December 18th, 2016

Greetings,
     We are still collecting items for our Random act of Kindness community service. We are collecting socks, gloves, hats, toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant for men and women. We will be making up care packages on Thursday of this week.
      I am also asking parents to donate one stocking stuffer for each student in our classroom. I am supplying the stockings and parents will provide the items to go inside.  You could send in pencils, fruit roll-ups, rice crispy treats, stickers, erasers, mini toys, etc. We have plenty of fruit chews; but could use other items from the list.
     We have a lot of fun activities next week!
Monday - Snow rotation activities.
Tuesday - Wear your best Christmas Outfit (sweater/shirt, hat, etc.) and make an ornament.
Wednesday - Wear your pajamas! It's Polar Express day and we will have hot chocolate..
Thursday - Big Event, Stocking Exchange, Christmas Trail Mix, and Make care packs for homeless.


Trail Mix - Please email me if you would like to help supply an item for our trail mix.
aimeenoskowiak@nixaschools.net


1 bag of chex cereal
1 bag of Christmas colored M&M's
1 bag of mini marshmallows
1 bag of pretzels
1 bag of chocolate covered raisins


Important Dates
12-21 Sing Along/Polar Express Day

12-22 Big Event

12-23 to 1-2 Christmas Break

    
    

December 9, 2016

Greetings,
     We enjoyed a day of force and motion with our high school Physic's class on Monday. We spent the whole afternoon with them. I posted some photos of the event on Seesaw. We decided to move our pizza party to Monday of this week, so we would have more time with the Physic's class this afternoon.
    We are still collecting items for our Random act of Kindness community service. We are collecting socks, gloves, hats, toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant for men and women. We will collect these items all next week. We will be making up care packages and giving them to the homeless. I am so thrilled and excited about this project!!
     I am also asking parents to donate one stocking stuffer for each student in our classroom. I am supplying the stockings and parents will provide the items to go inside.  You could send in pencils, fruit roll-ups, rice crispy treats, stickers, erasers, mini toys, etc. I would like to have all stocking stuffers collected by this Friday, December 16th.
     We completed our Scholastic Reading Inventory Test this week. I will be sending your child's November and December score through Seesaw. This time of year we would like to see students score 250 or higher. Our year end goal is 300-600. If your child is not improving their score or staying within at least 20 points we will be looking at some strategies to help them move forward.
     Don't forget about Dinner with Santa! It is on December 16th. You will need to sign up through Sign up Genius. I sent an email out tonight with the Sign up Genius if you are planning to attend Dinner with Santa.
 


Important Dates
 12-5 to 12-9 Santa Store
12-7 Godfather's Night
12-9 Playground Physics Day
12-13 Dental Screening
12-16 Dinner with Santa

12-21 Sing Along/Polar Express Day

12-22 Big Event time TBD/Class Christmas Party

12-23 to 1-2 Christmas Break

November 28th

Greetings,
     I hope you had a great Thanksgiving Break. I am so glad to see everyone back at school. We have some very exciting things happening in December. I will start with our Random Act of Kindness Community Activity. I am so excited about this!!! We are learning about giving back to the community. We will be collecting items to make care packages for the homeless. We will be collecting, warm hats, gloves, socks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and candy canes. You can start sending items in at any time through December 15th.
     Next week the Santa Store will be open. Students may do their Christmas shopping for family and friends. Every item in the store is $1 and they will wrap all of the items. We will be going to the Santa Store on Tuesday at our specials time next week. PTA normally sends out envelopes for money and a list for students to write down who they will be shopping for. So be looking for that to come home.
      I will be purchasing stockings for students as a Christmas gift. I will be asking parents to send in 22 little tokens/treats as stocking stuffers during the week of December 12th-16th. You could send in pencils, fruit roll-ups, rice crispy treats, stickers, erasers, mini toys, etc.
     This week we will be learning about maps. Students will create their own treasure map at the end of the week. We are also learning how to count money and give change. We will start some 2nd quarter testing this week in math and reading.


