Ms. Vaughan's Class

Week 12

Miss Vaughan’s News

October 30, 2008

Character Education Word of the week: Democracy: individual, responsible participation in decision making; government by the people

Specials:

Friday - P.E.  Monday –Computer Lab Tuesday – Music -  Wednesday - Art Thursday -P.E.

Class News

v      Thank you so much to all of you who have donated a bag of candy! It really does help so much!

v      In today’s Thursday Folder, you will find a letter regarding our Online Assessment System. At the top of the page is a sticker with your child’s own testing number and password. Please KEEP this paper!!! This information allows your child to go online and begin taking practice tests for the CRCT. This is a great way to prepare for the test. I know that April is a long way away, but as we all know, time passes all too quickly. Practice with consistency is the key to using this program. If you have any questions, please let me know!

v      Please return the 4^th grade musical permission slip if you have not already done so. (It is purple.) Auditions for various parts will begin shortly, and without permission to attend, students cannot try out.

v      Information from our room mom (Mrs. Swancy) should be reaching you shortly. Be on the look-out!

v      We got 3^rd place in our door decorating contest! A picture will be up on the blog soon!!! Check it out! We don’t fall for drugs! J 

v      Mr. Magee (from the lunchroom) wanted me to remind everyone that each month has a different number of days. So, if you are one of those diligent parents who thinks ahead and plans for the whole month of meals, and sends in $32, please recognize that months like this month will require $36.80. Please plan accordingly! Thank you so much!

v      One quick side note-we have been working so hard in here that we are already almost out of notebook paper! If you are willing or able, please send 1-2 packs of wide ruled notebook paper to school with your child. I collect them all and pass them out when we need it so that students’ desks don’t get too clogged. I really do appreciate all of my wonderful parents who are so faithful to help out our class! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Just a Reminder:

v     Every Friday is school spirit day! Wear your spirit wear on Fridays! Spirit wear can be ordered from PTA.

v     I send home failing test grades to be corrected. Please review these tests with your students and sign that you have seen the test. I only allow one night to make up these tests. It is very important that the tests come back corrected the next day.

v     You can find a complete list of AR books on the school website if your child is at home and would like to know if a book qualifies for AR.

Dates to Remember:

v     October 31^st-           Book Reports and Reading Logs Due!

v     November 4^th-        No School!!!

v     November 11^th-      End of 4 ½ wk. grading period (academic alert time)

v     November 17^th-      2^nd SRI reading test in the computer lab

v     November 24^th-28^th Thanksgiving Holidays!!! Yay!

Reading Hint for the Week:

Book reports are due TOMORROW!!!!! Work hard, and get ready to present!

Science Hint for the Week:

Go to www.edheads.org to see some cool ways simple machines affect our everyday lives!

Week 11

Miss Vaughan’s News

October 23, 2008

Character Education Word of the week: School Pride/Cleanliness: Care and satisfaction in your school’s environment, achievement and success

Specials:

Friday - Computer Lab Monday -Music Tuesday - Art Wednesday - P.E. Thursday - P.E.

Class News

v      I am asking that each student bring in at least ONE can for our canned food drive. If this is not possible for you and your family, please let me know. For every 7 cans a student brings in, they get a free homework pass from me.  The class that brings in the most cans wins a pizza party!

v      We are getting low on candy, so if you would like to donate a bag of any kind of candy to the class while you are out doing your Halloween shopping, it would be much appreciated!

v      The Fall Dance is this Friday. Come and have a good time with your kids. Don’t forget to dress up! Ticket requests were sent home in last week’s Thursday Folder.

v      Please look at the IDENT-A-KID flyer. The class that has the most participants gets a pizza party!

v      Next week is Red Ribbon Week. We are going to be decorating our door for a contest. The judging will be on Wednesday. If there is a parent who would like to help decorate, please email me and let me know. The schedule for Red Ribbon Week is as follows:

MONDAY: Red Ribbon Stickers distributed. Students sign a “pledge” ticket to be entered for a raffle.

TUESDAY: Wear red day.

WEDNESDAY: Big Shanty “CAN” do without drugs! Bring in cans for our canned food drive!

THURSDAY: Wear camo day. Help combat against drugs! K9 demo for door winners.

FRIDAY: Prize drawings from the student pledge tickets.

Just a Reminder:

v     Every Friday is school spirit day! Wear your spirit wear on Fridays! Spirit wear can be ordered from PTA.

v     I send home failing test grades to be corrected. Please review these tests with your students and sign that you have seen the test. I only allow one night to make up these tests. It is very important that the tests come back corrected the next day.

v     You can find a complete list of AR books on the school website if your child is at home and would like to know if a book qualifies for AR.

