La Gazette

• 6th Graders Seek Public Policy in Salem

  By Anne Badgley, Parent Volunteer

  

  On May 31, the 6th grade International Track class visited the State Capitol Building in Salem to participate in "Project Citizen," a national program established to help participants learn how to monitor and influence public policy. The Gilkey Team was one of fifteen groups from Oregon who presented their projects to panelists representing the legislature and other civic organizations. The Gilkey project addressed the dangerous situation resulting from the lack of a safe pedestrian walkway across Cornell to the School. Under Ms. Minda McCandless's leadership, the Team successfully presented the problem and some proposed solutions.

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  On May 31, the 6th grade International Track class visited the State Capitol Building in Salem to participate in "Project Citizen," a national program established to help participants learn how to monitor and influence public policy. The Gilkey Team was one of fifteen groups from Oregon who presented their projects to panelists representing the legislature and other civic organizations. The Gilkey project addressed the dangerous situation resulting from the lack of a safe pedestrian walkway across Cornell to the School. Under Ms. Minda McCandless's leadership, the Team successfully presented the problem and some proposed solutions. It is an issue complicated by the fact that the School spans two counties, and that, since our mailing address is not on Cornell, we are not considered as actually "fronting" Cornell. Two of the possible solutions include a crosswalk with flashing lights and the designation of a school zone requiring motorists to slow down. The panelists were very supportive of the students' work and encouraged the Team to continue talking with county leaders and their state representative to fix this problem. Reflecting on the months long project, students commented that they had become much more aware of the situation, as well as how important it is at times to step away from a computer and talk to actual people when researching. Their confidence and sense of empowerment, even at a young age, both grew. The student group has scheduled a meeting with Washington County officials on June 8 and hope to make a strong case for government to take action before someone is injured at that location.

• 8th Grade International Trips

  

  Eighth graders recently returned from their trips abroad, which serve as the culminating experience to their international education at Gilkey. This year's destinations included China, France, and two separate locations in Spain.

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  Eighth graders recently returned from their trips abroad, which serve as the culminating experience to their international education at Gilkey. This year's destinations included China, France, and two separate locations in Spain.

  8th Grade Trip to France
  By Denise LeBlond, Gilkey Science Teacher

  This May, nine intrepid 8th graders headed off to France to immerse themselves in the French language and culture. They spent ten days in Avion, a small town in northern France. Here, they stayed with correspondents that had previously made the trip to Portland in February. What a fantastic reunion! They were able to tour the region and see the Abbaye de Vocelles, the Matisse Museum, and a very interesting mining museum. To cap off the home stay, the Portland contingent were guests at a special rock concert put on by the Avion students. Soon they were off to Paris...many tears were shed at departure despite the excitment of getting to the big city. Four busy and exciting days were spent touring Notre Dame, the Champs-Elysées, Montmartre, and the Jardin des Plantes. Of course, no trip to Paris would be complete without climbing to the second landing of the Eiffel Tower. They are now back in Portland - missing the sights and sounds of France, but especially the pain au chocolat!

  8th Grade Trip to Valencia and Barcelona
  By Natalia Poida, Gilkey Spanish Teacher

  Our journey began in the Mediterranean city of Valencia. Upon our arrival, host families greeted us warmly, and were ready to show us their city. Gilkey students then spent a week immersed in Valencian culture; discovering the cuisine, visiting a school, and learning about the ancient walled city. A bittersweet goodbye was followed by our next leg, a train ride to Barcelona. Highlights of this trip include learning about modernist tendencies implemented by Antoni Gaudí. Most memorable places visited include the Palau de Música with its impressive and unique concert hall, the Castel of Monjuic where we got a birds-eye view of the city, and Gaudí's famous Parq Guell, which reminded us of a Dr. Seuss storybook. The trip was truly a positive ending to the three years our Gilkey students have studied Spanish!

  Look for stories about the 8th grade trips to China and to Oviedo and Madrid in the next issue of La Gazette. VIew more pictures of all school trips on the FAIS Facebook page.

