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| SYCAMORE CANYON | |
| THE BREEZE | Volume 5 April 2012 |
| Letter from Dr. Sand, Principal | |
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The staff at Sycamore Canyon is wishing each of you a happy spring season and hope that the recent spring break was a relaxing time for your families and friends. This third trimester will be a busy one and if experience bears out, the weeks will fly by for each of us. Many students already demonstrate signs of readiness for their next grade level.
Nominations for next year's parent officers and volunteers in our PTSA will be discussed at the April meeting. Please contact Executive Vice President, Kim Huber if you would like to serve or know someone who could make a difference much like the current board has done over the last two years. The list of open positions will be posted soon and each of us hopes that you will consider taking an active role. Of course, you need not serve as an officer. Many parents volunteer countless hours from home doing things to support classroom teachers and students "behind the scenes." Others tackle particular events of interest, such as our upcoming Family Fitness Week, Fun Run, and May 24th International Night. Either way, look for ways to plug in by talking with parents, staff, and through contacts and opportunities listed under PTA, etc. on our website.
Please plan now when making outside appointments during our annual State STAR testing weeks for students in grades 2-8. These mandated assessments are an essential part of the accountability process required by our state. Please refrain from medical and dental appointments before noon each day during the testing window of April 23 – May 4. Students need to arrive on time as we begin testing within ten minutes of taking attendance. Tardy students will be required to remain in the office quietly until recess, and make up any missed tests, as we cannot interrupt classes once testing has begun. Please consult with your child’s teacher if you are a classroom volunteer. Some support sessions have been cancelled or rescheduled to afternoons during the STAR testing window. Finally, please remember that a quality snack, good breakfast, and a good night’s sleep is so important. Contact our office if you have any questions.
As the third trimester has already begun, we recognize that spring sports, warmer sunnier days are ahead of us. Much of this school year remains. The 1.3 million of minutes read in February and the school wide participation in the UNESCO’s World Maths Day on March 7th will do much to motivate students and build success. We must remember to remain focused, but never forget the value of relaxing a bit. Please do not underestimate the value of reading for pleasure. Think about taking up a hobby. Draw, recite, compose, paint, garden, play. You can take up a sport and not just watch your kids play. Walk Dos Vientos and realize how important each day is for each of us. I will do the same. Sincerely, |
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| Letter from Robert Wing, Assistant Principal | |
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| Letter from Lori Wall, Dean of Students | |
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Dear Sycamore Families,
We are moving into the season when the California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Test is on the minds of California educators and 2nd-11th grade students. At Sycamore Canyon School our 2nd through 5th grade students will be testing during the week of April 23 - 27th and our 6th through 8th grade students will be testing the week of April 30 - May 4th. Here’s some information about what this process is all about and what you can do to help your students show what they know through the testing process. About the California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Test Each spring, students in grades two through eleven take a STAR test. The STAR Program looks at how well schools and students are performing. The tests measures how well students demonstrate knowledge of the academic content standards taught in California schools. In 2nd grade through 11th grade, students are tested in English-language arts. In 2nd grade through 7th grade, the test also covers math. Additional tests are added at various grade levels, for example, a history-social science test is added for 8th grade and a science test for 5th grade and 8th grade students. Teachers and parents can use test results to improve student learning by celebrating and building on student strengths while providing targeted practice in areas of relative weakness. Based on STAR tests California assigns an Academic Performance Index (API) rating and growth target to each school and district. Ratings range from 200 to 1000, with a goal of 800 API for all schools statewide. Last year, Sycamore Canyon School had a very strong API rating of 941, with 85-88% of our students scoring in the Proficient or Advanced range in English Language Arts and Math. These are results worth celebrating! Preparing for the California CST and Other Standardized Tests The real preparation for STAR tests is to steadily build and master fundamental skills in math, reading and writing. This is what our students are doing in their classrooms every day of the school year! As parents, ensure that your children are doing their homework every night and reading and writing on a daily basis. Make a special effort to get involved in your children’s education; this