Pacific Pawprints - February 9, 2012
Details:
Dear Panther Families,We are over the half way mark for this school year. It is hard to
believe how quickly the year is flying by!
This month our focus for KSR-HELPR will be Empathy. I will again return to each classroom to do a lesson. This month I will be reading from children's literature about students who may learn differently than other children with the goal that all students can better understand life through the eyes of a child who thinks and learns differently. It is important to me that all students are valued for the potential they possess. Our Empathy month gives me an outstanding opportunity to help our Panthers better understand that all students on our campus possess amazing gifts, and given the opportunity can make wonderful friends. It is important to me that students empathize, but not feel sorry for these students. I hope you will join me in reinforcing this idea.
Teaching students to walk in another person's shoes and feel empathy is always a challenge. This month I can really use your help reinforcing our theme. While we will discuss seeing life through the eyes of a child with learning differences, there are many other ways our Panthers can express empathy. If you find time to help your child see the world through another viewpoint - from a sibling they disagree with to people living in other countries - your support in teaching empathy will go a long way in reinforcing this complicated theme.
I hope everyone has a wonderful month and we all take time to walk in someone else's shoes.
Thank you,
Kim Linz
Principal
Pacific School
An Interview With Fabulous First Grade Teacher, Mrs. Gelane Cameronby Brittany L., Greta N., Kendal C. and Remi P., 4th Grade
Mrs. Cameron has been teaching at Pacific for many years. In this interview, you will learn about her favorite things, teaching, and even her family!
Brittany: Where did you grow up?
Mrs. Cameron: I grew up here in Manhattan Beach! I even went to Pacific School from 2nd through 5th grade, and I went to Mira Costa. So I grew up here. Right on Ninth Street.
Greta: What's your favorite color?
Mrs. Cameron: I can't decide - I love all colors.
Remi: What inspired you to become a teacher?
Mrs. Cameron: I had two teachers in elementary school that I absolutely loved. They were really fun teachers. I decided that I wanted to be just like them.
Kendal: How long have you taught 1st grade?
Mrs. Cameron: I have taught 1st grade for sixteen years.
Brittany: Is it hard being a teacher when you have three kids of your own to watch over?
Mrs. Cameron: It gets harder and harder each year, yes. I have to plan everything out. I have a wonderful husband who can help out.
Greta: Where do you like to go on vacation?
Mrs. Cameron: I like to go to Hawaii and Lake Nacimiento. In Lake Nacimiento, I go boating, water skiing, and wake boarding with family and friends.
Remi: If you weren't a teacher, what career would you have?
Mrs. Cameron: In second grade, I wanted to be President of the United States. If not, I would want to have a job that'll make a difference in the world, like an activist.
Kendal: Before first grade, did you teach any other grades?
Mrs. Cameron: I also taught pre-kindergarten and two to three year-olds in preschool. They were called the “little bunnies.”
Brittany: What is your favorite book?
Mrs. Cameron: I have a couple favorites, but I love The Hunger Games series. I just could not put them down.
Greta: Do you have a pet? If so what is it's name?
Mrs. Cameron: I have a hamster named Stormy, a tangerine gecko, a bearded dragon, a turtle, an anole, and a dog named Roxy.
Remi: What were your hobbies as a child?
Mrs. Cameron: I loved drawing, dancing, soccer, and playing imaginary games with my sister, like house or horses.
Kendal: What is your favorite grade to teach?
Mrs. Cameron: My favorite grade to teach is 1st grade! I can’t imagine teaching any other grade!
Brittany: What is your favorite memory from your childhood?
Mrs. Cameron: Every Easter we went to Disneyland. One Easter it was raining, so we got to go on all the rides and didn’t have to wait in line.
Greta: What do you do in your free time?
Mrs. Cameron: In my free time I play “Just Dance,” walk Roxy, and relax in the sun
Remi: What is your favorite thing to do with your family?
