October Newsletter

Happy October!

            Can you believe we are a quarter of the way through the year already? This has been a wonderful start. I just love your children so much! They are binging me laugher and joy every day! I am LOVING the Family History Projects. I can’t believe the time and energy that went into their projects. I will be posting pictures for you to see some of the amazing things they have done. We talked today as they started presenting their projects about work expectations. In SWAS we have high expectations for them as preparation for the future. They need to make sure to take pride in their work to get the grades they want. As they do this they will find strategies (like spell check, and peer editors) to help them with skills they are not so strong with.  Here are a few things that will help you help your child stay successful and reach their fullest potential:

·        Check agendas. Know what assignments/projects your child is responsible for.

·        Check Infinite Campus regularly. Know how your child is preforming.

·        Talk to your child about test corrections and makeup work when necessary.

·        Go through the Purple Friday Folders with care weekly. Separate grade work and keep it in a safe place. I suggest a plastic tub). Have them correct work that has low scores.

·        Communicate with the teacher when you have concerns… with anything

·        Get your child involved in extra-curricular activities. Interactions with kids their age, competing with others, dealing with conflict/resolution situations outside of school are things that will help your child become self-confident. Self-confidence and success are dependent upon each other.

The second quarter we are going to be diving deeper into Multiplication and Division. Keep up with the Daily Fact practices with multiplication. Knowing the facts quickly allows them to do more complex problems more easily. In Science we are learning about magnetism and gravity. We are learning though hands on experiments and observations as well as text book reading. We are about to start a new Social Studies unit on Nevada history. They will be learning about our great state, its symbols, geography, and rich history both from the pioneer’s point of view as well as from the Native American’s point of view. In reading we are doing to start reading a class novel called Patty Reed’s Doll. It is a wonderful story about the Donner Party told from the perspective of a girl’s doll as they journey West. As they read they will be learning how to compare themes and messages among different texts, like historical facts from Patty Reed’s doll compared to facts in the Social Studies Text book.

Lastly, I am SO SO excited about our second annual Fall Fair! This is a really fun day that just my class has.  On Friday October 23^rd all morning long the students will be rotating though fun Fall centers that are parent lead. The students get to dress up in their costumes that day which makes it even more fun! There will be relay races, a doughnut eating contest, a skeleton memory game, mummy decorating, a Fall craft project and a pumpkin math activity. I need parent support in order for this day to be a success. If you are able to help please click on the link and sign up for an activity that sound fun to you. They will be in groups of 4-5 rotating every 20 minutes from 9:00-11:30. I can’t wait for all the fun! This is one of my favorite days of the year!!  After lunch the students will be doing a class activity and then passing around treats and watching Percy Jackson: The Lightening Thief. We are reading the book right now in class and will be done by then. You are more than welcome to attend the party and please feel free to sign up to send in or bring something for the party. *See email or blog for links to sign up

Upcoming dates to remember:

October 5-9: Conference Week 12:50 release every day

October 14^th: NO EARLY RELEASE. Due to high school finals week

October 18^th: Run for Education Sparks Marina

October 15^th-23^rd: Grassroots Book Fair in Library

October 21^st: Whitehead Fall Carnival, time in the evening TBA

October 23^rd: Hoffman’s Class Fall Fair 9:00-11:30, Halloween Party 1:00-3:00

October 26^th-30^th: Fall Break NO SCHOOL

November 2^nd: Return to School

November 6^th: Field Trip to Carson City Museum

November 11^th: (Wednesday) NO SCHOOL Veteran’s Day

November 25^th-27^th: Thanksgiving Break NO SCHOOL

Fall Fair 2015

Fall Fair was a hit!!!! The kids had a great day! They enjoyed all the fun activities

and really enjoyed all the treats in the afternoon as we watched Percy Jackson The Lightening Thief (though we all agree the book was better!) 

I want to thank all the parents and grandparents who helped with the Fall Fair Activities:

 Mr. and Mrs. Keller, Mrs. Danen, Mrs. Dishman, Mrs. Boharsik, Mrs. Alano, Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Colcock, Mrs. Conforti, Mrs. Santos, Mrs. Knight. 

You all made this wonderful day happen! Thank you VERY much!  

Pumpkin Math Activities

Pumpkin Art

Spooky Realy Races

Mummy Decorating

Happy Kid!!!

Skeleton Memory

Doughnut Eating Contest

Great times with good friends!

Dressing Godzilla up as a mummy

October birthday creatures! 

Book Projects and Book Talks

Each quarter the students are required to do a Book Project. There are about 15 different types of projects the students can choose from. They are to read a book at a 4th grade level or higher and complete a project by the end of the quarter.

Once a year the students will do a Book Talk or Book Presentation (same thing)
They will receive the directions and do three things: Create and outline of the book, make a Visual Aid, and Read a passage from the book. They will be scores on their Outline, Visual Aid, Reading from the book, and Overall Presentation Skills.

