School Supply List...

During the school day, our students have what they need to succeed. Paper, scissors, coloring supplies, notebooks, folders, pencils, Sharpies, glue, etc. are all provided. The only items your child needs to bring to school are a backpack and recess snack.

At home, however, it is recommended that your child have the following supplies on hand: pencils and sharpener, binder paper, a Sharpie (ultra fine), colored pencils, a glue stick, and most importantly, a consistent, quiet place to work and read. Thank you for helping your child in this essential way!

Welcome Back!...

The first day of school begins in  I hope you’ve all received your welcome postcards and are as excited as I am for the first day of school! Parents, please take a moment to browse our site and familiarize yourself with all the links you’ll be using during the course of the school year. This may include AR BookFind (to look up Accelerated Reading book levels), Spelling Lists with links for review and games at SpellingCity, Multiplication help (fourth graders must know those facts right away if they’re not yet memorized!), Nightly Homework tweets (check daily if your child is having homework struggles!), our Calendar, and of course, Contact and Guestbook! If you’ve come by the site and want to say hello, ask a question before school begins, or leave a comment, please send a quick note using our contact form! I can’t wait to meet you!

Bidwell Mansion Closure...

Hello, everyone! I hope you’re enjoying your summer vacation! We’ve got three more weeks until the 2011-2012 school year and I can’t wait to see everyone again! I’m writing a post here a bit early to invite you to visit the Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park before school begins. Bidwell Mansion is one of the 70 planned state park closures in 2012. This means that if you haven’t been to visit Bidwell Mansion yet, you may never have the opportunity, … unless you go now! Until today, I hadn’t visited the park in a number of years. I’m very happy I was able to go back today and see the artwork, construction, and artifacts of this beautiful home.

Bidwell Mansion is located at 525 Esplanade in Chico, next to our CSU, Chico drop-off site when we visit the Hands-on Science Labs. (It’s also right next to the new Gateway Science Museum, another great adventure!) It was the home of John and Annie Bidwell from 1868 to 1918 and cost $60,000 to complete! John Bidwell began construction of the mansion on his 26,000 acre Rancho del Arroyo Chico in 1865. After marrying Annie in 1868, the three story, 26 room Victorian house became the social and cultural center of the upper Sacramento Valley.

Guided tours start at 12 PM Monday-Wednesday and 11 AM on Saturday and Sunday. Tours are held every hour, with the last group leaving at 4:00 PM. The tour is $6 for adults 18 and over, $3 for youth (5-17), and free for children four and under.

Please take an afternoon to visit the mansion while you still can. It will be well worth it, I promise!