Thursday, April 10, 2014

March At Sharks Until Dark

Announcements:

Enrollment - Sorry for the wait!  Enrollment forms for next year are now available in the office at Sherman.  They area also available Online Here! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-aHJozZZPUnqqgHTl0PYVOgNwwSAnxAMrctNaYFtq-o/viewform.  If you are able, please complete the online form.  

Time with Teachers There are still SPOTS LEFT in a couple  of our Time With Teachers events, including the Super Ultimate Obstacle Course, and Pizza and Movie Night.  For more information, contact Becca at becca.vershbow@readingpartners.org


RPP SUMMER Looking for summer options?  Reading Partners Plus at Flynn elementary school is holding a GREAT program this summer.  For information or enrollment forms, check the OFFICE at Sherman or email becca.vershbow@readingpartners.org


New Safety Monitor -  Sharks Until Dark is creating a NEW position with the help of the PTA.  Lakisha (a para at Sherman) is now bestationed in the office after school to buzz families in the front door and manage our sign-out system, in addition to helping you find your child!  We are so grateful to the PTA for helping us increase the safety of our program!  Please let us know if you have any questions,

Staff Highlight


Ms. Mercedes Auction Art


This month we are celebrating our incredible art teacher, Ms. Mercedes, who – on her first year at Sherman, raised more than any other year in student work.  Each piece she created was intentionally thought out, tapping into the creativity and emotions of her artists.  While creating the work, our students were able to explore a wide variety of media including Ink, Pastel, Tape, Acrylic, and Gesso.  We are so grateful for all of the extra hours and heart Mercedes put into these projects and for the art that helped make our auction so beautiful!











Celebrations -

Health Fair :


Our annual Health Fair, which filled our Friday before Spring Break, was a seamless and fun event.  This day is always about Student Leadership.  We move through it in mixed groups of K-5th graders, with our 5th graders taking the TA role and becoming responsible for the behavior of the whole team.  


Every year, we watch in wonder as each group arrives at the next booth in two quiet, straight lines.  This year, the Marina Mentors came to support as well, helping our staff lead each activity.  During the event, we explored the concept of “health” from many angles including: keeping our teeth clean, keeping our muscles strong and loose, keeping our hearts healthy, keeping ourselves happy, exploring spiritual health, and of course, eating right. 



Blue Tribe Red Carpet Event :




Over the course of the school year, our TRIBES have been working to earn SHARKtown points each day by being especially SAFE, HELPFUL, ACCOUNTABLE, RESPECTFUL, and KIND.  The Blue Tribe, after quickly earning MANY points, was able to purchase the Theater again.  The theater in SHARKtown became the Red Carpet event in real life, an occasion that helped every student in the Blue Tribe feel like a star!  Dressed to perfection, these elegant Nardogs pranced down the red carpet where the paparazzi (parents and 5th graders) screamed and begged for autographs and photos.  Then they each received a personal award from Mr. Klay and Ms. Mo, ate a feast, and settled down to watch Despicable Me 2.



Restaurant Wars :



In March we concluded our first round of Funtastic Fridays and with them, one of the MOST exciting clubs we’ve ever had, Restaurant Wars.  In this class, Ms. Adrienne inspired her students to become restaurateurs who learned all levels of the business.  They started in groups, researching and choosing 1 dish each.  Ultimately, their menu consisted of Stuffed Mushrooms for appetizer, Pesto Pasta for the entree, and Strawberry Shortcake for dessert. Over the next few weeks the chefs all perfected their dishes, experimenting with levels of saltiness, garlic, and sweetness.  Once they had delicious food, they worked on the presentation of their dishes, learned how to be professional servers, set-up the ambiance of their restaurant, and created on the menu. 
On the final week, families of the chefs attend the Grand Opening “The Shark Food Cafe”!  Families were amazed at the presentation and awed with the taste of each dish.  They left full and happy!





Candy Reminder!  


Though we don't eat it in program, we do need LOTS for this year's Carnival. We couldn't start collecting too early so if you have EXTRA CANDY lying around, please donate it to Ms. Mo. You can just bring it to room 300


Winter Extravaganza

Video is READY! And looks SO incredible. Please contact Becca at becca.vershbow@readingpartners.org to request a link and password. We are asking for a contribution of $5-10/family in order to help fund future videos.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

February At Sharks Until Dark



Candy Reminder!  


Though we don't eat it in program, we do need LOTS for this year's Carnival. We couldn't start collecting too early so if you have EXTRA CANDY lying around, please donate it to Ms. Mo. You can just bring it to room 300


Winter Extravaganza

Video is READY! And looks SO incredible. Please contact Becca at becca.vershbow@readingpartners.org to request a link and password. We are asking for a contribution of $5-10/family in order to help fund future videos.


Upcoming Event!