partnership between the school and home is a major key to the success of students. Facilitating a Positive Testing Week Even the highest achieving student can feel pre-test anxiety. Encourage your child to view the test as a chance to show what they know. Reassure them that it’s natural to feel a little nervous, but the important thing is to relax and answer each question as well as they can. In addition to lowering your child’s anxiety about the test, here are some practical things you can do at home throughout testing week: REST: A good night’s sleep the night before each testing day is most important. Test scores can be negatively affected by students not getting enough rest. BREAKFAST: A good breakfast the morning of the test is a terrific brain booster. Nutrients help to stimulate the brain. ENCOURAGE: Make sure your child knows that you are proud of them every day and that your love for them is not tied to test results! J I am confident in our students, teachers and the learning that takes place throughout the school year at Sycamore Canyon School. Along with your support at home, these are the most important preparations for the STAR test. Once again, I expect SCS students to successfully SHOW WHAT THEY KNOW! Warmly, Lori Wall Dean of Students P.S. Here are a couple of links, in case you are interested in more information about STAR Testing:
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| PTSA | |
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BUDGET PROCESS AUGMENTED
The PTSA budget has augmented to accommodate some scheduling conflicts and the new incoming board. According to our bylaws, the outgoing board works with the incoming board to establish priorities and create a budget that the new board will adhere to. Therefore, our process is being slightly augment and will ultimately driven by the incoming board. Goals - Create as much transparency as possible throughout the process - Give all members the ability to have a voice in the budget - Pass the 2012/13 budget before end of school year 2011/12
After this meeting the current board will work with the new board to develop their budget. Communication will be forth coming from new board as to their budget and their priorities. For additional information about the above budget, please contact the chair of the outgoing PTSA Budget Committee: Brian Buck, VP Communications publicity@scsptsa.org. |
| PI DAY 2012 | |
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Wednesday, March 14, the middle school students participated in Sycamore Canyon’s 8th Annual “PI Day Celebration”. All students participated in various activities throughout the day to recognize this very cool number.
In their math classes, students sang songs, researched the location of their birth dates found in pi, created chains representing the never-ending digits of pi, discussed various concepts involving pi, etc. The seventh and eighth graders especially enjoyed math class that day, as they all had the opportunity to eat some pie too! Yum, yum!
Leading up to Pi Day, all students were asked to memorize a minimum of five digits of pi. Many students challenged themselves to memorize more! In 6th grade the top three memorizers were: Brian Xi (110 digits), Warren Lou (91 digits) and Jenna Speckman (90 digits). In 7th grade the top four memorizers were: Andy Reddy (857 digits), Leon Xu (219 digits), Danni Moors (80 digits) and Rayna Kanapuram (61 digits). In 8th grade, the top three memorizers were: Kevin Label (51 digits),Vivian Lin (50 digits), and Kristen Ho (40 digits).
At lunch time, about 40 students volunteered to participate in a variety of events at our Pi Day lunch time rally. Alicia Marshall (6th) cleaned her plate first in the pie eating competition. Jessica Han (8th) scored the most points in the Frisbee golf tournament. Makaela Hoang (6th) showed of her skills at the hula hoop competition lasting the longest. Andy Reddy (7th) set a new Sycamore Canyon record when he correctly dictated an astounding 1,116 digits of pi from memory. Crazy, isn’t it!
A special thank you to Tony’s Pizza for their generous donation of the delicious pizza “pies” that were awarded to the winners of each event! Thank you Tony’s for making our Pi Day extra tasty!
It was a fun and exciting day for all the students and we look forward to celebrating the number pi again. Who knows who the next PI Champion will be? Will they beat our new school record?
Krista Anglin-Craig and Malinda Young
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| Grade Level Updates | |
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Elementary
Kindergarten
In the month of April, we will be reviewing all letters and learning the letter names and sounds for: Yy, Uu, and Jj. We will also be learning the sight words “she”, “he”, and “are”. We are continuing to practice reading CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words. We have learned the vowel names and sounds for ‘a’, ‘i’, ‘o’ and ‘e’. We will be starting a unit on “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. In Math, we will be reviewing the names of three-dimensional shapes, such as spheres, cylinders, cubes, pyramids, etc. We will also review the values of the different coins, and learn about the quarter. We are also continuing to work on simple addition and subtraction problems. We will be learning about Farm Animals for our science unit called “Animals Two by Two”. As a part of this unit, we are very excited to be hatching chicks in our classroom! We will be starting this after spring break.
