Chalk Talk Nov. 30, 2016

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, November 30, 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.

HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Fifth grade is learning about ancient civilizations of the Mayan, Incan and Aztec cultures, where Native Americans passed down information by telling stories to the younger generation.

Recently, our fifth-graders had a unique opportunity to listen to Colleen Squier, a local storyteller. She told our class two very special stories that had important lessons in each. Students learned about the importance of kindness and how two distinctly different animals were able to become friends and also a folktale that shared heroic gestures. Afterwards, students composed thank you letters that were mailed to Ms. Squier.

“We are up to the challenge!” exclaims Jennifer Saul’s first-grade class after going through the daily schedule. The class is learning how to normalize error and embrace challenge as a way to “grow their brains.”

First-graders are learning about what it means to have a growth mindset. First-grade teachers Jennifer Saul, Ione Marcy, Kelly Miller, Bettina Hoesel and Christine MacDougall Danielson and many other staff members are doing a book study on “The Growth Mindset Coach: A Teacher’s Month-by-Month Handbook for Empowering Students to Achieve” by Annie Brock and Heather Hundley.

The book is based on more than 30 years of research by Carol Dweck, the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University. Dweck’s theory on two mindsets, fixed and growth, provide two lenses in which people view intelligence.

Fixed Mindset: Assumes that intelligence and other qualities, abilities and talents are fixed traits that cannot be significantly developed.

Growth Mindset: Assumes that intelligence and other qualities, abilities and talents can be developed with effort, learning and dedication.

This month, first-grade students focused on sorting thoughts into either the fixed mindset category or the growth mindset category. They also practiced rephrasing fixed mindset statements to become growth mindset statements.

“It is important to have a growth mindset because you shouldn’t give up when it is hard. You can be a good student,” student Ianson Klinger said.

“When we do hard things, we learn more,” student Angie Torres added.

To wrap up the month of November, Sue Caron’s fourth-grade class chose from a variety of writing prompts to explore what Thanksgiving and being thankful means to them. One of the most popular writing prompts was, “Who would you like to invite to Thanksgiving dinner and what questions would you like to ask them?”

Jack Anderson would invite George Washington. He would ask, “Do you think President Elect Trump will make America better? What would you do if you were the current president? “

Megan Savage would like to invite Meghan Trainor. Some of the questions she would ask include, “When did you start singing? Why is your hair so red? How did you get so big on YouTube? How do you deal with haters?”

Olivia Collins would like to invite Kim Kardashian. Some of her questions were, “How many boyfriends do you have? What do you do for a living? Where do you go in the summer?”

Madison Cogburn would invite a giant Chinese dragon! Here are some of the things she would ask, “How long are you? Can you really do magic? After dinner, can you take me for a fly? How many of you are left? How big were you as a baby? Do you want to be my friend?”

Britton Hobson would invite his friend, Ricky. He would ask him what his favorite Thanksgiving foods are and if he likes to spend the holiday with friends, family or strangers.

Marshall Phipps would invite Robinson Cano. Here are some of his questions, “What injuries have you had in baseball? Is it scary to be a professional baseball player? What is your batting average? Do you like pumpkin pie?”

Another popular prompt was, “What is something you are thankful for this year that is different from last year?”

Olivia Collins responded that this year, she is thankful for all the people who are recovering from cancer.

Megan Savage says this year, she is thankful for the army, having a home and her parents and grandparents.

Zeth Amos is thankful that this year his nana is letting them go to Great Wolf Lodge for Christmas.

Dylan Bowen is thankful that this year he can do football and that his mom and stepdad are providing him with the equipment he needs.

Madison Cogburn says this year, she is thankful for the gift of birth because her doggy, Brizzy, gave birth to seven cute puppies!

Sara German is thankful for her sister because she is her hero.

GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Jennifer Lopez’s third-grade language arts class worked on identifying themes in the book “The Wind in the Willows” earlier in the school year. Their focus was on how the actions of specific characters brought to life the lessons that author Kenneth Grahame wished to impart to his son.

