Once again, our music teacher, Lynn Swanson and the GHA students put on two fabulous music programs. At 6 PM the preschoolers took the stage and dazzled us with Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and five other youthful songs that we all remembered singing as children. At

7 PM the fourth and fifth graders started the evening with 4 songs performed with their recorders. After the children scrambled to get in their costumes the main show, "Three of a Kind", began. A lovely musical play about a lost baby bear unfolded with comedy and songs erupting the audience in laughter and applause. The talents of our GHA students entertained everyone in attendance! Thank you Lynn Swanson and GHA students for all your hard work and congratulations on two very successful programs.    

Tuesday was Special Friends Day, a day when Kindergarten through 5th grade GHA students get to invite grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends to spend time with them at school. More than 50 Special Friends came to visit the Gig Harbor Academy campus Tuesday and the students quickly adjusted to their new role of tour guide showing off their school work and special projects they have worked on over the past school year. Special friends were treated to a reprise of Spanish songs from the recent Global Hispanic Fiesta and the Gig Harbor Academy tradition of our Colors ceremony.

Special friends came to Gig Harbor Academy from across the country, flying in from as far away as Virginia and California to see the school in action. It was so much fun!

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Friday, May 20

1st - 5th Grade in Mr. Funk's Room 12:30 - 1:15

Preschool - K in Ms. Carolyn's Room 1:30 - 1:55

GHA students will get to enjoy a guest speaker who recently returned from a trip to Guatemala. Gail Hall sponsors a village high in the mountains of Guatemala and has generously offered her time to share her experiences with us. 

From daily life in the village to the typical days of the school children, GHA students will gain a better understanding of the culture.  In addition, our students will exchange drawings and notes with their preschool children!

The village where Gail lived is high up in the mountains of Guatemala.  The people actually speak a Mayan dialect and learn Spanish as a second language. Ms. Hall will also be bringing "bufandas" (scarves) and bracelets made by the local women in the village, they are the same scarves the girls wore in the Global Hispanic Fiesta. She will be selling the scarves for $15 and the bracelets are $20.

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June 4 Downtown Gig Harbor

Come be a part of the fun and march in the parade! Every year the school marches with pride down Harborview Drive at the Maritime Gig Festival, GHA will have a float in the Grand Parade and a sponsor booth with fun activities for kids and great information about the school for adults.  

Parade t-shirts are on sale until Friday, May 20! Click here to download an order form. Shirts are only $13! 

This is the one Gig Harbor event you definitely don't want to miss. The Maritime Gig Festival activities will take place downtown along Harborview Drive, between Pioneer and Rosedale, and along the waterfront near Jerisich Dock and Skansie Brother's Park.

Approximately 20 Gig Harbor Academy students ran in the Kid's Dash for Micah's Miracle last Saturday, May 14th to raise money and awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.  

There were a total of 121 racers on Saturday who raised more than $6,000 for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and donations are still trickling in!    

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May 16th - 20th in GHA Library 

Click on the image to be taken directly

to the GHA Scholastic Book Fair website.

Don't miss out! Camps are filling quickly and we wouldn't want you to miss out on the fun adventures! Click on the image above to check out the line-up of exciting summer camps at GHA!

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Ms. Diana was talking to her preschool class about McDonald's the other day and she had to laugh about this cute comment by a 4-year-old...

Student: I live right by McDonalds!

Ms. Diana: Which one do you live by?

Student: The one with the "M"! 

The SFN hot lunch program has utilized the same sources for several years because it has worked so well.  This year, however, based on suggestions from two parents, we were able to easily add vegetarian selections.

Before putting out the schedule for the first half of next year, Jeannine and Wendy are seeking suggestions or comments which could improve our hot lunch program without making it too complicated. If parents or teachers have suggestions for improvements to the system, for different vendors or choices from current vendors, please e-mail them to Wendy Kelly before June 30.

Although we cannot guarantee that all suggestions will be adopted, due to cost, availability, etc. we will happily consider all suggestions.  Thank you for helping us to continually improve the SFN hot lunch program.

Current hot lunch vendors include: Safeway Deli, Taco Del Mar, Kinza Teriyaki, and Dairy Queen

Saturday, May 21

Game Starts 7:05 PM

We look forward to seeing everyone who purchased tickets for GHA night at the Tacoma Rainiers game Saturday night at Cheney Stadium! Don't forget to wear your GHA Spirit Wear! 

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Wednesday, June 1

Preschool - Kindergarten 9:30-11:30

1st Grade - 5th Grade 12:30-2:30

Students in Preschool through 5th Grade will visit different stations virtually traveling across America learning about fun facts as they are physically challenged at this year's field day, scheduled for Wednesday, June 1.

Parent Volunteers Needed

Volunteer sign up sheets are now posted in the main office and in all of the class buildings. We will need at least one adult volunteer assigned to each field day station. 

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Mrs. Holland's 2nd grade class explored the GHA archeological dig site last week finding bones, rocks, minerals and other artifacts as a culmination of their Soil, Rocks & Minerals Science unit.

Each student works in a quadrant (a marked off area in the dig site) and must carefully dig up and document their findings just like a professional archeologist would do in the real world. Students mapped their findings, measured their found artifacts, and documented their location.

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Preschool students released their butterflies into the wild this week after raising them from pupas. The children have been caring for the butterflies, feeding them fruit, and watching their growth cycle as they grew from pupa to full-grown butterfly.

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 This week third graders have been using primary resources and artifacts courtesy of the Harbor History Museum.  A traveling trunk has provided an opportunity to explore what life would have have been like growing up on the peninsula (Gig Harbor) in the late 1880s to mid 1900s. 

Centers being explored include school, home, chores, family free time, special occasions, toys, activities for kids, and a "Wishful Thinking" game using a very old Sears Roebuck catalog.  Prices have certainly changed!  Students are pondering the big question, "Would you have rather lived back then or now and why?"

In the first picture Ella and Caroline are using a hand-held stereoscopic viewer which gives the perception of 3-D depth.

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Saturday, May 21

9:00-3:00 PM

Many Hands Make Light Work

If you can help, please come to campus this Saturday to weed, plant trees and help with heavy-duty landscaping. Helpers of all ages welcome!

Donuts and coffee served for the morning crew and pizza served for lunch!  

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Wednesday, May 25

5:30 - 7:30 PM

&

Sunday, June 5

1:00 - 3:00 PM

Please spread the word to family and friends who may be interested in having their child attend Gig Harbor Academy. If you would like to volunteer for either of these days to help provide general information about the school, share your passion about GHA with prospective parents or help with campus tours, please contact Niki Vanderford.

Thursday, May 26

Afterschool During Pick Up

Proceeds of the popcorn sale go to support GHA! 

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Monday, May 30

Memorial Day 

Thursday, June 9

More details to come soon! 

Friday, June 10

Picnic Begins at 11:30

School provides hot dogs, buns, and condiments.Side dishes and desserts are potluck items.Families with the last name A-M please bring side dishes and N-Z please bring desserts. Everyone should bring your own beverages. We look forward to kicking off the summer with you in this last hoorah.   

Monday, June 27-Friday, July 29

The Harbor History Museum in Gig Harbor invites students from third grade through high school to participate in a

Student Art Exhibit

to be displayed at the GigFest Martime Art Exhibition

June 4 - July 3, 2011

Click here for official entry form.

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Registration is now open for PAA Youth Soccer & Little Kickers. Cost is $110 for Boys & Girls grades 1-8 and $65 for Little Kickers (Age 4 by 9/1/2011 or in Kindergarten).

Visit the PAA website to download forms.

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