J.R. Ingram Parent News

📢 Stay Connected This February!

February is here, and our second semester is already in full swing. As we move through this exciting time of learning and growth, we are proud of the progress our scholars are making and look forward to all the opportunities ahead.

In this month’s school newsletter, you will find important updates, upcoming events, and helpful reminders to support your child’s success. February brings continued learning, celebrations, and chances for our students to shine both academically and socially.

If you prefer a printed copy of the newsletter, families are always welcome to stop by the front office to pick one up.

We value our partnership with you and appreciate your voice. If there is something you would like to see included in future newsletters, please feel free to share your ideas. Your feedback helps ensure our newsletter remains meaningful and helpful for our J.R. Ingram families.

Thank you for your continued support and collaboration. Together, we look forward to a strong and successful February and the continued growth of our scholars.

Feb 2-6~School Counselor's Week

Feb 9~3rd Quarter Progress reports go home

Feb 9-13~Love the Bus Week

Feb 12~Group Picture Day

Feb 16~Optional Teacher Workday/No School For Students

Feb 20-27~Spring Book Fair

Feb 24~HWY 55 Spirit Night

Feb 26~Book Fair late night until 6 pm, Spring Concert at 6:30 pm

📢 Volunteer at the PTO Thrift Shop & Help J.R. Ingram! 🏫💙

We need your help to earn funds for our school! We must reach at least 150 hours to qualify for a share of the profits—funds that can go toward school improvements like our new playground! That's only 15 hours a month!! Get your friends, family, church family, neighbors, anyone can volunteer for our school!

📍 Location: 303 S Steele St, Sanford, NC 27330
📞 Phone: (919) 776-4142
🕘 Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 9 AM – 4 PM

✨ Who Can Volunteer?
✅ Parents, staff, family members, and friends – you can work in a student’s name!
✅ Students (ages 12-18) – must be accompanied by a parent (1 student per adult).
🚫 No students under 12 years old can volunteer.

💡 Volunteers may be asked to sweep, hang clothes, straighten racks, and more. Every task helps profits go back to Lee County Schools!

📅 Sign up today! Let’s work together to support our students and reach our goal. Contact the school or PTO for more details.

This week, we proudly celebrate National School Counselor Week and recognize Ms. Bell, our school counselor, for the incredible care and support she provides to our students, staff, and families.

Ms. Bell works every day to help students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. From teaching coping strategies and building friendships to supporting students through challenges and celebrating their successes, she is always there with a listening ear and a caring heart.

We are grateful for her compassion, dedication, and commitment to helping every student feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Thank you, Ms. Bell, for all you do for the JR Ingram family!

Next week, we will celebrate Bus Driver Appreciation Week and say a heartfelt thank you to our amazing bus drivers who safely bring our students to and from school each day.

Rain or shine, early mornings and late afternoons, our drivers are some of the first and last JR Ingram faces our students see. Their kindness, patience, and dedication help start and end each school day on a positive note.

Thank you for all you do to bring us to school safely and get us home again—we appreciate you! 💛

Helping children become strong readers starts with helping them enjoy reading. When reading feels fun, cozy, and meaningful, kids are much more motivated to practice. Here are a few simple ways you can spark excitement about reading at home—no worksheets required!

Let Kids Choose Their Books
Choice matters! When children pick their own books, they feel ownership and interest. Graphic novels, joke books, nonfiction about animals or sports—it all counts. If your child enjoys it and is reading, that’s a win.

Create a Cozy Reading Spot
A special reading space can make a big difference. Try a comfy chair, a pile of pillows, a blanket, or even a flashlight for “reading camp.” The goal is to make reading feel relaxing and special, not like homework.

Turn Reading Into a Fun Challenge
Lighthearted challenges can boost motivation without pressure. For example:

• Read 10 books this month

• Read to a pet or stuffed animal

• Read in a silly voice

• Read in a new place (under a table, outside, or in pajamas)

Celebrate progress with praise, stickers, or extra family time—no prizes needed!

Read Together (Even When Kids Can Read on Their Own)
Taking turns reading or listening to audiobooks together helps build confidence and keeps reading social and enjoyable. Talking about the story afterward also builds comprehension and connection.

Keep It Positive!
If your child gets stuck on a word, give gentle help and encouragement. Focus on effort, not perfection. A child who feels confident and supported is more likely to keep trying.

