Character Traits

I attended the funeral today for a man I consider a friend. As I sat listening to the extremely positive things that were said about him, I realized that he lived the 6 pillars of characters. He was very wealthy and could have easily lived the life of wealth -- going to fancy parties, driving fancy cars, traveling to faraway places. He didn't. He lived a very simple, private and humble life. Living next door to him you would never know that he was one of the wealthiest persons in the county.

Here are a few ways he lived the 6 pillars of character.

RESPONSIBLE: He raised 2 sons along with his wife and taught them the high morals he valued.
RESPECTFUL: He sometimes rode his bike to work, which shows respect for our environment and his health.
CARING: He helped start the local ambulance service 30 years ago and worked as a volunteer EMT.
FAIRNESS: He attended local sporting events and events of his alma mater and cheered on his team with great spirit. He concentrated on his team and not the forces that he had no control.
TRUSTWORTHY: He worked as a CPA in a town of 2000 people. He kept his client's finances in his office and not once did he leak them into the rumor mill of a small town.
CITIZENSHIP: He loved our small town and worked on many volunteer committees to help make it a better place -- not only for those that live here now, but also for those that will live here in the future.

He had a mission and lived by that mission everyday. Bradley J. Burgum died at age 58 and we will miss him tremendously.

Library Media Services Plan

Kennedy Elementary Library Services Plan 4401 42nd Street South Fargo, ND 58104 2008 - 2010 School Mission Statement Students at Kennedy Elementary School learn in a safe, collaborative, and stimulating environment while developing academic, cultural, and character excellence for successful lifelong learning. Library Media Mission Statement The Kennedy Elementary Library provides an environment that encourages intellectual curiosity and personal enjoyment reading. The library offers a rich variety of print and electronic resources necessary to enrich and support educational programs and the certified library media specialist works collaboratively to provide the services necessary to satisfy the evolving informational and recreational needs of the students, faculty, and staff. Personnel Susan K. Kempel, MLS Library Media Specialist Masters in Library Science Emporia State University, May 1998 Employed 100% full time with Fargo Public Schools since 1999. http://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=3233 Bonnie Bachmeier Library Assistant Employed 100% full time with Fargo Public Schools since ________ Scope of Services Library Services provided to 23 classrooms of kindergarten – 4th grade students. Library Media Specialist teaches individuals and classes the skills needed to find information in multiple sources. Individual assistance is available to students needing instruction in reference skills. Library Media Specialist and library assistant make recommendations for good books to read. Library Media Specialist offers the following services to teachers Integrated, cooperative planning for curricular and multi-source or multimedia research projects Team-teaching Book and reading recommendations Booktalks, Storytelling and Book Sharing Interlibrary loan Reference Services Preparation of subject bibliographies Webpage and multimedia creation and instruction Technical troubleshooting (computer, electronics, etc.) Library hours 8:00 – 3:30 for students 7:30 – 4:00 for staff Resources Approximately 16,000 books available 16 magazines available for student checkout 11 magazines available for staff checkout Audio books available for student checkout Videos available for teacher checkout 6 online databases available on elementary resource page Library catalog available online Elementary Resource page: http://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=18453&sc_id=1187037040&sc_id=1187037041&sc_id=1187037040 Books and magazines purchased with school board funds. Equipment 5 desktop computers 5 laptop computers Document camera 2 LCD projectors 25 computers available in computer lab next to library Schedule and Time assignments Each kindergarten class has one 20-minute checkout time per week with instruction/story time Each 1st and 2nd grade class has one 30-minute checkout time per week with instruction/story time Each 3rd and 4th grade class has one 30-minute checkout time per week Research activities scheduled as needed after collaboration with classroom teacher Open access to students during school day Databases and library catalog available online Additional Information Library Media goal statements available upon request AASL Standards for the 21st century student http://www.aasl.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_LearningStandards.pdf

GET CAUGHT READING

Calling all Kennedy Elementary students!!! We want your pictures of you being caught reading. Here is what you need to do.

1. Have someone take a picture of you reading a book or magazine. (or listening to an audio book)

• The front cover of the book must be showing along with at least part of you.

2. Bring that picture to school January 13, 2014 through March 14, 2014.

• Write your name and your teacher's name on the back of the picture
• There will be a prize for the most creative pose!

3. Each picture you submit, you will be entered into a drawing for a popcorn treat. (maximum of 5 entries)

4. Drawing will be held March 19, 2014.

Iditarod

The 2009 Iditarod dogsled race began Saturday, March 7 in Anchorage, Alaska. I found 3 definitions for the word "Iditarod". The first definition comes from an Ingalik and Holikachuk word hidedhod for the Iditarod River. This name means distant or distant place. The second definition comes from the Ingalik Indian word Halditarod which was teh name for the river on which the town was built. The 3rd definition means clear water and was named by the Shageluk Indians for the Iditarod River.
You can read a lot of information about the Iditarod on the official webpage, www.iditarod.com. The racers enjoy the thrill of competition, but they also relish the beauty of the Alaskan landscape from Anchorage to Nome.

Code Talker

Code Talker = A Navajo Indian in World War 2 that used their native language to send and receive messages. This was one code that the Japanese could not break.
I have been interested in Code Talkers and the role they played in securing a victory for the U.S. against Japan in World War 2. After reading Joseph Bruchac's Code Talker, I have even more respect for the job these Navajo Marines accomplished.
First, many Navajo children were taken from their families to attend a mission school where their Native traditions including their names were stripped away. They were punished severly if the teachers ever heard the students talking in their native language.
Then, the U.S. Marines comes to recruit the Navajos because their language can be used as an unbreakable code.
After the war, the Navajos return to being 2nd class citizens and these code talkers are not allowed to tell anyone about their top-secret mission.
Joseph Bruchac tells the story of a fictional character that becomes a code talker and participates in several major battles against the Japanese during World War 2. This character is relating his experiences of being a code talker to his grandchildren. He doesn't just tell about the adventure during his story. He also gives advice and talks to the children about having respect for all people.

Flotsam

Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1998) gives a few definitions for this word. The first entry says, "the part of the wreckage of a ship and its cargo found floating on the water."
This word is also the name of the 2007 Caldecott Award winner by David Wiesner. The book, Flotsam, is very deserving of this prestigious award because of it's beautiful illustrations. Mr. Wiesner has created a story without words about a boy's adventure at the beach. He painted the pictures with so much detail that words just are not necessary.
The next time you are in the library take a look at this fabulous book.

meteorologist

A meteorologist is a scientist who studies and predicts the weather. This definition comes from library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/glossary.shtml . A meteorologist uses technologically advanced tools to help everyone know what clothes to wear each day. These professionals also help us decide when we should not travel in certain areas or alert us to potential dangerous weather situations.
My 7th grade class caused a lot of trouble for school teachers so it was decided that there would be no more labs in science class. (Restrictions were placed in other classes too.) In the answer to "what will we do in science", Mr. Austin says, "we will study the weather". I had more fun in this study than at any time doing science labs. I thought that I may even want to study meteorology in college. Obviously, I did not follow that career path, but I still enjoy monitoring the weather and even do a little storm chasing once in awhile. :-)
Take an evening a watch the weather on the local news channels and/or watch the weather channel. Watch these professionals describe what is happening and what will happen. I have never seen a weather person not enjoy what they do. All that I have watched are passionate about weather and enjoy telling the viewers about it.