Make Change in Haiti

February 1 -12, you can help the Students at Birney Make Change in Haiti, by sending your extra pennies, dimes, nickels & quarters to school with your kids. They can drop them in the boxes provided in each class to help raise money for disaster relief for the earthquake victims in Haiti. Donations will go to Unicef.

Basketball and Bucks!

There are only 5 more Aztec home games to enjoy - don't let the season pass you by!

January 30 Aztecs vs Colorado 2pm

February 6 Aztecs vs New

Mexico 12:30 Girls and Women in Sports Day

February 16 Aztecs vs TCU 7:30 pm

February 24 Aztecs vs BYU 7:00pm

March 6 Aztecs vs Air Force 2pm

I will be getting 30 tickets to all the games and they are first come, first served. Let me know ahead of time if you are interested and I will order more. If your child is involved in rec basketball, get some of the team together and I will get your tickets.

The February 6th game is a great event - all of the Aztec womens' athletes set up booths in the concourse before the game for the children to interact with. They can hit a tennis ball, play golf or try to score a soccer goal with the guidence of a college athlete. I will get more tickets to that game (I gave out 100 last year). This game does not count to our total count of game attendance. Remember, the school that sends the most students to the games will win $1,000.00 for their school.

Go Aztecs!
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Tom O'Malley knew that the fourth grade classes at Birney Elementary had been a success!

San Diego Schools' New Testing Idea: No Child Left Unmeasured

By EMILY ALPERT

Tom O'Malley knew that the fourth grade classes at Birney Elementary had been a success -- but the numbers said it had failed.

O'Malley said two years ago, he and a fellow teacher got a crop of children who were badly behind. They helped the students improve, making even bigger gains than the last classes they taught. But because the kids didn't do as well as the earlier class, who came in ahead and scored higher, test scores seemed to drop.

"I felt like a failure as a teacher," O'Malley said, shaking his head. "I'm not one of these teachers who are scared to be held accountable. I just want to be held accountable for what I actually do."

His story underscores a nagging problem with test scores, especially under No Child Left Behind: Schools are gauged by how well they do from year to year, but nobody is comparing the same children. When school officials say that fourth grade math scores sunk or soared, they really mean that one class of third graders -- the class from last year -- did well or poorly compared to the next class of third graders.

To read the full article go to Voice of San Diego.

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Performance at La Jolla Playhouse.

For those of you who may not know, The La Jolla Playhouse Education Dept. brings plays with current or relevant themes to our school each year with the POP Tour. The Education Dept. is hosting a one-night only fundraiser. See the information below if you are interested.

There is a special one night only engagement at 6:30pm on Saturday, January 30th. It features the playwright-Nilaja Sun. The play is called "No Child..." about the "No Child Left Behind" issue and how it affects a high school teacher, her students, administrators, teachers, school staff and parents who live in the inner city.

The cost is $40 and all the benefits go to the Educational Dept. of the La Jolla Playhouse. Tickets can be purchased online at La Jolla Playhouse Tickets/No Child or call 858-550-1010 to RSVP.

The actress in the play uses some strong language to express herself, so this may not be an evening for the "kids."

OPPORTUNITY: There will be a VIP reception immediately following the performance. The educational committee of the La Jolla Playhouse would like to decorate the VIP area with art work completed by children. If you are interested in submitting your own child's art work or art work completed by students, please contact LaVonnya Fisher at teacherfisher@yahoo.com or 619-813-2400 for details.

I hope to see you there!

See the attached flier for the event details.

Garden Club

Explore and care for our wonderful school garden.
Birney Bees Garden Club
Mondays Feb 1- March 15, 2010 3:35-5:00 pm
(2/1, 2/22, 2/29, 3/1, 3/8, 3/15)
$60/six sessions

Garden projects, play, songs, and crafts will enchant all our senses. We will learn about:

• growing, harvesting and enjoying organic fruits, vegetables and herbs
• native and drought tolerant plants
• bugs, soil and compost
• ecosystems and nature cycles
• working cooperatively with each other and nature

$5 discount if an adult family member volunteers 1 1/2 hours during a
Garden Club session or one of the 1st Saturday garden work parties between 9-noon.

Some scholarships are available for families who cannot afford the full enrollment fee; inquire with PTA.

For more information, call Stephanie Cauchon at 619.884.9265 or email BirneyGarden@gmail.com

This program is open to all grade levels. Enrollment is limited, so enroll early!

To Download the registration form in English, Click here.
Para descargar el boletín de inscripción en español, haga clic aquí.

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