Thank you for helping us build joyful, motivated readers. Little moments at home truly make a big difference!

Questions? Reach out to your child’s teacher for book recommendations or strategies tailored to your child's reading level. I am also available to offer support for you and your child. Feel free to reach out to me at amykeister@lee.k12.nc.us for more information.

Parents often ask how they can support learning at home, and our Family and Community Involvement Committee is excited to share heartfelt ideas that make learning fun for the whole family—no special supplies needed. Using everyday items you already have at home, these hands-on activities help families learn together while sharing smiles, conversations, and lots of love for learning. 💕

This month, we’re celebrating hearts, kindness, and the joy of learning together. February is the perfect time to spark curiosity, practice new skills, and connect as a family through reading, math, science, and creativity. Below, you’ll find grade-level activities your family can enjoy together while building strong minds and strong hearts. Let’s spread the love for learning—one activity at a time!

Get ready for a super-fun family challenge that turns learning into pure magic! This month, we're exploring hearts in the most awesome ways possible - in three forms: The Shape (Math), The Body Part (Science/Health), and The Feeling (Social Studies). 🎉

Grab your supplies, put on your adventure hat, and let's turn learning into the most memorable family time ever! Remember, you're not just doing activities - you're creating heart-warming memories! 🌈✨

*Goal: Families complete a "Heart Hero Mission" consisting of 3 mini-challenges. *Materials Needed: Paper, scissors, crayons/markers, a timer (phone), and a safe space to move.

🔍 Mission Part 1: Heart Hunt Extravaganza! (The Shape: Math - Geometry & Counting)

Imagine turning your home into a heart-shaped treasure hunt! Cut out colorful paper hearts, hide them everywhere, and watch your little explorer count and sort like a math superhero. Big hearts, small hearts, red hearts, pink hearts - who will find the most? It's counting with a twist of excitement! 🕵️‍♀️📊

Activity: "Heart Hunt & Sort"

1. Preparation: Have the child cut out 10-20 hearts of different sizes and colors (using scrap paper, junk mail, etc.).

2. The Hunt: Hide the hearts around a room. Have the child find them and count them aloud as they go.

3. The Sort: Once collected, ask the child to sort them into piles.

• By Size: Small vs. Large.

• By Color: Red vs. Pink (or other colors).

4. The Count: Count how many are in each pile. Ask, "Which pile has more? Which has less?"

NCSCOS Standards Alignment:

• NC.K.CC.1: Know number names and the counting sequence (Counting objects).

• NC.K.CC.6: Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to another.

• NC.K.G.1: Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes.

• NC.K.MD.3: Classify objects into given categories; count the number of objects in each category.

💓 Mission Part 2: Heartbeat Bootcamp! (The Body Part: Health & Science)

Time to get moving and feel the rhythm of your body! Find your heartbeat, then do some jumping jacks that'll make your heart dance. Discover how exercise makes your heart stronger and learn about superhero foods that keep it happy! Who knew health could be this much fun? 🏃‍♀️❤️

Activity: "Thump-Thump Jump"

1. Feel the Beat: Help the child find their heartbeat (chest or wrist) while sitting still. Explain that the heart is a muscle that pumps blood.

2. Move It: Do 30 seconds of "Heart Hero" exercises:

• 10 Jumping Jacks

• 10 "Climb the Ladder" reaches

• Run in place

3. Check Again: Feel the heartbeat again. Ask, "Is it faster or slower? Why?"

4. Discussion: Name one food that makes the heart strong (e.g., apples, carrots) and one that is a "sometimes" food.

NCSCOS Standards Alignment:

• K.PCH.1: Apply measures for cleanliness and disease prevention (connection to keeping bodies healthy).

• K.NPA.1: Understand MyPlate as a tool for selecting nutritious foods.

• K.NPA.2: Understand the importance of physical activity.

• Science (Force & Motion connection): Observing changes in body/movement (fast vs. slow) relates to K.P.1.1 (Force and Motion concepts)

❤️ Mission Part 3: Love Map Magic! (The Feeling: Social Studies & Emotional Health)

Create a giant heart filled with everything your family loves - traditions, pets, favorite games. It's like drawing a treasure map of your family's heart! Share stories, spread kindness, and celebrate what makes your family uniquely awesome! 🖍️🤗

Activity: "The Family Heart Map"

1. Draw: Draw a giant heart on a piece of paper.

2. Fill it: Inside the heart, have the child draw or paste pictures of things that make their family special or things they love (traditions, pets, food, games).