Mrs. Cameron: We like to take our boat out and cruise the ocean, pack lunches, and beach our boat. We even collect really cool creatures on the beach, like an octopus or a sea cucumber.
Kendal: What is your favorite food and why?
Mrs. Cameron: My favorite food is anything that has icing or frosting because I have a sweet tooth.
Brittany: What did you do over break when you had time off from working?
Mrs. Cameron: My daughter was in the Nutcracker, and had seven performances. I also cleaned out my kids’ closets, and we went to lots of movies.
Greta: Do you have a favorite flower?
Mrs. Cameron: My favorite flower is a gardenia because I like the smell and because they remind me of my mom.
Remi: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Mrs. Cameron: I'm not a fan of ice cream, but if I do get some, I get rainbow sherbet. I prefer frozen yogurt.
Kendal: What school activities do you like to teach?
Mrs. Cameron: I love teaching science and putting on plays.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about this amazing first grade teacher!
An Interview With Ms. Nancy Rosenburgby Sophia V., Bryce Y., Mary Clare P. and Priyanka G. C., 4th Grade
We recently had the opportunity to interview Ms. Nancy Rosenburg. Ms. Rosenburg wears many hats at Pacific so we set out to learn more about her. This is what she had to say.
Sophia: Where did you grow up?
Ms. Rosenburg: I grew up in West Los Angeles until high school. I went to University High School.
Bryce: What are some of the most popular PASE classes?
Ms. Rosenburg: Chess is very popular because of Coach Rue. Musical Theater is also very popular. Legos and Art With Jake are popular, too.
Mary Clare: What do you do at Pacific?
Ms. Rosenburg: I do reading support activities for grades 1-5 (mostly 4th grade); I help with the before school computer reading program classes; I organize meetings with teachers, parents, and students; and finally, I do whatever Mrs. Linz tells me to do.
Priyanka: Do you like working in the office?
Ms. Rosenburg: I love working in the office. I love working everywhere at Pacific.
Sophia: Did you ever teach or work in the office at another school?
Ms. Rosenburg: I taught in several places- in Chicago, Orange County and Los Angeles. I taught in a hospital, a home for teenage boys, and Chicago schools.
Bryce: What is your favorite movie?
Ms. Rosenburg: I can't say I have a favorite but one of my favorite movies is Annie Hall.
Mary Clare: Since you work at a school, did you ever consider being a teacher?
Ms. Rosenburg: I actually am a teacher just not in the classroom, I teach other activities.
Priyanka: What is your favorite color?
Ms. Rosenburg: I like black and red.
Sophia: What upcoming events do you have planned for the programs at school?
Ms. Rosenburg: I’m just starting to plan Camp V.I.P. for the tenth time, which is open to anyone. We’ve even had students from Korea. It’s at Pacific School. I’m also planning a fun spring program here as well.
Bryce: What is your favorite PASE class?
Ms. Rosenburg: I can't choose because all the classes are like little children to me.
Mary Clare: What college did you go to?
Ms. Rosenburg: I went to the University of California (Berkeley) and the University of Chicago for graduate school.
Priyanka: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Ms. Rosenburg: Vanilla Heath Crunch.
Sophia: Do you have a favorite topic to hear about in the Pawprints newspaper?
Ms. Rosenburg: I like the interviews, so I can learn about people.
Bryce: Do you have any siblings?
Ms. Rosenburg: I have a brother and a sister who are both doctors. I am the oldest.
Mary Clare: Who is your role model?
Ms. Rosenburg: I don't have a favorite role model, but I am inspired by people who are strong, have courage, and who are themselves.
Priyanka: What school do you like to work in the most?
Ms. Rosenburg: Pacific!
Sophia: What are you doing for ski week?
Ms. Rosenburg: I’m going to Cancun, Mexico to relax.
Bryce: How do you think you can improve PASE?
Ms. Rosenburg: By adding more and more really stimulating classes and encouraging more students to come.
Mary Clare: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Ms. Rosenburg: I haven't found the right place yet, but I do love living by the water.
