Mrs. Fraser, September 22, 2014

 CHARACTER TRAIT:  Initiative

Reference:  Galatians 6:10

Bible Verse:  Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Definition:  Making the first move without being asked

Opposite:  Seeing a need and letting someone else take care of it.

SPELLING:  Lesson 7

Pattern Words: Long o- o, oa, oe, o_e, ow

1.   toe

2.   post

3.   cove

4.   rope

5.   mold

6.   alone

7.   coast

8.   below

9.   coach

10.  slowly

11.  follow

12.  throw

13.  motor

14.  stroke

15.  chosen

16.  opening

17.  rowboat

18.  tomorrow

High-Frequency Words

19.  minutes

20.  pumpkin

Challenge Words

*  aqueduct

*  reservoir

PARENT CORNER

CHAPEL

On Tuesday, September 23, Mrs. VanderKooi’s class will be presenting “The Story of Job”  in a Reader’s Theater setting at 8:15 A.M. in the North Lobby Chapel. Parents are welcome to attend.

SPELLINGCITY.COM

This year, we will be using VocabularySpellingCity.com in our classroom.  VocabularySpellingCity is a website that helps students learn their weekly spelling and vocabulary words while having fun at the same time.

As a teacher, I will put up my weekly spelling lists on VocabularySpelling City and your children can review the words, and play spelling and vocabulary games with their words to reinforce the learning process.

Here is how to help your child master his or her spelling and vocabulary words:

Simply go to www.spellingcity.com to see how the site works.  To get started, click on “Sample Lists” and choose any list your like.  Then try the Teach Me, Test Me, or Play a Game link.

You can find our class’ spelling lists by using the Find A List feature and searching for my name, Mrs. Fraser, or you can go directly to my VocabularySpellingCity homepage at spellingcity.com/cherifraser33.  You can bookmark this URL on your computer to make it easy for your child to access the class’ word lists each week!

Many kids enjoy building their spelling skills with Spelling City.  Please encourage your children to spend about twenty minutes, two nights in a row before their weekly test.  Let’s work together as a team to ensure that your child becomes an independent, lifelong learner.

 THE BIG FRESNO FAIR FIELD TRIP

We are soon approaching our very first field trip of the year in third grade.  It will be on Thursday, October 9th.  Our third grade class will be going to the BIG FRESNO FAIR.  We are going to celebrate the best of Fresno County and beyond including our native talent, natural resources, and more!  Our day’s adventure will take us to the following:

1)  JUNIOR EXHIBIT BUILDING

Explore all the different entries made by kids of all ages, from clothing, fruits, to farm equipment, pictures to posters.  You will see the talents of the best and brightest of young locals.

2)  THE GREENHOUSE

Back with even more exotic and wonderful floriculture displays!  You will see sweet smelling roses, exotic and intricate bonsai plants and demonstration booths!

3)  AG VENTURELAND

A one-stop destination for all the best things in animal education!  The Farm-Time Tour will be back along with the Great American Cowboy Boot Camp to test your true cowboy skills as you learn how to rope a steer, milk a cow, toss horseshoes, plus build  your own scarecrow.  Enjoy old-fashioned music.  Visit the general store and craft center!  You can also enjoy seeing  baby animals like sheep, pigs, and chicks.

4)  SUDSY’S BARN

On the north side of the Livestock Pavilion will be Sudsy’s Barn.  It is a play-based, interactive hand-washing attraction.  It is a miniature waterpark…with soap!  Water comes from large 3-dimensional sculpted farm animals that TALK!  A goat pours water from a watering can, a cow pours from a milk carton, a horse offers water from a hose in its mouth, and an alpaca “spits” playfully.  Sinks are water troughs activated by foot pedals.  Soap dispenses “touch free” from beneath flower pots.  Hand dryers are built into chicken coops.  For a quick clean “touch free” hand sanitizer, dispensers are built into cartoonish bee hives mounted on to each side of the barn.

5)  TABLE MOUNTAIN RANCHERIA PARK

A “must-see” stop!  Walk through the life size pirate ship complete with cannons, a plank and treasure at Pirates in the Park.  Travel to the wild, wild west and explore FORT FRESNO!  Pan for gold at Miner’s Town.  Go fishing at Catfish Falls complete with its 2-story waterfall.  Learn all about the dairy industry at Dairyville USA.  Test out your shot at the Land O’ Lakes Butter Barn Laser Shooting Gallery.

Don’t forget to stop by The Big Fresno Fair Farmer’s Market to see what’s growing in the CENTRAL VALLEY!  This attraction showcases the Central Valley’s top agricultural commodities such as corn, tomatoes, grapes (table and wine), garlic, lemons, oranges, nectarines, plums, peaches, walnuts, pistachios, and almonds.

Be sure to stop and see the OLD FRESNO SCHOOLHOUSE!  This historical attraction provides a fun place for kids to play, climb, and be reminded of Fresno’s unique history.

6)  MEYERS WATER AND WILDLIFE TREE

Find out about the Central Valley’s vital water and animals native to our wetlands at The Meyers Water and Wildlife Tree.  You will see the California Water Flow Replica inside the tree that was added last year and teaches kids about the complex water system in the San Joaquin Valley that helps drive our rich agriculture.  This interactive experience will show students how water from snow melts in January and ends up in the valley fields through light-up displays.

