Important Dates
● Aug. 31 — Parent Volunteer Training
Wkshp 6-7:30pm - Childcare available!
● Sept. 5 — NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)
● Sept. 6 — Coffee with Dena 8:20am
● Sept. 8 — Back to School Night 5:30pm
●Sept. 13 — PFA meeting 3pm
●Sept. 14 — Parent Volunteer Training
Workshop 6-7:30pm - Childcare available!
●Sept. 16 — Picture Day
●Sept. 19 — SCOPE 2:45pm Rm 26
Parent Volunteers
Ms. Jennifer and Ms. Wendy would both like to thank everyone for signing up to volunteer this year. For classroom volunteers, please remember that the teachers make their plans with your helpful hands in mind. If you cannot make your scheduled time, please find a replacement and let your teacher know directly. Also, if you are an at-home volunteer, but would be willing sometimes to “sub”, please let your teacher know and you will be put on a list as someone who can help out in a pinch—thanks!
Ms. Jennifer 805-495-7058 x218 jjackson@conejo.k12.ca.us
Ms. Wendy 805-495-7058 x224 wdubois@conejo.k12.ca.us
Teacher News
Welcome Back!
Ms. Jennifer and Ms. Wendy welcome everyone back, and into the 2-3 grades!!! This year, the teachers will be team teaching quite often, with Ms. Jennifer teaching the 2nd grade math and Ms. Wendy teaching the 3rd grade math. The two classes of 2-3 will also be getting together to learn their science units—the first of which will be “Structures of Life,” where we will be comparing and contrasting plant life and animal life. We will be investigating seeds, both in class and in the garden, and also viewing live crayfish and our two class pets, Lucky (bird) and CJ (a bearded dragon!). A terrarium will combine both plant and animal life for us to view!
The first few weeks we will focus on “Cool Tools,” which are strategies to help children make good choices socially, both inside and outside of the classroom, thus creating a cohesive learning environment on our campus. The teachers will also be getting to know your child, socially, emotionally and academically, as assessments take place so that lesson plans can be geared towards the best needs of this particular group of students this year.
The teachers also want to welcome back all the wonderful, helpful parents of our students, and can’t wait to work together to make this year the best!
Communicators
Your child will be bringing home a Communicator, which is a notebook in which he/she will write thoughts, ideas, and comments on things that took place during the day. Parents, this can also be your Communicator, in that after you read and sign what you see your child has written, you can write a note to your teacher inside the Communicator. It’s another way to keep the lines of communication OPEN between school and home.
Tips for Classroom Volunteering
● Sign in/out of both the office & classroom
● Please turn off your cell phone
● Please be on time so teachers can brief you on the day’s lessons/tasks
● If you are not “assigned” anything, walk around/help out students who are working
● Show, don’t tell when helping (let the children figure it out themselves as much as possible)
● Emulate the classroom management and discipline policies (model the teacher)
● Watch what you say/keep things confidential when inside the classroom (about anything—other children, your views on the school, etc)
● Remember you’re here for the whole class (not just your child)—expect to work with other children, not just your own
● When there’s “nothing to do,” find out what the teacher needs done on a regular basis and help out (ex: clean desk surfaces, sharpen pencils, organize or hang up things, etc…)
● Volunteer time is not the best time to meet with the teacher to discuss your child—the teachers are more than willing to arrange a meeting time, please call or make an appt.
● Observe/respect school rules—please review school rules/policies with your children, such as dress code, games rules, where children need to be before and after school, and follow them yourself—you’ll set a very good example!
● Before/after school—students may not be in the quad area unless given permission or unless with a parent who has a pre-arranged meeting.
Back to School Night—what time?
Our 2-3 grade will meet at 5:30 in the rooms.
Helping Hands—the Heart of OCLM
Why do we have parents volunteer a minimum of 90min. per week (per child)? Our program is unique in that the teachers work to individualize the lesson plans, homework, and teaching to the particular group of students they have that year. Your child might get individualized math, reading and spelling work both in class and for homework. We also have many hands-on, innovative activities and centers within each classroom. All of this can only happen if parents participate as much as possible in our program, so that the teachers can take the time to give special thought to each student. The heart of our program is parent participation—without it, our program doesn’t work. OCLM is a community of parents, teachers and children working together to create the best learning environment to fit each student’s individual needs. Everyone is welcome to contribute, so please make sure you have signed up for a volunteer spot in your room, and if you have trouble volunteering in the classroom, please contact Paula at pmluvspooh@aol.com OR 805-498-6054 and we will help you work out how to meet your volunteering requirements. Let’s all come together and let our helping hands support our children’s learning!
Babysitting Co-op Forming!!!
Want to volunteer in class but have a little one?
Sibling Sitting is available MONDAYS 8am-10am in the Parent Resource Room.
For more info, please call Nancy Bates 818-516-3373
Our schedule for eating has the children playing first at lunch-period-time, then eating, so many of them are very hungry by actual lunchtime. Please send a simple snack to eat right before recess time. Also, many students need drinks (especially during hot days)—Please also send in a water bottle for your child to drink when needed. Students are allowed to have water bottles in their backpacks which are accessible to them at lunch and recess times.