3. Share: Have the child present their heart map to the family and explain why they chose those items.

4. Practice Kindness: Ask the child to name one way they can show "heart" (kindness) to a friend or neighbor tomorrow.

NCSCOS Standards Alignment:

• K.C.1.1 (Social Studies): Explain similarities in self and others (identifying what is special to them/family).

• K.H.1.3 (Social Studies): Explain the impact of how life events bring change (discussing family traditions/history).

• K.MEH.1 (Mental/Emotional Health): Recognize feelings and ways of expressing them.

• K.ICHR.1: Understand the characteristics of healthy relationships (sharing, kindness).

Checklist for Success

• Documentation: Snap a photo of the "Heart Map" or the sorting piles to send to the teacher. Fill out the Heart Heroes: Mission Log.

• Vocabulary to Use: Greater/Less than, Muscle, Heartbeat, Emotion, Tradition, Similar/Different.

• Extension: For advanced learners, have them write the numbers on the back of the hearts (1-20) and put them in order

❤️🦸‍♂️ HEART HEROES: MISSION LOG 🦸‍♀️❤️

Name: ___________________ Date: __________

🕵️‍♀️ MISSION 1: THE SHAPE HUNT (Math)

Your Job: Go on a hunt! Find hearts around your house. 1. Sort your hearts into piles. 2. Count them! 🔢

• How many BIG hearts? 🐘 ______

• How many SMALL hearts? 🐜 ______

• Circle the group that has MORE: 🟥 BIG vs. 🔹 SMALL

💓 MISSION 2: THUMP-THUMP JUMP (Health)

Your Job: Move your body! Do 10 Jumping Jacks or Run in place! 🏃💨

• Put your hand on your heart. How does it feel? (Color the one that matches) 🐢 Slow like a Turtle OR 🐇 Fast like a Bunny

• Draw one HEALTHY food that makes your heart strong: 🍎🥕

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

🗺️ MISSION 3: THE HEART MAP (Feelings)

Your Job: Think about what you love!

• Draw a picture of something (or someone!) that makes your family special: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

I will show KINDNESS tomorrow by: 🤝 ________________________________________

🌟 MISSION COMPLETE!

Parent & Child Bonding Time: Learn About Your Heart!

Objective:
Read, explore, and learn about your heart while doing a fun hands-on activity together!

What You’ll Need:

• A timer, watch, or clock with seconds

• Paper and pencil

• Crayons or markers

• Optional: stethoscope

Step 1: Read & Discover!

1. Pick a short story or article about the heart. Here are some ideas:

   • The Heart: Our Circulatory System (Scholastic)

   • Your Amazing Heart (Capstone Press)

2. Read it together. Take turns reading aloud!

3. Talk about what you learned:

   • What does the heart do?

   • Why is it important?

   • What can we do to keep it healthy?

4. Draw a heart on your paper and write one thing you learned about hearts.

Step 2: Feel Your Heartbeat!

1. Sit quietly and place two fingers on your wrist or neck to feel your pulse.

2. Count how many beats you feel in 15 seconds, then multiply by 4 to see your beats per minute.

3. Take turns measuring your heartbeat with your parent.

Fun Twist:

• Do 10–20 jumping jacks or run in place for 1 minute.

• Measure your heartbeat again.

• Talk about how your heart feels faster!

Step 3: Draw Your Heartbeat

1. Draw two hearts on your paper:

   • One for resting heartbeat

   • One for after exercise heartbeat

2. Write the number of beats inside each heart.

3. Use colors or make the hearts bigger or smaller to show which heartbeat is faster!

Example:
80 bpm (resting)
120 bpm (after jumping jacks)

Step 4: Healthy Heart Choices

1. Talk together about foods and activities that help keep your heart healthy.

2. Make a Heart Promise List: 3 things you and your parent will do together to keep your hearts healthy.

❤️ “All About Hearts” Home Learning Activity (Grade 3)

Time: 45–60 minutes
Materials:

• Paper (white and colored if available)
  
  

• Pencil/markers
  
  

• Ruler
  
  

• Scissors
  
  

• Coins
  
  

• Optional: heart images, book about the heart, stopwatch/clock
  
  

📖 READING (ELA) – Informational Text

NC SCOS Alignment:

• RI.3.1 – Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text
  
  

• RI.3.2 – Determine the main idea of a text
  
  

• RI.3.7 – Use illustrations to understand a text
  
  

Activity: Heart Facts Reading

1. Parent and child read a short informational paragraph (parent may read aloud):
   
   

The heart is an important organ in the human body. It pumps blood to all parts of the body. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients that help us stay healthy. A healthy heart works best when people exercise, eat healthy foods, and get enough rest.

