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IN THIS ISSUE:
message from the head / celebration of learning / learning in action / question of the week / no after care friday / snow ball rsvp / making connections / spread the word! / after school activities for january / snapshots / events
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From the Head of School
Dear Gardner School community,
As we experience our last week of school in 2023, I am taking time to reflect on the past year, and I am proud of what we've accomplished together. Our students are thriving, and we've continued to keep our community healthy, happy, and learning together. When students are running laps around the garden, finding praying mantis at recess, painting, playing math games, and more, mental and physical health is better for all of us. Academic successes happen every day at the Gardner School, as students work on and improve reading, writing, and math skills with engaging and thoughtful thematic learning.
Our students are making the most of their last few weeks of 2023! Our Pahto students had a beautiful Celebration a week ago as they shared their learning about Vancouver-Then and Now. The other classrooms are humming with excitement as they finish up final touches on projects, rehearse songs and plays, and share their learning with one another.
I am looking forward to welcoming and seeing many of you at our Celebration of Learnings this week. Our Mazama classroom will be sharing at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, December 13th. Our K-6th grade students will be meeting on Thursday, December 14th at 2:30 pm in our Great Room. All are welcome! Our students and teachers work hard, and it's exciting to share their beautiful accomplishments.
I wish you a healthy and happy holiday season!
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It's wonderful to have families on campus for Celebrations of Learning!
For our Mazama families, please meet in the gym at at 12:00 pm for the start of the Pre-K program. From there, the students will host you in the Mazama classroom to share more of their work!
For our K-6 families, please meet in the gym for some schoolwide performances, then head to classrooms to check out more examples of learning. After you've finished in your child's classroom, feel free to visit our other classrooms to see what learning looks like across the ages! This is a great time to look ahead to what classroom your child would be in next year, too.
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Check out this sneak peek from our Klickitat class! They have worked hard on their retelling of the story of Jason and Medea, part of their Ancient Greece thematic!
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We'd love to get more feedback from families about this question from last week! We're here to support students, and are interested in what's on your mind!
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No After Care Friday 12/15
Our staff will have their annual holiday party on this day, and no aftercare is available. *If you have a child in Tumtum or Mazama with an older sibling, they can stay up to the K-6 pickup time at 3:30.
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A Night of Fun with Friends!
Snow Ball RSVP
On January 12th 2024, the Gardner School is hosting the Snow Ball! The Snow Ball was started three years ago to create a safe space for students to enjoy and experience a school dance. With the help of all the staff, we’ve been able to put together a wonderful experience for the students.
Your student is invited to join their friends in a night of dancing, crafts, games, and more dancing! There will be some quieter activities for the youngest children to have some low-key breaks in Mazama as well. Older siblings are welcome, but we are unable to host children younger than kindergarten who are not already enrolled in our program due to licensing rules. Dinner is provided and catered by Olive Garden.
When:
Friday, January 12th, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm (aftercare is still available on this day)
Students can be dropped off in the lobby between 5:00 pm - 5:30pm.
Pick up is between 7:30- 8:30, with parents signing their children out from the Main Building lobby. Parents are welcome to come and dance from 7:30 pm-8:00 pm!
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Making Connections
Reading Buddies
One of the most unique features at Gardner School is the emphasis we put on connecting our older and younger students here on campus. Whether it's in community meetings, special projects, or activities like reading buddies, these opportunities to play and learn with one another help all our students feel seen and known.
Sometimes, you even find someone else who loves the things you love- like this kindergarten and 3rd grade student who know more about maps than most adults!
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Spread the Word!
The majority of our families found out about us through word of mouth recommendations. As you connect with friends and neighbors over the break, please share about your Gardner School experience!
Pick up some flyers in the lobby at the Celebration of Learning to hang up at your office, favorite gym, or staff room at work. Adding reviews to Google or Facebook is a wonderful way to help us connect with future families, too.
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After School Programs
New Options in 2024!
Choir
- Open to Students in 1st through 6th Grades (Pahto to Klickitat)
- Taught by our own music teacher Devon
- This second season will have 8 sessions for your young songbirds to develop their technique, work on songs for talent show, or just engage a love of music!
- Students do NOT need to have been in the first season of Choir to participate, all levels welcome!
- Mondays, 3:45-4:30pm
- $96
- Register by emailing Lisa Linderman, Office Manager
Soccer
- Open to Students in Kindergarten through 3rd Grades (Kalama to Wy'East)
- Taught by West Coast Soccer Academy
- This season is 10 sessions working on skills acquisition, control, and the basics of playing full games of soccer.
- Indoors when the weather is inclement.
- Tuesdays, 3:45 - 4:45 or Thursdays, 3:45 - 4:45 (Students may sign up for both!)
- $160 for one day per week, $320 for both
- Register by contacting West Coast Soccer Academy at hopewcsa.org, or by emailing ingallswcsa@gmail.com
Chess
- Open to Students in 1st through 6th Grades (Pahto to Klickitat)
- Taught by Chess Wizards
- Our second session of 10 classes. Participation in the first season is NOT REQUIRED to sign up. Students of all levels welcome!
- Fridays, 3:45pm - 4:45pm
- $210
- Register by contacting Chess Wizards at www.chesswizards.com, or call (866) 4386
Flyers for each of these are linked above and are also available on the Family Portal under the Resource Document section.
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Campus snapshots
The students have been working hard to finalize projects and best work for the Celebration of Learning. Can't wait to see you there!
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Upcoming Events
Wednesday, December 13th
Mazama Celebration of Learning, 12:00 pm
Mazama students will have a presentation to share with families at the end of the school day on Wednesday, December 13th at 12:00. Stay tuned for upcoming classroom newsletters with more information!
Thursday, December 14th
Kalama, Loowit, Wy'East, and Klickitat Celebration of Learning 2:30 pm
Meet in the Great Room for schoolwide presentations before touring your students' classrooms for more examples of their work from the year so far.
Friday, December 15th
Pajamas, Pancakes, and Pizza!
This fun tradition continues, with the Triple P- It's Pajama Day, where we'll start the morning with a schoolwide pancake breakfast, followed by Pizza Friday as usual for lunch. Each classroom teacher will share plans for classroom activities or parties, and volunteers are welcome! Contact Office Manager, Lisa Linderman, for more info.
Friday, December 15th
No Aftercare Available
Our staff will have their annual holiday party on this day, and no aftercare is available. *If you have a child in Tumtum or Mazama with an older sibling, they can stay up to the K-6 pickup time at 3:30.
Monday, December 18th through Tuesday, January 2nd
Winter Break, No School
We will see you back on campus in the New Year! Classes resume on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024. Wednesday is an early release schedule.
Friday, January 12th
Gardner Snow Ball * Updated Date
The Snow Ball is free for our students and their kindergarten and older siblings (DCYF licensing rules limits our ability to invite younger siblings, unfortunately!). Our staff will provide fun crafts and activities, a Great Room dance party, and dinner for students.
Monday, January 15th
No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Monday, January 29th
No School, Teacher Inservice Day
To see and subscribe to our calendar of events, click below!
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