daw.com - June 5

​It is hard to believe, but we are at the end.  This is the last blog post for 5HD for the  school year 2014-15 and what a year it has been.

I want to start by thanking all of you - the parents.  Without your support it would not be possible to do many of the learning acitivites we have done this year.  Your encouragement, kindness and helping has always been greatly appreciated.  A special thanks to Julie K. for the wonderful job as homeroom mom.  Her work, assistance and guidance has really made this a special year.

Monday there are two events happening.  at 9:00am in my room (3504) is the Poetry Cafe.  Come for a cup of Java and enjoy the reading of a poem or two from the students in the room.  They will also server as waiters and Maitre D' for the morning.  Just a time to relax and enjoy the fruits of our poetry explorations.  Hope some of you can make it.

After that students will be involved in preparing a brunch for the whole class.  So far the menu looks quite varied - chicken burritos, cheeze soup, chicken breasts and even crepes plus many other delicacies.  If there are a couple of parents that could come in from 10:15-11:30 to just supervise and lend a hand, I would love to have you. There is even a taste test time!!

We say goodbye to a couple of students at this time.  Casey and Julie are both moving on from ISB to new adventures in the USA and Korea respectively.  Special class goodbye books have been made for them and the students will start to leave messages of hope and good luck before they leave at the end of the year.

All school supplies will go home on Tuesday.  Students need nothing except a backpack on Wed.  They will get their shirts, certificates and yearbooks to take home that day.

School is officially over at 11:30am on Wednesday.  There are no late busses as all students are expected to be picked up or take the busses home at that time. Please help with this and make sure that all arrangements are made in advance.

It has truly been my honor to have your students in my class this year.  I hope they leave 5HD feeling good about themselves, having learned many things about a variety of topics, gained in self-conficence and really ready to enjoy a break from the regular routine.  Have a safe and enjoyable summer that is warm and filled with happiness.  For those students leaving, please stay in touch, for those returning, please come back and visit.  Have a wonderful summer.

Harold Daw

daw.com - May 29

​I hope everyone had a chance to come and see the classes production of Monkey King.  It was amazing and the students were right on the ball with the entire piece.  I was so impressed with them - it just reinforced how they have acted and learned this whole year.  What a way to come to the end of the year.

I have put a class presentation of pictures together and also a class video.  It is of many of the events and opportunities throughout the past year.  There is no way for me to send this to you as they are 600MB and 2GB respectively.  If you would like a copy send a USB with your student and I will gladly make a copy for you and send it home.  My gift as a reminder to all my class and parents.

We started our planning for Brunch on June 8th.  I am sure some of your students willbe asking you for recipes and advice on the dishes they want to prepare.  I have made it clear that they cannot bring a prepared dish from home.  I want them to prepare it in the kitchen on June 8th.  I should have a complete menu by Wednesday of next week.  I am making sure there is food for everyone and have tried very hard to take into comsideration allergies.  Please assist your students as they come to you with requests and questions.

The Crypto competition is over and I am pleased to announce that Junyeong was 1st, Mayah was second, Michael 3rd and Julie 4th.  Everyone had a great time and I was pleased with the math that I saw during the competition.  Prizes were handed out to everyone prior to dismissal.

This is the last week of Homework.  It will be due on Friday as normal and I will have it returned with the Monday folder on June 8th.

There has been a slight change of time for the Impact Fair on Thursday as it was unsure if we could actually get it everyone in with the original time.  I will give the exact time and room number to each student on Monday.  I hope you can all make it.  Last big presentation of the year.

The year end party will be in the afternoon of June 9th.  Students will have yearbooks to get autographs, recieve their moving on shirts and also their certificate.  With the exception of the shirt, everything will go home at that time.  Speaking of things going home, I will be starting to send home class collections this coming week.  I have also asked all students to clean out their locker and outboxes and keep them cleaned out so that they do not have an excessive amount of things to take home the last week.

Summer reading is a must.  I have mentioned several times in this blog and all year in

my class that reading is not something that is either homework or should be considered as anything other than a life long skill.  This means that it must be continued throughout the summer.  We will get to the MS library on June 5th so that students who are returning to ISB next year can sign out some books for the summer.  I will have reading lists emailed to all parents this week.  Please find the time as often as possible to have your student read both silently and out load as this improves fluency and understanding.  While summer break is soothing for soul, reading is soothing to the brain and is very helpful to continue learning.

As always, if there are questions please let me know.

Harold Daw