What's for lunch?

Our lunch team would love to know what Woodlawn students like for lunch.  As part of our Healthy School's pathway, let our team know what you like, what you do not like, and what you think should be added.

Woodlawn Lunch Survey

Are you up for a challenge?

We gave the Green Team members an eco-challenge to complete over the break. In case you child lost their form, here are the links to an online version that they can complete. They are welcome to try the other grade team's challenges if they would like.  

1st grade team - Schoolyard Habitats Audit

  https://tinyurl.com/Woodlawn-Schoolyard-Audit

2nd and 1/2 blend team - Noise Survey

  https://tinyurl.com/Woodlawn-Noise-Survey

3th and 3/4 blend team - Weather Observations

  https://tinyurl.com/Woodlawn-Weather-Audit

4th grade team - Water Audit

  https://tinyurl.com/Woodlawn-Water-Audit

5th grade team - Waste Audit

  https://tinyurl.com/Woodlawn-Home-Waste-Audit

Big news - Woodlawn has been awarded the National Wildlife Federation Eco-School USA Green Flag!

Almost 5,000 schools across the country take part in this program (336 in Oregon alone) and 94 have earned Green Flag active status. This award is from the sustainability work that the students Green Team, staff, and community completed over the last year. Woodlawn is the second Green Flag school in the state and one of only 24 schools west of the Mississippi River!

Make every word count

Simon Tam of The Slants spoke at the 24th Annual Northwest Public Employees Diversity Conference conference. He gave an amazing point about the power of words:

"If you only had a limited number of words to share with others, what would you say? If you are only going to be remembered by your final words, what would you say? Say it.
Beginning right now, make every word count.”

http://blog.marylhurst.edu/blog/2013/07/09/student-reflection-advice-in-500-words-or-less/

One Little Elephant

Follow the incredible story of one baby elephant born in Botswana. "Naledi", or 'star' in Setswana, battles for survival with the help of the amazing staff at Abu Camp, a halfway house for orphaned or former zoo and circus elephants.  This documentary also covers the battle for survival of all elephants and the conservation efforts that are in action right now.

"Naledi: A Baby Elephant's Tale"

Woodlawn was featured in the National Wildlife Federation Eco-School USA Back-to-School Snapshot!

Go Woodlawn Wildcats!

Alternative ways to safely view the eclipse - 2

As all kids know, boxes are fun!  Here is directions on how to make a solar eclipse projector with a cereal box.  You can also adapted it to a shoe box or bigger as shown in this photo from the 1960 eclipse.





For written directions, click here.

Alternative ways to safely view the eclipse - 1

If you don't have solar eclipse glasses, here are some other options. Make sure to instruct children to stand with their back to the sun - ask them to follow their shadow to be safe. A shadow buddy!





If you do have eclipse glasses but are worried that your younger child will peek around the edges during the event, mount the glasses through a paper plate.  Bonus fun, they can decorate the plate for their own personal mask!

How to tell if your eclipse glasses are safe

Here is information from the American Astronomical Society and the National Science Foundation regarding eye safety.  The brand that we handed out at the Woodlawn STEAM Night were manufactured by American Paper Optics in Memphis, TN and are ISO and CE certified. You can confirm by finding the ISO number on the inside arm of the glasses.

Here is information on why you need to protect your eyes during this event. I will be posting alternatives to the glasses soon, especially if you have young children.

Can you really go blind staring at an eclipse?  Tips for safe viewing

How to read a scientific article

In this age of fast moving trends and misunderstands, it helps to be able to look at peer reviewed data for yourself.  Here is a great guide by Jenn.ifer Raff

How to read and understand a scientific paper: a guide for non-scientists

"From vaccinations to climate change, getting science wrong has very real consequences. But journal articles, a primary way science is communicated in academia, are a different format to newspaper articles or blogs and require a level of skill and undoubtedly a greater amount of patience. Here Jennifer Raff has prepared a helpful guide for non-scientists on how to read a scientific paper. These steps and tips will be useful to anyone interested in the presentation of scientific findings and raise important points for scientists to consider with their own writing practice."

Woodlawn Green Team

Yesterday was the last meeting of the 2016-17 Green Team. It was bitter sweet to say goodbye to such a great group of kids but I am looking forward to continuing their eco-action plans in the fall with new students. If you would like to be involved next year please let me know!

 

To see what the students achieved this year, check out our dashboard on the National Wildlife Federation's Eco-School USA site

Photos from STEAM Night


June 13

Full STEAM Ahead!

Woodlawn was featured in this month's blog post by the National Wildlife Federation for their work on the salmon project, Green Team, and GLOBE!

Another successful STEAM year!

Thank you to all of the wonderful staff and volunteers who helped make this event a success - so many happy and engaged faces! 

Only one more day until STEAM Night! 

Thursday, May 18th, 5:15 - 7:30pm

Our students and staff have completed some great work over this year.  Come celebrate their acheivements and participate in a STEAM challenges in each grade!

Only six more days until STEAM Night!

Yesterday I talked with the students during lunch about the upcoming solar eclipse. Thanks to the Robert D and Jessie L Stinnett Foundation and the Woodlawn PTA, we will be able to hand out free solar eclipse glasses at the event for safe viewing on August 21.

To learn more about solar eclipses, check out these sites:

The Great American Eclipse - Oregon based information about the event

Only 10 more days until Woodlawn STEAM Night - May 18th 5:15-7:30!

Our keynote speaker that evening will be Dr. Delia Grenville, an Industrial and Systems Engineer and Senior Research Scientist at Intel. Dr. Grenville is the inventor of six digital content technologies as well as the co-founder of Designing Me, an organization that advises professional women into leadership positions. She will be speaking to the community at 5:35pm that evening in the auditorium. Don't miss it!

Save the date for the 2nd annual Celebration of STEAM!

Happy Earth Day!

Basic bridge

Portland is known for it's many bridges and many 3rd grade classes in the region focus on these structures as an important part of our city's history.  Did you know that Leonardo da Vinci designed a self supporting bridge in 1468 after being asked to create a simple bridge to cross rivers for troops to be able to assemble on site.  Genius.