Principal's Newsletter December 11, 2009

Giving as a Way of Life

If you are a subscriber to the LO Review, please take a moment to find the education section; they regularly print a feature called Students Speak and quite often come around hoping to speak with students about a pre-selected topic. For the most part the questions the students are asked are rather frivolous. This time, however, when the reporter spoke with our 7th and 8th graders she inquired as to their philanthropic efforts. I surreptitiously eavesdropped, and experienced once more the kind of pride that only children speaking from the heart can provide. The kids didn't blink; their thoughts and plans rolled right out. I was impressed not only by the fact that each of them had at least one major initiative or project to speak cogently about, but also by the range they represented. And this was a random sampling of our students. If you've seen the over-stuffed bins of coats gracing our front entry at Smith -- the results of our Student Council's effort to make a difference for kids in need -- then you know this is not an isolated incident. For our kids, giving is an important aspect of life in the broader world. I am thankful to work with a faculty focused on bringing them exposure to the ethic of selfless giving, and to work alongside a parent community raising a group of kids who don't flinch when asked "What are you doing to make a difference this season?"

Upcoming events:

Monday

6:00 PM School Board Regular Meeting, HS Library

Tuesday

Wednesday
1st Grade and Kinder to Tears of Joy

Thursday
9:00 AM - 10:45 PM GS - 7 & 8 Gr. FT - RHS (Shakespeare)

Friday
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM District Athletic Committee Meeting
2:00 PM - Rockets Away!

Principal Newsletter -- December 3, 2009

Book Fair Next Week!

In the library here at Smith we will be hosting once again the Scholastic Book Fair, which helps us, among other things, stock our library with high-quality literature.

K-4 Music Performance

Please join us on Thursday December 10th at 7pm for the Winter Concert, held this year at Riverdale High School. Parking is limited, but we have additional room for parking thanks to the two churches nearby. I have been dropping in on music classes and can attest to the quality of the pieces!

Coat Drive (& Lost n' Found)

On Wednesday the 16th of December the Student Council will be delivering the "bounty" of our coat drive to x Elementary School. Before leaving we will check the lost and found for names in coats, and then will be donating any coats left over along with the donations.

Please check the lost and found by Tuesday the 15th!

Upcoming events:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM HS 8th Grade Visit
9:30 AM - 11:00 PM GS - 4th Gr. FT - Narnia (NW Children's Theatre)

Thursday
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM GS - (@ HS) Gr. K-4 Winter Concert - HS Gym

Friday

Principal's Newsletter November 23, 2009

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Everyday we are thankful to be working in your community, with your children. We are thankful that you entrust their learning to us, and for the learning we achieve through them.

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Winter Sports Edition

I do want to take a moment to clarify a few details about the upcoming winter sports schedule.
Communication around the beginning of a sport season has not been our high water mark in my two years and I take full responsibility for it. Please know we are working to improve this facet of our communications.

The gym at Smith, as many know, is less than ideal. Thus, we will schedule games at the high school when the Mavericks are away and at other teams' facilities. Some will still be held at Smith.

Girls Basketball

• All 6th grade girls are welcome to join the 7/8 girls in their season. Because of relatively low participation there will be no stand-alone 6th grade girls team later in the Winter.
• Practices will be held at Smith after school @ 3:30 (2:30 on Wednesday).

Boys Basketball

• The practices (through 12/17) will be held at Smith after the girls practices, starting at 5:00 (4:00 Wednesdays). The post 12/17 practice schedule will be posted on 12/1.
  
• Players will likely have the chance to stay between dismissal and practice in a study hall.
• A stand-alone 6th grade boys team will begin its practice season on January 25th.
  

All practices and games are on the district athletic calendar here. Games are also listed on the regular calendar here.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Principal Newsletter -- November 13, 2009

Here is a photo -- not a Brian Black quality shot, taken with my phone -- of what we will see next year when we climb the central stairs to the main second floor landing. We are looking at the library, and at the river and Mt. Hood beyond. Thursday was the first time I was able to get up to the second floor, and I took advantage of the opportunity. It's very thrilling to be planning the learning spaces we'll be inhabiting next Fall. At the same time, we are all too cognizant of the challenge the students and teachers of Marysville Elementary in Portland face. On Monday, they will be moved to a new location. We had a summer to pull this off, and it was by an admittedly narrow margin at that. They have five days. Our student council is putting together a program to assist them collect supplies and materials by this next Friday. A collection box will be on site all week.

Nearly as exciting is the arrival of our first band and choral concert, to be held this coming Thursday evening at 7:00 at Riverdale High School. Each of our concerts will be held at the high school this year, and Mrs. Scholz and the 6-8 students have been practicing intently to prepare! I was just treated to a preview of the 6th grade choir, and can personally attest that it will be a wonderful evening.

Next week, we'll try to put a meaningful cap on an incredibly whirlwind first trimester.


Upcoming events:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday
9:00 AM GS PTC Meeting @ Smith
9:15 AM - 11:30 AM GS - 2nd Gr. FT - Winningstad Theater
7:00 PM - 7:45 PM GS - Winter Sports Info Night (Parents) - Library

Thursday
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM GS - Kinder FT - Langelers House
7:00 PM - 6-8 band and choral concert @ RGS gym

Friday
End of First Trimester
2:45 - 3:10 PM Fall Sports Assembly - Gym