First Grade
April is a special month for First Grade. We are busy planting, gardening, and composting for Spring. We are also practicing daily for our adorable BUGZ play which the kids are getting very excited about. Reading groups are going strong with just one trimester to go before Summer Break. We are also working hard on our math facts, counting coins, and telling time too! It is also the time when we start to teach our amazing unit on continents and AFRICA. Students will get to learn about the different geographical regions of this great continent and experience their first research report. This is the best time of the year for first graders and most say it is a time they will never forget!
Second Grade
Second grade has lots of fun planned for the next two months! After spring break, as a part of our science unit “Insects and Plants”, we are having a visit from the Bug Lady. As her name suggests, she has tons of amazing, weird, and creepy bugs to look at, learn about, and compare. We can’t wait to see what kinds of bugs she has to show us. We are also preparing for the upcoming standardized tests. We have practiced bubbling in answers, figured out which answers make the best choices, and reviewed all of the curriculum so that we are as sharp as we can be.
Third Grade
In Third Grade, we continue to be very busy! In Math, we are focusing on fractions and multiplication. We have learned about naming fractions, finding equivalent fractions, comparing fractions, and working with fractions in number stories. We will also begin learning harder multiplication problems that involve multiplying 1-digit by multiple digits and 2-digits by 2-digits. In Social Studies, we will learn about the Chumash Indians that lived in our area long ago. We were also transported back in time through our anthology theme of “Voyagers” as we read about the Pilgrims’ crossing on the Mayflower and Sir Earnest Shackleton’s perilous expedition to Antarctica. We will begin reading Charlotte’s Web written by E.B. White very soon. We will spend one week learning about pigs, spiders, and farm life as an introduction to the book and will spend time talking about the author and the theme of the story. To extend this we will explore the theme further and will focus on writing activities about being a good friend to all! The students have selected a biography book to read. They will be writing a report about the person and will also presenting a speech to the class. A few days ago the 3rd graders were saying “Goodnight Moon” as we concluded our studies of the moon and its phases. While continuing to learn, we sure are having lots of fun!
Fourth Grade
All Aboard! Travel to California is finally easier with the completion of the transcontinental railroad. Communication across the country has also been made easier with the Pony Express, Butterfield Overland Mail Service, as well as the invention of the telegraph. In April, 4th grade students will begin a landmark project. This is always an exciting assignment as students will be researching a California Landmark, writing an essay, constructing a display board, and making a 3-D model. Be sure to check these out at Open House in May.
5th Grade
Language Arts:
Many fifth grade classes have completed or are still reading the Core Literature book, The Sign of the Beaver, while other classes are reading stories from the Anthology book, “Voices of the Revolution”.
Writing: The district assessment for Response to Literature will be given.
Persuasive writing will focus on designing and explaining why you would want to visit one of our states. (Students will be selecting a state for this assignment.)
Math:
Most of the classes are finishing up Unit 7, Number Stories, Order of Operations and Integers. Unit 9, Area /perimeter of geometric shapes will begin the second week of April.
Science:
Many fifth grade classes are completing the second unit, Life Science “Living Systems” or have continued onto “The Water Planet” our third unit for Earth Science.
Social Studies:
All fifth grade classes have started “We the People” in preparation for our Congressional Hearings on Friday, May 25th at Channel Islands State University.
Field Trips:
COSTAC- Wildwood hike – Wednesday, April 15th
We the People – May Friday, May 25th Middle School Technology
An Incredibly Fun Poetry iPad App for Students and Adults Alike
By Rich Bateman
In my constant quest to find the out-of-the-ordinary iPad applications for education, I recently came across a newly “trending” category within the English/Language Arts subject area. This new category is called magnetic poetry. Magnetic poetry allows a writer to collect interesting words and manipulate them (or “stick” them) into a creative prose. This inspirational “wordsmithing” technique has been used by elementary classroom teachers with pocket charts for decades. Now, the general public can develop their own creative word expressions thanks to the manufacturing of party game kits and personal tablet devices with downloadable magnetic poetry apps. If you would like your guests to play magnetic poetry at your next party, check out the following link for ideas about game themes or inspirational ways to use magnetic poetry retail products. http://www.magneticpoetry.com/
Below is a reprinted review of the iFound iPad application as it was published in the most recent ISTE publication, Learning and Leading with Technology.