Important Dates
11-29 Respect SOARing Assembly

12-5 to 12-9 Santa Store
12-7 Godfather's Night
12-9 Playground Physics Day
12-13 Dental Screening
12-16 Dinner with Santa

12-21 Sing Along/Polar Express Day

12-22 Big Event time TBD/Class Christmas Party

12-23 to 1-2 Christmas Break

Happy Thanksgiving

Greetings,
    We only have two days of school this week, so our blog will be very short. We had a great time at our Thanksgiving Feast today! We made vest, hats, played a fun Native American game and ate lots of good stuff. Thanks for your help in sending in the supplies that we needed.
     We are writing about lots of things that we are thankful for in our Thankful Journals. We will send those journals home sometime in December. Students created a trifold research project on the Plains and Woodland Native Americans. Students will bring those home today. Students also created an artifact, tool or weapon out of salt dough.
     I posted several photos of our Thanksgiving Feast on Seesaw.


Have a great week and Happy Thanksgiving!
Important Dates
 11-23 to 11-25 Thanksgiving Break--No School

11-29 Respect SOARing Assembly

12-5 to 12-9 Santa Store

12-21 Sing Along/Polar Express Day

12-22 Big Event time TBD

12-23 to 1-2 Christmas Break

November 15th, 2016

Greetings,
    We had a wonderful time at our Veteran's Day Assembly today. We got to honor many men and women who have served and are currently serving our country in the military. We made a beautiful wreath and hung it up to support our veterans.
     This Thursday is our Parent Palooza. Below is a link in which you can sign up. We will have a fun filled night of parent education and activities for students. Day care is provided for infants - 4 years old. There will be activities in the FEMA gym for students K-4 while parents attend classes
Here are the topics for classes being offered for parents https://docs.google.com/document/d/16_pecZkXHe9qFQkShM21b-LTGZAnBzUJJobGv-u2HvI/edit



Here is the sign up for the Parent Palooza https://docs.google.com/a/nixaschools.net/forms/d/1WNHURRyon8MVTrbKAcZAZAtJ1coWAF-v7p4A0-c71y8/viewform?edit_requested=true



We are having a Thanksgiving celebration on Monday of next week. We will have some stations for students to do activities and special snacks. Below is the link to our snack needs. Any donations would be greatly appreciated.
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0b4eacac2f4-2016


Hats for dollars is on Friday of this week and Show-n-tell for dollars is on Friday of this week. Dr. Kopp is asking each grade level to raise $25 for United Way. Students may wear a hat for $1 or bring a show-n-tell item for $1. Students are welcome to do both for $2.





Important Dates 

11-15 Veterans Day Assembly 8:30 a.m.
11-17 Parent Palooza 4:30-6:30 p.m.

11-21 2nd Grade Thanksgiving Feast 9:00-10:00 a.m.
11-23 to 11-25 Thanksgiving Break--No School

11-29 Respect SOARing Assembly

12-5 to 12-9 Santa Store

12-21 Sing Along/Polar Express Day

12-22 Big Event time TBD

12-23 to 1-2 Christmas Break

Greetings,
     We hope you enjoyed our land form videos that were on see saw. Students had a lot of fun creating them. We made the land forms out of salt dough. This week we will continue with land forms and learn about the 7 continents.
     Thank you for sending in coins for the "Coins for Costumes" last week. In total, the school raised around $700.00.
     On November 17th our school will be hosting our 3rd annual Parent Palooza. It is a time in which parents can come learn about educational topics. Fun activities and day care are provided while you attend sessions. Here is the link and more information about it. https://docs.google.com/document/d/10mQRC3SrPZFySmni5-gY3WJEXIgjYYslsCjdw5Ruj8s/edit


Here is the sign up form for the Parent Palooza.
https://docs.google.com/a/nixaschools.net/forms/d/1WNHURRyon8MVTrbKAcZAZAtJ1coWAF-v7p4A0-c71y8/edit


    We will be having a Thanksgiving Activity Day at the end of the month. I will be emailing out a sign up genius for the things we will need. Parents are invited to join us on that day.


