OUTDOOR EDUCATION 2009

The benefits of Outdoor Education on the lives of young people is well-documented. The results from these studies show an impact on four main areas--personal, interpersonal, academic, and environmental awareness. Some things just can't be learned in a traditional classroom.

We were fortunate to spend two days at YMCA Camp Pendalouan last week. Our fifth graders at Lake Hills participated in hiking, group challenge activities, cross-country skiing, broomball, orienteering, native American life games, tobogganing, and other outdoor activities that provided memorable experiences for 44 students.

The attitudes and behaviors of our students during these outdoor and adventure activities were exemplary and the leadership provided by the Pendalouan staff was outstanding. Here are a few photo highlights of our outdoor education time. Please visit the Outdoor Education PHOTO ALBUM on our school web site for additional photographs.

SPECIAL THANKS to Trent, Emilie, Karen, Lori, and Adam for their leadership and ability to orchestrate two fantastic days of outdoor education at YMCA Camp Pendalouan. You guys rock!

For More Photographs Visit
Lake Hills Elementary School
Photo Album

SNOW BEGETS SNOW

COLDER WEATHER is predicted for next week. The lake effect snow machine has been very active this year and it seems that snow begets more snow. This is a great chance for our students to test the snow gear they will need for Snow Camp...winter coats, mittens, snow pants, insulated boots, etc. Unless wind chills are below zero, we all enjoy outside recess.



KURT REPPART from International Aid visited our class to receive our class donations of $192 for six HydrAid water filters. He also provided an interesting presentation and video on the need for clean water around the world. We want to thank our class families for all their support of this project.

IF YOUR CHILD ARRIVES LATE for school, please be sure to bring them into the office and check them in with Mrs. Dusnik. Classroom doors open at 8:50 and tardy students must be signed in after that time. Thank you for your cooperation.

SNOW CAMP is coming on January 22 and 23. Camper health forms MUST be turned in by this Tuesday, January 13. We have plenty of parent chaperones for our class and they will need to meet in Room 15 on Thursday morning, January 22, at 8:30 a.m. Chaperones may bring their $24 for camp at that time.

ANOTHER COMPLIMENT PARTY is scheduled for next Thursday, January 15. We will need a few additional Scrabble games that day. We will also be watching "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe," that day in conclusion of our literature study of the C.S. Lewis classic. Students will need to return a permission slip to view this video. Congratulations to each student in our class for the 10 unsolicited compliments we have received.

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS has begun with several teams forming in our class. Students will be meeting regularly during their Thursday lunch periods. Book chats with adult leaders will soon be scheduled. Here is a list of books each team will be reading:

• Because of Winn-Dixie by DiCamillo
• The Borrowers by Norton
• Charley Skedaddle by Beatty
• Danger on Midnight River by Paulsen
• Experanza Rising by Munoz-Ryan
• From the Mixed-Up Files... by Konigsburg
• Gregor the Overlander by Collins
• S.O.R. Losers by Avi

OUR CALENDAR is always on our blog site. Simply scroll down to the bottom of this page. It is a public Google calendar that you can add to your Google calendar views.