We're Almost Done!

Graduation

5th Grade graduation is this Friday at 9:00 in the Sunset Lake Cafeteria. The program should last about an hour.  We'll reserve about 15 minutes for picture taking and then we need to get the kids ready for core class switch as usual.

Track and Field Day

   Track and field day is next Tuesday on June 4th. Running events take place in the afternoon as does the annual fire department hose down.  Sadowski's color this year to wear is yellow... I'll have strips of cloth with yellow on them in case no one has a yellow shirt to wear (and I know not many do!)

Especially for the girls.. please encourage them not to wear a white shirt on that day if they plan on getting wet.

Reminder that younger siblings will not be allowed to participate in the firetruck hose down due to safety concerns... we had a few get trampled by the bigger kids last year. They'll get their chance when they're in 3rd grade....

Wednesday we plan on cleaning the room and packing our things up... In the afternoon I"ll have some kind of last class party for them.... 

Tomorrow is the trip to the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery and to South Haven.
Students that are not riding with their parents will be leaving Sunset at 9:10... which should get us to the hatchery around 9:45.
Directions to the Hatchery....
US 131 north to West Main/M-43
West on West Main/M-43 - South Haven/ Bangor exit 38B
From there it's just a little over 6 miles to county road 652.
There are two driveways on the right.... the first is for staff only. The second with the lined parking lot leading to the visitor center is the one to park in. 
If you get there early feel free to walk around or check out the pond just past the visitor center filled with trout, salmon and 2 very large sturgeon.
Students and parents will need to join their classes and teachers when they arrive as we will be dividing into three groups and rotating tours of the hatchery.
South Haven
   At approx 11:45 ish we'll depart for South Haven South beach.
M-43... through Bangor.... over highway 31 (196).... Through Blue star highway....
M-43 turns into Bailey Avenue....around two curves  and turns into Phillips street... and FINALLY turn right onto 196 business loop. Take that to Phoenix street and turn left..... that takes you to south beach.
    OR you can just turn left onto blue star... take THAT to phoenix street....and the river front park.
$5.00 to park if the yellow boxes are up. checks are fine if you forget classes.
We plan on eating/playing on the beach until 2:30 and then heading home.
FYI.... due to liability teachers can no longer take students out on the pier... and kids are only allowed into the water up to their ankles.  After we leave, those staying with their parents can obviously do whatever they want!

Thanks!

Wolf Lake/South Haven trip May 17th

Wolf Lake/ South Haven Trip – May 17th

Dear Parents,

Our field trip to the Wolf Lake fish hatchery and the South Haven Lakeshore is coming up on May 17^th.  Below are the following things that you and your child need to know for the trip.

                                   

Dress : For the trip, please have your children dress in layers.  Our weather has been extremely unpredictable lately so it could snow or it could be 80 degrees!  Temperatures by the lake shore this time of year are typically 10 – 15 degrees cooler than the Kalamazoo area. This is due to the cold water temps.  Please make sure your child has a sweatshirt or light jacket “just in case”. 

Lunch: Each student must pack or purchase a sack lunch from the cafeteria.   We prefer a disposable sack lunch as there are less things to keep track of and bring back.  NO glass bottles.  NO pop!  Pop contains too much sugar and salt and they will dehydrate quickly running around in the sun.  Water, Gatorade and healthy juices are fine. If you signed up earlier this year for school lunch, this is already taken care of.

Other Recommendations:  We highly recommend sunglasses, and sunscreen.  With the sun coming off the water in South Haven, the suns rays are very bright and damaging to early season, untanned skin.  Please be sure they leave the house with sunscreen on their faces, necks, ears, and any other exposed skin or they will burn.

Cameras:  If you want to send a disposable camera with your child that is a great idea! This is their most memorable trip of the year.  PLEASE don’t send expensive digital cameras with them as they will be destroyed by the sand at south haven. Even in a case sand gets into EVERYTHING!

Parent Volunteers:  We would LOVE to have you attend this last field trip with your child and some of you have already replied.  Individuals driving WILL have to pay a $5.00 meter fee at the beach or be ticketed.  Even the busses have to pay the meter. In the event we LUCK OUT and the meters aren’t up yet, we don’t have to pay.

Lake Michigan: Weather permitting, the kids will be allowed to go into the water up to their knees. Due to the great number of drownings in Lake Michigan last year due to rip tides, any student who violates this rule will be asked to leave the water permanently for the rest of the trip.  This includes having to chase after a frisbie or ball that might have “accidentally” been tossed out too far.  We ask that any parents attending this trip with us, also make sure that their children adhere to this rule regardless of whether you are present or not.  Allowing your child to get wetter when all the others are not allowed to, just makes our job for the day that much more difficult as we can’t keep track of who is allowed to over who isn’t.

As this is a school field trip, school dress code must be adhered to. No bathing suits, bathing suit tops, bare midriff shirts or spaghetti strap tops that show bra straps allowed.

HOWEVER! After the bus load of students leaves, those remaining behind with their parents can obviously do whatever they want to.

A Walk on the Pier to the Lighthouse     Towards the end of the trip, if it isn’t windy, and there are no high waves, those children that want to, can walk with their teachers and chaperones out onto the pier to the lighthouse for pictures.  We will insist that students not walk on the outer concrete areas near the edge on the way out or back for their safety.

ALTERNATIVE PLANS:  In the event that severe weather is predicted for the day of the trip, we will plan an alternate activity. In the past, we have gone to the airzoo, or a movie at the rave theater ( usually the earth day movie)  We will have plans in place in case thunderstorms or severe weather is imminent.

   Look forward to seeing you! 

Sincerely,

Mrs Buell

Mrs. Sadowski

Mrs VanderMei