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.

January Inspiration

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

 

–Henry Ford

Tigers Get A Taste of Old California At Olivas Adobe

by Carly Barlow and Anna Girolamo

This year, La Mariposa’s 4^th grade classes went to the Olivas Adobe for a field trip.  One of the reasons we liked this field trip was the guide.  We liked the guide because he talked like a cowboy and made everybody step in the gross, disgusting, dirty mud pit.  We stomped around in the mud, picked mud up in our hands, and put it in wooden molds to make adobe bricks.  Another worker hosed us off afterwards.

Also while we were there, we made delicious tortillas.  First we put corn on the matate (a stone table) and moved it back and forth with the mano (a rock) while pushing it at the same time.   After we did that, we rolled the masa (smashed corn) into a ball.  When we were done with that, we put these balls of masa into the tortilla press.  Next workers cooked them on the old-fashioned outdoor stove.  Finally we got to eat them!  They were the best tortillas we had ever tasted in our life.

When we took a tour of the house, we saw lots of rooms.  One room was the girls’ bedroom.  Almost all the Olivas girls slept in this one room at a time.  The babies slept in the parents’ room.  The boys slept outside on the balcony.  The Olivas family had 21 children, so there were lots of girls in one room.  Next we toured the parents’ room.  They had chamber pots to go to the bathroom.  The boys’ job in the morning was to empty out the chamber pots.  Then we toured their very own chapel.  They had a picture of what the chapel looked like when the Olivas family lived there, and the chapel looks almost exactly the same now.

Cattle was important on the rancho.  They had a lot of cattle, so they had to make their own cattle brand.  To make a brand and get it on the cattle, you had to first make your own brand iron.   Then you have to place the brand end in the fire.  Lastly you put the hot iron brand on the animal’s body, and then you have your brand on the animal.  We got to look at the cattle branding iron and other tools.  We also saw rawhide and tanned cattle hide.

Another thing we did at Olivas Adobe was lasso a fake cow.  It was so fun!  Carly got zero points, but Anna got one point.  To get a point, you had to get the rope around one of the cow’s horns.  If it went around both horns, you got two points.

These are just some of our favorite things we did at Olivas Adobe.

10 Ideas for a Fun & Healthy Family Super Bowl Celebration

According to the USDA, Super Bowl is the second largest food consumption day of the year, just behind Thanksgiving.  What if we could have all the fun and flavor, without the junk?

“In a regular day, an American will eat about 2000 calories worth of food, but during the Super Bowl, the average American eats that amount of calories in about three hours.”–USDA

The worst part is most often these calories are of the sugar laden, processed, artery clogging variety.  Chicken wings, dips, sodas, cupcakes, pizza…the list goes on.  Granted, Super Bowl comes around only once a year, but what if we could make it a little less evil with a few minor changes?

Here are ten ideas to make your Super Bowl Party a little health friendlier without sacrificing the fun!

Stay Busy!  Shift the focus away from food…a little bit.

• Game On:  Instead of watching commercials at half time, how about your own football game in the front yard or at a local park with friends and family?
• Face Paint:  Take some time and paint each others’ faces in team colors.
• Decorate:  Put out a table with some craft supplies and let the kids show their spirit by making decorations for their favorite team.
• Origami Football:  You can really get into the game when you make origami footballs.  Get complete instructions here.

Substitute Key Ingredients:  Flavor, not fat.

• Greek Yogurt Instead of Sour Cream:  Replace half to all of the sour cream or mayonnaise in your dip recipes with plain greek yogurt.  Greek yogurt with it’s muscle building protein and lower fat content has a fraction of the calories of mayo and sour cream without sacrificing flavor.  Serve other types of more nutrient rich dips and spreads like guacamole and hummus, along side your crunchy dippables.
• Baked Chips Instead of Fried:  Baked chips maintain the crunch and flavor we love without all the fat of the traditional fried versions.  Kettle Brand Baked Chips use all natural ingredients, and good old fashioned Lays maintain the richness we crave.  You can also try making your own.
• Lean Meats Instead of Burgers & Dogs:  If you are looking to eat less saturated fat or salt, stick with the leaner cuts of meat and poultry or leaner versions of ground meat.  Try marinating and grilling a flank steak and slicing it thin.  Grill a chicken breast and top with salsa or a yogurt based spread.  Rub beef, turkey, or pork tenderloins with rich or smoky spices then grill or roast.

