Mr. Thatcher’s Class

We had some problems with seed germination early in the project, but most of us replanted and got something to sprout.  The sunflowers were the”biggest” success, with the spinach being the most prolific!  We have enjoyed watching the progress, and most everyone has done a good jod weeding and keeping their gardens!  Thanks for all the supplies and support In this endeavor!

PS There will be another parent meeting this Thursday, May 7th about the upcoming school year!  Please join us to hear this important info!

PLease come join us for a parent meeting this Thursday at 7pm in the multi-purpose room to discuss the big changes that will occur here starting next school year in August!!!!!

Wow February is almost over!!  And it has been warm enough lately to start sprouting things in the garden!  With spring imminent, we have been talking a lot in class about plants and animals and life cycles.  We have been reading The Secret Garden as a class, and discussing the morals taught in the story.  Our class are enthusiastic writers and frequently turn out stories and plays with multiple segments.   Feel free to ask the students to bring home a sample of their writings, and you may be pleasantly surprised with the imagination and voice the students write with.  We have a fieldtrip to a farm in Queen Creek with Mrs. Ward’s class coming up on the 10^th of March, and we will be looking for some parents to accompany us.  We also inherited a rabbit as a class pet and we are currently learning about proper care for the newest member of the class!  One of the favorite things to do is to take the bunny outside and let it hop around the inside of a circle we form by sitting around it.  This allows for some peaceful interaction between excited kids, and tentative bunny as the included pictures demonstrate!   

(thank you Mrs. Lambeth for the pictures!)

We have made final preparations for the garden, and we are ready to plant.  As soon as the students bring in the seeds they want to plant we will get started on it.  Thanks to the families that provided the topsoil!  The students have been writing a paper in class that I will grade, and should come home on Thursday.  As a reminder, homework is passed out every Monday, and is the parents (incase any kids are reading this) choice whether or not it is to be completed.  Also, every Thursday we clean out our desks, and students take home anything they have been working on for the week.  So keep an eye out, and ask if you don’t see anything!  These pictures are of the garden site, and we hope to see lots of green soon!

Wow, a month has already gone by from 2009! We are still going strong here at school. Recently we have been pursuing some activities outdoors. Last Wednesday, we went as a school on a hike to South Mountain. A special thanks to the Grypps who accompanied us and to everyone who participated. A conclusion from this is that some of the students the school (not necessarily from our class, but still applicable to our class) were in need of increased physical activities due to the strenuousness of a relatively moderate hike. As a result, we have made greater efforts to have a daily physical activity that the kids seem to enjoy. Also we have recently prepared a garden site that we hope to plant soon. Each student will have their own patch that they will be responsible to plan, plant, and maintain. We are currently receiving donations of bags of garden soil (thank you to the donators!), then we will plant the garden and hope for the best!! We also viewed an informational film that was about attracting wildlife. This brought on discussions of birdfeeders and birdhouses. Also, the idea of a pond was presented. These projects are all possible to complete here at school, pending proper planning and sufficient materials. Please send any questions you may have about these or any other activities, and thank you for your continued support of Eagles’ Aeries!!!

Hopefully everyone has a happy holiday.  We were low key this week, but continued working with the scientific method.  I apoligize for the paper airplanes that may make home with the students.  Each student came up with an expierment to test on their planes, and we found out that everyone uses the scientific method informally when they are curious about something and then ‘expierement’ with things until they find an answer.  I made a packet of work that can be done over the break to review, and keep their intelects sharp.  As usual, it is optional at your (the parents) discretion.  Be safe everyone, and we will get back to work after the new year!

Mr. Thatcher

ps You are all very kind, thank you for the gifts!

Christmas break. Check the school calendar for other important dates. Just for reference, I am not a proponent of in class holiday celebrations, however, if anyone feels that a lack of a celebration would create a deficiency for the students, and if someone is willing to take the initiative to produce such and activity, then I would not be opposed to said celebration. As usual, let me know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.

Thanks,

Mr. Thatcher

I guess it has been awhile since I have last updated the website, so I apoligize.  This should be a weekly occurrance now, probably toward the end of the week so as to review the weeks events.  Apparently this is a blog and your comments in return can be published on this site.  Please let me know if you would like your comments to appear for everyone to view.   Unless it is specifically requested however, I will not publish your comments.  Also, the hope is that this site can be interactive and unify our efforts as a class.  Please feel free to offer suggestions of what you would like to see here, and/or how this site can best help you as a parent. 

Now, a few things; first, there is a homework packet that should come home every Monday.  This is supplemental work to what we are learning in class, and as such is to be used as a tool at your discretion.  Also, every Thursday a folder should be brought home containing the weeks work that we have done in class.  Some of the events coming up include the Thanksgiving feast on Tuesday the 25th.  Each family has an assignment of food to bring according to the last name.  Participation is optional, but this is an event that the families are invited to and a time honored tradition here at Eagles’ Aries School.  Also, our class is currently studying animals, so any resources that you may have on hand (books, etc) could be brought to class to enhance our learning environment.  As an extension we would like to visit the phoenix zoo sometime before the Christmas break.  This fieldtrip would cost around 10$ so hopefully some heads up will help. 

Thank you for your support, and for sending your exceptional children to this innovative establishment.  Again I would appreciate any suggestions as to how I can help you through this site!

Jason Thatcher