     DON'T FORGET....NO SCHOOL ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH!!!


      This week we will learn about continents and oceans. We will also make our thankful journals in writing. In math we have jumped from one digit addition and subtraction problems to two digit subtraction and addition problems this week.


Important Dates:

11-8 No School--Election Day--Teacher Workday

11-15 Veterans Day Assembly

11-17 Parent Palooza 4:30-6:30 p.m.

11-21 2nd Grade Thanksgiving Feast 9:00-10:00 a.m.

11-23 to 11-25 Thanksgiving Break--No School

11-29 Respect SOARing Assembly

12-5 to 12-9 Santa Store

12-21 Sing Along/Polar Express Day

12-22 Big Event time TBD

12-23 to 1-2 Christmas Break

November 7th, 2016

Greetings,
     We hope you enjoyed our land form videos that were on see saw. Students had a lot of fun creating them. We made the land forms out of salt dough. This week we will continue with land forms and learn about the 7 continents.
     Thank you for sending in coins for the "Coins for Costumes" last week. In total, the school raised around $700.00.
     On November 17th our school will be hosting our 3rd annual Parent Palooza. It is a time in which parents can come learn about educational topics. Fun activities and day care are provided while you attend sessions. Here is the link and more information about it. https://docs.google.com/document/d/10mQRC3SrPZFySmni5-gY3WJEXIgjYYslsCjdw5Ruj8s/edit


Here is the sign up form for the Parent Palooza.
https://docs.google.com/a/nixaschools.net/forms/d/1WNHURRyon8MVTrbKAcZAZAtJ1coWAF-v7p4A0-c71y8/edit


    We will be having a Thanksgiving Activity Day at the end of the month. I will be emailing out a sign up genius for the things we will need. Parents are invited to join us on that day.


     DON'T FORGET....NO SCHOOL ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH!!!


      This week we will learn about continents and oceans. We will also make our thankful journals in writing. In math we have jumped from one digit addition and subtraction problems to two digit subtraction and addition problems this week.


Important Dates:

11-8 No School--Election Day--Teacher Workday

11-15 Veterans Day Assembly

11-17 Parent Palooza 4:30-6:30 p.m.

11-21 2nd Grade Thanksgiving Feast 9:00-10:00 a.m.

11-23 to 11-25 Thanksgiving Break--No School

11-29 Respect SOARing Assembly

12-5 to 12-9 Santa Store

12-21 Sing Along/Polar Express Day

12-22 Big Event time TBD

12-23 to 1-2 Christmas Break

October 31st

Greetings,
    I was thrilled with meeting all of you at conferences last week. I truly enjoy the time I get to spend with your child in class. Thank you for being a great partner in helping your child to be successful at school.
   We want to thank the PTA for sponsoring our fall party. We had so much fun on the slides and bounce houses last week. I think the face painting was also a big hit.
    Last week we learned all about land forms. Our salt dough land forms turned out really good. We are going to paint them on Monday. Students will make a short video to describe what land forms they created. We will post them on See Saw once we are finished with them. 
    This week we will continue doing research on the upcoming presidential election. Students are writing a paper that describes what they would do if they were president. We are still planning to hold our own private election for the next presidential election.


Importan Events:

10-31 Coins for Costumes (Students bring coins to vote for favorite teacher costume.)

11-1 PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

11-2 Godfather's Pizza Night

11-8 No School (Teacher Workday)

11-15 Veterans Day Assembly

11-23 to 11-25 Thanksgiving Break (No School)

11-29 Respect SOARing Assembly

12-5 to 12-9 Santa Store

12-21 Sing Along/Polar Express Day

12-22 Big Event time TBD

12-23 to 1-2 Christmas Break

October 24th, 2016

Greetings,
     This week is Red Ribbon Week. Students are invited to participate in different dress up and themed activities each day.
Let's be drug free!!!

• Monday: Your Future is So Bright! Wear your SUNGLASSES!
• Tuesday: Be STRONG - Just Say No! Wear your exercise clothes!
• Wednesday: No sweat for us to say No! Wear your sweats!
• Thursday: Wear your RED in honor of Kiki/Red Ribbon Week!

