PAM and OCI Field Trip

Tomorrow is our field trip to the Portland Art Museum and Oregon Culinary Institute. We will be leaving school at 8:45 and returning by about 1:00.

Dress Code: 
Formal - slacks, button up shirt, tie, knee length or longer skirts, low heels, blouses. Shoulders must be covered.

Need to Bring: 
No lunch required, we will be eating at the Oregon Culinary Institute.
Change of clothes for PE

Technology Policy:
No cameras or phones allowed for this trip. I will take lots of pictures!

Chaperones:
Mrs. Masterson
Mrs. Rathmanner

What Did They Learn on the Scavenger Hunt?

Today I asked students what they learned on the scavenger hunt. Here are just a few of their answers.

• People are nicer than I thought. 
• How to navigate downtown. 
• The MAX has different lines that go different places. 
• Preplanning where to go will keep people from getting frustrated. 
• Voter registration cards are available at DMV and libraries. 
• People are helpful and kind. 
• 4 eighth graders can do much more than commonly thought. 
• How hard it is if you miss the bus. 
• Be aware of your surroundings, but don't live in fear. 
• Don't expect every bus that passes you to be your bus. 
• Don't pass by Hot Lips pizza while you're hungry. 
• It is very easy and important to ask for help. 
• Carry an umbrella
• In order to lead a group, you have to conquer your own fear first. 
• A 3 minute lag in your schedule can throw off the whole day.
• How to navigate the MAX system.
• How to make decisions as a team. 
• Travelling by bus/MAX is really easy. 
• Pay attention to time, buses wait for no one. 
• If you put a ton of noodles on them, you can eat tomatoes without it being gross. 
•  There are maps on the MAX. 
• It's easier to have fun when you all cooperate and keep an open mind. 
• How to use public transportation. 
• People are awesome. 
• Using active listening when with a group reduces arguments. 
• If you don't know where you're going, you'll most likely get lost. 
• How to manage time and important it is to get on the right bus. 
• Don't get ahead of yourself. 
• Being in a group is easier because everyone knows different things. 
• It's hard for parents to let us manage ourselves. 
• I am more capable than I thought. 
• How you dress and act affect how others react to you. 
• 
  

Portland Scavenger Hunt Photos

What a day! I am so impressed with everyone's poise, problem solving, and perseverance. I will update this post with pictures as they come in! Keep checking back to get a glimpse into their day.

What Are We Doing in History?

Two weeks ago we looked at the underlying causes of the Vietnam War and how the US got involved. Last week and this week, we looked at the Vietnam War through the lens of art. Last week we critiqued protest posters from the 60's and early 70's and then students created their own posters. Student posters reflected the civil rights issue they individually have chosen to work on. These ranged from disability rights to racial profiling to gender equity. This week we are looking at the music, specifically how music drove the anti war protests. Today, students wrote their own music and will be performing it tomorrow. Over the next few weeks we will be looking at the progression of the war and the experience of veterans returning home from the war. 

NON Souvenir Workshop

Believe it or not, we're almost done with Night of the Notables!

Tuesday is the souvenir workshop for Night of the Notables. This is a chance for students to work together in a relaxed atmosphere with snacks, music, and friends. Teachers will be on hand to provide technical assistance and oversight.

Students should bring all of the supplies they need to work and a great attitude. We will begin right after carline and end at 5:00. 

April Field Trip Details

We have 3, yes 3 field trips this month. Here is a run down of what everyone needs to wear and bring for each day.

April 22 - BPA Lab Tour
Dress Code: Regular uniforms but no skirts or sandals. Everyone must have closed toe shoes on.

Lunch: We can not guarantee that we will be back in time for hot lunch, so everyone needs a lunch from home.

Cell Phone/Cameras: No

Chaperones: Mrs. Rathmanner, Mrs. Masterson

Times: 8:30 - 12:30

April 24 - Life Skills Scavenger Hunt

Dress Code: Business Casual. This means slacks, knee length or longer skirts, polo shirt, blouse, or button up shirt. Walking shoes are encouraged. Jacket is a must. No sweats, jeans, sweatshirts, or t shirts.

Lunch: Everyone will need $5.00 for lunch.

