Christmas Gift Exchange...

Dear Parents,

Wow, almost a month has passed since my last official blog post...so much has happened already this year, it is hard to keep track!

As we approach the holiday, the kids have expressed interest in doing a classroom gift exchange. Last year we were able to conduct a successful gift exchange that included only those kids who wanted to participate. This event is in no way mandatory, and will be up to each individual. It will be a low-key exchange that will take place on Tuesday, December 22nd, before we dismiss for Christmas break.

I am asking that kids stay within the $5.00 - $10.00 range for their gifts, and that each gift is appropriate in content, age and gender. In some classrooms, kids opt to separate girls and boys so that girls shop for girls and boys for boys. We have not yet decided what our plan is, but will make that decision today.

We will be having a celebration before we break for Christmas, and hope to have Dyann back into the classroom to visit. Please be looking for information about that and how you might become involved. Thank you so much for all you have done to make this a great year! I hope 2010 is just as successful!

Mr. H

Book Clubs...

Dear Moms and Dads,

Thank you again for a very successful week of conferences! I cherish that time, however brief, and know that for some of us, it may be the only time we get face-to-face all year. I appreciate all of the support on the home-front and promise to do whatever I can on this end to keep you in the loop in the classroom.

As you all know by now, we are knee-deep in Book Clubs in 6th grade, and I spoke to many of you about your future involvement. I am excited to have you in the classroom throughout the week to participate in rich discussions surrounding great text! I mentioned to everyone that we will be wrapping up this current Book Club by Thanksgiving and will be ready to kick off another one after the break.

If you are available, I would invite you into our room at 2:00 any day this week, except for today, to observe the 'goings-on' in a Book Club, and to learn more about what your role as a parent will be. As was communicated during conference time, the potential is great to not only read great books, but to really by in tune with what your student is reading...the opportunity for continued dialogue at home is always present.

Within the next week, I hope to be sending home some information about a short 'training' of sorts, to more clearly articulate the expectations and components of a Book Club. If you plan to help out, it would be beneficial for both you and the kids to participate in this training.

Please let me know if you would like to come in this week, and on which day(s) and I will be sure to accommodate!

Thanks again, everyone, for a great start to a super year!

Mr. H.

Tacos with Dyann...

To all -

I just wanted to take a minute to remind you that on Friday, October 30th, at 12:00 in the afternoon, our 6th grade class will be hosting a "Taco Bar" for our good friend Dyann W. As we learned from her first visit with us a while back, her favorite food is tacos!

Each of us will be bringing something to help make the Taco Bar a success, so if you, parents, would like to join us for lunch, just let me know. This day promises to be a special one for Dyann, as she loves tacos and has never been able to dress up for an occasion like this...thanks to the generosity and thoughtfulness of you, she will get to enjoy both!

Please remember that students are invited to wear their costumes during this day, and that what you see at Arrowhead, stays at Arrowhead...I say that as a warning prior to seeing me that day. Let's just say I will be WAY outside my comfort zone...but it is all for the kids - it will be a memory, I am sure!

Hope to see you on Friday!

Mr. H

Number the Stars...

Parents and Students, 

As all of you know, we are wrapping up our first Book Club tomorrow, Thursday, October 8th. During this Book Club, we have spent a great deal of time building our knowledge on topics related to World War 2. One of the mysteries to which we introduced in our Book Club meeting today was why Germany chose not to take over Sweden during the war. 

In their pursuit of world domination, Nazi Germany, as it was called at the time, was interested in controlling the entire free world, yet they chose to leave certain countries out...

One of those countries, that we have learned was a refuge for Jewish Danes, was Sweden. The Nazis knew that Jews were escaping to these countries, and Uncle Henrik says in Number the Stars, "...For reasons of their own, the Nazis want Sweden to remain free. It is very complicated." (page 126)

So the question is..."Why did the Germans NOT conquer Sweden during World War 2?"

Mr. H.

Thanks Parents and Kids!

