MARCH MADNESS

TELEVISION TURN-OFF WEEK was a great success--in spite of NCAA March Madness--with 20 students in our class participating in eliminating video entertainment for seven days. Many of us discovered a host of alternative activities to replace our addiction to television.

THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKS was held at Lakeshore Middle School this morning. With 20 of our students participating in this district event, our entire class attended the two-hour battle. Six teams represented Lake Hills and one team walked away as gold medal winners.

Fifth and sixth grade students convene at Lakeshore Middle School for the 2009 Battle of the Books.

LORDS OF THE BOOKS
Brock, Alex, Hunter, Isaac

FOUR LORDS ARE READING
Michael, Michael, Kane, Drew

SCORCHIN' DRAGONS
Logan, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Emily

MEDIEVAL CASTLES
Kaylee, Jazmin, Andres, Carly

THE MEDIEVAL KNIGHT HORSES
Jaslynn, Rubee, Brooke, Ana

FIRE BREATHING FANTASY
Olivia, Tasha, Lluvia, Gaige

LORDS OF THE BOOKS took the first place, gold medal award for the district. Congratulations to Hunter, Alex, Brock, and Isaac.

OUR THIRD COMPLIMENT PARTY is scheduled for next Thursday, April 2. We will celebrate with a colorful plate party (fruits, vegetables) and enjoy a few hours of Monopoly.

AFTER SCHOOL BRAIN GAME DAY is set for next Thursday, April 2, from 3:55 to 5:15 p.m. A permission form was sent home yesterday for this special event. Our PTA recently purchased numerous new strategy games that kids will really like. Students must return the form by April 1 (no fooling) in order to participate.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDERS are due by Tuesday, March 31. This is a great opportunity for students to purchase books at outstanding prices.

THE 2009 ELEMENTARY ART EXHIBIT begins at the Grand Haven Community Center on Wednesday, March 25 and runs through Thursday, April 16. A group of our students will be recognized at the Open Reception on Wednesday, April 1, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. The exhibit and events are open to the public.

CONGRATULATIONS to Jaslynn, Lluvia, Miguel, Elizabeth, Gaige, Ana, Nathaniel, and Michael on being selected to represent our class at the Annual Elementary Art Exhibit at the Grand Haven Community Center.

SPRING FINALLY ARRIVES

THE PTA MEETING tonight begins at 6:30 p.m. and will feature a demonstration of the Promethean ActivBoard that our class is "test driving" for several weeks. The May 5 technology bond proposal will provide for these electronic white boards in our classrooms.

Miguel and Jaslynn help Mr. Chittenden order data on the interactive whiteboard the classroom is using for several weeks. The upcoming technology bond proposal will provide for this technology.

THE LONG WINTER is nearly over. Spring arrives at 7:44 am tomorrow. We are finally experiencing a preview of spring with temperatures we haven't seen since last November. This is a great time for students to move from hibernation mode and get outside for increased physical acitvity.

TELEVISION TURN-OFF WEEK has begun. The class really wanted to make a serious attempt at eliminating television (and computer-related entertainment) for seven days.

THE LAKE HILLS TALENT SHOW will be held at White Pines Middle School Auditorium this Friday, March 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Olivia Pulaski, Jaslynn Castaneda, and Brooke Park represent our class in this annual PTA-sponsored event. Your family will enjoy a casual evening of outstanding entertainment. Mr. Chittenden is the Master of Ceremonies.

THE GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC MUSEUM is our destination next Monday, March 23. Student will need to bring a sack lunch. Those chaperoning this field trip include Melissa Castaneda, Lee Miracle, Kim Montgomery, Annel Olthof, Mike Park, Karri Murphy, Mueril Tuggle, and Wendy Walters.

MARCH IS READING MONTH and students should be reading at least 20 minutes a day at home. They are encouraged to complete the Reading Stars Over Lake Hills form and return it by March 31. They may also participate in the Whitecaps Reading Club by completing their bookmark for reading minutes.

SPRING PICTURE DAY is Tuesday, March 24. For more events, scroll down to our calendar below.

THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKS will be held at Lakeshore Middle School on Friday morning, March 27. Most of our class is participating (wow) and all of us will be attending this special event next week.

FINAL TRIMESTER BEGINS

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS involves many of our students and will be held on Friday, March 27. All teams meet every Thursday during lunch and many reader groups are meeting with adult "book experts" to dialogue about each book. Students may include these reads in their Independent Reading Records, too.

900 PAGES of independent reading is the goal for each student during our last trimester of fifth grade. Students are strongly encouraged to make book choices which are Accelerated Reader selections. A new AR Bookfind is available on the school web site now to see if a selection is an AR book.

THE GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC MUSEUM is the destination for our next field trip on Monday, March 23. Cost for each student is $10 and for adult chaperones is $5. Please make checks payable to Lake Hills or send cash along with the form recently sent home.

MARCH IS Reading Month and students my participate in several reading incentive programs: The Stars Over Grand Haven and the Whitecaps Reading Club.

FUN WITH DRUMS is a great concert/clinic for families that will be held on Friday, March 13, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Nelson School in Muskegon. The 11th annual event will feature drummers Marcus Hunter and Scott Pellegrom. The event is FREE and sponsored by Spread the Music Foundation and others. Free door prizes. [Directions]

SIXTH GRADE REGISTRATION for White Pines Middle School is now available on line. You will need your child's school ID number and log on HERE. They will need to make a Music Elective or Non-Music Elective choice. Students will be visiting White Pines on Thursday, April 30.

OUR CLASS PLAY has been chosen. We will be performing "Who, Me? Yes, You!" this spring in cooperation with Pioneer Drama Services. The play includes 7 sketches about social responsibility: Bull Busters, Store Wars, Driving Lessons, School for Superheroes, Social Responsibility Olympics, Cod of Conduct, Alien Encounter. Play dates will be announced later.

OUR CLASSROOM PHONE will not be working for another week. Please avoid voice mails. The best way to communicate with me is through email...thanks.