Chalk Talk

GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

A Reading Tutor training session will be offered on Nov. 5 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in room 142, followed by an advanced training session from 5-6 p.m. for those already working as reading tutors. For more information, call the Greywolf WA Reading AmeriCorps team at 582-3300.

HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Teacher Gail Kite shares some “Small Moment” paragraphs written by her fifth-graders:

One day I went to the mall in Silverdale. The scent of perfume was almost as sweet smelling as honey. “Sweetie, go find your dad,” replied my mom. “OK,” I answered. I looked and looked and I found him getting me a giant, rainbow colored lollipop at Carny’s Caramels. I chomped it down and we went home. Kaitlyn Johnson

“Elizabeth, can you read to the class so I can finish correcting homework?” Ms. Lily asked. As Ellie stood up from the carpet she felt sick. “Are you coming Ellie?” Ms. Lily asked as she stood there confused. Ellie’s heart was beating faster than ever. She felt butterflies in her stomach. Ellie walked over to Ms. Lily and grabbed the book. She sat down and began reading. It took her about seven minutes to finish. When she was done, everyone clapped and she felt proud. Chelsea Carriveau

We were in the middle of the soccer game. I was running down the field. My teammate had the ball. Then he passed the ball to me. I kicked it once to set up my shot and I took it. The ball was curling around a defender. I watched as it just touched the inside of the post and went into the goal. There it was, my second goal of the season. I was so excited. I wanted another chance to score a goal. Brandon Charters

It was a dark and not so stormy night. Twenty-four children were sitting around a campfire. The campfire’s ashes blazed like a hundred tiny fire flies going higher and higher. Suddenly we were telling stories. I said there was a house we’d come across and we decided to sleep there for the night. When we came to the door, nothing was there except a dog. We didn’t think he could do anything, but that was a mistake… Blake Terry

The terror was incredible as my sister jumped on me in the middle of the night. It was like going down a roller coaster at a 90-degree angle. I thought it was my last day. As I fell over, I was scared for my life. Max Gawley

OLYMPIC PENINSULA ACADEMY

A successful Parent Brunch/Curriculum Fair was held Oct. 3, where parents met with teachers and worked on monthly reviews to map student progress. Parents were able to review homeschool curriculum as well as curriculum used by OPA classroom teachers.

Kim Glasser’s World Literature class is studying ancient Sumerian culture and reading Gilgamesh. The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest pieces of literature found written in cuneiform script on clay tablets, and dates back to circa 1200 B.C. The tale follows Joseph Campbell’s classic “Hero’s Journey.”

Students enjoyed a Sumerian meal and lecture prepared by OPA parent Amy Cummins. The Sumerian meal consisted of chicken seasoned with ingredients common during that time, including pomegranate, thyme, marjoram, garlic, onions and cumin. The chicken was accompanied by bread, yogurt, cucumbers and melons. The dessert consisted of figs smothered in cream cheese. The kids washed the meal down with a scrumptious beverage sweetened with honey.

SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL

Community member Holly Clark visited Isabella Morrison’s sixth-grade science class on Oct. 9 to help students get a close up view of organisms that live in local pond water. Students prepared wet slides, using a dropper to extract pond water from collection jars, then viewed the slides under microscopes. They were able to identify several microorganisms including water fleas, flat worms, round worms, paramecium, and of special interest, a pregnant female water shrimp.

The library is celebrating the wonderful world of reading through reading activities, competitions, and new items to check out during Teen Read Week, Oct. 12–18. Check in with librarian Elizabeth Lawson for other activities during that week.

The Harvest Festival is from 3-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17. Tickets will go on sale Oct. 13-17 during all lunches. They are $10 with an ASB card, $12 without and ASB card and $15 at the door. Activities include a 24-foot inflatable slide, and Extreme Rush Obstacle course, Hamster Balls, a dance, face painting, table games, cupcake walk and a snack bar. School-appropriate apparel only, please. All SMS students without discipline referrals the week of the festival are invited to attend.

Parent volunteers are welcome and greatly appreciated, but must first go through the background check with the district office. Parents, call teacher Rick Miko at 582-3545 if you are available to help with set-up, chaperoning or clean-up.

Drama teacher Tom Saffold would like to commend the following courageous and well-practiced drama students who gave superior performances at Back to School Night: Bridgetmarie Naputi, Tanner Robins, Zoe Yates, Isabelle Hugoniot, Kianna Miller, Jage Spear, Samantha Schweitzer and Abigail Schroeder.

The following students were nominated by SMS staff for their good citizenship during September: Tavish Bauguess, Ana Benitez, Jared Brown, Xavier Conway, Matthew Crigler, Quinn Danielson, Nathan Despain, Madeline Dietzman, Hayden Eaton, Noah Eveland, Connor Forderer, Porter Funston, Abby Garcia, Jordan Hurdlow, Matthew Hurn, Noah Klein, Jackson Lindorfer, Damon Little, Eva Lofstrom, Michael McAleer, Liam Payne, Melissa Porter, Caleb Pozernick, Megan Puksta, Ashley Rosales, Jaylynn Sierra, Keysa Tate, Lauren Titterness, Allison VanDeWege, and Poala Villegas. Congratulations!