VIP, Jog-a-thon, and Bookfair Day + Homework Update

VIP Day
VIP (Very Important Person) day will be happening on the same day as the Jog-a-thon (Monday, October 8th).  Each student is encouraged to invite a VIP to school on that day to visit our school, enjoy the Jog-a-thon, and check out the book fair.  The VIP could be a grandma, grandpa, uncle, aunt, or special friend.  Please start thinking about who your student’s VIP will be.  Invitations will be sent home soon.

Homework
Purpose and Completion:
Homework is an essential component of any education, and we take it seriously at Cascade Heights.  In the primary grades (K-2), homework serves several essential purposes:

• To provide practice of newly acquired skills
• To develop scholarly study habits outside of school
• To alert families to what we are learning in class

In the primary grades, if students do not come to school with their homework completed, they are required to complete it that evening and return it to school the following day.  

Reading:
Please remember that students should be read to, or be reading out loud each night for 15 minutes in addition to other homework.

Riggs:
Riggs homework so far has been practice of letter strokes.  Soon, Riggs homework will be practice of saying and writing phonograms.  Since students will often times create their own Riggs homework in class, the homework expectations are communicated directly to the students.  The directions on the homework will be simplified so that the students can write them.  The phonogram practice homework will read, “Say and fill each line.”  This means that students should say the sound of the phonogram each time they write it until the line that the initial phonogram was written on is full.  Practice writing letter strokes, phonograms, words, and sentences should always be done slowly and in the student's best handwriting.  Saying the sounds of phonograms as well as writing them is essential practice in learning how to read and write.

Math:
Saxon math is designed to be taught over five school days each week.  Since our school is a four-day school week, we have to teach two math lessons each Thursday.  In order to fit both math lessons into the time enough for only one math lesson, we don’t complete the class fact or lesson practices as a class but instead focus on the new concept for each lesson.  The homework sent home on Thursdays for math will typically be four math sheets, two from each lesson.  Students are only required to complete the “B side” (homework side) of these sheets.  This should also be noted in your student’s planner.

Jog-a-thon is Coming!

The CHPCS 2012 Jog-A-Thon will be held on Monday, Oct. 8th.
Top class will have a party for their great work!
Top class individual will have a pizza lunch with Principal Denman!

Here are the times the classes will be jogging (you are welcome to come and watch, mark laps on student's back stickers, offer water, cheer, make noise and take photos!!!):
Kindi am-2nd 9:00-9:30
3rd-5th 10:00-10:30
6th-8th 11:00-11:30
Kindi pm 12:45-1:15

Please return pledge sheets by Thursday 10-4-12.
Please return money to the school by Thursday 10-18-12.

This is the main school fundraiser this year.  Thank you for supporting our school!

             
Hello First Grade Falcon Families,

The first few days of school have been great! I have enjoyed spending time with and getting to know each of the students and look forward to getting to know them even more. Below you will find what we have done in the classroom for the past two weeks, what we will be doing, ideas of how you can support your student, and any classroom and school announcements.


CLASSROOM UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Reading
The students have been getting ready for guided reading groups by learning independent and small group activities with Mrs. Adams (7th grade teacher). Meanwhile, I have been listening to each of the students read in order to gauge their reading skills. Mrs. Adams will continue to prepare the students for independent and group work while I finish assessing each student's reading ability.

Support Idea(s):

• Your student should be reading, or read to, every night for at least 15 minutes.
• If your student is already reading independently, ask them to read out loud for 15 minutes.       
• If your student is not yet reading independently, read out loud (pointing to each word as you read) to them for 15 minutes.        

Riggs
We are reviewing the correct way to sit, hold your pencil, and form the basic letter strokes. We will continue this review and ease into a review of the first 26 phonograms as soon as we are ready! Students are expected to use their very best handwriting at all times. Quality, not quantity, of letter strokes is what students should be encouraged to produce.

Support Idea(s):

• As your student is practicing letter strokes for homework, encourage them to go very slowly. We have been using the phrase, “slow and steady wins the race” quite a bit in class. Remind your student of this phrase while they work.

Math
Along with review of concepts learned in Saxon 1 from last year, these are the concepts we have been, and will be focusing on in math:

• numbers can be written as number sentences
• a graph is an easy way to show data or information   
• a repeating pattern can be created and named in different ways, such     as colors, shapes, and letters

Support Idea(s):

• To reinforce the concept of using graphs, make a progress graph with your student. Keep track of how many books your student reads (independently or with you) each night.

ex. Books read each night
               

4
3
2
1
x/y	9/17/12	9/18/12	9/19/12	9/20/12

x-axis = Date books were read
y-axis = Number of books on that date

Science/History
We have been studying about where we are in this World! The students should be able to grasp the concepts that: they live in a city, their city is in a state, their state is in a country, and their country is on a continent. We will shortly move on to learning about how our country became known as the United States of America, beginning with early man crossing Beringia (the land bridge) to North America.

