This is the web site for Ms. Lauten's 5th grade class at Claire Lilienthal Alternative Elementary School in San Francisco, California.
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(5/27/10)
Greetings from Walker Creek Ranch!
The students are having a fantastic time in the ultimate classroom: Nature!
They are learning incredible things, making friends with children from
other communities, and experiencing a whole new level of independence.
Highlights will vary from student to student, but may include the following:
- Discovering baby salamanders in Turtle Pond
- Completing a day-long hike to Walker Peak
- Joining the Polar Bear Club
- Joining the Hardcore Club (eating an entire apple)
- Seeing a fox up close
- Holding a newt in the Enchanted Forest
- Accomplishing a lengthy solo hike in the foothills
- Watching a deer and her fawn walk through the woods
- Standing on top of a Miwok grinding rock
- Climbing the legendary Octopus Tree
- Being away from home for a whole week
- Making new friends (and keeping old ones!)
The kids are having an experience they'll never forget, but they are looking
forward to coming home, telling you all about what they saw and did, having
a nice home-cooked meal, and snuggling up in their very own bed.
We will see you tomorrow at 1:30!
Miss Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(5/17/10)
Dear families,
Two important dates are right around the corner!
Information and sign-up sheets for the Colonial Faire (Wednesday, June 2)
and 5th Grade Graduation (Thursday, June 3) were sent home with your child
today, so please take a look at them and send them back as soon as possible.
Your help is needed to ensure the success of these events!
Please be sure to check this week's Homework Log!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(5/14/10)
Thank you to all of the families who were able to join in the fun at Maydance!
The fifth graders were truly spectacular.
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(5/13/10)
Dear families,
Please join us tomorrow morning from 10-11AM for May Dance!
The students are performing an incredible dance to "Bad."
It is not to be missed!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(5/4/10)
Dear families,
Thank you for supporting your children through the STAR testing
period. Tomorrow (Wednesday 5/5) is the final day of testing, so
be sure to congratulate your child on a job well done.
Our trip to Walker Creek Ranch is right around the corner!
Outdoor Ed payments and forms are now due. Please fill out all
forms completely and send them to school with your child, along
with any remaining payment. The kids are going to have a blast!
It's not too early to start having conversations about the trip;
for many students, this will be the longest time they have spent
away from their family.
Mayfair is this weekend! I have just learned that 5th grade is
responsible for bringing the candy that will be used in the Candy
Wheel. Please stock up on some candy and bring it to Candy (of
course!) in the office this week.
Graduation is sneaking up on us! The ceremony will take place on
Thursday, June 3rd. There will be a picnic near the Warming Hut at
Crissy Field after the ceremony. It will be a potluck (more on that later).
Right now, we're looking for volunteers to provide serving tables and
transport items from campus. Please let me know if you can lend a hand!
Please be sure to check this week's Homework Log!
Many thanks!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(4/26/10)
Dear families,
STAR testing begins tomorrow (Tuesday 4/27) and continues into next week.
Testing begins promptly at 8:00AM, so it is especially important for students
to be on time to school. There is no "homework" this week. Please check the
Homework Log to see what assignments your child is working on in class. The
students are responsible for completing the assignments and will be given ample
time during the school day. The most important thing this week is to ensure that
your child gets a good night's sleep and eats a healthy breakfast.
Please remind your child that they should put forth their very best effort during
STAR testing. Build their self-esteem by letting them know that they are fabulous
human beings!
Thank you!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(4/22/10)
Dear families,
Thank you so much for sending in your payments for Outdoor Ed.
It's going to be an incredible week. The student have a lot to look forward to!
There are still a number of LifeTouch picture packages that need to be returned
(with or without a check). Please send those in with your child tomorrow.
Just a reminder that STAR testing begins next week and continues into the following week.
It is especially important for students to be on time to school.
Be sure that your child gets a good night's sleep and eats a healthy breakfast.
Thank you!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(4/15/10)
Hello!
A few reminders:
It's Tax Day.
Tomorrow is our field trip to see Fiorello! Please make a bag lunch for your child,
since we will be eating in the park after the performance.
Thank you to those families who have returned their unwanted school pictures
(and/or a check for purchased pictures). Please do this soon if you haven't already.
Outdoor Ed packets will be going home tomorrow (Friday). Please look at it over the
weekend, fill out the forms, and let me know if you have any questions.
Please note that Outdoor Ed is not optional.
Our trip to Walker Creek Ranch is an integral part of the fifth grade
curriculum (both academically and socially) and takes place during
the school week. Unexcused absences become a permanent part of a
student's school records. Please contact me if you need to discuss this!
Many thanks for all of your help and support,
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(4/6/10)
Dear families,
Thank you so much to those of you who came out to support all of the actors of Room 8.
Their performances of scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream were amazing. I know that
they are proud of the work they did. Families who were unable to be in the audience, please
congratulate your actor on a job well done. By the way, if anyone has pictures, please send
them to me and I will add them to the web site.
