Looking ahead to the week of May 4

Students celebrated Earth Day with a "Litter Trashes Everyone" puppet show!  They've been discussing all week long some ways, in which they can help our environment.  Keep filling out those Koda coupons!

Hello, families!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed the Sparkleberry Fair!

Multiplication celebration:  Students have worked so hard to learn their multiplication facts this year!  For every set of facts they mastered, they earned an ingredient for our Trail Mix celebration.  We will have this celebration Friday, May 8, but we need your help!  Each third grade class will be responsible for donating different items toward our grade level celebration.  Our class is responsible for donating 100 bowls, two boxes of plain Chex cereal, and two boxes of plain Cheerios... that's enough for all 100 students in third grade!  If you can donate any of these items, please fill out the form going home in this week's communication folder!  Thank you, in advance, for your help!

State House field study:  Students received their last "Being There Experience" permission form Thursday, April 23, in their communication folders.  It is for the State House field study, which had to be rescheduled earlier this year, due to inclement weather.  Please sign and return this form, as soon as possible.  It is due May 7.  We will not need chaperones for this trip.

Book Fair reminder:  The Book Fair will open through Friday, May 1.  If your child would like to purchase books during our visit, he/she is welcome to bring money.

Homework:  Students will receive a new homework packet Friday, May 1.  It is due the following Friday.

ACT Aspire testing:  Thank you again to all of the families, who donated items to make testing a little "sweeter" this week!  We appreciate your kindness!  Also, as we head into testing, we will have a slight schedule change.  Students will eat at 12:02, April 28 - 30 and May 7 - 8... just in case you are planning on joining your child for lunch!

Looking ahead:  As mathematicians, students will begin a step-up to fourth grade unit.  It will introduce them to concepts they'll see next year.  We'll continue our mixed operation quizzes after testing.  In reading and language arts, students will enjoy How to be Cool in Third Grade.  They'll write their own chapter, as a part of a class chapter book, to give advice to future third graders on how to make good choices and use friendship.  The children will continue working on cursive handwriting, as well.  As historians, the class will wrap up its study of "Hard Times, Lead to Good Times," by learning about the Civil Rights movement and changes that occurred at the beginning of the 21st century in South Carolina.  Students will not have a test on this unit. They will turn in their class booklet for a test grade.

Report cards:  If you have not done so already, please take a moment to look your child's report card and set goals for the last nine weeks of third grade with your child.  Sign and return the report card cover.  You may keep the report card and comments.

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

Looking ahead to the week of April 27

Students enjoyed a visit from the Historic Columbia Society's "Traveling Trunk Show."  They were introduced the idea of Civil Rights, which students will be studying in their "Hard Times Lead to Good Times" social studies unit.

Hello, families!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and we hope to see you this weekend at the Sparkleberry Fair (April 25)!

State House field study:  Students will be receiving their last "Being There Experience" permission form Thursday, April 23, in their communication folders.  It is for the State House field study, which had to be rescheduled earlier this year, due to inclement weather.  Please sign and return this form, as soon as possible.  It is due May 7.  We will not need chaperones for this trip.

Book Fair preview:  The Book Fair will open Thursday, April 23.  Our class is scheduled to attend a Book Fair preview that same day!  If your child would like to purchase books during our visit, he/she may bring money Thursday.

Half-day:  Students will have a half-day Friday, April 24.  Lunch will be served.  If your child's transportation changes that day, please be sure to send a note or call the front office.

Homework:  Students will not receive a new homework packet Friday, April 24, due to testing.  They will not have homework the week of testing.  They'll receive a new homework packet Friday, May 1.

ACT Aspire Testing:  ...it's almost here!  I have created a "Wish Wall," where you can offer words of encouragement to our class, before ACT Testing.  Please take a moment to visit our wall and write a note!  Feel free to share this site with other family members, too!  Mrs. West's Class Wish Wall:  http://padlet.com/awest4/westclasswishes

Students are preparing for the ACT test, which will take place April 28 -30.  Please send in the items you'd like to donate, as soon as possible!  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) - CHECK!  All three days of breakfast have been donated! Yay!
• 3 or so bags of individually wrapped candy (Smarties, Nerds, etc… something that is not sticky and messy.) - CHECK!  All three days of candy have been donated! Yay!
• 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) - CHECK!  All three days of napkins have been donated! Yay!

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

From Mrs. O'Connor:  

Information for families about assessment in grades 3-8
With assistance from ACT, the EOC has developed a resource for school districts and schools to use to inform students and parents of students in grades 3-8 about upcoming changes in assessment. Although ACT has developed a letter and materials to educate families about ACT Aspire, this additional resource also includes a schedule for testing in South Carolina and reminds families that students will also be taking SCPASS in Science and Social Studies. We hope this will provide an additional tool to assist districts in educating students and their families about these important changes in testing.

