Weekly Newsletter

I hope that everyone had a wonderful break! We have had a great first week back after break! We have gotten back into the routine of working hard, and we had so much fun learning about animal adaptations through our Nature Educators field trip! They brought in a toad, young bull snake, ball python, tarantula, and burrowing owl. We have also been doing some fun science experiments this week.

This coming week we will have our Halloween parade and party on Friday. The parade will begin at 9:40 and we will do our class party right after the parade for about an hour. We need some parents to help during the party, please send me an email if you are able to be here as a volunteer for the party! Everyone is welcome to join us for the parade and party. Friday afternoon our schedule will be just like every other Friday afternoon. We will rotate for math classes and learn more amazing things during science!

Now through October 31st: Charleston Wrap Fundraiser (see the linked PTO newsletter for more info)

October 30th: Halloween Parade And Class Parties

November 5th: Stuffy Staycation Drop-Off (see the linked PTO newsletter for more info)

November 11th: Veterans Day Breakfast (see the linked PTO newsletter for more info)

Reading:

This week we headed back into expository texts while we read about animal adaptations. Our reading supports our current science unit, which is so wonderful. The main skills we are working on in this unit are:

• using text features to help us understand expository texts
• identifying main idea and supporting our thinking with key details from the texts
• understanding how prefixes affect the meanings of words to increase our understanding of vocabulary
• and towards the end of the unit, we work on character development

Writing:

This week the students worked on wrapping up their persuasive booklets on where they want to travel in Colorado. I am working on meeting with each student before they publish. This takes some time, but everyone will meet with me before they finalize their booklet. Next week, we will be moving onto a new persuasive writing piece.

Topic 4:

Most of the students are working on Topic 4. Topic 4 is a continuation of the skills they were learning in topic 3, but they are learning how to multiply 2 two digit factors. Topic 3 tests will be coming home next week.

Mrs Lewis' Math Class:

Please use my math website to know what your child is learning, what their homework is, and when they will have final tests.

Science:

This week we started learning about adaptations that help plants and animals survive. In science, we have been learning about the internal and external features of plants. We did an experiment that helped us understand how xylem, part of the internal vascular system of plants, carries water to the cells in the plant. We also started two more plant experiments. We began one experiment based off of an experiment that a student started at home. We are finding that adding "flower food" to the colored water in our experiments is increasing the plant's water uptake! We also started a second experiment with the hopes that we will be able to use a microscope to see the xylem in the one of our flower stems. While conducting our original experiment, we also started learning about the scientific method.

Next week we will dissect a flower. During this experiment, we will learn about the different parts of plants and how internal and external features of plants are adaptations that help the plants survive. We will also start learning more about animal adaptations.

This coming week we will be doing Wayfinder SEL lessons during our first special time and have Mandarin. Please read the family letter about this month's SEL lessons.

Reading: The students have a new reading packet that is due on Friday. As always, keep reading for pleasure (at least 20 minutes a day is recommended).

Math: Ms Crawley's class and my class will have nightly homework Monday - Thursday. Ms Golenski's class has a worksheet that is due on Friday.

Social Studies/Science: No homework

You can check to see that your child filled in their homework correctly using the homework page on my website. Please review their planner/homework with them every evening and initial their planner each day.

See the flyer below.

We are excited for our upcoming Halloween Costume Parade on October 30th. To ensure everyone gets a great view and to make the event safer and more comfortable for our students, we are updating our parent viewing area this year.

In past years, parents gathered close to the school building, which created a very crowded space for our students as they marched. This year, we ask that all parent spectators line up along the perimeter of the playground track (marked green on map above).

All students will march in their costumes along the track, (blue line) giving every family a front-row view while keeping the path open and safe for our classes.

Summary of Details:

• Time: Parade starts at approximately 9:40am.

• Spectator Area: Around the inner and outer edge of the playground track.

• Student Parade Route: One full circle around the track.

• Reminder: Please keep the track clear so classes can move easily.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us make this a smooth and fun event for all of our students! We look forward to seeing you there.

If you haven't had a chance to read about graded work and Google Classroom, please see my notes in previous newsletters.

Your child brought home:

• Graded work
• School flyers

Different volunteer opportunities are listed below. Please sign up for anything that you are interested in. Involved families make our school better! If you are interested in volunteering, you must sign a Parent Volunteer Form.

If you have a special talent that you think would enhance the learning in our classroom, please feel free to email me.