Charles Ellis Presents

Good morning,

As we are focused on GMAS preparations, an exciting performance is also headed our way that will need our energy, creativity, excitement, and anything that we can all bring to the table, so to speak. It's Charles Ellis Presents: The Story of Language.

You can find the parent letter here but I will send a hard copy home with your child tomorrow, Friday, 3/31/17.

Week of March 27 - 31, 2017

Good morning, families :)

I'm hoping you all had a restful Spring Break and that your children are ready to show what they know. This nine weeks will go by fast, so please help your child stay organized by checking PowerSchool, checking Google Classroom for upcoming assignments, checking your child's planner and signing up for your 9-weeks conference.
Conference forms are coming home today and need to be returned by Friday, March 31. 

You can find a link to our Weekly Work Plan here.

Other important information:

• Our 4th 9 Weeks Novel Study is The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. It was listed on the school supply list in August, written in planners two weeks before Spring Break, and is now needed in class by Tuesday, March 28. You may purchase the book online or download it to a device. 
• GMAS Testing Schedule - Your child received a letter prior to Spring Break that detailed testing information for your convenience. The 6th grade schedule is also listed on the conference sign-up sheets. 
• Reminder: There will be no tutorial for ELA/SS or Math during this marking period. 
• FIELD DAY: THURSDAY, APRIL 13

Have a wonderful week and gear up for a very busy last quarter of 6th grade :)

Ms. Susan

Additional Announcements - Tutorial, The Outsiders, GMAS, Kiss-a-Pig, etc

There will be NO TUTORIAL offered for the rest of this school  year in ELA/SS. (Mr. Trent will be holding his last math tutorial this Wednesday, 3/15). If, however, your child is falling behind and needs an occasional Thursday to catch up on work (3:00 - 4:00), I will be available as long as you provide 24 hours notice.

NOVEL STUDY - 4th NINE WEEKS
We will begin reading The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton the week we return from Spring Break (Monday, 3/27). It is VERY important that you secure a copy of the book for your child as we write and take notes in the book. You may download it, purchase it, or check it out from the library. If you do check it out from the library, your child will write the notes on paper rather than in the book.

GMAS:

GMAS will begin one week after we return from Spring Break. Testing dates are from Monday, April 3 - Thursday, April 11. We will be looking for donations of healthy breakfast snacks (fruit, breakfast bars, etc) for our homeroom of 25 students. If you are able to donate, please let me know at your earliest convenience. 

New Google Classroom Policy:

Tomorrow I will be sending home a new policy for Google Classroom assignments. Due to the amount of late work entered, it is quite time consuming to look for assignments once that assignment has already been checked. I will send home a notice with your child this week explaining the policy in more detail and, as always, appreciate your support :).

• St. Patrick's Day items will be for sale in the MPR for students between 7:25 - 7:55. 
• Dress Down - Green Out - Thursday, 3/16, $1.00
• Kiss-A-Pig Dance - $1.00 - During Explorations (3/16)

**All proceeds will be donated to the American Diabetes Association.

Week of March 13 - 17, 2017

Happy Monday :)

Click  here for this week's work plan.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to email me. I'm always happy to help :)

Other announcements:
Today - Spring Picture Day. Remember Group Class Pictures are $10 if your child wishes to purchase one.

Wednesday, 3/15, is the LAST DAY to order t-shirts for Field Day. Your child has been given an additional order form if necessary.

News from our Bobcat Blast:

School -

 *Exciting news! Our school will be undergoing building renovations beginning over spring break and throughout the summer. Stay tuned for more information coming home this week.

*Thursday is one of the most fun days of the year! Our Kiss a Pig Dance will take place!  Students will have an opportunity to dance during their Explorations Time. This event is $1 and its a Dress Down day too for an additional $1, show off your Green attire. If you dress down and go to the dance that will be $2. 

St. Patrick's Day items will be for sale all week in the Multi-Purpose Room before school, as well as the dance.

*Finally, Spring Break begins Friday, March 17.  Students have 10 days to enjoy with their families.  We will return on Monday, March 27.  We hope you are all able to enjoy some family time together!

Weekly Work Plan March 6 - 10

Happy Monday!

With the wonderful assistance of Mr. Trent, I am able to attach the Weekly Work Plan for this week. This is something new I am trying with the students, so any feedback you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Click here to get your weekly work plan.

