Are you ready for an ADVENTURE???

Aloha Room 28 'Ohana!
       Welcome to another school year!  I hope you all had a fun and relaxing summer break?  For those of you who were here at Scott Elementary last school year, welcome back!  For those who are NEW to the Scott School 'Ohana, we welcome you to your new school and community.  We are so thrilled to have you on board!
       Get ready because 4th grade is an exciting journey that will inspire you to dream, believe and achieve!  We will embark on a voyage that's filled with new WONDERS!  We will take things one day at a time and one STEP at a time!
       Like the stars did for the ancient Navigators who traveled the vast ocean, we will help guide each other throughout the school year,  sailing forward into time as we gain new knowledge, make new friends, and engage in new experiences.
       I want you to visualize that we, as a class, will be in this canoe, traveling from island to island, and even country to country, building new relationships while fostering our learning.  It is important that we value each other as a family.....an 'Ohana, and problem-solve to move on in hopes of reaching the many goals we've set this year!
       This year, I would like for us to focus on the theme of "Malama Honua"  (Taking care of the Earth.)  This will be our theme to help us be aware of our environment and to also promote peace within ourselves and with others.  With this in mind, I would like for you to share one way that you and your own 'Ohana help to "Malama Honua."  Let's all share our wonderful ideas!
       I'm looking forward  to this new journey with all of you!  I hope you will work hard to help me  paddle our canoe and raise our sails so that we can all reach our goals!  We can take turns being the Navigator and lead our canoe through this 4th grade adventure!
                                                                            Mahalo and Aloha,
                                                                            Mrs. Wong

Hokule`a at Hawaii Kai Marina.  Many well-wishers and visitors  on
board to send her off with a warm Aloha as she travels to Tahiti with her crew.

Here I am with a crew member of Hokule`a.  What an honor
to be on board and be a part of a historical event!

This is Hokule`a's and Hikianalia's voyage mapped out on a world map.
It will be about a  4 year journey, with 85 ports, 26 countries,
47,000 Nautical miles, and 315 voyagers.
"Honor, celebrate all cultures of the planet by respecting them"--Nainoa Thompson
                                          

Our Mexican Oaxaca Creatures!

Aloha Room 28 'Ohana,
     Everyone sure showed-off their creative side in art class!  It was so exciting to see how your Oaxaca creatures went from clay to WOW!  How amazingly beautiful they ALL are!

     In this blog assignment:  First, tell me the name you gave him or her.  Next, please describe 2 things that make your creature so unique or special.
   
     Mahalo for using your creative imagination!  I really enjoyed teaching you how to sculpt and paint your whimsical Oaxaca creatures!   ~Aloha, Mrs. Wong

All ready to go back into the kiln!

We have such a creative group of 4th graders! 

Sara and Sharnell with their Oaxaca creatures!
All glazed up,and ready for its unique story!

It's the 4th Quarter Already???!!!???!!!

Aloha Room 28 'Ohana!
      I don't know about you, but this school year is just "flying by" for me!  I can't believe we are already in the 3rd week of the 4th Quarter....the LAST quarter of the school year!  As we all continue to learn as much as we can in our last two months of 4th grade, I want you to reflect upon your 3 past quarters and think of 2 goals you would like to accomplish before May 29, the last day of school.  Let's be specific and name/explain 2 "school-related" goals.  Think to yourself, what do I really want to set my mind at accomplishing before I become a 5th grader?  Don't worry if you don't succeed at accomplishing these goals, because it'll be your first two goals as a 5th grader to keep on trying!  If you find that you do accomplish these goals by May 29th, then that's just an added bonus!
      What I really want you all to remember is to always continue to challenge yourself.  Set goals, aim high, and never settle for less!  Do and be the BEST you can be in all you do.  Don't let anyone put you down, and as long as you believe in yourself, then know that one day YOU CAN, and YOU WILL!
      Have your (2) goals posted by Sunday, April 13.  Be thoughtful when responding.
                                                                              Mahalo, Mrs. Wong

Bike Ed. ROCKS!

Aloha Room 28 `Ohana!

     Last week was so exciting!  We held our annual 4th grade Bike Ed. class, compliments of the Hawaii Bicycling League (HBL).  We were so thankful that our school could once again participate in such a wonderful, and very educational program.  I'm so proud to report that ALL 21 students are now officially HBL-certified Bike Riders!  Room 28 students were very positive and very well-behaved!  Miss. Amanda said, "Mrs. Wong, your students are a great group!  I've never had such a well-behaved, very good bunch of kids!  I'm enjoying your class!"  Great Job, Room 28!  

