J.R. Ingram Parent News

📢 Stay Connected This April!

April is here, and it’s hard to believe we are nearing the end of the 2025–2026 school year! We are so proud of the incredible growth our scholars have made and continue to make each day. As we head into these final months, we remain focused on finishing strong and making the most of every learning opportunity.

In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find important updates, upcoming events, and key reminders to support your child’s continued success. April is filled with meaningful learning experiences, important academic milestones, and celebrations as we reflect on how far we’ve come this year.

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

We truly value our partnership with our J.R. Ingram families. If there is something you would like to see included in future newsletters, please feel free to share your ideas—your feedback helps us keep our communication relevant and helpful.

Thank you for your continued support and collaboration. Together, we look forward to a strong finish to an already successful school year as our scholars continue to grow and shine!

April~Month of the Military Child

April 6~Optional Teacher Workday

Apirl 6-10~National Assistant Principal Week

April 9~K-2 Field Day

April 10~3-5 Field Day

April 13-17~Purple Up Week- Celebrating the Month of the Military Child

April 13~Progress Reports available in Parent Portal

April 17~5th Grade Track Meet at Southern Lee High School (Select 5th graders)

April 20-May 8~DIBELS EOY Testing Window

April 23~HWY 55 Night

May 4-8~Teacher Appreciation Week

May 4~SIT Meeting

May 11~5th Science EOG

May 12~Math EOG

May 13~ELA EOG

May 14~Retest Science and make ups

May 15~Math Retests, RTA and Make ups

May 18~ELA Retests, 3rd Math for RTA and Make ups

May 22-Last Day of School, Early Dismissal

April is the Month of the Military Child, a special time to recognize the resilience and sacrifices of our students who have parents serving in the armed forces. These "Little Troopers" navigate unique challenges—from long deployments to frequent moves—with incredible courage and heart.

To show our support and appreciation, we are inviting all of our families to join us for a school-wide Spirit Week!

Why We Celebrate: Military children represent every state and every branch. By "Purpling Up," we send a clear message to our students that their service at home is seen, valued, and appreciated by our entire school family.

We can’t wait to see a sea of purple in the hallways! Thank you for helping us honor our bravest young heroes.

A huge "thank you" to all the families who joined us for our Duke Energy Science Night! It was wonderful to see our school buzzing with curiosity, hands-on experiments, and the excitement of discovery.

From microscopes to exploring the wonders of energy, our students truly shone as young scientists. Events like these are only successful because of your participation and enthusiasm. We love seeing our school community come together to spark a lifelong love of learning!

Relive the Fun

We captured so many great moments of our students in action. We’ve put together a short montage so you can see all the "Eureka!" moments from the evening.

Before Spring Break, we were excited to send home a small “thank you” treat with each student who attended. We hope it was a fun surprise! Even better, each treat included directions so students could recreate the experience at home—continuing the learning and discovery beyond the classroom.

Our teachers and staff have truly had their "game on" this year! They’ve tackled every challenge with heart, energy, and dedication. Now, it’s our turn to step up to the plate and show them some major appreciation.

Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up May 4–8, and we want to shower our team with the thanks they deserve. To make this week a "win" for our staff, we are looking for the following donations:

We are looking for individually wrapped treats to keep our staff energized throughout the week:

• Sweet & Salty: Individually wrapped candy, chips, and cookies.

• Refreshments: Canned sodas, sparkling waters, or iced teas.

• We love to surprise our staff with daily door prizes! If you own a business or simply want to contribute a door prize, we would gladly accept:

  
  

• Gift Cards: Local coffee shops, restaurants, or retailers.

• Small Gifts: High-quality pens, markers, fun lunch boxes, or stationery.

📍 How to Donate

Please drop off any donations at the Front Office by Friday, May 1st.

Our school community is so much stronger because of your generosity. Thank you for helping us recognize the incredible work our educators do every single day!

Let’s make this the best Teacher Appreciation Week yet!

As we look toward the finish line of this school year, we are already hard at work planning for an even better one starting this fall. At our school, we believe that "continued improvement" is a team effort, and your perspective as a parent is the most valuable tool we have.

