Mrs. O'Rourke's Panther Press
From the week of 10/1 and for the week of 10/8
This newsletter is intended to be read by both parents and students in our class.
Welcome to Quarter 2!
I can hardly believe that we are already done with our first quarter of the year. Second quarter will bring a host of new learning with creative narrative story writing, plays, ancient Greece & Rome, a biographical wax museum, our global read aloud, and much more! Let's kick off this 2nd quarter on the right foot! Effort and attitude make all the difference! I can't wait to see how much the students learn and grow!
**Please note: Newsletters will start to be sent on more of a bi-weekly basis rather than each week as we will begin to have some feature articles written by the students.
A special thank you goes out this week to MRS. SCHENCK for being the world's best substitute while I was away at Camp T this week. We appreciate you!
Camp T
Camp Tecumseh was so much fun! I can't wait to go with all of my current 6th graders next year! You will love it!
HOMEWORK FOR PARENTS - due TUESDAY 10/9
Students received an assignment on Tuesday last week. Students were advised to finish their letter to you by Friday to afford you plenty of time to complete the companion sheet with them. The final letter and parent/guardian sheet will be due Tuesday, 10/9. In the past, I have received TONS of positive feedback from parents for assignments like these because it allows them to engage with their child about their reading. I hope you all feel the same.
Student Led Conferences Oct 23 & 24
Homeroom teachers sent information about sign ups for our Student Led Conferences for this year. Please be sure to sign up!
Learning Highlights from this week
Strong Leads Writing Competition
As students learned about strategies for "hooking" a reader with a strong story lead, we had a friendly writing competition to see whose writing could entice our 8th grade buddies. Students could choose from 4 different, unique pictures to use as their motivation for a story lead. Then, we created a survey and invited our 8th grade friends up to anonymously vote on the best leads. Congrats to our winners: Audrey O., Kate S., Dylan S. and Amaya R. Way to get our narrative writing unit kicked off with some awesome lead examples!
Global Read Aloud
We kicked off our Global Read Aloud this week, Refugee by Alan Gratz. Mrs. Shenck lead some lessons to help the students connect with the various characters in the book. Students are already connecting to our characters Joseph, Isabel, and Mahmoud as they learn about their completely different refugee experiences.
Vocabulary
Our bi-weekly vocabulary activities will start up again this week! Knowledge of root/stem meanings plays such an important role in decoding unfamiliar words.
YEAR LONG HUMANITARIANISM PROJECTS
Many students have already started their plans for their first Humanitarianism Project. We have some fabulous ideas already! The first due date by which students must have completed at least one of their projects with a picture and write up is Tuesday, November 27th. It is important, however, that students start thinking about what they want to do and how they may need to get organized to be successful. Please talk about this with your children sooner rather than later so they don't feel rushed as the first due date approaches. Both Ms. Hill and I have a few books that our students created last year that showcase a number of the projects that the students did in case your child needs some ideas. We are so exited to see the many ways in which our student will serve others and be good humanitarians!
Upcoming Assessment and Project Due Dates
This section will contain upcoming assessments or projects so that families can help students stay on top of their studying. Canvas and the students' Humanities Assignments notes are the best places to stay up to date with the day to day activities and assignments.
Coming up:
Monday 10/8 - Odyssey Book Plot Map DUE
Tuesday 10/9 - Write About Reading Letter to Parent and Parent Companion Sheet DUE
Fall Break - October 13-21 - No School
Have a wonderful and restful Fall Break! Enjoy time with your families and make some memories!
Donate to our Class - We'd LOVE it! - Amazon Wish List
Please feel free to click and browse the Wish List below. All items on it are strictly for our class's benefit. I often let the students make the lists of books they want. When families purchase something from the list, it will be delivered directly to the school. If you do order something, please send me an email so I know to expect it and, more importantly, so we know who to thank! Thank you, in advance for any items you'd be willing to donate!
Parent Canvas Portal
Families, the Parent Canvas Portal is a great way to stay on top of your child's assignments and events in class. It does not take much time to log in as an observer for your child's account (I've done it for both of my own boys, and it is easy-peezy). Just follow the link below to the Canvas parent resources page, and follow the directions to create an account. You will need to have your child's school email and password readily available when you start.
Follow Us! - Twitter
This year, we will use Twitter to share some of our learning with the educational world. I try to post a few times a week to share the experiences that students are having in class. If you do not have a Twitter account, I would encourage you to sign up and at least just follow our class! Please follow us @MrsORourkeHIJH
Thanks for reading until the end!
Common Links Below
Mrs. O'Rourke
Email: aorourke@hse.k12.in.us
Location: 12278 N. Cyntheanne Rd., Fishers, IN 46037
Phone: 317-594-5248
Twitter: @MrsORourkeHIJH