Mrs. O'Rourke's Panther Press
From the week of Oct 2-6 and for the week of Oct. 9-13
Reminder- no school over Fall Break- October14-22
HIJH has HEART- Hurricane Relief Effort
This week we started a school-wide initiative to raise funds for the Houston Independent School District and the schools that were damaged in Hurricane Harvey. Each day in lunches, students can bring in loose change or dollars to donate toward the relief fund. 100% of the money collected will go to help schools in HISD. Please feel free to send in donations with your child to donate in his/her lunch any day from now until Friday, October 13th!
HIJH School-Wide Global Read Aloud
This year, our entire school will be reading the book A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park . This is part of our school-wide initiative to promote a global understanding of the world around us and to help students understand that there is much more outside of the boundaries of Fishers, Indiana. Our class will be working with the students in Ms. Hill's class and connecting to other classrooms around the world to share in this reading experience. Information about the book and the Global Read Aloud movement came home last week in your child's Tuesday folder.
The importance of independent reading
Independent reading of self-selected text is, statistically, the most effective way for a person's reading abilities to grow and vocabulary to increase. Students have a 25 book reading requirement for the year. By now, they should have completed at least 3 books. Please check in with your child to ensure that he/she is reading at home at least 15-20 minutes a day from a book that he/she enjoys. If kids are in a "reading rut" and can't find a book they like, they know that they can come see me for suggestions. I always have plenty of suggestions, and our classroom library is pretty extensive!! With the exception of last week since we were preparing our group projects, I normally try to allow for some independent reading in class as well since I know the students have other obligations, but establishing a reading routine at home will help your child in oh so many ways!! Happy reading!
Some of Mrs. O's recent reading suggestions!
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Fantasy
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Historical Fiction
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
Sci-Fi and Nature Fiction
Learning highlights from this week!
Ancient Greece Projects
This week students worked in groups on projects to share what they are learning about Ancient Greece. Next week students will be presenting their research and artifacts to their classmates.
Students preparing information and presentations about Ancient Greece
Year-Long Humanitarian Projects
Ms. Hill and Mrs. O'Rourke introduced our Year-Long Humanitarian Projects and requirements to the students. Detailed information can be found on Canvas in the Humanitarian Projects Module, but here are the basics:
• This year students will have the opportunity to show 3 different humanitarian acts within the community.
• Each project will be documented with a picture of the student performing the act/event and a short paragraph. These will be displayed all year to celebrate our acts of good will.
• Between Mrs. O'Rourke's and Ms. Hill’s class, it is our goal to perform 300 acts within our community.
• We will also be brainstorming different project ideas within our school and school community.
Upcoming Assessments and Project Due Dates
This section will contain upcoming assessments so that parents can help students stay on top of their studying.
Next Week:
Friday 10/13-Weekly Grammar Assessment
Friday 10/27-Vocabulary Test
Canvas
Canvas is the HSE district's new online learning management system. It has replaced Blackboard. Our classes and our students are all using Canvas now. Family access is slated to be available in October. More news to come!
Mrs. O'Rourke
Email: aorourke@hse.k12.in.us
Location: 12278 N. Cyntheanne Rd., Fishers, IN 46037
Phone: 317-594-4120
Twitter: @MrsORourkeHIJH