Parent teacher conferences are this week. Please email or call me if your schedule changes and you need to find a different time to meet. I will be happy to work something out for you.

Our fall party will be on Thursday of this week from 2:30-3:20 p.m. Parents are welcome to come help. The fall party is sponsored by our PTA. All of the activities will be held in the FEMA gym. Sorry, but no costumes for the fall party are to be worn. The teachers will be dressing up in a costume on the 31st to help raise money for our new Exploratorium! Students may bring pennies, nickles, dimes or quarters to vote for their favorite teacher costume.

This week we will be learning about the duties of a president. We will be setting up our own presidential election. Students will vote for their favorite president. Students will also write a narrative on what they would do if they were president.  

In science we will be learning about land forms. Students will research the different types of land forms and create a land form out of salt dough. 

During math we will continue solving word problems and learn about estimation.

Important Dates:

10-24 to 10-27 Parent Teacher Conferences

10-25 SOARing Assembly for Self-Control

10-27 Fall Parties (2nd grade 2:30-3:20 p.m.)

10-28 No School

10-31 Coins for Costumes

11-1 PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

11-2 Godfather's Pizza Night

11-8 No School--Election Day--Teacher Workday

11-15 Veterans Day Assembly

11-23 to 11-25 Thanksgiving Break--No School

12-5 to 12-9 Santa Store

October 17, 2016

Greetings,
    Wow! What a great week! We had so much fun at our Big Event on Friday. We played games with the high school football team, had our faces painted, and saw the high school drama team perform. Every student in our class earned at least 10 Soar Bucks and was able to attend the Big Event. For second quarter students will need to earn at least 15 Soar Bucks.
     On Thursday we had so much fun with designing a roller coaster on our devices. After we designed a roller coaster, students worked together in small groups to create a roller coaster with spliced pool noodles, tape and marbles. Students worked together to create the appropriate incline planes so that their marbles would run across their entire roller coaster. It was so much fun watching their excitement when a marble made it all the way across their roller coaster.
     Parent Teacher Conferences are next week. It is our goal that 100% of all families sign up for a conference. If you have not been able to sign up on Sign up Genius please email me aimeenoskowiak@nixaschools.net. I will send confirmation notes home this week for conferences.
     This week we are starting a unit on Laura Ingalls Wilder. We will also tackle word problems in math and continue to work on addition and subtraction fluency. In writing, students will work on editing their work and learn the importance of rereading what they write. Students will continue working on improving their reading levels in Guided Reading groups. We are working hard on reading with fluency.  
     This week is the Book Fair. Students will have an opportunity to purchase books on Monday during library or throughout the week. Students were told that they could dress up like a pirate on Monday to help promote the Book Fair.
    
Important Dates:

10-17 to 10-21 Book Fair

10-18 Picture Retakes

10-20 NED Assembly

10-21 Mile Run

10-24 to 10-27 Parent Teacher Conferences

10-25 SOARing Assembly for Self-Control

10-27 Fall Parties (schedule to be announced)

