CHECK-IN QUESTION Are you needing to schedule a meeting with me to go over anything (student concerns, grades, progress)?
The below schedule will now only reflect K-6 on-site opportunities, all PE classes, and clubs if they include grades 7-8 (like Engineering Club or Coding Club). If you are in need of the middle school face-to-face schedule, please contact Kristina, our office manager, or one of the middle school teachers.
Monday, January 29
12:00-2:00 Grades 3-4 Face-to-Face class, bring a snack and warm coat for recess.
12:00-1:00 PE Grades K-2
1:00-2:00 PE Grades 7-8
2:00-3:00 PE Grades 3-6
Tuesday, January 30
12:00-2:00 Grades 5-6 Face-to-Face class, bring a snack and warm coat for recess.
12:00-1:00 PE Grades K-2
1:00-2:00 PE Grades 7-8
2:00-3:00 PE Grades 3-6
Wednesday, January 31
9:00-10:00 PE Grades 3-6
10:00-11:30 Art Club Grades 3-6
12:00-1:00 PE K-2
1:00-2:00 PE Grades 7-8
Thursday, January 25
NO SCHOOL
TREX RECYCLING CHALLENGE Last year the district collected over 7,000 pounds of plastic, WOW! For the second year, all Hillsboro schools & support buildings are participating in the TREX Film Plastic Recycling Challenge, which runs through April 22, 2018. Students, staff, family, and friends are invited to bring in plastic bags and plastic wrap to a designated bin. Each bag collected will be weighed and recorded monthly until the competition’s end. After the materials are turned in, TREX will transform them into composite lumber, saving the plastic from adding to the landfill or clogging up sorting machines at the recycling center. The winning schools/site—which will be announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2018—will receive a TREX bench. All plastic must be clean, dry, and mostly free of food residue.
LEGO/CODING CLUB For the months of February and March, we will be shifting gears in the block of time that we currently have Lego Robotics. We are bringing back our SCRATCH program for grades 3-8, with no student limit. This is a popular and fun activity! We hope your student will join us on February 8 for our first Coding Club. www.scratch.mit.edu
SECOND SEMESTER CHANGE Starting on February 5 and 6, we will be changing the focus of the Monday-Tuesday 12:00-2:00 face-to-face class that students have with me. To make sure we understand the shift, I will first explain what the focus was, and then lay out what it will be moving forward. When we first started the elementary program at HOA in the Fall of 2013, face-to-face class with me was the ONLY on-site opportunity that our 18 students had. Yes, 18. Families were responsible for finding their own social, PE, and Art opportunities (and we weren't even offering the parks and rec reimbursement yet). We have since grown to 50+ students and have added an incredible PE program with Ms. Stubbs, Art Club, Chess Club, Engineering Club, Coding/Lego Robotics, Charger Club, Fit Squad (coming in February), and Science Fair Club to our on-site activities. These offerings have greatly increased the social opportunities for our students at our campus, thanks to so many awesome parent and community volunteers. In evaluating the effectiveness of our programs, it has come to my attention that with the abundance of activities we offer, our face-to-face class is not needed as it once was. Moving forward, the face-to-face classes will still be on Mondays and Tuesdays from 12:00-2:00 for grades 3-6, both days. Your student will still come on just one day. If you have students in both classes now, you can keep it that way if that's what works best with your schedule, or just choose one day to bring both. Does that make sense? The focus will shift from activity-based to an OdysseyWare/school work time. We will still start the class with our pledges and calendar, where we talk through the day, week, and month. Students will have a 30 minutes work session, followed by recess, and another 30 minute work session. During the work sessions, our classroom assistant, Ms. Clarke, and I will be circulating the room and helping students as needed. I will end the class with a read aloud (we are currently reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). One of the strengths of our face-to-face class is that it gives the students a taste of classroom life, so we will maintain the procedures that create that safe learning environment and experience for all students. Homeschool students are still welcome to come to Monday-Tuesday face-to-face class. Your students can bring a book to read or workbooks from home to work on. Please let me know if you have any questions about this change. As a reminder, this goes into effect in February, so the next two weeks will still be Monday class grades 3-4, and Tuesday class grades 5-6.
NORTHWEST CHILDREN'S OUTREACH Our Wellness Counselor, Sara Stollberg, has arranged a partnership with Northwest Children's Outreach that helps provide children with basic needs like clothing, diapers, formula, blankets, and toys, just to give a few examples. If your family encounters a need for these items, please feel free to reach out to me or Sara at [email protected] and we will get you connected.
MOBYMAX CONTEST QUARTER 2 Students can earn points in MATH, FACT FLUENCY, and NUMBERS. The last day of the contest will be January 31, which is just next week!
MRS. KELLAR'S OFFICE HOURS I am here at HOA Monday-Thursday from 8:00-3:00. If you have concerns or questions, please email me and we can set up a time to meet. Pop-ins are generally not encouraged as there is no guarantee that I will be available or at my desk.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram (Hillsboroonlineacademy) and Facebook (Hillsboro Online Academy Elementary)!
Have a great week!