Shamrock News
A Weekly Look at Grant Elementary School & the Grant PTA
Week of October 7, 2019
Note: Power Shut Offs
Even with PG&E's planned power outages, all PCS schools are currently scheduled to remain open this week. At 5:00 AM on October 9th, PCS will evaluate power needs at targeted schools to make a determination of whether they will be open. Currently, only Kenilworth Junior High is at possible risk for a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). We do not expect Grant to be affected, but the situation is fluid. Please check your school website and/or the District website at www.petalumacityschools.org/ anytime after the 6:00 AM update to verify whether your school will be open or closed.
Shamrock Spotlight: Mrs. Cratty's Second Grade Problem Solvers!
Mrs. Cratty’s second graders are working together to solve a problem at Grant School.
It all began the day that Mrs. Cratty took her class out for a walk around campus. Each student was given a map of the school and was asked to take note if they saw any areas of concern as they walked around. The students noticed a variety of issues from deer scat on the field, to loose boards in the fence and noted them on their maps. They also organized their observations into three categories: environment, animals, and humans, and looked for evidence of each around campus.
Once they returned to their classroom, they shared all of the data they collected and narrowed down the problems they found to one issue that they wanted to take on as a class. Through the process of sharing and voting, they decided on addressing the issue of litter on our school campus. From there, the group brainstormed ideas on how to address problem and came up with action items including engaging their older buddies to help them pick up litter, connecting with Recology to learn more about we can do as a school to reduce our waste, and talking to our custodians to see what they can do to help.
Mrs. Cratty feels that the process of investigating a problem and finding solutions as a group is a meaningful learning experience for her students. It not only has given them the opportunity to do something to help the environment, it has also given them the opportunity to be engaged in their school community in a way that empowers their ideas. After attending a conference hosted by Jane Goodall's organization, Roots to Shoots, Mrs. Cratty decided she wanted to implement student-driven problem-solving in her own classroom. Students in this class shared that they liked that they were the ones that identified a problem at school and will be the ones to solve it. They also agreed that solving problems as a group means there are so many more ideas and skills they can use to come up with multiple solutions.
We are very proud of our students and know that they will take the skills they are learning through this process and will be able to apply them for the rest of their lives. Special thanks to Durhman Sutherland, Emma Drepanos, Elle Grimes and Noah Byous for coming to chat with Ms. Grey about this project at lunch!
The Grant Jogathon is here, 10/18 Fundraising Underway
https://pledgestar.com/grantelementary
A packet for cash donations was also sent home.
The jogathon will be held on 10/18 and we'll be looking for volunteers. Details on class running times will be coming soon.
Loading & Parking Drop Off Zone
Grant's Got Talent Practice #1, Friday 10/11
Practice Sign Up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0444a5ab2da2fe3-grants
Talent show form.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12tw553Wk45nxYij_KCd2gf5vDQcLwzjL9_57FUKUnSE/mobilebasic
International Day, 11/8 Grant
Grant's first ever International Day will take place on Friday, November 8th at 5:30 p.m. We are gathering to celebrate and learn about each other's heritage. We hope you will consider either setting up a booth, bringing a dish to share in our cultural potluck or both! Please take a look at these sign up pages:
Booth:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/508044baaa723a57-international1/31166174
Potluck:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/508044baaa723a57-international/31166174
Sixth Grade Fundraiser, 10/22
Attention Grant Parents! We invite you to "Take the Night Off" on Tuesday, October 22nd at Lagunitas benefitting 6th grade outdoor education. You’ll get dinner for the family, homework help for the kids and 100% of beer proceeds will go directly to the Grant PTA!
There will be games, a raffle, music and more!
Get your tickets now at grantpta.membershiptoolkit.com
$20 per adult, $10 per child, 5 and under free
Tuesday, October 22
5:30 - 8:30 pm
Lagunitas Taproom
Last Week to Enter the Author Raffle
MakerSpace Donations Needed
In addition to working with teachers to deliver curriculum using the brand new Makerspace, our new Science Coordinator, Mr.Max, is also offering an alternative at lunch recess for children who would like to go to the science room, E4. He is looking for the following donations (gently used ok): legos, markers, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, stickers, craft paper, coloring books, games and puzzles. Donations can be delivered to the office. Thank you for your support!
New Session of Chess for Kids
SAVE THE DATES 2020:
February 22, 2020 11th Annual All Girls Chess Tournament
May 9, 2020 12th Annual All-Scholastic Sonoma County ChessTournament
May16, 2020 7th Napa County Scholastic Chess Tournament
October Early Bird Yearbook Discount
Grant Cares, Donation Drive Underway
Especially around the holidays, some of our Grant families find it hard to make ends meet. The Grant Cares group formed in an effort to ease that burden. They've placed a heart shaped box in the office for gift card donations. If you are in the position to help, they're looking for gift cards to Target, Chevron, Old Navy or Trader Joe's in small increments, like $20 to $25, so that they can spread your gifts out to different families. Thank you for your support.
Have you Joined the Grant PTA?
Grant Spirit Wear Now Online!
Ordering your Grant Spirit Wear has never been easier! We are officially online! Go to:
https://grantpta.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/2941
1. Click on the Spirit Wear button
2 Select your items and pay
3. Head to the office where you'll find your order packaged with your name on it.
Grant Halloween Parade, 10/31
School Year Calendar
In the Thank You Column:
A big thank you to Mrs. Crysdale, Copperfield's and author Jake Burt for coming to Grant to share a love of books and a love of writing.
Shamrock love to Sadie Riley Goosieff and Amanda Grey for pitching in during Talent Show auditions.
Thank you to all our Grant families working to raise money for the jogathon. It's so appreciated.
Many thanks to Maryann Pacheco for all the beginning of the year work on After School Enrichment classes - so many students benefitted from you getting us off to a great start this year!
Thank you to Janice Whitaker for filling those Grant Spirit Wear orders and getting them packed and ready for pick up! You are awesome!
Thank you to our classroom PTA liasons for helping spread the word about International Night!
Every day, we see parents coming to Grant to help in classrooms and chaperone on field trips and we want you to know how appreciated all your time and effort is. Grant is strong and wonderful because people like you help our staff make it that way! Thank you!
At A Glance
October
October 11 - Talent Show Practice #1
October 14 - Teacher Work Day- NO SCHOOL
October 18 - Jog-a-Thon
October 18 - Talent Show Practice #2
October 22 - Lagunitas 6th Grade Fundraiser - 5:30 pm
October 25 - Talent Show - 6 pm multi
October 31 - Halloween Parade at 12:40 pm