We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you! Our school has received a generous grant from Outdoor Schools Washington that will cover the majority of the costs for our fifth-grade overnight trip to Camp Orkila. This incredible organization is dedicated to providing all children in Washington with enriching overnight outdoor education experiences, fostering connections with nature and with each other through curiosity, exploration, and science. We are immensely grateful for this amazing partnership and the wonderful opportunity it presents for our students.
Attention fourth-grade families! Get ready for an unforgettable sleepaway camping trip next school year to the beautiful Camp Orkila on Orcas Island from October 23rd–25th. Nestled in nature's embrace, this scenic location provides the perfect setting for an unforgettable outdoor experience.
During our time at Camp Orkila, we will immerse ourselves in a variety of engaging outdoor classes. Almost all of our learning will take place outside, utilizing the camp's beautiful outdoor learning areas. We'll explore the beach, build a rope bridge, try archery, conquer the climbing tower, zoom down the zip line, and more! Camp Orkila is all about building strong group dynamics and creating a supportive school community.
At Orkila, fostering strong group dynamics is a priority. They strive to break down cliques and build a sense of community that will strengthen our bond as a school. Through various team-building exercises and shared experiences, we will learn the value of cooperation, empathy, and understanding. Camp Orkila is not just about having fun; it's about coming together as a united and supportive group.
To make this trip a success and ensure the safety and well-being of our students, we will need chaperones. If you're interested in accompanying us on this exciting adventure, mark your calendars. Chaperoning is a wonderful opportunity to be part of your child's growth and create lasting memories. We will be conducting a mandatory chaperone orientation on October 8th at 5:00pm. This session will cover the responsibilities, expectations, and necessary preparations for our trip.
We can't wait to embark on this incredible journey together in the fall!
Common Sense Media
You may have come across Common Sense Media while researching reviews of the books, tv shows, movies, websites, and video games your children are interested in. But did you know they have also developed a digital citizenship curriculum for teachers to use in the classroom? Our school library uses these lessons to teach students about the responsible use of technology to learn, create, and participate. Students in grades 3–5 learn about digital citizenship in six lessons revolving around 1) media balance and well-being, 2) privacy and security, 3) digital footprint and identity, 4) relationships and communication, 5) cyberbullying, digital drama, and hate speech, and 6) news and media literacy.
At the end of each lesson, students take a short five-question quiz about the content we discussed in class. This year, our 5th grade students, many of whom have now participated in digital citizenship lessons for three years, will receive a certificate of participation that shows their scores for all six lessons this year. A special digital citizenship achievement award is presented to the students in each 5th grade classroom with the highest overall scores on these quizzes. (If the score sheet reports “Incomplete,” it means no quiz was submitted for that lesson.) I encourage you to talk with your children about what they learned in Library about digital citizenship and to check out https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ to find a variety of tech tools for families.
Comments