• 100s of Plants Donated to FAIS Forest

  By Beth Clifton, Gilkey Science Teacher

  

  Hooray! The effort to earn Backyard Habitat Certification for the FAIS Nature Trail continues to pay off! The coordinator of the Backyard Habitat Certification Program, Nikkie West, had FAIS in mind when the Portland Audubon Society received a donation of several hundred bare root shrubs and small trees from Ash Creek Forest Management. First Grade Teacher Laurence LeMercier was contacted with the offer of 50 free plants! Last week Director of Facilities Mike Solly picked up the native plants from Portland Audubon. Then together with the help of four parent volunteers, Beth Clifton’s 6th grade environmental science students weeded, dug holes for thirty plants, and then planted, watered and mulched them. The rest of the trees and shrubs (Pacific Ninebark, Twinberry, Vine Maple, Red Osier Dogwood, and Cascara) were planted on May 30th by the students. In addition to the newest native plants, over 300 native trees, shrubs, and forbs that were planted last spring and can be seen flourishing around the entrance to the FAIS Nature Trail near Parking Lot C and the outdoor classroom: Sword Fern, Salal, Tall Oregon Grape, Snowberry, Flowering Currant, Red Elderberry, Clustered Wild Rose, Bigleaf Maple, Western Red Cedar, Douglas Fir, and Mock-Orange.

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  Hooray! The effort to earn Backyard Habitat Certification for the FAIS Forest continues to pay off! The coordinator of the Backyard Habitat Certification Program, Nikkie West, had FAIS in mind when the Portland Audubon Society received a donation of several hundred bare root shrubs and small trees from Ash Creek Forest Management. First Grade Teacher Laurence LeMercier was contacted with the offer of 50 free plants! Last week Director of Facilities Mike Solly picked up the native plants from Portland Audubon. Then together with the help of four parent volunteers, Beth Clifton’s 6th grade environmental science students weeded, dug holes for thirty plants, and then planted, watered and mulched them. The rest of the trees and shrubs (Pacific Ninebark, Twinberry, Vine Maple, Red Osier Dogwood, and Cascara) were planted on May 30th by the students. In addition to the newest native plants, over 300 native trees, shrubs, and forbs that were planted last spring and can be seen flourishing around the entrance to the FAIS Nature Trail near Parking Lot C and the outdoor classroom: Sword Fern, Salal, Tall Oregon Grape, Snowberry, Flowering Currant, Red Elderberry, Clustered Wild Rose, Bigleaf Maple, Western Red Cedar, Douglas Fir, and Mock-Orange.

  The teamwork of local and FAIS community partners and the caring effort required to help foster a healthy ecosystem in the FAIS forest is so appreciated!

  If you would like to contribute to the ongoing effort to fight invasive species and maintain the trail and classrooms in the FAIS Forest, please join other FAIS parents and students on Saturday, June 9th for the last work party of the school year:

  volunteer opportunity - backyard certification work party
  The recent sun and rain have made the invasive plants in our forest grow rapidly. Join us for a final work party on June 9 to catch the invasive plants before they go to seed. Because the need is great, we are having an extended work party: four hours! Bring gloves, shovel, and clippers to remove invasive plants and a wheelbarrow to carry woodchips.

  • 10:00 AM-12:00 PM, hosted by Laurence Le Mercier
  • 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, hosted by Beth Clifton

  Questions? Please contact Beth Clifton or Laurence Le Mercier.

• Summertime

  By Pam Dreisin, Head of School

  

  Dear Friends,

  The energy level on campus seems to be rising daily, telling me the end of the school year is fast approaching. Our 8th graders returned last week from their international trips, which signals it’s time for our 5th graders to prepare for their 5th grade celebration and their trip to France. Equally exciting for our littlest students is the heady experience of performing in the upcoming Maternelle Showcase – truly a platform for launching our next generation of Broadway stars! Our primary grade students still have their field studies program ahead of them, and then suddenly the last day of school will have arrived. Thankfully, the summer will bring a well-deserved respite for our families and faculty to re-charge and re-energize.

  The end of the school year also means saying farewell to several staff members who are either moving on to new adventures or retiring. Middle School Teacher Cécile Lallemand-Ross and Lower School Teachers Anne Simon, Gilles Rolland and Dominique Falda will be returning to their homes in France. Lower School Teacher Claude Cicognani will also be relocating to France, but hopefully only for a year, in order to spend some quality time with her family. Also “retiring” this year is Maternelle Assistant Joanne Springer, who has been with FAIS for over eleven years (although she may help us out now and then when we need substitutes). And as previously announced, our Director of Development Tricia Blood is moving on to an exciting professional opportunity after more than six years at FAIS. We wish to thank everyone for their years of service to FAIS, and wish them the very best on their future endeavors.