Stop by the 1,200 gallon water tank that showcases fish native to our region.  The “Cloud Tank” brings a little taste of Hollywood to Fresno because it was used in over 300 movies including Star Wars Episode 1, Indiana Jones 4, and Titanic to show underwater explosions.  Now it is used to teach about the importance of water in our valley.

Our class may even catch a special presentation on Birds of Prey, a magical show with a water theme or a presentation with skulls, skins, and more!

7)  GEM AND MINERAL BUILDING

Third graders will catch the sparkle of breathtaking stones on display here learning about diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and more.  Third graders can even purchase custom jewelry made from special stones.

8)  FINE ARTS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BUILDING

Here you will find the largest collection of local artwork in Fresno County.  Hundreds of artists and photographers will display their paintings, sculptures, photos, and illustrations with more than 1,000 items exhibited each year.

9)  WELLS FARGO AGRICULTURE BUILDING PRESENTED BY FOODMAX

Come see why Fresno County is the world’s top agricultural area!  From apples to zucchini, you will find more than 350 varieties of locally-grown crops and commodities on display here!  The following communities showcase the crops they produce:  Clovis, Coalinga, Easton, Fowler, Kerman, Kingsburg, Laton, Orange Cove, Parlier, Reedley, Sanger, and Selma.

10)  HOME ARTS BUILDING PRESENTED BY SAVE MART SUPERMARKETS

Explore the wide variety of arts and crafts like homemade quilts, wood carvings, cooking demonstrations, paintings, and more!

11)  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY COMMERCE BUILDINGS

You will discover a wide variety of commercial exhibits, concessions, and vendors offering an abundance of products for fairgoers.

12)  KIDS TOWN

Making its debut at the 2014 Big Fresno Fair is the “Wizard’s Challenge” exhibit.  It is a STEM-based interactive exhibit in which guests can have fun while learning about science through fantasy and medieval themed displays.  It offers a huge variety of challenges and experiences.  Try to stay on your feet while traveling through a 20 foot long rotating dragon’s lair or place your hand on a plasma sphere and watch electricity/lightning follow your movements or leave your body’s imprint on a huge wall of nails.  The fun of science continues through magic mirrors or huge wands to make 25-foot bubble tubes.

13)  FURS AND FEATHERS BUILDING

Discover the many breeds of rabbits, birds, and more.  Stop by the Education Center to learn more about the animals being shown that week.

BIG FRESNO FAIR FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE

Transportation will be by carpool.  We will need 14 chaperones for the day’s trip with a ratio of 1 parent per 2 children.  Per school policy, siblings are not allowed.  Please understand that as a carpooling chaperone, you are committed to transporting your child AND another student to the Big Fresno Fair, supervising and chaperoning them throughout the day, assisting them with our 2014 Fair Education Activity Detective Sheet, and returning them to campus at the conclusion.

There are no other stops along the way (home or store) per safety for the child.  Students are not allowed to seat in the front seat.

Parents may volunteer by emailing Mrs. Fraser at cfraser@fresnochristian.com or signing up on a Field Trip List posted in the hallway near our classroom.  The deadline to sign-up is Friday, September 26.  Driver Clearance paper work should also be turned in by this Friday, September 26.  When chaperoning carpooling information is finalized on Friday,  a Student Carpool Permission Form will go home with students next Monday, September 29 giving parent authorization for students to ride with drivers.

Our schedule for Thursday, October 9 will be:

8:00 AM  Students and Chaperones arrive in classroom for orientation and expectations

8:30 AM  Depart for The Big Fresno Fair

9:00 AM  Gather as class for Entrance in Butler Parking Lot and Enter Fairgrounds & Begin Scavenger Hunt

11:15 AM  Class Lunch at the shaded picnic tables just east of Pavilion Performing Stage

11:45 AM  More Exploring & Discovering

1:00 PM  Meet at the Butler Gate Entrance

1:15 AM  Depart for FCS

1:45 PM  Arrival at FCS

***Students, bring a SACK lunch, clearly labeled with your first and last name, grade, teacher, and school.  You may bring $10.00 for spending money.  Students will be receiving new class field trip T-shirts in time for the field trip.  Please wear your T-shirt on the day of the field trip.  Also, remember you are responsible for your own money.

PARENT DRIVING INFORMATION NEEDED

All parents listed to drive are required yearly have on file updated and current copies of a valid drivers license, permit the organization to check driving record, copy of current insurance ID with effective dates of insurance policy, and copy of insurance declaration page showing limits of insurance.  Attached to today’s newsletter, you will find a letter addressing these field trip requirements in detail.  Please complete the driver clearance requirements this week and deliver them to Kerry Roberts, our elementary secretary.

CHEER CLINIC

WHEN:  Practice Monday October 6^th-9^th @ North Field Grass 3:30pm-4:30pm

WHY:  Perform With Varsity Cheerleaders at the Friday, October 10^th Football Game and Half Time Show!!

INCLUDES: T-Shirt and Performance During Half-Time Show!

COST:  $40 Registration Fee ($10 additional Child In Same Family)

CHECKS PAYABLE TO:  Fresno Christian Schools (write “cheer clinic” on memo line)

SEND:  Registration Forms w/ child’s name, t-shirt size, &  Money to Fresno Christian Central Office

DEADLINE:  No Later Than Wednesday October 1^st!!!!

QUESTIONS? E-MAIL:  Mrs. Courtney Raymundo at  craymundo@fresnochristian.com