Looking ahead to the week of June 4 (Week A)

Students enjoyed learning about circuits through hands-on experiments!

Hi, families! I hope you all had a great weekend and enjoyed Memorial Day!  

Book Fair:  Thank you to all of the families, who donated books to our classroom library from the Book Fair!  Future students will certainly enjoy getting lost in them!

End-of-the-year celebration:  Please check out the link below to donate items toward our party!
Celebration Donations

Looking ahead to next week:  Can you believe the last week of school is right around the corner?  We will continue doing some reflective activities in class.  Students will enjoy their end of the year celebration Tuesday, June 5.  You're welcome to join us!  We will start at 12:15 and end around 1:30.  If you join us and would like to have your child dismissed early, you will need to go to the office and have the staff call down to our room to officially dismiss your child.  Wednesday will be a half day.  Students are welcome to bring appropriate books, magazines, a pillow and/or blanket from home.  Thursday will be a half day (and the last day of school).  Students will enjoy a board game day!  The kids are encouraged to bring a favorite board/card game from home.  Please make sure your child is not bringing any video games or handheld devices from home.  Also, please know we are not able to pass out report cards before 11:30 the last day of school.  If your child happens to be absent, you may pick up his/her report card from the office over the summer.  Students, who owe the cafeteria, media center, or who have a lost textbook, may also pick up their report cards from the office over the summer.    

Yearbooks:  If you'd like to purchase a yearbook, please see the flyer from Mrs. King below...

Thank you again for all of your support!  Have a great weekend! 

Looking ahead to the week of May 28 (Week B)

Students enjoyed a 5th grade talent show Friday, May 18!  Bookman's got talent!

A lot of fun was had at our "Year of West Laser Fest!"  Thank you so much for coming out to celebrate the end of a great year!

Hi, families! I hope you all had a great weekend and were able to stay cool!

"Year of West Laser-Fest:"  Thank you to everyone, who made it out to our end-of-the-year celebration!  We had a blast!  Special shout-out to Mrs. Fakas and Ms. Tomlinson for organizing everything and to all of the families, who contributed ideas and food!  

Looking ahead to next week:  Students will wrap up their electricity unit of study.  It's important that they are in class, as we will be doing many hands-on simulations throughout the unit.  We will also assess students one day before grades are due, so there won't be much time to make up their test!  In ELA, students will be creating reflective projects in both reading and writing.  They will also continue wrapping up handwriting.  As mathematicians, they'll get a sneak peek at what's to come in fourth grade!   

Yearbooks:  If you'd like to purchase a yearbook, please see the flyer from Mrs. King below...

Multiplication celebration donations:  We are good on supplies for our multiplication celebration!  Thank you, families, for your donations!  

Thank you again for all of your support!  Have a great weekend! 

Looking ahead to the week of May 21 (Week A)

Students enjoyed Mrs. Rhett's visit, as a mystery reader last week!  Thank you for the interactive read alouds!

We pepped students up about testing this week with a visit from Mrs. Spangler and her "Testing First Aid Kit" to an upper-grade level pep rally (with a special appearance by Blinky)!   We hope students continue to do their personal best during their last test (Thursday, May 17), as well as, the remainder of the school year.  Let's finish strong, beacons!

Hi, families! I hope you all had a great weekend and were able to stay cool!

Many thanks:  I'm overwhelmed by the love you all showed me during Teacher Appreciation Week!  Thank you for all of the surcees, notes, and hugs!  I'm blessed to have been a part of your child's third grade year.  I'll forever be grateful for the learning experiences I've shared with your kiddos!

"Year of West Laser-Fest:"  Check out the flyer below!  We hope to see you Saturday!  

Looking ahead to next week:  Students will be studying magnetism and electricity for their final science unit of the year.  It's important that they are in class, as we will be doing many hands-on simulations throughout the unit.  In ELA, students will be creating reflective projects in both reading and writing.  They will also continue wrapping up handwriting.   

Testing week donations:  Thank you to everyone, who donated snacks to our class!  It definitely made testing week "sweeter!"  Check out our team's attempt to make the kids smile during testing week:  Rock this Test video!

Test week schedule changes:  Please know that our schedule during test (May 15 - 17) will change.  Here are the changes:  Lunch will begin at 12:29.  Recess will begin at 1:05.  SAIL will begin at 1:45.  Thank you for your flexibility!

Bookman Blast:  We hope to see you at the Bookman Blast this Friday!  Get ready to have some fun, beacons!

Thank you again for all of your support!  Have a great weekend! 

Looking ahead to the week of May 14 (Week B)

Students enjoyed another wonderful visit from Historic Columbia's Traveling Trunk Show.  This visit focused on the Civil Rights movement. 

Hi, families! I hope you all had a great weekend!

Many thanks:  Thank you all for the sweet birthday emails, cards, and surcees!  They were so greatly appreciated and filled my bucket!  

"Year of West Laser-Fest:"  Check out the flyer below!

Report cards:  Please review your child's report card with him/her.  It's a good time to reflect and set academic and behavior goals for the final nine weeks!  Please sign and return the report card cover.  You may keep the report card and comments.  Several students have yet to return their covers! 

Carolina sunshine:  The weather is getting warmer... summer is almost here!  Many students are now wearing shorts and skirts to school.  Please be mindful that your child's shorts/skirts are an appropriate length for school!  

