Weekend Activities

If you're not busy, these might interest you:


One Year Anniversary
Stoneridge Mall • Pleasanton, CA
September 28 - 30
Join hundreds of other LEGO fans and help 
build a large-scale map of the United States 
completely out of LEGO bricks! Plus, when you 
make a qualifying purchase at the LEGO Store 
you could receive an exclusive LEGO minifigure 
set! Visit stores.LEGO.com for more details.

Don't forget this $10 off $50 coupon (usable at the Stoneridge Lego Store):
http://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/45320/14d/ig.rsys2.net/responsysimages/content/lego/Coupon_Stoneridge_10.pdf?CMP=EMC-BR2012September_Stoneridge_US&HQS=coupon&RRID=1956863&RMID=SAH_2012_09_Store_Stoneridge_PR_US

Chinese Moon Festival 2012

Sunday, September 30, 2012

1:00pm to 5:00pm

Free Admission and Parking

Overfelt Gardens 

368 Educational Park Dr. 

San José, CA

In the Chinese Cultural Garden 

This is a tobacco/alcohol-free event

One of the stories told to children during Moon Festival is of the fairy living in a crystal palace. She comes out to dance on the shadowed surface of the moon. Legend says the "lady living in the moon" dates back to ancient times when ten suns appeared in the sky. The Emperor ordered a famous but mean archer to shoot down the nine extra suns. Once the task was accomplished, Goddess of Western Heaven rewarded the archer with a pill of immortality. But his wife, wishing to save people from his bad disposition, took the pill herself. She has been banished to the moon ever since. They say her beauty is greatest on the day of the Moon Festival. 

http://www.chineseculturalgarden.org/moonfestival.htm

Reminders for Monday's Field Trip

Please keep the following in mind:

1.  Since we do not have our class t-shirts yet, please wear a Ruskin-related t-shirt or sweatshirt.  It could be a t-shirt from last year, a RuskinFIT t-shirt, or even a generic Ruskin one.  Students will be issued name tags with the school's information on it.

2.  According to the forecasts, it is going to be HOT.  Even though we will be in two different theaters, we will be walking and eating outside.  Please dress accordingly.

3.  Since lunch is a short period of time (about 15-20 minutes), please bring food that you can eat in that small period of time.  I understand that it's a really tight window of time, but that's the schedule they created for us (we didn't have any input on it).  Think sandwich, proteins, cut/whole fruit, water (in a recyclable) bottle and/or a small dessert/treat.  It might also be wise to pack some extra food in your backpack so when we return to school, you have something to eat.

4.  When packing your lunch, please refrain from using a bag you have to bring back to school with you.  I strongly recommend using a paper or plastic bag with your name printed clearly on it; we need something that can be easily discarded.  Avoid packing thermoses, metal utensils (forks, spoons, etc.), and anything that need to be brought back to school.

Correction: Classroom Party Food Items

An eagle-eyed parent caught this error in the Back to School Night packet:


"In addition, please try and pick foods which may cause common allergic reactions (i.e., peanuts, milk). I know it's tough, but it is their health!"


OBVIOUSLY, it was supposed to read:


"In addition, please try and pick foods which may NOT cause common allergic reactions (i.e., peanuts, milk). I know it's tough, but it is their health!"


But this mistake escaped the eyes of this usually quick-spotting teacher. (I didn't say I was perfect!)

As a "Thank You" to that particular parent, I invite him/her to my classroom for a special reward!

Kudos and thanks!  

5-2-1-0 Every Day

5-2-1-0 Every Day

5  =  5 servings of fresh fruit daily

2  =  no more than 2 hours of screen time (i.e., computers, television, tablets, video game equipment) daily

1  =  1 hour of exercise daily

0  =  ZERO sweetened beverages (i.e., sodas, non-100% juice, sports drinks, chocolate milk, flavored drinks)

HW - Thursday, 9/27

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

Remember to read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity - NONE THIS WEEK

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # 19-20

5.  Wordly Wise # 3e / Lesson 3 Test tomorrow!

6.  My Math Class - Quiz on Friday (everything up to Topic 2, Lesson 9)

-- Textbook pgs. 40-41 evens, 42-43 all

-- Workbook pgs. none

7.  Science - none

8.  History - none

9.  Subjects/Predicates worksheet and advertisement 

Friday's College Day and Monday's Field Trip Chaperones

1.  Friday is College Day.  Please have your child wear something collegiate like a Stanford t-shirt, UC Berkeley jersey, San Jose State sweatshirt, etc. It's a day to raise awareness about their future college choice/s.

