The Christensen Elementary School Blog

THIS week at Christensen - Nov. 9-13, 2009

2009-11-06T11:43:00.000-08:00

Monday, November 9

ESL class for parents in the Activity Room, 8:15-11:15

Tuesday, November 10

Dental sealant applications in the Activity Room, 8:45-12:30

Wednesday, November 11

NO SCHOOL -- Veteran's Day

Thursday, November 12

Picture retakes in the Activity Room, all day
Fifth and Sixth Grades Pirate Buck Party at Harkins Theater, 11:00-2:00
FAST Program for families in the Library, 4:00-9:30

Friday, November 13

Early release for school improvement and planning, 12:25
Medically Fragile Training for teachers in the Library, 1:00-3:30

Christensen Calendar UPDATES

2009-11-02T08:51:00.000-08:00

There's a lot going on at Christensen these days. To help you keep up-to-date, we've just updated our school-wide calendar.

If you're a Google Calendar user, please add our public events calendar to yours using the button above.

THIS week at Christensen - Nov. 2-6, 2009

2009-10-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

Monday, November 2

4-Sight Reading Benchmark Testing
ESL class for parents in the Activity Room, 8:15-11:15

Tuesday, November 3

4-Sight Reading Benchmark Testing

Wednesday, November 4

4-Sight Reading Benchmark Testing

Thursday, November 5

Pastries for Parents PTIO event in the Cafeteria, 7:30-8:40
Flagstaff Athletic Club in PE classes, all day
4-Sight Reading Benchmark Testing
FAST program for families in the Library, 4:00-9:30

Friday, November 6

4-Sight Reading Benchmark Testing
Early release for school improvement and planning every Friday, 12:25
PLC grade level meetings for teachers in the Library, 1:45

Saturday, November 7

Sixth Grade Enchilada Sale pick-up at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 1:00-3:00

THIS week at Christensen - Oct. 26-30, 2009

2009-10-27T12:16:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 26

ESL class for parents in the Activity Room, 8:15-11:15
Mrs. Lasher's class to Safeway, 9:15-10:45
FACTS Red Ribbon Week Rally at NAU, 4:00-5:30

Tuesday, October 27

Mrs. Grant's class to Safeway, 9:15-10:45
NAU Red Ribbon Week athletes visit classrooms, 1:00-2:00
FASTWORKS program in the Library, 5:30-7:30

Wednesday, October 28

Mrs. Zwisler's class to Safeway, 9:15-10:45

Thursday, October 29

Willow Bend Day at Christensen, all day
Kindergarten classes to the Pumpkin Patch, 9:30-12:45
FAST program for families in the Library, 4:00-9:30
Second-grade parent meeting in the Library, 5:30-6:30
Native American Family Fun Night at Killip School, 6:30-8:00

Friday, October 30

Early release for school improvement and planning every Friday, 12:25
~~PLC grade-level meetings for teachers in the Library, 1:45~~ Rescheduled: Friday, Nov. 6. at 1:45

THIS week at Christensen - Oct. 19-23, 2009

2009-10-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 19

ESL class for parents in the Activity Room, 8:15-11:15

Tuesday, October 20

Mrs. Lasher's, Mrs. Koenig's, and Mr. Corbett's classes to Phoenix Zoo Night Camp, 2:15

Wednesday, October 21

Mrs. Lasher's, Mrs. Koenig's, and Mr. Corbett's classes return from Phoenix Zoo Night Camp, 5:00

Thursday, October 22

FAST program for families in the Gym, 4:00-9:30

Friday, October 23

Early release for school improvement and planning every Friday, 12:25

THIS week at Christensen - October 12-16, 2009

2009-10-09T08:15:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 12

NO SCHOOL - Professional Development Day for Teachers
Columbus Day

Wednesday, October 14

Flagstaff Fire Department Fire-Safety-Clown assemblies, 9:15 & 10:00

Thursday, October 15

All-school Clean-up, 10:15
FAST program for families in the Cafeteria, 4:00-9:30

Friday, October 16

Early release for school improvement and planning every Friday, 12:25
Fall PTIO Bingo Night, 6:00-7:30