Serve A Rainbow:  Nutrition Undercover

• Fruit Kebabs:  Colors are nature’s cue for good nutrition.  Fruit kebabs offer a variety of nutrients and fiber that keep a sweet tooth at bay.
• Power Trays:  Load up big ‘ol trays with your favorite veggies or fruits.  Mix greek yogurt with ranch seasoning for a veggie dip. Mix in a little honey or pureed berries with greek yogurt for a knock out fruit dip.
• Flavored Water:  Skip the soda and lighten up the cocktails by infusing your water and other drinks with fresh fruit.  Get some ideas here.

More Ideas:  Check out these great resources for Healthy Recipes and Fun Super Bowl Facts

• 31 Guilt-Free Super Bowl Snacks by Nicole McDermott
• Football Food Makeover: Healthier Super Bowl Recipes by Whole Living
• Healthy Super Bowl Recipes & Menu Ideas by Danica’s Daily
• Score a Touchdown With These Healthy Super Bowl Snacks by Michele Foley, Pop Sugar
• Fun Facts about Super Bowl Sunday by FoxSports.com
• Diet Detective: Healthy Super Bowl Swaps by Charles Stuart Platkin for Active.com

–Kamala Nahas, mother of three & family wellness advocate

Tiger Artists Honored in County Competition

“Dream Picture” by Sassin Nahas. Sassin’s entry received an “Award of Excellence” for Photography, Intermediate Division (grades 3-5). His entry will represent 12th District at the California State level of competition.

Three La Mariposa students kicked the year off with a bang.  On January 6, 12th District PTA recognized Sassin Nahas, Tiana Stouch, and Scarlett Ming for their outstanding entries in the 2014 Reflections Competition.  This year’s theme is “Believe, Dream, Inspire”.  The 12th District PTA is made up of 132 schools throughout Ventura County.  The Reflections entries were first chosen as finalists at the school level and then the city level.

Tiana’s musical composition, “Flowing River”, received an Award of Merit, Primary Music (grades K-2).  It is a wonderful piece we recommend listening to–so beautiful it might just break your heart.  Just click the arrow below to listen.

[audio http://cl.ly/2Q0c011U3t1e/Tianna.Flowing%20River.mp3]

Scarlett was recognized with a Highly Commended Award for the second year in a row in Literature, Primary Division.  Here is her incredibly sweet take on “Believe, Dream, Inspire”:

Beautiful Butterflies

A beautiful butterfly lays an egg

on a green leaf.

The egg hatches

out comes a tiny, black pupa.

The pupa grows bigger

and sheds its skin

it believes soon it will be

a happy caterpillar,

under there is colorful skin.

Later on the caterpillar will find

a stiff branch or leaf

to spin a cocon

and dream about being amazing.

The cocon craks

and out comes a colerful butterfly.

Her wings are wet

She stays in the sunshine until they are dry.

Then she will fly!

It’s not too early for students to start working on their Reflections entries for the 2015 program.  Next year’s theme is: “The World Would Be a Better Place If …”.  Artists can enter in six different categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, & Visual Arts.  Learn more about Reflections…

Special thanks to La Mariposa Reflections Chair, Cassie Blauert, and her crew for all their hard work with paperwork, art preparation, and organization of the LM Showcase.

Spelling Bee Champ Buzzes To The Top

LM Tiger, Makayla. awaits her word in the second round of the La Mariposa Annual Spelling Bee.

Landon “writes” his word on the podium before spelling it out loud.

La Mariposa’s Annual Spelling Bee was held last Wednesday afternoon.  After only six rounds we had our school Champion: 5th Grader, Brandon Dinh.  Three students represented each 4th and 5th grade class with a total of twenty-one students beginning the first round.  The words proved to be a bit challenging this year as the field was cut nearly in half by Round 2.

