A Little Bird Told Me The Spelling Words

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The Eastern Bluebird

GROUP 1 backpack, baseball, bluebird, brainstorm, flashlight, herself, inside, lunchbox, outside, suitcase

GROUP 2
picture, remember, room, stood, thought, cookies, cradle, idea, biscuits, grew

GROUP 3
jealous, sibling, porridge, seriousness, relatives, secret, collector, flourish, crocodile, curtain

The spelling test will be given on THURSDAY due to our field trip to the Desert Museum on Friday.

OTHER NEWS...

**Our field trip to the Desert Museum will be this Friday April 3^rd.  There will be a letter about the Desert Museum Trip in the RED FOLDERS that will come home tomorrow.

Have a great week!

We've Got Lots Going On!

Above is a photo of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, DC.  Below are your spelling words for the week!

Group 1: blow, boat, coat, loaf, pillow, road, row, snow, soap, yellow

Group 2: found, mouth, once, took, wild, woman, women, married, capital, country

Group 3: nation, tourist, splinter, harbor, symbol, abandon, sunken, statue, documents, government

Our story is called “A Trip to Washington D.C.” The focus is on long O (oa and ow)

IN OTHER EXCITING NEWS...

This coming Friday is the Jump for Heart.  We will be jumping from 12:30 until 2:30 - that's a LOT of jumping!  There will not be centers Friday afternoon.  The kiddos need to bring a jump rope for Friday if they have one.  Please put their name on the handle with a Sharpie.

After jumping we usually have an Eegee’s treat. I would like each student to bring in 1$, if possible, to put towards the Eegees.  I also need a volunteer parent that could pick the Eegees up and bring it to our classroom.  I will give that parent the $$ ahead of time. Collecting a dollar from everyone keeps the cost from being one family’s responsibility.

Bobcats at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

April 3^rd will be our field trip to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  We will leave about 9am and return before 1:30pm.  I have 4 volunteers scheduled - including me makes 5- which is the number they allow for “Official Chaperones”.  If you would still like to go I believe you can pay for yourself and ride the bus (provided there is room) or drive yourself and meet us there. 

Your child will need a disposable sack lunch, water bottle and sunscreen (apply before you come to school); a hat would be great too. I will email volunteers separately so that you can double-check your calendar and make sure you are still available.

Spring Break is the week of March 14^th – March 22^nd.  That is next week and school will be closed.

Report cards will be sent home on Friday March 27^th.

Please send me pictures from the “Father Daughter Dance” if you would like to share.  I was there until 7:30 and I have a few pictures to show the class. 

Thank you to the Dads for taking the time to bring your beautiful daughters!

Rodeo Ridin', Glass Slippers, And Dancing With Your Dad

Hi everyone!  I hope you're enjoying your Rodeo Days break.  Has anyone gone to the Rodeo Parade?  If so, I'd love to hear about your experience!

In the meantime, here are the spelling words for next week.  You can get a head start on them over the weekend. 

GROUP 1: eat, sea, each, team, please, dream, treat, beach, clean, lean

GROUP 2: colors, draw, drew, great, over, show, sign, woman, pumpkin, coach

GROUP 3: delightful, original, tangle, royal, imagination, carve, peer, sighed, castle, happily

In addition to studying your spelling words, I wanted to let you know that we'll be reading a version of Cinderella.  The focus for GROUP 1 and dictation is on -ea words.

Cinderella isn't the only once going to a dance!
 

I'd also like to remind you that the Father-Daughter Dance is coming up on Friday, March 6th from 6:30-8:30 pm.  Get those dancin' shoes ready!

 

Also, please make sure your children are working on RAZ Kids & Reflex Math at home.

And last but not least, we have a new classroom need...

2 boxes of Lucky Charms cereal for St. Patrick’s Day Math.

Have a great weekend.  See you next week!

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros

Howdy, pardners!!

Rodeo Week is here!! 

That means we will NOT have school on Thursday or Friday of this week.  That's right...

NO SCHOOL

Why, you ask? 

Because it's time for La Fiesta de los Vaqueros!!  Yee-ha!

In addition to that great news, we will not have spelling or RED folders this week.  However - you're not entirely off the learning hook - I would like everyone to use RAZ Kids and Reflex Math. 

Try to have the kids do RAZ kids (on-line reading program) and Reflex Math (on-line math fact fluency program) at least 4 times each this upcoming week - 20 minutes on each one for a total of 40 minutes of homework for 4 nights. 

Also, please remember that Library Books need to be returned Monday.

And, just in case the news didn't sink in yet...

                 
There will be NO SCHOOL Thursday 2/26 and Friday 2/27.

Enjoy your short week and your long upcoming weekend!

Grab A Pen. Take Notes.