10-28 No School

October 10th, 2016

Greetings,
    This Friday will be our Big Event Celebration. Students will be celebrating SOARing behavior with some fun and exciting activities. Students have been working hard on earning 10 SOAR bucks so that they may attend the Big Event.
     We have finally earned our 50th marble for showing great expectations at school. We will be welcoming our new hermit crab to our classroom on Monday. We will vote on a name for the hermit crab and do some research on how hermit crabs live.
      Last week we had a lot of fun with our fall activities. We started by writing a persuasive letter to a tree. Our goal was to convince the tree to keep his leaves. So if you see several trees with their leaves this year, you will know that our class had something to do with it. We also had fun writing the recipe for making applesauce, using transitional words. After we wrote the recipe, we made the applesauce together, and we licked the crockpot clean. Not one drop of applesauce left. Originally we were going to make apple butter. However, we learned that it takes more hours than what we have in one day to make. So we decided to make the applesauce. 
       We also had a great time participating in our force and motion activities on Friday of last week. We used marshmallow shooters to learn about force and gravity. We used incline planes to learn how gravity and friction works. We also pulled cars with magnets to learn about the different types of force.
      This coming week we will continue learning about force and motion by designing and creating a rollercoaster.  On the 13th students may bring in small toys with wheels to celebrate "Wheels Day".
      We will also be working on writing a persuasive paper about which animal makes the best pet by using facts and opinions. Students spent time last week writing their opinions about their animals and looking up facts about their animal on their devices. This week they will take their opinions and facts and put them within a persuasive paper.   
      In math this week we will be working on addition and subtraction fluency. The first quarter goal for fluency is 70% accuracy within a 5 minute time limit. Our goal is to be at 85% or higher by 4th quarter. We will also continue working with measuring and greater than/less than. 
      Don't forget that Friday is a half day. Students will be dismissed at 12:40. Please make sure you have transportation arrangements made for your child. 




             Important Dates: 

10-12 Principal's Advisory Committee (open to anyone who wants to attend) 2:30-3:30 p.m.

10-13 Wheels Day (force and motion celebration--students may bring a small toy on wheels)

10-14 Big Event (end of quarter PBIS celebration--schedule to be announced)

10-14 End 1st Quarter-1/2 Day of School--12:40 Dismissal

10-14 to 10-20 Book Fair

10-18 Picture Retakes

10-24 to 10-27 Parent Teacher Conferences

10-25 SOARing Assembly for Self-Control

10-27 Fall Parties (schedule to be announced)

10-28 No School

October 3rd, 2016

Greetings,
     Can you believe first quarter will be ending in just a few short weeks. I sent out a sign-up sheet for Parent Teacher Conferences last week through Sing-up Genius. You should have gotten an invite through your email to sign up. If not, please let me know.
     This week we will be learning the difference of a fact and opinion. Students will learn to write an informational paper that includes facts and opinions this week. They will also focus on including a beginning, middle, and ending to their papers.
      In math we will continue working on number bonds and greater than/less than. We will begin a new unit on measurement this week. Students will learn to measure to the nearest centimeter and inch.
     On Thursday of this week we will do some special fall activities. We will write opinions about fall, use apples to measure objects in the class and use centimeters and inches to measure the size of apples. We will also make apple butter. Yum! Yum!
     On Friday students will participate in some special force and motion activities. Students are learning how gravity and friction works. They will design a road and use magnets to pull cars, make marshmallow shooters, and design incline planes. 


*****We are in need of a few items to help us with apple butter and our force/motion activities. Any donations would be appreciated!


>1 bag of apples - need by Wednesday of this week. Please email me if you could send a bag.
aimeenoskowiak@nixaschools.net
>1 bag of regular size marshmallows - need by Thursday of this week. Please email me if you could send a bag. aimeenoskowiak@nixaschools.net
>25 Large plastic cups - need by Thursday of this week. Please email me if you could send in a bag of cups. aimeenoskowiak@nixaschools.net
>Black electrical tape (two rolls) - need by Thursday of this week. Please email if you could send in a roll of tape. aimeenoskowiak@nixaschools.net
>Sandpaper - need by Thursday of this week. Please email if you could send in sandpaper.
aimeenoskowiak@nixaschools.net
>25 Styrofoam bowls - need by Wednesday of this week. Please email if you could send in bowls.
aimeenoskowiak@nixaschools.net
>25 plastic spoons - need by Wednesday of this week. Please email if you could send in spoons.
aimeenoskowiak@nixaschools.net


Important Dates 

10-5 Godfather's Night

10-12 Principal's Advisory Committee 

10-13 Wheels Day (force and motion celebration--students may bring a small toy on wheels)

10-14 Big Event (end of quarter PBIS celebration)

10-14 End 1st Quarter-1/2 Day of School, Early Dismissal Time is 12:40

10-14 to 10-20 Book Fair

10-18 Picture Retakes

10-24 to 10-27 Parent Teacher Conferences

10-25 SOARing Assembly

10-27 Fall Parties (more information to come)

10-28 No School

    

September 26th, 2016

Greetings,
    
     We had one of the best times on Friday with our cow eyeball dissection. I am not sure if the parents or kids had more fun! I had a blast! It was such a wonderful learning experience for us all. I want to thank our parents for volunteering their time to help dissect. I will post some photos on Seesaw this week sometime.  


