Chavez Eagle Express
Week of MARCH 30, 2015
LIFE PRINCIPLE OF THE WEEK--CHARITY
Definition: CHARITY--The act of giving money, food, or clothes to others who are in need or poor.
"Even a smile is charity." Mohammad
STAAR TESTS BEGIN--We are Pumped and Ready to Roll!
Chavez students in the fourth, and fifth grades will participate in the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) on Monday, March 30th and Tuesday, March 31st. Fourth grade will be taking the Writing test, and Fifth grade will be taking the Reading test. We hope that students will regard the test as important, but that they will not approach the test with undue anxiety. Our teachers have worked very hard to give our students their best opportunity fo success. We will have another round of tests in April for 3rd & 4th grade Reading and 5th grade Science. Please be sure that students get a good night's rest and eat a healthy breakfast the morning of the test. No visitors will be allowed in the building during testing.
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
Hi! My name is Stacey Swenson and I am so happy to be a part of the learning journey happening at Chavez!!!
This is my eighth year teaching. I have taught kindergarten, third, and fourth grade. I absolutely love seeing the students eyes light up when learning!
I spent the majority of my childhood in Denton and even attended Ginnings Elementary many years ago. I remember my favorite teacher, Ms. Dennis. She was an incredibly kind person who helped me to read. My high school years were spent in the Lubbock area and during my senior year I was the band drum major. I stayed in the Lubbock area after high school and graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. After graduation, I started my teaching career in Bryan/College Station and graduated from Texas A&M University with a Master’s degree in Education.
I have been married for 18 wonderful years. I have two terrific kids (both former Chavez students) ages fifteen and twelve. We enjoy spending our time together by swimming, camping, running, and doing outside activities.
I am so happy to be a part of the Chavez family!!
Students of the Week
Isabella Pierson
Kasey Fairchild
1st Grade--Mrs. Everman
Hailey Heathcock
Megan Whittacre
2nd Grade--Mrs. Hataway
Joy Martinez
Mikey McDonough
3rd Grade--Ms. Tschudy
Kena Hinga
Vinny Spanburgh
4th Grade--Mrs. Hopgood
Imani Hinga
Miguel Gonzales
5th Grade--Mrs. Nichols
Allison Serna
Masen Hiatt
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 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--No School
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 14--5th grade Music Performance
April 17--STAAR Pep Rally
April 18--Saturday School 8:00am--10:00am 3rd, 4th & 5th grade
April 20--STAAR Test--5th Grade Math
April 21--STAAR Test--3rd & 4th grade Math
April 22--STAAR Test--3rd & 4th grade Reading, 5th grade Science
April 25--PTA Mad Dash Color Run--Lakewood Village----(Chavez vs Oakpoint)
April 28--Percussion Concert 6:00pm
May 1--Career Day
May 4-8--Teacher Appreciation Week
May 15--Reading Counts Field Trip
May 19--Chavez Musical--"Aladdin"--7:00pm
May 28--Field Day--Kinder, 1st, 2nd
May 29--Field Day--3rd, 4th & 5th