Reminder: Outdoor Ed payments are due!
The total cost of the trip is $300. As the note indicated, you may send in the full amount
or pay in three $100 installments. Payment in full is due on May 1st. Of course, feel free to
contact the office for information about alternate financial arrangements, if necessary.
The 4th annual "K-8 Art Gallery & Poetry Night" is this Thursday at 5PM.
Please join in the fun and celebrate your child's involvement in the arts!
Many thanks,
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(4/5/10)
Families:
I hope you all enjoyed the break and are ready for the last nine weeks of school.
The students are ready to perform their Shakespeare scenes tomorrow, and we all hope that you will be there in the audience! The play begins at 8:15AM and runs about an hour.
Many thanks,
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(3/26/10)
Dear families:
Thank you for a successful week of conferences!
The students are scheduled to perform their Shakespeare scenes on Tuesday
morning at 8:15, but many still need to work on memorizing their lines and
blocking. Over break, please help your child with this. There will be a run-through
on Monday morning, and Ms. Laura expects them to be prepared!
Have a wonderful Spring Break, and I look forward to seeing you all in April!
Many thanks,
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(3/22/10)
Dear families,
Just a reminder that this is parent-teacher conference week. Students are dismissed one hour early (at 12:40). Also, whenever possible, please bring your child to the conference.
Many thanks!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(3/10/10)
Hello, families!
Our field trip to Zeum is this Friday, so please be sure to fill out the permission slip and return it by tomorrow. We still have room for one more chaperone, so let me know if you are interested in joining us.
Many thanks!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(3/5/10)
The new Alice in Wonderland film was magnificent!
It was quite dark, but incredibly magical — a wonderful
cinematic spin on the original story. In fact, Faisal
came up to me after the movie and said, "Ms. Lauten,
I really felt like I was there in Wonderland." Well said!
Many thanks to Jim Fong for being a chaperone!
Please don't forget to check the Homework Log daily!
Every single assignment and test are listed there to help
you stay in the loop with regard to your child's schoolwork.
The Southeastern States projects look absolutely marvelous!
Thank you to all of the students for working so hard, and
thank you to the parents for supporting your children in their
academic pursuits!
If you haven't already returned your conference time
preferences, please do so by Monday.
Thank you so much!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(3/4/10)
Tomorrow is our field trip to see the new Alice in Wonderland film! We are all looking forward to it. If you are picking your child up after the film, please remember to meet them at the Claire Lilienthal main entrance on Divisadero (not at the theater) at 3:15. Students who are not going on the field trip will be placed in other classrooms for the afternoon (from 12:30-1:40), where they will be able to read or do schoolwork.
Just a reminder to check the Homework Log frequently! All students are expected to have their graded tests signed, and I am including this as an assignment (in blue text) in the Homework Log. Your signature on these tests lets me know that your child is communicating with you about his or her schoolwork and progress.
Thank you so much!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(3/2/10)
Hello!
A permission slip for this Friday's field trip to see the new
Alice in Wonderland film was sent home with your child today.
Please complete and return both pages, along with $8 to
cover the cost of your child's ticket, no later than Thursday.
Also, please be sure to review and sign your child's graded
Science test tonight. We are finished with the Living Systems
unit and we officially began the Water Planet unit today.
Many, many thanks!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(3/1/10)
Dear students and families,
I hope today went well!
I was out due to a terrible back spasm.
I hope to be well enough to return tomorrow.
In the mean time, if you have not already done so,
please send in your first installment of $100 for
the Outdoor Ed trip to Walker Creek Ranch.
Thank you so much!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(2/24/10)
Let's start with the good news! On Friday, March 5th, the new Alice in Wonderland
movie will be playing at the Marina Theater, right around the corner from school. It is rated PG (get rating details) and the students are very eager to see it.
The not-so-good news is that the first showing is at 1pm. Running time is 109 minutes,
so realistically, we would not be finished watching the film until about 3pm. This would
mean that students who are picked up after school would need to be picked up later
(either at the theater or back at campus). Students who attend CLLA could be escorted
back to campus (with me) for late arrival at CLLA. Students who normally take the bus
(and/or attend an after-school program elsewhere) would need to make other arrangements.
I'd like to get some feedback from parents about all of this.
Would making other arrangements be feasible for you on Friday, March 5th?
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(2/18/10)
Hello, students and families!
I'm really looking forward to receiving everyone's Alice in Wonderland project
tomorrow. The projects that were turned in early are marvelously inventive!
The students are wrapping up work on their Pacific states posters. They are amazing,
and I encourage parents and siblings to stop by the classroom and have a look at them
when they're on display next week. Tomorrow, they'll receive the options and
guidelines for their Southeastern states project.
Please be sure to check the Homework Log regularly. It indicates when a graded test (or
other graded assignment) is sent home and requires a signature.