In honor of our National Constitution Day (September 17th) we will learn about the second amendment to the Constitution. You are invited to hear our song about the second amendment (as well as presentations by the rest of the school) on Thursday, September 20th at 2:30PM in the gymnasium.

Support Idea(s):

• Talk with your student about what they have learned during our science and history lessons at school. Ask questions and see if they are able to answer them. If they are unable to answer your questions, provide extra support for them by reading books (from the library) on the topics we're studying. Ask questions during and after the reading to encourage involvement and comprehension.

Field Trip to Wildwood Recreational Area, October 12th, 2012
Our first field trip of the school year will be to Wildwood Recreational Area on October 12th, 2012. In addition to paying close attention to the wildlife at Wildwood, we will use our imaginations to go back in time and think like the earliest man, from hunting and gathering to farming and settling. Field trip Fridays are considered regular school days and students must be present at school for a full school day. On the day of the field trip, please send your student to school with:

• A regular uniform on OR red field trip shirt, jeans, and comfortable shoes. We will be outside all day and the students will most likely need a red sweater and a jacket.
• A sack lunch, snack, and a full water bottle.    

We will need enough parent drivers to transport and chaperon 27 students to and from Wildwood. If you are available to volunteer please contact Mrs. Higgins and Mrs. Sanborn, our classroom field trip volunteer coordinators!

Classroom Wish List

• Medium-large succulent plants for the classroom

SCHOOL-WIDE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Constitution Day
September 17th is recognized in the United States as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. The purpose of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is to commemorate the creation and signing of the supreme law of the land and to honor and celebrate the privileges and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship for both native-born and naturalized citizens. This year CHPCS will be celebrating the Constitution all week! From costumed reenactors to school decorations, every grade level will be learning the ins and outs of our founding document. Please join us on Thursday for an assembly at 2:30  and see what we've learned!

Car Line Procedures
If you have not already, please review the revised car line procedures. They are posted under the “Helpful Documents” section of this blog.

Uniform Code Clarification
Our current uniform code states: “Skirts must be no more than three inches above the knee...Solid colored footed tights or nylons are allowed under skirts and shorts”

The code has been changed to read: “Skirts must be at least at the top of the knee.”

We know that many families have done their uniform shopping so for the 2012-13 school year: Skirts that are shorter (still of a tasteful length) than just above the knee may be worn providing blue or black solid color leggings or shorts are worn underneath.

WE STRIVE TO PROTECT THE MODESTY OF EVERY STUDENT.

Other friendly uniform reminders
Students may not wear:

• CROCS, HEELIES, FLIP FLOPS, BOOTS of ANY KIND (including UGGS and rain boots), HIKING SHOES, HIGH HEELS, OR FIVE FINGER SHOES    

And general uniform information

• Hair is to be clean, neatly groomed and not interfere with eyesight. Extreme fads in cuts, styles, or designs are not acceptable. Hair of an unnatural hair color is not allowed.   
• Make-Up: Light makeup is acceptable for 8th grade only. Glitter (of any kind) or heavily applied makeup is not acceptable (eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, etc.), and student will be asked to remove it.
• Tattoos, henna designs, face painting or other writing on hands, arms, legs or other visible places are not acceptable. Please remove them thoroughly before school.   
• Jewelry: Piercing is acceptable only if located in the ear lobes. Other body piercing may not be visible. Necklaces and bracelets must not be distracting. Dog-type collared jewelry, studded wristbands, wallet chains, ropes, and studs, are not allowed.        
• Hands: Hands must be clean and nails clean and trimmed. Clear nail polish is acceptable; NO colored nail polish is allowed--student will be asked to remove it.        

Calendar at a Glance:

Thursday, September 20th, 2012	Constitution Week classroom presentations in the gymnasium, 2:30PM
Wednesday, September 26th, 2012	Picture Day!
Saturday, October 6th, 2012	Riggs     Class for Parents
Friday, October 12th, 2012	Field Trip to Wildwood Recreational Area
Thursday, October 18th, 2012	Harvest Festival, 6:00-7:30PM

Thank you for your continued support and have a great week!

Mrs. Varis