J.R. Ingram Parent News

📢 Stay Connected This October!

We’re excited to share another edition of our school newsletter with you! Each month, it’s your go-to source for updates on upcoming events, special programs, and resources to help support your child’s success.

Inside, you’ll find event highlights, important announcements, and helpful links designed for every family. If you’d prefer a printed copy, feel free to stop by the front office.

We’d also love to hear from you! If there’s something you’d like featured in future newsletters, please share your ideas with us. Your input helps us make this resource even more meaningful for our families.

Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s journey at J.R. Ingram—together, we make a lasting impact! 🌟

Nov 3~SIT Meeting

Nov 4~No School/Optional Teacher workday.

Nov 6~2nd Grade Field Trip

Nov 7-14~Fall Book Fair

Nov 10~Family Book Fair Night/Music Program

Nov 11~No School~Veteran's Day

Nov 12~1st & 2nd Grade National Theater for Children Performance

Nov 13~4th Grade parent conferences

Nov 13~HWY 55 Night, 5-8 pm

Nov 18~Thanksgiving Lunch (must have pre-registered in October for a plate)

Nov 26-28~Thanksgiving Break

Dec 1~SIT Meeting

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 the first marking period is just a memory and

Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. November is a weird month

weather wise in North Carolina warm one day cold the next. 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 from November through February.

During the month of November, Kindergarten will be continuing to learn

spatial awareness along with basic movements (skip, gallop, hop, jump, slide).

Also, being introduced to exciting Tag games using pool noodles to tag softly

and be kind to everyone while building social skills. 1st grade and 2nd grade will

be building off of learned material from the previous year and learning to

catch and throw different equipment (ball, bean bag, scarf).

3rd , 4th and 5th will be finishing the Pacer test (equivalent to the mile run)

followed by Volleyball skills. We will learn to serve, dig and set the ball using

beach balls as opposed to real or trainer volleyballs!

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!

Sincerely,

Andrew Ard

Physical Education Teacher

J.R. Ingram Jr. Elementary

📢 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.

The Power of Reading Aloud - Even for Older Kids!

As children learn to read independently, many parents stop reading aloud to them, but did you know that reading aloud continues to make a big difference, even for older children? Here are some ways that reading aloud to your child, even older children, makes a difference.

Builds Stronger Vocabulary and Comprehension

When you read aloud, your child hears new words and sentence structures that they might not encounter in everyday conversation. This can help them grow their vocabulary and deepen their understanding of more complex ideas.

Strengthens Listening and Thinking Skills

Hearing books read aloud helps children focus on meaning without the pressure of decoding every word within a text. This allows them to think critically, make predictions, and connect ideas - skills that will be needed in all subject areas.

Encourages Family Connection

Sharing a story together is a wonderful bonding experience. Make it a part of your daily routine together. Whether it’s a few chapters before bed or a quick story in the car, reading aloud creates lasting memories and positive feelings about books.

Inspires a Love of Reading

When children hear expressive reading, they experience how exciting and emotional stories can be. It reminds them that reading isn’t just schoolwork - it’s fun too!

Tips for Reading Aloud with Older Kids

• Choose engaging books: Try mysteries, adventures, or stories that match your child’s interests.

• Take turns reading: Let your child read a page or chapter aloud too.

• Talk about what you read: Ask questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why do you think that character made that choice?”

• Keep it relaxed: There’s no need to make it a lesson - just enjoy the story together!

Remember: Reading aloud is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to support your child’s language development, imagination, and love for learning - no matter what age they are!

📚 J.R. Ingram’s Fall Book Fair – “Saluting Our Readers and Veterans”

Our Fall Book Fair is coming soon! Join us Friday, November 7th through Friday, November 14th

Parents often ask how they can support learning at home, and our Family and Community Involvement Committee is excited to share some simple, hands-on activities you can do with everyday items you already have around the house. Each month, we’ll feature fun ways to build academic skills while spending time together as a family.

This month’s theme is all about pizza! Check out these grade-level activities your family can enjoy while practicing real-world math, reading, science, and more.

🍕 2nd Grade Activity: Family Pizza Store

Objective:
Students will practice addition, subtraction, and counting money while pretending to run their own pizza shop for the family.

Math Focus:
💵 Counting coins and bills
➕➖ Adding and subtracting prices
🧮 Making change

What You’ll Need:

• Paper or printable pizza menu

• Play money (or paper cutouts of coins and bills)

• Pencil and paper for calculations

• (Optional) Paper pizza templates for “making” pizzas

Try It Out:

1. Create Your Menu – Let your child design a pizza menu, such as:

   • Cheese Pizza – $5

   • Pepperoni Pizza – $6

   • Veggie Pizza – $7

   • Hawaiian Pizza – $8

   • Extra Topping – $1 each

2. Open the Pizza Store – Your child is the pizza seller; family members are the customers!

   • Example: Mom orders a Pepperoni Pizza ($6) + 1 topping ($1) and pays with $10.

   • Ask your child to figure out the change ($3).

3. Solve Word Problems – Practice math through simple stories:

   • “Dad bought a Cheese Pizza ($5) and a Veggie Pizza ($7). How much did he spend?”

   • “The family bought 3 pizzas for $18 and paid with $20. What’s the change?”

Extension Ideas:
🍕 Create a “Pizza of the Day” special and track daily sales.
🧾 Write receipts using numbers and words (“Six dollars”).
🎨 Make pizzas with paper toppings for extra fun.

Skills Practiced:
✅ Addition & subtraction
✅ Counting money and making change
✅ Problem solving
✅ Writing numbers in word form

🍕 3rd Grade Activity: Pizza Party Learning

Objective:
Engage students and parents in a hands-on pizza-making activity that reinforces math, reading, social studies, and science skills—all through pizza!

Materials:
Pizza dough or crust, sauce, cheese, toppings, paper, pencil, ruler, and a timer.

By Subject:

🧮 Math – Fractions & Measurement

• Divide your pizza into equal slices (6 or 8).

• Ask: “If you eat 3 of 8 slices, what fraction is that?”

• Measure ingredients (cups of sauce, ounces of cheese).

• Track baking time using a timer.

📚 ELA – Reading & Writing

• Read a short recipe or a fun article about pizza.

• Have your child write their own “How to Make a Pizza” guide.

• Practice sequencing and use words like ingredients, crust, toppings, bake.

🌍 Social Studies – Geography & Culture

• Locate Italy on a map and discuss where pizza originated.

• Compare food traditions from other countries.

• Share family food traditions!

🔬 Science – States of Matter

• Identify ingredients as solids or liquids.

• Observe how dough bakes and cheese melts.

• Discuss how heat changes matter from solid to liquid and back.

Wrap-Up:
After making and enjoying your pizza, talk about what your child learned in each subject. Ask reflective questions like:

• “What surprised you about how pizza changes in the oven?”

• “How did you use math while cooking?”

• “Why do you think pizza became popular all over the world?”

🍕 Learning can be delicious!
These pizza-themed activities are just one example of how everyday experiences can turn into meaningful learning moments. Stay tuned for next month’s family learning spotlight!

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