Students will be dissecting owl pellets today--an opportunity to think about and discuss the food web, animal adaptations, and vertebrate skeletal systems. Students will learn a lot from the activity. We will, once again, have parent volunteers coming in to help keep the activity going smoothly, and I thank them for their time and support!

We have been spending extra time with the last 2 math chapters, discussing and practicing word problem strategies. The pace will go back to normal with the next math chapter. It is vitally important that students practice at home by doing their math homework carefully (and without the use of a calculator), making sure that if they don't understand a particular problem or concept that they ask questions and get clarification in class (or after school or during recess).

Our class won the latest boxtops collection contest and got to pick the charity to which the money earned would be donated ($203). Each student brought in their suggested charity and told the class why they thought that charity was the one the class should pick. What a wonderful, thoughtful variety of worthy causes! The class had an interesting discussion, and after a few votes, the decision was made to donate half to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the other half to the Delta (Stockton area) Humane Society. These students demonstrated what truly thoughtful, caring individuals they are. I was very proud of them.

Just in case you want to set your calendars...our class will be going on a field trip to the Tiburon Audubon Center on Wed., March 4. We will need drivers, so please let Marianne Hill know if you are interested. Also, although students will not be going to Walker Creek until the end of May, the parent meeting about Walker Creek (to answer all your questions and give parents an idea about what students will be doing while at Walker Creek) is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, at 6 P.M., in the multi-use room. Also of possible interest: our Valentine's Day party will be on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 1:05-2:05 (students have PE from 2:05-2:50, and there is no school on Friday, Feb. 13). Contact Lorena Garbarino if you are interested in helping.

Have a great weekend.