Looking ahead to the week of November 4

Mr. Von Plinsky, a war veteran, visited our class last week to talk about the importance of Veterans Day.  He also answered many questions about the time he served in the military.  Students will use the experience to inspire them to write letters to veterans, which will be handed out at our military breakfast on November 11.

Hello, families!  I hope you all enjoyed your weekend and stayed bundled up with a good book.  Be sure to set your clocks back by one hour this upcoming weekend...  Daylight Saving Time ends!

Picture Day is here!  Students will have their pictures taken Wednesday, October 30.  If you would like to purchase photos, please fill out and return the picture packet, which went home in last week's communication folder.

This week's communication folders:  

• Report cards will be issued this Thursday!  Please take a moment to review your child's report card with him/her.  Now is a good time to reflect on this nine weeks and set goals for the next quarter.  You will also find a self-reflection in your child's report card cover.  Please sign and return only the report card cover.  You may keep the contents of the report card cover.  
• You will also find a brochure for our next "Being HERE Experience!"  Diamond Del will be visiting BRES in two weeks.  You will need to sign and return this brochure.  It gives your child permission to partake in this activity.  If your child would like to bring money to purchase items you see in the brochure, please wait until November 15 (when Diamond Del is here)!

Thursday, October 31 is a half-day.  Students will be dismissed at 11:30.  Lunch will be served.  Please make sure your child wear tennis shoes this day, as they will be attending PE for SAIL.  Also, if your child's transportation changes, please send a note to school, so I may inform the office.

Looking ahead:  Students will test on unit four then will begin studying multiplication factors in math (covering lessons 5-1 through 5-2).  Please continue to encourage your child to practice his/her facts every day!  As historians, students will begin learning about specific explorers and the effects exploration had on Native American nations in South Carolina.  In reading, students will continue studying main idea and enjoy a Common Core research lesson with Ms. Sease in the Media Center.  As writers, they will finish drafting and editing their veterans' letters.

Special thanks to Mrs. Donaldson and Mr. Matt for chaperoning our Lexington County Museum "Being There Experience" last Friday!  Be sure to check out some great snapshots of our trip below!

A note from the Health Advisory Committee:  With Halloween fast approaching, we wanted to take this opportunity to review our policies and procedures regarding this day.  We will not be celebrating this holiday in school; this includes any "party" type of celebrations, costume attire, or treat bags.  Classroom snack choices, for those teachers who generally allow them during the day, will continue to follow our healthy snack guidelines which are found in your child's agenda book and on our website. Teachers are asked to ensure adherence to these guidelines during the day. We appreciate your understanding, acceptance and support of these policies.

Celebrating our Veterans:  Third grade will be celebrating veterans during the month of November, in honor of Veterans Day.  We have chosen to adopt one of our very own Bookman parents, Mr. Kevin Dollar, who is currently overseas serving in Jordan. Mr. Dollar is the father of Alexa Dollar in third grade. We would like to shower Mr. Dollar with items to remind him of "home" in South Carolina while he is away from family and friends. We are asking that students send in non-perishable items such as Gatorade, candy, cookies, etc. Our first care package will be mailed on November 15. Please send your items to your child's teacher by November 14.  We will send other care packages throughout the year. We hope you will help us send "home" to Mr. Dollar!

***We have yet to receive any donations from our class for our third grade veteran, whom we are sponsoring.  If you are able to do so, please send in any items you may have at home!  Thank you for your participation!

Thank you again for all of your support and enthusiasm!  It means the world to me!  Have a great week!

Enjoy some snapshots of our Lexington County Museum "Being There Experience!"  The Museum is open to the public for free on December 8, 2:00 - 5:00, for its annual Open House!  It sounds like it will be a good time and great learning experience for the children!

Looking ahead to the week of October 28

Jacy's mom, Mrs. Tucker, joined us for a read aloud last week.  Thank you, Mrs. Tucker, for the fun story and yummy, healthy snacks in honor of Jacy being Blinky's Buddy!

Calling all acorns!  The Carolina Wildlife Center, a non-profit organization (which helps sick, injured, and abandoned wild animals), is in need of acorns for all of the squirrels they are currently caring for at the Center.  If you would like to help out and collect acorns at home, please send your bag to school no later than Thursday, and Mrs. West will take them to the Carolina Wildlife Center.  Be sure to check out some of the squirrels currently be cared for by the Center and a picture of our class collecting acorns for a good cause!

Hi, families!  I hope you all enjoyed your four-day weekend with your sweet kids!  I know many of the children are looking forward to the Harvest Fest this Friday!  While you are there, be sure to bid on our class wreath!

