School Zone
A monthly newsletter covering Cottage Grove-area schools
November 25, 2015
Area teachers
collaborate for
writing instruction
A blast after school at Latham
At Latham Elementary, the
school is fortunate to have
parents, staff, and commu-
nity members that are will-
ing to share their expertise
with students through
its after-school clubs. In
November, students were
able to participate in the
following classes: knitting,
chess, P.E. games, paint-
ing and crafts. They look
forward to the December
clubs, which will include
knitting, P.E. games, holi-
day crafts, computers and
watercolors.
London, Latham and Dorena get together
T
courtesy photo
CATCH curriculum trainings held
D
File photo
Curriculum that aims to foster healthy habits drew
teachers and staff together recently.
orena staff met with
other district employ-
ees to train for a Coordinated
Approach To Child Health
(CATCH). P.E. teachers, cafete-
ria managers, teachers, and the
principal met on Oct. 9. Teach-
ers learned how to implement
the activities, lessons and
philosophies that will empha-
size healthier eating and fi tness
levels for all employees and
students. South Lane School
District’s health and wellness
activities also provide a great
way for all SLSD employees to
lead healthier lifestyles.
At Harrison Elementary, stu-
Breakfast
With Santa
Santa’s on his way from the
North Pole to cook you breakfast!
Saturday
December 5
8AM - 11AM
Free
at South Lane Fire & Rescue
233 Harrison Avenue
Cottage Grove
We will be taking donations of
unwrapped new toys for "Toys for Tots"
dents learned about “Go, Slow
and Whoa” foods as Harrison
kicked off its fi rst CATCH
theme. Principal Ali Nice said
combining the school’s “eat
smart” and “move more” mes-
sages is a great way to help
students have happier and more
productive lives.
At Latham School, Coach Jill
has been working with students
in each classroom every day of
the week. The school began its
CATCH kickoff week on Nov.
2. Student Council visited each
classroom every day the week
to explain the MVP (Move
and stay active, Value healthy
eating, and Practice healthy
habits). The information went
home to parents and was posted
in the gym. In the cafeteria,
students are able to bring food
labels from home to place on a
board and classify them as Go,
Slow, or Whoa foods (Go foods
being the healthiest and Whoa
foods being the least healthy).
Classroom teachers will teach
nutrition lessons specifi c to
their grade level. Through the
CATCH program, curriculum
and materials will be provided
that will allow the staff to teach
students the connection between
staying healthy, being active and
eating well.
eachers
in
London,
Latham and Dorena
schools are getting together to
improve writing instruction at
each school.
Representatives from the
schools met for the second time
on Oct.
21. Teachers have decided
that the two goals to tackle this
year are to create common for-
mative assessment and prioritize
writing instruction to align with
their assessment fi ndings. The
schools are scheduled to meet
a total of eight times over the
course of the year. At the fi rst
meeting on Sept. 3, the group
identifi ed that their primary
work will be to clearly defi ne
student writing outcomes and
effective assessment of those
outcomes.
Teachers utilized different ru-
brics to assess student writing
samples, beginning the process
of calibrating an assessment of
writing by grade level and deter-
mining what rubrics would best
address the learning that takes
place at each grade level.
By the next meeting, teach-
ers agreed to complete a writ-
ing lesson so each can share the
results. They say they are for-
tunate to have Deb Henderson
coaching teachers at each of the
schools as they work through
this process.
School-by-school
Updates compiled from information
presented to the South Lane School Board
to be spectacular in the spring.
Bohemia
P.E. Revolution
Elementary
Mural support
Principal Heather Bridgens
said Bohemia is lucky to have
CGHS senior
McKayla Martindale painting
murals around its building. Her
fi rst project is to paint scenes
from Dr. Suess around the walls
outside the library. ‘Horton
Hears a Who” is beginning to
take shape!
Courtyard
Facility manager Joe Tennis
has spent countless of his own
hours to revamp Bohemia’s
courtyard, an outdoor space
utilized by staff and students as
weather permits. The courtyard
looks lovely now, but promises
PE teacher Joe Randall has
already revolutionized recess
though he’s only been with the
school for a few days.
Randall is spending the fi rst
few weeks of his tenure getting
to know students and establish-
ing recess games and rules.
About two thirds of fi fth-grad-
ers were involved in three new
and different four-square games
at a recent recess.
Dorena
Elementary
EBIS Program at Grove
Christian Camp
Please see REPORTS, Page 2