INSIDE

Point Roberts Primary School News
November 2007

Calendar

November

6 Ron Spanjer @ Point Roberts, Primary 1 - 4 p.m.
7 Library Visit. Beach Investigations
12 Veteran’s Day – NO SCHOOL
15-16 Parent/Teacher Conferences, 12:50 Early Dismissal
20 Ron Spanjer @ Point Roberts Primary 1 - 4 p.m.
19-21 Parent/Teacher Conferences 12:50 Early Dismissal
22-23 Thanksgiving Break – NO SCHOOL

December
5 Winter Program @ Community Center 6 - 7 p.m.
10 Ron Spanjer @ Point Roberts Primary 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
18 Ron Spanjer @ Point Roberts Primary 1 - 4 p.m.
December 22- January 6th Winter Break – NO SCHOOL
January 7, 2008 - School Resumes

Superintendent’s Corner
by Ron Spanjer

We are well into the 2007-08 school year and there continue to be many exciting things happening across the Blaine School District.  We have been working hard this year at keeping our website (www.blainesd.org) up to date and more informative, and hope that our parents and patrons will find time to visit this information source on a regular basis.  There you will learn much more about the work of the Blaine School District and the success that our students are experiencing at all levels of the program. 

On the district website you will also be learning about our plans for updating and expanding existing facilities, with the largest portion of the proposed work taking place at Blaine High School, a facility that ultimately serves all of our students.  This work is dependent upon voter approval of a March 2008 ballot measure.

The Blaine School District is privileged to be educating more than 100 students from the Pt. Roberts community.  These students contribute greatly to the success of the overall program in every school. To the extent to which parents and the community in general remain engaged in this critical work is key to our overall success.

Please continue to feel encouraged to contact me with your questions and concerns. I am scheduled to spend two mornings or afternoons each month at Point Roberts Primary School and am available to meet with parents and patrons. By working together we will make the greatest difference.

Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade
by Mary Edgley, Teacher

October is such a great month to be a teacher. There are so many fun fall projects, and of course Halloween offers a wealth of great teaching opportunities. The cool weather brought on by fall has inspired us to study the seasons. In keeping with our interest in apples (last month we picked apples and made applesauce.) we used four different media to show how an apple tree changes as it passes through the seasons. Fall has also brought caterpillars to our schoolyard. We have created habitats for two different kinds of caterpillars so we can watch their metamorphosis in our classroom. The kids are recording the changes as they observe them.

Anyone who has walked in the woods lately has probably noticed all the different types of fungus that grow this time of year. We turned one of our nature walks into a fungus hunt and were fortunate enough to find three different fairy rings. On another day we collected mushrooms and made spore prints. We have also been studying spiders since there are so many around right now and it seems so appropriate for Halloween. The students all have their own science journals that they use for recording their discoveries.

Halloween is a major topic of conversation and we are writing our own ads for Haunted Houses that the students draw. We will list our house ads in the Haunted House Herald. If you are interested in knowing more about these haunted houses just talk to any Point Roberts student. We are planning our Halloween party for the 31st with lots of great activities, treats and games.

Reading, writing and math are still our focus and a part of every day. The first and second grade students have each written a number of books that they then shared with the class. I feel very fortunate to have so much time to spend with each student and love to watch as the kids become independent readers and writers.

Parent’s Corner
Tracy Kelly

We are so pleased to have Megan in the Point Robert’s school for 2nd grade. Megan started her school days at the age of three in Blaine for Speech Therapy with Shannon Mihelich. She continued there for Kindergarten and First grade. The days were long for her and I did not like her being so far from home. When I heard that Mary Edgley was returning to Point Roberts from Blaine, I did not think twice about Megan’s upcoming school year. Megan would be able to finish her primary school days close to home and that was just the beginning. Our family has had experience with Mary teaching our son summer school a few years ago. When we told him, he was excited for Megan, stating “ she is the nicest teacher ever! ” Megan enjoys the short bus ride, the nature walks, beach and library field trips, as well as having friends at the school she has grown-up with. Megan also gets to see her speech teacher Shannon who comes to the school on a regular basis. I am glad that we have such a fabulous local school and I am glad that Megan has the opportunity to enjoy the school, at least for this year. The one on one attention, the shorter days, the kindness of everyone at the school, and the sense that everybody matters has been great. Megan is very lucky to be part of such a close-knit group.