*One new announcement: Soccer tryouts will begin tomorrow, not today. Students are instructed to bring practice clothes, cleats, a ball, etc. and should plan on attending practice tomorrow at Daffin Park from 3 - 5:30. If you have any questions, please get in contact with Ms. Christy (christy.caughran@sccpss.com)

Week of March 6 - 10, 2017

Happy Last Week of our Third Nine Weeks!

I can't believe how fast time has flown - we are ending our 3rd marking period! Officially, the ending date for this term is Wednesday, March 8, but our grades have to be completed asap so report cards and all of that other fun stuff can be printed in preparation for conferences...so many things going on! Any work that your child wants graded needs to be submitted by Monday, 3/6.

*If your child takes medication for allergies or anything else, please make sure to have some on hand with the school nurse. We are sneezing, coughing, and other unpleasant things that make our learning environment less than optimal.*

On that note, here are other important dates:
Monday, 3/6 -- Soccer tryouts (see yellow papers for more information)
Tuesday, 3/7 -- Canada Map Test (Social Studies)
Friday, 3/10 -- Social Studies Test - Chapter 5 Sections 2 & 3 (Geography and Government)
Monday, 3/13 -- Spring Picture Day (Class Pictures can be purchased for $10)
Wednesday, 3/15 --  Last day to order Field Day tee shirts ($10)
Friday, 3/17 - Friday 3/24 -- SPRING BREAK

**VERY IMPORTANT**

We will begin our second novel study after Spring Break on The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Please have a copy for your child either bought or downloaded by March 27. I will have a few copies that students can use in class but, as we did with Hatchet, we'll be writing notes in them, so it is very beneficial for each child to have their own copy. If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.

Our Week:

Monday, 3/6:

Vocabulary - Unit 3 Words Introduction (Students will receive a copy of this week's work plan with the words on the back of the sheet)

Language/Writing - Students will write a paragraph about a given topic with 10 purposeful errors to allow proofreading practice

Reading - Mini-lesson: Theme. Students will learn how to identify the theme of a story.

Social Studies - Continue study of Canada's Geography

Extra Work/Projects - Various

Google Classroom - Check for assignments

I'm trying a new format for the kids this week that I am going to try to attach to this blog so it will be easier for all of us. If that doesn't work, I'll update the blog tomorrow afternoon (Monday) for the rest of the week.

Happy March-ing into Spring (as the pollen is reminding us!)

Ms. Susan

Week of February 27 - March 3

Welcome to Spring (almost) :)

This week we are working on Canada's geography and writing a quality 5-paragraph essay about Hatchet that is due Friday, March 3. We are doing bits and pieces in class, but please be mindful that students need to do some of this work at home. 
In terms of quality, students need to pay attention to:

• Using text evidence
• Using strong verbs and adverbs
• Paragraphs that focus on their main ideas and are well organized
• Spelling, grammar, and punctuation

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.

General School Announcements:

It is International Montessori Week this week :) We will be gathering outside at the Peace Pole Friday morning at 8:00 to sing our school song and the song of peace.

Also - Friday is a paid dress-down in honor of Montessori week. Students are encouraged to dress as their favorite Montessori material.

Thursday: Science and Cosmic Education Night. Student work will be on display at 5:30. A regular PTA meeting will follow at 6:30.

Model UN: Some of our 6th grade students will be participating in the Spring Competition Thursday. Send them happy thoughts as they proudly represent our school.

Friday (busy day): Sidewalk Arts Festival to support the Erdkinder "Going Out" program. Squares and chalk are $10. Drinks and snacks will also be on sale. The event is from 4 - 6pm. 

We look forward to helping one of our own with another Lego Challenge.  We are raising funds for Wyatt, who is battling Leukemia.  The Lego Challenge will be held March 7.  Students may bring in a gallon bag of Legos and participate in a "free build" for $5.  If children would like to participate, but do not have Legos, the school will have some for them to use. Money will be collected the morning of this event. 

Field Day T-Shirts order forms coming home this week.

Finally, we're asking all parents to please answer a brief Parent Resource Survey so that we may gain insight into the many skills and talents of our Ellis community. The link to the survey is on our web site and in the email Blast.