Sandpiper Principal's Online Journal

Catalina Day 2

2011-11-17T23:44:00.002-07:00

Day 2 was filled with more thrills at Toyon Bay! Some of us began with an early morning hike up Shrine Trail. Congratulations and thank you to Danny, Sergio, Sergei, Zack, Luke, Nick S., Dominick, Garrett, Nick E., Mr. Lalescu, and Ms. Koda for joining me on this short adventure. As you can see from the photos, the view was worth waking up a little earlier.

Our morning program involved rotating through lab stations, where we learned about algae, sharks, and different types of fish through hands-on activities. We enjoyed more snorkeling in the afternoon, which also included some time jumping off the floating platform. The water was very clear, allowing the students to see several more leopard sharks and garibaldi. Some of the instructors were also able to locate sea stars and a sea cucumber, which they brought to the surface for the students to see. Yes, it was cold, but the students were thrilled and had a great time. As the activity came to a close, fog rolled in, creating a beautiful backdrop as we returned to the island. Our evening program was an island simulation, where students had to address critical issues as they planned the development of a newly discovered island. They had to work together as a team to present a model that would help solve such problems as power/energy supply, waste removal, and resource protection; it was great fun watching them think and discuss (and argue, of course) during the project. You can see photos from today’s activities at www.flickr.com/photos/sandpiperprincipal. (My apologies for not making this a link… I can’t get it to work. Also, I did not upgrade my Flckr account, so it only allows me to upload 200 photos. Many of the photos from day 1 were removed to make way for photos from day 2.)

We will leave Toyon Bay on Friday morning and take shore boats to Avalon. The express shuttle leaves at 11:45 am (12:45 pm – Arizona time), and it typically takes about an hour to get to Long Beach. I will send out another phone message when the bus is loaded and we are ready to travel, which I expect to be around 1:15-1:30 pm (2:15-2:30 pm – Arizona time).

Your students are having a great time, and I know they are eager to get back home to share this experience with you!

Catalina 2011

2011-11-16T22:50:00.008-07:00

We had a great first day on Catalina Island, although it was a bit colder than we are used to! We obviously began with our bus ride through the night. All of the students attempted to sleep, some with more successful than others. Aside from struggling to get comfortable, it was an uneventful drive, and we arrived in Long Beach a little ahead of schedule. Our ferry ride was a fairly smooth one with slightly overcast skies for most of the trip. The students were excited to see some dolphins and sea lions swimming along the way. Once we arrived, we enjoyed a quick lunch and basic orientation session about the camp before beginning our first snorkel activity. The weather was perfect and the water was clear, so our students were able to see many different types of marine life, including bat rays, guitarfish, garibaldi, and a few leopard sharks. While the water was cold, it became even colder as they had to exit the water with the sun disappearing behind the mountains. After dinner we learned a great deal about marine mammals in our evening lab, where students participated in a scavenger hunt for facts. It was an exciting and exhausting day, one that ended with many students asleep long before our prescribed quiet time. Tomorrow we have several lab activities scheduled, as well as another snorkeling outing. With the exception of facing the cold water, the students are eager to get back out there to see some more marine life. You can see pictures of today’s activities by visiting www.flickr.com/photos/sandpiperprincipal. (This is not a link; cut and paste it into your address bar to see the photos.)

Great Happenings

2011-05-18T10:31:00.005-07:00

We have had a great month of fun and engaging activities as we prepare for the close of the year!

Our MARE program once again brought the ocean to the Valley of the Sun as our students explored different bodies of water and their ecosystems. Ken Watson returned from California, bringing his diving experience and ocean artifacts, and Wayne and Karen Brown shared videos of their diving experience with the belize whale shark. Students participated in many hands-on activities, including squid dissections, phytoplankton "creations," sand analysis, and a "bird beak buffet." Thank you to everyone who attended our MARE night and shared the great work our students did during MARE week.

Our 4th grade students performed the play, "The Wizard of AZ," which focused on the 5 C's of Arizona (copper, cattle, climate, cotton, and citrus). They performed with enthusiasm and put on a great show!

Mrs. Clark's 4th grade class met with Peter Raisanen, a former Sandpiper student who is planning to ride his bike from coast to coast this summer to raise money for the Children's Heart Foundation. Peter shared his expectations for the trip, answered questions, and is setting up a blog to answer student questions during his trip. His message to the students was that he is just an ordinary person doing this, and that anyone can make a commitment to make a difference--a message that supports our character education program. If you would like to follow Peter's ride or offer support, check in at petey4kids.blogspot.com.

The 5th grade held their state parade, where students created small floats to represent their research on one of the 50 states. They shared their creative work with the rest of the students as they participated in a parade around the school.

Mrs. Crisp's 6th grade students researched how to make fire (without a lighter) and put their knowledge to practice as they tried to make smores in the front of the school. The activity is part of the "Bones and Stones" simulation activities, which traces the importance of fire in the evolution of man.