We want to hear from you! Please take a few moments to complete our End-of-the-Year Parent Survey. Your feedback helps our School Improvement Team and school leaders understand what is working well and where we can grow—from communication and homework support to school-wide events.

How to Participate:

Please click the link below to share your thoughts: 👉 Complete the Survey Here (or click it below)

Deadline: Please submit your responses by May 21st.

Whether it’s suggesting a new event, sharing feedback on our communication, or letting us know how we can better support learning at home, your input directly impacts our goals for next year.

Thank you for being such an active and vital part of our school community!

We are constantly blown away by the incredible generosity of our parent community. Because of your support and the funds raised through our recent initiatives, we have some very exciting news to share!

Introducing Our New Snow Cone Machine!

We have officially purchased a professional-grade snow cone machine for the school! This isn't just a one-time treat; it is an investment that will bring smiles, icy blue tongues, and celebration to our students for years to come.

The First Big Celebration

To kick things off, we’ll be firing up the machine to celebrate our 4th Quarter AR (Accelerated Reader) Champions! Students in grades 1–5 who meet their reading goals for the final quarter will be treated to a refreshing snow cone party to celebrate their hard work and literary achievements.

📚 Keep on Reading!

There is still time to reach those targets! Please encourage your child to:

• Check their progress: Ask them how close they are to their point goal.

• Read daily: Even 15–20 minutes makes a massive difference in comprehension and goal completion.

• Take those quizzes: Remind them to log in and take their AR tests once they finish a book.

Our Sincere Thanks: Whether you donated, volunteered, or cheered us on, you made this possible. We can’t wait to see the kids' faces when they get their first icy treat!

Let’s finish the year strong and keep those pages turning!

📢 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.

As we step into April, we can feel the excitement of spring all around us! This month, our theme is Flowers and Butterflies, symbolizing growth, change, and new beginnings. Just like flowers bloom and butterflies transform, our students continue to grow in their learning each and every day—and we are so proud of the progress they’ve made!

We believe that strong partnerships between school and home make a powerful difference in student success. This month, we’re excited to share a few simple and meaningful ways you can support learning at home while connecting to our theme.

Each grade level will be sharing specific, easy-to-do activities that require little to no materials and are designed to connect learning at school with learning at home. These activities are a great way to reinforce skills, spend quality time together, and help your child make meaningful connections to what they are learning in class.

As we move closer to the end of the school year, we are excited to continue watching our students blossom. Thank you for your continued support and partnership—it truly makes a difference!

Together, we can help every child grow, bloom, and soar! 🌸🦋

🗓️Weekly Butterfly Unit Plan (Family- Friendly)🗓️

This plan provides simple, engaging activities families can do at home. Each do includes literacy, math, and hands-on learning.

🌱Day 1: Introduction to Butterflies

Focus: What is a butterfly?

Literacy: Read a butterfly book. Discuss what butterflies look like.

Math: Count how many butterflies you see in the book.

Activity: Draw and label a butterfly (wings, antennae, body).

Family Tip: Ask your child what they already know about butterflies.

Standards Connection:

RL.K.1: Ask and answer questions about key details in a text

RI.K.2: Identify the main topic and key details of a text

K.CC.4: Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities

SL.K.4: Describe familiar people, places, things, and events

🐛Day 2: Caterpillar Stage

Focus: Life cycle caterpillar

Literacy: Learn the word “caterpillar” and clap syllables.

Math: Make a caterpillar using objects and count each segment.

Activity: Create a caterpillar craft using circles.

Family Tip: Compare sizes of caterpillars (long/short).

Standards Connection:

RF.K.2: Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds

K.CC.1: Count to 100 by ones

K.MD.1: Describe measurable attributes (length)

💤Day 3: Chrysalis Stage

Focus: Life cycle – chrysalis

Literacy: Retell the life cycle so far (egg → caterpillar → chrysalis).

Math: Sequence the stages in order (first, next, last).

Activity: Pretend to be in a chrysalis (wrap in blanket and “transform”).

Family Tip: Talk about change and growing.

Standards Connection:

RL.K.2: Retell familiar stories, including key details

RI.K.3: Describe the connection between events (sequence)

K.CC.5: Count to answer “how many” questions

🦋Day 4: Butterfly Stage

Focus: Adult butterfly

Literacy: Write: “I am a butterfly. I can ____.”

