January+17

=__**JANUARY 17**__=

// Attention Parents: If you email one of us regarding changes in your child's dismissal procedure and you do not receive a reply acknowledging that we received the email, please call the office and have Soni notify your child of the changes. Our email has been known to go down, and sometimes we have subs that are not able to check our email or phone messages. Therefore your child may not find out about the change of plans. The safest route is to just always let the homeroom teacher AND Soni be aware of any important messages for your child. Thanks! //

===** Parents...Please consider joining us on a Friday in February or March! We would love to hear about your job, your hobby, or a special area of interest. The students are SO proud when one of their parents come to visit, and we are learning so much! Contact any of us and we'll set up a date!! ** ===

// The elementary and 6th graders enjoyed "Rock-In Prevention" on Friday, a program designed to help kids build self-confidence, self-esteem, and a caring community. Our high school National Honor Society members assisted with the program. //

==**Thank you to Mr. Scaletta and Mrs. Thompson for coming in to speak to our third graders. We learned about our city government and what it takes to be mayor. We also learned about the Department of Corrections. We appreciate their time and experience. **== =**__ IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES: __** =

** NEXT WEEK....Week of Jan. 24...Iowa Tests of Basic Skills **
=== We've been learning in guidance class how to be Test Busters, so we can be prepared for our week of ITBS! Please make sure your child gets a good night's rest and eats a healthy breakfast. A supply of three or four #2 pencils will also be necessary for the week of January 24. ===

__Math:__
Please encourage your child to practice their basic addition and subtraction facts. We will be starting our unit on multiplication after ITBS.

__Social Studies:__
Our friends have been sent. We'll try to keep you updated on their adventures. We have started our unit on the Native Americans, specifically the Hopi and Iroquois. Living History Farms will be joining us on the 27th to teach us about the Ioway Indians. This unit will also cover the Jamestown settlers and Salem colonists.

__Science:__
We began a new unit on microworlds and cells this week, and worked on making scientific drawings and written observations. We used hand magnifiers to aid our observations.

__Language Arts/Writing:__
Our third graders have been working on run-on sentences and time order words. We also have been working on combining sentences to make our stories more interesting. Encourage your child to bring home their author's notebook to share a few of their stories with you. Just remember to bring it back.

__MISC:__
Want to help our students become life-long learners? Then become a model for life-long learning by sharing! The third grade teachers are looking for individuals to share their passions, talents, and/or careers with our students. We would love for you to volunteer to come in and share with our third graders. If you are interested, or know of someone who would be willing to share, even via skype, please contact your child's teacher.

Some students are stopping to play in the creek on the way home. We have had some parents concerned about the dangers of playing in the creek, especially without adult supervision and without parents' knowledge. Please remind your child that he/she should not stop to play, but instead head straight home.

Please remember to send birthday invitations through the mail if the entire class is not invited. Also, the school requests that presents, sleeping bags, etc. be taken directly to the birthday girl/boy's house instead of coming to school with the students. We want to avoid hurt feelings. Thank you for your cooperation.

The town bus and bus 3 (Ruth Erdman's bus) are full. These buses are not able to take many extra students home. Please be aware of this when requesting bus passes for extra students to come home with your child.

Mrs. Comer has been working on a 2nd and 3rd grade art wiki - website to showcase project information, student examples, etc. Please feel free to check it out! [|http://vmelem-art-comer. wikispaces.com]

The students are starting to practice keyboarding skills in computer class. You may access this link so your child can practice keyboarding at home!! []

__Mrs. Volk:__
Your child may have brought home a skills packet or two. They may need your help with this. There is not a due date on this packet. I simply wanted to send home some practice skills that may go along with the goals they set after viewing their MAP scores. Please feel free to work on the packet during times that are convenient for your family. Also, your child is able to access Skills Iowa from home. This program will also help them with reading, vocabulary, math, and language arts. Please see a few paragraphs down for further information on the Skills Iowa Program.

Please visit my personal site to view our Best School Year Ever powerpoint. Thanks!

We have been using a computer program in school called Skills Iowa. This program allows students to work through specific skills in reading, math, language arts, and vocabulary at their own pace. Your child can access this program at home by typing in ac.corek12.com or by clicking on the SkillsTutor link on the Van Meter Elementary Voice and Tech site. The students have been given a personal username and password to use.

I have signed the class up on a numeration website called SUMDOG. Your child has been given a username and password. They are welcome to access this at home.

Wish list: sidewalk chalk, other small prizes to use for our PBIS rewards, dusting clothes, and an age appropriate game that addresses vocabulary words/skills. Thank you to those of you that have already donated! We appreciate it! Thank you to Harrison and his family for donating a PaperPro stapler! :)

Our class is participating in the Scholastic reading program this year. Students are encouraged to read at least 10 books this year at their level. Once all the students in our room have met the 10 book goal, Scholastic will donate books to needy schools in all 50 states. Information about this program came home with your child. Please continue to encourage your child to read, read, read! Remember to also keep track of the minutes your child is reading and record them on our reading calendar.

Our class blog can be found at: []e

__Mrs. Skahill/Miss Stephens:__
Please look over your child's homework packet before he/she returns it. We are seeing a number of careless errors. Our goal with the homework packets is to encourage responsibility by (1) having the packets returned on time and (2) having them accurately completed. This is the year when it's okay for mom and/or dad to help with the homework packets! Don't do it //for// them, of course, but //do// help your child learn to proofread and correct mistakes.

On our wish list: Ream(s) of colored copier paper; HP black ink cartridge #98 and/or color #95.

__Mrs. Schenck:__
Book Orders were sent home this week. They are due by next Friday. Continue reading and working with your child. Parental support at home plays a large role in the success of your child here at school.