforms are also acceptable.  

Boys - Dress slacks and a collared shirt are acceptable.  Ties are welcome but not required.  Uniforms are also acceptable.       

Parking: Please arrive early to assure a parking space.  If you need handicap access please park at the breezeway entrance and ring the bell to get to the ramp.  

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding our upcoming performance.  Thank you for your support of your child's musical endeavors.  I am looking forward to seeing all of you in the audience on November 20!

Best,

Mrs. Waroff

Rehearsing

Good Earth Projects

Today was presentation day and I was blown away by the high quality.

 From miniature versions of the story...

 to book covers...

 to beautiful post cards...

 to mobiles...

 to memory boxes...

to awards for each of the main characters...

to beautiful comic strips!

Tips for Memorizing Lines

Here are some tips and tricks for memorizing lines! 

Don’t try to memorize too much at one time. Instead, break it up into parts. If you are trying to memorize a poem, don’t do the whole thing at once. Memorize just one stanza at a time.

You can sometimes “chunk” information. Remembering 10 numbers in a sequence is hard (3 0 7 5 5 5 8 2 9 4). But remembering 10 numbers in telephone format is a lot easier (307- 555-8294).

Repetition over time is the most important method of getting information into your head and retrieving it readily. Don’t cram; the information won’t stick. Repeat the information frequently over time.

Writing things down and saying them out loud are wonderful ways to help you remember things. When you use these two strategies, think about what you are trying to remember. Just don’t say things out loud when they will annoy other people.

Adding a tune to what you are memorizing can be really helpful. The best example is the alphabet song, which you probably learned when you were four or five years old. Isn’t it unbelievable that you could remember all 26 letters at that age?

The Rehearsal 2 app. This is hands down my favorite way for actors to learn lines. It’s the scene partner that never gets tired of running lines with you. If you can get past the fact that it’s $19.99, this is a game changer. You can highlight the lines in the app, record the other character’s lines, and use it as a teleprompter, which will scroll through the script as you are reading it. Then it just keeps playing on a loop. The secret for me is to whisper my lines and read the other character’s lines out loud when I’m recording, so I don’t get too caught up in the way I’m saying my lines, but I know how much time I have to say them. I will literally put my iPad on a chair and pretend I’m running lines with someone. It’s so much better than a tape recorder. Love it. (Time: Approx. 30 minutes for a 12-page scene.)

Run the lines with someone many times. Preferably an actor, not your friend who was an extra on “Blue Bloods” one time, likes to coach you, and keeps reading the stage directions out loud. The first time you run through it, just listen to the words. Focus on pausing between each line, really absorbing what’s being said and going over the scene many times in many different ways, playing with intention, actions, and pacing. Try it sitting and standing, and allow yourself to make mistakes and explore every way not to do it, while also getting more and more comfortable with the lines. Focus on the “why” and the circumstances, which will help you learn the scene on a deeper level. If you forget your lines, you can find your way back because you really understand what’s going on. (Time: Approx. 30 minutes to an hour.)

www.backstage.com

• Cook, clean, or go jogging.
  While you're repeating the words, do something with your hands and feet. Do some cooking, clean your bathroom, or go for a run. This will occupy the parts of your brain you don't need for memorizing.
• Take your time.
• This technique requires lots of time to work its magic. So if you have to be off book by next month, start now and take your time.
• Whisper instead.
  This technique requires you to talk a lot. It may be hard on your voice. If you need to, whisper it instead.
• Remember to breathe.
  It may sound simple, but it isn't. People like to hold their breath subconciously. But if you breathe, it will help you remember the text better.

Car Line Reminder

Families--In order to ensure the safety and efficiency of carline, please DO NOT use Church Street to turn left onto 82nd.  While you are waiting to turn left, the line of cars on Church backs up into the crosswalk and carline.  This then makes crossing the street dangerous, and throws off the predictability of carline that helps keep our children safe.

If you plan on turning left onto 82nd, please drive up a block to Clackamas Road.  Please use Church Street for right-hand turns onto 82nd.  

Background Research

From Science Fair Central:

Once students have a testable question, it is important to do some background research. What do scientists think they already know about the topic? What are the processes involved and how do they work? Background research can be gathered first hand from primary sources such as interviews with a teacher, scientist at a local university, or other person with specialized knowledge. Or students can use secondary sources such as books, magazines, journals, newspapers, online documents, or literature from non-profit organizations. Don’t forget to make a record of any resource used so that credit can be given in a bibliography.

Gathering Background Research

• Helps students gain in depth knowledge about the topic and processes they will be observing during the investigation.
• Sparks ideas about different variables to test when setting up the investigation.
• Provides the basis for predicting what will happen in the investigation when making a hypothesis.
• Provides the understanding needed to interpret and explain the results to others –especially a science fair judge

Science fair research is conducted in class unless students are absent on the days allowed for this. 8th grade spent time in the computer lab today and has another block scheduled for Thursday. This should be plenty of time to complete needed research. 

Research notes are transcribed into their science fair notebook. Each website should have its own page that looks like this: 

Background Research

Mayo Clinic Central

http://www.mayoclinic.org

11/5/`4 (date material accessed)

• Taking notes on science fair projects allows students to comprehend
• 8th graders love science fair
• staying on top of tasks allows students to relieve stress

Winter Music Concert

Please join us for a celebration of music! All instrumentalists will be performing. Your attendance helps your student understand the importance of music in your life! 

