November 28

Macie, Cierra, Charlie, Ava, Xavier, Maeven and Maisie filming The Tempest out by Crossett Brook at "Prospero's Cell"

Plays!
We are in the final weeks of our drama unit.  The group which is working on the Shakespeare plays are finishing their filming this week, and their films will be submitted to the festival.  The students working on the Phantom Tollbooth are finishing up props.  We will be working on sets and costumes later this week.  If you have any old white sheets that you do not need, we can use them for backdrops.  We could also use an umbrella :)  One of the Mary Poppins kind with a point on the end.

Thank-you for all the cardboard!

Performances:
The Phantom Tollbooth will show their play in the Cougar Cafetorium on Friday, December 9th from 1:00 - 2:30.  All are welcome.

The Shakespeare plays will be finished this week.  They are all digital, and will be available for your viewing online.  We will also show these during the Quest Feast.

LA
epals to France
In our efforts to continue to learn about the world, students all have an epals account through the Smithsonian Museum with a class in France.  Students will write letters to these students based on interests and questions about culture.  We will use this platform for teaching students using correct grammar online, and online etiquette when communicating with students from countries around the world.  This way, students will all have the experience of communicating via letters (Alabama for all, Russia and Rhode Island for some) and emails (France).  The POW this week will be to write an introductory letter to an epal in France of their choosing.  Usernames and passwords will be given out in class on Monday, November 28th.  There will be no personal information shared.

Letters to Russia will be going out at the end of the week.  Our letters from Russia were very interesting!

IS
We have completed our Robotics unit and will be beginning our 'Three Worlds Meet' Social Studies unit.  Students are learning about Primary and Secondary Sources this week.  Next week they will begin a three week study of either Native American or African American history.  They will switch teachers after break to learn about the other subject.

Math
Our fraction unit will take place from now until winter break.  We will be reviewing adding and subtracting fractions and then deepening our understanding of multiplying and dividing fractions.  Problem solving will also be a focus of this unit.

iBlock  Your student is in a new iBlock for the next six weeks.  These range from editing practices to Spanish classes.

Quest Feast!
Save the date!  The Quest Feast will be happening on December 21st from 11 - 1.  Details to come on dishes to bring!

November 2

Sadie carving her group's pumpkin at our Fall Festival.

Fundraising - By now, you should have received information for our annual fundraiser.  This fundraiser is coordinated by the PTO, and is an excellent way to earn enough money for our Boston trip.  We need approximately $4,100 for a one day trip that includes bus, a walk on the Freedom Trail, admission to either the NE Aquarium, or the Boston Museum of Science, and a meal on the way home.  That means each student needs to raise $100 (profit) for that trip.  Many students would like to go on a two day trip to Boston.  That would include bus, a walk on the Freedom Trail, admission to the NE Aquarium, an overnight at the Boston Museum of Science, and lunch on the way home.  Students would have to pack a lunch and a dinner for the first day, but breakfast would be provided at the museum and we would stop for lunch on the way home.  That cost is $7100, or each student would need to raise about $175 (profit).

We have done the overnight trip in the past, and it is really fun.  We would love to do this trip, but we need each family to either make a donation or help fund raise for the trip.  We will see how well we do on this fundraiser.  We'd like to raise at least 1/2 the amount for the overnight, if we are considering that option.

Here is a link to the PTO's website.

Thank - you for your help with this matter.

Student Led Conferences

On Thursday, November 10th we will be having the Fall round of Student-Led Conferences for all CBMS students.  These conferences put your child, your learner at the center stage of learning.

The focus of these conferences is on growth and how your child can best grow his or her learning with the wide variety of supports that you provide through the home-front and we provide through the school-front.  The conferences are an assessment experience for your child that allows him or her to demonstrate skills such as communication and self-direction, as well as a learning experience in and of itself.  The conference will give you as parents / guardians a good look at the place where the rubber of Proficiency-Based Learning meets the road - namely in the work your child is undertaking at school day in and day out.

Our goal is to have 100% of our students lead a conference.  We realize that it is a bit unrealistic for 100% of our families to be able to be there the afternoon/evening of the 10th, so we will schedule conferences with AG Leaders or another trusted staff member for those students who cannot conference on the 10th.   Also please note that our teachers are always available to meet at any time with parents outside of conference time- simply contact teachers directly to schedule a time.  

As always, thank you for your support of your child, our school, and our community!

Cardboard
We are going to begin making props for our drama unit. If you have any cardboard around the house, please send it in! We could especially use large cardboard - as we need to make a tollbooth, and a car.

The Tempest
Some students on our team are working on understanding the themes of the Tempest, and are acting in select scenes from this play. U-32 is putting on 4 performances of this play this weekend (my daughters are in the performance :). Performances run: Friday at 7:00, Saturday at 2:00 and 7:00, and Sunday at 2:00. If you are looking for something to do, and are feeling like a bit of Shakespeare, come and check it out!

Thank-you!!

Shyannah offering kale chips to Quest during the talent show.  Students made kale chips and butternut squash muffins in the upstairs kitchen.  The kale and the squash came from the Quest gardens.  Treats were enjoyed by all.