Hey there - 

Wow! What an awesome weekend it was at Saturday Live! Our "West High Basket" earned $330 for Arrowhead School...that was the 2nd most valuable basket auctioned off - Way to go!

We are nearing the mid-term, which will be this Friday, October 2nd. Be watching for the 'official' mid-term report to come home with your kids that afternoon. That report will need to be signed by you and returned to me next week...thank you in advance for you helping to get them back quickly.

With fall now here, please make sure your kids are dressed appropriately for outside activity in cool weather! 

Mr. H.

Saturday Live Basket...

Parents - 

Our 6th Grade class voted this week on a basket theme for this year's Saturday Live basket raffle, and it was determined that we would like to do a WEST HIGH THEME for our basket. 

As most of you are aware, this is a collaborative effort on our part, and we ask that all parents/families help make this event a successful one. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be collecting 'items' somehow related to West High School. If you would like to contribute an item, please send it to school with your student. If you would like to contribute financially, you may send cash with your child, and either I, or a classroom mom will do some shopping...

Please let me know if you have questions regarding this event. 

With thanks,

Mr. H.

Arrowhead Shirts...

Parents and Students, 

The new shirts should be here tomorrow afternoon or early Thursday morning! If you are interested in purchasing, please send cash or check with your child by Friday...the cost, again, is $12.00 and checks can be made out to "Arrowhead Student Council". 

Thank you for supporting the STUCO. Our representatives will be elected by the end of this week or early next week. I am sure your kids will keep you posted!

Thanks again.

Mr. H.

Fall NWEA Testing Next Week...

To All - 

Just a quick heads-up about our fall testing window...while the window for fall NWEA testing is open for a while, our class, along with another 6th grade, will be testing next week. 

Our testing will begin on Wednesday after lunch, and run through Friday, with one test happening each day. 

I will be sending an e-mail, as well as a note in Tuesday folders to remind you of the upcoming tests. Please make sure your kids are ready to go on Wednesday. We can do snacks if you would like to send something with your student.

Thanks for all you do at home!

Mr. H.

Math Book On-Line...

Students and Parents, 

The 6th Grade math book is now available online for your nightly use! Follow the link provided on this Blog page and enter your username and password. 

For all 6th graders this year, your username is your first and last name, all lower case with no spaces. Your password is 'arrowhead' all lower case. Please let us know if you have questions or difficulty accessing the site. 

Mr. H.

The Tournament...

A football tournament is being organized in a 'round robin' fashion, eg. every participating team plays a game against every other team once and only once...

This is not a loser out tournament...every team plays every other team one time.

If 78 games are played throughout the tournament, how many teams participated in the tournament?

Week One...In the Books

Students and Parents, 

Well, week one of our 2009-2010 6th grade school year is in the books! I enjoyed meeting all of you and kicking off what I know will be a great year together. The first few days of school are almost always awkward and sometimes a little intimidating...for student and teacher! I am pleased with the promise that this class has already shown, and anticipate that it will only get better from here on out. 

My hope is to keep this Blog updated weekly. I will certainly maintain the assignment portion so that daily assignments can be accessed easily from home. Ultimately, this site will contain pertinent information to what what we will be studying at school, so that you can remain up to speed on what it is we are doing on a day to day basis. It will contain links to web sites frequently used in the classroom, and sites that may provide additional information on what it is we are doing in the classroom. 

I hope you find it helpful as a means of on-going communication throughout the school year. I appreciate any feedback or insight you might have in making this a more effective tool for communication. 

Thanks to you all...and off we go!

Mr. H.

Welcome Back 6th Graders and Parents!

Dear Parents,

I have created this blog in an effort to keep you all posted about what is happening in and out of the classroom throughout the 2009/2010 school year. If at any time you have questions or comments for me, please feel free to contact me at the school or via e-mail at: halliganj@billings.k12.mt.us

I look forward to starting this year with great momentum! Thank you for being such a vital part of our learning community!

Mr. Halligan