Wow, what a huge day it has been for 5th grade today. Today was the day that the 5th grade showed off their inventions. It was an exciting, busy and exhilarating experience and I was impressed with much of the work I saw. Check out my blogroll to see each of the students work including a picture of them with their invention.

I hope you have a wonderful break 5KP and over the break try and win a prize by reading both of these interesting websites on the modern wonders of the world and the ancient wonders of the world  As a little carrot to dangle for you curious people, the person who comments on this blog telling me which 5KP student’s name is hidden on one of these two websites will win a prize the first week back.

Hi students, well the time has nearly come for you to complete phase 2 of your Invention Convention. For homework this week I would like you all to add a photo of your phase 1 class talk. You will find these photos on the s drive at school or from home go to flickr and find the individual photo of you doing your talk, it is tagged with kpower in case you cannot find it.

Please add the photo to your blog along with a two paragraph reflection of how you thought you did on the unit and what you disliked and liked the most about the Invention Convention unit.

It is birthday party season in Shanghai. Hannah has been to Cooper, Johannes and Grace’s 7th birthday party in the last week and here  is a photo of her and her friend Sydney, also a guest at all three, enjoying some painting time at Cooper’s party at the Flying Fox.

I didn’t put it on for any reason other than that Cooper’s mum sent me the link to view the photo’s from his party and I am experimenting on how to add them to things. It is all trial and error for me and I think that is the best way I learn things.

I look forward to seeing 5KP again tomorrow and getting back into a regular routine again after a lovely three weeks at home with Simon getting to know Mimi.

Dear Students

I just wanted to write and say thankyou for all the amazing blogging you have been doing this week. I just had a few moments to check out my netvibes for the first time this week and I was overwhelmed with the stuff you have been writing. If you haven’t checked out each other’s blogs lately you really should do so.

I am of course very grateful to all the fantastic feedback you have given me now that you have seen Mimi on our site. I now know that:

1. She is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo  cute.

and

2. You can’t wait to meet her (I sure know what that feels like).

I will do my best guys but slowly slowly!

It sounds like you are having a great time in class and are keeping busy. Thanks for writing about what you have been doing, who has injured themself (Andy), who thinks Mrs E is the best sub ever (Jonathan) and who has had a visit from grandma (Jun).

Thanks for everything 5KP. I don’t have the time to write comments on all your blogs right now but I have read all your posts and so please accept my post as a great big hug for being such an amazing class.

See you Tuesday

Mrs P

Hi students
Thanks for all your good wishes on my blog. We haven’t even had Wenwen (Mimi) for 4 days yet and it is getting better everyday but it is still a huge adjustment for her and every new face seems to result in tears. She has obviously had very good love and care for the past year and is grieving for her foster parents and older brother.
She slept from 8 last night til 6.30 this morning so we are on a winner there, every night has gone really smoothly so far and her daytime naps (about 2 by 2 hours) are also going well.
I would love to come in to class and show her off and I am hoping to get in to see Zack before he leaves but for now please check out our website for a few pics of the journey to Guiyang.
http://web.mac.com/skhpower

Love from the Power four!

Please read the February 11th Newsletter to find out the latest happenings in our class.

OK, want to hear about my exciting day at the Pudong Airport kids??? The day started with a 4.55 am alarm going off…and it just got better from there.
Our flight has now been cancelled so after being at the airport from 6.30 am til 3.30 pm we were told to go to a hotel (2 hours away on a bus) with 300 other people…so we went home (45 minute taxi ride) and some friends went to the hotel and are keeping us in touch.

MAYBE we will get a call around 10 and then have to book a taxi and get to airport and try again for a possible 1.15 am flight…I can see your jaw dropping!

This means at best we will be waking Hannah at 10 (made her go to bed at 5 telling her it was 7…it worked!) and go out into the snow (it has snowed for a week now), get a taxi, get to the airpot, wait some more and hopefully fly through a blizzard into the Thailand sun arriving around 5 am (feeling fresh I am sure) and then try and get a connecting flight to Phuket!
Oh Happy Day!!!
15 days til we meet Mimi!!!

Here in Shanghai, we are about to start a 9 day break for teachers and an 11 day break for students as we celebrate Chinese New Year. This is the most important holiday of the year for Chinese People and it is called the Spring Festival. For many people, which in China translates to many millions of people, this is the time of the year to travel home and visit with your family. Often that means days on trains and buses and at this time of year that can be no small feat. China is experiencing one of its worst winters in 50 years.

For the previous two Spring Festivals, Simon, Hannah and I have stayed in Shanghai and really enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere. You haven’t experienced fireworks [kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/5J-9LyLPfTM" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /] until you have experienced them in China during this time. But this year we are going away for 7 nights to Woraburi Resort in Phuket for the first time. Last year we went to Koh Samui for a few days holiday before EARCOS in Bangkok and really enjoyed it so Thailand beaches here we come.

Have a Happy Holiday Students

Stay safe and I will see you back here on Thursday the 14th of Feb, remember I am at Puxi campus on the 13th so be on your best behavior for Ms Erickson and then I am off to pick up Mimi on the 18th…Hooray!

Here is a photo of Hannah getting into baby mode while holding Mrs and Mr Hossack’s new baby boy Blake.

Congratulations, appreciation and big hi-5’s go out to Elaine, Min Ji and Chloe who so far are the only three to do the weekend’s optional homework of posting about their Time for Kids or Scholastic News articles. Come on guys, they weren’t the only students who took the magazine home with them.

While you are inside today wondering what to do with yourself, respond to one of the articles you read or check out some of the online news at the links above. There really is something for everyone on these pages, latest games, political campaigns, music and fashion. Check them out and blog blog blog…

See you tomorrow,stay warm and don’t throw too many snowballs!

Go to flickr.com to find some snowball fights or better still, put on some of your own photos