January 19, 2010

Calendar

January

21  PFA Meeting, 8:15 - 10:00 am., Gerlinger, Topic:  Raising our Daughters and Sons:  It Really Does Take a Village

February

5  *No Preschool Classes - PS Admissions Day

15 NO SCHOOL - Presidents' Day

March

4-5  *No BS/LS Classes - Parent - Teacher Conferences

13  GAMBOL

20 - 28  No School - Spring Break

29  Classes Resume

April

30  Spring Parade

*Prearranged childcare available as space permits

 

It’s our second week back at school and the Honeybee classroom is in full swing!

 

Chenoa has been teaching the Bees all about honeybees. They are looking carefully at bees in order to learn all they can. With this knowledge the Honeybees are making paper bees with all the important body parts. Visit the back wall with your Bee and take a look at the bees buzzing around. ASK YOUR BEE: What parts of the bee body do you know? Thorax, abdomen, stinger, antennae, wings etc. Who is the biggest bee in the hive? The queen.

 

Allen and the Honeybees have been gluing beautiful “5 Family” covers onto their family books. Then they make sure the cover stays on tight by using the book press sitting on Allen’s table. Take a look at the press with your Bee; it takes a lot of strength to turn it!

 

The VCR is coming apart slowly but surely, and more machines to take apart and explore are waiting in the wings. At the children’s impetus Rebecca has been helping them make dream catchers. These hoops decorated with beads and feathers are an ancient Native American tradition. Good dreams pass through to the sleeper while the web in the center catches bad dreams and keeps them away.

 

At PE this week the Honeybees watched a very special movie; a segment from a film about the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. Sheila shows this movie as a way to introduce the topic of the Honeybee Circus (Mark your calendars! May 14th, 11 am sharp). The Honeybee Circus is still a long way off but the Bees are going to begin learning some of the magic behind the tricks. This magic is top secret, so for now PE is closed to grown-ups. If you’re a guest in the Honeybee class on a day when your Bee has PE, please take the half hour to spend time in the classroom, get a cup of coffee, or wander through the fir grove. Thank you for your understanding!

 

January 15th was the birthday of a special friend to the Honeybee classroom, our housekeeper, Victoria. The Honeybees baked snickerdoodles to give to Victoria and many of them wished they could have extras to give to loved ones at home. Here is the recipe in case you and your Bee would like to give it a whirl.

“We live in a culture that pulls families in different directions, sometimes towards influences we do not value. Plus family alone isn’t enough. Kids need to feel like their community cares about and values them, have connections to other adults, be empowered by volunteer opportunities, be inspired to learn, make good choices in friendships… all of these are built outside the family. In this seminar, learn about the evidence-based programs on how parents can create a thriving family. You’ll learn how all of us can build the connections within our neighborhoods, schools, and families to create a healthy network of support for our kids to become strong, resilient, capable, responsible, and caring young adults.”

 

 

 

As we begin the second half of our school year, we would like to take this opportunity to remind families of the Catlin Gabel Student Bus Service and to inform you of a few changes to the program.

 

In October 2009, we added an afternoon route for SE Portland which includes the same two morning stops and adds a third stop at the Oregon Ballet Theater. This stop is ONLY in the afternoon. You will find the current routes and stops posted on the Catlin web site as well as the guidelines and required documents for riding the bus: http://www.catlin.edu/parents/bus-service

 

Additionally, we are very excited to be able to offer half-year passes, a morning-only pass and a family plan. New fees as of January 22, 2010 are as follows:

 

$   800.00     Annual pass (unlimited rides Sept 2009-Jun 2010)

$1,200.00     Annual family pass (two or more siblings)

$  400.00      Annual pass (morning only rides)

$  600.00      Annual family pass (two or more siblings ~ morning only rides)

$  400.00      Half-year pass (unlimited rides Jan 22-Jun 2010)

$  600.00      Half-year family pass (unlimited rides two or more siblings)

$  200.00      Half-year pass (morning only rides)

$  300.00      Half-year family pass (two or more siblings ~ morning only rides)

$      4.00      Single ride fee

$      6.00      Single ride family fee (two or more siblings)

 

Should you have questions about the bus service, questions regarding the above fees or would like to purchase a half-year pass at this time, please contact Chris Balag in the business office:  balagc@catlin.edu or 503-297-1894 ext. 274

 

We would like to encourage participation in our Student Bus Service.  Why not take an active part in making our school more sustainable!