Congratulations to first grader Elizabeth M.! Elizabeth's watercolor painting of a clown was selected by the district for purchase, and the award was given at the last Governing Board meeting. Each year the district purchases individual pieces from the district art show, and Sandpiper has had three students receive this honor in the past five years.

Congratulations to Sandpiper alumnus Wafa Shahid for being selected for a summer internship at the Arizona Biomedical Collaborative at the University of Arizona Medical School. Wafa is a junior in the International Baccalaureate program at North Canyon High School, and we are very proud of her accomplishments!

Sandpiper recently received an upgraded mobile laptop cart so that our teachers and students can continue to have classroom -ccess to the digital world. This also allows us to deploy our older laptops to the teachers so that every classroom will have more up-to-date technology on a daily basis.

A Trip to Mars

2011-03-25T14:12:00.002-07:00

I had the pleasure of joining our Sciensations club on a field trip to the Mars Education Program at Arizona State University. Our students received a tour of the facility, where they saw replicas of the exploration rovers and learned how ASU researchers are helping map the surface of Mars. We also were given a brief look at the history of space exploration and how we have benefited from our first trips to the moon. The Mars Education Program partners with K-12 schools to enhance classroom learning and further student interests science. A special thanks to Mrs. Arn for bringing this amazing experience to our students!

World Connections!

2011-03-25T13:56:00.004-07:00

Our 6th grade students just completed their country reports and celebrated with a world's fair. In addition to learning about the customs, tradition, and history of other countries, our students made an extra connection with the Marines in Afghanistan. Corey H. chose to learn more about Afghanistan since his brother is stationed there. When Lance Corporal Brandon Swisher learned about his brother's report, he sent back several photos expressing a big hello to Mrs. Urlaub's class. The students were certainly excited about the message, and we hope to establish an opportunity for Lance Corporal Swisher to communicate via Skype with the class before school lets out.

Foreign Language Update

2011-03-15T11:05:00.004-07:00

Our FLITE program is taking off as we have received a healthy interest in people wanting to enroll their students in a Spanish immersion program.

We currently have enough students to commit to a FLITE section in 1st grade, and we hope that enrollment will continue to grow so that we can open a second section. We have already ordered classroom supplies and have collected resources from retired teachers who were willing to donate their Spanish materials. In April we will post a position and begin the interview process for hiring a bilingual teacher.

Our kindergarten program for next year is growing well ahead of last year's pace, and many of these parents are expressing an interest in FLITE for the following year. Even though we are not planning for an immersion offering at the kindergarten level in 2011-2012, our teachers are committed to introducing Spanish through vocabulary and basic phrases. This exposure will benefit all of our students, and it will help build a foundation for those students enrolling in the immersion option in the 1st grade.

We are also getting many phone calls about our Pre-K program, and we expect that this will be another great addition to Sandpiper.

Sandpiper Rocks!

2011-03-15T08:36:00.003-07:00

I want to thank everyone who helped make our Sandpiper Rocks! night such a great success! More than 150 students, including new kindergarten students and invited guests, attended our scavenger hunt/showcase/sock hop, and everyone had a great deal of fun. Our teachers and parents invested many hours during the week to make the night happen, and I can't begin to express my appreciation for such a committed group of adults who come together as a community to support our students... another sign that Sandpiper truly does ROCK!

Congratulations to our poetry contest winners!
1st Grade - Luka Z., Nia S., Elisabeth M.
2nd Grade - Ella B., Kyle S., Ron B.
3rd Grade - Josh L, Peyton S., Hunter A.
4th Grade - Ayah O., Annie S., Kyler S.
5th Grade - Caroline K., Diana L., Daniel F.,
6th Grade - June O., Paula C., Kobe R.
Each grade level submitted entries at the end of their poetry units in January and February, and the following students were recognized for their work: You can see their poems in the hallway just past the entrance.

With the addition of our character education program this year, we have been using the morning announcements to celebrate student success outside of the school:

Henry W. (6th grade) was a national finalist in the NBA Dribble, Dish, and Swish contest and earned a trip to the NBA All-Star Game, where he served as a ball boy!
Our 3rd grade Brownie Troop recently visited an animal shelter and made a $200 donation to help support their cause.
Mark M. (4th grade) recently took 3rd place overall in gymnastics at the Arizona State Champions, and he was state champion on the pommel horse. Mark will compete on the All-Star Arizona Boys team for regional competition in April.

Playground Update
Progress is being made on repairing the damage to our playground that occurred over winter break. The canopy was replaced last week, and we expect that the students will have their equipment available to them in the next month!

Taking FLITE!

2011-01-15T12:41:00.002-07:00

This week was a special one as we unveiled our model for a partial Spanish immersion plan. FLITE (Foreign Language Immersion and Teaching Enrichment) has two opportunities for our students to learn Spanish: a partial immersion program beginning with next year's 1st graders, and an enrichment offering through our specials rotations for all students (which is scheduled to begin in 2012-2013).
The Sandpiper School Council approved our model on January 7, and it was presented at the January 11 PTO meeting. Our efforts were also presented at the PVUSD Governing Board Meeting, where the Board members expressed their excitement and appreciation to finally have an immersion program in our district.
On January 18, we will have our first open house to introduce the immerson side of FLITE to interested parents. If you have a kindergarten student (or younger) and would like to know more about language immersion, please join us at 6:30 pm in the media center.
I am excited that all of our students will soon have the opportunity to enjoy the many benefits that come from learning a second language, and I am confident that FLITE will attract new students to Sandpiper so we can continue to be a vibrant part of the Sandpiper community!