Mark Your Calendar:

October 29, 2009

Native American Family Fun Night at Killip School, 6:30-8:00

November 17, 2009

Native American Parent Conference at NAU DuBois Center, 7:45-2:30
Registration deadline: October 20
Registration fee: $20.00 (early), $25.00 (on-site)

Staff Development Survey

2009-10-09T00:23:00.000-07:00

"Flagstaff Unified School District is asking all staff members to take the National Staff Development Council’s Staff Development Standards Assessment Survey The results will provide information regarding the quality of professional learning in our district/school(s) as perceived by our staff. Your completion of the survey is encouraged and appreciated. All information collected is anonymous. Thank you for your help."

This .pdf document contains all the information required to register and begin filling out your survey. Follow the steps and click on the website [http://www.sai-nsdc.org/arizona.php] listed in the .pdf document and you will be ready to go in just a few minutes.

Christensen School Site-based Council September minutes

2009-10-07T10:33:00.000-07:00

The minutes from September's meeting of the Christensen School Site-based Council are available for viewing and downloading online.

New Cub Scout Troop Forming

2009-10-06T11:31:00.000-07:00

Parents at Christensen School are interested in starting up a new Cub Scout troop at our school, and they would like to invite you to an informational meeting on Tuesday, October 13, at 7:00 PM in the Library.

Please contact Andrew Freeman at 928-699-4631 if you need more information.

NEXT week at Christensen - October 5-9, 2009

2009-10-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 5

ESL class for parents in the Activity Room, 8:15-11:15
Willow Bend Day

Thursday, October 8

Faculty meeting for teachers in the Library, 7:55-8:40
FAST program for families in the Activity Room, 4:00-9:30

Friday, October 9

Early release for school improvement and planning every Friday, 12:25
New Math Standards training for Primary teachers, 1:00-3:00

Mark your calendar:

Monday, October 12

NO SCHOOL -- Teacher Collaboration Day
Columbus Day

NEXT week at Christensen -- Sept. 28 - Oct. 2, 2009

2009-09-24T12:12:00.000-07:00

Monday, Sept. 28

ESL Class for parents in the Activity Room, 8:15-11:15

Tuesday, Sept. 29

Site Based Council Meeting in the Library, 4:30

Wednesday, Sept. 30

PTIO Meeting in the Library, 6:00

Thursday, October 1

FAST Program in the Cafeteria, 4:00-9:30

Friday, October 2

Early release for school improvement and planning every Friday, 12:25

New Math Standards Training for Intermediate Teachers in the Library, 1:00-3:00

THIS week at Christensen - Sept. 21-25, 2009

2009-09-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 21

ESL class for parents in the Activity Room, 8:15-11:15
Mrs. Henderson's sixth grade to Camp Colton, Mon.-Fri.

Tuesday, September 22

Mrs. Beale's preschool to Mobile Haven Park for Teddy Bear Picnic, 9:00 & 1:00

Wednesday, September 23

Early release for Parent Teacher Conferences, 12:25

Thursday, September 24

Early release for Parent Teacher Conferences, 12:25

Friday, September 25

Early release for Parent Teacher Conferences, 12:25

Flu Information [UPDATE 10]

2009-09-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

UPDATE 10 [16 September 2009]
Best news we've heard in some time about the ongoing Swine Flu pandemic:

"The death rate from the pandemic H1N1 swine flu is likely lower than earlier estimates, an expert in infectious diseases said on Wednesday.

New estimates suggest that the death rate compares to a moderate year of seasonal influenza, said Dr Marc Lipsitch of Harvard University.

"It's mildest in kids. That's one of the really good pieces of news in this pandemic," Lipsitch told a meeting of flu experts being held by the U.S. Institute of Medicine."

