Chavez Eagle Express
Week of MARCH 16, 2015
HAVE A SAFE AND FUN SPRING BREAK!
LIFE PRINCIPLE OF THE WEEK--TEMPERANCE
Definition: TEMPERANCE--Moderation or self-restraint in action statement or self-control.
"Temperance is moderation in things that are good and total abstinence in the things that are foul." Frances Willard
Chavez Student Writing
Writing
At the elementary level, students are tested on their writing skills in fourth grade. This test addresses writing skills that have been learned up to this point. Students have two major areas of focus, written compositions and revision and editing skills.
Our fourth graders have been busy learning two different composition styles, personal narrative and expository. A personal narrative asks students to write a personal, focused story about her/his own experience given a generalized topic, such as a time you had to make a difficult choice. When writing an expository, students state an opinion and then support it with reasons that explain why, such as explain which is your favorite season and what makes it your favorite.
Our writers are busy focusing on the strategies of writers. They write with the reader in mind, knowing that the reader often knows nothing about the topic. Students have learned how to take the topic and focus on one specific, personal event to create a simple outline, called a kernel. With this kernel, they develop it further using a variety of writing techniques. First of all, they add snapshots, or visual details, to help the reader see the same details that the writer sees. They take it to the next level with the addition of thought shots, so the reader can crawl inside the writer's mind and hear what s/he is thinking. Furthermore, as they add sensory details that allow the reader to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch, their writing becomes realistic. Finally, characters come to life through dialogue and action.
Revision and editing ask students to read the writings of fourth-grade level peers and help make their writings better. Students revise their peer's writings by making changes such as adding words to make the sentences flow better, combining ideas, adding details that would make writing clearer, or even finding off topic details and eliminating them. When editing, students are checking for spelling, capitalization, and punctuation errors and how to best correct these.
Please enjoy our expository writings about our favorite seasons at this link: http://goo.gl/41o9vS (You could add this as link box below.)
Michelle Sparks
Fourth Grade Teacher
Chavez Elementary
Join us on Edmodo! www.edmodo.com/mbsparks
972-294-1670 ext. 172
BAD WEATHER DAY MAKEUP DAYS
Bad Weather Makeup Days
Adjust your calendar: students must attend school on the previously scheduled Bad Weather Makeup Days: Friday, May 22 and Friday, June 5TEACHER OF THE WEEK
Mr. Kelson has been an important part of the Chavez team for four years. He has served students from elementary to high school for over 20 years. Wherever Mr. Kelson serves students his focus in on the individual. This approach has won him over to the hearts and minds of his students. His students are big fans of Mr. Kelson because they know he cares about them. As our Dyslexia teacher he provides a very important service to our students. He works with all grade levels and is very skilled at helping students with their reading. Not only is he a great Reading Teacher he is also our famous Chess Club sponsor. Mr. Kelson has a very loyal following every Wednesday afternoons. If your child is interested in learning about chess, Mr. Kelson is the person that can make it happen. I guess you could say that Mr. Kelson is our "Renaissance Man" on campus since he is knowledgeable about many areas of learning. Congratulations Mr. Kelson on being the Chavez Teacher of the Week!
Students of the Week
Joaquin Palacios
Arianna Matos
1st Grade--Mrs. Trimble
Melanie Auila
Brenden Corley
2nd Grade--Mrs. Weir
Gabi Nana
Nathan Bendeck
3rd Grade--Ms. Hardin
Michelle Burgos
Brandon Rodas
4th Grade--Mrs. Turner
Kamry Applewhite
Alex Pruitt
5th Grade--Ms. Sewald
Hailey Salazar
Ryan Cassidy
KINDERGARTEN ROUNDUP--WELCOME CLASS OF 2028--Destination Kindergarten
Little Elm ISD is holding a series of parent meetings for our KINDERGARTEN ROUNDUP. You only have to attend one of these meetings:
Saturday, March 21, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Zellars
Wednesday, March 25, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Zellars
Thursday, March 26, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Zellars
LEISD is also promoting the Kindergarten Choice Program at STEM during Destination Kindergarten. We will have the mandatory parent meetings for Kinder STEM application into the lottery.
The meeting dates for the Incoming Kindergarten Class of 2015-2016 for STEM Applications will be on:
Thursday, April 9 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Zellars
Thursday, April 16 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Zellars
PTA MAD DASH---COLOR RUN Saturday, April 25
OPE has challenged the students at Chavez Elementary to a contest. The school with the most registered participants will win a popsicle party for the entire school!
The students of Oak Point and Chavez Elementary will walk, jog, and run their way toward a healthier life while raising funds for their school. Each runner will participate in either a 1 or 3.1 mile run while they are doused with color!
The color run is open to EVERYONE in the community and everyone is encouraged to participate.
Ticket Prices are based on age:
4-12: $15
13+: $18
LEISD Staff: $15
Family 4-Pack: $60
Children three and under are free.
After the run there will be a silent auction and post-race celebration! The event will be a blast with the help of Oak Point Elementary's very own LIVE DJ from Thunder Promotions!
CHAVEZ DATES
Mar 9-13 Spring Break
Mar 17--3rd Grade Music Performance--Bad Weather Makeup--6:00pm
Mar 20--1st grade Spelling Bee--9:00am--Cafeteria
2nd Grade Spelling Bee--1:15pm--Cafeteria
Mar 21--Saturday School 8:00am--10:00am 3rd, 4th & 5th grade
Mar 21--Kinder Roundup--Zellars Service Center 9:00am--1:00pm
Mar 24--4th Grade Concert 6:00pm
Mar 25 & 26--Kinder Roundup--4:30--7:00pm Zellars Service Center
Mar 26--3rd Nine Weeks Report Cards go home
Mar 27--Awards Assembly
Mar 28--Saturday School 8:00am--10:00am 3rd, 4th & 5th grade
Mar 30--STAAR Test--4th grade Writing
Mar 31--STAAR Rest--4th grade Writing, 5th grade Reading
April 2--Math Egg Hunt
April 3--Good Friday--Holiday
April 7--Kindergarten Music Performance
April 10--Kinder Field Trip--Frank Buck Zoo
April 11--Saturday School 8:00am--10:00am 3rd, 4th & 5th grade
April 18--Saturday School 8:00am--10:00am 3rd, 4th & 5th grade