Fall Fair 2016

Fall Fair 2016

Thank you to all of our 3/4 SWASome parents who helped make this a successful and fun day for the kids: Chang Family, Forbush Family, Tomlinson Family, Alano Family, Kruth Family, Troescher Family, Hysell Family, and to all of you who sent in food and money for pizza. 

We had a wonderful time!

Back To School Night Presentation

Click HERE to View the Presentation

Book Talk & Hot Topic Presentation Schedule

For more information on what the Book Talks and Hot Topic Presentations are click the tabs above on this site and also view the directions packets listed below. 

Click HERE for Book Talk Directions Packet

Click HERE for Hot Topic Directions Packet

Please don't hesitate to email me with any questions you may have:

choffman@washoeschools.net

August Newsletter 2016

Math: We are exploring numbers and number sense. This includes place value and understanding the base 10 system. We are also going to work on addition, subtraction and multiplication and long division. The depth of these concepts depends on your child’s level and need. Small groups help assist in making sure they are learning what they should be. 

Reading: Identity is the overarching theme of the year so as students read various stories this month they are going to learn about their identity, as well as start to be able to explain the identity of others. We will use Accountable Talk and Text Citation sentence starters for holding them accountable for having professional class discussions. 

Science: FOSS Kit- Motion and Force. All hands on experiments learning about why and how force and motion effects our daily lives. 

Social Studies: Civics is the first major concept students will learn about this semester. They are going to learn about our US Government as well as the electoral process which is great to discuss this election year. They will get a first hand experience as we organize a class council. 

Social Emotional: There are many emotions SWAS students feel this first month. It is a big transition so we are going to work on learning about our brains and recognizing emotions. They will start to learn strategies for reacting to emotions they feel. 

Important Dates to Remember:

-Wednesdays 2:15 release

-Back to School Night Tuesday August 23rd:

Parent Play Time 6:00-6:30

Back to School Presentation 

6:30-7:00 

Things to Ask your Child: 

What is Accountable Talk? 

Can you tell me about place value? 

What are you loving most about class so far? 

If you have any questions please email me:

choffman@washoeschools.net

Or send me a message on Remind

Back to School Information

*This information will be coming home hardcopy as well*

Hello Parents!

Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year. I am very excited to have all of your children in my class this year. I wanted to send out some general information that will be helpful to you for getting the year started.

Communication:

Ways to get ahold of me:

Email: choffman@washoeschools.net

Phone at Whitehead: 626-5200 (before or after school hours)

Remind App: you can send as well as receive message from me

Class Website/Blog: www.whiteheadswas34.blogspot.com  Many helpful resources and links, pictures, newsletters etc.

 

Agenda Books:

Each student has an agenda book they will be writing their homework and project information down on daily. Each night you are to read their agenda to see what they have for homework and initial on the right hand side every night. Each morning students with a signed agenda book get a stamp. I count the stamps at the end for the week and those are used as a grade for responsibility. I am teaching them how to be responsible for managing their work.

Homework:

Students will have homework each week starting the week of 8/15/16. Homework will come home on the first day of the week (generally Mondays) and will be due the last day of the week (generally Fridays).  There will be 3 types of homework each week.

Reading Log: They are to read for 20 minutes nightly and work on part of their reading log for 5 minutes each night. By Thursday they should have the whole Reading Log complete and ready to turn in on Friday morning.

Math Fact Practice: They are to study multiplication facts through 12’s until fluent. They will have access to a site called XtraMath. There are apps you can download. This program is like a digital version of flashcards. They do not have to use XtraMath, they can use flashcards or worksheets as well. They need to be doing quick repetitive practice of the facts in order to memorize them. There will be a sheet they will fill in and you sign twice during the week. I want you to check their progress or quiz them two times during the week so you are aware of how they are doing.

Spelling: The students will have spelling lists on a site called SpellingCity. There are activities they will do online to help them practice their words. They will have a test at the end of the week on the words.

Class Behaviors:

Students will be rewarded for having expected behaviors. We talk often about having polite and professional behaviors in class. They know that they are practicing for being adults and they need to gain the skills now in order to be successful in the future. They can be rewarded several ways.

Class Cash: Students can earn money for displaying expected behaviors. Students will save the Class Cash and can purchase rewards from me. Rewards are things like: homework pass, prize box, free seating for the day, wheely chair for the day etc.

