March+7

=__**MARCH 7**__= = Have a wonderful and relaxing spring break!! Don't forget to SPRING ahead this weekend! =

=** 3rd GRADE FIELD TRIP to the SCIENCE CENTER!! **= =** Monday, April 11 **= =** Parent chaperones needed! **= = A note will be coming home after spring break, but please contact Mrs. Skahill if you would like to serve as a chaperone for the day. You will need to provide your own transportation to the Science Center, bring your own lunch, and pay a $5.50 admission fee. However, that fee includes exploration of all exhibits, a "Discovery Lab", a "Live Program", and an I-MAX show. In the past, we have divided the students among the parents so each chaperone has charge of a small group of (hopefully) about 5 children. Please consider joining us! =

===**//Parents... PLEASE consider joining us on a Friday in April or May! 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! // ** ===

Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Abrahamson for sharing with us last Friday. Thank you for talking to us about the importance of sun protection and keeping your skin healthy. Always wear sunscreen! Thank you for also giving us body wash. We appreciate your time! IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES: **Friday, March 11**....No School....Conference Comp Day. **March 14-18**...SPRING BREAK! **Monday, April 11**....Field Trip to the Science Center. Each student brings their own **__disposable__** sack lunch and drink.

 __Social Studies:__
===** Our friends have been sent. We'll try to keep you updated on their adventures. ** === ===** We will be starting a new unit after spring break. This unit will cover Native Americans and Newcomers, Moving from Farms to Factories, Immigration, and The Age of the Automobile. We will also start our country research after the break. We will be using the new MOOSE lab! :) ** ===

The students picked out their country for their project. Please ask them what country they chose. More information will be included at a later date. However, if you would like to read what was required last year, please see my personal google site. This information will be updated to include dates and project information in the next few weeks. (https://sites.google.com/a/vmbulldogs.com/mrs-volk/)

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We were busy learning about air, air pressure, and compressed air this week as we investigated with parachute models, syringes and tubing, and even homemade water fountains! We also learned what meteorologists do as we started a weather calendar for the rest of the month and made our own thermometer models. =====

 __Language Arts/Writing:__
This week we started to look at some of Maurice Sendak's writing. The students made "Wild Things" and have began writing their stories in small groups.

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:__ = = **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! ** =

==== //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!! ** **[] **

__I am sending home a few reading passages that your child may read over break. Please feel free to encourage your child to read the passages and answer the questions. They may return the completed packets to school for an extra something. :)__

Book orders have come home. They are due by the 23rd of March. I also included instructions to order on-line.

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.

Thank you to all the parents that attended Tuesday evening conferences. Please stay in touch and let me know if you have further questions or concerns.

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: 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!

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

Please help your child to remember to have their success charts signed weekly. We have students missing stamps and points because the chart is not signed. I remind them almost daily in class, but sometimes a reminder from home works better. Thanks

We recently had an opportunity to do an activity that required students to write down their home address. Many students did not know their address. Please check with your child to be sure that they know their home address, home and/or cell phone numbers. This is an important piece of information that your child should know. Thanks!

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.


 * <span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"> __Mrs. Skahill/Miss Stephens:__ **

//<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Thank you for your attendance at conferences the past two weeks! //

<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">A new book order will be coming home on Monday after spring break.
//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.

===<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"> __Mrs. Schenck:__. === I have signed your child up for a website called Sumdog. The students have user name and password.

I sent home book orders. Please have these back before March 23rd. Thanks!

Continue reading and working with your child. Parental support at home plays a large role in the success of your child here at school.