Ms. Jones Classroom

Dear Seventh Grade Families,

This spring we will have the wonderful opportunity to go to OMSI science school for five days and four nights. Having been to several other OMSI science schools, I can personally assure you that they are wonderful, amazing, enriching, educational, and extremely well run.

Students will be out in the “field” learning science concepts during the day and will be sleeping in cabins supervised by parent chaperones during the night. All meals are provided, except the sack lunch on the first day. Children are monitored at all times and student safety (along with fun and learning!) is a top priority of the OMSI staff. Aside from “field study,” students will also have opportunities to choose “interest groups,” sessions which interest them. Students have “class time” with me each day, where we can talk about all that is happening at Science School. Each afternoon students also get cabin time to relax and rest, and recreation time to play outside.

Here’s a little more information about Cascade Science School. It is a Bend-area based, outdoor science education program. Emphasizing concept-, process-, and activity-based interdisciplinary studies, Cascade Science School program addresses life sciences (forest and aquatic ecosystems), earth sciences (volcanic geology of the Cascades and stream morphology), cultural history (Native American and pioneer), and outdoor and wilderness skills. Students gain background knowledge in the science areas studied, an understanding of the scientific process, and the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills gained during the program to real problems and situations. Socialization, teamwork, and group living skills are equally important parts of this program. Our goal is to help provide students with the science background and critical thinking skills necessary to prepare them to be full citizens in our society who are capable of making responsible decisions.

The Central Oregon Cascade region offers a variety of educational opportunities. Ecosystems in the area include fragile alpine meadows; sub-alpine mixed forests; lower elevation lodgepole and ponderosa forests; natural wetlands; and arid grasslands. Golden eagles and osprey soar above the trees. Raccoon, deer, elk, and bobcat reside in the area. Rich aquatic resources offer many opportunities to investigate pond and lake life, stream and riparian ecosystems, and springs. Bull trout and Atlantic salmon are just a few of the unique fish species of the region. Geologically recent lava flows, abundant volcanic vents, young stream systems, evidence of past glaciation, and the presence of small alpine glaciers makes the area ideal for studying geologic processes. Lava tubes, lava cast forests, and ash and pumice deposits abound. The area also has a rich cultural history, from the native peoples who prospered here to the early settlers who made this area their new home. Exploring this area is a unique and rewarding experience.

The cost of Science School is $170 per person, including chaperones. This year we will be conducting several fundraisers to help families pay for Science School. I believe that if you work diligently, you will be able to fundraise the entire cost of Science School. I also hope that if the fundraising goes well, we will be able to significantly lower the $170 cost for parent chaperones.

In order to keep the cost down (busses would cost over $3,000), I am asking parents to drive. With about 30 students, we will need approximately 6-8 drivers. We will also need approximately 10 chaperones to stay in the cabin with students. I hope that those who drive will also be able to stay as parent chaperones for the week, but if you are only able to do one or the other, please let me know. As a parent chaperone, you are responsible for supervising a cabin of approximately eight students at night, and other groups during the day.

Although it is my goal that every student attend Science School, I understand that is not always possible. School will continue while we are at Science School, and students who do not attend Science School are expected to come to school. Also, if your child becomes ill or otherwise needs to leave Science School, you will be responsible for picking him/her up, or arranging transportation for them.

Now, let’s talk fundraising…
It is my mission to help families raise enough money so that every student can attend. If you have expertise, ideas, or interest in helping with fundraising, please sign the last page. This is my plan so far:

o Read-a-thon - This will be our first big attempt at personal fundraising. I believe that if families work together, students can earn enough money through this one fundraiser to pay their way (and their parent’s) to Science School. Like other events, students will collect pledges for pages read or books read during a specific time period. Then we will spend a significant amount of time reading at school. All of the pledges a student earns will go directly toward them going to Science School. This will take place toward the end of October, and more information will be coming home at the beginning of October.

o Science School Bank - Each student will have their own bank account, into which they can deposit money throughout the year. This is a wonderful way to plan ahead for Science School. By contributing a few dollars each week, students can avoid having to pay a large amount all at once. For example, if your child deposited $8.00 per week for 20 weeks, that would be $160, almost the entire cost of Science School. This will be starting next week, and a letter will come home this week.

Here are a few other ideas I had that I need help planning, organizing, and running:

o Family Nights - I would like to have three of these during the year. These might be game nights with food, or maybe movie nights. We would advertise to our school and larger community, and for a fee families could come and participate. The money raised would go into the general Science School account to lower the price for chaperones and provide scholarships for children. I am looking for parents to organize and run these evenings.

o Lollipops – Students could sell lollipops for $1.00. Students could sell lollipops to go into their individual accounts, and we could also sell them at school and put the money into the general fund.

o Car Wash

o Dinner at a restaurant where the restaurant will donate a percentage back to us (Arby’s, Sweet Tomatoes, McMeniman’s…just to name a few).

o Working at Krispy Kreme or IKEA (I heard that if we work there for an afternoon they will donate a percentage of that afternoon’s sales to us).

o Spaghetti Dinner or Pancake Breakfast

If you have any other fundraising ideas, I would really love to hear from you!

Although I believe that if families work hard with fundraising, their children will be able to entirely pay for Science School. However, you always have the option of just sending in $170.00 and paying for Science School outright. If you prefer this method, you are always welcome to it.

In order to move forward in our planning and fundraising, the attached form must be signed and returned by all families. Please keep this letter for your information, and return only the attached form by Wednesday, September 12, 2007. If you need a new copy of the form to return, you may do so here.

Thank you for your support! We look forward to a wonderful Science School experience!