Friday, December 10, 2010

Newsletter for December 10th, 2010

Dear Families,

Here is what's been happening over the past week and what is planned for next week.  We will not have a newsletter coming home next week.  Please enjoy your winter break from December 20th – December 31st.  School will resume January 3rd!

What's Up!

·         This week we had a lot of fun writing our own, “Twas the Night Before…” stories and reading holiday books.  Next week we will continue our study of different holidays that occur during this time of the year.  We will have different learning centers we will rotate through.  Check out our projects as they come home next week!

·         Spelling: Holiday Words – these will be bonus words worth ½ point each correctly spelled on December 16th.

1.              Hanukkah

2.             Ramadan

3.             Kwanzaa

4.             Christmas

5.             Las Posadas

6.             Diwali

7.             fast

8.             lantern

9.             menorah

10.           kinara

11.            Santa Claus

12.           stockings

13.           mistletoe

14.           festival

 

*          Vocabulary: None

·         Math: Our unit of study is telling time.  This includes time to the nearest minute, to the quarter hour including how to say quarter ‘til, after and half past, elapsed time and calendar.  This can be extremely difficult for some students.  Please make sure to go over homework and real life problems with your child each day.  We will be testing on this concept next week on Thursday.  Don’t forget you can view the text book online by going to www.pearsonsuccessnet.com.  

·         Science: This week we continued to explore our animal unit.  Students have been studying the characteristics of reptiles and amphibians.  Please ask your child how to tell the difference between the two!

·         Social Studies: This week we continued to learn more about the south.  The Mississippi River is an important part of the US, especially the south.  We have also discussed the disappearance of the wetlands in the delta area.  Remember your child’s project about the importance of the Mississippi River is due on Monday.  Listed below are the requirements.  Please help your child study the location and capitals for the southern states.  A great website for students to use to practice is http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.html

Here is the Assignment your child received in class this week: Now that you know more about the Mississippi River you need to go home and create a poster.  Use the informational sheet I have attached to help you if needed.  Poster is due Monday, December 13th.

 It must show one or both of the following: 20 points

1.                 Shows why it is important to save the Mississippi River

2.                Shows ways to save the Mississippi River

 It must also be

1.                 Neatly done = 10 points

2.                Colorful =10 points

3.                Turned in on time - 1 per day late out of 10 points

 This is a total of 50 points

·         Keyboarding:  We continue to work on our keyboarding skills.  Ask your student about how they are to remember where the keys are located!  This week we worked on a KWL (What I Know, What I Want to Learn, What I Learned) PowerPoint on fall/winter holidays around the world. 

Behavior

Our current word is COOPERATION.  The students once again must keep at least one letter in order to participate in our fun activity on January 7th.  Please remind your child of your expectations and the Amberly High 5.  This will be VERY important next week. 

Winter Party

We will be having our third grade winter party on December 17th at 2:30.  We will be rotating through the three classrooms again.  One classroom will be having a read in, another will have a craft and the third will have our snack.  The students will be in each room for 20 minutes.  If you would like to come in and celebrate with your child or are able to provide supplies, please let me know ASAP. J

Notes from the Office

1) Students Exchanging Gifts

As the holidays come upon us, we often have students who want to give a gift to a special friend at school. Gift giving between students should only occur when it is part of a teacher directed and approved holiday gift exchange.

When certain students exchange gifts with friends at school, someone is always disappointed or feels left out because they did not receive a gift and/or did not have a gift to exchange. This disappointment often becomes an issue in the classroom, lunch and/or recess environment.  The staff of Amberly request all gifts given to a specific friend(s) are exchanged outside of the school environment. 

2) Request to Stay Indoors for Recess

We believe that except on rare occasions, if a child is well enough to be in school they are well enough to go outside and enjoy recess.  In addition, an adult must always be present to supervise a child staying in for recess, which takes away from staff lunch times and office staff duties. Therefore, a note from a physician stating the child is to remain indoors for recess is required for a child to be individually supervised during recess time. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this matter.

3) Dress for the Weather & Label Student Outerwear!

Winter weather has arrived and students need to dress for it! Children should be wearing winter jackets, snow pants, boots, hats and gloves or mittens to schoolPlease write student names inside coats, gloves and bootsWe have many students with look-alike clothing and a multitude of items that end up in Lost and Found.  Labeling clothing will assist us in returning lost outerwear to students.

Note: If the actual temperature (not predicted) at recess time is below zero or –15 degrees wind chill we will have indoor recess. Please have children come to school dressed with the anticipation of spending a thirty-minute recess outside.

4) Pick Up and Drop Off Reminders

Young Fives – 2nd Graders MUST wait under the “roof” for their parent to pick them up. They must also get in the car on the passenger side, NOT the driver’s side.

Third – fifth graders should be picked up on the south parking lot side of the building. If they have younger siblings they MUST wait under the “roof” as well with their younger sibling.

Dates to Remember

·         December 14th – Birthday Celebrations for December

·         December 17th – 3rd Grade Holiday Party 2:30-3:30 pm

·         December 20 – 31 – No School: Winter Recess

·         January 3 – School Resumes

·         January 5 – Ski Club Begins

·         January 10 – After School Enrichment Begins

·         January 18 – APT Meeting 7pm in Media Center

·         January 20 – Donuts for Dads

 

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you and have a great weekend!

Mrs. Jessica Winstanley

 

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