Looking ahead:  Students will continue studying multiplication patterns in math (covering lessons 4-2 through 4-5).  Please continue to encourage your child to practice his/her facts every day!  As historians, students will begin learning about early Native Americans and explorers.  In reading, students will study main idea through Native American legends.  As writers, they will learn about the parts of a friendly letter.

Lexington County Museum:  Students will be going to the Lexington County Museum Friday, October 25.  Please be sure to send a lunch with your child, if that is the option you chose on his/her permission form!

A note from the Health Advisory Committee:  With Halloween fast approaching, we wanted to take this opportunity to review our policies and procedures regarding this day.  We will not be celebrating this holiday in school; this includes any "party" type of celebrations, costume attire, or treat bags.  Classroom snack choices, for those teachers who generally allow them during the day, will continue to follow our healthy snack guidelines which are found in your child's agenda book and on our website. Teachers are asked to ensure adherence to these guidelines during the day. We appreciate your understanding, acceptance and support of these policies.

A note from Kindergarten teachers and students:

Dear Friends,

The kindergarten charity this year is the City of Columbia Animal Shelter. We are very excited about collecting donations to be delivered when we go on our being there experience Oct. 29th. We will collect donations until the last week of October. A table will be set up in the cafeteria for the donations. This is a school wide effort and we appreciate all the donations that will be sent. Thank you so much. 

Celebrating our Veterans:  Third grade will be celebrating veterans during the month of November, in honor of Veterans Day.  We have chosen to adopt one of our very own Bookman parents, Mr. Kevin Dollar, who is currently overseas serving in Jordan. Mr. Dollar is the father of Alexa Dollar in third grade. We would like to shower Mr. Dollar with items to remind him of "home" in South Carolina while he is away from family and friends. We are asking that students send in non-perishable items such as Gatorade, candy, cookies, etc. Our first care package will be mailed on November 15. Please send your items to your child's teacher by November 14.  We will send other care packages throughout the year. We hope you will help us send "home" to Mr. Dollar!

***We have yet to receive any donations from our class for both the kindergarten charity and our third grade veteran, whom we are sponsoring.  If you are able to do so, please send in any items you may have at home!  Thank you for your participation!

I hope you all have a wonderful week and a great weekend!  Thank you, as always, for your support and enthusiasm!

Looking ahead to the week of October 21

Check out our class wreath for Harvest Fest!  After studying animals earlier this month, students created their favorite wild animal out of pipe cleaners and pom-poms.  The children hope it serves as a reminder for people to take care of environments/habitats around the world, so animals will always have a place to call "home."  Thank you to Ms. Dolo, Mrs. Hart, and Mrs. Bibb for all of your help with the wreath!  

Be sure to bid on our wreath at Harvest Fest!  The proceeds benefit our PTO!

Happy three-day week families!  I know the children are looking forward to a little break this weekend.  I hope they continue to enjoy a good book during their down time!  Due to the three-day week, students will not receive communication folders.  The folders will go home next Thursday, October 24.

Looking ahead:  Students will continue studying different genres in reading.  They will learn about subject-verb agreement.  As writers, students will finish working on their personal narratives.  Students will also have their individual first grade high-frequency word spelling post-assessments Wednesday, October 23.  In social studies, the children will review and test on their South Carolina geography unit.  As mathematicians, students review and test on Topic 3.  They will also take a look at multiplication as repeated addition (Lesson 4-1).  Please also note:  Students will be begin taking multiplication fact tests in two weeks!  They need to start reviewing all of their facts, as soon as possible.  Math Magician is a great way to practice (see the link at the bottom of our blog)!

Testing next week:  Please remind your child over the weekend that his/her math study guide and social studies study guide are due on Monday, October 21.  Your child received both study guides Monday, October 14.  Both will be reviewed in class on October 21.  Students will have their social studies vocabulary test on Tuesday, October 22, and the unit test on Wednesday, October 23.  Students will test in math  Tuesday, October 22.  This math test will no longer be online, as originally planned.

Lexington County Museum:  Students will be going to the Lexington County Museum next Friday, October 25.  Please be sure to send a lunch with your child, if that is the option you chose on his/her permission form!

A note from the Health Advisory Committee:  With Halloween fast approaching, we wanted to take this opportunity to review our policies and procedures regarding this day.  We will not be celebrating this holiday in school; this includes any "party" type of celebrations, costume attire, or treat bags.  Classroom snack choices, for those teachers who generally allow them during the day, will continue to follow our healthy snack guidelines which are found in your child's agenda book and on our website. Teachers are asked to ensure adherence to these guidelines during the day. We appreciate your understanding, acceptance and support of these policies.

A note from Kindergarten teachers and students:

Dear Friends,

The kindergarten charity this year is the City of Columbia Animal Shelter. We are very excited about collecting donations to be delivered when we go on our being there experience Oct. 29th. We will collect donations until the last week of October. A table will be set up in the cafeteria for the donations. This is a school wide effort and we appreciate all the donations that will be sent. Thank you so much. 

