Tigers Compete For Academic Awards; Winners Announced

Last week, 4th and 5th grade students competed in Round 1 of the Camarillo Academic Olympics.  Students could choose up to three of the following categories:  Art, California History, Current Events, Creative Writing, English Grammar, Geography, Math, Science, Speech, and US History.  More than 180 students participated.  (Scroll to the end to view a full photo gallery.)

Competition started last Wednesday with the Art and Creative Writing categories.  Art competitors had an hour and fifteen minutes to compose and draw a still life from five ordinary objects.  Entries were judges based on composition; drawing techniques like shading, proportion, and perspective; and the overall impression of the piece.  Creative writing participants were also given an hour and fifteen minutes to write a story.  Each student could choose one of three story leads.  The judges were very impressed with the students’ use of figurative language, dialog, creative plots, and sophisticated vocabulary.

1st Place: Alex M.

2nd Place: Matt Y.

3rd Place: Evelyn L.

Thursday was the big day for subject tests.  Thirty minutes was allotted for each twenty-five question multiple choice test.  You could have heard a pin drop in the MPR as more than 80 students completed their exams.  It was equally quiet in the library where an additional 22 students completed their tests.

The week concluded with the Speech competition.  Thirteen students worked hard beginning in December, choosing material, memorizing their stories, and practicing during lunches to polish their voices and gestures.  All the kids improved so much in the last couple weeks and did an amazing job!

After a weekend on pins and needles, the winners were announced yesterday.  In the classrooms, participants received recognition with a certificate of participation.  The top three winners in each class received ribbons.  Finally it was time for the school winners to be announced.  Mrs. Williams, read the winners to the whole school on Monday afternoon.  The kids walked to the office to get their extra big ribbons and have their picture taken.

Congratulations to all of our winners:

Math Winners: Shea, 2nd; Manas, 1st; Haley, 2nd, Justin, 2nd; Matt, 2nd; Armando, 2nd (not pictured)

Science Winners: Jackson, 3rd; Keith, 3rd; Garren, 3rd; Manas, 3rd; Haley, 1st; Matthew, 2nd

English Grammar Winners: Brandon, 3rd; Jenna, 2nd; Haley, 1st

US History Winners – Tie for 1st: Nathan, Max, Matthew

Geography Winners: Matthew, 2nd; Manas, 1st; Lucas, 2nd (not pictured)

CA History Winners: Colin, 2nd; Cate, 2nd; Maddy, 1st; Jesus, 2nd; Nathan, 2nd

Current Events Winners: Andrew, 1st; Nick, 2nd; Sassin, 3rd

Art Winners: Alex, 1st; Matt, 2nd; Evelyn, 3rd

Creative Writing Winners: Alex, 1st; Jenna, 2nd; Anna, 3rd, Christian, 3rd

Speech Winners: Sophia, 1st; Daisy, 3rd; Tanvi, 3rd; Edison, 2nd

All of our school winners will represent La Mariposa in the City Prelimaries held at the Boys & Girls Club the first week in February.  Good luck, Tigers!

Thank you to all the volunteers that proctored tests, graded tests, and wrote on certificates.  Special thanks to Dorothy Hanchey, Nichole Sadowsky, Christy Pantoja, and Kathryn Masci for their above and beyond behind the scenes work…we never could have done it without you!  Finally a big tiger hug to the La Mariposa office staff for being extra accommodating during last week’s events.

US Fish & Wildlife Visit La Mariposa

Michael Glenn, a biologist from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visited La Mariposa to introduce students and staff to the concept of a Schoolyard Habitat.  The assembly included a PowerPoint presentation with several photos of native plants and animals that a Schoolyard Habitat at La Mariposa could provide homes for.  Mr. Glenn talked to students about endangered species and shared some success stories from the Ventura County area.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Schoolyard Habitat Program is designed to engage local communities in providing opportunities for children to experience and learn about natural resources through the planning and implementation of habitat restoration projects. Goals include:

• Building an understanding of and respect for nature and our environment
• Providing opportunities for hands-on learning, inquiry, observation and experimentation
• Providing habitat for local and migratory wildlife including birds, small mammals, reptiles, and insects
• Providing students with areas to explore, discover and play
• Creating opportunities for students to work cooperatively and to develop responsibility

If La Mariposa chooses to apply for a Schoolyard Habitat grant, students will be involved with the planning, implementation and ongoing care of the Schoolyard Habitat areas.  Students will help research plant options and select species that are native to our region and that match the soil and sunlight conditions of our site.

