Journey School News

Dear Journey School Friends and Families,

Here's a story I want to share with you as we break for Thanksgiving:

A businessman was at the pier of a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The business man complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The fisherman replied "only a little while." The businessman then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?

The fisherman said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The businessman then asked, "But, what do you do with the rest of your time?" The fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a nap, spend time with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my friends. I have a full and busy life."

The businessman then scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to a big city where you will run your expanding enterprise."

The fisherman asked, "But sir, how long will this all take?" To which the businessman replied, "15-20 years." "But what then, sir?" The businessman laughed and said that's the best part. When the time is right you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions. "Millions, sir? Then what?" The businessman said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a nap, spend time with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar."

Onwards and Upwards!

Shaheer Faltas
School Administrator

Trimester Progress Reports

Trimester Progress Reports will be e-mailed by your class teacher today (we've gone green)!
These important reports are carefully prepared by teachers 3 times per year.
The purpose is to provide personalized, specific, and timely feedback to parents and students regarding academic, social-emotional, and physical progress.
The progress reports are also an opportunity for teachers to reflect on how teaching and learning can improve even more.
Please contact your teacher directly if you have questions or concerns.
A printed copy can be easily made for anyone who needs one.
A BIG thank you to the teachers for working so hard to provide great assessment practices.

Festivals
Journey School festivals allow our community to celebrate core values and beliefs at key moments during the school year. Thanks to a joint effort between parents and staff, we've had some wonderful events recently, including:

Harvest Faire (celebrates the gratitude we have for the bounty of fall)
Lantern Walk (reminding us of the inner light and strength we all possess)
And, Book Faire (instilling the joy of reading)

You might want to check out a short story about the Harvest Faire in yesterday's OC Register. Click here to view the article.

Fairy Market Dates Have Changed
Fairy Market will now be held December 6 & 7. Gifts must be turned in by December 3rd! That's three weeks away, so start planning, crafting and shopping now. For further details see below.

Fairy Market Helpers needed: CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP ONLINE!

THE ENCHANTED FAIRY MARKET
This year, Journey School's Fairy Market will be held on Monday and Tuesday, December 6 & 7, 2010. What special item will you donate this year? Handmade items are appreciated and are a large part of what makes our Fairy Market special to our students and to those who receive gifts. Gifts are widely varied--everything from candles to soup mixings, jewelry to bookmarks, pine-cone gnomes to craft kits, and frames to shell-filled pouches. Remember, non-denominational gifts are great for children and adults of all ages--please try to keep your cost under $3.00. Let your imagination be free and have fun! Gifts will be collected beginning Monday, November 29 and must be turned in by Friday, December 3.

What is the Fairy Market?
Each year, Journey School offers our children the opportunity to holiday shop for their families and friends in a magical fairyland environment. Each child donates the number of items they are going to "purchase" plus 4 extra. The cost of each gift is $2.00. The maximum number of gifts a child can purchase is 12 and there is no minimum. After Thanksgiving, a form will be sent home to list the names and ages of the people for which each child will be shopping. Payment will be due at that time. Participation in Fairy Market is voluntary for each child and family. Please check the appropriate box on the gift list if your child will not be participating.

Gift Ideas
There is no end to the variety of gifts that can be included in the Fairy Market. Many people who enjoy making special items for the market consider ages and gender when they generate their ideas. The library is an excellent resource and has a wonderful selection of books filled with gift ideas. There will also be a few craft books in the school office to peruse (please leave these books in the office). Your creative ideas enrich our Fairy Market and the experiences of our children.

Donations
Fairy Market would appreciate the donation of any of following items: tissue paper, self-adhesive gift labels, mini white lights or ribbon. If you have any questions, please call Lisa O'Neill at (949) 498-5657.

Scholastic Book Fair Ends Today

Last Chance to Purchase Books at the Scholastic Book Fair!
Open from 8:30 AM to 1:15 PM today, the Book Fair is located in the Science Room, next to the kitchen. Featuring:

Hundreds of titles to choose from, starting at $1.00
FREE books for classrooms and CASH for the school
One For Books matching donating program to help Journey and charities

Click here for more information and complete schedule.

Journey Garden News

You may have noticed how fantastic our wattle fence is looking! We are so thankful for everyone who has contributed to this wonderful addition to our school. Here is proof that our wattle fence didn't get that way all by itself:

Music News

HELP CLEAN UP MPR FOR CONCERT and beyond . . .
Please help us create a Beautiful Multi Purpose Room (imagine!) The Music/Creative Arts Dept.
has begun transforming the MPR for our Dec. 9 Winter's Light Concert.

We Still Need:

Someone to install the new blackout window roller shades.
Donated boxes of clear mini net lights (with white cords).
Creative helpers to help with the much needed make-over!

For more information, please contact Diana, Music Coordinator at dianac@journeyschool.net.

WINTER'S LIGHT CONCERT (GRADES 5-8)
Our Winter's Light Concert is Thursday, December 9 from 4:00 - 5:00 PM in the MPR.
Grades 5 thru 8 will be presenting Song, Strings, Uke, Guitar, Recorder and Theatre Arts
pieces to celebrate and reflect the upcoming season of Light & Love. Space is limited in the MPR,
so reserve your seats now by contacting Diana Corbo at dianac@journeyschool.net.

Journey School Escrip

A Big Thank You to the following Journey School Families who have registered for Escrip:

Blumenfeld-Maso, Ciulla , Clavadetscher, Corbo, Dillingham, Fischer, Graber, Johnson, Hacker, Mckee, Mueller-Geisendorfer, Oneill-Shaw, Skibsted, Spretke, Capelle, Castaneda, Dolopo, Ellis, Gallart, Kaplan, Lemp, Mattox, May, Mesko, Ring, Schiefelbine, Scott, Tucker, Wells

Please take ten minutes of your time to Register for Escrip at www.escrip.com
if you have not already done so.

SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL!! SUPPORT OUR KIDS!!!

P.O.P.S. Volunteers

P.O.P.S. Volunteers (Parents on the Playground)

Journey School wants your help! Parents are needed for recess duty Monday through Friday from 10:30-11:00 AM or 12:30-1:10 PM. You can volunteer weekly, bi-weekly, or as a sub. We will work with your schedule! Please email your availability to journeypops@gmail.com or sign up online here.

Community Discount Cards

Community Discount Cards for Sale - Each Discount Card Only $10.00

We offer discount cards from Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente and Ladera Ranch. Please see attached flyer for discounts. All discount cards are valid through 08/31/2011. To purchase your discount cards, please contact Bettina Spretke at matashis@cox.net.

8th Grade "Monday" Lunch Fundraiser Sharkys Flyer 8th grade