Dates to Remember:

v     October 24^th-          Fall Dance

v     October 27^th-31^st-  Ribbon Week

v     October 31^st-           Book Reports and Reading Logs Due!

Reading

Hint for the Week:

Students should be finished reading their mystery book. They should be filling out the strips and fixing up their paper bags. Practice what you will say for your oral presentation on Halloween. J 

Science Hint for the Week:

Go to www.edheads.org to see some cool ways simple machines effect our everyday lives!

Week 10

Miss Vaughan’s News

October 16, 2008

Character Education Word of the week: Honor: A sense of what is right, just, and true; a privilege

Specials:

Friday- Music Monday- Art Tuesday- P.E. Wednesday- P.E. Thursday- P.E.

Class News

v      Mrs. Kirby has volunteered to be our class’ AR mom. Please encourage your children to take an AR test on every book they read! Thank you Mrs. Kirby for dedicating your time!!!

v      Thanks to those parents who placed a book order online! I will be placing the order this week, so your child’s books should be in soon!

v      We are getting low on candy, so if you would like to donate a bag of any kind of candy to the class while you are out doing your Halloween shopping, it would be much appreciated!

v      The new math compacting begins on Monday. You should see a bright yellow slip that notifies you of your child’s math teacher for the next nine weeks. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me.

Just a Reminder:

v     Every Friday is school spirit day! Wear your spirit wear on Fridays! Spirit wear can be ordered from PTA.

v     I send home failing test grades to be corrected. Please review these tests with your students and sign that you have seen the test. I only allow one  night to make up these tests. It is very important that the tests come back corrected the next day.

v     Each Thursday, the “Progress Update,” graded papers, my newsletter, and other important papers will be sent home in the Thursday Folder. The “Progress Update” needs to be signed and returned the next day along with the Thursday Folder.

v     You can find a complete list of AR books on the school website if your child is at home and would like to know if a book qualifies for AR.

Dates to Remember:

v     October 17^th-          Report Cards go home

v     October 21^st-           Chick-Fil-A Family Night (Barrett Pkwy. 5-8pm)

v     October 24^th-          Fall Dance

v     October 27^th-31^st-  Ribbon Week

v     October 31^st-           Book Reports and Reading Logs Due!

Reading Hint for the Week:
Students should be finished (or nearly finished) with their mystery book. Today, the materials were sent home for the book report. Students should begin working on their book reports.  They may bring them into school early if they would like me to store them here until the 31^st.

Math Hint for the Week:

Think of ways that we use division in everyday life. How does it make life easier?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Week 9

Miss Vaughan’s News

October 2, 2008

Character Education Word of the week: Accountability: being responsible for your decisions and actions; dependable.

Specials:

Friday-

P.E.

Monday-

P.E.

Tuesday-

P.E.

Wednesday-

Media

Center

Thursday- Music

Class News

v      We have had to cancel the field trip on October 16^th due to a lack of funds. We are looking into other possible trips/presentations as a substitute for this trip. I will keep you posted as soon as I find out anything.

v      Thanks to all those who came out for math night! It was a huge success!

v      The science test on weather will be on Wednesday. Use the study guide that was given to prepare for the test.

v      We have a shortage of paper here at school. If any parent would like to donate one ream of white copy paper, that would help our class out so much! Thank you for all donations.

v      Mrs. Kirby has volunteered to be our class’ AR mom. Please encourage your children to take an AR test on every book they read! Thank you Mrs. Kirby for dedicating your time!!!

v      The benchmark test for the first math unit will be on Thursday, October 16^th. Please continue to review your math facts each night! Because of the benchmark, the students will only have math homework on Monday and Tuesday of next week.

v   Yesterday, we took the math pretest for the next benchmark. You will find out in the next Thursday folder who your child’s math teacher will be for the next 9 weeks.

v   Book orders are due Wednesday!!!! Please turn them in, or order online.

v     Please do not be overwhelmed that your students brought home four book orders. Each book order has a different theme. All book orders will be due October 15^th. All four book orders need to be filled out separately, but the check can be combined. ALSO, I am excited to announce that you can now order books online. It is very easy.

o       First, go to http://scholastic.com/clubs/

o       Then, click on the green “for parents” button on the left.

o       Then, immediately click on “Parent Online Ordering Log-in”

o       Our class’ username is Vaughan4 and our password is read.

v                 From here, you may shop around from each different flyer. You will purchase the books on the Scholastic website with a credit card instead of sending the money to the school with your child. All of the books will still be shipped to the school in one order. You may still send in the orders like normal, that part hasn’t changed. BUT, a new option for ordering is now available. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Just a Reminder:

v     Every Friday is school spirit day! Wear your spirit wear on Fridays! Spirit wear can be ordered from PTA.

v     I send home failing test grades to be corrected. Please review these tests with your students and sign that you have seen the test. I only allow one  night to make up these tests. It is very important that the tests come back corrected the next day.

v     Each Thursday, the “Progress Update,” graded papers, my newsletter, and other important papers will be sent home in the Thursday Folder. The “Progress Update” needs to be signed and returned the next day along with the Thursday Folder.

v     You can find a complete list of AR books on the school website if your child is at home and would like to know if a book qualifies for AR.