Wow - we have a LOT going on this coming week.  First, let's get the spelling words out of the way.  These are for next week:

GROUP 1: fix, fixes, class, classes, wish, wishes, kiss, kisses, bus, buses (Ending –es; Plural –es)

GROUP 2: away, house, very, car, our, friends, school, brown, fur, mouse

GROUP 3: features, natural, tumble, nibble, wriggle, mature, swoop, crumple, nudges, teaches

Other important information:

100 Day Project Due Thursday January 22^nd (a pink letter came home explaining it) ~ you can send it in early if you wish

We now have “YELLOW ~ Correct, Sign & Return” Folders.  If you see one of these in your child’s backpack it contains work that needs to be looked at by the parent.  The work should be corrected (if applicable), discussed with your child, signed by the parent and returned to school the next day in the same YELLOW folder.

We are in need of Paper Towels and Class Snacks.

The Science Fair is Thursday February 19^th from 6-8pm.  All are welcome & it is a  lot of fun.

There is no school this coming Monday January 19^th due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.

Please email with any questions!

The Report Is In

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Dear Parents,

The report cards went home yesterday.  I had the kids put them inside their “Blue Behavior Folder”.  Please sign and return just the envelope.

There will be a special letter inside the “RED Folder” which will go home this Monday.  It describes your child’s assignment for the 100^th Day of School.  If you have any questions please feel free to email me.

I would like to welcome two new students to our classroom: Meera and Nurmyrza!  We are very happy to have them.

The spelling words this week are:

Group 1:
bring, bank, rink, sunk, trunk, sang, blank, pink, wing, rang  (-ng & -nk words)

Group 2:
any, every, were, enough, own, ever, sure, father, mother, night

Group 3:
attempt, time line, flatter, lovely, event, famous, correct, common, precious, howling

Please remember to sign and return the “Blue Behavior Folder” today.

Today is also Library Day so return those books please!

It is super important that you are having your children use RAZ kids (on-line reading program) and Reflex Math (on-line math fact fluency program) several times throughout each week.  The school purchased both of these programs and it’s a great way for the kids to learn.

Have a great week!

Welcome Back!

Hello everyone!  It's the beginning of a brand new year!  Where has the time gone?

I hope you all had a fabulous holiday and I look forward to seeing everyone.

We do have spelling words for the upcoming week, please find them here:

GROUP 1:  by, handy, try, lucky, my, fly, silly, sunny, cry, puppy

GROUP 2:  always, everything, things, become, nothing, day, stays, boy, art, grew

GROUP 3:  growth, public, teeter, makeshift, population, shuffle, crooked, spindly, sunset, tower

Study those and come to class ready for the test!

There will not be a "4 Question Reading Log" in this week's homework.

I sent an email requesting blue behavior folders and homework folders from a few students.  If you have any questions, please let me know!

A Few Reminders

That's right - no school on Friday!  But we will see all your kids the rest of the week!

There will be no spelling next week.

And please see the Sign-Up Genius sent by email for Christmas Centers next Thursday, December 18th, from 9:30 to 11:00 am.  Originally the centers were scheduled for the afternoon but they've been moved to morning.


Also, I only have one parent volunteer right now and would love to have five more.  Please use the Sign-Up Genius if you can help out.  Thanks in advance!

Have a great week!

How We Build A Snowman In Arizona

Dear Parents,

I have a special project planned for our center on December 18th.  In order for the students to participate, they will need to bring in one 12 oz. bottle of milk.  Something like this:

Please have your child bring the bottle of milk on Thursday, December 18th.  I will have an ice chest ready so they'll be able to keep the milk cold.

I've seen the Shamrock 12 oz. bottles of milk in Safeway for $1.00 each, but any of these single serving bottles around 12 to 14 ounces will work.  Because when you think about it, have you ever seen a snowman that's exactly the same size as any other snowman? 

We're going to turn them into this:

We might not have snow, but we'll certainly have snowmen!! 

And Then They Sang...

Don't forget - tomorrow there will be singing!!

The FIRST GRADE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE will be held tomorrow - Thursday, December 11, 2014.

The school performance is in the morning and the evening performance is at 6:00 pm.

See you there!

Give Joy, Get Joy

Hello again Harelson Families!


At the end of October I told you about Harelson's annual Holiday Family Adoption - where we begin collecting money to help families in the Amphi School District.

We've been doing this each Decemeber since 1976 - that's 38 years!

This year our focus will be with our very own families - those within Harelson Elementary School.  In order to preserve this amazing tradition, and make it a giant success, we were hoping that each student would be able to donate FIVE DOLLARS by December 10th, 2014.

We have TWELVE families this year that we're hoping to help.  All the funds collected will be used to purchase gift cards to equally distribute to the families who have expressed a need.

I'm still collecting in the classroom and will be until Wednesday, December 10th.  You may also drop off donations directly to the main office.  Reminders will be mentioned in our daily announcements until we reach the day collecting ends.