2.  Thank you for returning the parent interest forms for being a chaperone. Due to the availability of space on the bus, I have limited the number of chaperones to six. If your name is not here, I do not need your assistance at this time; should an opening arise, I will contact you. The following parents will be the chaperones for this coming Monday's field trip to the California Theatre and Center for Performing Arts:
Mrs. Basco, Mrs. Hashimoto, Mrs. Kuo, Mrs. Pham, Ms. Bai, Mr. Tran.

In the event you cannot make it, please let me know ASAP so I can ask another parent to take your place.
Please contact me if you have any concerns or questions.

Saying of the day

I have a little book of sayings and today's was worth sharing.

"We make a living by what we get.
 We make a life by what we give."

Please contemplate this for the rest of the day and this week.

I'll be sure to share other "nuggets" with y'all.

HW - Wednesday, 9/26

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

Remember to read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity - NONE THIS WEEK

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # 15-16

5.  Wordly Wise # 3e

6.  My Math Class - Quiz on Friday (everything up to Topic 2, Lesson 9)

-- Textbook pgs. 37-38 evens, 39 all, 40-41 odds

-- Workbook pgs. none

7.  Science - none

8.  History - none

9.  Dear Mr. Henshaw letter - response to Leigh (pg.89) as Mr. Henshaw

HW - Tuesday, 9/25

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

Remember to read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity - NONE THIS WEEK

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # 11-12

5.  Wordly Wise # 3c-d

6.  My Math Class

-- Textbook pgs. 34-35, 37-38 odds

-- Workbook pgs. none

7.  Science - none

8.  History - none

9.  Language Arts Workbook - pgs. 38-46  (Started in class; Due Wednesday)

Get Earthquakes Fit Tip #2: Exercise for One Hour Daily

Get Earthquakes Fit Tip #2:  Exercise for One Hour Every Day


Activity to practice this week:  "Hot Potato"

Focus:  Fast hands and controlled tosses

Jon Busch, San Jose Earthquakes Goalkeeper

Think goalkeeping is easy?  Watch a San Jose Sharks player try his hand at it!

Get Earthquakes Fit Tip #1: Water is better!

Get Earthquakes Fit Tip #1:  NO Sweetened Drinks. Choose WATER!

4 grams of sugar = 1 teaspoon of sugar!

Activity to practice:  "Kangaroo, Cheetah, Turtle"

Focus:  Improve ability to shift "gears"; cardio

Chris Wondolowski, San Jose Earthquakes All-Star Forward

Watch Wondo score an amazing goal against the Seattle Sounders! Don't blink!

HW - Monday, 9/24

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

Remember to read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity - NONE THIS WEEK

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # 7-8

5.  Wordly Wise # 3a-b

6.  My Math Class

-- Textbook pgs. 32-33

-- Workbook pgs. 17

7.  Science - none

8.  History - none

9.  Language Arts Workbook - pgs. 38-46  (Started in class; Due Wednesday)

Weekly Notes for 9/24-28

• No Spelling Words this week: In order to spend more time with our study of the Titanic and class novel, Dear Mr. Henshaw, we will not start a new story this week. Thus, no new spelling words or activities will be assigned.
• Permission slips due ASAP!
• THIS COMING MONDAY, OCTOBER 1 - ArtSpark at California Theatre and Center for the Performing Arts
• MONDAY, October 15 - Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge
• This Friday is College Day! Encourage your child to wear clothes that have college logos on them to school on Friday! It's never too early to get them thinking about college!
• Reading Logs are due October 1! No late forms will be accepted after Wednesday, October 3.

Space Shuttle Endeavor Pictures

The husband of Mrs. Turner, one of the science lab teachers, was present at Moffitt Air Field for the Endeavor fly-by and forwarded these impressive photos.

The picture below was taken by Mr. Dixit since he works nearby Moffitt.

Space Shuttle Endeavor Fly-By

Anticlimactic.

