The Latest Scoop
News from Room 215 for the week of April 20
Tisch's Tidbits
Parents,
This week we are celebrating Earth Day! We are also starting our unit on rocks and minerals while planting seed to measure the growth each day. We are finished with NWEA and will practice for the online portion of ISTEP this week. Next week, we will do the "real deal." This last round of testing is computer based so we will be discussing the tools available and good test taking strategies. The following is our schedule:
Tuesday, April 29- 1:40-2:31
Friday, May 1-11:05-12:18
Tuesday, May 5-11:00-11:38
Wednesday, May 6-11:20-12:17
Thursday, May 7-9:15-10:12
Friday, May 8-10:20-11:15
Monday, May 11-11:15-12:07
While we are going often, the times include both the "teacher talking time" and work time. If at all possible, please try to have your kiddo here at school during these times. :) Please keep in mind our days will look a bit different and you may not see as many assignments as we are preparing for this statewide assessment. None the less-we are still learning and reviewing skills throughout our days!
Sharks
Mark your calendars! It's the wonderful time of year where we are learning about sharks! Shark dissection will take place on May 19 during the day with the training for parents taking place after school on Thursday, May 14. I currently have these wonderful parents on the sign-up list from the beginning of the year:
Kinnon Fisher
Erin Kellerstrass
Mike Miller
Ann Thrasher
Mike Alexander
Leslee Pettitt-Myers
Mary Kelly
Matt Coyner
If you would like to help and are not on the list, please let me know. Also, if you are on the list and can't make it, please let me know this as well. :)
The children will be learning the body parts and functions so you may be learning more about them than what you intended! Information as to the time of dissection will be coming home once it is confirmed. Most likely it will be in the afternoon. Parents will be trained and, depending on the number of volunteers, will then lead a small group of children through the process with a shark. The children always remember this experience! Please remember if you are coming in to help, you will need a full background check on file and these can take up to 10 business days to complete.
Once Upon a Cure
The Stonegate family will once again be holding our Mini Relay/Field Day event, Once Upon A Cure on May 22nd. We are proud to continue our tradition of teaching our children the importance of giving to others and working as a team while promoting exercise and wellness.
What is the Mini Relay?
This year, students learn the concept of “giving to others” by asking friends & family for donations that will support our local families whose children have Leukemia. Our donations will go to Just Win, Ruby in honor of our Stonegate alum, Camden Cooper. With these dollars we will be able to continue support our Zionsville families affected by pediatric cancers. Students can use the chart on the back of this sheet to collect donations in honor of a child fighting for their health in any way, or in appreciation for a healthy child.
The day will be a combination of walking our laps for our fundraiser and participating in field day events facilitated by the Stonegate Elementary Dad’s Club. Events will correspond with our school’s writing connection, “Super Writers!” Students will learn explore the components comic book writing and empowering the Super-writer in all of us!
Students will use their Storybook collection chart (see back) to record each donation on storybook that will be placed around the walking track at the event. These “donation storybooks” will line our track and remind the students why they are participating!
On Friday, May 22nd students, teachers, and parents will all join together to celebrate our fundraising success.
You have the opportunity to order a t-shirt and/or shorts for your child to wear at the event with their classmates. This order form came home on Friday. The price is $10. Accidentally, a young large size was left off of the order form. If you would like this size, just write it on the side and circle it. These are due on May 1.
Thank you for your participation and donations to Just Win, Ruby! We can’t wait to see you out at the Mini Relay! Go Stonegate Superstars!
Keyboarding Camp
Your child has gone through Keyboarding Camp during library. On Friday, your child came home with a Keyboarding Camp tracking sheet. Here is the link to the screencast.
https://zcs.instructure.com/courses/4535/pages/type-to-learn-home-access-video
The tech team also has decided that it would be a fun thing for the kids to participate in a typing challenge. The students will keep track of their typing at home on a log sheet. These have been passed out in class to my 2nd – 4th graders.
Please let the kids know that the recommendation is for them to practice at least 3 times a week, but they can certainly do more. Also, I do realize that the log sheet starts this past Sunday, and we didn’t have them available yet. Let’s just plan on letting the kids know that their parents can vouch for any time they know they practiced during that time frame, and can initial accordingly.
The students who would like to participate will submit their typing logs by May 15th.
My Princess and Me
The first round of flyers were sent out before break. The event is on Friday, April 24th from 7-9. $20 per family and that includes dancing, light desserts and a whole lotta fun! If you would like to donate desserts and water, this will be up on the ivolunteer site. Another flyer will be coming home this week
My Awesome Guy and Me Beach Party
This flyer will be coming home this week as well for all guys and their special lady. Price is $20 per family and will take place on May 8 from 7-8:30.
Permission Slip
This is just a reminder to return the permission slip for our Zionsville Walking Tour this week if possible. If you would like to attend, we would love to have you!! Please remember a background check must be completed, and they do take about 10 days to process. The price is $15.95 for this.
Survey Link
Here is the link for this year's parent survey: http://goo.gl/forms/7jwszyrJK9
if you are interested in responding.
School Supplies
If you are interested in purchasing school supplies for next year through the school, please go to this link: www.1stDaySchoolSupplies.com
Summer Tutoring
**Summer Tutor Available!**
Name: Erin Johnson (formerly "Miss Bivans" who taught 5th/6th grade at
Zionsville West Middle School from 2005-2010
Tutoring Grades: entering K-7th
Location: Zionsville Library
Dates: 8 week session from June 8-July 29, 2015
*Please email Erin at Erin.grace.johnson@gmail.com for more information!
There is also a fabulous team of ZCS literacy women who tutor. Once I get their information, I will send it along.
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 20-Rocks and Minerals Guest Speaker
April 22-Midterms are posted online
April 23 - May 15: ISTEP Multiple Choice (3rd & 4th grades)
April 24-Father/Daughter Dance
May 1-t-shirt form due for Once Upon a Cure
May 8-Mother/Son Beach Party
May 14-Shark Dissection Training
May 15-Zionsville Walking Tour
May 18-Shark Dissection
May 20-Once Upon a Cure donations are due
May 22-Once Upon a Cure
May 25-No School
May 26-Once Upon a Cure rain date
June 1-Last Student Day!
Lots of Learning!
-multiplication
-mutli-step math problems
-multiplication math facts
-Test on Friday!
Reading
-reading stories about plants
-inferring
Science
-sound review
-light
Writing/Language
-writing memoirs
-simple, compound and complex sentences
Spelling
cupcakes-comparing suffixes
popsicles-/oo/ as in good and soon