The National Wildlife Federation outlines some ways that Schoolyard Habitats link to academic curricula. (www.nwf.org)

• Science Standards: A Schoolyard Habitat serves as a living laboratory where students engage in hands-on inquiries into the natural world.
• Geography and Social Studies Standards: Geography and social studies involve understanding connections between people, social constructs and the environment, and the Schoolyard Habitat program can be applied successfully to help teach those connections by assisting students in understanding both space and place.
• Math Standards: A Schoolyard Habitat provides students with the opportunity to apply math concepts to the real world; whether estimating numbers of plants in an on-site plant community or looking for geometric shapes in nature, an outdoor area is full of mathematical wonders.

LM Receives Bronze Award from Eco-Schools

The Eco-Schools program models environmentally sound practices, provides support for greening the curriculum and enhances science and academic achievement.  The program is made up of seven steps, incorporating a variety of environmental pathways.  Once a school has registered and implemented these seven steps, it can apply for an Eco-Schools award. There are three levels of the award system. The first two levels are the Bronze and Silver. The top level is the Green Flag award. To be eligible for the Bronze Award, a school must accomplish the criteria under each of the Seven Steps below, and must apply online for the award.

To receive a Bronze Award, La Mariposa needed to earn 100 points by completing these seven steps:

1. Form an Eco-Action Team
2. Perform an Environmental Audit
3. Create an Eco-Action Plan
4. Monitor and Evaluate the Plan
5. Link to Curriculum
6. Involve the Community
7. Create an Eco-Code

This year, La Mariposa will focus on the Energy pathway and planning a Schoolyard Habitat.

Learn more…

• Press Release
• Award

For more information on the La Mariposa Eco-Schools or Schoolyard Habitat projects please contact Natalie Swarts.

Looking Back: Earth Week, Hands On Environmental Science Lessons

So…sometimes we get a little busy and don’t get articles published when we like, but we want to make sure we are sharing all the great stuff going on at La Maripsoa.  In that spirit, this week we will be publishing a few articles highlighting events that took place a little while ago.  We hope you enjoy them!

Earth Week 2013

La Mariposa observed Earth week April 15-19.  In partnership with local businesses and government agencies, students participated in five different grade specific hands on activities that focused on the science behind some of the choices we make in our lives and some of the changes we can make toward conservation.

Enviroscape:  City of Camarillo Stormwater Program

The City of Camarillo sent out their stormwater program manager to talk to fifth graders about water transfer–specifically, how water moves from our streets, yards, and gutters to storm drains and into our natural waterways.  They used an enviroscape model along with various sprinkles and spices to represent the different types of waste that gets distributed into our creeks and eventually our beaches and oceans.  All of this waste affects plant and animal habitats, as well as our own.  It really makes us think twice about what we leave in our yards and parks and what we spray in our backyards and on our plants.

Solar Power with Solar World

Solar World came out to show fourth graders the benefits of solar power and demonstrate how the panels worked.

Cooperative Seed Paper Project

Kindergarten and third grade buddies worked together to learn a lesson about recycling by making handmade seed paper with recycled paper and organic material.

2nd Graders Visit Limoneira

Second graders attended an assembly on Sustainable Agriculture.

The week following Earth Week, second graders took a field trip to Limoneira to reinforce lessons from the assembly.  They also learned about how solar power and a local water management strategy not only conserve our natural resources, but can also decrease the bottom line for business.

Composting: Harvesting Worm Castings

Composting is a great way to make use of organic waste.  Composting with worms, or vermicomposting, results in a beautiful and nutrient rich compost for our school gardens.  To keep our La Mariposa worms happy, our first graders harvested worm castings.

A huge thank you goes out to PTA Growing Green Chair, Natalie Swarts for organizing and arranging all of the Earth Week activities.

$100,000+: How the PTA Puts Your Donations To Work

by Kamala Nahas, PTA Historian and Past President

When you write a check for Jog-a-thon or win a bid at our Annual Dinner Dance & Auction do you wonder where the money goes?  Did you know that La Mariposa raises about $20,000 above and beyond the Jog-a-thon and Dinner Dance?  How do we do that and what do we spend all that money on?

For many people, thinking of the PTA brings back memories of our own childhoods,  conjuring thoughts of bake sales, candy bar sales, and sales of just about everything…Fundraising!  At La Mariposa we certainly do our fair share of fundraising, but it’s easy to forget why we do it…the answer to that is programs.