Priyanka: What types of food do you like?
Ms. Rosenburg: I like salads and Mexican food.
We enjoyed getting to know more about Ms. Rosenburg and all the things she does for our school- and we hope you did, too!
An Interview With Captivating Kindergarten Teacher, Mrs. Michele Jordanby Sofie K., Sabrina S., London F. and Lauren D., 5th Grade
We recently interviewed Mrs. Jordan, or “mom” as she is known outside of school. We wanted to learn more about her so we sat down with her and asked some questions.
Sofie: Did you ever wish you had a different job?
Mrs. Jordan: Never ever! I wanted to be a teacher since I was five.
Sabrina: What elementary did you go to?
Mrs. Jordan: Benjamin Franklin Elementary.
London: What's one of your favorite childhood memories?
Mrs. Jordan: Playing in the snow in Buffalo, New York.
Lauren: Have you ever taught any grades other than kindergarten?
Mrs. Jordan: I started teaching at a high school, 10th grade through12th grade, special needs, and then elementary.
Sofie: Is it fun having your kids at the school?
Mrs. Jordan: Yes, it's great having my kids here and my sister, Mrs. Schnebly, as well.
Sabrina: What's your favorite sport?
Mrs. Jordan: My favorite sport to watch is football and to play is volleyball and football.
London: What were some of the funniest things that happened while you were teaching?
Mrs. Jordan: In kindergarten the things that come out of the kids’ mouths are so cute and funny. It's also funny when I'm talking about something and the kids try to make a connection and talk about something completely different. Also, when I taught 4th grade, we went on a field trip to visit two missions. We left at 6am. We set the school alarm off in the morning because we were so early. Then our train broke down on the way there. We got home at 8:30 at night when we were supposed to be home at 5:00 p.m., so it was a memorable trip.
Lauren: Do you like eating at “Joe’s?”
Mrs. Jordan: I really do! They named a dish after me. It has rice, seafood, avocado, spinach and mushrooms!
Sofie: What job did you have before becoming a teacher?
Mrs. Jordan: I worked at McDonald’s, sold Clinique cosmetics, and for many years was a camp counselor at a horseback riding camp.
Sabrina: What was your favorite subject in school?
Mrs. Jordan: My favorite subjects in school were math and science.
London: What college did you go to and what did you like about it?
Mrs. Jordan: I went to SUNY Geneseo and I loved the friends that we made there.
Lauren: What year was your first kindergarten class at Pacific?
Mrs. Jordan: My first year of teaching kindergarten was in 2005, when my oldest daughter was in kindergarten.
Sofie: What is the craziest place you have worked at?
Mrs. Jordan: Day Camp was the craziest.
Sabrina: What are your hobbies when you are not teaching?
Mrs. Jordan: I like reading, bike riding, going to the beach, swimming and hanging out with family.
London: I heard there's an interesting story behind your maiden name, Peita. What is it?
Mrs. Jordan: My father came over to Ellis Island from Poland. His last name was spelled Pejta, but when he came through they spelled it Peita, so that's how we spelled it from then on.
Lauren: What was the worst thing one of your students has done?
Mrs. Jordan: In high school, I had to break up a physical fist fight.
Sofie: When you had your first cell phone, what did it look like?
Mrs. Jordan: We called it a brick and it was as big as a shoe. It had a huge antenna.
Sabrina: Do you have any pets?
Mrs. Jordan: I have a dog named Daisy and we rescued her from a shelter. She's a little crazy and a little naughty.
London: Why do you like team teaching?
Mrs. Jordan: I've been team teaching since my kids were born, with the exception of one year. It gives my life balance.
Sofie: What is the craziest thing a student has ever done to you?
Mrs. Jordan: On graduation day in front of everyone, a student kissed me on the cheek.
Sofie: What did your first lunch box look like?
Mrs. Jordan: Those metal ones you guys have now with the characters on it with a matching thermos.
Mrs. Jordan told us some very interesting stories about her life and family. Thank you, Mrs. Jordan!
