Chalk Talk Nov. 23, 2016

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, November 23, 2016

DISTRICT

For the most up-to-date information on school events, go to the district website at www.sequim.k12.wa.us and click on the Calendar button.

The next school board meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, in the boardroom, located in the auditorium building at 601 N. Sequim Ave. To view the agenda for this meeting, go to www.sequim.k12.wa.us and click on Board of Directors. Time is set aside at every board meeting for public comments.

All students have early release on Nov. 23. Nov. 24-25 are no school days and the district office will be closed. We warmly wish our school families and staff a happy Thanksgiving!

GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Third-grade writers in Jennifer Lopez’s language arts class recently wrapped up a unit on animal classification. They studied the many characteristics that taxonomists look at when classifying an animal as a reptile, amphibian, fish, bird or mammal.

At the end of the unit, each student was assigned an animal and had to classify it based on its unique features. They enjoyed being taxonomists as they studied the characteristics of some lesser known members of the animal kingdom.

“The Essay about Gibbons” by Devin Aschim

In this paragraph you are going to learn about gibbons and how taxonomists classify them as mammals, hope you like it. First things first, gibbons are vertebrates. Vertebrates means that an animal has a backbone. Second of all, they are warm-blooded that means their body temperature is not the same as their surroundings. Gibbons have live babies every four years. That’s crazy! They are also terrestrial that means they live on land. So cool! Gibbons have fur and lungs. In conclusion, now you know why scientists classify gibbons as mammals.

“Gila Monsters” by William Young

Scientists classify Gila monsters as a reptile, don’t worry they are not real monsters. Gila monsters are vertebrates. Which means they have a backbone. They are terrestrial, living in deserts. Gila monsters are covered in scales and have lungs. The Gila monster is warm-blooded, they eat food to produce energy, to create their blood temperature constant. The Gila monster lays eggs to make more of them and reproduce. Greater Gila monsters are one of a couple pattern breakers in the reptile family that kept taxonomists working overtime to classify them.

“The Kori Bustards” by Jasmin Olson

If you ever heard of a Kori bustard, scientists classify them as birds. Kori bustards are warm-blooded. Warm-blooded means they keep their temperature constant. Kori bustards lay eggs. Also, they breathe with their lungs. Kori bustards are vertebrates that means that they have backbones. Also they are terrestrial. Terrestrial means that they live on land and in higher grass. Kori bustards are birds because they have feathers, but they cannot fly. Kori bustards are part of the bird family according to taxonomists.

“Pangolins are Awesome!” By Malachi Byrne

Hello everybody, today we are going to learn about pangolins and how scientists have classified them as mammals. Pangolins have scales but under the scales there is hair. They are vertebrates and that means that they have a backbone. Also they are warm-blooded which means they stay the same temperature all the time! Pangolins also give live birth and feed the young milk from their diaphragm. That is the reason taxonomists classify pangolins as mammals.

“All about Seals” by Cassidy Duncan

This is how a scientist classifies seals as mammals. A seal is part of the mammal group because it is a vertebrate meaning it has a backbone just like us. Other reasons seals are mammals are … it is warm-blooded meaning they keep a constant body temperature. It is terrestrial and aquatic that means that they live on both land and water. A seal’s body design has flippers, claws, fur, whiskers. Seals give birth to live babies. That is how taxonomists classify seals as mammals.

“Sloths” by Sammy Cobb

Sloths are my second favorite animal and they are classified as mammals by scientists. Sloths are vertebrates. Vertebrate means they have a backbone. Did you know sloths are terrestrial but spend most of their lives in trees? They are also mammals because they have live babies not eggs. Sloths are warm-blooded, so their bodies can keep a constant temperature. They breathe with lungs and have fur all over their bodies. Scientists classified cool hissing sloths as mammals.

“Tuataras are Awesome” by Max Sanford

Scientists classify tuataras as reptiles. The tuataras are cold-blooded. Cold-blooded means an animal can’t control its body temperature. The tuatara is a vertebrate it has a backbone. Tuataras have hard dry scaly skin. Tuataras live in small rock islands that are covered with shrubs. Tuataras lay eggs. Tuataras prefer hot areas. Also tuataras live in New Zealand. The tuataras do not go through metamorphosis. Tuataras do not have gills. These are the reasons tuataras are categorized by taxonomists as reptiles and I hope to have one of these awesome reptiles as a pet someday.

HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

What is a Turkey Trot? It’s a funny name for the Helen Haller PTO’s fundraiser. The Turkey Trot will take place the day before Thanksgiving on Wednesday, Nov. 23, during school hours. Students will participate in two groups. Each group will run, walk, skip, jump, limbo, dance or trot around the track for 30 minutes. Water stations and snacks will be provided. Students are busy collecting donations from family and friends to support the event. Their goal is to raise $12,000 for the Helen Haller PTO to fund a new wearable technology and fitness management software program for our P.E. classes.

(See story, B-10)

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL

The band, under the direction of Washington Music Educators Association Hall-of-Famer Vernon Fosket, will march in the Macy’s Day Parade in downtown Seattle on Nov. 25.

Band Boosters will sponsor the annual Down Home Holiday Bazaar from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, in the high school cafeteria. Proceeds benefit the band program.