This is one of my favorite “magnetic” poetry apps. The manipulative words and word parts look just like the real game, but this app comes with lots of options. You can change the words by choosing a different theme, and you can create your own words to use in the poem. You can change the background image and the fonts of the magnets. Best of all, students can share their poems through email, Facebook, and Twitter, or they can save them to a photo library. This app brings the idea of “found poetry” to life and would be a great addition to a unit on the genre of poetry. —Jennifer Shettel, assistant professor at Millersville University of Pennsylvania,
Science
On February 21-24, 2012, our sixth graders traveled to Camp Bloomfield in Malibu for Outdoor School. This exciting and memorable event allowed students to learn about the environment and have hands-on experiences. While at camp, students attended trail classes and learned about astronomy, geology, oceanography, and ecology. One of the highlights of the week was the beach hike, 2 ½ miles to the beach and 2 ½ miles back up the canyon. The tide pools at Leo Carrillo State Beach are some of the best in the area. Our students saw two octopi and many sea stars, sea slugs, and sea anemone. The week concluded with a campfire on Thursday night. At the campfire every cabin group performed skits, which were hilarious. The evening culminated with a special story about the importance that each one of us has on Earth. Outdoor School was full of many educational experiences, but the students also learned many life experiences. The students returned with special memories made from being with their friends for four days, and for many, away from their parents for the first time. Long after the trip, students will continue to talk about their experiences at Outdoor School. 
MATH
TRIMESTER THREE: 6th Grade Math
Trimester 3 has started with an introduction to geometry in Chapter 9. Students started with learning about points, lines, rays, segments and planes. Then they reviewed classifying angles and angle relationships and learned how to measure angles using protractors. Using this information, they are later asked to find missing angle measures. Chapter 9 concludes with the study of polygons. Students will classify polygons based on the number of sides and types of angles. By the end of Chapter 9, they will also be able to identify congruent polygons.
After Chapter 9, we will move into Chapter 10. There, the students will continue the study of polygons, but instead of focusing on their angles, we will be measuring the figures perimeter, area and volume. By the end of Chapter 10, students will be able to find the perimeter of any polygon and circumference of a circle; find the area of quadrilaterals, triangles, trapezoids and circles; and find the volume of prisms.
We will then return to the study of Chapters 7 and 8. Chapter 7 focuses on data collection and representation. Students will practice finding the mean, median and mode from a set of data. The students will also learn how to analyze data and determine if the graphs are misleading or not. Chapter 8 focuses on probability. Students will be able to determine the probability of different independent and dependent events, and they will be able to analyze the selected sample space to determine if the sample is biased or not. 6th grade math will conclude with a cumulative end of course exam.
TRIMESTER THREE: 7th Grade Math (Pre-Algebra)
Math 7 CP
Mathematics 7CP classes have just finished a geometry unit on area and perimeter of many different figures including circles, which they learned right in time for Pi Day! Next the students will start an algebra unit where they will learn how to graph different types of functions. They will use their prior knowledge of coordinate points and solving equations to graph lines, parabolas, and even cubic functions!
Math 7CP students will return to geometry for a chapter on volume and surface area of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, cones, and spheres. Next students will jump into the world of probability and statistics. They will also do an experiment using the concepts of probability.
As the year closes, students will return to algebra with polynomials. They will use their knowledge of properties to simplify polynomials by distribution and combining like terms. By the end of the unit students will be able to multiply binomials as well.
Math 7H
The beginning of the third trimester brought square roots and the Pythagorean Theorem to the minds of our 7th grade honors students! They learned how to find the length of the missing side and how to approximate and simplify non-perfect squares. The chapter also included the distance and mid-point formulas as well as the formulas for special triangles. This is the first year that I have taught my honors students special right triangles and I am excited to include it in this year’s curriculum as it is a skill on the SAT!
We will continue the trimester by honing our spatial reasoning skills with geometry, where we will learn the relationships of angles, qualifying figures as well as translations, rotations and dilations. This chapter includes many cool applets found online that illustrate these concepts beautifully! We will be checking them out in class together, but I encourage students to play with them at home as well. Following the trend of spatial reasoning we will continue our final trimester together with surface area and volume of prisms, cylinders, pyramids and cones.