Math: Create patterned butterfly wings.

Activity: Go outside and look for butterflies.

Family Tip: Encourage describing colors and movements.

Standards Connection:

W.K.2: Use drawing, dictating, and writing to compose texts

L.K.1: Demonstrate command of standard English grammar

K.OA.3: Decompose numbers and identify patterns

SL.K.4: Describe observations

🌸Day 5: Review and Celebrate

Focus: Review life cycle

Literacy: Retell the full life cycle using drawings.

Math: Count and compare how many butterflies were seen this week.

Activity: Create a full butterfly life cycle project.

Family Tip: Let your child “teach” the life cycle to someone else.

Standards Connection:

RL.K.2: Retell stories with key details

W.K.3: Use drawing and writing to narrate events

K.CC.7: Compare two numbers between 1–10

💡Optional Extension Ideas

Grow plants that attract butterflies.

Keep a simple observation journal.

Create a butterfly garden drawing.

"April Flower Hunt"

For our April family engagement activity, families are encouraged to go on a nature walk together and take pictures of any pretty flowers they see along the way. This activity provides a fun opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while helping students observe and appreciate the beauty of nature.

What to do:
• Take a photo of flowers you find
• Send the picture to school (via ClassDojo, email, or printed copy)

This hands-on project uses common kitchen items to help students visualize the four stages of metamorphosis: egg, caterpillar (larva), chrysalis (pupa), and butterfly.

Materials Needed

• A paper plate (or a large circle cut from cardboard).
• Four types of pasta:
• Orzo or rice for the eggs.
• Rotini or penne for the caterpillar.
• Shell pasta (Conchiglie) for the chrysalis.
• Bowtie pasta (Farfalle) for the butterfly.
• Markers, glue, and green paper (or a real leaf).

Instructions

1. Divide the Plate: Use a marker to draw a cross on the plate, dividing it into four equal sections.
2. Label the Stages: In each section, write the names of the stages in order:

1. Egg, 2. Caterpillar, 3. Chrysalis, and 4. Butterfly

.

1. Create the Habitat:

1. Egg: Glue a leaf (real or paper) into the first section and place a few grains of rice or orzo on it.

2. Caterpillar

: Glue a leaf that has "bite marks" (small holes) in the second section and attach the rotini pasta on top.

3. Chrysalis

: Draw a branch in the third section and glue the shell pasta hanging from it.

4. Butterfly

: Glue the bowtie pasta in the final section. Your child can use markers to add colorful, symmetrical patterns to its "wings".

1. Add Arrows: Draw arrows between the sections to show the continuous cycle.

Educational "Pro-Tips"

• Symmetry Check: Explain that butterfly wings are symmetrical, meaning both sides are the same. Have them try to make the patterns on their bowtie pasta identical on both sides.
• The "Why": Discuss how each stage serves a purpose (e.g., the caterpillar's only job is to eat and grow!).

Purpose:
Students will explore butterflies through reading, math, science, and social studies activities while working with a parent or caregiver.

Materials Needed:

• Paper or notebook
  
  

• Pencil and crayons/colored pencils
  
  

• Ruler
  
  

• Optional: internet or library book about butterflies
  
  

📘 Reading Activity: Butterfly Facts

What to Do:

1. Read a short article or book about butterflies with your child.
   
   

2. Talk about what you learned together.
   
   

Discuss & Write:

• What is the main idea of the text?
  
  

• List three key details about butterflies.
  
  

• Write one new word you learned and its meaning.
  
  

NC SCOS Alignment (ELA):

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

• RI.3.2 – Determine the main idea and supporting details
  
  

• RI.3.4 – Determine the meaning of academic and domain-specific words
  
  

🔢 Math Activity: Butterfly Data & Measurement

What to Do:

1. Draw 4 different butterflies (real or imaginary).
   
   

2. Measure the wingspan of each butterfly using a ruler (in inches or centimeters).
   
   

3. Record the measurements in a simple table.
   
   

Math Talk:

• Which butterfly has the largest wingspan?
  
  

• How much longer is the largest wingspan than the smallest?
  
  

• Add all wing lengths together.
  