Observations from the Classrooms
January is our poetry month, and our students have been busy looking at the world through the eyes of poets. We will end this month with our poetry contest and a visit from the "Poetry Patrol!"

Our PE classes began their track and field events this week, which is a favorite for many. The younger students are especially excited as they get their first experience with the high jump and long jump.

TREKKERS
On January 21, Sandpiper students will begin their Trekkers program. Each Friday, we will have a 1/4 mile track set up and encourage students to run/walk during their recess. Last year, our students ran/walked more than 2,000 miles in 10 weeks, and I will challenge them to beat that this year.

Family Night
Did you make a resolution to get back into shape? Then bring your family to our first family night of the new year: Yoga and Yogurt! Bring a towel or mat to Kokopelli Hall for a free yoga session on January 19 at 6:30 pm. Afterwards, enjoy some yogurt from Yogurt Builders (pre-orders only... forms were sent home with our students on Thursday).

Sandpiper Cares!

2010-12-18T23:19:00.002-07:00

Consistent with our character trait of the month, the Sandpiper community definitely showed its caring side this month!

Our students collected more than 150 coats and jackets for our annual drive. The items were donated to help those in need to stay warm through the winter months.
More than 80 students, parents, and staff donated at least an hour to our first Community Service Day on Dec. 10. Participants contributed to the community by picking up trash in the park and streets, singing to and visiting with residents at several senior living centers, and helping with beautification projects on campus. It was a great day for giving back to the community and to reinforce in our students the importance of service to others.
In the past few years, we have had several students cut their hair to support such charitable causes as Locks of Love, which turns donated hair into hair prosthetics for children who have lost their hair due to various medical conditions. Kiara G. and her mother, as well as our records clerk, Mrs. McGill, continued this act of caring this month.

We had a great first semester, and our students and staff are certainly looking forward to this break. I hope each of you are able to spend peaceful time connecting with family and friends, and I look forward to a rewarding new year for everyone.

Catalina Day 2

2010-11-18T21:58:00.005-07:00

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

2010-11-17T23:06:00.004-07:00

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

2010-11-01T23:34:00.003-07:00

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.

Field Trips and other Observations

2010-10-15T15:57:00.006-07:00

I had the pleasure of attending two outstanding field trip opportunities for our students this week.

Our 5th graders attended Junior Achievement's Biztown, where they operate all aspects of a fictional town. The students spend the first nine weeks learning how to keep track of accounts, write checks, repay a loan, and perform basic governmental duties, and then they apply those skills to real store fronts and offices at Biztown. Most of their businesses were able to repay their loans and begin to earn a profit (without any government bailouts). The students did a tremendous job in their roles and behavior.

The 4th grades spent the night at the Phoenix Zoo, where they had the opportunity to explore many of the nocturnal animals that may not be out during a daytime visit. The camp instructors taught our students about specific animals (like the Koala), as well as about general classifications of animals that they saw. It was an exciting--and exhausting--night for the students, teachers, and parent volunteers.

Observations from the Classrooms
Mrs. Cochell's first grade students wrote wonderful notes of appreciation for Boss' Day. Not only are they cherishable thoughts, they are making tremendous progress with their writing! (If they only knew that Mrs. Pfeifer is the real boss of the school!)

Mrs. Underdown's 2nd grade students have begun their reader's workshop, where students are given specific strategies to improve their reading, and then they use sticky notes to track their thoughts while while reading. This approach helps readers of all abilities focus their efforts so they can take their reading to a higher level.

Our teachers have completed their first experience with data chats, where we look at the performance data of their students to help direct instruction. In this process, we are able to see where the class strengths and weaknesses are as a whole, and which individual students may need additional attention or challenges to help them reach their potential. We will continue these conversations throughout the year as we complete district quarterly SAMS tests, which measures student acheivement in math and reading.

I am often asked if I enjoy my job. How can I not when I get to experience the wonderful uniqueness of each student and grade level on a daily basis. Last week, I was checking on a group of 1st grade boys who had been in the restroom for an extended period of time. When I entered, there were four boys lined up at the mirror, each one running his wet hands through his hair to get the perfect look. It reminded me of a group of teenagers at a school dance trying to look their best. What's not to love about this job!

