Important Dates
●Sept. 7 — Restaurant Nt-Jersey Mikes
●Sept. 8 — Back to School Night 6:30pm
●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
●Sept. 23 — Dinner and Movie Night
Back to School Night
Back to School Night is THIS THURSDAY, September 8th and you will attend the whole school Welcome Address from 6:30-7:00pm, then join Ms. Heather in our classroom from 7:00—8:00pm. Please, this night is for parents only! Come find out what the 4-5 grades will be doing for the year!
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 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. The 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 differences 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 which 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
● “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!
● HOMEWORK is DUE the FOLLOWING DAY please! J
● 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.
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?
For more info, please call Nancy Bates 818-516-3373
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.