Out of the Office...

To all:

First of all, let me say thanks to everyone for coming last Friday to see our Mesopotamian Mechanical Diorama presentations! The kids had a good time, and were wiped out afterward.

Just to let everyone know, I will be in Missoula most of this week, so the blog updates will be sporadic, at best. I leave tomorrow at noon, and will return on Monday.

Have a great week!

Mr. H.

Mechanical Dioramas - Early Mesopotamian Empires

To all -

As you have probably heard, your kids are working on a project in Social Studies right now centered around the early Mesopotamian Empires of Assyria, Akkadia and Babylon. For the last week, students have been working in small teams to create a Mechanical Diorama that they will be displaying on Friday, January 22nd in the Arrowhead library.

All classrooms and parents/families are invited to attend this event and learn about these early empires and the impact they had on the Middle East. Students will be presenting from 1:00 - 2:30 PM on Friday afternoon. If you are unfamiliar with the mechanical diorama, it is much like a moving wax museum. Students from each empire will be in costume and character to 'relive' life in Mesopotamia thousands of years ago.

Please plan to join us this Friday, January 22nd from 1:00 - 2:30 PM. There are no designated show times. Come any time during that block and walk through the 'museum'. Cameras are welcome!

Mr. Halligan

Looking Ahead in 2010...

Parents and Students,

We are already two weeks into our new year and things are not slowing down! As we wrap up the 2nd Semester and gear up for our final semester at Arrowhead, we have a number of things happening that we all need to be aware of...

1. Book Clubs: We will be wrapping up the Book Club on The Great Gilly Hopkins that was started last week, on Tuesday, January 19th. From there we will take a short break to prepare for some training that will be offered to moms and dads who are interested in being more involved in this process. I know that many of you have already been involved and have been a large part of our success so far, but the spark has ignited a flame among the intermediate grades. We have several parents in 4th - 6th grades interested in participating in Book Clubs, so I will be taking some time to train those parents so that students will have exposure to the club format early on.

2. Social Studies - Mechanical Dioramas: We are studying Unit 6 right now in Social Studies, which deals with 4 of the most powerful early empires in our world's history. On Friday, January 22nd, the students in this classroom will be putting on a Mechanical Diorama in the library at Arrowhead that will be centered around these four powerful empires. Each student will play a part in the success of this project, and it will be something you won't want to miss! The project will culminate on Friday, January 22nd, from 1:00 - 2:30 PM in the Arrowhead library. Please feel free to come at any time during that hour and a half block!

3. Science Fair: We have already begun the process for the Arrowhead Science Fair. In 6th grade, I feel strongly that kids will learn more and have a more successful scientific experience through a science fair process than they might otherwise. For a big chunk of the 3rd Quarter we will be focusing much of our attention on this Science Fair process. The Arrowhead Science Fair will take place on Thursday, March 25th in the school's cafeteria. Please be looking for more details to come in the future!

Thanks so much for making this first half of the year a successful one!

Mr. H.