Cell Phone/Camera: Yes

Chaperones: Mrs. Grainger, Mrs. Rovang, Mrs. Rathmanner, Mrs. Masterson, Mr. Arifdjanov, Mrs. Arifdjanova

Times: 8:30 - 3:30

April 29 - OCI and Portland Art Museum

Dress Code: Dressy. Slacks, button up shirts, ties, knee length skirts and blouse, nylons, dress shoes. 

Lunch: Provided

Cell Phone/ Cameras: No

Other: Students will be bringing writing and sketching tools. 

Chaperones: NONE so far, I need at least 2

Times: 8:30 - 1:30

Promotion Planning Meeting Minutes

Last Friday Mrs. Fajardo, Mrs. Schroedl, Mrs. Grainger, and Mrs. Bradburry joined me to get plans in place and the ball rolling. 

We discussed the many aspects of promotion.

 

STAGE:

1. Backdrop. We liked the backdrop that was done last year. This was a simple black backdrop with the student names cut out with a cricut in bright contrasting colors. We need someone(s) to volunteer to make these. 

2. Chairs - Mrs. Bradburry has white chair covers for the student chairs on stage. 

3. Bunting - I believe we have bunting and lights that can be used to decorate the front of the stage. 

4. Flowers - Mrs. Bradburry has flower arrangements in red, white, and blue for the stage. 

ROOM DECORATIONS:

1. Balloons - Shonna volunteered to look into getting a helium tank so we can put up balloons. 

2. Posters - Mrs. Adams will work on the posters about each student. These will go up behind the dessert table. 

3. Arch - We have an arch to put up by the door for the students to walk through. This can be decorated with streamers or balloons. 

4. Photo Booth - Mrs. Marlatt will be taking pictures of families and anyone else that would like to get their picture done. We need someone to volunteer to put it up and get props, etc. 

Food:

We decided on dessert and punch. 

1. Cake - Mrs. Grainger volunteered to handle the dessert portion of the evening. She will be getting one cake and asking parents to bring their favorite dessert. 

2. Punch - Mrs. Fajardo volunteered to get punch and cups and try to arrange a fountain for the punch. 

3. Table decorations - Mrs. Grainger volunteered to pick up table cloths, napkins, plates, and forks. 

Ceremony:

1. Program - We need a program. If someone is excited about making one, great! We'd love to have the help. If not, I've got one from last year that I can modify. 

2. Speakers - Students that wanted to speak were asked to have a paragraph in to me by today. From those, several will be chosen. Mrs. Denman and Mrs. Adams will also speak. 

3. Slideshow - At the beginning of the year Mrs. Goldstein volunteered to do the slideshow. I'll be checking with her to make sure she's still on board. If so, we'll need everyone to send pictures to her. We want to make sure we have a baby picture and an 8th grade picture of every student. We also want to make sure we have pictures from all the big events including field trips from all grades, Greek Festival, Viking Festival, Hancock Field Station, Outdoor School, field days, Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, etc. Mrs. Fajardo volunteered to help with this if Mrs. Goldstein needed it. 

4. Certificates - Mrs. Adams prints the certificates. 

Set Up and Clean Up:

There will be two phases of set up, the decorations and the food set up. 

1. Decorations set up can be done right after school. We get out at 11:30 that day so Mrs. Schroedl suggested and offered to coordinate an 8th grade BBQ that afternoon at school. We will have a potluck BBQ and then everyone can help set up the chairs, get the decorations up, etc before going home to get dressed and ready for promotion. Further details will be coming out. 

2. Phase 2 is the food table. Mrs. Grainger is in charge of the food table, so just before the ceremony that table will need to be set up. 

3. Clean Up - We have traditionally had the 7th graders come to do clean up so that 8th grade families can go home and enjoy each other. Mrs. Adams will reach out to 7th grade to do this for us this year. 

I believe that's it! 

If you can think of anything else you'd like to see, please let me know or if you'd like to volunteer for one of the needed jobs, please let me know that as well! 

Culinary Field Trip

Our Oregon Culinary Institute field trip has been confirmed. We will be visiting on April 29th, 2015. We are due to arrive at 11:00, but I have requested a tour and writing workshop at the Portland Art Museum before lunch. 