     Grandparent's Day - It is here!! Monday, September 26th at 1:40 p.m. We will have a short performance in the FEMA gym, then a tea party in the classroom. Other family members are welcome to come if grandparents are unable.


     Parent Teacher Conferences will be the last week in October (October 24th-27th). I will have a sign up emailed to you in about a week. It will be through sign-up genius. 


     We have been doing a book study on an author name "Patricia Pollocco". Most of her books are a reflection of her life growing up as a child. We have used her stories to teach us about making connections, inferences, and predictions. We have also been writing about our favorite "Patricia Pollocco" books. Students are learning to write an opinion about books and how to summarize their favorite part of a story.
    
     This week will continue reading "Patricia Pollocco" books and do some research on her personal life. We will also focus on writing a story with a beginning, middle and ending. In math we are going to work on using number bonds and greater/less than. During word work we will focus on the phonograms ph and aw. 


Important Dates

9-26 Grandparent's Day--1:40-2:25 p.m. for 2nd grade

9-27 SOARing Assembly for Responsibility

9-30 BINGO for Books 6-8 p.m.

10-14 End 1st Quarter-1/2 Day of School--12:40 Dismissal

10-14 to 10-20 Book Fair

10-24 to 10-27 Parent Teacher Conferences

September 19th, 2016

Greetings,
      This week we are learning about tools that scientist use. Then on Friday we will have our special cow eyeball dissection activity. It's going to be so cool! Our dissection project will be at 1:45-2:30 p.m. on Friday.
     We are continuing to learn about communities this week. Last week we discussed the different types of communities that we live in and wrote about what we see and do in our own community. This week we will talk about how we can help our community. Then students are going to pick one community project that they would like to participate in.
     In writing we will be learning the parts of a letter and how to write a letter. Students will write a special letter to their grandparents. They will give the letters to their grandparents on Grandparents Day at school next week. Students will also be able to buy stamps and mail letters in the Post Office this week.
     Grandparents Day is next Monday, September 26th at 1:40 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. We will have a short performance in the FEMA gym, then come back to the classroom for a special tea party. 
    In math we will continue working on telling time, adding and subtracting with fluency, and sketching a ten base frame. We will also focus on counting money with pennies, nickels, and dimes this week.
     In reading we are focusing on using strategies to solve unknown words, making connections with books and sequencing events of a story in order.


Please email or call at anytime with questions or concerns that you may have.


Important Dates
9-19 Mathews McDonald's Night 4:00-8:00 p.m.

9-23 Cow Eyeball Dissection 12:20-1:25 p.m.

9-26 Grandparent's Day--1:40-2:25 p.m. for 2nd grade

9-27 SOARing Assembly for Responsibility

9-30 BINGO for Books 6-8 p.m.

10-14 End 1st Quarter-1/2 Day of School--12:40 Dismissal

10-14 to 10-20 Book Fair

10-24 to 10-27 Parent Teacher Conferences

Yearbook Order Link

Below you will find the link to order a yearbook.


http://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1243810/Helen-Mathews-Elementary-School/2017-Yearbook/20160713041549770203/CATALOG_SHOP/

Monday, September 12th, 2016

Greetings,
     We are off to a great start with our Chromebooks! Last week we spent time learning how to take care of them and what digital citizenship is all about. We learned how to make a bookmark, downloaded Google Classroom and are learning how to find our way around on our 2nd grade blog. Students have their first real assignment this week on their Chromebooks. They are to go to Google Classroom, watch a video about communities and then make a comment about it. It is not a mandatory assignment. If you do not have internet access at home, your child will be given time to watch the video at school. We will continue learning about digital citizenship, how to use Google Classroom and learn about Epic Books this week. If time allows, we will learn about Study Island and take a short pre-math assessment. 