The La Mariposa PTA strives to:

• Advocate for all students on local, state, and national levels
• Enrich our school community by providing resources to our families, diverse programs to our students, and support to our teachers and staff
• Inspire our school community through a free flow of ideas, information, and innovation.

Where The $$$ Comes From

As you can see below, roughly 80% of our funding comes from our two major fundraisers.  The remaining 20% comes from what we call “Passive Fundraisers” or money that is contributed by our La Mariposa community for things we’d all be buying or doing anyway.  Things like eScrip, a huge program where a portion of all your VONS purchases are donated back to the PTA.  This program alone accounts for nearly $10,000 a year.  And other things like Box Tops, Book Fair, Fresh N Easy Night, Movie Nights, and Corporate Donations account for the remaining 10%.

How We Spend It…

The La Mariposa PTA takes pride in the many programs we administer and pay for.  To get a sense of our priorities, we have grouped them into larger categories.  Keep in mind that some programs are inherently more expensive because they require the purchase of things. Other programs, while not any less important, are inherently less expensive because they rely more on an investment of service.  (That’s a complicated way of saying “volunteers”.)

Technology – approx. $39,000

By the end of the year, the La Mariposa PTA will spend about $39,000 on technology.  The three expenditures in this category are the purchase of six Smart Boards ($23,000), tech teacher salary ($11,000), and the keeping up of basic technology needs ($5,000).

Classroom Support – nearly $22,000

Classroom Support involves many different types of things.  First, each year, the La Mariposa PTA allocates $24 per student for things that bring classroom lessons to life.  This can include field trips that support social studies and science standards, supplies for hands-on art and science projects, manipulatives, learning games, and classroom books.  This category also includes $100 per teacher to create a warm and inviting classroom on the first day of school, student planners, and an additional $1,500 that was allocated for literacy programming.

The Arts – about $15,000

The La Mariposa PTA is thrilled to enrich our students’ curricullum through the arts.  The primary expense in this category is the funding of our Music Teacher ($11,000).  However, there are a number of other PTA Programs and Events that focus on both the visual and performing arts: Art Docent Program/Open House Gallery, the Reflections Program, Assemblies, and Talent Show.

Health & Safety – $13,000+

One of the primary reasons PTA was founded over 100 years ago was to advocate for the health and well being of children.  Today it remains a priority for the La Mariposa PTA.  Dominating this category of expenditures is the funding of our PE Specialist ($11,000).  Other Health and Safety expenditures include:  Tiger Olympics, Emergency Preparation Program, Red Ribbon Week, Rotary Track Team Support, the purchase of playground equipment, and the funding of additional campus supervisors.

Community Building – about $5,000

This is another very broad category that encompasses everything from incentives and celebrations to communications and hospitality.  Our largest expense here is the funding of our Annual 5th Grade Event which includes a class bowling trip, family brunch, and class t-shirts.  Additional events and programs in this category include: Honorary Service Awards; Pride Ticket & Student of the Month Prizes; celebratory parties for the Speech Team, Peer Buddies, & Student Leadership; Back To School Staff Lunch & Staff Appreciation Week; Communications Expenses, Hospitality, and Community Outreach.

Science – just over $4,000

These expenditures are for programs and events over and above the classroom support funds teachers may use for science in their classrooms.  This year’s Science Week takes the lion’s share of this category, but we also have items like Earth Week, support for our Robotics Teams, and maintenance of our La Mariposa Gardens.

Administrative Expenses – not quite $3,000

As you might guess there are a number of costs that come with administering programs and running an association like the La Mariposa PTA.  We continuously work hard to keep these costs as low as we possibly can.  Some of the items that fall into this category are: Account Software, Bank Fees, Volunteer Training, Dues, Insurance, Postage, Supplies, & Tax Preparation Fees.

All of the numbers in this article are approximate.  Detailed PTA Financial reports are available to all PTA members on request.

 

Science Week: A Student’s Persective

By Marley T., Student Contributor

I LOVE CALAMARI!

A couple of months ago, La Mariposa School had Science week. Every class had 2 days in Science Week. They gave Mrs.Hudacko’s class Tuesday and Friday. Both days were different; one day we learned about sea animals, the other about gravity and water. Both days were held near the E rooms on the blacktop.

On Tuesday we went out on the blacktop. We were going to dissect a squid and learn more about other sea animals. I learned a lot of new things from the scientist.  Did you know that people used squid ink for writing with a feather? Or did you know that sea cucumbers look rough but are really soft and squishy? Most say this was a fun day.