Looking ahead to next week:  Testing week is finally upon us!  Students will be taking two ELA tests and on math test next week.  It's important that your child arrive on time!  Please do not plan on pulling your child early from school, unless it's absolutely necessary.  Also, if your child is sick, please plan on having your student make up his/her test the following week with Mrs. O'Connor.  It's better to complete the test, when a child is feeling his/her best!  Following testing, students will complete magnetism activities to kick off our next science unit.  Due to the time crunch, we will be doing two hands-on simulations each day, for both magnetism and electricity.  If possible, please don't let your child miss a day!  We will take the unit test the day before grades are due, so there will be no time for make up tests!   

Testing week donations:  If you would like to donate a snack item, breakfast item, juice, or something super sweet, please check out the link below and let Mrs. Fakas know if you have any questions!  We still have a slot open for the breakfast item on Thursday!  Thank you to all of the families, who've donated! 
Testing Week Donations

SC Ready testing wishes:  Please take a moment to write some encouraging words to our class, in preparation for SC Ready.  We will view your comments the week of testing!  It's Your Time to Shine!

Test week schedule changes:  Please know that our schedule during test (May 15 - 17) will change.  Here are the changes:  Lunch will begin at 12:29.  Recess will begin at 1:05.  SAIL will begin at 1:45.  Thank you for your flexibility!

Bookman Blast:  Save the date!

A note from Mrs. O'Connor about testing:  Students in grades 3-5 will participate in the South Carolina College and Career READY Assessments (SC READY) for English Language Arts and Mathematics in May 2018.  Students in grades 4-5 will also take the South Carolina Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (SCPASS) for Science and Social Studies.

Specific test dates below:

May 15th - ELA/Writing - Grades 3, 4, 5

May 16th - ELA/Reading - Grades 3, 4, 5

May 17th - Mathematics - Grades 3, 4, 5

May 18th - Science - Grade 4 only

May 18th - Social Studies - Grade 5 only

You are so important to your child’s academic success and we know that you want to do everything you can do to ensure he/she does their personal best.  Please read these tips below to help your child with test preparation.

• Encourage your child to do his/her best.
• Make sure your child gets adequate sleep.  A tired child is less able to pay attention or handle the demands of testing.
• Give your child well-balanced meals. Rest, exercise, and eating well are important for test taking.
• Arrive to school on time each day of the test.

• Please do not schedule appointments during testing week.  Students that miss a test would have to complete the test on a scheduled make-up date.

Thank you again for all of your support!  Have a great weekend!  

Looking ahead to the week of May 7 (Week A)

Students enjoyed celebrating the end of autism awareness month with simulations during our third grade community.  Mrs. Nord and Mrs. Altman led a discussion about acceptance and celebrating differences. 

Hi, families! I hope you all had a great, long weekend!

May 4 (afternoon):  I will not be here Friday afternoon.  If you happen to need to get a message to your child, please call the office directly!

"Year of West Laser-Fest:"  Check out the flyer below!

Report cards:  Please review your child's report card with him/her.  It's a good time to reflect and set academic and behavior goals for the final nine weeks!  Please sign and return the report card cover.  You may keep the report card and comments.  Several students have yet to return their covers! 

Looking ahead to next week:  As historians, students will continue studying the Civil Rights movement and enjoy another visit from Historic Columbia's Traveling Trunk Show.  They will not have a traditional test.  They will turn in a booklet, which they will do in class for a grade.  As mathematicians, they will wrap up their time unit and begin reviewing for the upcoming state-wide test.  As readers, students will continue reviewing for the upcoming state-wide test.  As writers, they'll wrap up their study of text-dependent analysis.  

Testing week donations:  If you would like to donate a snack item, breakfast item, juice, or something super sweet, please check out the link below and let Mrs. Fakas know if you have any questions!  We still have several slots open on Thursday!  Thank you to all of the families, who've donated! 
Testing Week Donations

SC Ready testing wishes:  Please take a moment to write some encouraging words to our class, in preparation for SC Ready.  We will view your comments the week of testing!  It's Your Time to Shine!

Test week schedule changes:  Please know that our schedule during test (May 15 - 17) will change.  Here are the changes:  Lunch will begin at 12:29.  Recess will begin at 1:05.  SAIL will begin at 1:45.  Thank you for your flexibility!

Bookman Blast:  Save the date!

A note from Mrs. O'Connor about testing:  Students in grades 3-5 will participate in the South Carolina College and Career READY Assessments (SC READY) for English Language Arts and Mathematics in May 2018.  Students in grades 4-5 will also take the South Carolina Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (SCPASS) for Science and Social Studies.

Specific test dates below:

May 15th - ELA/Writing - Grades 3, 4, 5

May 16th - ELA/Reading - Grades 3, 4, 5

May 17th - Mathematics - Grades 3, 4, 5

May 18th - Science - Grade 4 only

May 18th - Social Studies - Grade 5 only

You are so important to your child’s academic success and we know that you want to do everything you can do to ensure he/she does their personal best.  Please read these tips below to help your child with test preparation.

• Encourage your child to do his/her best.
• Make sure your child gets adequate sleep.  A tired child is less able to pay attention or handle the demands of testing.
• Give your child well-balanced meals. Rest, exercise, and eating well are important for test taking.
• Arrive to school on time each day of the test.

• Please do not schedule appointments during testing week.  Students that miss a test would have to complete the test on a scheduled make-up date.

Thank you again for all of your support!  Have a great weekend!