Winter Break Book Exchange Thursday, December 19th

Hello Parents,         On the last day of school before break, we will have a book exchange.  This will be a fun way for kids to share books they have enjoyed with their friends.  Please send a wrapped book to school with your child.  It can be a new book or a gently used book.  You can spend anywhere from $0 to $6.00 on the book.    If your child has a book they just read and they really liked it, sharing it with someone else is a great way to start discussions on new genres, qualities of writing and theme.  Winter break is a long 3 weeks this year and it is very important for your child to read books at their independent reading level everyday during the break.  So I would like you to mark the wrapped books with their guided reading level on the outside.  You can find the level of many books using the Book Wizard on the teacher page of the scholastic website at http://www.scholastic.com/teachers.  Be sure to click the button that says Guided Reading (A-Z).  If you have trouble finding the level, send me the name and the author and I will find it for you.  Most of the kids in the class are reading levels M through P independently.  Students will be able pick a surprise book at their level to take home with them.  I will have extra books on hand if we need more at a particular level.    I’m hoping this will be a fun way to share books with each other.  Be sure to put your child’s’ name on the wrapped book so we will know who to thank!  If you have any questions or need help finding a book, please email me at ward_terii@salkeiz.k12.or.us.           Thank you,           Miss Ward

Winter Celebrations Around the World Party

Our class will be having a Winter Celebrations Around the World party on Thursday, December 19 from 1:00 to 2:30.  The kids go to P.E. at 3:00 and then we will return for a book exchange.   

For our Winter Celebrations Around the World, we will be doing various crafts representing several of the countries our class has been researching.  I’m looking for volunteers to help with each of the crafts. I could also use some help setting things up during lunch from 12:00 to 12:30.  If you are available next Thursday afternoon and would like to help, please email me and let me know. 

One of the activities will be decorating gingerbread cookies and I would also like to serve some healthy snacks.  I will order and buy the cookies and frosting but I could use some help with the rest.  We will need the following items:

Cups

Small plates

Napkins

Juice

Assorted small candy for decorating cookies – mini m&ms, red Twizzlers, etc…

Healthy Snack – fruit, cheese, crackers? Veggies?  Any good ideas?

All parents and siblings are welcome to come join the party.  Please let me know if you are bringing any siblings so I can order extra cookies for them to decorate.

After the party and P.E. the kids will return to class for our Winter Break Book Exchange.  Please see attached flyer for more information.

Thank you for all that you do!

Off to a Great Start!

Our third grade class is off to a great start!  We've hit the ground running and the kids in our class are doing a wonderful job learning the new routines and procedures in B-4.  We've been building a community of readers, mathematicians, authors, collaborators and learners. 

We have some exciting activities coming up with the Naturescape/Barnwell Garden Care Day this Wednesday, September 25. Come join us! Wear your “BEST GREEN Grubbies”, bring your gloves, tools for digging, weeding, clipping, weed-wacking and whatever other cool tools you have to spruce up our living lab.

We invite you to volunteer anytime during the day or from 1:05 to 1:45 when our class will be out in the  Naturescape and Garden.

This is another opportunity to personally meet our new principal, Mrs. Kalugin that will be outside – hands on pitching in and cheering us on. We also thank our very own, Sally White, retired SK Teacher & “All Things Green Expert” guiding our energy throughout the day.

If you are unable to join us, please make sure to send your child dressed for outdoor activity and possibly with a change of clothes/shoes, reusable water container (Keep “Oregon Weather” in mind.)

Then the following night, Thursday, September 26 is Parent night here at Forest Ridge.  This is your opportunity to come to your child's classroom and find out what we've been up to and what you can expect for your child during third grade in B-4.  There are 2 sessions so if you have siblings in another classroom, you can go to both classes.  The first session is from 5:30 to 6:15 and the second session if from 6:15 to 7:00.  Come say hello and find out what all the buzz is about the new Common Core Standards and how to keep updated on what's happening in our classroom.

The Jog-a-thon is on Friday, October 4.  Pledge packets went home last Friday.  If all the kids from our class bring back their packets with at least one pledge, we will have a special classroom lunch party.  So please help your child find at least one contribution for the Jog-a-Thon.  The money from the Jog-a-Thon helps fund our field trips, assemblies, new technology in the classroom and more.

I'm really enjoying getting to know your children.  They are a very sweet group with a lot of enthusiasm for learning!