On Thursday we learned about water pressure .They had big tubes of water connected to the ground. We connected tiny tubes to the big tube then lead the other side to a bucket, the water flew right into the bucket! The other thing we did was finding out what floats and what doesn’t. My partner and I were the first ones to find a device that floats with 20 weights and water! Over all everyone liked Science Week.

Related Stories:

• PTA Brings Marine Life to School For Science Week
• Tigers Solve Problems & Answer Questions With Group Challenges
• Science Week Videos 2013: “Water”

Tigers Solve Problems & Answer Questions With Group Challenges

During science week this week students from each class are spending two days participating in interactive science activities.  The focus for Tuesday and Thursday is Marine Biology which you can read more about here.  Monday, Wednesday, Friday, students are given a set of challenges.

Task 1:  Deliver water to a bucket 5-6 feet away using the least amount of pieces of PVC in the shortest amount of time.

Students worked together in groups of six to build a pipeline.  They had to communicate, collaborate and problem solve to meet the challenge.  After each success the bucket was moved to a more difficult location.  This series of three pictures shows PREPARATION, ANTICIPATION, and finally…CELEBRATION.

Task 2:  Find the most buoyant object and explain why you think it floats.

After a brief explanation of opposing forces (yes, we stooped to a Star Wars analogy) students were given a selection of containers made of varying materials and some tools for measuring weight.  They were to experiment with each item to see how much weight each held.  We had some true scientists with open minds that even tried using some of the tools as containers–great work tigers!

These were great days for discovery, experimentation, and teamwork!

Thanks to Stu Long–our most loved Tiger Engineer Dad for coming up with these great challenges to get all those tiger brains a-thinkin’…and making a splash with Science.

PTA Brings Marine Life to School For Science Week

Organizers of LM’s first ever Science Week are feeling the best kind of exhausted after spending an AMAZING day with our tiger marine biologists.  Today and Thursday, as part of our week long “Water” themed Science Week, kindergarten through third graders are visiting a mobile marine lab and 4th & 5th graders are participating in squid dissection and diversity labs.

The Mobile Marine Labs brought all sorts of creatures for our students to touch, hold, feed, and learn about.  Today students squealed with delight as they held hands with Sea Stars, fed sea urchin, corralled crabs, and got up-close and personal with octopi.

Dr. Huvard and a handful of her invertebrate zoology students from CLU, led 4th and 5th graders through two labs.  In the diversity lab, students examined live specimens and looked for the specific and often unique external adaptations these amazing creatures possess in order to  thrive in their habitats.  In the dissection lab, students were able to explore some of the internal adaptations of the squid.  They were able to identify the basic parts of the squid, including the arms, tentacles, siphon, mantle, ink sac, and pen.

A huge thanks goes out to Dr. Huvard and her CLU students for volunteering their time  and equipment and to Science Week Committee member Patti Stouch for spearheading the Marine Biology effort.

All live animals were returned to their natural homes…obviously not the squid.

More pictures from the Mobile Marine Lab

More Pictures from the Diversity Lab

More Pictures from the Squid Dissection

 

La Mariposa Student Eco Team Conducts Waste Audit

by Natalie Swarts, Eco Team Leader, La Mariposa PTA

“There is only so much room available for solid waste disposal, and because landfills are so tightly packed, it takes a great deal of time for material to decompose. The easiest way to reduce solid waste is to reduce your consumption of daily products. Be cautious of what you buy, and whether anything you are going to put in a trash can really belongs there.” Earth911.com

La Mariposa completed our first Waste Audit on December 13th.   Students and parents worked together to sort everything that was thrown away during an entire school day.  The Eco Team met on January 18th to discuss the Waste Audit results and talk about goals for reducing waste.  Take a look at the chart below:

54 lbs of unopened food was collected in a single day.

Participants were surprised to discover that we had 54 lbs of unopened food, including whole sandwiches, cartons of milk, bags of chips and untouched granola bars.  (picture) Additionally, we found almost 90 lbs of partially eaten food and 7 lbs of ziplock bags – from only one day!  In total, we threw away over 300 pounds of trash, which means our school likely sends over 54,000 lbs (or 24 tons) of waste to the landfill each year.

Student Comments & Suggestions

NOAA Instrumental In 5th Grade Science Lessons

By Katie M. & Brinley F., Student Contributors

Recently, all the fifth grade classes took a field trip to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), to learn more about meteorology.  The reason for this field trip was to teach us more about the atmosphere unit we learned about in science class.

At NOAA, we learned lots of new facts.  One thing that we learned was how to stay safe in any natural disaster.