Dates to Remember:

v     October 9^th-                        Domino’s Delivery Day

v     October 10^th-          End of 1^st grading period

v     October 15^th-          Early Release-Dismissal at 12:10

v     October 15^th-          Book orders due!!!!

v     October 17^th-          Report Cards go home

v     October 21^st-           Chick-Fil-A Family Night (

Barrett Pkwy.

5-8pm)

v     October 24^th-          Fall Dance

v     October 27^th-31^st-  Ribbon Week

Reading

Hint for the Week:

Each student should have a mystery book picked out for our book report this month. Also, each student should be reading AR books and taking tests on them!

Math Hint for the Week:

Get a good night’s sleep on Wednesday so you will be ready for the benchmark test early on Thursday!

Newsletter

Miss Vaughan’s News

October 2, 2008

Character Education Word of the week: Cheerfulness/Positive Attitude- good humored, bright, pleasant. Realistic positive confidence of feeling toward yourself.

Specials for the next week: Friday-P.E., Monday-P.E., Tuesday-Computer Lab, Wednesday-Music, Thursday-Art

Class News

v      A big THANK YOU!!!!! to Mrs. Swancy, Mrs. Patterson, and Mrs. Sheridan for coming out yesterday to our “Weather Instrument Wednesday.” I could not have done it without you! Be sure to ask your child what each instrument is and does. They should be able to tell you!!!

v      We have had to cancel the field trip on October 16^th due to a lack of funds. We are looking into other possible trips/presentations as a substitute for this trip. I will keep you posted as soon as I find out anything.

v      Because we did have to cancel the field trip, I think it would be fun if we all wore our Green T-shirts on Friday for Spirit Day! J

v      Plan to attend the PTA/Math Safari Night on Tuesday, October 7^th from 6:30-8:00. Hope to see you there! If you bring an “EXIT TICKET” showing your attendance at Math Night, you get a night free from homework!

v   Please plan to attend the Big Shanty Safari Book Fair October 6-10 from 7:15-7:45am. You may also visit the book fair on Tuesday, October 7^th from 5-8pm during the PTA Math Safari Night.

v     Please do not be overwhelmed that your students brought home four book orders. Each book order has a different theme. All book orders will be due October 15^th. All four book orders need to be filled out separately, but the check can be combined. ALSO, I am excited to announce that you can now order books online. It is very easy.

o       First, go to http://scholastic.com/clubs/

o       Then, click on the green “for parents” button on the left.

o       Then, immediately click on “Parent Online Ordering Log-in”

o       Our class’ username is Vaughan4 and our password is read.

v     From here, you may shop around from each different flyer. You will purchase the books on the Scholastic website with a credit card instead of sending the money to the school with your child. All of the books will still be shipped to the school in one order. You may still send in the orders like normal, that part hasn’t changed. BUT, a new option for ordering is now available. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Just a Reminder:

v     Every Friday is school spirit day! Wear your spirit wear on Fridays! Spirit wear can be ordered from PTA.

v     Each Thursday, the “Progress Update,” graded papers, my newsletter, and other important papers will be sent home in the Thursday Folder. The “Progress Update” needs to be signed and returned the next day along with the Thursday Folder.

v     You can find a complete list of AR books on the school website if your child is at home and would like to know if a book qualifies for AR.

Dates to Remember:

v     October 7^th-                        PTA Meeting and Math Safari Night 6:30pm

v     October 9^th-                        Domino’s Delivery Day

v     October 10^th-          End of 1^st grading period

v     October 15^th-          Early Release-Dismissal at 12:10

v     October 17^th-          Report Cards go home

v     October 21^st-           Chick-Fil-A Family Night (

Barrett Pkwy.

5-8pm)

v     October 27^th-31^st-  Ribbon Week

Reading

Hint for the Week:

Each student did a wonderful job on their book report for the month of September. For the month of October, each student needs to pick a mystery book (please note all “thriller/scary” books are not mysteries.) The materials will be sent home soon.

Math Hint for the Week:

Three words: facts, facts, FACTS!!!!! It is so hard to understand division when you don’t know your facts!

This newsletter is also available online at:

http://bigshanty.blogs.com/vaughan/