January: New Year, New Learning

In celebration of the New Year, January’s home project will be personal interest based. This is a chance for your child to guide the topic of their choice. Our goal is to teach students to love to learn. The sky is the limit on this project. Projects are again ability based and require a visual aide. Level 3’s will still be required to type their final paper, this should be close to a completed type written page, remember this is good practice for their upcoming SAGE test. Level 2’s will continue with the required handwritten page. Our level 1’s have made great progress and I would like to encourage all level 1’s to work towards completing a final written piece based on ability. We are working hard on quality of work and I will be paying close attention to penmanship and structure. We have also been learning about the difference from copying information verses reading information and making it our own. Sometimes, students will come to class ready to present and simply have a page filled with words they are not able to read or understand. This is a process and should take several days to complete. Copying an article and printing a picture is not what we are looking for in a home project. Help your child understand what they are learning, so they are able to teach their peers. I am so excited to see the topics they choose. Like always, projects are due by the end of the month, but please bring them as soon as they are ready, avoiding the end of the month push. I feel the students gain better information from each other when they only have a few project presentations each day. Often times, when we have several at once, they become restless. If you have questions or concerns, please let me know.

It is hard to believe we are entering a New Year.  Time is flying!  I hope everyone has enjoyed their break and is looking forward to starting back fresh on Monday.  Thank you for the kind cards and gifts.  I appreciate your thoughtfulness.  Also, thank you coming a supporting the students with their readers theater.  It was a great opportunity to try something a little different and share it with all of you.

I wanted to send a quick reminder that we have P.E. on Mondays.  It is a good idea for students to bring a pair of shoes to use in the gym.  Snow boots, although perfect for the outside weather this time of year, are not the best fit for use inside the gym.

Parents, the policy for food for the international festival is a little different this year.  All food need to have prior approval.  If your child is planning on bringing food for sampling,  please sent me an email by Wednesday.  Thanks.

Our cupboards are bare.  If you would be willing to sign up for snack for the remainder of this week, we would really appreciate it.  I don’t have anyone signed up for next week either.  We will need lots of sign ups into next year as well.  Please sign up here.  We ask that all families take a turn providing for the class snack.  If you have already signed up for two weeks during the school year, you will not need to sign up for any additional.  Thank you for you help and support.

Tomorrow morning, 9:00 a.m., is the very last call for the Original Works fundraiser.  Thanks for your support.

Hi families,

This week is our annual red ribbon week.  Our theme this year is: Respect yourself, be drug free!   Today students received their drug free wrist band, we would like for them to wear their bands all week long.  On Friday, we would like for students to wear red, (remember no costumes) for spirit day.  Students in lower el may enter a drawing contest based on this years theme.  I would encourage you as families to talk with your child about this years theme and brainstorm possible ideas for their own drawings.  We will have a small amount of class time to work on these, so students are welcome to work at home and bring them to class.  They are due Wednesday.  We had a wonderful guest speaker Dorain Willes come and speak about his experiences and how to remain drug free.  The students have also been working hard on their classroom door contest.  Thanks for your support in making this week a great one.

What is Original Works? For 26 years, this company has been coordinating with schools to turn children’s art into keepsakes. You can choose from one or more of the following: key chains, magnets, mirrors, coasters, notebooks, tiles, mugs, tote bags, water bottles, cell phone covers, night lights, T-shirts, quilt block, mouse pads, note cards, pillowcases, journals, pot holders, matted prints, and decorative flags.

Who benefits from this fundraiser? When you order, the profit goes directly to your child’s classroom!

What should I do if my child completed more than one piece of art? Each piece of art needs its own order form. If you want to order multiple pieces of art, please get additional order forms from Rachael Bush.

What should my child do with their completed packets? Return the art, order form, and check payable to MMA to the school. There will be a table at the entrance ready for your orders.  PLEASE do NOT give money and order forms to teachers.

We ONLY accept checks! Please make them out to MMA and include them with your completed order form.

When are order forms due? By October 26th. Look for the Original Works table in the school’s entrance!

When will orders arrive? Original Works art keepsake(s) will be sent home on December 2nd.

What if my child didn’t finish their art at school? Your child can complete, add to, or even replace their art at home. Use 8½ x 11″ plain paper and color or paint. Please no glitter, pipe cleaners, googley eyes, or anything else that makes the art 3-D.

What if parents don’t want to order? You keep your child’s art!

If you have additional questions, please contact rachael.bush@gmail.com

Reminder, tomorrow is early out at 1:00 p.m.  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

The form that was sent home for Pizza Friday was inaccurate since there is no school on Friday October 16th.  The office is making new forms to be sent home.  Only send the pink classroom pet note back if you do not want your child involved in the classroom pet.  Also, Thursday is the last day to sign up for the 5k and receive a dress code friendly shirt.  After Thursday you can still register, but will not receive a t-shirt.  Remember that the back-to-school pancake breakfast will be the same morning as the 5k.  We hope to see everyone there!

September 19

MMA 5k 8:00 and MMA Pancake Breakfast at 9:00.  Please invite family and friends.

Money raised goes towards the 6th graders to help support their spring out-of-state field trip the Redwoods.

5k prices:  Pre-registration to get a t-shirt, orders must be in by September 3

• $15 per person w/ shirt
• Day of Registration or after September 3, $10 w/ out a shirt
• Family of 4 or more $45 (only 4 shirts)
• Day of Registration or after September 3, Family of 4 or more $45 (no shirts)

Forms will be available hard copy by request of teacher and digital on the blog.

Breakfast prices:  $6 for 12+ age, $3 for 11 and younger, pay at the event.