Math

Whatcom County Math Championship Results

SPA 8th Grade Team won 1st!

SPA 4th grader- 3rd place individual category! 

SPA 4th Grade Team placed 8th!

Congratulations Math Team Participants

Recent data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics revealed that in order to meet the demands of the 21st century more students must pursue mathematical and technical occupations. Students must master advanced skills in mathematics, science, and technology to stay on track for college and for favorable careers. Mathematics teaches ways of thinking that are essential to work and life.

We do a few unique things here at St. Paul’s to make mathematics a top priority for our students. Each day we reserve a chunk of time deemed “math block.” We all have math at the same time in order to allow students to move around and get instruction that is catered to their individual math needs.

Of all the subjects we teach, math is especially not a 'one size fits all' subject. Each student comes to our school with different backgrounds and finding the best fit mathematically is important to us. For instance, in the same grade we may have a student who gets extra one-on-one time from their teacher, and another student who goes to the middle school to take classes.

Another great math option we have is Math Team. This is a club that students in 3rd-8th grade can join, where they practice math skills and get to compete in competitions such as, the Whatcom County Math Championship.

Whether it is Math Team or Math Block, creating strong mathematicians is something we value.

Winter Fitness

This week we celebrated the start of the Olympics by engaging in Winter Fitness. Our entire Lower School went ice skating and our Middle School went skiing.

These activities made me amp up the usage of one of my favorite quotes. I love it when Ms. Frizzle (from the Magic School Bus) says, “Take chances, make mistakes, get messy.” I use this quote most often when I see students refusing to do something that is hard and/or new to them. Only ever doing what is comfortable and easy does not allow for growth.

Learning a new skill set (like ice-skating) can be scary for some students. We are not looking for anyone to become the next Michelle Kwan or Wayne Gretzky. We are instead hoping they will learn the important skill of perseverance. This was the first time many of our students had ice skated and their proud faces when they caught on to the concept, were priceless.

It is important to us at St. Paul’s that our students are well-rounded individuals. In order to be prepared for any situation, it means that our students must push themselves out of their comfort zones. Each year for Winter Fitness we pick one new fitness activity to try. For some this activity may be old hat and for others it is an opportunity to try something new. 

Growing and learning when things may be new or difficult, whether it's a new sport, or the pursuit of a new concept in the classroom, is the best way to “take chances, make mistakes, get messy.”

January

Yes, it is cold. Yes, it is dark and dreary. But you know what is great about January? It provides a long stretch of uninterrupted academic work time.

Students know the classroom routines now. The distraction of Christmas is over and summer is far enough away that students can focus solely on their schoolwork. For some students this consistency and routine is fantastic, for others it causes them to feel like their academic prowess is in the spotlight for the first time all year.

For these students, complaining about work at school and homework is a frequent January theme. This is when a parent should bring up the topic of perseverance. Reminding your student that their job is to go to school and help their brain grow is a good start. As for complaints about homework, I came across this great article by Carolyn Rahaman that has some good advice for dealing with the top 5 homework excuses.

“"I have too much homework"

A very common complaint from students is that they have too much homework. This may be the result of several factors. If your child considers any homework at all to be "too much," the work may be too difficult. It is possible that she takes longer than her teacher expects because the core concepts elude her understanding. This is a sign that your student requires additional help or needs to further study and practice those concepts. It may also be that your child is not leaving herself enough time for homework, and she should start earlier and adjust her expectations.

"This is too hard!"

If your student is struggling, consider requesting additional help. She can speak with her teacher before or after school, work with a study group or review with a parent at home. Occasionally, when children complain that their assignments are too difficult, it is not because they cannot complete the work, but because they do not feel confident in their abilities. Encourage your student to try, and remind her that homework is there in order to help her improve.

"I left my book at school"

Homework is a responsibility, and part of this responsibility involves preparedness. Your child must learn to remember the materials she needs, not just to do well on her homework, but also to do well in college and in the workplace later on. Emphasize that she should bring all her materials home, and remind her that if she forgets, there are consequences (such as a poor grade on the homework assignment).

"I'm tired"

If your student is too tired to do her homework, re-evaluate if she is over-scheduled. Homework is a priority, and extracurriculars are not an excuse for failing to finish it. If your child must participate in an important activity or event, help her plan ahead and complete her homework ahead of time.