Class Dojo: We are using a digit behavior system as well called Class Dojo. You will be able to log in and check their progress at any time and get live updates when they are rewarded or deducted Dojo points.  Students will receive a weekly Dojo printout of their week long behaviors. You will sign the page and send it back in to class. The students will be rewarded for the amount of points they earned by having a signed and returned Dojo form.

Class Marble Jar: The whole class earns marbles in a jar for the whole class displaying expected behaviors. When the marble jar is full they can earn whole class prizes like; pizza parties, extra free time, technology time etc.  

If students are having unexpected behaviors they will have consequences for those choices. Consequences depend on the level of severity; loss of Dojo Points, loss of Class Cash, afternoon recess detention. I will always let you know if I have behavior or academic concerns about your child.

 

Volunteering:  You can sign up on Signup.com by Clicking HERE

There are many ways you can help in our classroom. I have set up a site called SignUp.com I will send out an email with a link to the site where you can sign up for classroom volunteering. Here are some of the ways you can help:

Class field trips

Classroom help- copying, making projects, light grading etc.

Classroom small group leader- during Reading or Math I can assign several students to your group and you can assist them with the work they are doing.

Public Relations J- I can always use help organizing field trips and guest speakers. I would love someone to help make calls and arranging extra-curricular activities for our class.

Party Planners- we have birthday parties monthly and holiday parties as well as they come up. I would love several parents to help organize and plan these events.

Communication Checklist

In order to communicate with you efficiently you will need to be logged onto several resources. Below is a link to the Checklist. Please initial next to each item when you have logged in to each resource. Your initials let me know you are on and can and will access information from these sites as necessary.

Click HERE for Communication Checklist

Parent Login and Password Sheet

To help keep you organized and able to remember all the logins for our class I've created a sheet for you to keep track of the login information for each site. The students have their own copy in their agenda books.

Click HERE for Login/Password Sheet

16-17 Schedule

Recess 11:30-12:00

Lunch 12:00-12:30 

Afternoon Recess 1:45-2:00

Specials: 

Note**Specials don't start until this Thursday 8/11/16

Monday: Music (Mrs. Fix) 9:45-10:15

Tuesday: Computers (Mrs. Wehking) 9:45-10:45

Wednesday: Library (new teacher) 9:45-10:15

Thursday: P.E. (Mr. Ramos) 9:15-9:45

Friday: Music (Mrs. Fix) 9:15-9:45

Back to School BBQ

A message from WHITEHEAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL- Mrs. Dominguez (our principal) 

Hello Whitehead Families:

I am looking forward to seeing you all next Thursday night Aug. 4th from 5:00-6:30 PM at our PFA Back To School Family BBQ.

Hot dog meals are $3 , hamburger meals are $4 and Snow cones are $1 each. If you join our awesome PFA (Parent Faculty Association) that night for $10 per family you will get a free raffle ticket. You can also purchase additional PFA raffle tickets for $1 each or 25 for $20.

During the BBQ you will also be able to:

1. Meet your teacher and our school staff and other Whitehead families
2. Pay your $25 per student classroom fee in check or cash ( make checks to Whitehead School and put your child's name on it)
3. Apply for the free/reduced lunch program (Lunch will now be $2.60 a day, a 10 cent increase from last year per the WCSD Nutrition Services Dept.)
4. Complete your yearly volunteer application and submit a copy of your drivers license with the form
5. Get any other questions answered to help you start the school year off right

When you completed the online registration you chose to get this message on phone, email and text message. If you are not getting it in the format that you'd like or your contact information has changed, please contact our school office next week any day between 9:00AM and 3:00PM.  

School begins on Monday, August 8th at 8:55AM for all 1st-6th grade students and it is a full day ending at 3:00PM.

I can't wait to see you all next Thursday at the BBQ. Have a wonderful last week of summer, make sure you are reading and getting some fun exercise everyday.

--Mrs. Dominguez 

Welcome SWAS Class of 16-17

Hello Parents and SWAS 3/4 Students 

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer so far! I wanted to say hello and send you a few small things your and the kiddos might enjoy. As you may or may not know our class will be 1 to 1, which means each student will have their own computer to use all year long! This is SO exciting!! I've been taking classes all summer on ways to make learning fun using computers and can't wait to get started. 

If you're here then you can now check out our class blog. It's a place I like to post newsletters, pictures, updates and helpful links. 

