Mrs. Tally – January 13, 2014

Dear Families,

We have had a VERY busy, but WONDERFUL beginning to our 2014 school year. The children have made a smooth transition from  a long vacation back to work in the classroom. I am so proud of them!!!  Our second half of the year will be great!!!

LANGUAGE ARTS – We are making great progress with our comprehension questions being answered in complete sentences. Some groups will get new vocabulary this week.  I will not be giving vocabulary tests, but you can ask your child which page we are working on at school.  They acquire vocabulary very fast now so just a little review at home will be necessary.  If your child is struggling, I will let you know so you can work on it.   

BOOK PROJECT – We have a Poetry Book Project due on January 31st. The rubric went home on December 7th, but I included it in this week’s homework just in case it got lost or put  away with all the Christmas decorations!  Also, the one you got in December was incomplete with the front side missing!!! You do not need to use the same poem you chose for Peach Blossom, however, you may if you wish. I will be keeping this project to put up for Open House in the spring.

MATH – We are working on Chapter 7,  a unit on Geometry, Fractions and Probability. This has proven to be challenging for some, however, it will continue to be reviewed in upcoming chapters. Remember to faithfully do a 4 minute math drills at home.  

SOCIAL SCIENCE -We began Unit 1, Families Now and Long Ago. Beginning this quarter, there will be an assessment at the end of each chapter.  A chapter review will go home about a week before the test. We will also review at school. This will begin to prepare them for 3rd grade Social Science where grades are given for tests.

BIBLE – We will be studying Samson.

 SCIENCE – We will  continue our unit on Weather and Seasons. We will also start a unit on Health and  Nutrition.  We will studying the four food groups and what constitutes healthy eating. I would also like to invite any parent who is in the health or medical field to come and share with the children about their professions.  Let me know if you would be willing to come and share with us.

LEARNING RESPONSIBILITY – We have had many boys and girls forgetting work envelopes and homework folders, which are due every Friday. We have spent a great deal of time talking about this and coming up with ways to help us become more responsible. Beginning the week of Jan 20th, there will be a thinking bench time at recess where your child will come up with a way that will help them remember to bring what is due. Again, this is to help prepare them for the higher grades where a lower score may be given for a late assignment. Since life happens,grace will be given the first time work is not turned in on time. We have discussed this at school and they know that they are not in trouble if they have to be on the thinking bench. Any support you can give in this area would be greatly appreciated. 

PEACH BLOSSOM – Please continue working on your poem selection. We are practicing at school as well. Please note the handout for tips on learning and presenting the poems. The children are so enjoying listening to everyone’s poem. 

SHOW AND TELL – This week will be Team B.

FUNDRAISER – Check out  your World’s Finest Chocolate boxes…that sells itself….  from now until January 30th. Before you check out new boxes, please send the money in the envelopes enclosed in your boxes to the campus secretary, Mrs. Roberts, NOT  your teachers , (student’s name and teacher need to be written on them). Your hard working child(ren) will receive their ducks after they turn in each box.

KID’S CLUB – Attention Parents! Kids’ Clubs are fun lunchtime activities led by parent volunteers. PTF is looking for volunteers to lead a club or help lead a club during the spring season. New this school year, sweet treats for the classroom with the most parent volunteers in Kids’ Clubs! Please contact PTF Kid’s Club coordinator, Jennifer Dansby, at

681-4605 or jenniferdansby@sbcglobal.net, if you have questions or would like to volunteer. Volunteer sign-ups are due by Friday, January 24th. THANK YO SO MUCH!

WAFFLE BREAKFAST – Since we missed the waffle breakfast before Christmas, we are going to celebrate winter with a snowman themed waffle breakfast on Friday morning. January 17th. Your child will not need to eat breakfast before school as we will start right when we come in Friday morning!

WINTER CALENDAR                   

1-15 – Teacher Inservice – School dismissed at 12:00 PM

1-20 – Martin Luther King Holiday – No School

1-27 – State of the School Address – 7-8:30 PM – G.L. Johnson Chapel

2-3 – 2-7 – Parent Teacher Conferences -School dismissed at 12:00 PM 

2-10 – Lincoln’s Birthday – No School

2-14 – Happy Valentine’s Day!!   Party 1:20 – 2:40 PM

2-17 – President’s Day – No School

2-26 – Teacher Inservice – School dismissed at 12:00 PM