  

NC SCOS Alignment (Math):

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

• 3.MD.3 – Draw scaled picture graphs and bar graphs
  
  

• 3.OA.2 – Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction
  
  

🔬 Science Activity: Butterfly Life Cycle

What to Do:

1. Draw and label the life cycle of a butterfly:
   
   

• Egg
  
  

• Caterpillar (larva)
  
  

• Chrysalis (pupa)
  
  

• Adult butterfly
  
  

2. Explain each stage to your parent.
   
   

Think & Talk:

• How does the butterfly change at each stage?
  
  

• Why is this called a life cycle?
  
  

NC SCOS Alignment (Science):

• 3.L.1 – Understand human and animal life cycles
  
  

• 3.L.1.1 – Explain how organisms go through life cycles
  
  

• 3.L.1.2 – Compare life cycles of different organisms
  
  

🌍 Social Studies Activity: Butterflies and Their Environment

What to Do:

1. Research or discuss where butterflies live (gardens, forests, fields).
   
   

2. Identify one way humans help butterflies and one way they may harm them.
   
   

3. Draw a picture showing a safe butterfly habitat.
   
   

Talk Together:

• Why are butterflies important to nature?
  
  

• How can families help protect butterfly habitats?
  
  

NC SCOS Alignment (Social Studies):

• 3.G.1.2 – Understand how humans and the environment interact
  
  

• 3.G.1.3 – Explain how environment influences living things
  
  

• 3.C.1.1 – Understand responsible citizenship
  
  

✏️ Optional Writing Extension

Have your child write a short paragraph:

“If I were a butterfly for a day…”

Part 1: Science — Butterfly Life Cycle Investigation

NC Science Standards Alignment:

• 4.L.1 Understand animal structures and behaviors that help them survive

• 4.L.1.1 Compare life cycles of different animals

• 4.L.1.2 Explain how animals meet their needs through structures and behaviors

Activity: Observe and Research the Butterfly Life Cycle

Butterflies go through metamorphosis, which means they change form as they grow.

With your family, research the four stages of a butterfly’s life cycle.

Draw and Label the Life Cycle

Draw each stage and label it.

1. Egg

2. Larva (Caterpillar)

3. Pupa (Chrysalis)

4. Adult Butterfly

🦋 Student Task:
Next to each drawing, write 1–2 sentences explaining:

• What happens during this stage

• How the butterfly survives during this stage

Example starter:
"During the larva stage, the caterpillar eats leaves to grow bigger."

Parent Discussion Questions

Ask your child:

1. Why do caterpillars eat so much food?

2. How does the chrysalis protect the butterfly?

3. What body parts help adult butterflies survive?

Write one response your child shares:

Part 2: Math — Butterfly Garden Measurement

NC Math Standards Alignment:

• 4.MD.1 Solve problems involving measurement

• 4.MD.3 Apply area and perimeter formulas

• 4.NF.4 Understand fractions as parts of a whole

Activity: Design a Butterfly Garden

Imagine you are creating a butterfly garden in your yard.

Your garden will be a rectangle.

Step 1: Choose Garden Measurements

Length: ______ feet
Width: ______ feet

(Choose numbers between 4–12 feet)

Step 2: Find the Perimeter

Add all sides to find the distance around the garden.

Perimeter = ______ feet

Show your work:

Step 3: Find the Area

Multiply length × width.

Area = ______ square feet

Show your work:

Step 4: Fraction of Plants

Your butterfly garden has 8 plants.

• 3 are milkweed plants

• The rest are flowering plants

Questions:

1. What fraction of the plants are milkweed?
   Answer: ______

2. What fraction are flowering plants?
   Answer: ______

3. Draw a model showing the fractions.

(Use circles or boxes)

Part 3: Science + Math Connection

Butterfly Observation Challenge

With your parent or guardian:

• Go outside OR watch a butterfly video

• Count how many butterflies you see in 10 minutes

Number of butterflies seen: ______

If you watched for 2 days, fill in:

Day

Day 1

Day 2

Math Questions

1. How many butterflies did you see in total?

Answer: ______

1. Which day had more butterflies?

Answer: __________________

1. How many more butterflies did you see that day?

Answer: ______

Part 4: Creative Extension (Optional but Encouraged)

Create one of the following:

🦋 A butterfly model
🦋 A labeled diagram
🦋 A butterfly garden drawing
🦋 A short butterfly story

see picture below

Field Day is coming up! 🎉

• April 9: Grades K–2
• April 10: Grades 3–5
• Start Time: 9:00 AM (please be on time!)

