Girl Scouts: Meeting recap

Hello Girl Scout Families!

If your scout was at the meeting, you've probably already heard we had a lot of fun.  So let me give the not-a-kid explanations!

We were focusing on household science this month.  We looked at simple science tricks and experiments we can do with things we find right around the house.

On Wednesday we had three projects, on Thursday (because we had to spread the girls out more) we had four.  I'll start with the three projects everyone did:

1)  We did giant bubble experiments!  We made bubble juice with household materials (dish soap, corn syrup, and water) and made giant-bubblemakers to make some giant bubbles.  The girls then experimented to see what would make bigger bubbles and what would make smaller bubbles.  They also experimented to see what forms of bubblemaker worked the best.  

2)  We had a chemical reaction race!  (Though one of the reactions was physical and not chemical though...shhhh!)  The girls knew from science class that one way to observe a chemical reaction was by watching for gas formation (fizzing) we "raced" three gas-producing reactions to see which was fastest.  We raced:  mentos+soda, against alka-seltzer + water, against baking soda+vingegar.  We ran our reactions in soda bottles, and watched to see which could fill a balloon the fastest.  The girls got a chance afterwards to experiment a little by using different reagents together to see what still worked, and what didn't.

3)  We made our own ice cream!  We made ice cream in a plastic bag by using salt to lower the freezing point of water allowing ice to freeze a milk + sugar + vanilla mixture into ice cream!  Fortunately it was pretty warm outside and all the girls enjoyed the frozen treat!

4)  Finally, the Thursday group also made mini-terrariums to grow bean seeds collected from the Highland View garden.  (Don't worry Isabel, I'll get you all the supplies so you can do it too!  I know you worked hard collecting those seeds!)

In a couple other bits of news:

1)  Three finalists were picked for the patch, and for the T-shirt that will be given to everyone attending the Green Corners Campout in September..........and we have finalists from our troop for both the T-shirt and Patch!  I know for sure that a shirt Evie designed, and a patch Scarlett designed were in the finalists.  One of the other finalists may be from our troop too, but the organizers packed everything up before I had a chance to double check.  As soon as I get the images of all the finalists, I'll send them out to you so you can tally your scouts votes for which shirt and patch they'd like to get at the September campout.

2)  We have a June campout theme:  Medieval Madness (or Kids in Castles).  So I'll get on top of designing theme-appropriate activities for the campout, and will get a supplies-needed sign up genius up soon.

That's all for now!  Remember, remember, the Bridging Ceremony June 10th!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Added more Thursday meeting spots

Hi,

Since another parent is able to help out on Thursday, I was able to add some more meeting spots for Thursday if anyone needs.

Here's the link to the sign up page with the extra spaces:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-maymeeting

Aleks

P.S. Garden Planting is also Tuesday at Highland View

P.S.  I forgot to mention, that any scouts who want to help plant the Highland View garden are welcome to join in tomorrow after school!  It'd be great to see you there!

Girl Scouts: So much coming up!

Hello Scout Families!

2 Things not to forget about this week:

1)  Make sure to sign up for which meeting you want your scout to attend (and write it in your scout's agenda if you're at Highland View).  The page is here:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-maymeeting   We'll have the prizes from the cookie sale at this meeting--so it's important to attend!

2)  The contest to design this year's Green Corners Area Girl Scout Camp T-Shirt (that's the September campout/day camp) is on!  Entries are due WEDNESDAY.  I've included the template as an attachment.  You can have your scout bring a design to the Wednesday meeting, or scan it and send it to me in email before Wednesday, or print it and send it home with Evie from school on Wednesday.  Last year two of our troop's designs were finalists for the campout patch, and one of our girls won!  The winner will receive free admission to the camp, and of course, the pride of designing a patch for the 200 girls that will attend that camp!  The theme this year is "Back to Basics" and the campout will be about camping basics, like knots, pitching tents, etc.

That's all for the moment, but there's a lot more coming up, like our Bridging Ceremony June 10th, and June meetings on the 10th and 11th, and the June dates for the troop campout on the 19th/20th/21st!