     This week we will be starting our small reading groups. I will be contacting parents of students who I feel will benefit from additional after-school tutoring in the next week or so. If your child read below a level 14 DRA you will be encouraged to enroll your child in tutoring. I will be posting DRA scores on Seesaw within the next week. 


     We will be planning a special tea party for Grandparent's Day on September 26th. Be sure to invite as many grandparents as you can. The students will do a short performance in the gym, then we will head into our classroom for tea and muffins. 


     We are still in need of another parent volunteer for our cow eyeball dissection activity on September 23rd. Please email me if you are interested in helping. aimeenoskowiak@nixaschools.net


     Students have been asked to bring in one old sock to us as an eraser. We use our whiteboards everyday and we are in great need of erasers. So why not get out our old socks and recycle them for something good!




Important Dates

9-13 PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

9-19 Mathews McDonald's Night 4:00-8:00 p.m.

9-26 Grandparent's Day--1:40-2:30 p.m. for 2nd grade

9-27 SOARing Assembly for Responsibility

9-30 BINGO for Books 6-8 p.m.

10-14 End 1st Quarter-1/2 Day of School--12:40 Dismissal

10-14 to 10-20 Book Fair

10-24 to 10-27 Parent Teacher Conferences

Greetings,
     We have a couple of important events this week. Tuesday is PICTURE DAY! Don't forget to send in your completed picture envelope with payment. Late payments may result in you having to mail the money in yourself. The picture company only comes by our school on certain dates after the photos have been taken.
    
     Our Device Roll Out is also on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We encourage you to come pick up your child's device so that you may get questions answered. If you are not able to make it, we will give your child their device on Wednesday. If you do not want your child to take a device home, you must contact our principal, Pat Sutherland.
     
     We are still in need of a few more volunteers for our cow eyeball dissection on September 23rd. Please email me at aimeenoskowiak@nixaschools.net if you would like to help. Be sure to complete the background check. The link is at the top of our blog page. It will only take you a minute or two to complete. 
    
     We had an amazing time shopping at our General Store last week. One of our students said that she felt so grown up working at the store. The kids were working together to cash their checks, buy and sale. My heart melted as I watched them work as a team. We will be in need of a few items for our General Store if you would like to donate some trinkets. 

    
     We will be opening our post office next week. I will send an address contact form home with your child later in the week. On this form, you will need to list 4-5 addresses. Students may mail letters to those you have listed on the address form. Stamps are .50 each and students can buy up to 2 stamps a month to mail a letter. A special thanks to parents who have donated stamps so far.

    
     This week we will spend a lot of time exploring with our devices. We will also begin a project on Communities. I will post their final projects on Seesaw in a few weeks. In math we will continue learning how to tell time, adding up to 20, and become more familiar with the value of coins. In word work we are learning phonograms and word strategies. During Writer's Workshop we are learning to write with a purpose. Then in Reader's Workshop we are learning reading strategies and learning how to work in literacy centers.


Important Dates
9-5 Labor Day - No School
9-6 Picture Day
9-6 Device Rollout 4:00p.m.-8:00p.m.
9-13 PTA Meeting 6:30p.m.
9-19 McDonald's Night 4:00p.m.-8:00p.m.
9-26 Grandparent's Day 1:40p.m.-2:30pm. for 2nd graders
10-14 1/2 day of school - End of 1st quarter - dismiss at 12:40p.m.
10-14 Book Fair (More information to come.)
10-24 to 10-27 Parent Teacher Conferences

 

Augutst 29th

Greetings,
     We are off to a great week! We will finish up DRA testing and benchmark testing in math this week. We completed our Scholastic Inventory testing on chrome books last week. We are really showing great progress in learning the rules and routines. Next week should be our first normal week of 2nd grade. Testing and new rules/procedures will be out of the way. It has been such a blessing in getting to know each and everyone of my students. It's going to be a great year!


