Dorothy Fox is thrilled to announce the arrival of a new playground feature.  A local high school boy earned his Eagle Scout by painting a mural of the 50 states on the asphalt on the Dorothy Fox playground.  This took many volunteer hours and could not have been accomplished without a financial donation from Fox parents, Bell Associates, Hill Painting for the paint donation, and the Camas Operations Department for spray washing to prepare the surface.  This will be a learning tool for many years to come.  It was so great to hear a first grader in the lunch room explain how he was going to go to “Texas” at recess.  Fox ROCKS!

The 4th and 5th grade students of Dorothy Fox enjoyed a visit by local author, Cheryl Linn Martin.  She has written the Hawaiian Islands Detective Series: Pineapples in Peril and Menehunes Missing.   The Dorothy Fox Library has her books on the shelves (although they don’t stay there for very long).  Each student was given insight into the writing process through her sharing, motivation and elaboration.  She also brought a bookmark for each student and met with students individually to talk about writing.

Thank you to Mrs. Culverwell, Fox librarian, and PTA leader, Andrea Linn for helping to arrange the visit. The children loved listening to her and hearing about the writing process she used.

Cheryl Linn Martin would love for students and parents to comment on her books on her website and she could post your comments in the front of her books.  Here is her website…  http://www.cheryllinnmartin.com/

The staff at Dorothy Fox  Elementary said thank you to our 2012-13 volunteers with our first ever Appreciation Station!  Set up all week in April, we invited our volunteers to take a rest, enjoy a treat, and feel appreciated for the countless hours that they have given to the students and staff at our school.  Fox Rocks because of our dedicated volunteers.  When caring adults spend time in our classrooms to support learning and help with school events, it sends a strong message that their education is important to the Camas community.  THANK YOU!!!

Happy Groundhogs Day!  2/2/13

Will Phil See his shadow or will Spring be around the corner?

We thank Mrs. Savelesky for fullfilling her roll as a faithful follower of Punxsutawney Phil.  For years, she has helped Dorothy Fox  to actively and annually promote the good name of Punxsutawney.

Some Interesting Facts:

Punxsutawney Phil Sowerby is a groundhog resident of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. On February 2 (Groundhog Day) of each year, the town of Punxsutawney celebrates the beloved groundhog with a festive atmosphere of music and food. During the ceremony, which begins well before the winter sunrise, Phil emerges from his temporary home on Gobbler’s Knob. According to the tradition, if Phil sees his shadow and returns to his hole, he has predicted six more weeks of winter-like weather. If Phil does not see his shadow, he has predicted an “early spring.”^[1] The date of Phil’s prognostication is known as Groundhog Day. He is considered to be the world’s most famous prognosticating rodent. During the rest of the year, Phil lives in the town library with his “wife” Phyllis.

Every year, students at Dorothy Fox get a chance to enter a fall essay contest from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary with the state of Washington.  The local Camas/Washougal Post sponsors local students and awarded Dorothy Fox third grader, Corrigon Rotz, as  regional winner.  His essay competed with other student submissions from the area.  As a winner he recieved a special presentation by local veterans, with a certificate and a prize.  Way to go!

The theme this year was “How do I show my Love for my country?”  It is limited in length.  Please enjoy a copy of Corrigan’s essay below.

By Corrigan Rotz

I am a Cub Scout and I want to tell you a little bit on the subject, “How I show love for my country.” One way I show love for my country is to respect the flag at our flag ceremony.  Our country’s flag should never touch the ground because many people have died for our flag and also because it is a symbol of our country’s freedom.  I am very honored to carry the flag at flag ceremonies at our pack meetings.

As a Cub Scout and at home, I have done a lot of community service projects. One of those community service projects was that I made sack lunches for homeless people for one year.  Another year I made blankets to comfort children of disaster.  With my den, we picked up trash around Camas Public Library.  I show love for my country by helping others.

Also I show love for my country by recycling the right things and no throwing things that can be recycled in the trash.  Recycling keeps our country beautiful because there is not as much soda cans and plastic on the ground.

Respecting our flag, community service projects, and recycling are ways I show love for my country.

Special recognition to the other Fox students who submitted essays including: 5th grader Addy Hance, 5th grader Olivia Berner, 5th grade Kaylee Sugimoto, and 4th grader Madison Koppes.  We are proud of all of our writers!