Throughout the bee students were challenged with words like:  assertive, glitz, incredulous, bayou, ferocious, misspell, recipient, defiant, diverge, primitive, and debt.  They utilized a number of techniques including “writing” the words with their fingers, rolling their eyes to the top of their sockets to see the word in their brains, and asking for definitions, sentence usage, and word origin.

5th Grade Teacher, Mrs. Evans, called the words.

By the end of the third round only four students remained:  Brandon, Lucas, Manas, and Max.

Lucas also spells his 4th Round word correctly.

Manas spells his 4th round word correctly.

Runner Up, Max, takes a moment to visualize his word.

Champion, Brandon, smiles confidently when he hears his final word.

Fourth and fifth grade teachers looked up definitions and sentences in record time by using their iPad.

All four boys spelled their words correctly in the fourth round.  After the fifth round only two boys were left.  Brandon spelled his sixth round word correctly, then Max stepped up to receive his word. Mrs. Evans called it out “succumb”.  The irony was tangible when Max misspelled the word.  It wasn’t over, yet, though.  Brandon still had to spell another word correctly to become the champion.  The Championship word was “caravan”.

Congratulations to all our Tiger Spellers for a great effort at this year’s Spelling Bee: Jason Widofsky, Amanda Ashley, Taylor Pak, Brandon Celmeta, Hans Bachnguyen, Lucas Chomiller, Maureen Chowdhury, Tanvi Patil, Ayeta Kochi, Manas Khatore, Matthew Guglielmo, Dharma Iyer, Shahbano Raza, Brandon Dinh, Alex Masci, Serena Bolish, Haley Jeffers, Landon Stouch, Madeline Sheller, Max MacCallum, & Makayla Johnson

Spelling Bee Champion (left) with our runner-up (right).

Good luck to Brandon as he represents La Mariposa in the county Spelling Bee held at CSU Channel Islands on March 8th.  The Spelling Bee is a National Competition administered by The E.W. Scripps Corporation that culminates with a the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington DC.  Learn more…

Food For Thought

By Natalie Swarts, PTA Eco-Schools Lead

An example of the some of the food wasted in a single day at La Mariposa.

Parent volunteers and campus supervisors have observed a tremendous amount of food being wasted on-campus.  Before Winter Break, we decided to try an experiment.  Volunteers stood next to the trash cans during lunch.  When students approached the trash cans, many were hesitant to throw away uneaten food, and they returned to their lunch tables to continue eating. Other students tried to wait until they thought a parent wasn’t looking, then they tossed their food in the trash and hurried back to their table.  At least a few students even tried to bury their uneaten food beneath other trash.  On the other hand, there were students who did not hesitate to throw away entire sandwiches, unopened cartons of milk and uneaten fruit.  Students seemed to show a broad range of awareness and opinions when it came to food waste.

Quick Facts:

• Americans waste about 25% of all food purchases.
• It is estimated that Americans throw away 20 pounds of food per person per month.
• 1 in 6 Americans do not have access to enough food to sustain a healthy life.

The average family could save over $1,600 a year by sending less food to the landfill. When we throw away food, we’re also wasting all the water, energy, and other resources used to produce, package and transport food to our plates.  Food is wasted when we: buy more than we need, store it incorrectly, throw away leftovers, cook too much.

The Environmental Protection Agency offers food waste reduction and prevention tips on their website.  Several of their suggestions can be applied to the La Mariposa community.  Click here to view the EPA Waste Reduction Tips.

Why reduce food waste?  

• Save Money
• Reduce Methane From Landfills – When food is disposed in a landfill it rots and becomes a significant source of methane – a potent greenhouse gas with 21 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide.
• Reduce Resource Use Associated with Food Production – There are many resources needed to grow food, including water, fertilizers, pesticides, and energy. By wasting food, we are also wasting the resources that went into growing it.
• Feed People, Not Landfills – An estimated 50 million Americans do not have access to enough food. Organizations can donate safe and healthy food to a food bank or food rescue organization and both reduce food sent to landfills and feed those in need.