November 20, 2014

6:30 PM

Cascade Heights Gym

Attire TBA

FACTS Class

FACTS Class

On December 13th we will be holding our annual FACTS class for middle school families. FACTS was written in conjunction with Northwest Family Services in 1989. It is a program that focuses on opening communication between parents and students in dealing with topics pertinent to their age. These topics include but are not limited to dating, refusal skills, peer pressure, high risk behaviors, etc. 

In order to allow parents and students to attend together, we hold this essential class on a Saturday, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and finishing no later than 4:00 p.m. Lunch and snacks will be provided. We strongly encourage both parents to attend with their child but we understand if only one person can be there. In the event that neither parent can attend, another adult that is important in their life is welcome, and in the worse case scenario, we'd rather have the child with no adult than not at all. 

Parents are more than welcome to come in and preview the material and everyone will be provided with take home materials as well. 

If you have any questions, Mrs. Denman or I am happy to answer them. We look forward to seeing you there. 

Please RSVP so we can order the correct amount of food. You can RSVP for lunch and attendance by visiting this link: http://goo.gl/forms/n09kGRDAXk

November Field Trips

This month we have not one, but two field trips. 

November 14th we will be touring Clackamas Academy of Industrial Sciences and attending The Student Peace Summit. The Summit runs from  9:25am to 10:25am; Friday, November 14^th: Athey Creek Middle School - 2900 SW Borland Rd, West Linn, OR 97068. Educating for Peace - the Harold Schnitzer Spirit of Unity Award will be presented at a Student Peace Summit to Oregon SchoolPeace Leaders and a special award to an Educational Leader (Mr. Tony Crawford) and a Community Leader (Ms. Sharon Kitzhaber). Mr. Klaus Botzet (Head of the Political, Security and Development Section - Delegation of the European Union to the United States) will speak to 1,000 middle school students and faculty on: the importance of peace education; the importance of learning about Europe and why; and discuss EU programs for students to participate in.  Student contests and learning aboutEurope; importance of peace education in the schools.  Mr. Botzet will give out The 2014 Harold Schnitzer Spirit of Unity Awards.

After the Peace Summit we will head over to CAIS for a tour and then we have lunch out. We should be back to school by 2:00. Students may be picked up then, or they may stay until 3:30 and work on Twelfth Night. Regular uniform is required!


Our second field trip is on November 19th. This will be our tour of Clackamas Middle College. There will be a CMC orientation from 10-11, a Clackamas Community College visit from 11-12 and then pizza back at CMC from 12-12:45. 

Parents are encouraged to attend both of these field trips! Please let me know if you can volunteer. 

Irish Potato Famine

Yesterday we began part two of our Decline of European Colonialism unit, which focuses on the Irish Potato Famine.

Over the next two weeks, students will be working in groups of 3 to create a case either prosecuting or defending the actions of a particular entity that could be blamed for famine. This week students were assigned groups, found other whether they were defending or prosecuting, and built background knowledge.

Next week they will focus on building their case with their partners. In order to score a 3 each group is required to have an opening statement, 2 witnesses, cross examine 2 witnesses, 2 pieces of material evidence, and a closing statement. Individuals will be assessed on historical understanding, public speaking, and effective use of evidence. Groups will be assessed on teamwork and time management.

Cases will be presented on November 18th and 20th from 10:15 until 12:00. On the 20th we would like to celebrate our completion and help build another life skill, cooking! If possible, I'd like each student to choose a potato based recipe and cook it. We will share recipes and try everyone's creations Thursday afternoon. It will NOT be in place of lunch, but instead an afternoon snack.

12th Night Casting and Call for Help

Today we began William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, or What You Will. Over the next 4 weeks we will be rehearsing in order to put on a full production of the play on December 4th. There will be two performances, a matinee at 1:00 and an evening performance at 6:00.

This project could use lots of help! Please let me know if you have any expertise to lend!

1. Set Crew - Help design and build sets with students. This will be an after school activity, one day a week between now and show day with possible extra days the week before production.

2. Make Up - Teach students to apply stage make up that relates to their character.

3. Costumes - Help design and work with students to sew costumes. This can be during school or after school on set building days.

4. Concessions - Run concessions with student help at the evening performance.

You can volunteer for one or more of these positions by emailing me!

Now for the cast list! Students were chosen for parts based on my knowledge of their stress levels, outside activities, willingness to be on stage in front of an audience, and ability to memorize. Students with smaller parts will be helping with sets, props, programs, and costumes!

Character                    Matinee Performance         Evening

Orsino                           Ryan                                   Grant

Sebastian                      Rhyle                                     

Antonio                         Adin                                     Kaleigh

Captain                          Selma                                Selma      

Valentine                       Ember                                Ember       

Curio                              Jessica                              Jessica

Sir Toby Belch               Malia                                  Jayden  

Sir Andrew Aguecheek  Mirielle                              Mirielle

Malvolio                         Tim                                    Tim   

Fabian                           Lacey                               Akina

Feste                            Emma                                  Emma

Olivia                           Tearzah                                Tearzah

Viola                             Katherine                              Katherine          

Maria                            Caroline                               Emily

Priest                            Lexy                                     Olivia

First Officer                  Riley                                     Riley       

Second Officer             Berlynn                                 Berlynn

Servant                         Olivia                                    Lexy