1. Discuss together:
   
   

• What is the main idea of the paragraph?
  
  

• What job does the heart do?
  
  

• What details tell how to keep the heart healthy?
  
  

2. Child draws a heart illustration and labels one fact from the reading.
   
   

➕ MATH – Measurement & Data

NC SCOS Alignment:

• 3.MD.4 – Generate measurement data and represent it
  
  

• 3.OA.3 – Solve word problems
  
  

Activity: Heart Math

1. Draw 3 different-sized hearts on paper.
   
   

2. Measure each heart using:
   
   

• inches (with a ruler) or
  
  

• nonstandard units (paper clips, fingers)
  
  

3. Create a simple table:
   
   

Heart

A

B

C

1. 
   Discuss:
   
   

• Which heart is largest/smallest?
  
  

• How much bigger is Heart A than Heart B?
  
  

2. Word Problem:
   
   

• “If you cut 12 paper hearts and give 4 to each person, how many people receive hearts?”
  
  

🌎 SOCIAL STUDIES – Civics & Culture

NC SCOS Alignment:

• 3.C&G.2 – Understand how citizens contribute to their community
  
  

• 3.C.1 – Understand how culture influences communities
  
  

Activity: Hearts in Our Community

1. Talk about how people show care and kindness (heart actions):
   
   

• Helping neighbors
  
  

• Writing thank-you notes
  
  

• Volunteering
  
  

2. Child completes this sentence orally or in writing:
   
   

• “I show a good heart in my community by __________.”
  
  

3. Optional: Create a paper heart kindness coupon (example: “I will help clean up.”)
   
   

🔬 SCIENCE – Life Science

NC SCOS Alignment:

• 3.L.1.1 – Compare characteristics of living things
  
  

• 3.L.2.3 – Explain how health and nutrition affect the body
  
  

Activity: Heart & Health

1. Find your pulse:
   
   

• Place two fingers on wrist or neck.
  
  

• Count beats for 15 seconds.
  
  

• Multiply by 4.
  
  

2. Do 30 seconds of jumping jacks.
   
   

3. Measure pulse again.
   
   

4. Discuss:
   
   

• Did your heart beat faster or slower?
  
  

• Why does your heart work harder during exercise?
  
  

Draw a picture showing the heart helping the body move.

❤️ Heart-Themed Math & Science Home Activity

Grade Level: 4th
NC SCOS Alignment:

• Science:
  
  

• 4.P.1 – Energy transfer (heat)
  
  

• 4.P.2 – Properties & changes in matter
  
  

• 4.L.2 – Patterns in nature
  
  

• Math:
  
  

• 4.G.1 – Lines of symmetry
  
  

• 4.MD.1–2 – Measurement & unit conversions
  
  

• 4.OA.3 – Multi-step word problems
  
  

• 4.MD.4 – Making line plots & analyzing data
  
  

❤️ Part 1: Heart Candy Heat Test (Science 4.P.1 & 4.P.2)

Purpose: Observe how heat affects matter using candy hearts or chocolate hearts.

Materials:

• 3–4 candy hearts (chocolate melts fastest)
  
  

• Plate
  
  

• Timer
  
  

• Warm water in a cup
  
  

• Spoon
  
  

• Paper towel
  
  

Directions:

1. Place one heart on the plate at room temperature.
   
   

2. Place one heart on the plate in front of a sunny window or lamp.
   
   

3. Place one heart in a baggie and carefully hold it in your warm hands.
   
   

4. Optional: Place one heart in warm water on a spoon.
   
   

5. Predict which will melt or soften first.
   
   

6. Observe for 3–5 minutes.
   
   

Science Discussion Questions:

• What form of energy caused some hearts to melt faster?
  
  

• What physical changes did you notice?
  
  

• Did the heart change shape, color, or texture?
  
  

• Is melting a reversible or irreversible change? Why?
  