After reading the book together, students chose a specific character and wrote about the theme that he most represented throughout the story. It was especially fun for them to justify their opinions with multiple reasons and examples from the text they came to love!

Rachel McDougall on the Irresponsible Toad: In the book, Toad showed irresponsibility. Toad broke the law when he pretended to be a washer woman to break out of jail. Toad took things that didn’t belong to him. Toad took the horse off the carriage and road off into the country. Toad’s behavior was reckless. When Toad stole seven motorcars, he crashed all seven motorcars.

Hailey Wagner on Rat the Grand: In the book, Rat showed hospitality by making sure his guests felt welcome like inviting Mole on his boat ride and on a picnic. Rat also showed hospitality by making sure people in his home felt welcome. Like getting Mole a bath robe and a seat next to the fire and the best room in the house where he can sleep. Last but not least he made sure his guests were safe, like saving Mole from drowning that time when they went on a picnic, and trying to find Mole when Mole snuck out to the wild woods.

Colton Wagner on The Beginning of Rat and Responsibility: In the book, Rat showed responsibility. When Rat locked Toad in his room he showed responsibility because he didn’t want Toad to smash motor cars or get put in jail. Toad said he needed a doctor and lawyer so Rat rushed to get him a doctor and lawyer. Toad tricked Rat and then snuck out. Rat always takes care of Mole when needed. Rat gave Mole the better room. He also made a fire for Mole to get warm.

Rylee Evans on The Impetuous Mr. Toad: In the book, Toad showed irresponsibility. Toad broke the law when he stole a motor car and went to jail! He was also sassy to the cops. He got angry and lost his temper. Toad lost his temper when he was riding with the men and pushed the man and drove by himself. He also tricked Rat and went out the window. His behavior was reckless when he crashed seven motor cars! Also Toad wrecked the caravan!

Taylor Hancock on The Responsible Rat: In the book, Rat showed responsibility. Throughout the story Rat tried to help his friends make good decisions like when he said not to row the boat because he didn’t know how. Also Rat said not to go to the wild wood because he could have gotten hurt. Repeatedly Rat did his best to protect his friends when he saved Mole from drowning. At one point Rat saved Mole from the wild wood because he could have gotten hurt. As you can see Rat does his best to help Toad do the right thing when he made a plan to make sure Toad doesn’t go to the hospital, or lie to more people or crash another car.

Deyanna Briggs on The Rule Breaker Mr. Toad: In the book, Toad showed irresponsibility. He broke the laws like when he took cars and when he broke out of jail and then he stole a horse. Toad gets very mad one day, he was talking to this barge woman about how he loves washing clothes. The barge woman said, “OK, you can wash, I’ll steer.” Toad got mad. He got really mad when the barge woman picked him up and tossed him off the boat. The sad thing is that he lied a lot, like when he lied to Rat and snuck out the window, said he was sick, said he needed a lot of things when really he does not need all of them.

Zeke Schmadeke on Toad’s Irresponsibility That Never Ends: This is some ways Toad broke the law: stealing a motor car! He even stole a horse! Toad’s behavior is reckless. One time Toad climbed out a window. Once he jumped out of a train! At one point Toad crashed seven motor cars! Toad loses his temper like crazy. One time he talked back to the police. He also talked back to a barge woman. Toad was the best example of irresponsibility in “The Wind in the Willows.”

Calleigh Thompson on Toad’s Wild Adventures: Toad broke the law by stealing a motor car and was speeding! He broke out of jail, he also lied to the train driver, and stole a horse! Toad always loses his temper! He also talked back to the police. Toad yelled at the washer woman and is reckless. He crashed all of his seven motor cars and also jumped off a train. Then he spent all of his money on tickets and fines. In “The Wind and the Willows” Toad constantly showed irresponsibility.

SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL

Mark your calendars for some special musical performances coming in the month of December. The band, under direction of David Upton, will perform a concert at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, in the gym. The choir, under direction of John Lorentzen, will perform a concert at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, in the cafeteria.

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL

Jazz Band and Choir groups will perform at Warm Beach on Dec. 3.