For additional family-friendly information about overall changes in testing, visit the EOC website.

ACT Aspire will be given to all students in grades 3-8 over three days this month. Writing and English will be given onTuesday, April 28. Reading will be administered on Wednesday, April 29. Mathematics will be given on Thursday April 30. It is important to remember that this is a timed test! To find out how many questions will be given and the time students have to complete each section, please visit the home page of the S.C. Department of Education and click the ACT button. You’ll also find FREE test questions and resources! http://1.usa.gov/1FmTzIU#TestReadySC

Looking ahead:  As mathematicians, students will prepare for the ACT Aspire Test.  We'll continue our mixed operation quizzes after testing.  During language arts, students will wrap up reviewing for the ACT Aspire test.  They will study friendly letters toward the end of the week and enjoy a Read-In, to celebrate the conclusion of testing.  The children will continue working on cursive handwriting, as well.  As historians, the class will learn about the fall of cotton, the Great Migration, the New Deal, and emigration.

Report Cards:  If you have not done so already, please take a moment to look your child's report card and set goals for the last nine weeks of third grade with your child.  Sign and return the report card cover.  You may keep the report card and comments.

State Museum "Being There Experience" permission form:  Your child received a permission form for the State Museum a couple of weeks ago.  Please be sure to sign and return it, as soon as possible.  All forms were due April 16.   

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

Looking ahead to the week of April 20

Summer Camp Field Day was a hit!  Students enjoyed fun physical activities, while practicing good sportsmanship.  Thank you to all of the volunteers!

Hello, families!  I hope you guys had a great weekend!

Half-day:  Students will have a half-day Friday, April 24.  Lunch will be served.  If your child's transportation changes that day, please be sure to send a note or call the front office.

ACT Testing:  I have created a "Wish Wall," where you can offer words of encouragement to our class, before ACT Testing.  Please take a moment to visit our wall and write a note!  Feel free to share this site with other family members, too!  Mrs. West's Class Wish Wall:  http://padlet.com/awest4/westclasswishes

Students are preparing for the ACT test, which will take place April 28 -30.  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) - Two days of breakfast have been donated! Yay!  We still need one more day's worth of breakfast items!
• 3 or so bags of individually wrapped candy (Smarties, Nerds, etc… something that is not sticky and messy.) - CHECK!  All three days of candy have been donated! Yay!
• 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!

From Mrs. O'Connor:  

Information for families about assessment in grades 3-8
With assistance from ACT, the EOC has developed a resource for school districts and schools to use to inform students and parents of students in grades 3-8 about upcoming changes in assessment. Although ACT has developed a letter and materials to educate families about ACT Aspire, this additional resource also includes a schedule for testing in South Carolina and reminds families that students will also be taking SCPASS in Science and Social Studies. We hope this will provide an additional tool to assist districts in educating students and their families about these important changes in testing.

For additional family-friendly information about overall changes in testing, visit the EOC website.

ACT Aspire will be given to all students in grades 3-8 over three days this month. Writing and English will be given onTuesday, April 28. Reading will be administered on Wednesday, April 29. Mathematics will be given on Thursday April 30. It is important to remember that this is a timed test! To find out how many questions will be given and the time students have to complete each section, please visit the home page of the S.C. Department of Education and click the ACT button. You’ll also find FREE test questions and resources! http://1.usa.gov/1FmTzIU#TestReadySC

Looking ahead:  As mathematicians, students will wrap up their geometry unit with a quiz Tuesday, April 21.  There will be no study guide for this assessment.  Please check out our Topic 11 family letter, to help you better understand the content covered. We'll continue our mixed operation quizzes.  During language arts, students will study test-taking strategies and continue reviewing skills for the ACT test.  The children will continue working on cursive handwriting and prompt writing.   As scientists, students will be assessed on our heat and matter unit.  They'll kick off their last unit in social studies, "Hard Times Lead to Good Times."  Students will be discussing developments in technology in the 19th century, as well as, the textile industry.

Topic 11 (Geometry) Home Letter:

Report Cards:  Students received their report card in last week's communication folder.  Please take a moment to look over it with your child and set goals for the last nine weeks of third grade.  Sign and return the report card cover.  You may keep the report card and comments.

State Museum "Being There Experience" permission form:  Your child received a permission form for the State Museum in his/her communication folder last week.  Please be sure to sign and return it, as soon as possible.  All forms are due April 16.  We will need one chaperone for this trip, which is Thursday, May 14.  Our chaperone will be chosen randomly.  There will be a chaperone fee, which the chaperone will need to pay once we we arrive to the museum.  

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