PICTURE DAY IS FRIDAY!

Just a friendly reminder to parents and students...don't forget your picture money for PICTURE DAY on Friday!  

The Sutro School Library is Now OPEN!

Our library is ready!

Ms. Molly and Ms. Wong have taken great pains to update our library, and after months of work, it's finally open for business and ready to go!  We have officially joined the computerized library scene, and all of our books can now be found online at http://follett.sfusd.edu.  

You can look up books, authors, illustrators, and genres whenever the mood strikes, and then come straight to school to check the books out with your new bar code card!  Be sure to check out the site and do a little exploring!

The Academy of Sciences OPEN HOUSE!

If you have time this weekend, be sure to visit the NEW Academy of Sciences at their old location in Golden Gate Park across from the DeYoung Museum.  It looks simply amazing!

Room 11 will be visiting the Academy and their fabulous new Planetarium in March, but you should take full advantage of their open house this Saturday...because it's FREE!  

If you do plan to go on FREE SATURDAY, get there early, because there will be a line down the road.  The Academy is open at 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 9:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday (paid entry).

Homework for September 22-Week 5

Homework for September 22-September 29/Week 5

1) Spelling List
a. Do NOT do spelling dictation

2) Daily Handwriting Practice
a. Monday through Thursday

3) Daily Math Practice
a. Do NOT do questions 3 and 5 on Tuesday

4) Geography
a) Lines of Latitude and Longitude

5) Daily Language Review

6) Daily Paragraph Editing
a) Science Article: The Business of Farming

7) Daily Word Problems

8) Daily Academic Vocabulary
a) perform, performance, accomplish, accomplishment

9) Tic Tac Math
a) Do all problems

FREE MUSEUM DAY!

There is a great opportunity this upcoming Saturday, September 27th...FREE MUSEUM DAY!  Check out the participating museums in San Francisco and get yourself out of the house this weekend to soak in some of the amazing culture that makes San Francisco such a great city for art.

Participating museums in San Francisco and the Bay Area:

Exploratorium in San Francisco

Museum of African Diasporia (MoAD) in San Francisco

SF Camerawork in San Francisco

Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland

Blackhawk Classic Car Museum in Danville

Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek

In order to participate, you must sign up for a pass.  Make sure you get it done soon, however, because it's coming up soon!

Homework for September 15-Week 4

Homework for September 15-22

1) Spelling List

2) Daily Academic Vocabulary
a. imply, implication, contend

3.) Daily Paragraph Editing
a. Editorial: Bring Back “Pizza Thursdays”

4) Daily Math Practice

5) Daily Word Problems

6) Daily Language Review

7) Daily Handwriting Practice

8) Daily Geography
a. A Map Grid

9) Reading Log

INTERNET HUNT: Find Langston Hughes, the poet, on the Internet. Write a two paragraph essay on who he is and what he has done. Do NOT copy off the Internet. Use your own words.

ESSAY: Read the attached poem by Langston Hughes called The Dream Keeper. Write a 4 paragraph essay on the poem, and what you believe it means. What does it mean to you?

Literacy Links

Sutro is such a wonderfully diverse school, with many second language learners being challenged  not only with learning the academic curriculum, but also picking up the subtle nuances of the complicated english language.  With this in mind, I recommend all parents with concerns about finding extra help after school to check out 826 Valencia, in the Mission.  

This literacy links page will also direct you to places in San Francisco that offer free and fee-based tutoring help, specifically with writing.  Check it out!

Moving Along Swimmingly

The students are working hard, and jamming through math.  We are on Chapter 3, and going strong!  Chapter 3 testing is on Friday, as is the spelling test, and Tale of Despereaux quiz.  Don't forget to study, students! 

Please remember to bring back SIGNED field trip forms for next week's multi-media health performance at our neighboring school, Argonne Elementary.  

The entire student body will be in attendance, so be prepared for a very crowded auditorium.  Room 11 has generously donated their services to the Sutro kindergartners, and will act as their chaperones when we walk to and from the performance.  

We have awesome kids in Room 11!

Homework for September 8-Week 3

Homework for September 8 - 15

1) Spelling List
a. Do NOT do spelling dictation

2) Daily Handwriting Practice

3) Geography
a) The Four Hemispheres

4) Daily Word Problems

5) Daily Paragraph Editing
a. Earth Science: Summer Solstice

6) Daily Math Practice

7) Daily Academic Vocabulary
a. convince, persuade, persuasion, persuasive

8) Daily Language Review

9) Reading Log

VOTE for New Computer Equipment for Room 11!!