Perhaps it's too early to breathe a sigh of relief, but around here, we're all hoping Dr. Lipsitch is right.

Also worth passing along: we've found a super-up-to-date map of all documented worldwide cases of H1N1 influenza. "This map is compiled using data from official sources, news reports and user-contributions and updated multiple times per day." The more you zoom-in on the map, the more detailed and localized the information gets.

UPDATE 9 [15 June 2009]
According to breaking news in today's Arizona Daily Sun "A Flagstaff child has tested positive for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, marking a first case in Flagstaff... The child is not hospitalized and is recovering from the illness, according to the Coconino County Health Department."

UPDATE 8 [19 May 2009]
"Lowell Elementary in south Phoenix will be closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday because of a flu outbreak among middle school children," a school official told the Phoenix Business Journal on Tuesday, May 19. According to the article, "Lowell had 123 students call in sick Monday and sent another 71 home with fevers and other flu-like symptoms."

UPDATE 7 [15 May 2009]
The Associated Press is reporting today that "A woman in Arizona suffering from a lung condition has apparently become the fourth person with swine flu in the nation to die, authorities said Thursday. The Maricopa County Health Department reported that the woman in her late 40s died last week of what appears to be complications of the new strain of influenza."

UPDATE 6 [12 May 2009]
Don't stop washing your hands! According to a recent article in the Phoenix Business Journal the U.S. Centers for Disease Control now says "there are now 182 confirmed cases of the H1N1 swine flu in the Arizona... [and that] Arizona now has more cases than Texas, which has 179 confirmed cases."

UPDATE 5 [02 May 2009]
AZCentral.com is reporting this afternoon that "Arizona health officials are recommending that schools no longer be closed after cases of swine flu are confirmed and are advising that schools that have closed be reopened... because current data does not suggest that this strain of H1N1 is behaving any differently than seasonal flu."

Meanwhile, test results of samples taken from an NAU student with a "probable" case of swine flu are still pending. Nevertheless, the Arizona Daily Sun reports that "The stricken student is sticking mostly to her individual room and appears to be recovering... She has agreed to wear a mask when leaving her room, and been very willing to follow suggestions from the health department."

UPDATE 4 [01 May 2009]
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan held a press conference earlier today updating the public on the federal government's response to the ongoing swine flu outbreak, including several recommendations for school children, parents, teachers and administrators. You can watch it at C-SPAN.org.

Samples from a "probable" case of swine flu at Northern Arizona University have been sent to the CDC for testing.

UPDATE 3 [30 April 2009]
Maricopa County public health officials have confirmed this afternoon that there are at least 3 more confirmed cases of swine flu in Arizona. Another 40 samples have been submitted to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control for testing.

UPDATE 2 [30 April 2009]:
No cases of flu have been reported in Coconino County to-date, nor are any local school closures currently being planned. Nevertheless, the County Health Department is recommending that "Parents should spend a moment contemplating child-care possibilities in case of school closures, and businesses should discuss what they would do if employees possibly need to stay home sick or to care for sick children."

UPDATE 1 [29 April 2009]:
On Wednesday, April 29, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported Arizona's first swine flu case in Maricopa County, an 8-year-old student at Moon Mountain Elementary School in the Phoenix area. He has already recovered and has returned to school. However, his school will be closed for a period of 7 days as a precautionary measure.

ORIGINAL POST [28 April 2009]:
Google maps has provided a visual index of current cases:

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Health and Human Services departments have collaborated to provide additional data at pandemicflu.gov.

Wikipedia has very current information on the H1N1 strain of the influenza virus and a special section dedicated to this outbreak.

And finally, for whatever it's worth, you might care to know: your seasonal flu vaccine probably won't help to protect you.

PTIO Fourth Friday Forum Sept. 25

2009-09-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

The Christensen School Parent-Teacher Involvement Organization will host the first Fourth Friday Forum of the 2009-2010 school year on Friday, September 25 12:00 PM.

