latest news:

NOVEMBER 2011

Dear Parents,

We had a lovely visit from the Museum of Folk Art and Craft recently.  The
children enjoyed the PowerPoint presentation on the history of American quilt-making.  We learned how colors and patterns in quilts acted as secret codes to aid slaves on their path to freedom through the Underground Railroad.  The children got to look at different patterns in quilt squares and work with a partner to create their own quilt design out of paper.  All the pieces were joined together to make a cooperative quilt which we have displayed on our wall.

Quilt making will continue in our class.  Jared Feldstein’s grandmother, Barbara Confer,  has volunteered to come into the classroom to sew a quilt with the class.  The children will get to work with Barbara in small groups during their work time building sewing skills.

This month the children will have the opportunity to hear our third great lesson, the story of the coming of human beings.  We will study the fundamental needs of humans, such as shelter, food, clothing and transportation.  This will lead into our study of Native Americans, where we will compare how different tribes satisfied their fundamental needs in different ways.  Our field trip to the Museum of the Native American will be coming up on Tuesday, November 15th.  

River's talent show and bake sale is coming up on Saturday, November 5th from 4:00 to 6:00.  Please support the bake sale by sending in baked items to school on Thursday or Friday, or by stopping by to purchase items. 

I would like to do a Thanksgiving lunch with the class again this year on Wednesday, November 23rd.  Details and volunteer opportunities will be forthcoming.

Check out our gallery link at the bottom of the page for pictures from our first two field trips.

Kind regards,

Janel De Santis.

A few reminders:

~Spelling lists are no longer posted online and should be arriving home with your child on Mondays.

~Please consider labeling your child's individual snack containers.  We seem to end up with several unclaimed containers by the end of each week.  

~We do have children in the San Lorenzo classroom with severe nut and sesame allergies.  Some common items containing sesame are: sushi, chips, breads and hummus.  Some common items containing peanuts and tree nuts are: nut butters, granola bars and baked items.  Please remember that River is a sesame, tree nut and peanut free school.