BUSY WEEK IN PROGRESS:

First, I have to send out HUGE props to the students for their amazing focus during our lesson today on point of view. They did a wonderful job finding examples from their text, Hatchet. Speaking of Hatchet, students should be working on or have already completed a project summarizing the main ideas from Chapters 5 - 9. There is an assignment created on Google Classroom for students to submit their work digitally or they may create a physical product. This is due Friday, February 26.

Guest Speakers Galore:
Wednesday: Greg Keyes, local parent and author, will be meeting with our male students at 8:00.
Wednesday: Dr. Paul Dunn (Marine Biologist) will be meeting with our girls at 8:00 in Mr. Trent's room. The boys will join his presentation when we finish working with Mr. Keyes.
Thursday: Dr. Matt Draud (Marine Biologist) will be meeting with all 6th graders at 8:30.
Thursday: Cathy Sakas (Marine Biologist; NOAA Coral Reefs) will be meeting with all 6th graders at 12:30.

Other Activities:
(Thursday)10:00 Bus Safety Presentation and 1:00 Black History Program
(Friday) 1:15 Interest meeting for Ladies Soccer

Additional Announcements Mon 2/22/16

And a few more items for your consideration...

Guest Speakers: The students will be having guest speakers in honor of Science Week.

Wed 2/24 from 8:30-8:55 (Dr. Paul Dunn- Marine Biologist from Armstrong)

Thurs 2/25 from 8:30-8:55 (Dr. Matt Draud – Marine Biologist from Armstrong)

Thurs 2/25 from 1:00-1:30 (Cathy Sakas – Marine Biologist; NOAA Coral Reefs)

Additionally, on Wednesday, 2/24, the 6th grade boys will be having a guest author, Greg Keyes, visit with them to talk about writing. We have to thank Ms. Laura, media specialist extraordinaire, for arranging this for us.

Beginning tomorrow, 2/23/16, I will begin hosting Tuesday afternoon work sessions from 3:15 until 4:00. This is for students who may need additional work time or guidance but will not serve as a tutorial session. I realize the workload of our students can get overwhelming and that they may not have a lot of time, support, or resources available to work after school. Your child can attend as many, or as few, sessions as they would like in order for them to stay caught up with assignments and projects. If you allow your child to stay tomorrow, please send them with a note or email me. I will send home permission slips for the following week.

Language Arts:

• Summary project due today, 2/22, to show your child has read Hatchet chapters 5-9.
• Hatchet Vocabulary (Chapters 5-8) is due Friday, 2/26. Your child needs to complete 2 activities (given in a handout and on Google Classroom). 
• Weekly Studies: Connotation & Denotation; Point of View; Continued work in kinds of sentences (simple, compound, complex).

Social Studies:

• Weekly Studies: South America
• Due today, 2/22/16: Chapter 9/Section 1 pg. 231-235 (#1 a, c, d) and (#3 a, b, c).
• Due Wednesday, 2/24/16: Chapter 9/Section 2 pg. 238-242 (#1 a, b, and c) and (#3 a and b).
• Due Friday, 2/26/16: Chapter 9/Section 3 pg. 243-247 (#1 a and d), (#3 a, b, and c), and #4 

Marvelous Monday (February 22, 2016)

Happy Monday Families,

Just a few announcements and reminders as we begin our last full week of February:

1. Mr. Jerry and Ms. Vicky, our amazing Chess volunteers, are hosting a bracketed Chess tournament that is open to all 6th grade students. We have had a lot of interest in our class and look forward to the positive competitive atmosphere. 
2. School Supplies Needed: Many thanks to the parents that donate class supplies. If you are able to help us out, we are always in need of pencils, notebook paper, and index cards. Wipes, paper plates, and plasticware are also greatly appreciated.
3. Student Kudos: We are happy to announce that the following 6th grade students won 1st place in the New Beginnings Art Show that celebrated Black History Month: Deyjah, Kamaia, Tattiana, and Chelsea (who moved to Tennessee shortly after the holidays.)
4. Charles Ellis Presents: We are in the early beginning of planning our part of the Charles Ellis Presents program that is scheduled for May. The overall topic is Nature and our homeroom study is Wind/Air. We will be talking about this a lot this week and are sure to come up some super great ideas. The goal is to simulate a moving art gallery where each child or group of children can express themselves in the areas they feel most comfortable (art, writing, acting, etc.). More specific information will be coming your way soon. 
5. Sidewalk Arts Festival: This Friday, Feb 26, from 4 - 6:30 the Erdkinder program will be hosting their second Sidewalk Arts Festival. Your child may purchase a sidewalk square and chalk for $10.00. Please consider joining us for this event. Monies raised will be going towards the Erdkinder "Going Out" program.
6. Hatchet: Please make sure your child is completing Hatchet reading and vocabulary assignments. 

