In this Edition
Message From Dr Berg: Below
K12 Update: Below
345 Update: Below
678 Update: Below
Greetings From The Library Ladies: Below
School Counselor Stephanie Update: Below
8th Grade Spanish Update: Below
Online Enrollment for 2020-2021 Kindergarteners: Below
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Message From Dr Berg
Hello Odyssey Families,
I hope you are well and taking care of yourself. As we enter into the memorial weekend and our last few weeks of school, I want to recognize that this journey has been quite the challenging and interesting one for many of us. I certainly never went into education so I could run a virtual school. I know that we have all learned things about ourselves and I am sure that when we return to school (and restaurants and movies . . .) that we have all had some moments of perspective that have changed us and made us better. I am certainly grateful for all that I have learned from you, staff, and students.
Our teams met this week and the teachers are working on ways to make the last few days of school special and recognize our students. We certainly wish that we could be in person to celebrate our 8th graders moving on. Many of our families have been with Odyssey since Kindergarten and the transition from Odyssey into High School is a meaningful and important step. We celebrate you and though our year was cut short, the little I got to know of you gives me much hope for a future. What a hardworking and engaged group of students.
I know many of you have questions about what school will look like next year, as do we. We will be working together with each other and the district to stay up to date on what the plans will be and will certainly work together to plan accordingly when we know more. I will keep you up to date as we learn more from our state and city leaders.
Finally, thank you for all you do to support students and teachers. I love seeing glimpses of parents in the background when I pop into virtual classes to say hi to students. I miss you all.
Sincerely,
Dr. Berg
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K12 Update
Hello K/1/2 Families,
We continue to be energized and renewed each day that we get to meet with your wonderful smiling children! Thank you for guiding them through our class meet ups each week. Some of us are adding more meeting days which has been fun. The Kindergarteners have been reading to each other in our small book groups. Their reading fluency has come such a long way since September! The First graders have spent time learning about beginning sentences to grab our attention in writing. We have also all been having conversations about our worries and fears, which ones we can control and which ones we can't, like the weather. The teachers have been discussing how we will be celebrating the year and sending your children off to the summer so stay tuned for details!
Take care,
Ms. Gregoire, Mrs. Wilebski and Mrs Howard
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345 Update
Ahoy from the 345 Cluster!
This week in 345 students have been busy doing identity portraits, studying navigation of early explorers, and examining the impact of the Columbian exchange on native populations during the 15th and 16th centuries.
Did you know that many (if not all) PPS high schools and Portland area private schools have used Google Classroom as a learning platform for years? Learning how to navigate Google Classroom now will give our students a head start on high school learning. Is it a steep learning curve? Yes! Can our 345 students become adept at Google Classroom? Absolutely! We have been super impressed with our students for rocking this new, unfamiliar learning platform. Thank you parents for having patience, and for supporting your student as they master this new territory.
Have a great long weekend!
The 345 Team
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678 Update
Hello 678 Families,
By the end of this week you will receive a progress report for your student. Most students are doing well and on track to receive a Pass in online learning classes. If there is a specific issue regarding your students academic standing we will let you know what your student can do to bring their class work to passing levels. As always, please feel free to reach out by email with questions or concerns.
As always, stay safe and well and enjoy the long weekend with your family.
Best Wishes from The 678 Team,
Kristina Rothwell, Harmony Brinks-Detzer and Alan Damon
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Greetings from the Library Ladies!
From Ms. Jones -
Author Josh Funk’s website: https://www.joshfunkbooks.com/stuff-for-kids
He wrote How to Code a Sandcastle as well as some other great picture books and his website has some fun activities and book trailers.
Capstone Kids: http://www.capstonekids.com/index.aspx a free resource for science experiments, crafts and other activities as well as nonfiction books. How to make a mousetrap car, origami, card tricks - just too many projects to list! Lots of fun!
Ms. Jones is collecting videos and pictures for an Odyssey Family Newsletter. Have you learned to play the ukulele, did you make a chalk design on the sidewalk that you're really proud of, just want to say hi to Odyssey families or tell a funny joke? Send whatever you'd like to share to Ms. Jones at ljones2@pps.net with Odyssey Family Newsletter in the subject line.
REMINDER:
I now have K-5 Office Hours on every Monday from 1:00-3:00. Sign up here: https://calendly.com/lcchambers/odyssey-k-5-office-hours
K-1-2 News:
The art and poetry work students have been turning in for the Art & Library Unit has been so wonderful! Next week we will be focusing on digital citizenship and incorporating Flipgrid to share our thoughts on the lesson and facilitate discussion.
3-4-5 News:
I’ve been blown away by the incredibly thoughtful responses to the Art & Library Unit activities! On Monday there will be two activities posted. One will be some resources on a Padlet to use for Mr. Z’s art lesson. The other will be focusing on digital citizenship and incorporating Flipgrid.
6-7-8 News:
Please remind your student(s) to make sure they review my email from May 14th for important information about the research projects. Projects are due Tuesday, May 26th, feedback will be given by the evening of Thursday, May 28th, and revised projects are due no later than Sunday, May 31st. Online Gallery Walks will be facilitated June 1st-7th. If your student needs any help, please have them sign up for a 15 minute appointment slot during either the Tuesday 2:00-3:00 Office Hours or Wednesday 10:00-11:00 Office Hours through the Calendly link. https://calendly.com/lcchambers/office-hours
We continue to be here to support all students and families with login and technical support as well as reading recommendations. Don't hesitate to reach out at anytime. :)
Be well, be safe, and read lots!
All our best,
Ms. Chambers & Ms. Jones
lchambers@pps.net
ljones2@pps.net
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Greeting from Stephanie, School Counselor
As we maneuver distance learning I look forward to checking my Google Classroom to see who has viewed my videos and left a comment. I’m also pleased that kids are joining my Google Meets and I so enjoy saying hi to families on the phone.
8th Grade Note - If your child has completed a non PPS online course any earned credit will appear on their transcript. I also notify their 9th grade high school counselor.
I have had many requests for parenting book recommendations. Below are a few to check-out.
- Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children by Ross W. Greene
- Parenting a Child Who Has Intense Emotions by Pat Harvey
- Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
- Helping Your Anxious Child by Rapee, Wignall, Spence, Cobhamand, and Lyneham
- Why Do I Have to Do This? by Laurie Leventhal-Belfur
And a website for social emotional learning activity books Big Life Journal.com
Email me at scox@pps.net
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8th Grade Spanish Update
This week in our Spanish program, we practiced "The City Center Shopping Experience" in Spanish, by practicing how we would shop for articles of clothing, colors, fit .....and indicating which items we prefer.
We practiced relevant dialogues between Sales Staff and Customers, with exchanges covering a usual store scenario and normal conversation between the two.
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Coming soon: The Early Learner Programs team is developing a family-centered kindergarten transition plan. We know families are worried about the start to school, especially kinders. We’re planning on a slower, more family-friendly approach this year. Early registration will ensure that families stay in the loop on updated plans for the start of school.