Community Safety

2010-09-24T15:38:00.003-07:00

As we pursue our vision of helping all students reach our potential, getting students to and from school safely is an important concern.
The principals of the Paradise Valley Unified School District notify each other whenever there is a "stranger danger" alert at their schools. We can then determine if that danger is relevant to our community and send home the appropriate notice. I sent home a notice two weeks ago based on such a report from Horizon High School, and will continue to alert our parents when we have specific information to help keep our students safe.
Unfortunately, there have been many reports from other principals regarding "stranger danger" before and after school, and I have had a few concerns from parents about "suspicious" cars in their neighborhoods. While these incidents were not close enough to the Sandpiper community (or they lacked specific details involving our students) to warrant a "stranger danger" notice, they are a strong reminder that we need to continue to educate our students about paying attention to their surroundings and how to stay safe.
I have made announcements about how to be safe on their way to and from school, and I will continue to impress this message throughout the school year. I encourage all parents to have similar conversations with their children, and to continue to stay active in the community.

Observations from the Classrooms:

Congratulations to our student council officers! All of our students did a fantastic job on their speeches, and we are proud of everyone who ran for office. This years officers are Connor S. (president), Ameer S. (vice president), Kobe R. (secretary), and Makayla W. (treasurer). The group is already meeting to discuss ways to improve Sandpiper!

Mrs. Urlaub's 6th grade students have been enjoying their buddy opportunities with Mrs. Loerakker's 1st grade students. The 1st graders made book marks for their buddies, and today they shared in a Johnny Appleseed activity.

Sandpiper Citizens

2010-09-03T14:37:00.004-07:00

I am excited to begin our new character education program next week. Each month will feature a different character trait, which will be discussed in the classroom and each week on the announcements. Students who receive a citizenship card will be posted on our beautiful character tree so everyone can see how much we've grown throughout the year. When you're on campus, take a moment to see it on the bulletin board just past the office.

At our kick-off assembly, I spoke with the students about doing great things in all aspects of their lives, and I was able to recognize students who had cut their hair for Locks of Love and those who had invested time into other charitable activities. I would like to continue this throughout the year, so if your student has done something "great" that exemplifies strong character and citizenship, send me the details in an email.

We have many extra-curricular opportunities available through our Community Education department, but some of those classes can be in danger of being canceled with low enrollment. We sent home a flier on Thursday with all of our offerings; please take a moment to look them over with your student so you can secure your spot.

Observations from the Classrooms

Ms. Speight's challenge question for the week had me stumped: What is the only word in the English language that ends in 'mt'?

Mrs. Loerakker's 1st grade students were learning how to write meaningful letters to their "Star Student" for the week. It was a great opportunity to practice writing as well as to learn how to recognize and appreciate the positive in their classmates.

Mrs. Guckert has designated a "class greeter," who welcomes visitors and shares what the class is working on at the time. It has been a nice feeling to see students take on that responsibility.

Stormy Nights, Silly Days, and Other Happenings

2010-08-27T13:28:00.003-07:00

We had an exciting storm on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, it cost us two of our trees, including one of large shade trees in the kindergarten playground. We don’t have room in our budget to replaces these trees, but our PTO will begin looking for resources to help fill the void with either an awning or some larger trees that won’t take long to help protect our students from the sun. If you have access to people or resources who can help with this project, please contact me via email or phone.

“Silly Bands” are all the rage with our students these days. These fun-shaped rubber bands are a great novelty item, and our students just love trading them. I used the morning announcements to let the students know that while “Silly Bands” are fun, we don’t want them to be a distraction to the classroom. If your students are bringing these to school, please review with them our expectations:

Silly Bands should not be on student desks during class time. They should stay in a backpack or pocket.
Silly Bands should not be played with during class.
Silly Bands should not be thrown or “shot” at other students.
Silly Bands should not be sold.

While I am a strong advocate for students and their right to still be silly, I also want to support the idea that there is a time and place for everything, including "Silly Bands."

Tuesday (August 31) is our first in-service day. On these early release days, the teachers are engaged in professional learning opportunities so they can continue to develop their talents. Our first in-service day will be dedicated aligning their teaching units to the district’s curriculum maps in math and reading.

Observations from the Classrooms:
Mrs. Menard’s class was busy making their own imaginary towns, based on the story “Roxaboxen,” by Alice McLerran. This also connects with their unit on communities, and the students were definitely using their imaginations!

The return of music has been a wonderful thing to watch! Mr. Roper has had a fun way of engaging students of all ages, from teaching about different types of voices with kindergarten to letting the 6th grade use drums to create rhythms.

Sixth grade has jumped right into the scientific method, using drops of water and pennies to explore the world of variables and reliability.

Welcome Back 2010!

2010-08-20T13:17:00.002-07:00

We had a fantastic first week back to school! The students and teachers adjusted quickly from the days of summer to the routines of school, and I attribute this success to the preparation of the teachers, the great attitude of our students, and the support of our parents. We gave the students some encouragement and focus at a kickoff assembly on Wednesday, and I am confident that we will see great things from our students this year!

