Important Dates
●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
●Sept. 23 — Dinner and Movie Night
●Sept. 29 — NO SCHOOL
●Oct. 4 — Coffee with Dena 8:20am
●Oct. 6 — Jersey Mike’s Rest. Nt.
Picture Day Friday!
Picture Day is this Friday, Sept. 16th! Everyone should have received packets to select their desired photo packages (please ask your teacher if you didn’t receive one). Please make out all checks to “Lifetouch Photography.” Remember that all forms must be filled out and money is due on the day of picture-taking, which is again, this Friday, September 16th. (If you miss this date, picture retake day will be Thursday, October 20th.)
Teacher News
Getting to Work!!!
Ms. Heather would like to invite everyone to the Back to School Night THIS THURSDAY, starting at 6:30pm (6:30- 7:00pm will be the Welcome a Address, 7:00-8:00pm we will be in our classroom with Ms. Heather). You will find out what your child will be working on this year and what the expectations are, so please make time to attend the Back to School Night!
What have our children been working on? In math, the 4th graders are learning about parallelograms, polygons and circles, while the 5th graders are working with prime and composite numbers, squaring numbers and unsquaring numbers. Our language arts story we are reading is called Eye of the Storm and we are thinking of questions as we read—then we’re talking with a partner about possible answers. Our focus is on learning the sequence of events within a story, and the difference between fact and opinion.
Please note that when homework goes home, it is due back the very next day!
Thanks to everyone who signed up to volunteer. If you have not selected a time frame, please see Ms. Heather to find out what time slot is best.
Ms. Heather looks forward to seeing you and answering any questions you may have at Back to School Night—see you there!
Ms.Heather Needs Supplies
Ms. Heather would like to request the following supplies for her classroom:
● MAGNETS of various strengths
She needs them for a science project, thanks if you can supply these!!!
Homework
● HOMEWORK is DUE the FOLLOWING DAY please!
● “Wednesday Folder” - will start going home on September 7th –contains completed work to discuss (& keep at home) with your child, & a weekly report for you to sign and send back in an envelope the following day.
● Multiplication tables should be practiced nightly. Use website www.multiplication.com for fun games!
● Thursday Nights please use the Vocabulary Menu with the four vocabulary words
● Word of the Day - discuss as a family each word of the day. On Fridays, there will be a quiz on the words learned.
Are Our Children Getting Enough Sleep?
Our teachers have attended training which has emphasized, among other things, the importance of children in this age group receiving 10-11 hours of sleep a night (believe it or not!). This is part of staying healthy and alert for school (and other activities) by getting enough sleep at home and being proactive about taking care of our bodies. Our children are involved in lots of outside activities these days— please make sure your child gets a full night’s rest before coming to school! (and a good breakfast too!!!)
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!
Parent Volunteers
Ms. Heather would like to thank everyone for signing up to volunteer this year. For classroom volunteers, please remember that the teacher makes her 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! (Contact Paula pmluvspooh@aol.com)