Sept. 21, 2012

WEEKEND NEWS
9-21-12

ELLIS MOTTO:   “I AM RESPONSIBLE AND ALWAYS LEARNING!!!”

  IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• FIELD TRIP ON THURSDAY, SEPT. 27^TH:  Voluntary donations of 1-can of food per person will be accepted at the farm from those who wish to participate in the “Harvest for All” food drive.  Students will need to bring a sack lunch. They may purchase one from school or bring a sack lunch from home.  We will need a lunch count by Monday.  Students need to dress for the weather and wear closed toed shoes (such as sneakers). 
• THANK YOU!!!!  Thanks for the bags of suckers for our carnival. You are wonderful parents!!
• CARNIVAL ON MONDAY from 5:30-7:30:  The PTA has worked all summer long to bring you this wonderful family event.  We hope to see you at the carnival!! 

·         Raffle tickets- $1 each or 6 for $5

·         Silent Auction will be from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. outside under the tent.

·         Fun games 1 - 4 tickets, and food such as hot dogs, nachos, cotton candy-  Tickets- 1 - 5 tickets

·         Pass cards are $5.00 for 20 tickets or 5 tickets for $1 or $.25 each

·         Proceeds from the carnival will help with technology upgrades.

·             Join PTA and help us win a party from Kiwi Loco!!  I have sent an attachment of the PTA             membership form for those of you who would like to join.  Thanks for your support!!

·           Book Orders:  You may order out of any or all of them.  You will only need to write one check for all    the book orders.  You can make checks payable to Scholastic Book Clubs.  The orders will be due   back to school by Friday, September 28th.   You may also order on-line at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs.  Our class activation code is HCWNC.

·          Oct. 18^th:  Grandparents and Granola

·          Oct. 15^th-19^th:  BOOK FAIR     

·          Oct. 12^th:  Picture Day

 HOMEWORK:

• Math:  “Drops In The Bucket” #28
• Language:  “Sentence Recognition”
• Language:  “Drops In The Bucket” Lesson C4

·           Reading: read 15-30 minutes every night and fill in your reading log.  Remember to return daily   because this is part of your reading grade!

Have a fun weekend,

Denise Thompson

                                                                                                            

Sept. 14, 2012

“WEEKEND NEWS”  

September 14, 2012

ELLIS MOTTO:   “I AM RESPONSIBLE AND ALWAYS LEARNING!!!”

Dear Parents,

·        Our 4^th Graders will be going to Swore Farms on Thursday, Sept. 27^th.  We will leave at 9:00 and return at 1:40.  The students will need to bring a sack lunch from home. Please sign and return the attached white bus permission slip.  If you would like to go with us, please sign and return the attached pink slip.  This field trip is sponsored by Bannock County Farm Bureau.  Thank you Farm Bureau!!

·        I’m sending home a set of Book Orders.  You may order out of any or all of them.  You will only need to write one check for all the book orders.  You can make checks payable to Scholastic Book Clubs.  The orders will be due back to school by Friday, September 28th.   You may also order on-line.  Please read the attached letter for directions.

·        PLEASE SEND IN A BAG OF SUCKERS FOR THE CARVNIVAL SUCKER TREE.

·        Our class is in 4th place for the PTA membership drive.  Join PTA and help us win a party from Kiwi Loco!!  The last day to sign up is Sept. 28^th.  Let me know if you need a new membership form.

·         Please read the attached green form from Mrs. Kinghorn.  Students will be allowed to bring in pets for the “Living Things” science unit.  Students will need to return the form to Mrs. Kinghorn.

·        I have also sent this “Weekend News” letter home via e-mail for those of you who have signed up for e-mail.  Please respond to the test e-mail so that I know you are able to receive the messages and open up the letter attachments.

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK:

·        Math: Drops In The Bucket #27

·        Language: Drops in the Bucket C3 

     Reading: read 15-30 minutes every night and fill in your reading log.  Remember to return daily because this is part of the reading grade!

Enjoy your family this weekend!                                                                       

Denise Thompson

Sept. 2012

                   WELCOME TO FOURTH GRADE!!!      

4^TH GRADE TEACHERS HAVE EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS!!!  We expect our students to behave in class, be great listeners, and achieve academically.  Students have agreed to work hard to meet these expectations.  We know this is going to be a TERRIFIC year for everyone!!

Ellis Elementary’s Mission Statement:  “I AM RESPONSIBLE AND ALWAYS LEARNING”

•      Homework Folders and Spelling lists are sent home on Fridays. Homework is due back by the following Friday.   There will 2 – 4 worksheets for students to complete.  They can do one a night, two a night, or all in one night as long as it gets back to school by Friday. 

•   Spelling Tests will be given on Fridays.  New words will be sent home in the Friday Homework Folder.

•    Daily Work that is not completed in class becomes homework and is expected to be finished and returned the following morning.  Please check your student’s backpack.

•     Volunteers in the Classroom:  We love and need volunteers in our rooms.  Please let us know if you would like to help out in our classrooms.  You can sign up on the volunteer sign-up sheet, send a note, call, or e-mail us.  You may also volunteer on the PTA survey form that was sent home last week.

•     Class Rotations:  Students will be switching classes in the afternoons.  Mrs. Kinghorn will teach Science, Mrs. Thompson will teach Language, and Mrs. Hymas will teach Idaho History.

•     AR (Accelerated Reader) Goals & Reading Homework Goals are set each 6 week grading period.  The goal is determined by their AR STAR reading level.  AR goals are averaged into your child's reading grade.  In order for students to meet their goals, they need to read an average of 20 - 30 min. each night. 

•     Grading System:  Student grades will be an averaged percent grade taken from their accumulated grades during the six week period.  The grade on the report card will be reported as an A, B, C, etc.

•     Infinite Campus:  Please check your child’s grades frequently.  Contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns.  Contact the office if you did not receive your username or password.

•     Parent Teacher Conferences will be held the afternoons of Nov. 12^th & 26^th as needed and an open house format on March 18^th.  In addition, we will stay in contact through phone calls, letters, e-mails, Infinite Campus, and teacher blogs.  Please feel to contact us at any time if you have any problems or concerns.

•     Teacher Blogs:  remember to check out the teacher blogs on our school web site. You can find the Ellis website under the “Schools” tab of the school district web site:  www.d25.k12.id.us . 

•   LUNCH: 12:25 – 1:00 Students may bring healthy snacks to eat during the morning recess.

•   LIBRARY:  every Tuesday morning. Remind your child to bring his/her books back on Monday.

• ISAT TESTING: Math, Reading, and Language tests will be given between April 9^th and May 10^th.

•   FIELD TRIPS: 

1.                  AG Days sponsored by Farm Bureau:  We will visit Swore Farm during the month of September.

2.                  Idaho History Rendezvous: activities at the end of the year relating to Idaho History.  This will take place at school. (TBA during the month of May)

•    CARNIVAL HELP:  Please sign up to help run our 4^th grade booths on Monday, Sept. 24^th.  PTA is also asking that each 4^th grader bring a sack of suckers for the carnival by Sept. 21^st.  Thanks for your help!

*If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call us at 237-4742.  Our e-mail addresses:

hymasje@sd25.us      kinghoci@sd25.us      thompsde@sd25.us

Thank you for allowing us to have the opportunity to be your child’s teacher!                                  

Sincerely,         

Denise Thompson, Cindy Kinghorn, and Jeanne Hymas