December+22

__**DECEMBER 22**__
**BEST WISHES FOR A MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR, and a WONDERFUL and RESTFUL VACATION!** **School resumes on Thursday, January 5!**

__** ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING DATES :**__
**Thurs., Jan. 5...School Resumes.** **Thurs., Jan. 19...VMEPC; 7:00; Elem. Cafeteria**

**If your child is going to be absent for a few days due to a family trip, please let us know with a note in advance so we may gather homework to send with you. We can't always have //everything// ready to go, but it's very helpful to the teachers and the office to be aware of extended absences ahead of time. Thank you!**

=== Both homerooms will have a "Homework Club" each quarter. We will keep a chart in our rooms, tracking which students return their homework packets on time each week. Students who consistently return their packets each week will be rewarded at the end of each quarter! ===

=== //We have been informed that the kitchen can no longer store items that need to be frozen or refrigerated. You will need to provide a cooler if your child is bringing treats that require refrigeration. Thank you for your cooperation.// ===

__**LITERACY:**__
We are introducing organization in the 6-Traits of Writing. In reading, we will make predictions and connections. We will use context clues, identify main events, question, and infer. Please encourage your child to read at home.

We have taken out test over time and money. We will begin multiplication after the break. Please begin to work on memorizing basic multiplication facts.
Please continue to practice the basic math facts. Many of the errors we see with addition and subtraction of greater numbers are errors in our basic facts, not errors in the process.

__SCIENCE:__
Our short science week consisted of reviewing for the test by doing a study guide and playing Animal Jeopardy! The test was taken on Wednesday and will be sent home after break.

__**SOCIAL STUDIES:**__
==== Most of our 'friends' have been mailed out! Thank you for providing addresses to get our friends started on their journey. Flat Claire visited Rochester, Washington and had the opportunity to spend some time on a llama farm. I bet that was interesting. Her friend is now on her way to Tacoma, Washington. ====

We will be finishing our unit on the Hopi, Iroquois, Jamestown settlers, and Salem. We have discussed how resources were used, the problems the colonists had adapting to the new lands, and how the Powhatan helped the settlers. Living History Farms will be here on the 5th of January to present information and fun hands-on activities about the Ioway Indians. We will compare their culture to the Iroquois and Hopi. ==== Check with your child about Daily Detective. The purpose of this project is to not only help the students learn about the countries of the world, but also to help them research. Each day a new clue will go up on our 'detective board'. The students will be able to write the clue down and bring it home so that you can, if needed, help your child to identify the country. The clues start out very broad and as the week goes on, get more specific. Please ask your child about Daily Detective and each daily clue. ==== The Daily Detective has been put on hold but will resume after the Christmas break. :)

__**MRS. VOLK:**__
Your child has been registered for Sumdog.com. This is a site that will help your child practice their math facts. Each student was given a username and password. They are encouraged to use this site at home.

Our class will be having a student teacher beginning on January 5th. Her name is Stacy Schrader and she will be with us for 8 weeks. She will be sending out a little bio so please be looking for that!

The December reading calendar will be due on the 5th of January. I sent home the January calendar today. I have increased the reading minutes to 425 minutes per month.

Please encourage your child to read at home and turn in their reading sheet. The reading sheet should be turned in even if they don't meet our goal. Any reading is better than no reading! Our goal for the month of December is 400 minutes. I sent home a list of questions that may help you facilitate a reading conversation with your child. Thank you for your continued support at home.

Thank you to Holly G., Jeanie A., Liz T., Stephanie V., and Lisa H. for volunteering to organize and facilitate our Christmas party. We had a great time and very much appreciate their time, effort, and treats!

Our class has earned a Whozit celebration. We will be having a game day on Friday, January 6th. Your child is invited to bring a board game to play with classmates. They may also bring a snack for themselves. Your child may also bring a video type game with your permission. It will be their responsibility to make sure it is kept safe. Thanks

**__MRS. SKAHILL/MISS STEPHENS:__** ===//**Congratulations to all our members of the 2nd quarter Homework Club! We had 95% of our students who either returned the homework packet every week or only missed once! In fact, 15 students never missed a week and 5 students just missed one week! Everyone in "the club" has been rewarded with Bulldog tickets! Thank you, parents, for your support and help at home in getting the packets returned on time!**//===

**Thank you SO much to the moms who gave us a wonderful Christmas party on Thursday! It was a great success due to the super planning of Holly Koons, LeeAnn Gillund, Kim Bardwell, and Lisa Hulscher!**

=== ** //Please have your child read for December's Book-It. This month's goal is to complete// **** //300 minutes of reading time AND the book report printed on the back of the calendar. The December calendars will be due on Jan. 5, and the new Jan. calendars will be sent home at that time.// ** ===

** //I'd like to see 100% participation from our class in December! (It's a great excuse to go to Pizza Hut!//!) **
Just a reminder: Spelling word lists are handed out at the //beginning// of each unit so they can be studied in preparation for the cloze test. Watch for the word lists glued into the planner. As mentioned previously, we won't be taking a cloze test every week...we work up to tests as we go through the word/phonics lessons in each unit.

refills for Glade plug-in air freshener
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