Auction Basket of the Week is............

Please drop your auction donation off at the front desk, fill out a procurement form, and record your donation in the binder so we avoid duplications! 

Check out our e-newsletter or the binder at the front desk for the entire basket wish list and what items have been donated to date!  We are featuring over 50 baskets that we hope to fill with wonderful items.

Thank you in advance for your participation. 

On Saturday, December 4th the FIRST® Lego® League Robotics Competition was held at Lincoln High School.  GHA's Eagle Force Robotics Teams I & II competed against 26 other teams from around the South Sound. 

The first part of the competition consisted of researching a project involving bio-medical engineering.  Eagle Force II Team invented computerized glasses that would enable the blind to see.  Knowing that silk is as strong as steel, Eagle Force I invented a robotic spider that would be able to enter the human body and build a spider web around a broken bone to keep it in place it is healed.

 

The second part of the competition was to program a Lego® Mindstorm Robot to do a variety of tasks on a 4 x 8 board in 2.5 minutes.  There were three rounds with 45 minutes between each round.  Between the rounds the kids went to the computer and reprogrammed the robot to achieve better results in the following round.

Even though the two teams consisting of fourth and fifth graders (one made up of 6 members and one made up of 7 members) did not move on to State, they had a great showing while learning Team Work, Perseverance, and Creative Problem Solving. And hey......they got to play with Legos®!  Way to Go Eagle Force I and II! 

 

When you are making your shopping list this year, consider adding an auction gift certificate for Grandma & Grandpa.  If your parents and in-laws are hard to buy for like mine, then consider treating them to a night of dinner and drinks with you at the annual school auction "Once Upon A Time".  You can solve your gift giving dilemma and support your children's school at the same time.  Contact Marci Hardy or Niki Vanderford by December 15th to purchase your gift certificate.  Auction tickets are $60 per person and you will receive a beautiful gift certificate to put under the Christmas tree.

CLOSED    Christmas Eve - Friday, 12/24

OPEN        New Year's Eve - Friday, 12/31

Non holiday days are business as usual.  If you have any questions please call childcare at 253-265-8773. 

Every year when the Jan Brett unit is introduced to the first grade class the students are visited by some very interesting creatures.....trolls!  These trolls stand very still and are extremely well mannered until no little eyes are upon them and then they cause mischief of one kind and another!  One day the kids came into class and the trolls did their laundry and strewn it across the classroom.  Coming back from recess on another day, the first grader's came back to discover turned over chairs and the class supplies not in their appropriate places. 

 

The children have been very patient with these destructive little fellows and are even teaching them the lesson of being kind and giving to your friends and neighbors.  The children have left several gifts for the trolls including a homemade house.  The trolls are already making progress with this lesson by leaving pencils for all the children and replacing a straw horse in place of the wooden ones they took during their earlier visits.  Mrs. J's class is now brimming with anticipation everyday to see what they will find from the trolls next. 

Stop by the first grade class to see these welcomed guests and find out more about their shenanigans, because soon the trolls will disappear and not be seen until this same time next year.

The Math Olympiad is a challenging math program that the fourth and fifth graders (occasionally some third graders) start in September with sample problems and then move into monthly timed contests from November through March.    

The goals of the Math Olympiad Program are:

• To stimulate enthusiasm and a love for Mathematics
• To introduce important Mathematical concepts
• To teach major strategies for problem solving
• To develop Mathematical flexibility in solving problems
• To strengthen Mathematical intuition
• To foster Mathematical creativity and ingenuity
• To provide for the satisfaction, joy, and thrill of meeting challenges 

Look for more information about the Math Olympiad Program featured in the upcoming Bridge Magazine.  In the meantime, try your own math skills out on the following sample problems (the time is how long you have to finish each problem).  Ready, Set, Go! 

   

Friday, December 10

9:00 - 9:45 AM

Join a group of dedicated, creative volunteers and help plan the party of the year!  Your input is desired and your time valued.  Please consider this rewarding volunteer opportunity and get involved.  We welcome any time you are willing to give to this important fundraising event.  See you there!    

Tuesday, December 14th

5:00 PM

Thursday, December 16th

Hosted by Prekindergarten

For $1.00 you can purchase yummy treats provided by the Prekindergarten Class

Monday, December 20th -

Friday, December 31st

There are several bulletin boards around the school campus that need attention.  If you would like to use your creative flair to make them beautiful, we would love your help.  If you are interested, please contact either Niki in the office or Cristina McDougall, SFN President. 

First Tuesday of every month at 3:45 - 5:00 PM

Come to the Harbor History Museum and participate in their Family Fun Time program.  It will be held the 1st Tuesday of every month from 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM.  During this time they will read a story (usually related to the special exhibition), explore a "mystery" object from the collections, and do a craft project. This program is free for members and $1 with paid admission for non-members.

Every Saturday until Christmas

12:00 - 4:00 PM

Don't go all the way to the mall for pictures with Santa when you can stay right here in Gig Harbor.  Santa will be visiting Teaching Toys, Too in Uptown every Saturday from

12:00 - 4:00 PM up until Christmas.  Ho, Ho, Ho!