Then we will be finishing up the year with data analysis and probability where we will not only display data in various fashions, but we will do independent and dependent probability. Our final chapter will be on polynomials where we will polish our skills as we prepare for Algebra 1 honors. Depending on time, we may put in some word problems to ensure their smooth transition into 8th grade honors in the fall. All in all it has been a very busy year- lots of math, but at the completion of the final benchmark your child should feel ready to conquer algebra.
TRIMESTER THREE: 8th Grade Math (Algebra & Geometry)
Algebra 1-A
During the final trimester Algebra 1A students have learned how to solve systems of linear equations. The first method they learned was by “graphing”. Next they learned how to solve systems by “substitution”, and the final method they learned is called “elimination”. Algebra 1A students had many good times practicing with white boards!
Next up Algebra 1A students will be focusing on inequalities and absolute value. Students will learn how to solve and graph inequalities starting with one-step and continuing on to multi-step. They will also use their prior knowledge about graphing equations to learn how to graph inequalities and systems of inequalities in two variables. Algebra 1A students will also learn how to solve equations and inequalities involving absolute value.
Algebra 1A students will also be working together to prepare for upcoming state testing. It will be a busy trimester!
Algebra CP/H
As Chapter 9 comes to a close our algebra students can boast that they have now learned a total of five ways to solve a quadratic equation! Not only can they factor and graph, but they can complete the square as well as using the quadratic formula. Don’t be afraid to ask your child to “sing” you the quadratic formula! (It goes to the tune of “Pop Goes the Weasel”)
In Chapter 10, we will be moving onto simplifying radicals and rationalizing denominators as well as the reminding the students of their Pythagorean Theorem skills. We will introduce the distance and mid-point formulas so our students can find the length of any line given any two coordinate points.
Next we will explore rational numbers, rational expressions and rational equations as we add, subtract, multiply and divide polynomials in chapter 11. By the end of this chapter your student will be seeing exponents in their sleep! Our year will come to a close with a few more word problems and a stained glass window project where our students can show off their creativity as well as the graphing skills that they have acquired all year long!
Geometry Honors
In geometry this trimester, the students finished learning the properties of circles; finding arc measures, properties of chords, using inscribed angles and polygons and finding segment lengths. They also learned how to graph a circle, which they all found to be fun and easy!
The students later moved onto areas and perimeters of triangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, rhombuses and kites. Of course, unlike the figures in sixth or seventh grade where the side lengths and heights of the polygons are given, sometimes students had to find “heights” by finding the apothem of a triangle! When the students encountered the area and circumference of circles, the geometry standard they learned was in regards to arc lengths and area of circle sectors. Finishing Chapter 11, students had to find the probability of landing on various shaded regions.
To close the year, geometry students will explore surface area and volume of solids. They will compute the surface area of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, cones and spheres. Again, many of the side lengths and/or heights will not be given, so students will have to use their knowledge of previous material: trigonometric rations and apothems.
P.E.
7th Grade Physical Education has just finished with the State Mandated FitnessGram Tests. Preliminary results look great, as usual, for Sycamore Canyon students! There were some changes in how the test was implemented this year. If you are interested on testing protocol, there is a great article at: http://www.fitnessgram.net/newstandards/#bodycompchanges.
The rest of the school year will have Physical Education students learning basketball, football, and dance units. The dance unit will include line dancing (thriller, Electric Slide, and the boot scoot) and 2-step (Partner Dance).
The third trimester brings with it a lot of fun and excitement. It is especially important that students focus on academics during this busy and fun time. Students and parents should be checking Zangle often to make sure that all assignments, participation points, tests, and quizzes are up to par! Citizenship infractions are listed under participation points in the Zangle gradebook and those grades are based on the number of infractions that students incur throughout the trimester. If you have any questions there are multiple resources on TeacherWeb.com
Remember, seven days without exercise makes one WEAK!
English
February and March were busy months in the middle school English classrooms. The sixth and seventh grade classrooms prepared for major district and state writing assessments. Sixth graders focused on response to literature while seventh grade classrooms wrapped up writing in the four major genres of response to literature, persuasive, summary, and narrative writing. The genre and prompt were chosen by the state and not known beforehand. The eighth grade classrooms studied theme through a unit on the Holocaust; writing also played an important role in this unit. In addition to writing, the classrooms supported the school-wide read-a-thon, as each grade level has reading standards that require students to read independently outside of the classroom. The contest may have been about a magical milestone of 1,000,000 minutes, in the students' eyes, but the teachers were so excited to have the opportunity to encourage an activity that is the critical component for continued development of fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary at the middle school level.