Talent Show: March 14th, 4pm-6pm Auditorium

This year, we are very excited to be coordinating the ALL SCHOOL talent show for the 5th year in a row!  Sherman is full of dancers, singers, musicians, and actors.  We encourage you to come out and watch them SHINE!  The performers have been practices every Tuesday and Thursday at lunch for the past 4 weeks, showing self-motivation and passion. We hope to see you in the auditorium on March 14th at 4pm to watch this incredible show:)


Speaking of Talent, Check out this video from our music class!



Celebrations -

Physical Education : For PE this semester, the K-2 group will be incorporating service learning into the curriculum! This means that we will be working with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to fundraise by way of Walk-a-thon, Jump-a-thon, or something to get the kids moving while raising money for a good cause!



Field Trips:  We have some great photos, do you want to write this one?



Fun with felt:  This month in Ms. Eboneigh’s Fun with Felt, we channeled our inner super hero with super hero masks and matching wrist bands. We ended our super hero training with a mission to save Sherman from a super villain by the name of Steel Hawk. A journalist took a picture of one of Sherman's heroes, Emilightning, as she flew over the city to face this mighty foe.

Mindfulness:  We have finished up 10 hours of FREE COACHING.  During this time, we studied, discussed, and practiced “mindfulness” as a staff.  Together, we explored practices of non-judgment, free-flow thought, putting our problems on the “back-burner,” deep listening, and minding our moods.  From there, we discussed the ways in which we already bring these practices to our students and brainstormed activities that help enhance them.  We are now working on tying mindfulness more purposefully into what we already do to create an even healthier program for both our staff and our students.  


Restaurant Wars:  This epic Funtastic Friday Club is about to culminate into a full-blown restaurant opening!  Parents of our chefs have been invited to dine at this fabulous, hot, new spot that specializes in stuffed mushrooms, pesto pasta, and strawberry shortcake.  Our soft opening was a major success, with the Aymakoglus as our first customers!



Monday, January 27, 2014

January at Sharks Until Dark

Blogging experiment -

Hello Families! For the New Year, we are trying modern communication on for size. So here is our BLOG (just like a newsletter, but better?) Let us know what you think!


Candy!  


Though we don't eat it in program, we do need LOTS for this year's Carnival. We couldn't start collecting too early so if you have EXTRA CANDY lying around, please donate it to Ms. Mo. You can just bring it to room 300


Winter Extravaganza

Video is READY! And looks SO incredible. Please contact Becca at becca.vershbow@readingpartners.org to request a link and password. We are asking for a contribution of $5-10/family in order to help fund future videos.


Celebrations



TRIBE OLYMPICS


Somehow we were able to TOP our Fall Tribe Olympics. Though it seemed impossible, cheers were better, excitement was higher, and everyone was dressed in more SWAG. Most importantly, our community worked TOGETHER to have sportsmanship, spirit, style, and teamwork like never before. PLUS, staff were humiliated in front of the entire program. Check out the photos and videos below...

Purple Octopuses playing octopus tag!
Blue Nardogs Circle Up
Orange Tigers Parachute

See what our staff will do for their students...







Sailing


A new round of sailing has started with some new participants and some veterans.  Our first day was calm and beautiful and our group did wonderfully!


 


Notes from our staff: TRIBES, Enrichment, Funtastic Friday Clubs, and MORE




Fun with felt - During our first session of Fun with Felt, we created mustaches out of hot glue, yarn, and of course felt! The kids all jumped on the challenge of designing there own mustaches. They all look amazing and we had a blast!

Crochet - Our group of young crocheters came with differing levels of ability, but all managed to dig in their heels and work hard to both learn and help each other. Once they've all figured out the first few steps, our first project will be to make chain necklaces.

-Ms Eboneigh



The Rainbow Tribe is fully engaged in having a blast. Our latest highlight has been gearing up in rainbow peregrine falcon regalia - wings, feathered headbands, and pom poms to participate in Tribe Olympics. Between Pick-Up Stix, Octopus Tag, Dancing Numbers, Brain Jeopardy and more, the laughs haven't slowed a bit. Onwards and upwards!
-Mr Lance

Music

Music class this semester with grades 3-5 will cover topics as diverse as contemporary pop music, American folk music, and homemade instruments. We will involve movement as well through body percussion and games of musical Twister. I'm looking forward to teaching this class for the first time to grades 3-5 and meeting new students!



Silver

As the only mixed grades tribe in the younger group, the Silver Tribe is certainly unique. Second graders are coming into their own and assuming greater leadership roles as they start to realize that 3rd grade is just around the corner, and 1st and Kinders have learned great maturity and interpersonal skills by being with older students. Making friends across grade levels has strengthened the Sherman community even more as we move ahead together into 2014. 
-Ms. Kelly



Wishlist
Glue Sticks
Printer Paper
Blue Tape
Masking Tape
Duck Tape
Poster Board
Baby Wipes
Small Prizes
Ziploc Bags

Nice Binders