Good afternoon,

 

This year's YAP is underway and I want to address some things.

We have been working on YAP for a couple of weeks, primarily brainstorming characters, settings, and "calls to action" (aka problem/challenge/inciting incidents). We are working this week on generating our "working draft" which is due next Monday. For those who work effectively and more quickly, they should have a working draft complete by the end of the week. For others, some work will be required at home on the weekend. Any work that students are asked to do on YAP at home will be written in the agendas, so unless there is something written there, you probably don't need to worry. I prefer to have students develop the meat of their story here before refining and adding details and emphasis at home. That means that most rough work will continue to happen in class while the conversion to a final draft and some of the later stages will take place at home (again, in the event students aren't able to finish in class, some rough work may need to be done from home).

 

Hopefully that helps to clarify why parents haven't heard much from me until now!

 

-Mr. Dyson

Hello everyone,

 

As you may have heard, each grade at Hilldale picks a cause over the course of the year that it will support. As we have an ocean theme for the third grade, I have decided to support the Surfrider Foundation. The foundation works to protect oceans and beaches by doing beach cleanups, working to maintain beach access, and on larger scales they work against pollution via runoff as well as supporting reusable bottles as opposed to single use plastics. We discussed some of these problems on our field trip to Crissy Field and the class was eager to help pick up plastic "nurdles."

 

Here is a link to the San Francisco chapter, which does monthly beach cleanups on Ocean Beach, among other things:

 

 

We have a donation box in the classroom and are happy to accept anything you care to give.

 

Thank you for helping to keep our oceans clean!

 

Mr. Dyson

Hello parents,

 

I want to remind you that homework folders are coming home today with graded quizzes and tests as well as some other classwork and handouts for you to peruse. So check in with your student if you wish to see those things!

 

Thank you and have a great weekend,

 

Mr. Dyson

Hello everyone!

 

Mr. Dyson's birthday has come and gone. I want to start this week's update by thanking students and parents for all the kindness you have shown me over the year and especially today on my birthday!

 

That said, I want to re-preface with an alert that Friday Folders are on their way home with the self-reflection photocopy (of page 1) that many of you saw at parent-teacher conferences. Also, a new folder of photos is up, so if you haven't followed my page, haven't seen the new photos, and especially if you haven't seen the old photos, be sure to check them out!

 

Last week we:

Next week we will:

Thanks again for a great week,

 

Mr. Dyson

Hello folks,

 

The science fair is finally winding down, so here are some notes from last week:

Next week we can look forward to:

Friday folders are coming back this week so look out for them and sign the behavior calendars please!

 

Thank you,

 

Mr. Dyson