See you soon,

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Discovery World Wednesday!

Hello Girl Scouts!

Just giving the itinerary for the girls going to Discovery World 5/20:

We'll meet up at our house at 5:00-5:15, then get on the road to Discovery world at 5:15.  Mrs. Heinz, Mrs. Skibicki, and myself will be driving.

We should be back home around 8:30-8:45.

Here's who I am expecting:

Gabby H. (+ Driver)

Sara L.

Olivia K. (The 4th grade one)

Adrhia F.

Alexis B.

Aria K. 

Evie S.  (+2 drivers)

Liliana K.

Bryn R.

Maybe Gretta?

Any changes?

Thanks! See you tomorrow!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Drivers Needed! Camp Parents Needed!

Hi scouts!

I just wanted to put the call out for two opportunities for parent helpers:

1)  We need a driver to the Discovery World event this Wednesday!  We have 10 girls who want to go, and between the van and car, Kathleen and I can only fit 8!  We'd meet at our house between 5:00-5:15, and be back around 8:30-8:45.  Super please!

2)  At the moment, we have reached the cap for girls doing the Friday-Saturday June campout option.  We can stretch that a little bit if we can find another parent to chaperone.  If you can camp out with us June 19-20th, I know there are girls that want to go and would be so grateful!  Sign up here:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-campout

Thanks!

Aleks

 

Girl Scouts: Added to the Campout Sign Ups, and still looking for 3rd graders for Discovery World!

Hello Girl Scouts!

First:  I realized I forgot to put spots for parent helpers/chaperones at the campout.  I've added slots for those.  As usual, we can use the help!  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-campout

Second:  I'm still looking for a couple 3rd graders to join us at the Senses lab/workshop at Discovery World next Wednesday.  Now's the time to sign up!  (The 4th grade lab/workshop is full, so unless someone cancels, I can't fit anyone in.  Here's who had signed up to go:  Gabby, Sara L., Olivia, Aria, Adrhia, Alexis.)

Third:  Don't forget to pick a meeting date!  And if your scout is a Highland View student, make sure the date you picked goes in their agenda too!  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-maymeeting

That's all for tonight!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: 4th Grader Bronze Day reminder

Hello Scouts!

Just a quick reminder for the details on our Bronze Project Work Day tomorrow:

1)  Plan on it lasting from 4-7:00.  That, plus the time we've spent in meetings, and the time spent on independent research should add up to about what GS expects for a Bronze project.

2)  It'll start, as I mentioned, at our house.  If you haven't been here before, the address is 4256 Teakwood Ct.  Greendale, WI 53129.  We will take a walk up to Highland View to do some chalk sidewalk messages if we get our movie made with time to spare.

3)  Parents are welcome to stick around--though be warned, I may put you to work!

4)  Bring any research your scout has done about smoking so they can use it in the presentation/movie.

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Sign Up, Sign Up, Sign Up!

Here are the promised Sign Up pages:

1)  For your May meeting choice:  

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0A4FA5AD22A13-maymeeting

2)  For your Campout choice:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4FA5AD22A13-campout

See you there!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: OK, it's official the meetings will be 5/27 and 5/28

Hello everyone!

I think I've heard from everyone I'm going to hear from, and to avoid Open House, etc. We WILL be moving the meeting to the next week (May 27th and 28th).  I'll have the sign up genius page up to pick your date later today.  (So expect at least one more email from me!)

We have a couple things on tap:

1)  We'll watch our final draft of our anti-smoking video that we made at the meeting and will be finishing as our 4th grade Brinze project.

2)  We'll pick our troop campout theme for the June/July troop campout at Ross Lodge.

    Possible themes:  Medeival Madness!  Girls in Sports!  Hunger Games! 

3)  We'll get all the prizes we earned selling cookies!

4)  We'll just have some fun!

If you can't make the meetings on the 27th/28th I'd encourage you to join in the Discovery World Trip on the 20th!  (6-8PM at Discovery World, we'll earn our Senses badge, and have some fun learning about how we perceive the world around us.)  Let me know if you're interested!

