Catalina Day 2

We had another great day, but everyone is exhausted and definitely ready to come home! We began with a hike through the beautiful canyon, where the students learned about native, introduced, and endemic life, and many dared to try the berry from the Toyon Tree (I'm not sure that "bitter" is the right description, but I am fairly confident that your children won't be asking for them at home.) We followed up with another session of snorkeling, where many students saw a leopard shark and a small horn shark. The students were also given the opportunity to demonstrate their diving skills by jumping off the floating pier. At dinner we celebrated three birthdays, and then finished the day with a night hike and astronomy lesson. Even though fog was rolling in and the temperature dropped, we learned a lot about constellations, the solar system, and the universe. As I said, it was an exhausting day, but I am proud of how well our students hung in there and participated in all of the events. You can click HERE to see photos from the day.

Tomorrow morning we have a series of lab activities, and then we expect to leave the island around 11:45 pm. If you gave phone numbers for the phone updates, I will send a message when we arrive in Long Beach.

Catalina 2010

Our 6th grade students had a fantastic first day at Catalina Island. First, I have to compliment them on their outstanding behavior. From the moment they reached the airport until they went to bed tonight, they have represented Sandpiper well.

Our ferry ride to the island was just perfect. Not only was it a smooth ride where no one got sick, we came across several dozen dolphins that swim our way. Our first activity on the island was the snorkeling orientation, which included about an hour in the water. Every student went out, and most everyone was able to see some sea life, including a bat ray and a sea cucumber. While the whether was warm when we started, it quickly chilled as the sun went down. Our night activity was a lab on marine mammals, where students were able to handle two types of whale baleen, a sea otter's pelt, and walrus tusks. You can click HERE to see pictures from today (you should see a button called "slideshow" in the upper right corner to facilitate seeing all of the photos).

Tomorrow should be more excitement with a morning hike, a longer snorkeling experience, and a nighttime astronomy hike.

Quarter 1 Finale

I hope everyone had a successful conference period last week. Parent-teacher conferences are an important piece in your student's education, as they provide parents with an opportunity to discuss quarter 1 progress in person. I encourage all parents and teachers to maintain communication throughout the year so we can continue to work together to help our students reach their potential. Parents can contribute greatly to their child's education by monitoring grades through Infinite Campus and discussing with the teacher ways to reinforce learning at home. Many of our teachers also send home regular communication through email, so make sure your teacher has an accurate email address so you can receive these updates.

We ended the week with a fantastic fall Hoe Down! I love seeing all of our students put aside their electronics and outside activities to spend some time with their families at these great school functions. PTO nights like these reinforce the community feel that helps make Sandpiper a special place to raise our students. A special thanks to all of the parents who helped make this night a great success!

Observations from the Classrooms

A short week and Halloween typically leads to some creative activities and celebrations in the classroom. The third grade spent Thursday as mad scientists, exploring different parts of the world of science. From making dry ice "scream" to estimating seeds in a pumpkin, learning and the fall spirit combined to provide the students with a lot of fun! The lab coats, wacky hair, and glasses were a nice touch!

If you didn't know, Sandpiper has a science lab that allows teachers and students to explore the messier side of science. The fifth grade spent last week getting a closer look at biology by dissecting the eye of a cow. They were able to separate and identify the different parts of the eye in an experience that will last much longer than a text book assignment.