sscanlon

Reminder

Don't forget that there's no school for students tomorrow!

Hat Day

Friday, October 30th is Hat Day!  Bring $1 to support Relay for Life and students can wear their favorite hats all day!  Thank you for your support!

Recent Activities

10/27/09 "Sleepy Hollow" at the Civic Center

Download SleepyHollowStudyGuide

Our performing arts trip this year was to the Cobb Civic Center to see "Sleepy Hollow".  The performing arts permission slip you turned in about a month ago served as the permission slip.  The county asks for $14 donations to help pay for these kinds of trips.  If you have not paid yet, please consider doing that. 

Homework Suggestions for week of 10/12

This week in social studies, we are continuing to discuss the Creek Indian Tribe.  We have learned who James Oglethorpe, Mary Musgrove and Tomochichi are.  We have also discussed the way settlers started the state of Georgia many years ago.  I have suggested that students do the activity where they pretend they are a Creek boy or girl and do a journal entry, or they can discuss Mary Musgrove with you. 

For science, we still have not started our energy unit, so please try to stick to the matter and health activities.  Thanks!

Upcoming Events

 

Pumpkin Day

Pumpkin Day will be Friday, October 30th from 10-12.  Please let me know if you are interested in volunteering.  I need people to help with pumpkin carving and distributing pumpkin foods.  Download PumpkinDay

Georgia Educational Programs

Sequoyah is coming to visit our school!  On Monday, November 2, Georgia Educational Programs, Inc. will be sending a professional Sequoyah impersonator to share important information with the children and show them how he was dressed.  The cost for this in-school experience is $6 and your child must have a permission slip to participate, even though we are remaining at school.

Fire Safety Village

This will be rescheduled soon...Your child will be going to the Cobb County Fire Safety Village as soon as we have rescheduled this trip!  We expect to learn procedures for fire safety.  The trip is free.  

Homework Suggestions for week of 10-5-09

There's been some confusion about what has been taught in social studies and science...I apologize for that!  I'll start posting each week what is being taught so you'll know what activity to do for homework.

Social Studies

This week, we'll be talking about the jobs, home, clothing, tools and celebrations of the Creek Indian Tribe, making the first activity on the calendar a good choice for this week.  This is the one where they would make a Venn diagram comparing the jobs of Creek men versus women.  We will begin discussing that tomorrow, so I suggested they do that activity on Wednesday.

Science

The students can choose any activity for science/health except those regarding heat, light and sound energy.  All other topics are covered on an ongoing basis and should be combined with at home discussions. 

Guest Readers

Root Beer Floats for Fun Friday!

Progress Reports/Grading

As you are reviewing your child's progress report this evening, please look at the grading rubric that I included.  Please keep in mind that this is designed for teachers, not parents, so if you see jargon you don't understand, that's why.  I decided to share it because I don't think it's clear what a child has to do to move from one level to the next.  One particular example I can think of is the "Uses grade level words appropriately" standard.  This is actually what prompted me to send the rubrics.  To earn a three in that area, your child needs to be able to understand and use the vocabulary words "synonym" and "antonym".  Each quarter, we will focus on a different set of "grade level words".  :)  I hope it is helpful for you to see exactly what your child needs to know in order to meet the standard.  Remember, they do need to be able to show me on a written or verbal assessment at school, but certainly, your discussion at home will help.  Keep in mind that the quarter is not over, and I'll be reassessing your child on many of these standards before report cards.  The math grades are going up quickly too.  The midway point of the grading period was actually last week, right when we were starting regrouping, and now everyone's pretty much gotten the hang of it. I expect to be giving out a lot more threes than I did on the progress reports.  I hope this information will help you!

Please send back the progress report with your signature (tomorrow, if possible), and then I'll give you a copy to keep.  Everything else that was stapled to the progress report is yours to keep.  I'm pleased with the progress we're making!  Let me know if you have questions at any time.  Thanks!

Snack

Thank you so much for the cereal and other snacks you've sent in!  That should last us for awhile.  Remember, most days, it's best to send your child with their own healthy snack, and the cereal will be used for days when kids forget.  Our supply should last all year if we do that. Healthy snacks include, fresh cut veggies, crackers, cheese sticks, yogurt (please include spoon), fruit, granola bars, and pretzels.  Cookies, chips and other "junk foods" are not allowed.  Please be mindful of this rule when you're packing your kids lunches too.  We all love dessert, but have you seen your child on a sugar high? ;)  It's not the best state-of-mind for learning.  Don't forget that water is the only beverage allowed in the classroom, and water bottles must have a flip-top or pop-top, not a screw top.  This helps prevent catastrophic spills.  ;)   Thanks for your support!