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!