  

❤️ Part 2: Symmetrical Hearts (Math 4.G.1)

Materials:

• Paper
  
  

• Crayons/markers
  
  

• Scissors
  
  

• Pencil
  
  

Directions:

1. Fold paper in half.
   
   

2. Draw half a heart along the fold.
   
   

3. Cut and open to reveal a symmetrical heart.
   
   

4. Draw a line of symmetry down the middle.
   
   

5. Add decorations—stickers, dots, patterns—and decide if they keep the symmetry or break it.
   
   

Parent + Student Questions:

• How do you know your heart is symmetrical?
  
  

• Which decorations changed or kept the symmetry?
  
  

• Can a shape have more than one line of symmetry?
  
  

❤️ Part 3: Heart Measurement Activity (Math 4.MD.1–2)

Create three hearts: small, medium, large.

Student Tasks:

• Measure each heart’s width in inches or centimeters.
  
  

• Measure each heart’s height.
  
  

• Convert one measurement (ex: inches to centimeters).
  
  

Example Question:
A medium heart is 4.5 inches wide.
How many centimeters wide is it?
(Use 1 inch ≈ 2.54 centimeters)

(A) 9.8 cm
(B) 10.2 cm
(C) 11.4 cm
(D) 12.7 cm

❤️ Part 4: Heart Data Collection & Line Plot (4.MD.4)

Materials:

• A handful of paper hearts or candy hearts (at least 10)
  
  

• Pencil
  
  

• Scrap paper
  
  

Directions:

1. Sort the hearts by color, size, or design.
   
   

2. Choose one attribute to measure—example: width in inches.
   
   

3. Measure each heart.
   
   

4. Create a line plot with your measured data.
   
   

Reflection Questions:

• Which measurement occurred most often?
  
  

• Were any hearts the same size?
  
  

• What patterns did you notice in your data?
  
  

❤️ Part 5: Heart Math Word Problems (4.OA.3)

1. Multi-step problem

Leah makes 12 paper hearts each day for 5 days.
She gives away 18 to her friends.

How many hearts does she have left?

(A) 24
(B) 30
(C) 42
(D) 60

2. Area Comparison

A small heart has an area of 24 square units, and a large heart has an area of 38 square units.

How many more square units is the large heart?

(A) 10
(B) 12
(C) 14
(D) 22

❤️ Part 6: Seasonal Science Connection (4.L.2)

Students and parents discuss:

Questions:

1. Why do people often use hearts as symbols in February?
   
   

2. What kinds of seasonal patterns occur in winter that affect plants, animals, and people?
   
   

3. What science clues tell you that winter is different from spring?
   
   

❤️ OPTIONAL ART EXTENSION

Decorate a giant heart using:

• triangles
  
  

• rectangles
  
  

• circles
  
  

• squares
  
  

Student Challenge:
Count each shape used.

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students,

It is my wish for every child at J.R. Ingram Jr. Elementary school to have a

wonderful and exciting year in Physical Education class. To ensure your

child’s safety they need to wear sneakers / tennis shoes to Physical Education.

Elementary age children tend to fall more than older adolescents while doing

engaging activities not only in the gymnasium (during physical education) but

at recess as well. Please help your child be safe and send them in tennis shoes

(Sneakers).

It is hard to believe January is coming to a close with February knocking on

the door. I am looking forward to some spring like weather and get rid of this

snow, ice and cold weather we are dealing with the past few weeks. Please

encourage your children to leave their jacket in the classroom as opposed to

bringing them to the gymnasium. I usually place at least 30 garments in lost

and found yearly with most of them happening during the winter months.

During the month of February (K-2) will be riding scooters and playing games

on scooters. Toward the end of the month they will be doing basic tumbling

skills on mats.

During February (3-5) will be doing scooter hockey and hopefully be

progressing to Floor Hockey. If I feel a class wil have trouble being safe during

floor hockey, I will do fitness activities with them instead.

I am looking forward to a fun month full of exercise and happiness during

Physical Education! I will be preparing what’s going on in the gym or Physical

Education class every month this school year. If you have and questions you

can email me at andreward@lee.k12.nc.us or call (919) 774 – 3772 Ext 4325.

I’m looking forward to an awesome school year! Have a safe and joyous

Holiday Season!

Sincerely,

Andrew Ard

Physical Education Teacher

J.R. Ingram Jr. Elementary

Parent Handbook

Lee County Schools Parent Hub