In the classrooms…
Change can sometimes bring apprehension and tension. Change can also be a rewarding experience with new ways to solve old problems. One thing I want all of our parents to be sure about is that Hunter has a new principal, but there will not be any change in the way we operate or run our instructional program. I strongly believe in distributed leadership and would not consider making pedagogical changes without complete buy-in from the staff. With that said, I continue to see learning take many forms from room to room. Last week I was fortunate enough to spend some time in a 1st grade classroom where students used hands on science materials to construct their own knowledge about balance. The object was to use clothespins wrapped around a wire to balance a pencil on a flat surface. I was amazed to see how quickly students mastered the challenge and were able to verbalize how to repeat the trial.

Announcements
Friday was the last day to turn in sheets for Radical Reader. Kudos to the many students who have turned in their reading logs. Those students will be recognized Friday September 25 in a Radical Reader assembly.

Our staff continues to gain knowledge and insight through Professional Learning Teams. Last Wednesday all grade level teams met together in the media center to discuss all of the assessment data they had on their students. Teams also discussed the standard course of study and how they would pace their lessons around the various objectives. We feel privileged to live in a community that shows such strong support to the processes that support and strengthen learning and teaching.

Tips to help your child!
Spend time in the classroom as a volunteer or meet your child for lunch. The little investments you make today will have great dividends in the future.

Important Dates
•    September 30 – Radical Reader Ceremony
•    September 23 – Super Early Release--- Dismiss at 1:15 PM
•    September 28 - Workday

Vocabulary is POWER!
K – share; listen      
1st – total; partners            
2nd – caterpillars; life cycle
3rd – investigate; observe
4th – habitat; characteristic
5th – temperature; ecosystem