That word best describes the Shuttle Endeavor's fly by and the sentiment - along with disappointment - shared by most Ruskin onlookers who were out on the blacktop ready to catch a glimpse of the "last flight" of Endeavor.

After false reports during recess time by students pointing towards the sky at any plane that was in the vicinity - presumably, Mineta routed air traffic away from the Endeavor route - some Ruskin staff and students were able to see a barely visible Endeavor (piggybacking on a plane) in the far-off distance for a few seconds before it very quickly disappeared behind the tree line.

I hope we live to see another fly-by in our lifetime, considering the state of NASA and the shelving of the shuttle program.

Sigh.

HW - Thursday, 9/20

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

Remember to read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity

 SPELLING TEST TOMORROW 

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # NONE today :(

5.  Wordly Wise # 2e (Due Friday)  /  

Wordly Wise Lesson 2 Test Tomorrow

6.  My Math Class  - NO QUIZ tomorrow

-- Textbook pgs. 26-27

-- Workbook pgs. none

7.  Science - none

8.  History - none

9.  Comparative Adjective Mini-Books due TOMORROW

Back to School Night, Tomorrow, 9/20

A friendly reminder that Back to School Night is tomorrow, Thursday, September 20.

6:00 - 6:30  Grades K-2  (in the classrooms)
6:30 - 6:45  Principal Welcome/Introduction to Staff  (in the Multi)
6:45 - 7:15  Grades 3-4  (in the classrooms)

See you there!

HW - Wednesday, 9/19

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

Remember to read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # 1-2 (from Green Book)

5.  Wordly Wise # 2e (Due Friday)

6.  My Math Class

-- Textbook pgs. 23, 24-25

-- Workbook pgs. none

7.  Science - none

8.  History - pg. 141 (from class)

9.  Comparative Adjective Mini-Books due Friday 

10.  Language Arts Workbook pgs. 38-40 (from class)

HW - Tuesday, 9/18

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

Remember to read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity 

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # 37-38
5.  Wordly Wise # 2a-b
6.  My Math Class
-- Textbook pgs. none
-- Workbook pgs. 1,3,5,7-8,9-10
7.  Science - none
8.  History - none
9.  Comparative Adjectives Mini-Books due Friday

HW - Monday, 9/17

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

Remember to read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity 

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # 33-34
5.  Wordly Wise # 2a-b
6.  My Math Class
-- Textbook pgs. 20-21
-- Workbook pgs. xx
7.  Science - none
8.  History - none
9.  Comparative Adjectives Mini-Books due Friday

Emergency Kits

From the office:

"Emergency Packet information will be distributed this week.  
Added to the list are survival wrap blankets (a.k.a., space blankets)."

HW Week September 10-14

Homework - Monday, September 10

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

Remember to read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity 

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # 15-16
5.  Wordly Wise # 1a-1b
6.  My Math Class
-- Textbook pgs. 8-9 ODDS only
-- Workbook pgs. none
7.  Science - none
8.  History - none
9.  Language Arts Workbook pgs. 19-23 (started in class)

Homework - Tuesday, September 11

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

Remember to read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity (Do ONE a day)

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # 19-20

5.  Wordly Wise # 1c-1d

6.  My Math Class

-- Textbook pgs. 8-9 EVENS, 11-13 ALL

-- Workbook pgs. none

7.  Science - none

8.  History - none

9.  Language Arts Workbook pgs. 24-25 (started in class)

Homework - Wednesday, September 12

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

Remember to read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # 23-24

5.  Wordly Wise # 1e (Due Friday)

6.  My Math Class

-- Textbook pgs. 15-16

-- Workbook pgs. none

7.  Science - none

8.  History - none

9.  Language Arts Workbook pgs. 26-27, 29-32 (started in class)

Homework - Thursday, September 13

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

Remember to read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity

 SPELLING TEST TOMORROW 

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # 27-28

5.  Wordly Wise # 2e (Due Friday)  /  

Wordly Wise Lesson 1 Test Tomorrow

6.  My Math Class  -  QUIZ tomorrow / TEST Tuesday

-- Textbook pgs. 16-19

-- Workbook pgs. none

7.  Science - none

8.  History - none

9.  Language Arts Workbook pgs. none