If you haven't already please check your email and respond to my email to verify I have you're correct contact information. 

Next, please have the students join our class Wiki Space. It is an education based site where the whole class can work together on projects, communicate and get information from me. I have used Edmodo in the past, and will be trying this Wiki instead. Both platforms are private and protected- only those with the link can access our site. Also, we will be spending much of the first week learning about Digital Citizenship so students know what and what not to do when working online. 

https://wikispaces.com/join/QMHFJJR

Join Code: QMHFJJR

I have also created a little presentation for the students to welcome them to SWAS. The presentation covers general SWAS information, things specific to our class as well as some fun summer challenges. 

Click HERE to view

I always welcome your questions so please don't ever hesitate to contact me. Email is best and I try to check it daily. Again, I hope you are having a wonderful summer and look forward to meeting you all August 4th, 5:00-6:30 for the Back to School BBQ at Whitehead on the front lawn. It's always a fun evening! 

Carrie

choffman@washoeschools.net

5/6 Weekly Update

Hi Families!

I will try to do weekly emails just to keep in touch as we are in crunch time. And before I begin I want to say thank you so much for all the wonderful Teacher’s Appreciation gifts. I love my job and am so appreciative for all of you! Second, Happy Mother’s Day to all you amazing moms! I hope you get to relax and enjoy your day!

Here are some things you need to know about. This week will be long as I introduce all these things, and the next few weeks will be shorter. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

1. No more reading logs, math fact practice or spelling. Still check their agendas as they are writing down project work they need to do. Technically we only have 3 weeks left and they are doing so much practical application of reading and writing for their Natural Disaster project it takes the place of the reading and spelling homework. As for Math, we are in Testing Month- yay! So we are cramming and reviewing like crazy in class. They all pretty much have their multiplication facts mastered at this point but if you want to do it with them that's fine but not required. 

2. Donner Field Trip- it was great! Perfect weather and the kids all had a good time. Check it out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIzxbq48iXY (if the link doesn’t work let me know)

3. SBAC Testing- They did great this week. I told them how thankful I was that they were able to read. They worked and read for a very long time and I am so proud of the stamina they had.  Upcoming Test Dates: Monday 5/9 PM; Wednesday 5/18 AM Math; Thursday 5/19 AM Math. 

4. N.D. Project (Natural Disaster Project)- They are working SO SO hard on their Essays. I have high expectations but they always rise to the challenge. They are learning how to do research using credible sources, cite their sources, about the purpose and how to's of making a bibliography, using transition words, paraphrasing, how to write persuasively and write a concluding sentence. And that's all in 2 weeks!!! They will turn in their final draft including bibliography (from EasyBib) on May 13th. Their paper will be revised by a peer, myself and you are more than welcome to read it and assist them in their writing journey as well. Here is the rubric for the essay. They will use this when revising in class and you can use it at home as well.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxIFKqo_jMgKSTk1T3NuMGYtMG8/view?usp=sharing

***Please make sure they are brining their flash drives to and from school daily as needed to work on their projects. Missing flash drives make a waste of class time, and lost flash drives make lots of tears. If you have a gmail account you can have them save them on a Google Doc so they don’t need a flash drive. This is what we will be doing next year.***

5. N.D. Project- They are going to start working as a team to make a Safety Kit that they will then have to advertise. This will start the fun parts of the project. They will create their kits, determine the cost (as real as possible), make an iMovie commercial for their Safely Kit which will be viewed by other students and the commercials will be voted on. Then on June 2nd at 6:00pm you will get to see them attempt to sell their kit to a panel of potential "buyers". The team who is the most convincing, with strong factual evidence and well as strong persuasive techniques will be deemed the winner. 

6. Infinite Campus- I have some papers to put in over the weekend, but please be checking IC weekly (get the App if you don't have it). All assignments must be turned in by May 27th. They will be doing project work the following week but the credit for the work will be done May 27th. 

7. Music Field Trip on 5/20- Mrs. Fix has asked if we could have 3 chaperones that day. If you are interested please let me know. 