                                

                                         In your comments, please share the following:  

                           1.  What was your favorite part of the Bike Ed. program? Why?
                           2.  What "safety" rule did you find most helpful?

                           3.  Would you recommend this program to others? Why?

                                                         Your comments  must be posted by 

                                                                  Friday, March 14, 2014

Room 28 students all dressed in their safety vest and
helmet...ready to learn about bicycle safety on the road!

Practice, practice, and more practice makes bicycling FUN!

Thank you,  Mr. Mike, Ms. Amanda, and Ms. Kanani for
showing us the RIGHT way to ride SAFELY!  

How FULL is Your Bucket?

Aloha Room 28 'Ohana!
It's been a while since we've been on our BLOG!  Let's get back into the swing of things and start the year off on a positive note!  Do you remember when we read the book entitled, "How Full is Your Bucket? For Kids" by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer?  Wasn't it interesting to see how the main character, Felix, went from having an almost empty bucket in the beginning of the story, to having an almost full bucket at the end of the story?  I enjoyed reading your personal responses to this story in your notebooks.  Think of a time when you felt like Felix.  Did you help put a "drop" into someone else's bucket?  Or maybe someone else placed a "drop" into your bucket?  In any case, respond with as much details as you can.  Be sure to include the 5 Ws and 1 H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How?)  Here is the question once more:
                    1.  Have you ever placed a "drop" into someone's bucket, or received "a drop"
                         from someone?  Explain when this happened, where, with whom, what was
                         it about, why, and how?

                                             Remember to respond by February 6, 2014.

Kalo Planting with Mrs. Aldueso

Aloha Room 28 'Ohana,

          It sure was an exciting week!  First kalo (taro) planting, then a field trip to see the live performance of "Lono."  I was very pleased to learn how much you all enjoyed learning more about the kalo and its precious gifts it can provide for everyone!  How fortunate we are to have been given a "huli" to plant for each student in the fourth grade!  We truly appreciate Mrs. Aldueso (and her gardening students) for sharing this experience with us!  Even though we won't be able to harvest the kalo this school year, we will surely be able to witness the growth!  We will commit a few minutes each week to work in the lo`i to pull out the weeds and make sure there is enough water for the corm to grow.  It was wonderful to see all of you working so hard in the garden, and showing your respect by saying the oli (chant) before planting the kalo.  This week is another exciting week!  Thanks to Mrs. Yabuki (our cafeteria manager), we will be able to steam the recently harvested corm and pound them into pa`i`ai (freshly pounded corm without water) and poi (with water added).  I can't wait!  

           Please send me your comment to these two questions below:

 

                                 1.  What are 2 things you learned about the "kalo" plant?

                                 2.   What lesson did you learn in the play, "Lono"?  

                                                                         Mahalo and Aloha,

                                                                          Mrs. Wong

Here we are...getting our hands in the 'aina (land)!  What a treat for all of us!
Our kalo (taro) plants will be strong and healthy!

Mahalo Mrs. Aldueso and garden club students!  Mahalo for sharing your "huli" with us!
 We will help to care for the dry-land taro patch (lo`i)
so the kalo will be ready for harvesting in 9 to 12 months!  

Halloween FUN!

Aloha Room 28 'Ohana!

         Our first quarter has quickly come to an end!  I hope you all enjoyed presenting your progress-folio to your parents/family.  For those of you who did your student-led conferences at school, I just wanted to congratulate you for doing a WONDERFUL job!  You all impressed me with your speeches to your parents and your poised behavior while conducting your conference!  "Maika`i!" (Good Job!) As I would say!  I hope you will continue to grow and learn more as we look forward to yet another quarter ahead!  It was great to have Halloween as a fun distraction to help us all celebrate our many accomplishments!  Mahalo for putting forth your BEST!  

                                                                        Much Aloha,

                                                                        Mrs. Wong, aka "Mrs. Incredible" =)

Room 28 'Ohana
A Very Spirited Class!  Happy Halloween!

Our Class representatives for Most Original (Tad dressed as Linus),
and for Funniest (Nathan dressed as Mario).  Tad won 1st Place in his division,
and Nathan placed 2nd in his division!  Thanks guys!  You represented Room 28 well!