     This week in math we will learn about time and money. Students cashed their first paycheck today. They will spend their money in the general store on Tuesday. In ELA we will focus on using strategies to read and write. We are also learning new phonograms. In writer's workshop we are learning how to respond to literature.


     I will need around 4-5 parent volunteers on September 23rd to help us dissect cow eyeballs.  If you would like to help, you will need to complete a background check. The link is at the top of our blog page. Please email me if you are interested in helping. aimeenoskowiak@nixaschools.net


     Congratulations to Lawrence H. for being chosen as our SOARing student for the month of August. Braxton M. and Mackenzie R. were chosen as star students for showing great cooperation during the month of August. We will always have our SOARing assembly on the last Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. to recognize SOARing students. Star students are given a real quick recognition on the last Monday of each month in front of the student body.
    
     I hope everyone has been able to sign on to Seesaw. I will post student work for you to see on this sight. You can get the link from the previous blog from last week.


     Mathews is having a McDonalds fundraiser night on Monday, September 19th, 4-8:00 p.m. Come out to support our school.


     I am attaching the link to Mrs. Napolitano's newsletter for 1st quarter. She is our speech specialist.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B6tebPF-iK2Ib2VvM09uSUhVdXM


     Don't forget about the Device Rollout on Sept. 6th. I encourage everyone to attend and pick up their child's device. We will have people available to help answer questions that you might have. You can come anytime between 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.


Important Dates:

8-30 Cooperation SOARing Assembly 8:30 a.m.

9-5 No School/Labor Day

9-6 Fall Picture Day

9-6 Mathews Device Rollout 4:00-8:00 p.m.

9-19 Mathews McDonald's Night 4:00-8:00 p.m.

9-26 Grandparent's Day

Greetings,
     Our first week of school was a great success!  We learned daily routines, school rules and expectations.  We also spent time getting to know one another. 
     During the upcoming week we will be doing our beginning of year assessments in reading and math.  We will buddy up next door with Mrs. Davis during testing on Tuesday and Thursday.  It is important that students be on time and at school every day for testing this week.
     Students will begin earning their paychecks this week to earn money to go towards the general store and post office purchases.  Stamps for the post office and donations for the general store are always welcome.
     If you would like to volunteer at school or go on our field trip, please complete a background check.  The link for the background check is at the top of our blog (right above this message).
     Don't forget to sign up for Seesaw.  This is a great way to look at your child's work.  Click on https://app.seesaw.me/s/945-242-798 to sign up -- it takes just 30 seconds.  Once you sign up, you can download the Seesaw Parent app for iPhone or Android, or access your child's journal on the web.  We have already posted 2 items to your child's folder and more will be coming this week.
Please email or call with any questions you may have.  Have a wonderful week!
Ms. Noskowiak


SPECIAL NOTES:  If you are on facebook; Mrs. Brock would like everyone to follow her Facebook page "Mrs. Brock's Counseling Corner." 


This upcoming week is PBIS week.  Students will participate in special dress up days to promote SOARing behavior.


8-22 Safe: Explorers are safe!

Dress up like your favorite explorer to show how we need to be safe out on our adventures! Indoor and Outdoor! Dress as a hiker, astronaut, oceanographer, scientist, park ranger, mountain climber..etc.  
8-23 Outstanding Learners: College Day/ Trade School Day/Armed Forces
Show what an outstanding learner you are and will always be, by wearing your favorite college t-shirt, trade school, or armed forces shirt!
8-24 Always Respectful: Respect our friends
Minding our manners is very important.  Wear your class color/style and your sunglasses as we spend the day remembering what it means to be respectful! It’s cool to be respectful to our friends!
8-25 Responsible: Career Day
Since we are outstanding and lifelong learners, it is always important to show responsibility at school and at your dream job.  Wear what you want to be when you grow up!
8-26 School Spirit!
Wear red............


Dates to Remember
8-30 SOARing Assembly 8:30 a.m.
9-5 No School--Labor Day
9-6 Fall Picture's (our class picture time is 10:45am-we sometimes run earlier than our scheduled time)
9-6 Device Rollout 4:00pm - 6:00pm
9-26 Grandparent's Day