COST ADJUSTMENT  

Dear Parents and Students,   This letter is intended as an addendum to my previous letter addressing costs for the upcoming Outdoor School trip to Hancock Field Station.  Please note that document for additional information.  

First of all, thank you for the feedback.  It is by evaluating your comments that I can make better decisions about our fast approaching adventure. Keep that in mind as we move forward please. Out goal is to have a positive trip, and we ask the Holy Spirit to draw our children closer to Christ through all our activities, especially those as memorable as this one.  

In order to make Outdoor School a reality, I have adjusted the division of the money.  I mentioned in my last letter that we could divide the costs differently if needed.  Based on your feedback, the following is an alternate cost breakdown.  

Actual cost per person $230
Less grant money, donations, and potential fund-raising (estimated)  

ADJUSTED
Cost per student $115
Cost per chaperone $0    

This is not a final decision, but rather a potential adjustment. Please let me know what you think.  

Also, remember that if your student participated in the car wash and the seed fundraisers they have additional funds already raised. Contact me with questions.  

Thanks Again,
Michael Armstrong
503.201.1594
 rivergate56@gmail.com
 
 
I hope your summer has been enjoyable.  I also hope that you are as ready as I am for school to begin.  This letter is simply a cost update and a request for information.  Outdoor School take place during the week of September 21st. 

Here we go.  The cost of the trip is about $230 per person.  However, we have been able to reduce your out of pocket expense to about $80 (projected).  That is a savings of about $150.  That $150 is made up of money we will receive from an Oregon grant, donations made by Rivergate School, other donations from individuals, and what we hope to make from Hot Lunch after school begins. This savings is just a projection, but I am confident that we will reach this goal or better it.  

Many students have already begun to raise that money through their work in seed sales and our Summer car wash.  A few students have already raised more than the $80 projected.  Congratulation to them on their hard work.  If you wish to add money to your student's account, request their totals, or donate to our scholarship fund to help another student please contact me at rivergate56@gmail.com or 503.201.1594.

That does it for the cost update.  Now I need some information from a few of you.  Several of you expressed an interest in traveling with us to Hancock Field Station for Outdoor School.  I definitely need your help, and I need to know who is coming.  Here are the details: We can take a maximum of 30 people to HFS, right now that means about seven adults including me.  The cost per adult is $230.  I based the savings above on 23 students and split the money 23 ways.  That passed on a greater savings to each student but left the adults out.  It is possible that I could rework the numbers to include chaperons as well, but that would raise the cost for each student and I know some families may have trouble coming up with even those funds.  Pray about it and let me know what you think.  Pray also about Outdoor School.  We are going a different direction this year.  Ask God to make this Outdoor School experience a spiritual one as well as an educational one.

Please contact me if you are planning to go with us to Outdoor School.  rivergate56@gmail.com  or 503.201.1594
 
 

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We had a good day.  Some students may have a pile of homework.  However, much of the work is not due until Thursday or Friday, so much of it is not urgent.

The book report is due on Wednesday though.  Please ask your student if they need help with it.  They should have a rubric.  If they don't, there is one available of the documents page of this web site.  The second quarter book report is should be an animal story--a realistic or at least possible animal story please.

 
 

Fun at The Maze.  We had an aMazing time today.  Thanks to Elizabeth McDonald, seventh grader, the trip was a huge success.  Praise also for the parents who could break away for the day to join us. 

Can you spell ITBS??? We have been testing for what seems like forever.  Well, I am certain that we will finish soon.  It has been fun testing, yes I said fun, because we seem to have more time for recess and special snacks during test week. Some of the kids aren't as thrilled as I am though.

Don't forget that the Chautauqua is next Thursday.  We have asked the the 6th grade class be involved with this project this year.  Some of the 5th graders may volunteer to help out if they wish.

Be prepared for memory test and spelling test tomorrow.  I will give some time in class for memory practice before the test.



 
 

Nice Job volleyball girls!  Great win yesterday.  Good work second team.

Field trip tomorrow. Don't forget money for lunch and a coat. You might want to bring extra shoes and a plastic bag.



 
 

Looke for and ask about a couple of notes.  We are planning to visit a pumkin patch next Wednesday.  Many of you have already returned your note and money for the trip--thanks for your effort.  Today a note is going home about the upcoming annual Chautauqua.   The sixth grade class is going to be responsible for helping put the production on.  Look for the note, it really helps to explain the project.

 
 

The students really enjoyed talking and learning about big numbers.  In fact if you want to find out about these giant numbers, go to The Mega Penny Project.

Please continue to send in pictures of your students being active.  The Home and School moms are still trying to collect pictures for the auction.  Please let me know if you have questions.

The Chautauqua is fast approaching.  Please be prepared.  We have asked that the 5th and 6th grade students all be in attendance so that they can introduce the speakers.

 
Oct. 6, 2008 10/06/2008
 

We had a great time at the fall festival on Sunday.  Thanks go to all the students and their parents who helped with the jail--especially Shawn for putting the jail together, and Irma for hanging out all day doing my job.  It sounds like everyone had fun.

Today we began Math Week.  This is a week designed to emphasize an enjoyment of mathematics and promote leaning of basic computation skills.  Tuesday night Rivergate is holding a Math Night, including dinner, games, activities, and prizes.  I hope to see you there tomorrow.

ITBS (Standardized Testing) also began this week. In order to make the testing less strenuous we are taking the testing slow and reducing the homework load.  Don't be surprised if your students don't have much extra.

We had a great day today.  Students leaned some math magic, they performed a new (really old) song at chapel, they worked on testing, and began their 7th spelling lesson.