OSPREY NEWSLETTER
January 2018
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!
The One and Only Octember By: Ruby Kersch-Grade 3 Literature
This story is about a little girl who at the age of eight, was banished to never see her family again still manages to find a way back. This story goes with the theme Within Reach by letting everybody know that even if things don’t go your way, hope is still Within Reach.
A Goat Reaching Out By: Bryce Nelson Grade 2 Visual Arts
The goat is reaching out for attention. He wants someone to pet him and to be loved.
Warm, Hapy Cat By: Alexander Corns-Grade 4 Photography
In this photo, our cat Libby is in front of the fire and our Elf on the Shelf is looking down on her. My cat loves to be near us when we are all in the family room. She happily lies in front of the warm fire and watches us with sleepy eyes while we play or watch TV. She is our loving pet and we spend a lot of time with her every day like she was an official member of our family.
The Snowy Day By: Lucas Mousseau Kindergarten Visual Arts
My artwork has Christmas trees and lights and beautiful ice. It is cool. It relates to the theme because it is almost winter.
Elf By: Audrey Cell Grade 3 Visual Arts
If you can’t find your elf, you should just look high and low. If you can’t find it, just ask your mother, your father, your big sister, or your big brother or people that came down to see you.
Dolphin and Pelican on a Sunny Day By: Cameron Koterwas Grade 1 Visual Arts
This is a picture that I painted of the sun shining on a dolphin and a pelican. This picture represents “Within Reach” because I love animals and I believe saving their home is within reach. To do so we must not make the oceans dity. I will save animals when I am bigger.
A Ride Through the Rain By: Sarah Nelson Grade 5 Visual Arts
Well, in my drawing it shows a girl reaching for her umbrella to go floating through this wonderland. There are a lot of different perspectives in this picture (mountains, clouds, etc.). It shows how different things can be within different reach of each other.
My Special Brain By: Austin Koterwas Grade 3 Visual Arts
This summer I learned that I am dyslexic. That means I have a special brain. Before, school was hard. I had a lot of worries going on. Now I have a special teacher who helps put the pieces together with me. Like this picture, before it was put together the beads were everywhere. Now the pieces are put together. My worries are fewer. My future is Within Reach.
Eagle Scout By: Evan Nelson Grade 5 Visual Arts
My artwork is about me achieving Eagle Scout for Boy Scouts. It is a very challenging course and only 2% of scouts make it.
A Better Fut By: Zachary Koterwas Grade 5 Visual Arts
I look forward to a future where everyone respects each other’s choices. I look forward to a world where violence does not exist and people have love for each other. I believe Earth is a place where everybody is equal and has the power to make decisions without judgement. I believe this future is Within Reach.
Emojis By: Heaven Adams Grade 3 Visual Arts
I really want to be an emoji for Halloween next year. I keep drawing them and creating them on my computer keyboard hoping that I can be one next year. My goal of being an emoji is Within Reach.
Congratulations again to all our participants!!
5th Graders Learn and Write about Totem Poles!
Totem Poles By: Sarah Nelson
A totem pole is a tall wooden post carved with beautiful shapes of people and animals. Native Americans usually put one outside of every house.
Native Americans used totem poles to show each family’s history and importance. Each symbol they carved into the post had a different meaning. And all of the carvings together would tell a story.
In my totem pole, I chose a different symbol for each member of my family. Except for my one-year old brother, who I can’t tell his characteristics yet. For myself, I chose the fox. The fox stands for agility. I am very flexible, and I take gymnastics. For my mom I chose the whale. She is very wise, and is pretty much family centered, just like the whale. For my sister, I chose the bear. She makes me feel better when I am sad, and is very brave, just like the bear. And last but not least I chose the eagle for my stepdad. He is also very wise, and very intelligent, just like the eagle. That’s my family! What does your family represent?
Totem Poles By: Jonathan Smetana
What is a totem pole? A totem pole is what the northwest coast tribes used to tell their story in their family about their generation, relatives, and how they lived. They were very important to them so they had one at every house to tell about the people that lived there and the characteristics about them.
My totem pole tells about my family and how many people in my house and how I live and how we have fun. My dad is the whale the symbol of wisdom, power, and the cleanser. My dog is the beaver determination, builder, overseer, and protector. I am the eagle wisdom, power, leadership, courage, and intelligence. My brother is the fox agility, quick wit, invisibility, and diplomatic. My mom and my little sister are the bear courage, healing, power, and great strength. My older sister is the thunderbird power, protection, and strength. We work together to help each other.
Totem Pole Facts
- Making a totem pole is an extremely labor intensive process. The huge poles were entirely carved by hand. The paint was then handmade and applied.
- An authentic American Indian totem pole can easily cost over $8,000 U.S. dollars.
The Great Kindness Challenge!
The Great Kindness Challenge is one week devoted to performing as many acts of random kindness as possible. All students are encouraged to participate. The Great Kindness Challenge is a proactive and positive bullying prevention that enhances school climate and student engagement. Using the provided checklist of 50 kind acts, students take the challenge and prove that bullying is weak and kindness is strength. The 50 kind acts are to be accomplished anytime at home or school. The students are encouraged to continue sharing their kindness beyond the week.
Stay tuned for more information about The Great Kindness Challenge!
WE LOVE READING!
We all know how much children love being read to or reading independently. Click on the link below to access the website which can help children and parents find a book that fits their reading needs. If you do not know the current Lexile Level, all you need to do is enter your current grade. Happy Reading!