News of the Wise Ones
Mr. Williams News: October 14, 2016
News of the Week
Dear Parents,
Progress Reports were sent home today, and I attempted to email them to you. If you didn't receive an email or a hard copy, please have your child inform me and I will send home a copy on Monday. Additionally, grades are updated on a regular basis and can always be accessed through the parent portal and through your child's e-class log in.
Week after next week starts ITBS testing. Although 4th grade is NOT testing, we ask that you do not join your child for lunch due to schedule changes and testing within the building. Please see important dates below.
We will start completing minute multiplication quizzes in class next week. These are not put into the grade book. They are for practice to help motivate the students to master their multiplication facts. At the end of the semester, students who master their facts will enjoy an ice cream sundae.
Please remind your child to bring his/her reading log every Monday (Tuesday on weeks we do not have school on Monday). This is a school wide reading initiative, and students are rewarded for their continuous hard work.
Have a great weekend,
Kenneth Williams
Retest Policy
We do not retest daily/classroom grades and quizzes . If your child receives a score of 69 or below on any assessment (test) he/she will be given the opportunity to retake a comparable assessment. The student will be asked to correct their work on the original assessment. The students will also receive remediation in small group and one on one during class time, bus call, and sometimes at recess time. In the grade book you will be able to identify the original score and retest score by looking at the score entered. For example, if your child scored a 65% on the original test and an 80% on the retest the score is entered as 80.065. The retest score takes the place of the original score. The .065 will never change your child's average.
COMING UP NEXT WEEK...
Reading: We will look at 4 different types of text structures over the next 2 weeks.
Writing: We will continue working on opinion writing.
Grammar: We will look at the proper order of adjectives in sentences.
Math: We will continue our unit on multiples and factors.
Science: We will begin our Solar System and Beyond Unit at the end of our explorers unit.
Social Studies: We will be continuing our explorers unit and afterwards, begin our Solar System and Beyond unit.
Spelling Words and Root of the Week
Root of the Week: spec-, spect- = watch, look at
Spelling Words of the Week:
heart
carry
learned
early
earth
dark
mark
clear
fire
third
surface
hour
warm
floor
poor
Other Important Information:
10/17 SC DA (District Assessment)
Good News Club
Student Council Meeting
Yearbook Team Meeting
10/26-10/28 No lunch visitation
10/28- Bingo Night
11/02-03-No lunch Visitation
Counselor's Corner
We hope everyone is having a good start to the school year! We have two counselors at Gwin Oaks this school year. Natalie Pugh will be working with K, 1st, and 2nd grade and Ashley Thomas will be working with 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. We look forward to working with all of your children this school year! We are always available to talk or meet with students as well as parents regarding any concerns.
Just as a reminder, we are now requesting that when a student is absent from school, documentation such as, a note signed* by the parent/guardian or a doctor's excuse stating reason for absence is needed within 48 hours of return.
*an e-mail will also be considered a signed note
News from the Media Center
Reading is My Super Power
This year’s school wide reading program is Reading is My Super Power. The program started on Friday, August 19th. Students will answer super hero related trivia questions in the Media Center each week to hone their research skills. At home each child is expected to read for at least 20 minutes each night and return their reading logs each Friday or Monday (depending on your child’s teacher’s schedule).
Students who turn in their reading logs every week will attend a reading celebration at the end of the school year. In order for a log to be counted for the week it needs to be submitted on time.
To assist with the reading logs please do the following:
1. PLEASE make sure your child’s FIRST and most importantly LAST name are on the log. We have to enter data for almost 1000 students. If even 10% don’t have their full name this omission adds an extra hour to our data entry.
2. PLEASE turn logs in when they are due. Your teacher will tell you the due date.
3. PLEASE add your child’s reading time in MINUTES. To understand why this is important read request #1.
You may also submit your child’s reading log electronically through the Gwin Oaks website. Fill in information with your child’s information (including your child’s teachers and grade from the drop down menu) and click submit. Email your child’s teacher to let him/her know log was submitted electronically to the Media Center. If you have any questions please email Mrs. Amolo at sharon_amolo@gwinnett.k12.ga.us
The Library Now Has E-books!
Access them from your smartphone, tablet, Kindle, Nook, Mac and Windows computer! There are also several audiobooks available. Download the Brytewave app on your device and see the directions below.
Accessing eBooks From a Device
Step #1: Search for the Follett Brytewave K-12 App in your store
Step #2: Open up the app and enter your State, School name and then login using your
student number and password.***Make sure you select the “Stay logged in” option.
Accessing eBooks From a Computer
From a computer- Login to your eClass page and click on “Media Catalog” (see picture below). Then, you can login to our catalog using your username and password. To search for an ebook type the title or type ebook to see a list of all available ebooks.