This will be the sixth year that Oregon Culinary Institute has hosted our eighth graders for lunch. It provides a chance for students to learn formal meal etiquette from professionals as well as tour yet another type of higher education. The opportunity to not only eat delicious food in a beautiful setting, but also learn how to handle yourself at a formal meal allows students to gain confidence. 

I will need 2 parent volunteers for this trip. If you are available, I would appreciate your help. 

Changes to Final Fundraiser

We've made some changes to our final fundraiser for Ashland. Instead of working with Applebees, which was proving difficult, we are going to host the pancake breakfast here at school. The Applebees program allowed us to sell tickets for $10 each and keep $4. If we host our own here at school, we can sell tickets for $5, which will likely be much easier to sell, and still have a $4 profit. 

The adults in the Gorsage / Lehman family all have food handlers licenses and are willing to do the cooking, so we just need students to serve and parents willing to help manage and direct. 

I know you're dying to ask how you can help so here's what we need: 

1. Sell tickets. Tickets are $5.00 per person for a short stack of pancakes and juice or coffee. Ticket order forms will go home this afternoon with your student. In order to make our fundraising goal, we need to sell about 200 tickets. 

2. Donate items to be used. We need paper cups, orange juice, coffee, cream, sugar, butter, and syrup. 

3. Sign up to help wrangle servers. We will be serving from 8:00 until 11:00. I would like each student to serve for one hour. This will take some direction from adults. 

4. Sign up for clean up. We will need someone to supervise the dishwashers and several hands to help supervise the clean up at the end. 

Students are expected to be on site from 7:30 until 11:30. They may wear clean jeans and their 8th grade t shirt. Everyone will serve in a variety of roles including server, bus person, cashier, garbage, dishwasher, etc. 

We appreciate your support and if you have any questions or to donate items, you may contact myself or Erin Gorsage Lehman. 

Spring Cleaning

Second Annual Spring Cleaning!

Love Cascade but don't have time to show it during the school week?  Come help us spruce up our space!  Drop in Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

Choose a job off the board you'd like to do, and get to work!  Inside jobs, outside jobs, big jobs, little jobs, there is a job for everyone.  Bring the whole family and a picnic lunch (no childcare provided).  Bring your mower, weed-eater, edger, gardening gloves, litter grabber, carpet steamer, wipes, rags, spray bottles, dusters, anything else you can think of. 

Students will get a homework pass and service hours will be signed off.  

Contact Mr. C with questions h.currey@chpcs.org

Ashland Contract

Ashland Contract

April 1, 2015

Dear Students and Guardians,

I am writing you this Letter of Understanding in anticipation of one of middle school’s great experiences: Ashland. Field trips are an extension of our academic program. When our students leave campus to go on a field trip they are ambassadors from our school, so we wish to send them as the very best they can be. Eighth grade students attend a two - three day field trip to the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. This trip is a privilege and not mandatory, though school attendance still is.

If, for any reason, your student has shown poor attendance, unacceptable behavior or inadequate academic habits, they may very likely be asked to stay at school during this trip.

Specific Criteria for attending Ashland includes but is not limited to:

·       Meeting ALL Night of the Notables deadlines

·       Having ZERO missing assignments the day we depart (May 25th)

·       Having had NO MORE THAN 5 late assignments starting April 1st

·       No significant behavioral incidents between April 1st and May 25^th. A significant behavioral incident is one resulting in a suspension.

·       Submitting this form, signed and dated by April 6^th

Unacceptable behavior includes but is not limited to:

Plagiarism, Cheating, Lying, Defiance, Teasing, Physical aggression, Intimidation, Threats or Exclusion

Learning the importance of deadlines is an integral part of growing up. It is our belief that holding students accountable to the work they are assigned is an essential part of what makes Cascade Heights an excellent learning community.

Ashland is an academic experience, but students who are not demonstrating acceptable academic readiness will remain at school during the rest of the class’ absence. They will work to get caught up on missing assignments.

Please sign today's Letter of Understanding to confirm that you have read and understand the information above.