An Interview With Ms. Dina Moll, Kindergarten Teacher at Grand View Elementary: The Fourth In Our Series Covering The iPad Pilot Program In Our School Districtby Priscilla Y., 4th Grade
Ms. Dina Moll has been teaching kindergarten at Grand View for nine years and she loves her fun job! The kindergarteners at Grand View have been working with iPads through the district’s iPad pilot program this year. Let’s see what Ms. Moll says about the iPad.
Priscilla: Do you use the iPad more than once a week?
Ms. Moll: Yes! We use the iPads twice a week, for about 30 minutes each.
Priscilla: What app do the kids like best?
Ms. Moll: There are a lot of fun educational games that are available for the children. Right now, their favorite game is called “Monkey Mathtime Sunshine!” It covers many different math skills including ordering and recognizing numbers and patterns, adding & subtracting, and finding the “most” and least” when looking at pictures. After the kids are successful, they earn stickers that they place on a pretend beach. They love it mostly because there is a monkey that helps them throughout the game that jumps upside down on his head when they get a correct answer!
Priscilla: What app do you use the most?
Ms. Moll: We try to use a different app each week! But if I had to pick one, I would say Monkey Mathtime Sunshine.
Priscilla: How does the iPad improve your class?
Ms. Moll: The iPads improve our learning because most of the apps are leveled to a child’s ability. This means that a student that may have advance skills in reading or writing can be working on a level that suits their ability, while at the same time a student that is still working on identifying letters can be practicing those important skills. Basically, we are all using the same apps, but working at different levels based on what each child needs.
Priscilla: Do you have any students that do not like using the iPads?
Ms. Moll: We actually do not have any students that do not like using the iPads. I think if it were up to the kids they would want to use them every day. Some kids have a harder time using the iPads with their little fingers because their motor skills aren’t quite there, but most of the kids do just fine! A lot of the children also have them at home already, so having them in class is a very special bonus.
Ms. Moll’s favorite quote is: "to love what you do and feel that it matters, how could anything be more fun!” Clearly, Ms. Moll and her kindergarten class are having fun learning with their iPads.
I Love
by Murphy G., 1st Grade, Mrs. Cameron, Room 42
I love my family,
Not like a Dove,
but I still like the Love
They're nice
well, so is Bryce
but that's not the point
Anyway, the point is,
I love my family!
Valentine Love.jpeg)
by Jessica K., 1st grade, Mrs. Okumura, Room 3
Love is peace and quiet.
Love is hearts and ribbons.
Love is oxoxox.
In February on Valentine's Day
I feel like a mouse who is cute and cuddly.
Love is nice to have because it is special!
Book Review:Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling
by Vincent R., 4th Grade
What would you do if you were stuck with your terrible aunt and uncle and they wouldn’t tell you the real story about how your parents died? And what if you were forced to live under the stairs and make breakfast for them every morning? Experiencing this treatment was poor Harry Potter. As he was sitting in his room one day, wondering about his future, he received a letter, which his uncle promptly tore up. Soon they were flooded with letters so they decided to relocate. They moved to a dilapidated house in the middle in the ocean, but they were accompanied by a large man by the name of Hagrid. What will happen next? Read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to find out more. You will enjoy it, that I can guarantee.
Movie Review of “We Bought A Zoo”by Tillman C., 1st Grade, Mrs.Becker, Room 2
I love animals, so I went to see “We Bought A ZOO” at the ArcLight Theater.
It is a true story that is hilarious. The family looks for a new place to live and they find
a house they like and don’t know it’s a zoo. The little sister likes all the animals and
gives them names. The funniest part is when a brown bear escapes and is in the street,
and ends up knocking on the dad’s car window. Everyone should see this if they want
to laugh. Enjoy the movie, it is great!
Being Empathetic By Kara B., 4th Grade
What does it mean to be empathetic? Empathetic means that you understand or imagine what the other person is feeling. An easier way to remember what empathetic means is to “put yourself in someone else’s shoes.” It’s the big part in KSR-HELPR.