Just a few notes as we start school in the Phoenix heat:

We use the heat index (temperature and relative humidity) to determine restrictions for recess and PE. On days when the heat index is over 105 degrees, we keeps students inside the entire time. On other hot days when the heat index approaches 105, we have "no equipment" days, which means that we limit physical activity outside. We allow students to play four square in the shade, but other activities that require physical exertion (football, basketball, jump rope, etc.) are prohibited. On those days, we also have an empty classroom (the "cool room") where students can play games. We can use more games that are appropriate for all ages, so if you would like to donate an old game, puzzle, or cards, our students will appreciate them and put them to use!
We consistently remind our students to stay hydrated. You can do your part by sending your child to school with a water bottle.
While we live in the heat and try to be comfortable, I just want to remind everyone of our dress code: no flip flops, no open-toed shoes, tennis shoes/sneakers should be worn on PE days, shorts should be no shorter than 4 inches above the top of knee, no halter tops or backless shirts, and tank top straps should be at least two inches wide. We greatly appreciate your support.

Volunteers Need! Sandpiper is starting a new character education program, and we can use some help. We are looking for a volunteer or two to help with student recognition. This would require about an hour a week.

We will also begin our Trekkers running program at the end of September, and we could use several parents to assist each Friday -- no running required!

If you can help with either of these, please call the office and let them know.

Catalina Day 2

2010-02-25T19:19:00.005-07:00

Today's weather was near perfect, which we we took advantage of throughout the day. Many of us took a short hike this morning after breakfast before beginning our lab rotations. Students enjoyed exploring the world of plankton through digital microscopes, touching and learning about invertebrates, and participating in oceanology studies. After lunch, we went out for our second round of snorkeling. Even though the water was cold, the sun was out and the students had a great time. In a few minutes, we leave for a night hike to learn about astronomy.

Click here for the last of the photo updates (FLIKR's free account only will show the last 200 photos, so some of the photos from day 1 will disappear). I am sure that your students will have plenty more to share when they get home. I will send a voice message through our automated system on Friday when we are getting on the bus in Long Beach.

Catalina Day 1

2010-02-24T22:35:00.004-07:00

We had an exciting--and exhausting--first day at CIMI. After a long bus ride to get to Long Beach, we were fortunate enough to have an outstanding boat ride to camp. The water was smooth and the weather was great. We had no true casualties to sea sickness! After lunch at camp, the students went on their orienation snorkel activity, which got them into the water for the first time. We were lucky that the water was a little warmer this year--59 degrees! Amids the excitement, the students saw Garibaldi, several rays, a sea cucumber and other life in the ocean. Unfortunately, just as the snorkeling was ending, the rain started. We had a steady "mist" for the six hours, which forced us to change our night hike to tomorrow. The students participated in a very fun and informative mammals lab tonight, and we look forward to better weather tomorrow.

Click here to see photos from the day! When the photo page appears, you can click on "slide show" in the upper right corner to quickly navigate through all of the photos. (I apologize for the delay... the upload speed is great here.)

Return to Sender

2010-02-16T11:29:00.004-07:00

Ms. Clark's 4th grade class received a nice surprise last week. After reading "Charlotte's Web," the students wrote eulogies for Charlotte and attached them to balloons. To symbolize how Charlotte's babies drifted away into the wind, the students released the balloons. Last week, one of the eulogies was returned by a local hunter who found it near Seven Springs and Bloody Basin (the eulogies had Sandpiper's name and address on it). The students were quite excited to see how far their work could travel!

******

Congratulations to Aidyn A., who won the national NBA Dribble, Dish and Swish competition during All-Star weekend. Aidyn, 3rd grade, won a trip to the game in Dallas, where he not only won his competition, but was introduced at half-time of the All-Star game and had the opportunity to meet several current and former players.

Sandpiper Trekkers

2010-02-09T10:26:00.002-07:00

On Friday, we kicked off our Sandpiper Trekkers program, which is intended to promote physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Each Friday for 10 weeks, we will have a 1/4 mile track set up for students to walk or run. As they complete each lap, parent volunteers will mark their cards to help keep track of their progress. In addition to personal incentives, we have a school goal of completing 8,000 laps in 10 weeks -- that's 2,000 miles!

On our first day, our students made a huge dent in reaching that goal:

We completed 1,440 laps - that's 360 miles!
159 students completed at least 1 mile.
14 students completed at least 2 miles.

We look forward to seeing what the students will accomplish this week!

Shoes and Poems

2010-01-29T13:45:00.002-07:00

Congratulations to the Sandpiper community for helping the relief efforts in Haiti. We collected more than 500 pairs of shoes this week to support those in need. Sports Chalet is collecting the shoes and sending them to the relief centers.

As part of our poetry celebration, students were visited this week by the Poetry Patrol, who checked to make sure students were carrying a poem in their pocket at all times.

Mrs. Loerakker's first grade class and Ms. Ryan's kindergarten class have had fun writing poems for each other and sharing what they have learned. You can see their amazing work in the kindergarten hallway.

Congratulations to sixth grader Sanjana K., who finished in 5th place at the district spelling bee. Her finish qualifies her for the regional spelling bee next month.

