Friday, August 17, 2018

Off to a Great Start!

Dear Parents,

It has been a fantastic first two days of school!  Getting to know my students, making each child feel comfortable, and helping students establish new friendships are my top priorities!  Building classroom expectations and routines help ensure a smooth, successful year.

Wonder (Read aloud book)
We are excited to start the year with such an inspirational and touching novel study.  We will be reading this as a class. Please do not have your child read the book at home.  I’ve found them for $11.25 hardback or $9.99 kindle download on Amazon. I have a few classroom copies for use.  Feel free to download it to your child’s ebook if you are ok with them bringing their electronic devices to school.  Thank you and be sure to ask your child about the life of August Pullman.

Homeroom Parent
Our class needs a homeroom parent!  Please let me know if you’re willing to be our HR Parent this year.

Arrival
When students arrive at school, they can enter the building as early as 7:20am.  Morning work begins promptly at 7:20, and the tardy bell rings at 7:40am. Students must be present at this time, or they must report to the office for a tardy slip.

Dismissal
Discuss a consistent place for your child to meet you after dismissal.  Thanking you for having a plan in place.

Snacks
We will have snacks right after recess at 10:35am.  Please help your child choose a healthy snack to bring to class each day.  We also welcome students to bring a water bottle.

Wish List
Please feel free to take a posted item from our wish list wall located outside of my classroom.  Thank you so much to those who have already made a donation!

Prize Box
Students can earn trips to my prize box for good behavior and following directions, but it is currently pretty empty!  Please consider items for my prize box -- seasonal items, crafts, mechanical pencils, journals, etc. The Target Dollar Spot is a great place for prize box items.  Thank you in advance!

Birthday Celebrations
If desired, parents are able to purchase frozen yogurt, frozen fruit bars, or cookies through the school cafeteria to distribute to the entire class at lunch time.  Arrangements for birthday treats should be made through the cafeteria prior to the occasion to ensure sufficient quantities are available. In addition, students may bring store bought cookies or cupcakes for distribution at the end of the school day.  So we do not have hurt feelings, please do not distribute birthday party invitations during school hours.

Parent Meeting
Back To School Night will be Tuesday, September 11 at 7:00pm.  This is a very important informational meeting for parents, and for that reason I ask to make arrangements for childcare.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Multiplication Math Facts
Students should be able to recall all multiplication facts through 10 x 10 with instant recall.  Mastery of these facts are essential as it is a cornerstone of our curriculum. Please work on this skill at home.

Peachjar
Please click on the Peachjar link found on the CCE home page for informational flyers.

From the Office
The new volunteer application for the 2018-2019 school year is now available.  Please remember that applications to be an approved volunteer MUST be submitted EVERY year.  The district conducts background checks on every volunteer to help ensure the safety of our children.  At this time of year, approval can take up to two weeks. It is better to not wait! ALL volunteers must be approved - room parents, classroom helpers, field chaperones, Watch D.O.G.S., etc. prior to volunteering.  Go to this link to complete the application.
UPCOMING DATES:
September 3 - Labor Day, no school
September 11 - PTA meeting at 6:30pm / Open House at 7:00 in my classroom

UNITS OF STUDY:
Reading - Fiction with a focus on characterization
Writing - Personal Narrative; Writer’s Workshop cover due on Tuesday
Spelling - List 1 test on Thursday
Math - Place Value and Multiplication Review
Science - Scientific Tools and Classifying Matter

Please do not hesitate to call or email me if you have any questions.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Kelly