There are so many ways to be empathetic at school. Here are some examples:
· If you see another student alone at recess, ask them to play handball with you or a different activity.
· Invite a new student to sit next to you at lunch.
· You are walking to class and the person next to you has just dropped their books, help them pick up their books.
I have given you just a few examples of how you can be empathetic at school, but there are several other ways to show it. An easy way to remember how to be empathetic is to “treat people the way you want to be treated.”
Girls on the Run by Hope K., 4th Grade
If you want to exercise and have fun at the same time, Girls on the Run is the perfect way to do it. The coach is a mom at this school, and twice a week, you will have fun group meetings then get to run laps around the park with friends, training for the final 5k run. Although I got tired during the 5k, after finishing it I felt proud of myself. After the 5k, you'll get to have a fun class party! What I enjoyed about this running program was getting to know new people, getting to run with my friends at my own pace, and the group discussions, where you learn how to approach the hard things in life. Every time you run a lap, you do something, like crossing out letters in a message or writing words on a poster. Sometimes you will even get silly bands or stickers! This one and a half hour program is a great way to spend your afternoon! For more information, go to the website: http://www.girlsontherun.org/.
REUSABLE PRODUCE BAGSby Pacific Parent, Janet Anderson
Did you know that Manhattan Beach residents voted to BAN all plastic shopping
bags from local grocery stores and businesses? This law will soon go into
effect! While you may already be bringing your groceries home in reusable
bags, you might not have thought about the rolls of plastic bags you find in
the produce department at the grocery store. The ban doesn’t apply to
those, but there’s still a way to avoid them. The Container Store has the
perfect solution! Reusable mesh produce bags are fantastic for bagging those
bananas and beets. Plus, they allow air to circulate so they can go straight
into the fridge or sit out on the kitchen counter keeping fruit flies away.
Visit The Container Store locations or shop online at
Come To Pacific’s Talent Show!by Sofie K., Lauren D. and London F., 5th Grade
Lights! Camera! Action! Pacific's Got Spirit ----- that is the theme of this year's talent show! There will be 77 spirited acts... and they will showcase the talents of our fellow Panthers. The talent show will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, February 10, 2012 at Mira Costa High School's Auditorium. All the acts are original and performed by committed Pacific students. You should come and watch the dazzling singers, dancers, and musicians! You might just catch a glimpse of a future superstar. Maybe the next Justin Bieber. All the acts have worked so hard practicing their unique talents, you don't want to let them down now by not coming. If you haven't bought tickets yet, don't fret, you can still buy them at the door. In the meantime, sit down relax and enjoy the show!
Paw Poll:
If you could ask anyone in the world to be your Valentine, who would it be?
This month's Paw Poll question had many different responses but there was one clear overall winner:
Justin Bieber!
Do you have Bieber Fever?
Walking School Bus
The bus has officially taken off with a huge success!!! Thank you Brandi Samuelian for all of your hard work and dedication in getting our Walking School Bus launched. There was great fanfair as more than 40 students and adults walked onto school through the festive blue and yellow balloon arch last Wednesday. Everyone that joined in on the walk had a great time walking with friends. Thank you Brandi for your flawless execution...we all look forward to our second route!
~ PTA Board
MCHS Basketball Night
Buzzer Beaters! The Mira Costa Varsity Boys and Girls teams took on the Pennesyla team in two buzzer beater games with the Pacific Panther cheering them on. It was a great night filled with nail biting moments with both of our team losing by jsut a few points. WOW! It was great to see our Pacific Panthers there in either their Panther or Costa gear. We'd like to send out a huge thank you to Andreas Koch who made all possible. Andreas also help coordinate the Pep Rally with the MBMS cheerleaders and the shoot around with three Mira Costa basketball players and our kids. Thank you Andreas....we look forward to our next MCHS sports event...a Volleyball game on March 2nd!
~ PTA Board
User login
| Join Our Mailing List |