**Note- The quarter your child does his/her Book Talk they WILL NOT do a separate Book Project. 


To get a copy of the Book Talk Directions Click HERE

Infinite Campus App

There is a VERY easy way for you to see your children's assignments/grades/attendance often!

On your smart phone just type in Infinite Campus to find the app. On my Android, it's called Campus Portal.  Download the app, enter your IC login and password and the code below for the District ID. And voilà... instant access. Under settings you can set up to be notified (or not) when assignments/attendance/grades are updated.

**Note: If you don't know your Infinite Campus login information please call the school office and they can help you.  775-626-5200

Infinite Campus Mobile Application

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Infinite Campus has a mobile application available for both Android and IOS mobile operating systems

Please use the following District Code to access the app for your smart phone: MJCFXT

This is what the main menu will look like on Campus Portal...very easy to use!

(Food Service has now become a separate App: My School Bucks. 

You will have to download this one separately. See note below) 

This is how graded assignments will look.You can see the missing assignments have the

triangle with the exclamation point to easily see what your child is missing. 

This is what the icon looks like for the My School Bucks application. 

On this app you can put money into the hot lunch account for your child as well

as view their current balance. 

September Newsletter

Happy September Everyone!

I wanted to share what the kids are going to be working on this month.

1. First, we are starting our first project. It's a Family History Project. The students will be getting a packet of directions as well as the scoring rubrics. Rubrics are a great way for the students to know specifically how they can receive total points for assignments. There will be three major parts to this project: a family tree, a paragraph sharing a family members contributions to society, and a free choice activity. The students will need your help. Please be thinking about your family history, gathering photos if you have them, and set aside some time to share information and stories from your family's past. I will be covering all the basics of how and what they need to do in class. I will teach them the skills of conducting an interview, writing a strong paragraph, basic computer skills (using Word, formatting, using a flash drive), and primary and secondary sources. The only help I'm asking for at home is for you to share information about your family and for you to be checking in with them to make sure they are completing the work.

The due date for the project is October 2nd. Students will be sharing parts of their project with the class the following week October 5-9.

2. For Math this month we are continuing to work on Numbers Base Ten. We will cover place value, rounding. Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Depending on where your child is mathematically will guide me how deep to go, with these concepts.

3. We are working on learning basic reading skills and terms as we read short stories as well as our Read Aloud, Percy Jackson; The Lightening Thief.

4. Friday September 18th we will be going to the Air Races. You will receive a form from both Whitehead as well as the Air Races. Please sign both and return them by Sept 11th. If you are interested in chaperoning pleas sign the form letting me know. I would love to take at least 5 parents. (Make sure you have submitted your Volunteer Application)

5. As we progress in the 1st quarter make sure to be checking Infinite Campus Weekly. There is an App, Campus Portal that makes checking grades very simple. If you need help just let me know.

If you ever have concerns about your child's grades please don't hesitate to email. Remember students can redo/makeup most assignments until the end of the quarter.

6. Upcoming Dates to remember:

September 7th. - Labor Day No a School

September 18th- Air Races Field Trip

September 25th- September Birthday Celebration October 5-9th- Conference Week 12:50 Release all week October 16th- End of Grading Period October 23rd- Fall Fair (a fun Fall activity day in our class) and October Birthday Celebration October 26-30- Fall Break No School

Book Projects and Presentations

Reading Project and Book Presentation Information

¾  SWAS Whitehead

·         Book Requirements

o   At least a Reading Level of 4.0 or higher

     - Check on Scholastic Book Wizard for reading level if unknown
Scholastic Book Wizard

o   Only 1 graphic novel book project a year (can read graphic novels for fun)

o   Try to read a variety of genres for book projects

§  Science Fiction

§  Realistic Fiction

§  Historical Fiction

§  Mystery

§  Action

§  Adventure

§  Non-Fiction

§  Folk/Fairy Tales or Myths

o   Students can earn Genre Badges as they read a variety of genres

·         Book Project Information

o   One book project will be turned in each quarter. 4 total for the year

o   Students will present one of the projects in front of the class

§  Assigned quarter for Book Project Presentation/Book Talk at the bottom

§  Additional information on the book will be required when doing the Book Project Presentation/Book Talk.

·         Students will be given the rubric and additional information for the Book Project Presentation/Book Talk at the start of the quarter they will be presenting

o   Students will choose a different type of Book Project each quarter. They cannot do the same type of project twice.

o   They will receive the directions and rubric for the Book Project at the start of each quarter.

o   Students have all quarter to complete the project with the final due dates below. However, if they finish the project early they can turn it in anytime that quarter.

First Quarter Due Date: October 2^nd

Second Quarter Due Date: December 11^th

Third Quarter Due Date: March 11^th

Fourth Quarter Due Date: June 3^rd

  

Rock Candy

 

I love the little photo bomber!!! I

27 cups of sticky sugary sweetness just waiting to crystallize. 

Rock Candy should be done in about 2 weeks....fingers crossed!