Let's get on the water

Hello!

Well, I've made a decision on our next excursion.





We will visit the museum in Bath for a couple hours and then go on one of their River Boat Cruises.

 Summer Cruise 

Maine Maritime Museum conducts a variety of regularly scheduled river cruises that focus on viewing lighthouses in the area or experiencing the natural setting along the Kennebec River and connecting waterways.  

Shipyards & Lighthouses cruise (1 hour)

Daily at 12 pm & 2 pm 

See Bath Iron Works, two lighthouses and abundant wildlife. 

Our Tuesday,  August 11th schedule will be as follows:

9:00 AM         Meet at HBS

9:15ish            Leave HBS

9:30ish            Arrive at Maine Maritime Museum

                        Tour the museum.  We will have a docent lead us around some of the outdoor sites for about 40 minutes, then we will have free time to explore on our own. There will be a working blacksmith on site for us to watch and ask questions.

11:15ish          Snack

11:45               Meet on dock

12:00               River Cruise

1:00                 Go back to cars and drive down the road to....

                        Maine’s First Ship
                                                                         Virginia


The original ship was made at the Popham Colony back in 1607, and they are building a full size replica in Bath. We will go onsite and get a first hand look at their progress.

1;45ish                  Drive back to HBS

2:10ish                  Arrive back at HBS. This may be an awkward time for many to pick up your little ones.  Kids are welcome to stay at HBS and play (capture the flag, whatever...) until 4:00 or until their ride comes.

Now for the part that I'm a little wary of... The cost is 15 bucks per child ($6 for children under 6), and 20 dollars for adults. This includes museum admission and the cruise. They are offering us member prices on the adult tickets, which I appreciate. Please don't let money be the reason that your child can't go. I will gladly pay for any child with limited funds.  I was trying to figure out a way that would cheaply get us on the water, and while this isn't the least expensive option, it comes with the least amount of possible issues. Boothbay and New Harbor both had tempting cruises at reasonable prices, but longer drives, including getting through Wiscasset, and parking issues, led me to my choice of MMM.

So let me know what you think and if you can go. I'm hoping for another good turn out. Please let me know if you might be able to drive as well. I would expect that we will need two or three others beside myself.

I think this trip fits well with our upcoming study of exploration and colonization. It is also a great opportunity for kids to get on a big boat and see two lighthouses and BIW from the water.

Feel free to text me at 841-2599 or send an email.

Thanks,

Mr. Shea

Morse Mountain

Hello,

I hope you all are having a great summer.  Our Morse Mountain gathering was a lot of fun. Thank you to everyone who came along, especially our drivers. It was really nice to see so many (we had 15 of 24 classmates) back together. We also got to see a couple of our new classmates, Kaelin and Calvin, mixing well with the group.

Calvin's mom, Christy, writes a blog about her son. She is an impressive writer and I think many of you would be interested in reading a few of her posts. She gives a very honest glimpse into life with a child with epilepsy. If you read a few, I guarantee you will go through a range of emotions.  Here is a link to her write-up on our trip:

http://www.calvinsstory.com/2015/07/morse-mountain.html 

Thanks to Christy for her permission to put the link on here. I think Calvin is a great fit for our class and I let his mom know how happy I was that he was added to our roster. I hope we can give to him as much as I know he will give to us.

I need to decide on the next gathering really soon, so stay tuned. It will be on a Tues or Thurs this time, probably the week of the 10th -16th.

Thank you to everyone who has sent me a letter or a postcard so far.  I look forward to reading more of those. Pat is very happy as well. She has received five cards so far. She says that it brightens her day, every time she gets to read one, so keep them coming!

IXL reminder.  Your username is your first initial and last name added to @brunswick. Your password is your initials.  I would be sshea@brunswick and ss.

Okay, I think that is all the reminders. You would be surprised how many books that I've bought this summer for next year. Well, maybe you wouldn't. I've been booksaling it up. (booksailing?) I'm excited to get them into your hands.

All for now. Thanks for checking in and reading now and then.

Mr. Shea

Weather looks dicey

Hello,

Right now, our Wednesday trip is on. The weather report says overcast with periodic showers. Yesterday they were calling for possible thunder storms. I'm not worried about whether or not it rains, we can handle that. I just don't want to be a mile from our cars during a thunder shower. Those would get me to cancel.