Reduce Plate Waste by: 

• Observing what students consistently waste and changing school lunch menus (both packed and purchased) accordingly.
• Adjusting serving sizes based on what students actually eat.
• Reminding students to take only one or two items from the produce bar and to eat what they take.

Ideas for students to reduce food waste:

• Talk to your parents about what you like and what you don’t like.
• Be willing to try small portions of new foods.
• Save leftovers from lunch for an after-school snack.
• Recycle discards to other uses. Start a compost bin at home or participate in composting at school.

Want to learn more?  

• United Nations Food Waste FAQ
• Don’t Waste Your Food (article)
• A Place at the Table (documentary)
• Dive (documentary)

Mrs. Ruiz’s Class Gives Thanks to the Troops

In honor of Thanksgiving Day, Mrs. Ruiz’s 4th grade class wanted to express  gratitude to the soldiers for their service.  So they sent a letter home to parents indicating the items most requested by the soldiers.  Items on the list included food and familiar snacks, toiletries, entertainment items like batteries, even dog food for the working dogs and pets.

They had a remarkable amount of donations sent in, enough to fill 16 boxes! Parents also chipped in to raise the shipment fee of $175. In addition, the students each designed and wrote their own Thank You cards to go with the donations.

I’m sure you’ll agree Mrs. Ruiz’s class is a shining example of the spirit of giving!

If you’d like to know more about how to give to the troops, check out the resources below.

• Suggested Donation List
• Giving Programs for Groups
• Givetothetroops.org

The US post office charges a flat fee of $10.95 per box (12x12x5.5).

Special thanks to La Mariposa parent, Carolyn Slaughter, for sharing this story with us.  If there is something special your child’s class is doing, please send your story and pictures to our Pawprint Editor.

From The Principal: Winter Update

It is hard to believe that the students are already a third of the way through the year!  The teachers have worked hard to provide you with feedback about your child and report cards will go home this Thursday, December 19^th.

As I walk through the campus, it is so exciting to see Daily 5 implemented in each of our classrooms.  Students are building stamina in their reading, writing exceptional writing pieces and learning the love of reading.  It was exciting to see students so excited about the new books coming into their classroom through the book fair.  Thank you to the PTA and parents that donated books to our classrooms.  You are helping to foster a love of literature for our students!

We are excited that our school board approved the plan for the Common Core money that came from the state to assist in the implementation of Common Core for our students.  Our school will be receiving about 120 iPads this spring with the 1 to 5 ratio that was approved.  In addition, the board approved Discovery Video Streaming in each classroom, PebbleGo a computer based non-fiction reading program, an online reading library for our district, a typing program, National Geographic/Time for Kids and additional Common Core training for our teachers.  After the first of the year, we will have a parent information night to further explain Common Core and how it affects your child.

After much discussion, the staff and I have decided to change the students’ lunch schedule back to the eat first model.  After reviewing the research, we feel it will be more beneficial for our students to change back to the old model.  This will begin in January after Winter Break.

We are working with the PTA to write a grant for a Natural Garden Habitat.  We hope to hear if we have received the grant this spring and will continue to plan planting in January of the 14-15 school year.

Thank you to the staff and parent community for such a smooth transition as I entered my new position this school year.  I look forward to recharging over the break and coming back to work to provide an exceptional learning experience for your children.

Happy Holidays to and your children-

Erica Williams

La Mariposa Tigers Dance Sky High Through PTA After School Enrichment Program

by Kathleen Spane, PTA After School Enrichment Chair

Talented and energetic Sky High Dance teachers guided La Mariposa dancers through a terrific performance to finish up their 6 week Enrichment class. Parents, family members, Pleasant Valley Child Care teachers and students, all clapped along to the rhythmic moves our students were ready to show off!

We are looking forward to a Winter Session welcoming back Sky High Dance and adding Golf, Basketball, Chess, and Origami–all for kindgarten through 5th Grade.  We’ll also have an art class taylor specifically to kinder through 3rd grade students.  Registration opens after the new year on January 13th!  Classes start January 30th.  The winter session will meet Thursdays after school for six weeks.  Check your La Mariposa eBlast or website for additional information.