Back in the Swing of Things

2010-01-08T14:52:00.004-07:00

This was a great start to the new semester. Our students came back a little tired, but they quickly fell back into the Sandpiper spirit:

Our 6th graders had their first taste of middle school with their visit to Desert Shadows Middle School. They were treated to an assembly and a tour to help ease the transition to 7th grade, and the DSMS students did a great job to make them feel welcome.
The third grade made a trip to the Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium, where they were able to further their research on animals for science.
Ms. Speight's 4th grade class participated in a fantastic hands-on experiment to demonstrate how a cold front interacts with a warm front.
All of our young writers are busy exploring the world of poetry as they prepare for the district poetry contest. Primary students have been seeing the school through the eyes of a poet, while the older students are strengthening their use of language to create imagery and connections.
Our Student Council continues to support our recycling efforts by emptying the recycle bins each Friday.
Congratulations to Aidyn A. in 3rd grade. Aidyn will represent Arizona at the NBA All-Star game for the Dribble, Dish and Swish contest. He will compete that Saturday and be introduced at half-time of the game.
Click here to heck out the Valley's newest broadcaster (the second video, "School Can Be Cool"). Daniel F. had a chance to share Sandpiper with the Valley Dish!

The Sun, The Flu, and The Observations

2009-10-05T11:56:00.003-07:00

The Sun
The October issue of The Sun came home on Friday. We send home an abbreviated version in order to save paper, but you can see the complete edition on our school website at http://cmweb.pvschools.net/spesweb. Click on "Sandpiper Monthly Newsletter" to download a PDF file.

The Flu
Included in The Sun is a letter from Nurse King regarding the seasonal flu and H1N1. Nurse King will be providing similar information at the next PTO meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 6:30 pm. She will also be explaining more about the vaccinations that will be available to all students during school hours later in October. I encourage everyone to attend to find out how we can minimize the impact on our students.

The Observations
We had a busy month, and I have had the pleasure of seeing some wonderful learning opportunities for our students:

Ms. Brown's 5th grade class is participating in a postcard exchange with schools around the country. Students are sharing interesting facts about their respective states, allowing others to learn about the United States from a student perspective.
Our Columbia Writing Project is producing great work from our students, which I have been able to see through writing celebrations and writing workshops. You can also see the work or our kindergarten and 2nd graders in the halls.
Mrs. Urlaub's 6th students did an outstanding job with their first Reader's Theater, where the students "performed" literary pieces for their classmates.
Our Student Council officers were elected, and they are busy preparing for their first meeting. Congratulations to Cameron, Austin, Addie, and Scott!
To date, our students have checked out 4,484 books from the Sandpiper library!

President Obama Speech

2009-09-03T15:27:00.003-07:00

On Sept. 8, President Obama will address students across the nation on the importance of taking responsibility for their education, challenging them to set goals and do everything they can to succeed. Several parents have asked whether or not Sandpiper will be showing this live address.

This is an opportunity that is consistent with other character development activities we have had at Sandpiper. In the past, we have had members of the Arizona Cardinals visit and speak about the importance of finishing school, we attended a science presentation at Chase Field, where members of the Diamondbacks spoke of the importance of staying in school, and we have had assemblies that promote responsibility and making the right choice. President Obama’s address also has ties to content at different grade levels, and it can be used in a variety of ways in connection with academic standards.

For these reasons, I am allowing our teachers to show President Obama’s address if they feel it is consistent with their class activities.

However, due to the presentation time (9 am), they will not be able to watch it live. Instead, we will download the presentation, which will allow the teachers the opportunity to preview the address and then better determine if it is a learning activity that is appropriate for their classroom.

If your child’s teacher decides to show the video, in its entirety or selected clips, you will receive prior written notice and be given the option for an alternate activity for that period.

You can find out more about this speech at www.whitehouse.gov.

Welcome Back

2009-08-20T23:31:00.003-07:00

I could not have asked for a better first week. The students were not only enthusiastic to see their classmates, they fell back into the routines and were ready to learn. After some messy projects this summer, our teachers worked quickly to get their rooms ready, and they started the year in great spirits and focused on the opportunities to work with students. It was a true joy to visit classrooms throughout the week!

Tuesday night's curriculum night was well-attended, and we greatly appreciate those parents who were able attend. Communication with your child's teacher is a critical step in helping your child be successful, so please find opportunities to stay in touch with your child's teacher throughout the year.

I also want to thank the PTO for not only helping us get set up with several key events to start the year, but for all of the planning they have done to help us connect as a community throughout the year. As more of us are spending more time at work, these family events are important opportunities to focus on the strength of our community.

Parents are often looking for ways to enhance learning at home, and the internet provides plenty of resources to do so. I have added two new sites to "My Favorite Links" that help challenge students with their math skills. Some of the activities are great challenges for the family to think through.

I am looking forward to a great school year....

Health Alert

2009-04-30T15:23:00.003-07:00

We sent home a letter today explaining our approach to the recent Swine Flu concerns. As the letter states, we are closely monitoring the situation at Sandpiper, and will work with district and county health representatives on any suspected cases. Nurse King spoke with the students today regarding preventative actions that they should be taking to help reduce the spreading of germs, and many of these actions are listed in the letter.

Please be assured that we are focused on the health and safety of our students, and we will keep you posted on any further developments.