Lunch will be served to all those in attendance. The topic of the forum will Teacher Appreciation Week planning. We welcome all your great ideas and contributions! For more information, call the school office at 928-773-4140.

THIS week at Christensen - Sept. 14-18, 2009

2009-09-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 14

Fundraiser Packets and Order Forms DUE
Mr. Laird's sixth grade class to Camp Colton, Monday - FRIDAY.
ESL class for parents in the Activity Room, 8:15-11:15

Friday, September 18

Early release for school improvement and planning every Friday, 12:25

Mark your calendar:

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, September 23-25

Back-To-School Night Thursday, Sept. 10

2009-09-08T09:17:00.000-07:00

Christensen faculty and staff members will be available to meet with you at the school this Thursday evening from 6:00 until 7:30 PM. Please plan to attend to meet your child's teacher and learn more about many of the programs and activities occurring at our school this year.

THIS week at Christensen - Sept. 7-11, 2009

2009-09-03T12:55:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 7

Labor Day Holiday -- NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, September 8

Intermediate Band, 3:15-4:00

Wednesday, September 9

Navajo School Clothing Program forms due

Thursday, September 10

Beginning Band, 3:15-4:00
Back-to-School Night, 6:00-7:30

Friday, September 11

Early release for school improvement and planning every Friday, 12:25

REMINDER: Navajo Clothing Program forms DUE

2009-09-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Taylor, our school's Native American counselor, would like to remind you to turn in your Navajo School Clothing Program forms by Wednesday, September 9. Students may return the completed forms on or before Sept. 9 to their homeroom teachers who will pass them along to Mrs. Taylor, or to the school office.

If you have questions about this program, or need a new form, please contact Mrs. Taylor via the school office at 928-773-4140.

THIS week at Christensen -- Aug. 31 - Sept. 4, 2009

2009-08-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

Download Mr. Ontiveros' weekly bulletin as a .pdf file.

Monday, August 31

ESL class for parents in the Activity Room, 8:15-11:15

Thursday, September 3

PICTURE DAY!
All-Staff Picture in the Activity Room, 8:00

Friday, September 8

Parent-Teacher Involvement Organization meeting in the Library, 1:45

THIS week at Christensen - Aug. 24-28, 2009

2009-08-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

Monday, August 24

ESL class for parents in the Activity Room, 8:15-11:15

Thursday, August 27

PTIO annual fundraiser assembly in the Gym, 9:00

Friday, August 28

Early release for school improvement and planning every Friday, 12:25
Mandatory teacher in-service (online attendance system) in the Library, 1:30-2:15

PTIO Meeting Wednesday @ 3:30

2009-08-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

The Christensen Parent-Teacher Involvement Organization (PTIO) will hold its first meeting of the 2009-2010 school year tomorrow, Wednesday, August 19, at 3:30 in the Library. For further information, please contact the office 928-773-4140.

Everyone's welcome!

Taylor Fire & Smoke Information

2009-08-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

According to today's 11:00 update, Northern Arizona News reports that the smoke covering most of town, including Christensen, is being cause by the Taylor Fire burning near Sycamore Canyon. Their report states that, "The National Interagency Fire Command’s Southwest Coordination Center is reporting the Taylor Fire at 850 acres, with 0% containment."

Up-to-the-minute status updates on this fire are available the Southwest Coordination Center website.

And, while the smoke may look and smell bad, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is reporting that the Air Quality Index of particulate matter concentrations in the air around Flagstaff is still within the "GOOD" range as of noon Monday.

THIS week at Christensen -- Aug. 17-21, 2009

2009-08-14T08:26:00.000-07:00

Christensen is a Performing Plus school based on our 2008-2009 AIMS scores. That's good news! Way to go Pirates!