"I don't know what my teacher wants me to do"

Many students complain that they do not know what their teacher expects from an assignment. If this is a persistent problem, prompt your child to have a discussion with her instructor about expectations. Teachers will often be transparent about their expectations, and they are typically happy to explain them if a student asks. Your child can also ask other students or check class documents. If her concerns involve just one assignment, and she does not have the opportunity to ask her instructor, she can do her best, explain her worries to her teacher, and then offer to correct it if her work is incorrect."

If these excuses sound like your child and you are at the point that you can't listen to them another day, please don't wait until February. Come and talk to me and his/her teacher. It may just be January or it may be something we need to help with.

Helping Hands

 I could hear the glee from my office yesterday. I had to go and check out what was happening at our school. When I turned the corner it was like there was a celebrity in our building because students were pointing and shouting with excitement. What could cause this joy? Our brand new drinking fountain!

One of our parents graciously donated a fountain that not only filters the water but also has a bottle filler. This was so kind and thoughtful, and exciting for our parched students.

I also had a similar experience last month when our new basketball hoops were hung in the gym. Students (and our PE teacher) love that they no longer have to aim at the paper hoops Mrs. V would hang up during our basketball unit.

Why am I mentioning these two fantastic new additions to our school? Because seeing a need and helping fill it is the best way parents can make our school the best it can be. This may not always be a physical object, but it might be volunteering to read in your child's classroom, or picking up a scrap of paper left in the hall. There are many ways to help.

Together we can all make our space and community an exciting, safe, and fun place to be!

Staying Healthy

This week I experienced the joy of teaching again, unfortunately it was because two of our teachers got the stomach flu. Not only have our teachers been under the weather but many of our students have been as well. I thought it may be a good time to remind you of our policy to prevent the spread of germs.

Our policy is that we ask you to keep your son or daughter home until they have been fever and/or vomit free for at least 24 hours. I know that it is hard for some students to stay home (and working parents, too) but it is an important part of keeping our healthy students healthy and helping our sick students feel better faster.

Here are some other things to teach your child in order to keep them healthy (Taken from the article “So Long Sniffles” by Cheryl Lock) :

1. Wash Hands Like a Pro. It’s not enough to just tell your child that she should wash her hands after using the bathroom, before and after eating and any time she comes in contact with someone who is sick. You should demonstrate the correct way to wash hands. Wet your hands under warm running water (warm is more effective than cold at removing dirt and germs) and use liquid or bar soap to lather up. Scrub for 15 to 20 seconds (tell young kids to hum “Happy Birthday” in their heads twice through). Also: Teach them to keep their hands away from their noses and mouths after touching anything that could be contaminated, until they can wash them properly.

2. Preach “The Three Nos.” Teach your child to avoid putting her hands near her eyes, nose and mouth, whether or not she thinks she’s touched anything suspect. This is especially important to prevent the spread of pinkeye, a common infection kids get … and spread.

3. Perfect the Elbow Sneeze. Show your child how to cover up a sneeze by sneezing into his elbow, so he won’t transmit any germs he may be carrying to his hands.

Terrific Teachers

One of my favorite quotes as an administrator is, “Every student deserves a great teacher, not by chance, but by design.” – Douglas Fisher

I like this quote because one of my main tasks at SPA is to make sure your child has a great teacher. Not just a teacher that challenges them to do their best academically but also one that cares deeply about them succeeding in all aspects of their life (social, emotional, spiritual).

You may not know, but unlike public schools (that have teacher tenure), our teachers are reevaluated every year and have informal and formal observations. We do this so that we can ensure your child is getting the best possible teacher they can have.

I want to know what is happening in the classroom. I feel confident in having the background knowledge to say (with proof) that we have fantastic teachers!

Two of our terrific teachers (Mrs. Owens and Mrs. Jorgensen) 

Thank you

Thank you for attending parent teacher conferences last week. Research shows that the more a family is involved in their child’s education, the better the child's academic performance and attitude about school.

You and your student’s teacher both want your child to learn and do well. When parents and teachers talk, both parties get to share information about your child’s talents and needs. We all need praise and constructive criticism to grow, this leads to a better understanding of each child and helps map the best path for their education.

Although conference time provides an opportunity for every parent to meet with their child’s teacher, I encourage you to email the teacher and set up additional meetings throughout the year. 

If you sense any changes in your child or feel “in the dark” about what is happening in the classroom, please contact the teacher right away. Things do come up over the year and changes are natural, but our goal at St. Paul’s is to keep you informed and provide a support system for your child if you ever need one.