Please help your children participate by giving money - which they may have earned themselves at home - so we are able to help others in need. 

We thank you so much for your wonderful help and support!  When you give, you truly do get!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Become A Math Ninja!

Hello Parents!

I just wanted to remind you that Reflex Math information is coming home Monday in the RED FOLDER. 

Reflex Math is a math fluency program that we will use at school, but it's also for you to use with your child at home. 

I have emailed you a letter with information on how to access the program online and also included your child's password card (which I have laminated) for them to easily refer to.

I am hoping that you'll make use of this fantastic program to increase your child's math fluency - having them use it 4-5 times per week for a minimum of 15-20 minutes each time - in the comfort of your own home!

The use of this program shows measurable results in fluency from those who've been using it.  It's been proven that test scores improve using Reflex - "Across multiple grade levels and assessments, students who use Reflex are scoring higher and growing faster than their peers."

See some of those results here.  

As usual, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!

Have a great weekend!

Get Ready For A Shopping Weekend!

The Classic Paper Plate Turkey - Is There Any Other Kind??

Hi Parents! 

We need a few things for Thanksgiving crafts this week and was wondering if you'd be able to provide them to us.  Here's what we're looking for:

• 25 paper plates - the plain white kind, inexpensive - to make a "Number Turkey"
• 20 cups of rice - maybe 2-3 big bags - for the Gobble Recipe Turkey
• 1 large bag of candy corn for "Thanksgiving Bingo" - we'll use the candy corn as markers for the bingo cards.

I'd also like to borrow, if anyone has a copy, the following book and DVD:

• Pete the Cat's First Thanksgiving (book)
• A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (DVD) 

If you're able to send any of these items in, please email me at plettera@amphi.com  I will check emails tomorrow.

Also, please make sure to go through your child's backpack and look for any assignments that need to be completed, and also ones that have already been checked.

Thank you!  Have a great weekend.

Nothing To Spell Here

Hey Parents!  When your kids come home and tell you there is no spelling test next week, believe them!  There will be NO SPELLING for Thanksgiving week.  Don't we have enough to do with all the turkey eating and napping going on?? 

That said, they will be getting some homework on Monday - look for it in the RED folder - which will be due back on Wednesday.

Also, Monday is LIBRARY DAY, so remember to send books to be returned.  And also please remember that BLUE behavior folders are also due that day.

Thanks so much!

Have a GREAT weekend!!

A Night (And Day!) At The Theater

The 4th Grade Play will take place in the Harelson Elementary School Funhouse and we hope to see you there.

2:00 pm

School Performance

6:00 pm
Evening Performance

It would be a great support for the school and an even greater support for the students if your smiling faces were beaming up at them from the audience.

Coming To A Theater Near You!

Don't forget that tomorrow is the 4th Grade Play.  

2:00 pm

School Performance

6:00 pm
Evening Performance

Come be part of the magic!

Stuff That's Happening

Here's a little reminder about what's happening this week in Mrs. Lettera's class and at Harelson Elementary School.

MONDAY:  Library Day - bring your books and get read to pick a new one!  BLUE FOLDERS are also due today!

TUESDAY:  Veteran's Day - School is CLOSED.  Enjoy your day off!

THURSDAY:  4th Grade Play!!  Time for a little culture!

Spelling, Veterans, And Little Actors and Actresses

Another week, another group of words to learn!  If you become a spelling master, you'll be on your way to winning lots of Scrabble games.  It's fun, I promise!

Group 1
1. home
2. woke
3. hose
4. stone
5. hope
6. those
7. joke
8. rose
9. bone
10. rode

Group 2
1. down
2. there
3. inside
4. together
5. now
6. herd
7. baby
8. meat
9. circle
10. slope

Group 3
1. enemy
2. protect
3. holler
4. bluff
5. extinct
6. crater
7. swamp
8. boisterous
9. broken
10. stolen

School will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, in observance of the Veterans Day Holiday.  Because of this, we will not be having afternoon centers this coming week.  

As if another day off isn't exciting enough, we have the 4th Grade Play to look forward to on Thursday, November 13th.

Have a great weekend!!

Learning Is Fun When You're Wearing Pajamas!

Today is PAJAMA DAY here at Harelson Elementary School.  It's the last day of SPIRIT WEEK and boy, did we have fun!

Give me an S!

Give me a P!

Give me an I!

Give me an R!

Give me another I!

Give me a T!

What does it spell?  SPIRIT!!

Thanks to everyone who participated in Spirit Week.  I hope you all had fun!

And I hope everyone is comfy in their jammies because we have some learning to do!

Thank you parents for helping your child be part of the fun this week!

* * REMINDERS * *

RED folders are due today.

SPELLING TEST is also today!

And, next week we get an extra day off to celebrate the service of those in the United States Armed Forces.

Veterans Day is Tuesday, November 11 and school will be closed for this holiday.