Here's what's going on next week at our school:

Thursday, August 20

Faculty meeting for teachers in the Library, 7:45

Friday, August 21

Early release for school improvement and planning every Friday, 12:25

Welcome Back!

2009-08-09T10:46:00.001-07:00

We'd like to remind you, just in case you've forgotten, that this Thursday, August 13, is the first day of school.

Here's something new: School starts at 8:40 this year. And we will dismiss everyday except Friday at 3:20. On Fridays we will dismiss all classes at 12:25.

Got all that?

Anyway, we can't wait to see all your smiling faces!

Seriously :)

Flu Information UPDATE 9

2009-06-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

UPDATE 9 [15 June 2009]
According to breaking news in today's Arizona Daily Sun "A Flagstaff child has tested positive for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, marking a first case in Flagstaff... The child is not hospitalized and is recovering from the illness, according to the Coconino County Health Department."

UPDATE 8 [19 May 2009]
"Lowell Elementary in south Phoenix will be closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday because of a flu outbreak among middle school children," a school official told the Phoenix Business Journal on Tuesday, May 19. According to the article, "Lowell had 123 students call in sick Monday and sent another 71 home with fevers and other flu-like symptoms."

UPDATE 7 [15 May 2009]
The Associated Press is reporting today that "A woman in Arizona suffering from a lung condition has apparently become the fourth person with swine flu in the nation to die, authorities said Thursday. The Maricopa County Health Department reported that the woman in her late 40s died last week of what appears to be complications of the new strain of influenza."

UPDATE 6 [12 May 2009]
Don't stop washing your hands! According to a recent article in the Phoenix Business Journal the U.S. Centers for Disease Control now says "there are now 182 confirmed cases of the H1N1 swine flu in the Arizona... [and that] Arizona now has more cases than Texas, which has 179 confirmed cases."

UPDATE 5 [02 May 2009]
AZCentral.com is reporting this afternoon that "Arizona health officials are recommending that schools no longer be closed after cases of swine flu are confirmed and are advising that schools that have closed be reopened... because current data does not suggest that this strain of H1N1 is behaving any differently than seasonal flu."

Meanwhile, test results of samples taken from an NAU student with a "probable" case of swine flu are still pending. Nevertheless, the Arizona Daily Sun reports that "The stricken student is sticking mostly to her individual room and appears to be recovering... She has agreed to wear a mask when leaving her room, and been very willing to follow suggestions from the health department."

UPDATE 4 [01 May 2009]
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan held a press conference earlier today updating the public on the federal government's response to the ongoing swine flu outbreak, including several recommendations for school children, parents, teachers and administrators. You can watch it at C-SPAN.org.

Samples from a "probable" case of swine flu at Northern Arizona University have been sent to the CDC for testing.

UPDATE 3 [30 April 2009]
Maricopa County public health officials have confirmed this afternoon that there are at least 3 more confirmed cases of swine flu in Arizona. Another 40 samples have been submitted to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control for testing.

UPDATE 2 [30 April 2009]:
No cases of flu have been reported in Coconino County to-date, nor are any local school closures currently being planned. Nevertheless, the County Health Department is recommending that "Parents should spend a moment contemplating child-care possibilities in case of school closures, and businesses should discuss what they would do if employees possibly need to stay home sick or to care for sick children."

UPDATE 1 [29 April 2009]:
On Wednesday, April 29, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported Arizona's first swine flu case in Maricopa County, an 8-year-old student at Moon Mountain Elementary School in the Phoenix area. He has already recovered and has returned to school. However, his school will be closed for a period of 7 days as a precautionary measure.

ORIGINAL POST [28 April 2009]:
Google maps has provided a visual index of current cases:

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Health and Human Services departments have collaborated to provide additional data at pandemicflu.gov.

Wikipedia has very current information on the H1N1 strain of the influenza virus and a special section dedicated to this outbreak.

And finally, for whatever it's worth, you might care to know: your seasonal flu vaccine probably won't help to protect you.