Day 3 at IslandWood Camp

The last full day, February 4th, at IslandWood was a long one for First Place 4th, 5th and 6th graders.
Long walks took Team Marsh for an early morning of bird spotting and crab catching in Puget Sound.Mastering their fears Team Wave crossed the forest suspension bridge on their afternoon walk to learn about the five kinds of trees they could reach out and touch the tops of.
Lots of preparation made perfect for the Team Pond Drum Circle at the evenings friend circle talent show.
Check back tomorrow for our final day!

Day 2 at IslandWood Camp

From 6:30am to 9:30pm on Tuesday, Feb. 3, First Grade 4th, 5th and 6th graders sped through field studies and lots of learning while playing at IslandWood. Because the students have been split into three field groups we're going to allow the pictures they and their field guides take to speak for the experience (with some modest explanations). Enjoy!

A new look on old lessons. First Place students from Team Wave relearned their ABCs (Antibiotics, Biotics and Culturals) with a hands (and feet) on experience in the forest, in the greenhouse and in the laboratory.

Each IslandWood activity has both time in the field and time in the classroom. As Team Marsh journaled on what they found in the organic-garden that provides food for our meals, Team Pond discussed their day-hike to the Harbor and a documentary on Bainbridge history.


Nature doesn't hold itself back at IslandWood. Break-time after an early breakfast brought a family of deer, hawks, eagles and adventurous squirrels.


At IslandWood there are a few constants. The Friendship Circle brings us all together every morning and evening. PROPS (Proper Respect of People Speaking) is expected of everyone equally. And the occasional chalk-board advertisement reminds of the things our different schools have in common.


Check back tomorrow!

Day 1 at IslandWood Camp

On Monday (Feb. 2, 2009) First Place 4th, 5th and 6th graders began a week of eco-field tripping at IslandWood, one of the nation's most innovative educational facilities. Many students experienced their first ferry ride to travel to the 255 acre outdoor learning center on Bainbridge Island, where they've joined East Port Orchard Elementary School.

Throughout the week First Place students will be learning about environmental and community stewardship through hands-on interaction with nature and by practicing sustainable habits in their daily activities.

After Monday's lunch, Team Marsh (one of three First Place activity teams) began their lessons right away by hiking to the Bird Blind, a wooden gazebo in the middle of Cattail Marsh. Outfitted with dozens of peepholes students were able to peer out upon the marsh's natural ecosystems without being spotted.

While inside the Bird Blind the team also developed their "Community Agreement". Agreeing to "have fun" "be on time" and always stick to their first goal of "working together in a positive way", the First Place 4th, 5th and 6th graders have laid the groundwork for a success week.

First Place would like to thank Howard and Barbara Wollner for their support in making this trip possible. For many of our students, it is their first time at a camp!

Stay tuned for another update tomorrow.

Welcome to the First Place Blog!

When we talked about how we wanted to use a blog all we could think about were all the amazing things going on in our classrooms. This week, our 4th, 5th and 6th graders are off at Islandwood on Bainbridge Island.

To kick-off the blog the students at Islandwood will be posting each day describing what they learn. We can't wait to see the pictures.

And that is only the beginning. With this blog, we plan on sharing a few regular features:

From the Kids will bring you updates on classrooms, learning, assignments, assemblies and field studies -- sometimes written by staff, sometimes written by the kids. View our first post under 'From the Kids'

Unsung Heroes will feature and thank people and organizations who contribute to our vision or Hope, Home and Education. Read our first post under 'Unsung Hero'

Success Stories are going to be stories straight from parents, programs and the classrooms. No success is too small to celebrate. Read our first post under 'Success Story'

Executive Updates will come from First Place Leadership and provide a wider look at the agency's programs and goals.

Leave a comment and let us know what you would like to read and see from First Place.

Unsung Hero: Shoes that Fit

Heroes are often thought of as having super-human powers. At First Place our heroes have super-human hearts. Some of them we have never met and some of them walk through our front doors every day. We want to share with you who our heroes are and the impact they have in the lives our children and families.

Our hero today is Shoes That Fit. For years this organization has been donating one brand new pair of shoes to every child who attends First Place.

Once the shoes are delivered, it's time for First Place Clothing Bank volunteers Lori and Lisa to start working with the students to find the right fit for them.

One student from the Kindergarten class thought his shoes were too big when he tried them on. Lisa asked "Where are they too big?" And the student replied, "Right here in this room."

Here are some pictures of students getting their new shoes.

From the Kids: A Rap about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A 4th/5th Grade Student wrote and performed this rap recently at a school assembly honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King had a dream

That all of us could be a team

And accomplish all our dreams

So we can make the earth clean

Martin Luther King was not mean

He’s the greatest man we’ve ever seen

King did not wear any bling

Because he’s not a gangster king.

King believed in civil rights

So he would go out there and fight

King will fight and us to the light.

Success Story: Proud Parent Says Thank You

Within the walls of First Place, and in the lives of the families we touch, successes happen every day. As often as we can, First Place will share these successes with you. This is what we would like to share today.

First Place recently received the following note from Dara, a mother whose daughter graduated out of our program this past year.

"As a mother of a former student of First Place I am proud to let you know that my daughter became a Rainier Scholar Nominee. Her teacher told me in the parent teacher conference that out of 31 students in her class my daughter is top 2. The teacher also told me that my daughter shows intellectual curiosity and scores above average on all her work in class.

I believe that my daughter got the nurturing and the life skills that she needed to survive in the public school from First Place staff.

I want to thank you all personally on how much of an impact you guys have in all our lives. You gave my daughter something that any other school would never think of doing."

Dara, pictured with her daughter, is currently employed full-time at First Place and continues to provide leadership and guidance to struggling families.

As Dara celebrates with her family First Place is celebrating their hard work in breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness. Dara and her family were very involved with First Place while receiving services. Her and her husband chaired the Parent Advisory Council, Dara went down to Olympia with First Place every year to lobby for children rights and she truly became a mentor to her peers who were experiencing struggles with homelessness and poverty.

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