Tree Swallow Times: January 10, 2011

      "How wonderful it is that nobody need
       wait a single moment before starting to
                           improve the world."
                                             Anne Frank

Thursday’s trip to the Family Resource Center was absolutely wonderful.  We arrived and were greeted by Martha Ochoa, the center’s director.  She thanked us for coming to help, referencing a large shipment of clothes and food that needed sorting and shelving.  
A Tree Swallow representative, Waylon, then described our Stone Soup project and fundraiser with enthusiastic detail and presented a check for 140.80 to Martha.   A round of applause and the Swallows were off, focused on sorting clothing and food donations.

Such serious effort necessitated fresh air and hard play.

Peace Buddies return!  Friday we reunited with our Peace Buddies (Charlie’s class and a partnership devoted to citizen/stewardship projects).
We spent time getting to know each other and brainstormed characteristics of personal identity and culture.  This will feed an art/mapping activity and lay foundation for the Pennies For Peace fundraising project.  
We meet again this coming Thursday.
Don’t forget to send in your greeting card fronts to support the student initiated citizenship project to help St Jude’s Ranch for Children.


The week ahead:
    This week we will begin to brainstorm and plan our class Treasure book:  a culmination of our “3 Months on the River in a Red Canoe.”
The Treasure Book program provides publishing opportunities to classrooms nationwide.  This is our third year creating a Treasure Book.   Watch for more information (such as ordering opportunities) coming soon.

Wednesday, we welcome Adam Fleenor , a Clean Water Services  Hydrologist  and FGCS parent.  Mr. Fleenor will guide the Swallows in wetlands activity and answer questions about the Jackson Bottom restoration.

Our Jackson Bottom winter monitor is this month, the 27th of January.  We are seeking adult guides.  Please come.  It is truly an experience!

Note:  We do not have a Thursday Out and About this week due to Adam Fleenor’s visit and Peace Buddies.
We resume our Thursday schedule next week with the Theater on the Grove presentation of “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”
Every year, the Theater in the Grove offers a performance for school children at a really reasonable rate, just 5.00.    Watch for  a note home about this.  One last thing, if you would like to accompany us for the play, I would like to invite 1-2 adult guides.  Let me know asap.