A Very Wonderful Thanksgiving

We sent 23 car packages out to Lcpl Elizabeth Gill and her unit on Friday, November 23rd and they arrived ON THANKSGIVING!!!  How awesome is that? Here is her thank you letter to the class:


Miss Ventura,

  I want to thank you and your students for all the things you've sent us. The luck we had with receiving them led them to be opened on Thanksgiving. It is wonderful to receive care packages such as these at any time, but during this day when one starts to miss ones loved ones, it is an amazing surprise and it lifts the spirits of all the Marines who receive a gift.

   To Valena, thank you for the the sweets, snack foods and hygiene products. We're going to make the food last because of what a treat it is over seas. As for cavities, you don't have much to worry about.  We have toothbrushes and extras thanks to you and your classmates. :-)

    To Kayla, I've never played basketball. Is it fun? I was a swimmer in school.

    Mussie, you'll be happy to know that my entire squadron knows about your boxes and every shop has been able to get something out of them. I'm glad to here about what you want to be, but before you decide, make sure you really want to join an armed force group. You have to feel it in your heart if you want to be a Marine and then you have to earn the right to call yourself one.

    Ahmed, I have to tell you, when my Staff Sergeant  saw the raisins you packed, he was so excited. He said they reminded him of what he would make his sons when he's home. Don't worry, my teammates always know if they want something that no one else has or if they didn't get something that day to come to my shop because people like your teacher, classmates, parents and yourself care enough to give us things that we really don't have access to out here.

    To Alex, thank you so much for the games. We have a Marine out here with an XBox but for some reason, he only brought one game.  So thank you for giving us more options.

    For Jaden, I give a big thank you to since some people were looking for something specific. You and your partner, Bailey, took the time to write them all down which helped us get the boxes distributed faster. We all hope our deployments are safe, but my squadron is with the jets so we don't venture out the wire like the Infantry(grunts as we call them) and the Combat Engineers (They blow up bombs) do on a regular basis. When I see them, I try to give them things that you and others send us.

    Bailey, again as I said for Jaden, thank you for the list. It just helps us with time. As for color I have three; black, gold, and scarlet. If you are still interested in the military and would like to know a  little more, write me either an email or a letter and I will try to answer every question you have and do my best to explain the military life.

    Hannah, we had everyone trying to get your cookies. That's the one thing everybody here has with their families during Christmas. We decided to keep them in the tins until it's closer to that time before we split all of them in half and share them as a Squadron.  We might be away from our loved ones, but the Marines are very close-knit and we become a second family. Trail mixes are amazing gifts because they really don't go bad and they have little goodies in them while we're working on whatever we do. As for your dad, I'm sure you are very proud of him.  Mine was a Marine and Grandpa was in the army. Tell him my squadron also says thank you for his service to our country and the gifts he helped with.

   To Sherrdonna, thank you for the snacks. The stuffed animals you sent we don't keep. I give them to the grunts so they can be given to the children they meet.  And as for the toothbrushes, noted.

    Nallelie, Thank you for the candy and all the hygiene products we found in your box. It really does help us all out when we get stuff like that.

    Linda, granola bars are the best. They are the ultimate snack food. They can be eaten anytime, anywhere  and they give us some of the nutrition we need on a regular basis. The mashed potatoes arrived right on Thanksgiving. Give you a guess what my shop is sharing tonight.

   For the first graders' drawings, we would like it if you would tell them thank you from us. We have them hung across our hanger so everyone can see. Thank you for adding color to the desert.

   Finally, to Christy.  In your letter you thanked us for serving the fishes and animals. Granted, me might take care of them we don't serve them. When you enlist to become a soldier, airman, seaman, or Marine, you take an oath to serve and protect the United States of America and her people. We serve the country and, in turn, serve you and the rest sitting in the classroom to the left and right of you.

     Thank you all so much for these gifts. even if it seemed weird as a school project it still makes a difference out here in the middle of a combat zone for those who received it.

                           Sincerely,
                                     LCpl Elizabeth Gill


                                                                Semper Fi!



Getting Back into the Swing of Things!


F3!  Sorry I had to miss school for a few weeks!  I am SO happy to be back!

Now it is time to get back into the swing of things. On Monday, we will get started with doing just that.  With one day left until the 2012 Election, we will go over ballot measures and the Electoral College.  We will make final predictions to get ready for the big day.

Also, we will get started with Global Reading.  There are 14 slots available for kids who want to be a part of Global Reading this year. Check out the Seattle Public Library link to get started.

We'll also discuss Maple's annual care package drive and talk about continuing the F3 tradition of being the leaders of this drive.

Lastly, we'll discuss upcoming parent teacher conferences and talk about how YOU will be getting ready for the conference by setting up goals in reading, math and behavior in these next two weeks.

Can't wait to see you guys!!

