Gardner Weekly Newsletter December 2nd, 2024
FROGS / Inclement Weather / Growing Gardner / Learning Spotlight / Winter Extracurriculars / Power of Play / Snapshots / Events
|
|
|
Everyone is welcome to join FROGS (Friends and Relatives of Gardner School). Hop on into the next meeting! Learn more at https://www.gardnerschool.org/frogs
Next meetings (8:30am in the Farmhouse):
- Thursday, December 19th
- Thursday, January 16th
Volunteer opportunities coming up:
|
|
|
|
Inclement Weather Reminders
|
|
With temperatures dipping into the mid 20s at Gardner this morning, the potential for wintery weather has definitely arrived!
While Gardner School makes every effort to keep classes on time and on schedule, we prioritize the safety of our students, staff, and families when making decisions about late starts and school closures due to inclement weather. We take into account the fact that our families and staff travel from all over the region, and we keep an eye on what other schools decide in the early morning hours when snow or ice have visited our area.
In the event weather or road conditions require us to start late or be cancelled, we will communicate this to families by 7:00 am. Please check text messages, email, FACTS Family Portal, and our Facebook page for up to date information.
If Gardner School is open, but you feel the road conditions or weather in your area make it unsafe for you to venture out, please call the main office to let us know your student will be absent for the day so we know everyone is safe!
|
|
Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday! Read how you can help support the students and teachers through your gift in the latest
Growing Gardner Newsletter.
|
|
|
Compost activity worms its way into Gardner
|
|
On Friday, November 22nd, Gardner had a visit from a Shannon Hunter, an Environmental Programs Technician from Clark County Public Health. Shannon volunteered to teach our K-6 students all about the importance of composting and specifically how to compost and reduce waste through the construction and use of worm bins, instead of the usual compost bins we think of in the garden.
The students were broken up into K- 2nd and 3rd- 6th cohorts so they could get a closer look at the worms and their work. Worm Bin Bingo was a great activity to help students recognize the various parts of a worm bin's life cycle, from worms and their food sources to castings and egg cases! This hands-on activity, was coordinated by Kalama parent Chelsea Witter, and it dovetails with our EarthGen initiatives. Activities like this help students understand the importance of reducing waste and how to turn our garbage into nutrient-rich soil for use in the garden. Stay tuned for more work on worms, composting, and the natural cycles of our garden and wetlands later this spring!
|
|
Dungeons and Dragons Coming Soon!
|
|
|
Calling All Adventurers!
Welcome to the worlds of Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Hero Kids and more! We have simplified the basic fantasy roleplaying game genre for 1st through 6th graders, and are seeking players!
The Quest
- Thursdays, 4-5pm
- Beginning January 9th, 2025
- Each "campaign" runs 6 weeks
- $75 per campaign, and you get a set of polyhedral dice to keep!
- $40 additional one-time charge if you want your own Players Handbook to keep! (We will have copies for use during club time)
Our Dungeon Masters
- Jared Renfro (Science Teacher)
- Lisa Linderman (Director of Campus Operations)
- Andrew Buckner (Pahto Parent)
If your student wants to embark on this adventure, please contact llinderman@gardnerschool.org. We will send an invoice and a brief enrollment questionnaire in preparation for January!
|
|
Have you attended a ParentEd talk yet?
|
|
|
Families choose Gardner School for many reasons, but a common theme is that our school integrates play, imagination, and creativity into the learning of all students- leading to joyful learning and engaged classroom environments!
You're invited to a live Q&A webinar this Wednesday, December 4th from 7-8 pm with Teacher Tom, a Seattle-based educator who teaches adults how to nurture curiosity and engagement through play. Can't attend live? All registrants receive the recorded presentation to watch later, too.
In this webinar, you'll learn how to:
- Embrace the natural playfulness of your child
- Create a more playful environment at home
- Foster creative problem-solving and self-motivation
- Encourage cooperation over obedience
These ParentEd Talks are offered FREE to Gardner School families and teachers as part of our commitment to ongoing education, and the series is made possible in part through the sponsorship of Wonder Tree Developmental Psychology.
Sign up here with the code GARDNERSCH to register today!
|
|
Friday, December 6th
Clark County Pride Family Game Night
Hosted by Gardner School. Email Lisa Linderman for more details!
Wednesday, December 11th
"Secure" Action and "Evacuation" Action safety drills
During school hours, no alarms to be sounded. For more information on our new Standard Response Protocol drills, please see the parent handout in the FACTS Family Portal Resource Documents.
Wednesday, December 18th, 12:00pm
Mazama Celebration of Learning
Families join us in the Great Room and Mazama to see what Mazama has been learning!
Thursday, December 19th, 8:30am
FROGS December Meeting
Join our Parent Teacher Organization, the FROGS (Friends and Relatives of Gardner School) in the Farmhouse for planning and information!
Thursday, December 19th, 2:00pm
K-6 Celebration of Learning
Families join us in the Great Room for a short program and then visit classrooms for a showcase of thematic learning.
Friday, December 20th
Pancake Breakfast and Pajama Day
Students can wear pajamas to school! Pancakes and other breakfast items will be served in the Great Room by our FROGS in the morning, then pizza at lunch!
Friday, December 20th
NO AFTER CARE
Our staff will be meeting for a holiday party right after school on this last day before Winter Break. No After Care this day!
December 21st - January 5th
Winter Break
No school! See you in 2025!
January 6th
Teacher In Service Day
No school! Teachers return this day.
January 7th
First Day of Winter Term
Students return Tuesday, 1/7, for the first school day of 2025!
|
|
|
|
|