Each day will include:

• Morning events, a lunch break, and afternoon events
• Lunch will be provided by the school cafeteria
• Activities will run in rotations throughout the day

What to bring:

• Water bottle (refill stations available if it’s warm)
• Optional snack

Students will rotate through fun stations led by staff and 5th grade helpers. Please note there will be no specials on Field Day.

Weather Plan:
If weather does not cooperate, Field Day will be held indoors on a modified schedule.

We’re looking forward to a fun and active day for all students! ☀️🐾

1. Roller Racers in the gym. This event will have four Roller Racers at one end of the gym. Four equal teams will race while sitting on Roller Racer. Volunteers will demonstrate how to use it.

2. Parachute - Parachute play Game of Cat and Mouse to the teacher’s instructions. Once explained, the fifth grade leader will count how many times they play cat and mouse and score it on the score sheet.

3. Frisbee throw, outside the gym. Several hula hoops

will be set up for children to throw at to hit a target.

4. Hula Hoop Play- Students will get a hoop and be able to explore tricks with the hoop. (outside gym).

5. Sac Race - Students will form four lines and race across the grass to the other side.

THE FOLLOWING EVENTS ARE ON THE BLACKTOP (BUS PARKING LOT)

(6. ) Bean Bag Toss - Students will rotate through the bean bag toss.

(7.) Tug a War- Students will have pulling contests among their class.

(8.) Small Parachute Catching Ball- Students will catch a ball with partner.

(9.3-5) Long Jump rope. Children will jump rope with two children turning the rope and one jumping.

(9.) K-2) Big Ball Push Relay- Two lines with equal people on both sides of the lines.

(10) Scoop Toss. Students will toss the ball back and forth, catching it with a plastic scoop.

(11.) Relay races for 3-5 depending on weather will be several different things. Spoons, Balls, Balloons

(12.) Miniature Golf - Students will take turns hitting golf balls into the hole.

Why Reading and Writing Belong Together

Reading and writing are deeply connected skills. When children write about what they read, they:

• Strengthen comprehension

• Build vocabulary

• Improve sentence structure

• Develop critical thinking

• Deepen understanding of stories and information

Writing helps children process what they read instead of just decoding words. It turns reading into thinking.

Journaling: Turning Thoughts Into Words

Journaling gives children a safe, low-pressure way to express ideas.

How it helps:

• Builds writing confidence

• Improves sentence flow and organization

• Strengthens personal connections to reading

Try this at home:

• "Write about your favorite part of the story."

• "How would you feel if you were the main character?"

• "What would you do differently than the character?"

Even 5 minutes a day makes a difference!

Storytelling: Growing Language and Imagination

Telling stories (out loud or on paper) helps children understand how stories work.

How it helps:

• Teaches story structure (beginning, middle, end)

• Builds sequencing skills

• Strengthens oral language

Try this at home:

• Retell a story in your own words

• Change the ending of a book

• Create a new adventure for a favorite character

• Tell a story during car rides or bedtime

Book Reviews: Thinking Like a Reader

Book reviews help children analyze and reflect on what they read.

How it helps:

• Builds opinion writing skills

• Teaches text evidence

• Strengthens comprehension

Simple book review format:

• Title of the book

• Favorite part

• One sentence summary

• Who would enjoy this book?

• Star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Easy Ways to Connect Reading and Writing Daily

• Keep a family journal

• Write grocery lists together

• Leave notes for each other

• Write letters or emails to relatives

• Create comics or mini-books

• Draw pictures and write captions

Remember

Children don’t need perfect spelling or grammar to grow as writers. What matters most is:

• Expression

• Effort

• Practice

• Confidence

When children write about what they read, they become stronger readers — and stronger thinkers.

Together, we can build confident readers and writers—one story, one sentence, and one journal page at a time. If you would like more information.

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.

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