Learning About the Election

This was the electoral college map in 2008.  Here it is in 2012.  See the difference?


29 or more- red
15-28- orange
9-14 yellow
4-8 green
3- pink

Welcome to F3!!

Hello! I am Marcia Ventura, and I will be your child’s fifth grade teacher this year. I have taught in the Seattle School District for twelve years, and this is my sixth year at Maple, and I love it here deeply!

Fifth grade is a very exciting year for students. At this moment they are one year from starting middle school, and as such, it is critical that throughout the year, students become academically and socially ready for that transition. Instruction, especially in the areas of reading, writing, and math, will be rigorous to ensure that readiness.

What will students learn this year? In science, they will work with microscopes, learn about erosion and ground water, and even become engineers. In social studies, your child will learn about early US history and the principles this country was founded on.

Homework will be given Monday through Thursday. Students should be spending about 30 minutes on homework, and thirty minutes reading a book of their choice.I expect homework to be done completely independently. If your child is asking for help often with the homework, please let me know. All homework given in class will be directly related to what was taught during that school day.

Coming up very soon will be fourth and fifth grade camp!!   Most of the students are already signed up and paid for. If you are not, you'll be receiving a phone call from me very soon :). Camp is very exciting and will be taking place at Camp Seymour in Gig Harbor from September 28-30. More information about camp can be found in the links on the right side of the screen.

Please visit the blog often!  Also, the kids will get started on podcasts soon.  They will be heir reading stories over "the air" and you will be able to listen to their weekly KOF3 radio shows.

Cheers!

Ms. Ventura

Our City Hall Adventure!!


Check out our pictures from our city hall field trip!  We got to see Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Justice Fred Bonner, the Marshal's office, the Mayor's office!!!  It was a GREAT day!


F3 is going to City Hall on Friday, May 4!!


We're excited to announce that F3 will be going to Seattle City Hall on Friday, May 4th!! We will leave Maple at approximately 9:25 and return right to school by 2:45. We will be meeting with Bruce Harrell, a member of the City Council. We’ll also get to visit the City Courthouse and see Judge Hightower and hopefully go by the Mayor’s office. This will be a great learning experience for the kids who have been learning all about the three branches of government. We will be taking the bus and link light rail to get to downtown. Students will need to bring $3.00 to cover the cost of transportation.

The more parents, the better! Please come if you can on May 4th. I am so sorry about the late notice. It’s been very hard to nail down a date!!

Click here: http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/teacher_lessons/3branches/3b_toc.htm

MV

Spring has Sprung in F3!!

Spring has definitely sprung in F3, and with it we are having a blast!

We are about halfway through our FLASH unit. Kids have been handling the subject matter with great maturity, and are sticking to our FLASH ground rules:



  • no side conversations

  • it's ok to laugh, but calm down soon so we can move on

  • what is said in F3, stays in F3 and/or goes home

  • no put downs

  • have fun and learn lots!
Yesterday we began our Micros and Me unit. This unit was created by researches at the University of Washington. Through Micros and Me, students will be learning about microbes, health, bacteria, and making connections between home health practices and science. It's a fantastic unit. The research by the UW is ongoing, and as such kids received a consent form. If you have not yet handed in your consent form, please do so!

We finished our unit on Colonial Boston and have moved on to the Constitution. As the kids are learning about the comings and goings of our Founding Fathers, we are currently working on a new F-3 Constitution complete with rules, rights and responsibilities. Stay tuned!

Thanks again for all you continued support, and make sure you are tuning in to our podcasts, KOF3 Radio!

It's almost SPRING! Lots to catch up on.



Colonial Boston in 1770 (in F3) :)



Hello Families!

Thanks so much for such a great start to 2012! The Colonial Boston Feast was awesome before break and it would not have happened if it it weren't for your help!

I wanted to let you know about some things that are coming up:

First off, we'll be starting the FLASH unit (Family Life and Sexual Health) on Monday, March 12. You can read a copy of my letter to families here.

Second, I wanted to let you know about a rescheduled event happening tomorrow night: At 6:30 in F-Pod, Mike Donlin will be coming to discuss cyber safety and awareness. This is a very timely and important topic for fifth graders. Hope to see you there.

Last, I wanted to give all parents a heads up that I will be taking family leave starting at the end of May. I am thrilled to announce that my partner is pregnant and our son is due in early June. The class will be left with a great guest teacher. All major testing will be completed at this point. I will try my very best to be here for the fifth grade graduation on the last day of school. :)

All the best!

Ms. V

Our Colonial Boston Feast!

Check out our pictures from our first meeting in "the Pub". Thanks everyone for a GREAT feast!





Our God is Marching On

This week for our podcast, we will be taking turns reading through the speech, Our God is Marching On. This speech was made in Montgomery, Alabama after the five day voting rights march from Selma. Watch a clip of King's speech below.