Lunch Change, Odds & Ends

2009-04-09T14:09:00.002-07:00

Beginning Tuesday, April 14, we will be making changes to our lunch/recess schedule for 1st-6th grade. Presently, our students eat lunch before going to recess. This will change on Tuesday when the students will eat lunch after recess. We are making this change because research is showing that the students benefit in a number of ways by eating after recess:
• Students eat at a more leisurely pace because they are not eager to get to the playground
• Students eat more of their lunch, therefore taking in more nutrition
• Students are more ready to perform in the classroom immediately after lunch
• Less food is wasted
We have spent the past month working through the challenges we face, including our transition time and hand washing. We will still have some wrinkles to work out as we put this into practice, but we will address them as they arise.
For those of you who bring a lunch to your student on special occasions, here is our new lunch schedule:
Kindergarten 11:15-11:35 (Kinder still has lunch before recess)
2nd grade 11:45-12:05
1st grade 11:50-12:10
3rd grade 12:10-12:30
5th grade 12:15-12:35
6th grade 12:35-12:55
4th grade 12:40-1:00

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Congratulations to Madison and Duncan! Each year the district purchases student artwork to display in the district office and Governing Board room. Madison and Duncan each won a blue ribbon at the district art show, and the district has purchased and framed their work for display.

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Thank you to everyone who participated in last week's carnival. Great events like this can't happen without all of the parent and teacher volunteers... another reason why the Sandpiper community is so strong.

Coffee with the Principal...Change

2009-03-09T13:52:00.003-07:00

I apologize for the change, but my schedule this week has necessitated changing Tuesday's "Coffee with the Principal" to March 24 at 9:30 a.m.

I am hopeful that many of you can still attend, and I look forward to our next meeting.

Kindergarten, Field Day, Odds & Ends

2009-03-06T13:22:00.002-07:00

Kindergarten Round Up
We are having our Kindergarten Round-Up on Monday, March 9 at 6:30 pm. This is an opportunity for in-coming kindergarten parents to discover what a great school Sandpiper is. Our kindergarten teachers will talk about their program, and our PTO will give campus tours. If you know someone who has an in-coming kindergarten student, please encourage him/her to attend this event.

Field Day
Congratulations to our Sandpiper athletes, who finished first at Wednesday's District Field Day at North Canyon High School. Sandpiper edged out two other schools by three points for the team victory. It was a beautiful day, and the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students and parents had a great time.

Playground
Thanks to our Student Council, we now have two new basketball rims and tether balls for our intermediate playground. The tether balls have been rather exciting, as most of our students have never played the game. Coach Rosenberg is taking time to show the students how to play, and so far they have really enjoyed it.

Human Growth & Development
It's that time of year when our 6th grade students have Human Growth and Development classes with Nurse King and Mr. McKinley. This is a fact-based district program that was created with input from educators, parents, doctors, clergy, and other community stakeholders. Parents of 6th grade students are given the opportunity to see the program beforehand, and they must give permission for their students to attend. It is a very informative class, and it provides a great starting point for parents to discuss significant issues with their students.

Catalina Day 2

2009-02-26T22:41:00.002-07:00

What an amazing day! After watching a bison graze near camp after breakfast, we started with lab stations. The students explored the world of algae, learned the differences between sharks and boney fish, and became familiar with other marine life in California. After lunch, we returned to the ocean for another snorkeling activity, where many students saw Bat Rays, Garibaldi, Blacksmith, and other sea life. As we returned our gear, a baby sea lion wandered onto the beach, which brought great excitement to the students. After dinner, we hiked two miles to a hilltop for an astronomy lesson.

Everyone is exhausted and ready to come home! I will keep parents posted on our travel progress tomorrow via the phone messenger system.

Enjoy the photos at Catalina Photos.

Staffing

2009-02-26T11:58:00.005-07:00

Based on our given staffing and personnel for next year, here is our projected staffing assignment for classroom teachers:

KDG: Ms. Ryan, Ms. Emch

1st Grade: Mrs. Loerakker, Mrs. Patinsky

2nd Grade: Mrs. Underdown, Ms. Weiss

3rd Grade: Mrs. Menard, Mrs. Waddell

4th Grade: Mrs. Clark, Ms. Speight

5th Grade: Ms. Brown, Mrs. Guckert

6th Grade: Mrs. Briceno, Mrs. Urlaub

Resource: Mrs. Greenberg

MIMR: Mrs. Shuster, Ms. Vondracek

Art: Mrs. Burns

PE: Mr. Rosenberg

Tech/Media: Ms. Murphy

ELL: Ms. Campagna

Reading: TBA

Our teachers will start preparing class lists for next year in May. While we don't have teacher requests in our process, there will be a form available for you to address the learning style and needs of your child(ren). i will announce when this form is available toward the end of April.

Catalina Update

2009-02-25T23:10:00.002-07:00

Day 1 for our 6th grade trip to Catalina was amazing... and exhausting! We had a perfect bus ride, a rocky boat ride, a relaxing lunch, great snorkeling in brisk 58 degree water, and a fun presentation on marine mammals. I am very impressed with how much our students know and are able to contribute to discussions! Your students can fill you in on the more exciting details....