8. Ace’s Field Trip- if you haven’t signed and returned the purple form and money please do so. 

9. Upcoming Dates to Remember: 

5/9 SBAC Reading PM

5/13 Essays Due

5/18 SBAC Math AM

5/19 SBAC Math PM

5/20 Music Field Trip

5/20 Team Commercials Due

5/23 MAP Reading Test AM

5/24 MAP Math Test AM

5/27 Jog-a-Thon

5/27 Infomercial Outline due

5/27 Book Projects/Book Talks Due

5/27 All Quarter 4 work due

6/2 Presentation Night 6:00pm Whitehead cafeteria 

6/4 Ace’s Field Trip 9:00-2:00

6/9 Last Day of School 12:50 Release

Ok…that’ enough for 1 week! Have a great weekend and a very Happy Mother’s Day! 

With Love, 

Carrie 

May News

I just wanted to go over a few things as we head into our last full month of school.

1.       Donner Field trip on Monday- MUST bring a cold lunch, dress warm in layers, wear tennis shoes, no devices to play games (phones are allowed but must be put away).

2.       Chaperons for Monday. Please come on Monday- we are leaving at 9:30. We have to see how full the buses are, but we are hoping most of you will be able to ride the bus. If you’d like to drive that’s fine. I will assign everyone a group of students on Monday.

3.       Natural Disaster Project- we are well underway. They are cooking! Check Infinite Campus- ELA Writing and Science to see if they are missing anything, if so they are behind. Once they get behind on the project it is tough, but not impossible, to catch up. Please make sure you are checking agendas nightly as they have a list of To Do’s in there.

4.       June 2^nd- Mark your calendars for Presentation Night 6:00 in the Multipurpose Room. I’ll send home a formal flyer later in May. But you can invite family members to come. It’s a fun and amazing event!

5.       Please check out the Natural Disaster Blog for Due dates and links for assignments.

6.       SBAC Testing- Please make sure your child gets a GOOD night’s sleep, has a nice healthy breakfast. Talk to them about the test’s importance, but tell them it’s not the End All Be All for their future. They are going to do great! Please let me know if they are going to miss any of these days and we will get them in for makeups.

a.       May 4- ELA in morning

b.      May 9- ELA in morning and afternoon

c.       May 18- Math in morning and afternoon

d.      May 19- Math in morning

7.       All work must be turned in May 27^th for Quarter 4.

8.       Get out your calendars for these upcoming events:

a.       May 4- SBAC

b.      May 9-SBAC

c.       Math 18-SBAC

d.      Math 19-SBAC

e.      May 20^th Pioneer Center Field trip with Music

f.        May 23- MAP Reading test in the morning

g.       Math 24- MAP Math test in the afternoon

h.      May 27- Whitehead Jog-A-Thon

i.         May 27- End of Grading Period- all work must be turned in

j.        May 30^th No School Memorial Day

k.       June 2- Presentation Night 6:00pm

l.         June 7- Reno Ace’s Field trip

m.    June 9- Last Day of School 12:50 release

4th Grade Introduction Side

All 4th Graders are required to make a single slide PowerPoint. The slide is your opportunity to introduce yourself to Mrs. Cameron and Mr. Sorensen. You will present your slide to them at lunch one day on the last week of school. Your slide must represent you and your personality yet be mindful that this may be their first impression of you. And you never get a second chance to make a first impression. 

Slide should include:
Your name and any nic names you go by
Your hobbies
Your talents
Favorite part of SWAS
Your favorite subject
Optional: 
A question for them? 
Random fact or information

Click HERE to turn in your slide

Natural Disaster Project

Click here to visit the Natural Disaster Site

We have started our Natural Disaster Project! I've created a blog to organize and store all the information they will need for this project. Due dates, links for research, rubrics. Please check it out!

The students have studied several different types of natural disasters and are now starting research for the major pieces of the project.

There are 3 products the students will create by the end of the quarter:

1- An essay containing information about their natural disaster, a persuasive component discussing the importance and how to be safe during the disaster, and a bibliography citing all their texts used.

2- A commercial for a Safety Kit. Their group will make a safety kit to sell (hypothetically) that will help people protect themselves and their homes during the natural disaster. They will produce a video commercial that students from across the district will view and vote on.

3- An infomercial on their Safety Kit. On presentation night June 2nd their team will perform a short live infomercial style presentation of their Safety Kit, as well as be asked questions and receive feedback from experts and community members.


There is SO much your children will learn this quarter that is not related to Science:

-Collaboration Skills
-Communication Skills
-Self-regualtion
-Use of technology for learning
-Real World problem solving and innovating

I am very excited about the project and can't wait to see how much they will learn and grow over these next few weeks!

Please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions: choffman@washoeschools.net