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!

Sunday Sayings

Singing Among The Stacks

There will be singing in the bookstore!

Tomorrow, Saturday, December 13, 2014, the Harelson students will perform upstairs in the children's section at Barnes & Noble at The Foothills Mall.  

First grade will be singing at approximately 9:15 am and the performance will last about 10 minutes.

See you there!!

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!

Sunday Sayings

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!

Winding Down The Year

 

Can you believe it's December already?  Only a few more weeks and we'll be staring a brand new year.

There's still a few things to learn in this year though - like the following spelling words!

Here are your spelling words for the following week.

Make me proud!

Group 1
1. feet
2. we
3. she
4. be
5. he
6. green
7. tree
8. see
9. me
10. week
 
Group 2
1. also
2. other
3. family
4. some
5. new
6. their
7. worker
8. flowers
9. nectar
10. honey
 
Group 3
1. individual
2. special
3. slither
4. eagerly
5. industrious
6. creep
7. romp
8. wander
9. picnic
10. ribbon

There's shopping happening at Harelson!

This Friday and Saturday the Harelson Entrepreneurs' Club will be hosting the Bobcat Artisan Market.  It will be held in the Funhouse and all of the items for sale have been designed and producted by Harelson 4th and 6th grade students.  All items are selling for under $5.00.  It's open to the public, so please join us and bring a friend!

FRIDAY

December 5, 2014

8:30 am - 3:30 pm

SATURDAY

December 6, 2014

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

If you would like for your child to be able to purchase items from the Bobcat Artisans Market please send them with money in a plastic baggie or envelope labeled with their name by Friday morning.  I will keep the envelopes until we go to the market on Friday at 12:30. 

Another little reminder for you:

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

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

Also, on Saturday, December 13, 2014, the Harelson students will perform upstairs in the children's section at Barnes & Noble at The Foothills Mall.  

First grade will be singing at approximately 9:15 am and the performance will last about 10 minutes.

See you there!!

Sunday Sayings

Have A Turkeylicious Day!

Trotting For Harelson Families. Gobble Gobble!!

 

Dear Parents,

Harelson Elementary School is going to participate in our very first Turkey Trot.

There will be a short race before Thanksgiving Break.  It's not mandatory for the students to participate but we really hope they will!!

They can walk or run, it's up to them.  It's a healthy way to have fun during an event that centers around our community.

We are encouraging students who wish to participate to bring in one or more non-perishable food items.  

All of the food collected (and donated) helps families in need for Thanksgiving.  We will donate these to our Harelson Holiday families.  Kids who do not donate food can still participate in the Turkey Trot.  The more the merrier!

The race will be held on Wednesday, November 26th from 10:45am to 11:15am for the FIRST and SECOND graders. 

Here is the schedule for all the grade levels:

Kindergarten:  10:30 am to 10:45 am
1st and 2nd Grade:  10:45 am to 11:15 am
3rd and 4th Grade:  11:15 am to 11:30 am
5th and 6th Grade:  11:30 am to 11:45 am

We hope to have all of our students to participate in the Turkey Trot!

All non-perishable food items can be brought to the Forever Green starting before school until 8:45 am.  Student Council members will be collecting food and making a food pyramid.

We encourage students to dress up as turkeys - think headbands like the guy in the photo above!

I've also heard they have turkey hats at WalMart.  If you're going to trot like a turkey, you might as well reallllly look like one!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

See you at the Trot!

Sunday Sayings

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 Mule Playing A Flute In June

Here are the spelling words for the upcoming week.  Study hard!

Group 1
1. huge
2. tube
3. cute
4. mule
5. June
6. use
7. flute
8. rule
9. cube
10. rude

Group 2
1. around
2. grow
3. find
4. under
5. food
6. water
7. bear
8. plant
9. animal
10. these

Group 3
1. environment
2. thrive
3. slimy
4. capture
5. require
6. inhale
7. sludge
8. creature
9. forest
10. leaves

On a more delicious note...

We need snacks!  Well, who doesn't need a snack, right?  Seriously though...our classroom is in need of snacks, so if you'd like to donate any we'll gladly take them.  I appreciate everyone who have sent snacks in.  Thank you so much!

Please remember that Monday is LIBRARY DAY, so bring books to return, and BLUE folders are also due. 

Sunday Sayings

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!