Here is a link to some photos from the day: Catalina Photos. It's not the most creative format, but it works. I will post more tomorrow night.

Mail & Events

2009-02-20T15:44:00.003-07:00

We sent home a letter with the students today from Dr. Kriekard regarding the district's budget cuts. I encourage you to read this to get a better understanding of our situation and where we currently stand in the process. If you are unable to locate your child's copy, email me and I can send you a digital version.

Kindergarten Round-Up
We had a Kindergarten Round-Up scheduled for March 4 to help recruit new kindergarten parents to Sandpiper. This is also the night for an education rally at the state capitol, so the Kindergarten Round-Up has been rescheduled to March 9 at 6:30 p.m. We will have fliers, banners, and mailers available next week to promote the event.

Around Campus

We had a great week with our consultant from Columbia University, who worked with our K-3 teachers to advance their use of the Columbia Writing Project. The CWP is a model for conducting writers' workshop so our students can become independent writers. Our teachers really embraced the material, and our students did an amazing job demonstrating the strategies that writers employ during the creative process.
We had a wondeful turnout for our Spaghetti Dinner on Wednesday night. I want to thank Danielle May and the rest of the PTO for providing such great opportunities for our families to come together as a community.
Sixth grade has been on the move! Last week they experienced the Chinese Cultural Center, this week the Rennaisance Festival, and next week they will explore island life at the Cataline Island Marine Institute.

Special Areas

2009-02-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

Our Special Areas rotation for next year will be as follows:

1.0 PE .
5 Art
.5 Technology/Media

Obviously, nothing is ideal when we have to reduce our students' exposure to these areas. Each of our special areas offer valuable experiences that enrich the lives of our children, and it was very difficult to determine a combination that offers our students a balanced approach that reflects the values of our community. As a staff, we will explore opportunities to supplement those areas that have been reduced.

I want to thank all of the parents and teachers who took the time to express their opinion, and special thanks to the School Council members for providing input into the decision.

Specials Update

2009-02-12T23:47:00.003-07:00

I was expecting to announce our Specials Area reduction at the end of this week, but this will be delayed until early next week. I did not receive any new information from the district that impacts our situation, so I can proceed with the decision based on input from the School Council. However, I have been at an off-campus workshop for two days and have not been able to speak with the Special Areas teachers. This is a sensitive issue for everyone, and it is important for me to inform them in person before I announce the decision to the community. I appreciate everyone's support and patience during this process.

Specials Update/Odds & Ends

2009-02-04T22:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who took time to voice an opinion regarding our Specials Areas reduction. I was expecting to announce a decision this week; however, the principals have been asked to wait on these decisions until late next week after the Governing Board meets. Some questions regarding district-wide cuts need to be addressed, and the answers may (or may not)have an impact on our decision. Once these district-level clarifications have been made, we can then move forward with finalizing our Special Areas for next year. I am expecting to announce this decision by Feb. 17.

Some of our upper-grade students were left short this week when it came time to buying a lunch. Unfortunately, our lunch count was off significantly that day: 181 students said that they would be purchasing a lunch that morning, but more than 220 tried to purchase a lunch. Either our counting was way off, some of our students forgot that they were buying a lunch, or some of the students changed their mind when they saw the cafeteria lunch (fan-favorite Chinese). I have already addressed this with the students, but please help your students understand the importance of providing an accurate count during homeroom. The district menu is available on the district website so students can get an early look at the lunch entrees.
I offered our students popsicles if the Cardinals won the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, the storybook ending did not happen. I overcame my disappointment long enough to realize that we have an opportunity to celebrate a great game and effort, which is important to emphasize in today's society. So, I will be giving out Otter Pops after lunch on Friday. Here's to next season!

Budget

2009-01-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

Today's issue of the Sandpiper Sun provided a details regarding our staffing next year. Unfortunately, we will have fewer teachers and larger class sizes. As I stated in the newsletter, I am confident that we will use our creativity and experience to continue to provide our students with the educational experience that they deserve.

If you have any questions regarding the status of our budget or its impact on Sandpiper, please don't hesitate to email or call me. It is important for our parents to have confidence in the future of Sandpiper, and that can only happen with accurate information and honest answers to questions.

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who provided input into our staffing for Special Areas. Reducing Special Areas is an obstacle in our efforts to offer a well-rounded experience that develops the whole child. These reductions are not easy, and I appreciate your support through this process. I will let the community know about the final decision on these cuts later next week.

Finally, if you have specific questions regarding our budget or staffing for next year, I will be holding a Principal's Forum on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 3:30 p.m.

Welcome!

2009-01-30T00:26:00.000-07:00

Thank you for taking the time to find this blog. I will use this site to provide regular updates on pertinent events at Sandpiper, as well as to provide general observations from around campus. I hope this will not only keep you informed about issues involving our school, but will also provide you with a better understanding of Sandpiper beyond your own child's grade level.