Have a marvelous Monday,

Ms. Susan

Bobcat Blast Announcements

Good evening, Bobcats.  We move onto the Grace and Courtesy emphasis of Peace.  Remind your children to be aware of not only their needs, but the needs of others.

        Remember that Monday is a school holiday as we observe Presidents' Day!

        Our Parent Induction Series continues on Wednesday with the presentation, Montessori Ages and Stages.  Parents should meet in the media center at 5:30 for this informative meeting about our Montessori Philosophy.  

        Jump Rope for Heart takes off Thursday.  Children in the Primary and Lower Elementary classes will have their chance to jump away Thursday! We continue Friday, with Jump Rope for Heart for our Upper Elementary and Erdkinder classes.  Thank you for your continued support for this American Heart Association activity!

        Spring picture day is also on Friday.  Individual and class pictures will be taken. If you are interested in ordering a class picture, for $10, please send in your form and payment by Friday.  Individual pictures can be ordered after you receive them. This is a FREE Dress Down Day!

        AND the PTA's Father-Daughter Dance will end our Friday.  This special event for our daughters in Pre-K through 8th grade will take place in the Multi-Purpose Room from 7:00  9:00.  Tickets may be purchased in the Media Center for $5.00

Welcome to mid-February!!

I don't know about you, but time is flying by quickly and so many wonderful things are happening that my head, and the children's heads, are often spinning. But we're working hard on getting organized and motivated - with a little tough love added for free :)

BIG, BIG THANK YOU TO MY STUDENTS: I have to send out a HUGE thank you to the kids because they have been instrumental in helping me find my way in determining the best ways that we can all be successful. We had a wonderful conversation Monday that has helped shape the way lessons and projects are planned. As you  may know, I spent the last 22 years teaching middle school math, so this is a brand new endeavor. Your children are the most amazing kids and they have taught me so much - and remind me, on a daily basis, why I am a teacher.

On that note, here's what's going on this week:
Tuesday & Wednesday: English Language Arts lessons and work periods. We will be focusing on two primary topics: dialogue and point of view.
Thursday & Friday: Social Studies: We will start Chapter 9 this week (South America). Instead of answering questions for the sections, we are going to practice outlining and will do most of the work together as a class.

Ms. Gloria: I am more than happy to share with you that my mom-in-law, Ms. Gloria, has been volunteering 3 afternoons a week in our classroom. She has had a lot of Ellis experience, having worked in the library for years w/ Ms. Rebecca and helping out with the Book Fairs. Her experience is invaluable and is allowing more children to get the individual or small group help that they need for optimum success.

PowerSchool: Parents and families, PLEASE go by the front office to get your log-in for PowerSchool if you have not done so yet. It is the easiest way for you and your child to keep up with what is going on in class. For the many parents that are connected, THANK YOU! And an even bigger THANK YOU for those of you who have shared your password with your child so they can check on themselves! Way to go!!
**Students that have zeroes in PowerSchool are responsible for completing that work on their own time. They will have the option of staying after school on Thursday until 4:15 if they need assistance.

FRIDAY:

• Class pictures ($10) - free dress down for the students 
• Father - Daughter Dance (see Ellis webpage for details)

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

A request from Ms. Tanya:

Please take a moment and complete the Georgia Parent Survey (the link is below) by the end of this week, Friday, Feb. 12. Please email me (susan.torrance@sccpss.com) when you have completed the survey, 

Georgia Parent Survey

·         Anonymous survey for all parents/guardians

·         Parent Survey Link - http://apps.gadoe.org/schoolclimate/parents.nsf/Survey.xsp

Tutorial Reminder:

This is the last full week of tutorial. ELA tutorials will only take place on Thursdays beginning next week. Mr. Trent's tutorial schedule will continue to be on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Bobcat Blast for the week of February 8th:

                Carnation sales continue through Thursday, with delivery Friday, February 12th.  You may place your order with Coach Lesley in the MPR or by filling out the order form and sending it in with your child.

o             http://internet.savannah.chatham.k12.ga.us/schools/Ellis/Exp/Shared%20Documents/Carnation%20order%20form%20-%20pdf.pdf

                As part of our ongoing parent education series we present Rob Keys, Montessori Trainer; Thursday, February 11th at 6:30PM.  His topic will be Follow the Child. 