Also, don't forget about our bridging/honors ceremony on June 10th!  Our 3rd Graders are moving on up out of Brownies, and our 4th graders will be recognized for their Bronze Award.  The rest of the bridging troops from the school will be there too.

Look for the sign up page for the May meeting soon.  I'll have the campout date sign up page links in there too.

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Moving the May Meetings (HV's Open House)

Hello everyone!

FIRST, and most importantly:  I was working through schedules and getting ready to put up the sign up genius for the May Girl Scout Meetings which were scheduled 5/20-5/21 when I noticed that the 21st is Highland View's open house.  (It wasn't on the main school calendar!)

Since Mrs. Bushman will be getting her room ready, we won't have access to it on the 21st, and it would probably be easier on the girls and families if we didn't ramp together scouts, Open House, and soccer/baseball.everything else that's going on.

So, is there anyone that would be terribly inconvenienced by moving the regular meeting to the Wednesday/Thursday after the orginally planned week?  (That would be the 27th and 28th.)  We can totally work something out if it's a question of already being signed out of Bridges, and needing a place to go for a while after school for just a couple girls.  

Second:  We're still on for the 4th Grade Bronze Day on Wednesday May 13th (next Wednesday though) and so far I'm expecting:

Adrhia, Aria, Scarlett, and Alexis.  Anyone else?  It'll be 4-7:00, and parents are welcome (encouraged?) to stay.  We'll be starting at our house (it'll be better studio space for taping the show and planning out messages for chalk-writing!) then after we get the tape made, we'll take the walk up to Highland View to chalk up our anti-smoking messages.  We'll have a snack/drink, but not a full meal.  Bring any research your scout has done!

Third:  And, while we have good attendance for the 4th Grade Discovery Event the evening of the 20th (6-8 PM, Junior Detectives), we're shy on the 2nd/3rd grade (Brownie Senses) event going on at the same time.  Discovery World is at its best with the hands-on activities, and this is one of the last chances to earn a Brownie badge before the girls move on to 4th grade and into Junior Scouts.  

4th graders on the list:  Gabby Heinz, Sara Logan, Olivia Kringel, Adrhia F., Alexis B., Aria K. 

2/3rd graders on the list:  Evie

That's about all for the updates now!  

See you soon,

Aleks

Girl Scouts: 4th Grade Bronze Award Day

Hello!

Our 4th Grade Girl Scouts have the opportunity to earn one of Girl Scouting's highest awards, the Bronze Award.  It's the first step on the road to earning the Gold Award, which is the Girl Scout equivalent of the Eagle Scout Award.  

To give you an idea of what a big deal this is, Girl Scouts who earn their Gold Award are generally recognized by the state and village governments, qualify for various scholarships for college, and if the scout enters the military, she even starts at an advanced pay grade.

Through our work during our meetings, the girls fulfilled a lot of the requirements for the Bronze Award.  The project most worked on about keeping kids from starting to smoke has the best potential to fill out into a full Bronze project.  What I'd like to do, is schedule a "Bronze Day" after school in May for the 4th grade scouts where we can put the time and work in to finish up the project.

What we'll do is:

1)  Finish up the anti-smoking video we made.  We'll re-shoot parts and add narration and explanations of the demonstrations we did.

2)  The girls had (at the time) planned to use chalk writing on the sidewalks around school to spread anti-smoking messages, so we'll do that too.

What I'll need from you, as parents and families, is for the girls to spend at least an hour on their own researching and writing some notes about anti-smoking facts so they can come prepared to the Bronze Day.

We'll try to spend 3-4 hours at the Bronze Day though, so I'd like to plan it from 4-7:00 on Wednesday May 13th. 

For the girls that complete their Bronze Award, in addition to the recognition from Girl Scouts, they'll also be recognized for their accomplishment at the Bridging Ceremony June 10th.   

Please let me know if this is something your scout could participate in.  It would be great to recognize them in June!

Aleks