News...

Dear Fourth Grade Families,

I have some information that I would like to share with you. Recently, I was diagnosed with early stage cancer and my current prognosis is very positive. I will be having surgery this Friday. Between surgery, recovery time and additional treatment, I am likely going to be on medical leave for the duration of the school year.

I feel very fortunate to have Daphne Russell filling in for me. The students are very familiar with her and her stepping in means they will continue to receive the same quality education they would have gotten from me. Along with being an excellent teacher, she is also an active member of the Salmon Creek community and PTA.

I shared this information with my students this afternoon with the support of Daphne Russell and Sue Bales, the school counselor. I am very optimistic about my medical treatment plan and look forward to returning to Salmon Creek next fall.

If you have questions or concerns. You may contact the following people for further information:

• ·         Daphne Russell - daphne.russell@vansd.org or
• ·         Sue Bales - sue.bales@vansd.org

If you wish to send me letters or cards, please feel free to send them to my home address:

2943 NE 88^th Ct.

Vancouver, WA 98662

If it’s easier for you, you may also drop them by Salmon Creek and they will be delivered to my home.

I have so enjoyed teaching your kids this year and will be coming to visit them as my treatment allows. They have been such a fantastic group of kids and I have no doubt they will continue to shine! Thank you for continuing to support their education and thank you also for your support as I begin this journey.

 Warmly,

Ashley Beck

Book Fair!

Hi families,

Salmon Creek is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair this week! Our class will be going through on Friday afternoon, so feel free to send money for your children to use to buy books if you'd like!

Thanks!

Throw It Out Thursday!

This morning I greeted students with a thought provoking question before starting their morning work! My purpose was to have students think about the things in their life that are truly important to them, but there is also a connection to our upcoming social studies unit, which focuses on the Oregon Trail. We will be studying what life was like in a wagon train, especially for children. Often these kids were leaving the only homes they had ever known to head out West with their families and they had to make tough choices about what to take with them! I loved listening to your kids share what their one PRIZED possession was - stuffed animals and blankets from when they were born, favorite books and yes, even PlayStations!

What would be your ONE prized possession? Share below!

OMSI!!!

Today we had OMSI visit us with one of their fantastic traveling assemblies! The assembly we chose was called React-o-Blast and taught students about chemical and physical changes through some really fun and engaging experiments. Many of your children volunteered to help with these experiments and had a great time! Mr. Angelbeck even volunteered at the end. He is pictured above putting a flame to a balloon! Talk with your child to find out how this experiment ended!

Precaution!

Hi Fourth Grade Families,

It has been brought to our attention that there have been some recent cases of lice here at Salmon Creek Elementary. Please do your part to prevent the spread of this communicable condition by checking your child daily for the next few weeks, and on a regular basis thereafter. Lice infestation is much easier to treat if caught early.

Ways To Prevent the Spread of Lice:

•  Do not share combs, hair brushes, towels, hats, bike or batting helmets, sleeping bag, or pillows. 
• Avoid hanging hats and coats next to others’ clothing.  

What to Look For:

• Excessive scratching of head, especially at the back of the head just above the neck
• Nits on hair (these are usually pearly-gray in color and are attached to the hair shaft near the scalp)
• Nits are distinguished from dandruff because they stick to the hair shaft

What To Do If You Find Nits:

• Treat your child and all household members with a lice shampoo recommended by your pharmacist. Follow all instructions carefully! 
• Use a nit comb after treatment to remove lice from hair shafts. 
• A 10% vinegar rinse helps to loosen the nits from the hair shafts. 
• Wash all bed linens and washable clothing in hot water. Place all non-washable items such as stuffed toys in a sealed plastic bag for 21 days. 
• Vacuum furniture, rugs and floors. 

Especially if your child has long hair, please have them wear their hair up in a tight ponytail or bun for the next few weeks to help ensure that it doesn't spread.

Thank you for your help keeping this from spreading in our room,

Mrs. Beck

Winter i-Ready is upon us!

Hi fourth grade families,

Your students will be i-Ready testing in English/Language Arts and Math starting tomorrow morning and will finish Friday morning. We've broken it up into manageable parts and I am so excited to be able to share with you the progress they've made over the last 5 months! 

Wondering how you can help them be their best? Please make sure your children are getting plenty of sleep throughout the remainder of the week. Also, healthy dinners and hearty breakfasts are much appreciated! Brain food!

Room 210 is welcoming a new student tomorrow! Several of your children have already volunteered to be her buddy and welcome her to Salmon Creek! I will add her name and send home the class list for Valentine's Day tomorrow as well. Thanks for all that you do!

Whirlwind...

Hi families,

It feels like it's been forever since we've had a full week of school! I hope you all enjoyed your extra time off and were able to play in the snow that we so rarely get around here. I spent those days off playing, relaxing and having fun adventures with my littles, Avery and Carson. 

Now we are back in full swing in room 210! We launched into long division this week and will continue to work with it throughout the next topic as well. As we discussed at conferences in October, I cannot stress enough the importance of multiplication fact mastery as the foundation for long division. I'm already noticing some kids struggling with it because they haven't mastered their facts. They are getting through the problems okay, but it is taking them much longer to do each one. Please make sure your child is working with their multiplication facts every night for at least 10 minutes. We are currently at a 52% pass rate (80% of facts mastered or higher). This is a big jump up from the start of the year, when we had 15% passing, but we still have a ways to go!

Thank you to the 45% (13 students) that have been consistently turning in their homework each day. I appreciate your hard work and dedication to your education! With all of the lost instructional time because of the snow, we are going to be doubling up some math lessons as we move into Topic 10. Because of this, please continue to go over your child's planner with them so that you can see what they should be completing for homework each night. 

Thanks again for your support!

Comment below to share how you spent your snow days!

Resolution Friday!

Welcome back! I hope you all had a restful extended break and were able to spend the holidays with those that you love. 

We had a great first week back from Winter Break! Today I had the kids reflect on self-improvement and ways that they'd like to challenge themselves to become even more fantastic than they already are. Ask your child what their resolution is! 

We started Topic 9 today, which focuses (along with Topic 10) on long division. Please continue working each day with your child on their multiplication facts to ensure they master them to make long division so much easier for them! 

Data folders, updated with your child's most current progress, will be sent home next week. Please keep an eye out!

Please remember that Monday, January 9 is a 1-hour early release! 

Share your resolution for 2017 in the comments below!