Looking ahead to the week of April 6

Ms. Sease spoke to our class about the upcoming visit by author/illustrator, David Biedrzycki.  He'll be here Tuesday, March 24!  Students may still purchase autographed copies of his books.  The order form went home in last week's communication folders.

Hello, families!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

ACT Testing:  Students will begin preparing for the ACT test, which will take place April 28 -30.  Students will be tested in the areas of reading, writing, and math.  Each test will be timed.  Students will continue reviewing what they've learned all year, in order to prepare for the big test!  They will be reminded each day that this test is not something to stress about, but to look at as their time to shine and show all they've learned this year!  It should be an exciting week!  We like to make this week very special for students, which is why we are reaching out and asking for donations.  Since testing days are so draining, we are planning on having a breakfast item (students should still eat breakfast before school, though!), then handing out something sweet during our breaks and finally giving them a snack and a juice when testing is over for the day.  It makes the day seem a little “sweeter!”  If you are able to make a donation, please contact me at awest@richland2.org, as soon as possible, to let me know the items you'd like to send in and the specific day!  Thank you, in advance, for helping make testing more enjoyable for the children!  The following items are needed (23 of each):

• 3 days of juice boxes  - CHECK!  All three days of juice boxes have been donated! Yay!
• 3 days of breakfast type food (Muffins, cereal bars, Pop Tarts, etc) - One day of breakfast has been donated! Yay!  We still need two more days worth of breakfast items!
• 3 or so bags of individually wrapped candy (Smarties, Nerds, etc… something that is not sticky and messy.) - One bag of candy has been donated! Yay!  We still need two more bags!
• 3 days of a snack-type item (pretzels, baked chips, fruit snacks, etc.) - CHECK!  All three days of snacks have been donated! Yay!
• Napkins (enough for all three days)

*Please note that we have nut allergies in our classroom!

Looking ahead:  As mathematicians, students will wrap up their study of perimeter.  They will take a quiz on this unit (no study guide will be issued).  Students will then begin learning about lines and line segments.  Please check out our Topics 13 and 11 family letters, to help you better understand the content covered. We'll continue our mixed operation quizzes.  During language arts, students will study elements of informational text, using South Carolina Social Studies Weekly newspapers,  The children will continue working on cursive handwriting, narrative summaries, and prompt writing (in preparation for their state-wide test in April).  Students will review simple, compound, and complex sentences.  As historians, students will continue studying the Reconstruction era in South Carolina.  They will complete various in-class assignments, which will count as a test grade for this unit.

Topic 13 (Perimeter) Home Letter:

Topic 11 (Geometry) Home Letter:

Half-day:  Students will have a half-day Thursday, March 26.  If your child's transportation changes, please be sure to send a note.  Students will be served lunch.  Dismissal will be 11:30.

Homework:  Students will not receive a new homework packet this week.  They'll receive their packet the Monday they return from Spring Break.

Communication folders:  Students will not receive a communication folder this week.  They'll receive their next communication folder Thursday, April 9, along with their report card for the third nine weeks!  

MAP Testing:  Students will take their math MAP test Tuesday, April 7, and their reading MAP test Tuesday, April 14.  Students are encouraged not to stress over these tests, but to just do their personal best!  These results will show their growth over the course of this year.  

Field Day:  Field Day is Friday, April 10!  Please be sure your child dresses appropriately for the weather and wears tennis shoes.  Also, your child may bring a bottle of water from home to enjoy, while doing various activities outside.  Please be sure to write his/her name on it with a permanent marker.  Also, if you are able to volunteer, please fill out the form that was sent home in your child's communication folder last week.  Volunteers make Field Day possible!  If you have misplaced the form, you can contact Mr. Schirmer directly. 

A note from first grade: First grade's charity will go throughout March.  Our charity is to collect money for the Columbia Police Department's K-9 Unit.  We want to raise money to put towards a new bullet proof vest for one of the police dogs.  Each classroom will have a "piggy bank" container that our first graders have decorated for any donations.  Preschool-3rd grade already has their containers.  The students will go around and pick up donations made throughout our school each Wednesday.  The last day to donate will be March 25.  The police officers and dogs will be coming to Bookman this day to collect all of our donations.  We are very excited to try and raise as much money as possible.  Last year we raised $700 which is the cost of one vest!  Thank you in advance for donating any of your loose change!

I hope you all have a  great week!  Thank you again for everything!