  I would like to wish our entire FAIS community a peaceful summer full of exciting adventures, interesting discoveries, and time for quiet reflection. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a little bit of sunshine to go with our summer activities. I look forward to welcoming all of you back to campus in September.

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  Dear Friends,

  The energy level on campus seems to be rising daily, telling me the end of the school year is fast approaching. Our 8th graders returned last week from their international trips, which signals it’s time for our 5th graders to prepare for their 5th grade celebration and their trip to France. Equally exciting for our littlest students is the heady experience of performing in the upcoming Maternelle Showcase – truly a platform for launching our next generation of Broadway stars! Our primary grade students still have their field studies program ahead of them, and then suddenly the last day of school will have arrived. Thankfully, the summer will bring a well-deserved respite for our families and faculty to re-charge and re-energize.

  The end of the school year also means saying farewell to several staff members who are either moving on to new adventures or retiring. Middle School Teacher Cécile Lallemand-Ross and Lower School Teachers Anne Simon, Gilles Rolland and Dominique Falda will be returning to their homes in France. Lower School Teacher Claude Cicognani will also be relocating to France, but hopefully only for a year, in order to spend some quality time with her family. Also “retiring” this year is Maternelle Assistant Joanne Springer, who has been with FAIS for over eleven years (although she may help us out now and then when we need substitutes). And as previously announced, our Director of Development Tricia Blood is moving on to an exciting professional opportunity after more than six years at FAIS. We wish to thank everyone for their years of service to FAIS, and wish them the very best on their future endeavors.

  I would like to wish our entire FAIS community a peaceful summer full of exciting adventures, interesting discoveries, and time for quiet reflection. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a little bit of sunshine to go with our summer activities. I look forward to welcoming all of you back to campus in September.

• Kindergartners Learn about Homes around the World

  By Virginie Calmé, Kindergarten Teacher

  

  A few months ago, Kindergarten classes' PYP unit of inquiry was "Not all homes are alike around the world."

  The students looked at houses around the world, investigated why houses are different, and discovered why we need a shelter. The kindergartners started thinking of ways to help people with no shelter.

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  A few months ago, Kindergarten classes' PYP unit of inquiry was "Not all homes are alike around the world."

  The students looked at houses around the world, investigated why houses are different, and discovered why we need a shelter. The kindergartners started thinking of ways to help people with no shelter.

  A volunteer from Habitat for Humanity came to the School and presented the organization to the children. Following her visit, the kids decided to donate some of their own money but also to encourage members of their family to participate too.

  The final amount collected has not yet been tallied, but the approximate total is $300.

  They looked at the possibilities of ways Habitat could use this money, and were proud to see they had been able to give enough to make a difference, one cent at a time.

More Headlines

• 5th Grade Classes Create Interactive Websites

  By Meggie Feutrier, 5th Grade English Teacher

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  For the unit, How we Organize Ourselves: Humans Use and Manage their Landscapes, the two 5th grade classes created interactive websites in English that give informative and visual descriptions of Oregon's rural, industrial, touristic, and urban landscapes. We are pleased that our future French correspondents will be able to use these websites as a resource to learn more about Oregon's landscapes before visiting. The students worked very hard on them, so please check them out and feel free to email Meggie Feutrier with any feedback.

• Run for the Arts Results

  By Susan Wentzien, Parent Volunteer

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  The annual Run for the Arts took place on March 21. Despite a frosty morning, the enthusiasm from the runners was great. The youngest runners clocked many laps around the gym, while the rest braved the threat of rain and snow and ran around the outside of the school. In the weeks after, the runners did an amazing job collecting the sponsorship funds. The total amount raised this year was $23,425.50. These funds will go a long way in supporting the art programs throughout the School. Way to go!

  Special congratulations to our winners! First place was awarded to Jameson, 3rd grade, who scored a total of 177 points. Second place went to Leo, 1st grade, with a total of 79 points. Both received prizes from the Run for the Arts organization, including free tickets to local performances and art exhibits.

  Many people came together to make this event run smoothly and successfully. A huge thank you to:

  • All the parent and other volunteers who lent a hand to set up before the run, organize refreshments, record laps, and organize paperwork before and after the run
  • Teachers and staff for their help implementing the run
  • Food Front and Ryan Scheel for providing our healthy fruit snacks
  • Ana, Emily, and Katie in the front office for their help on many fronts
  • June Fernandez and Joan Hartzell for their expertise and time running the event
  • Tyra Dressel for help with the accounting process