Thank you so much for all of your support and involvement! The students of Room 8 are
flourishing in a big way.
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Veronica Lee
(2/11/10)
Hey you guys, just here writing a letter to you guys. Tommorow, I will drive to my NEW town for livin' in.
And just in case you don't know this already, it hasn't even been a half of a day and I miss you guys like crazy!
Just wanted to say that I don't care how many days or fifth grade classes I meet, you guys will always be
my favorite. Promise! And thank you all you guys who brought goodies for that Valentine's Day party! (And
thank you to those who didn't, or else my stomach would explode and you would all have to clean pink and red
candy off the walls!!!!) So, it's really late and I gotta go try to get some sleep, but just remember that I will totally
visit soon and I am thinking of you guys when I walk into my classroom of new faces for me to make friends with!
- Veronica
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(2/11/10)
Thank you all for sending in such delightful treats for our party!
We celebrated Valentine's Day and Veronica's last day at Claire Lilienthal.
I will be out tomorrow (Friday 2/12), but the kids will be in good hands
with Mr. So.
Please encourage your children to work on their Wonderland projects
this weekend. They are due no later than Friday 2/19.
Have a wonderful three-day weekend.
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(2/9/10)
Today's Mad Tea Party was a smashing success!
Thank you to everyone who brought in delicious tea-time
treats. And a huge round of applause to all of the family
members who joined us and helped to serve and clean up.
Check out the pictures!
Just a reminder that our Valentine's Day mini-party
will be on Thursday (not Friday, as originally planned).
If your child is planning to bring in Valentines to share with
classmates, please be sure that they're brought in on
Thursday morning.
Thanks again!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(2/8/10)
Our Mad Tea Party is tomorrow! Please remember to send
tea-party treats in with your child tomorrow morning. Are any
parents available to lend a hand and join in the festivities?
I will be out this Friday, so I am moving our Valentine's Day mini-party
to Thursday instead. If your child is planning to bring in Valentines to
share with classmates, please be sure that they're brought in on Thursday
morning (check the roster for the names of all 28 students). The Valentine's
Day party will be combined with Veronica's going-away party (which is
very fitting, since we absolutely love Veronica). Your child already knows
about the special gift we're making for Veronica, so please check in with
them to make sure that they finish their part and bring it in no later than
Wednesday.
Please let me know if you have any questions, and thanks for all you do!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(2/2/10)
"Then you should say what you mean," the March Hare went on.
"I do," Alice hastily replied; "at least-at least I mean what I say-that's the same thing, you know."
"Not the same thing a bit!" said the Hatter. "You might just as well say that 'I see what I eat' is the same thing as 'I eat what I see'!"
—Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, chapter 7
We have recently finished reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and what better way to celebrate the occasion than by having a Mad Tea Party? If you can, please volunteer to send tea-party treats in with your child on the morning of Tuesday 2/9. Possibilities include scones, crumpets, preserves, lemon curd, crustless sandwiches, fruit — and, of course, tea! The festivities will take place during lunchtime (from 11am-12pm). Parents and siblings are invited to join in the nonsensical fun. (Oh, and we do need help with set up, service, and clean up, too!) Obviously, everyone is encouraged to dress the part.
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(2/1/10)
Just a reminder that we have a field trip this Wednesday! If you haven't filled out a
permission slip, please do so right away. Also, we still need two chaperones, so let
me know if you are available to join us. Students will need to bring a brown-bag lunch.
Weather-permitting, we'll have a picnic outside after the performance!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(1/28/10)
Thanks to all of the kids who showed up in their pajamas today!
It was like one big slumber party (without any slumbering).
Pictures will be posted soon.
Enjoy your day off tomorrow. See you in February!
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(1/27/10)
Tomorrow is Pajama Day!
Just roll out of bed and into the classroom.
(Well, brush your teeth first.)
Ms. Lauten
From the desk of Ms. Lauten
(1/19/10)
Welcome to the new Room 8 web site! I hope you will find it useful and visit often.
Congratulations to Daisy Vollen and Gabriel Bibliowicz! Daisy was the first-place winner
in our classroom Spelling Bee, and Gabriel was our runner-up. Both spellers competed
valiantly in the school-wide Bee, and we are all very P-R-O-U-D of them!
Hats off to Kathleen Connolly, Chris Baird, Anne Vollen, and Roxanne Lavino for expertly and
enthusiastically leading our Alice in Wonderland literature circles every Tuesday morning.
Please note that a case of head lice has been reported for Room 8. A note was sent home
today, so be sure to read it and direct any questions or concerns to the front office.
We have a few field trips coming up, so take a look! If you can, please volunteer to chaperone.
Also, our trip to Walker Creek Ranch is right around the corner, and I will update the
Outdoor Ed page as soon as more information is available.
Many, many thanks to all of you!
Ms. Lauten
