October 27-30

FIELD TRIP

It's bound to be a whirlwind week. With Monday off, we'll need to resist the urge to fit too much into a short week. Our class went to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs this afternoon. We're sure to talk often about the variety of inventions and social implications of being thought of as a "science nerd" as presented in the movie. The kids were very well behaved in the theatre and thought the whole 3D experience was great! Many thanks to Madi Whittaker's mom, Emily's grandma, Maddy Rhodes's mom, Emma's aunt, and our substitute aide, Mrs. Dimick for chaperoning the trip.

PUMPKINS

The pumpkin projects are AMAZING! The characters match their sketches so well! Please have your child return their rough drafts of the character sketches so final drafts can be completed. The pumpkins are being displayed in the hallway with the final drafts for all to see. We hope you'll have time to stop by to see them.

SEED PROJECTS - HOMEWORK FOR OCT. 27-NOV 2

Your child has a sheet in their home folder describing this week's homework project. We realize we've had two project assignments in a row and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please know we had to take many things into consideration when planning the projects and other assignments. We look forward to seeing how many different kinds of seeds will be collected and how creatively they'll be displayed.

TESTING SCHEDULE

This is just a reminder that our testing schedule is a little out of whack this week. Reading, spelling, and grammar tests will be Tuesday, Oct. 28. (We'll even have a science test on seeds and plant parts!) We'll get back on track next Monday with a new set of vocabulary and spelling words, followed by a test on Friday.

HALLOWEEN

I left my list of things people offered to provide for our party at school, so I'll have to update with that information tomorrow. I won't be in school Thursday and Friday this week due to family illness. Mrs. Natasha Cucinella will be our substitute. She has experience with our schedules and topics and will do a wonderful job. Please remind your child to keep their costume in a bag until time to get dressed for the parade (at 1:15.) Have a great time trick-or-treating Friday night and don't forget about the Haunted House at NCS on Saturday!

HARLEM ROCKETS

We hope to see you at the Harlem Rockets game/performance next Tuesday night. Presale tickets are $8. $10 at the door.

Have a great time trick-or-treating! I hope Mrs. Ellsworth will take lots of pictures so I can see you all at your scariest!

Mrs. Groff

My apologies for the lack of updates. I'm still unable to create new posts from school! Once I get home, life here kind of takes over and...... well, I'm sure you know what I mean!

The buildings the kids designed for the Community Home Project were outstanding! They received social studies, speaking, and listening grades for the project and presentation. We've received so many wonderful compliments from community members who have viewed them in the hallway. Thank you so much for your help and support at home. It means so much to me and everything to your children.

Our field trip to Conbeer's Farm was a real treat. The weather was beautiful and we were lucky to have many helpful chaperons. Our sincere appreciation to Mrs. Alter (Madi's grandma), Mr. Cozzolino (Katelynn's dad), Mrs. Lastro (Daniel's mom), and Mrs. Ellsworth. Picking out our own pumpkins was a highlight. The oxen demonstration was fascinating ~ they were given the same commands we heard in the Oxcart Man! We were awed by the opportunity to milk a goat and all of us wanted to make pickles as soon as we got home! The only casualty was my voice. I was a little hoarse from running screaming through the corn and hay mazes. If you can't beat them, join them!

We hope you'll have a chance to see Calib Warner's Star Student display in the hallway. The kids have all written to him describing everything they know and appreciate about him. We're so lucky to be surrounded by such great friends!

Homework assignments are coming in more consistently. Each night your child has two math sheets (the B side) and a page connected to reading, social studies, or science. The only exceptions will be math assessment days and project weeks. Each homework assignment receives a grade and is averaged into a cumulative grade for the subject. Since a cover page listing all homework assignments was sent home in your child's home folder, I won't duplicate the information here.

The reading tests continue to present challenges. Please know it's nearly impossible to receive perfect scores on them all the time. The skills we're learning to apply often involve higher level thinking skills and these processes aren't taught or learned in a few lessons. However, please contact me if you have concerns. I'd be happy to discuss any of your questions.

Our math scores have been EXCELLENT. Participation in social studies and science activities has been outstanding. This hardworking class isn't shy to "go the extra mile." They're a pleasure to work with! I want you to know I realize how much energy goes into raising a responsible child. Your commitment shows!

Enjoy the rest of your week!
Lanie Groff