My number is 841-2599 if anyone want to discuss.  Thursday weather is supposed to be perfect if we need to postpone.

Thanks,

Mr. Shea

IXL is back up and running.

Hello,

I had heard from some of you that your IXL logins weren't working. IXL deleted all classes on July 1st so teachers could make up their new class lists. Too bad for us, but I just retyped all of your information for our class. Log in like before, it is probably easiest to use the link on the HBS website. All passwords for everyone are first and last initial. Some students had a number in there before, but I think that I am one of the first to set up their class lists, so no numbers in any of our passwords. Sorry to Dylan and Peyton, you are no longer on the HBS list, so IXL wouldn't accept you in our IXL class list. I did add Ian, Calvin and Kaelin.

Class outing info: (Optional, of course, and not affiliated with HBS or the BSD.)

We will meet at HBS next Wednesday the 15th at 8:30 am. Please let me know if you are coming. Right now I have three confirmed drivers.  You may drop off your child, drive with your child (and others) or just meet us there.  I'll bring a big cooler full of lunch meat and cheese, pb&j, bread and drinks.

Morse Mountain in Phippsburg is a nice hike through the woods and marsh to a beach. It can be buggy in the woods, especially near the marsh. I recommend bringing a beach towel, sunscreen, water bottle, and sneakers.

You can email, call or text me your plans. 841-2599. sshea@brunswick.k12.me.us. I plan to touch base with everyone by this weekend so no one gets left out.

Earlier I had mentioned a summer reading list. I'll cut and paste it below. I used to run my summer reading program differently, but I've been allowing for more and more student choice. You can use it as a reference if you have no idea what to read next.  I've been reading a lot. I hope you are as well.

Enjoy the warmth and I'll see you next Wednesday!

Mr. Shea

Summer Reading List

     DATE     PARENTS INITIALS

_______      _______   Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

_______      _______   Secret Garden by Francis Hodges Burnett

_______      _______   Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

_______      _______   My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

_______      _______   Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

_______      _______   James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

_______      _______   Matilda by Roald Dahl

_______      _______   Boy by Roald Dahl

_______      _______   The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

_______      _______   A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

_______      _______   Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

_______      _______   Heat by Mike Lupica

_______      _______   Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert O’Brien

_______      _______   Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

_______      _______   Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

_______      _______   Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

_______      _______   Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

_______      _______   Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

_______      _______   The Fledgling by Jane Langton

_______      _______   Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander

_______      _______   The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

_______      _______   Soup by Robert Newton Peck

_______      _______   Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

_______      _______   Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

_______      _______   The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

_______      _______   The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

_______      _______   Holes by Louis Sacher

_______      _______   Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George

_______      _______   The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

_______      _______   Wringer by Jerry Spinelli

Series Books (up to 2 per series will count)

  DATE     PARENTS INITIALS     DATE     PARENTS INITIALS

_______      _______   _______      _______   Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene

_______      _______   _______      _______   The Hardy Boys by Franklin Dixon

_______      _______   _______      _______   Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

_______      _______   _______      _______   Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo

_______      _______   _______      _______   A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

_______      _______   _______      _______   Little House by Laura Ingalls Wilder

_______      _______   _______      _______   Narnia by C.S. Lewis

_______      _______   _______      _______   Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

_______      _______   _______      _______   The Lightning Thief by Percy Jackson

_______      _______   _______      _______   The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

_______      _______   _______      _______   Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

_______      _______   _______      _______   Magyk by Angie Sage

_______      _______   _______      _______   Warriors by Erin Hunter

_______      _______   _______      _______   Guardians of Ga’Hoole by Kathryn Lasky

_______      _______   _______      _______   The Borrowers by Mary Norton

_______      _______   _______      _______   City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau

_______      _______   _______      _______   Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan

Your Choice

(May or may not be approved – 120 page minimum)

     DATE     PARENTS INITIALS                                                                          BOOK

_______      _______                 ____________________________________________

_______      _______                 ____________________________________________

_______      _______                 ____________________________________________

_______      _______                 ____________________________________________

_______      _______                 ____________________________________________