November+5

=November 5=

=__ IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES: __=

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__Tues., Nov. 9 and Thurs., Nov. 11...Parent Teacher Conferences __=====

__Wed. Nov 10th - Picture Retakes __

__Thur. Nov. 11th -Veteran's Day Program at 10:00 a.m. in activity center__

__Sat., Nov. 13...Drug Drop-off. Protect our children and our environment! __ Mound Park, Hatton Ave., Dallas Center...10:00 a.m.-noon ADM High School parking lot, Adel...1:00-3:00 p.m. //Drop off: expired prescriptions (pills and liquids), unused prescriptions, over-the-counter meds, vitamins/supplements, pet medications. **Controlled substances WILL be accepted.** NO needles, thermometers, or illegal substances. // Call Amanda at 471-2316 for more information. Sponsored in part by Dallas Co. for Positive Choices and Dallas Co. Sheriff's Office.

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Dress in nice clothes. Report to music room or art room, as assigned. ===== //Van Meter Pre-K fundraiser dinner in school cafeteria prior to program, 5:30-7:00 p.m. //

__Wed., Nov. 24-Fri., Nov. 26...No school! __ Happy Thanksgiving!

We have an opening for a guest speaker on November 12 from 1-1:45 and 2-2:45 if you are interested!

Don't forget to 'fall back' this weekend!

__Math:__
Please encourage your child to practice their basic addition and subtraction facts. We have started Chapter 1 in math. This chapter teaches place value, rounding, comparing/ordering numbers, and problem solving strategies.

__Social Studies:__
Our third grade students have been invited to participate in a writing contest for the Waukee VFW. Information regarding this contest was shared with our students in Social Studies class. I tried to email out the information, but apparently not everyone received the instruction sheet. If you would like to enter, and did not receive the details, please have your child let Mrs. Volk know. **//Thank you to Mrs. Abrahamson for volunteering to sew our flag! THANK YOU!//**

<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">__Science:__
==== What a fun learning week we had! On Tuesday Chris Adkins and Laura Zaugg, from Dallas Co. Conservation, presented an awesome program on owls! The third graders were a very attentive audience for almost two hours! We are now owl experts, and even met a new "teacher"...a live screech owl! Then Laura returned on Wednesday, and each class spent 45 minutes dissecting owl pellets and making great skeletal discoveries! (If you haven't heard about this activity yet, be sure to ask...just maybe not at the dinner table!!) We then learned about food chains and food webs on Thursday. ====

<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">__Language Arts/Writing:__
Our third graders have been working on prewriting skills for their fiction story. We have discussed ways to get ideas for a story. We have also discussed how the setting of a book influences the characters, animals, and other aspects of a story. The students have started working on their fiction stories. Ask your child what ideas they have for their story. 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.

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

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.//**

====<span style="font-size: 1.06em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"> **//The students are starting to practice keyboarding skills in computer class. You may access this link so your child can practice keyboarding at home!!//** __<span style="background-clip: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; color: #810081; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">[] __ ====

<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">__Mrs. Volk:__
Christmas is around the corner! I know, I know we haven't even gotten through Thanksgiving yet, but I'm just following the lead of the retailers. :) I will be sending home two more book orders before Christmas. Books make great gifts so if you would like to order secretly let me know, and I will let you know when it comes in.

November book orders are coming home. They are due on the 12th. If you would like to order on-line and still need the password/username let me know. You are welcome to send the paper form in as well.

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. Wish list: Glade Plug-in refills, Clorox Wipes, reams of colored paper, sidewalk chalk, hula hoops, other small prizes to use for our PBIS rewards, dusting clothes, colored cardstock, 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 will be 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 recently. 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. Reading calendars are due at the end of October. Please return your October reading calendar! Our student teacher started on October 19th. Her name is Miss McIntire. =<span style="font-size: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">__Mrs. Skahill/Miss Stephens:__ = = **<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">//Still on our wish list:// ** =

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 * //<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Thanks to everyone who continues to donate! It is all very much appreciated, and makes our classroom a nicer smelling (air fresheners!) and cleaner (Clorox Wipes!) place! //**=====


 * <span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">A new book order for November is coming home on Monday. It will be due Wed., Nov. 17. You may return the printed fliers or order online. The activation code for online ordering will be included. There will then be one more book order before Christmas. If you'd like to order Christmas "surprises", this month or next, just let us know and we'll keep your secret and get the books to you! **

<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">__Mrs. Schenck:__
I will be sending home one more book order before Christmas. These will go out sometime in the next few weeks. If you would like to order some books as Christmas gifts, just leave a note when you turn in your order. I will make sure to call you instead of sending it home with your child. Continue reading and working with your child. Parental support at home plays a large role in the success of your child here at school.