__________________________________________________                                   ___________

Student                                                                                                                                                                                                               Date

__________________________________________________                                   ___________

Guardian                                                                                                                                                                                                            Date

Tentative Ashland Schedule

Monday

            12:00 – Meet at school and load cars

            12:30 – Drive to Ashland

            4:00 – Dinner and recreation at the lake in Eugene

            7:00 – Arrive in Ashland and check in to rooms

Tuesday

7:30 – Wake up and breakfast in the dining hall

10:30 – Exploring Design Workshop

12:00 – Lunch in the dining hall

1:30 – Much Ado About Nothing (Business Casual)

5:00 – Dinner in the dining hall

6:30 – Return to dorm to get ready for evening show

8:00 – Guys and Dolls (Formal)

Wednesday

            7:30 – Wake up and breakfast in the dining hall

9:30 – Workshop

11:30 – Lunch in the dining hall

12:30 – Prologue

1:30 – Secret Love in Peach Blossom (Business Casual)

3:30 – Load cars and head for home

9:00 – Arrive at Cascade

Last Fundraiser of the Year

This is our last fundraiser of the year and our goal is to raise $2000. That means we need to sell a lot of tickets. 

Please help spread the word. All students will need to be on hand to help serve and clean up. 

A ticket request form will go home tomorrow. Please fill it out to let me know how many tickets you'd like on hand to sell. 

Smarter Balanced Testing

On Monday and Tuesday (April 6th and 7th) we will be taking the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments, which is the new state wide assessment. The Oregon Department of Education website shares the following information: 

What is Smarter Balanced?

Oregon is part of a team of states working together voluntarily to develop K-12 assessments in English language arts/literacy and mathematics aligned to Oregon’s Common Core State Standards. These tests are called Smarter Balanced assessments. Delivered online, these tests include questions that adapt to each individual’s performance and feature new “Performance Tasks” that mimic real world application of students’ knowledge and skills. 

How are Smarter Balanced tests different from our old tests?

Our students deserve better tests, ones that measure high-level skills rather than the ability to memorize facts or deduce answers from lists. More importantly, our students deserve tests that give them the opportunity to show what they know and can do. Smarter Balanced tests go above and beyond filling in multiple choice bubbles and actually showcase students’ thoughts and explanations for how they solve problems. Here’s how:

• Aligned to more challenging standards, Smarter Balanced tests better measure what skills and knowledge our students need to be successful in the 21st Century.
• Test questions come in many different forms, and allow students to interact with graphs and type in their own responses in addition to selecting answers from traditional multiple choice lists. Essay questions ask students to use evidence from multiple sources of texts to create their arguments and explain their reasoning.
• Developed with experts to include tools and supports that address visual, auditory, and physical access barriers, Smarter Balanced tests are designed to meet the needs of all students. Learn more here.

How can I learn more about our new state tests?

Visit our drop down menu (upper right hand corner) to browse Smarter Balanced topics or go to Communication Resources to access family-friendly materials. You can also take the practice tests available on our Practice Test Site on the OAKS Portal for a firsthand look at the new test questions. Be sure to sign in as “Guest,” select a grade, and choose either an English or math test with “SB” beside it. 

Before spring break we spent an hour in the lab taking the practice test and talking through the changes they would be seeing. The students were perfectly comfortable with the new interface and the new types of questions. I am confidant they will do quite well. You can help them demonstrate what they know by ensuring they get to bed Sunday night at a decent hour, eat a healthy breakfast, and come to school with a brain friendly snack.

This year instead of visiting the lab for an hour at a time over several weeks, we will be in the lab all day for two days. This gives students the chance to settle in and work at their pace without feeling the pressure of the clock ticking away and losing their momentum. Students will be encouraged to take breaks often to clear their mind and stretch their bodies. They will still attend world language, lunch, PE, and music. 

Due to the format of the performance task, it is vital that all students be in school on Monday and Tuesday. Each performance task has a classroom activity associated with it. During the classroom activity they are presented with background information and have the opportunity to work with their classmates before tackling the test on the computer. Students that are not at school will be presented the information, but will not have the interaction with their classmates to assist them. 

If you have any questions about the testing, please feel free to email me or call.