Celebrating our Veterans:  Third grade will be celebrating veterans during the month of November, in honor of Veterans Day.  We have chosen to adopt one of our very own Bookman parents, Mr. Kevin Dollar, who is currently overseas serving in Jordan. Mr. Dollar is the father of Alexa Dollar in third grade. We would like to shower Mr. Dollar with items to remind him of "home" in South Carolina while he is away from family and friends. We are asking that students send in non-perishable items such as Gatorade, candy, cookies, etc. Our first care package will be mailed on November 15. Please send your items to your child's teacher by November 14.  We will send other care packages throughout the year. We hope you will help us send "home" to Mr. Dollar!

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week and the long weekend!

Looking ahead to the week of October 14

 Thank you to all of the families, who joined us for our National Walk to School celebration last week!  We had a blast hitting the track with you!  

Hello, families!  I hope you all enjoyed your weekend!

Please continue to excuse the "Important Dates" section of our class blog.  The school district is still having some technology issues.  I am going to include an informal important dates section at the beginning of every new post, until the problem has been solved!  Thank you again for your patience and understanding!

Important Dates:

Thursday, October 10

-Book Fair ends

Friday, October 11

-PE

Monday, October 14
-Unit 3 math study guide issued.
-Chapter 2 social studies (SC Geography) issued.

Wednesday, October 16
-Homework packet 8 is due! 
-Homework packet 9 is issued.
-Active Gamecock log begins

Thursday, October 17

-No school for students

Friday, October 18

-No school for students

Monday, October 21
-Chapter 2 social studies study guide is due
-Unit 2 math study guide due

Tuesday, October 22
-Chapter 2 social studies vocabulary test (see fact file for words)
-Unit 2 math test

Wednesday, October 23
-Chapter 2 social studies unit test (SC Geography)

-First grade high-frequency word spelling post-assessment

Friday, October 25

-Harvest Fest

-End of the first nine weeks

-Lexington County Museum

Thursday, October 31

-Half Day.  Dismissal at 11:30.  Lunch will be served.

-PE

-Report cards are issued.
-Active Gamecock log due

Friday, November 1

-Music

Just a friendly reminder:  Please return your child's signed permission form for the Lexington County Museum "Being There Experience," as soon as possible!

Looking ahead:  Students will continue studying different genres in reading.  They will practice good listening and responding habits, as they build on ideas during conversations.  As writers, students will begin working on their personal narratives.  In social studies, the children will learn about South Carolina's climate, different industries, natural resources and major cities.  As mathematicians, students will take a look at models for subtracting 3-digit numbers (lessons 3-7 through 3-9).  Please also note:  Since students have a three-day week, homework packet 8 will be due Wednesday, October 16. 

Thank you so much to those of you who donated items for our "Word Work" station!  They will be put to great use!  If you would still like to donate, we need a Scrabble board game, Bananagrams, etc.  I also want to thank you for purchasing books for our classroom at the Book Fair!  It was such a great surprise and the children are so excited about the books being added to our classroom library!  Your generosity is greatly appreciated!  

A note from the Health Advisory Committee:  With Halloween fast approaching, we wanted to take this opportunity to review our policies and procedures regarding this day.  We will not be celebrating this holiday in school; this includes any "party" type of celebrations, costume attire, or treat bags.  Classroom snack choices, for those teachers who generally allow them during the day, will continue to follow our healthy snack guidelines which are found in your child's agenda book and on our website. Teachers are asked to ensure adherence to these guidelines during the day. We appreciate your understanding, acceptance and support of these policies.

A note from Kindergarten teachers and students:

Dear Friends,

The kindergarten charity this year is the City of Columbia Animal Shelter. We are very excited about collecting donations to be delivered when we go on our being there experience Oct. 29th. We will collect donations until the last week of October. A table will be set up in the cafeteria for the donations. This is a school wide effort and we appreciate all the donations that will be sent. Thank you so much.

Celebrating our Veterans:  Third grade will be celebrating veterans during the month of November, in honor of Veterans Day.  We have chosen to adopt one of our very own Bookman parents, Mr. Kevin Dollar, who is currently overseas serving in Jordan. Mr. Dollar is the father of Alexa Dollar in third grade. We would like to shower Mr. Dollar with items to remind him of "home" in South Carolina while he is away from family and friends. We are asking that students send in non-perishable items such as Gatorade, candy, cookies, etc. Our first care package will be mailed on November 15. Please send your items to your child's teacher by November 14.  We will send other care packages throughout the year. We hope you will help us send "home" to Mr. Dollar!

Have a wonderful rest of the week and enjoy the Fall weather!