I found a great contest online, and decided to try to win.  In order to win, you must write a compelling essay explaining why you (and in this case WE) deserve free computer equipment.  So cross your fingers and toes!

Also, click on this link and click VOTE for Ms. Kim!!  It may cause the judges of this essay contest to look our way, or not, but it will be a show of solidarity nonetheless!

Homework for September 2-Week 2

Homework for September 2-8

1) Spelling List

2) Daily Math Practice

3) Daily Language Review

4) Daily Academic Vocabulary
a. suppose, assume, assumption, presume

5) Daily Paragraph Editing
a. Historical Fiction: My Sister, Dolley Madison

6) Daily Word Problems

7) Handwriting Practice

8) Daily Geography
a. Globe Lines

9) Reading Log
a. Choose a book and read at least 20 minutes every day. Write a paragraph about what you read.

The First Day of School

It was great to meet all of the new students today.  I, for one, was very excited to see everyone on the first day of school!  

We spent a good part of the day going over homework and various rules and expectations (for both students and teachers, mind you.)  It was a lot to digest in one day, but everyone handled it perfectly and without complaint.  Excellent work, students!

We've already begun math and homework, so please be sure to work on your packets tonight.  This is just the beginning of another great year at Sutro Elementary, and the future looks bright!

  

Homework for August 25-Week 1

Homework for August 25-September 2

This is your homework for the week. You have Monday through Tuesday to finish it. Go at your own pace, but be sure to complete everything and have it ready to turn in on Tuesday. You are responsible for your own work. Make sure you double-check your answers and write neatly and clearly. Use extra paper when necessary.

1) Daily Language Review

2) Daily Paragraph Editing
a. John Muir’s Early Life

3) Daily Academic Vocabulary
a. typical, standard

4) Daily Math Practice

5) Daily Word Problems

6) Spelling List

7) Daily Geography
a. Parts of a Map

8) Reading Log
a. Choose a book and read at least 20 minutes every day. Write a paragraph about what you read.

California Standards Test 2008 Results!

Room 11 and 5th graders in the Bungalow ROCKED THE STANDARDS TEST!! All of your hard work paid off! Check out those math scores! I could not be more proud of you all. 

CST Results
(Scale: % at or above proficient)

Grade 2
English Language Arts
55% (2008)
61% (2007)
60% (2006)
36% (2005)
The state average for English Language Arts was 48% in 2008.

Math
76% (2008)
79% (2007)
75% (2006)
57% (2005)
The state average for Math was 59% in 2008.

Grade 3
English Language Arts
38% (2008)
54% (2007)
39% (2006)
36% (2005)
The state average for English Language Arts was 38% in 2008.

Math
71% (2008)
69% (2007)
74% (2006)
64% (2005)
The state average for Math was 61% in 2008.

Grade 4
English Language Arts
64% (2008)
68% (2007)
68% (2006)
60% (2005)
The state average for English Language Arts was 55% in 2008.

Math
61% (2008)
73% (2007)
70% (2006)
66% (2005)
The state average for Math was 61% in 2008.

Grade 5
Science
61% (2008)
52% (2007)
37% (2006)
The state average for Science was 46% in 2008.

English Language Arts
71% (2008)
62% (2007)
61% (2006)
64% (2005)
The state average for English Language Arts was 48% in 2008.

Math
88% (2008)
66% (2007)
73% (2006)
70% (2005)
The state average for Math was 51% in 2008.


Source: CA Dept. of Education, 2007-2008

In Your Back Yard Contest Results!

Congratulations to Victorio and Claire are in order!  Their submissions to the California Academy of Sciences contest, "In Your Back Yard" won some accolades!

Claire's The Kelp Forest won an honorable mention, while Victorio's picture of The Jellies won 3rd prize and $50!

Considering there were 150 submissions, that's amazing!  Check out the link to the gallery if you would like to see some stunning photos taken by  kids aged 8-12.  Their work will be exhibited as part of the Children's Gallery at the Grand Re-Opening of the Academy of Sciences on September 27, 2008 and throughout the inaugural year.  Be sure to stop by and get a good look!