Spanish
It’s hard to believe we are already in Trimester 3! I am so proud and amazed at how much my Spanish students have learned in the past few months. They started off the year barely able to say “hola” and now they are able to communicate in short conversations. We have “traveled” to Texas, Costa Rica, and Chile. Currently we are in Mexico. Most recently students presented their family tree to the class using the vocabulary for family and friends. Currently we are working on food and how to order in a restaurant. Students are preparing a mock restaurant skit to present to the class using the new vocabulary. In the weeks ahead we will be focusing on commands, the body, clothing, shopping, and an introduction to past tense. We will also celebrate and learn the cultural significance of Cinco de Mayo! ¡Olé! |
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| Counselor's Corner | |
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Kathleen Murvin, Middle Grades Counselor
Counselors’ Corner: The Grieving Process
Many of our SCS students and their families have experienced loss and are dealing with grief. Some of the suggestions below were taken from a workshop entitled, “Helping Grieving Children and Teens: Strategies to Assist Young People Through Grief and Trauma” presented by Robert Zucker, LCSW, of the American Academy of Bereavement.
As a parent, you can help by employing the following strategies:
Be aware of the stages of grieving: denial/disbelief, anger/acting out, bargaining, depression/sadness, acceptance, and, finally, hope. It is also helpful to differentiate between the “normal aspects of bereavement” and “distorted mourning reactions”. The difference is in the intensity and duration of the reactions.
Encourage opportunities for safe and appropriate self-expression including exercising, journal writing, developing a support system, engaging in nurturing activities, and joining a support group. The Hospice of the Conejo offers support groups for adults, teens and children. There is no charge for these services. Please contact Kathleen Murvin, Middle Grades Counselor, at kmurvin@conejousd.org for additional age appropriate resources. |
| KHAN ACADEMY TESTIMONIAL | |
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Bill Gates says the Khan Academy is the best educational website for our children and it's FREE! Just go to www.khanacademy.org and see for yourself. Pass it on!!!
Disney's most popular math cartoon - Donald in Mathmagic Land (Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6MkThObcBI, Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-LcLi9PIBE)
Salman Khan, Transformer - Nobel Prize for Education - http://www.connectedprincipals.com/archives/2939
Khan Academy is the future of education - http://singularityhub.com/2011/02/13/yes-the-khan-academy-is-the-future-of-education-video/
Many Ways to Use Khan Academy - http://journeyintech.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-khan-be-done-with-it.html
Flipping the classroom - http://www.economist.com/node/21529062
LASD rolls out Khan to more than 1,000 students - http://www.losaltosonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36722&Itemid=56
Bill Gate's Favorite Teacher - http://money.cnn.com/2010/08/23/technology/sal_khan_academy.fortune/
Hear Sal Explain Khan Academy on Harvard EdCast - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-weber/sal-khan-math_b_1033202.html
Apply to be a pilot school: http://www.khanacademy.org/about/getting-started#schools
David Kreinces |
| COMPUTER LAB NEWS | |
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During the month of February, Kindergarten through 5th grade students practiced for National Maths Day in the computer lab. On March 7th, Sycamore Canyon School had 63 classrooms totaling 1,475 students log onto www.worldmathsday.com. Our students answered 271,536 math questions correctly in a 24-hour period! That’s an average of 184 math questions per student! Impressive! Not only did student enjoy competing with other students their age from all around the World, but they improved their math skills too! Kindergarten students are becoming so fluent on the computer in Microsoft Word, Type to Learn Jr., and KidPix. Not stopping there, we will continue to increase their knowledge of creating themed documents. First grade students learned how to log into the computer so that they can now save their work to their teacher’s classroom folders. First graders will continue to work on and express their creativity through Microsoft Word. Second grade students are finishing up Microsoft Word and then they will soon be introduced to Microsoft PowerPoint. And third through fifth grade students will start learning Microsoft Publisher. They are very excited to learn how to create their own postcards, newsletters, and brochures. We love working with such eager students that love learning all technology has to offer. Sharon Hanley and Lisa Berntsen |