                The updated list of our Montessori 101 Parent Education classes is on the website.  Check out the upcoming speakers, workshops, and student presentations for the second semester!

o             http://internet.savannah.chatham.k12.ga.us/schools/Ellis/2015%202016/Montessori%20101%20Semester%202.pdf

                Many of our teachers will be involved in Montessori training next week!  Wish them luck as they pursue their own excellence!

                Friday, February 12th is a dress down day for $1 to support the Susan B. Koman Foundation. To show your support for our Breast Cancer fighters and survivors, wear pink!

                Parents in our Upper Elementary classes, be on the lookout for information about our annual Charles Ellis Presents production and Gallery on 49th Street opening!  Our students have begun planning for this year's event.  More information to come as we approach our May 12th date!

Black History Month Events:

This week's Savannah Black Heritage Festival Events:

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Wednesday, Feb 10, 7 pm

Annual Future of Jazz Concert and Tribute to the Late Ben Tucker Featuring local and regional young jazz vocalists and instrumentalists.  

@ the Jewish Educational Alliance, 5111 Abercorn St.

Thurs, Feb 11, 6:30 pm

W.W. Law Lecture I. "The Weeping Time." Otis S. Johnson, Ph.D., Scholar-in-Residence, SSU, examines the impact of the largest slave sale in Georgia in US history - which took place at a race track in Savannah, GA, March 1859.  

@ Jepson Center, 207 W. York St.

Sat, Feb 13, 8:30 am - 9:00 pm

GRAND FESTIVAL DAY - An array of family-oriented activities ending with a star-studded concert.

@ Savannah Civic Center, 301 Oglethorpe Ave

Sun, Feb 14, 5:00 pm

Annual Gospel Concert featuring Wess Morgan. Opening performances by the SSU Wesleyan and ASU Gospel choirs.

@First African Baptist Church, 23 Montgomery St.

·        

Week of February 8, 2016

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
In honor of Valentine's Day, we will be having a card exchange at lunch on Friday, 2/12. If your child chooses to participate, we ask that they provide a card for every child in their homeroom. Here is a list of our homeroom students: Ethan, Sofia, Da'Kari, Deyjah, Emma, Moses, Morgan, Jahmare, Ginger, Michael, Kamaia, Jenna, Heavan, Kiristin, Elizabeth, Olivia, Liberty, Langston, Johnathan, Terron, Tattiana, Jet, Mary Cass, Julia, Tyler, and Grace. 

Also, there is a Carnation Sale to raise money for our Erdkinder (7th/8th) grade program. Your child may purchase carnations from Coach Lesley.

We will be supporting the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research by offering a dress-down day, Friday, February 12 for $1.00. This dress-down is a "PINK-OUT" where students are asked to wear pink as a sign of support. 

Montessori Information
I am happy to announce that one of our Montessori trainers, Rob Keys, will be presenting a seminar entitled "Follow the Child" this Thursday, 2/11. at 6:30 in the Media Center. He is an excellent resource and I encourage you to attend this event to hear how Montessori philosophy works in the millennium.

Also, refer to the Charles Ellis website to learn about upcoming Parent Workshops (aka Montessori 101). These workshops present the work of teachers and students and give you a little insight into the Montessori curriculum in all of the subject areas.

Tutorial Changes
Sadly, this will be the last full week of tutorial for ELA. Due to budget constraints, tutorial will only be held on Thursday afternoons for ELA beginning next week. Mr. Trent will continue offering tutorial as scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays.

DEEP
Our wonderful DEEP program has started and we are pleased to announce that there are still 3 openings for interested students. Please have your child let me know asap if they are interested in participating. It is such an awesome opportunity to allow our children work with published writers to improve their writing skills, practice different writing techniques, and push themselves to be better writers.

Last but not Least:
We are having some difficulties with students not bringing in their own school and lunch supplies. Please help your child go through his or her bookbag and prepare it for school by providing pencils, paper, composition books, planners, etc. Also, students who are home-lunchers need to bring their own utensils and containers.

Have a great week!
Ms. Susan