Week of February 6-10

Dear Parents,

Thanks for all the response so far for our Valentine’s Party (both in my class and Mrs.Okey’s)....The kids are all looking forward to enjoying time with friends are having yummy treats!

Reminders:

**Please contribute to your child's class PTO  basket

**Cougar Bucks store will be this Friday

We are anticipating a busy week with the testing that will be going on at Neuse. Please make sure your child gets plenty of rest and is ready for their day.

Mrs. Okey’s Homeroom:

We will be discussing Valentine’s Day and the origin of this holiday. Our class will review and write various types of poems. We will then create cards using our new knowledge of poetry.

Due to the testing there will be no homework this week.

Mrs. Smith’s Homeroom

Our class will begin this week by discussing and studying literary story elements through the use of various children’s literature. We will then move through the writing process and compile our very own books.  The students will share their books at our Valentine’s Party next week.

No homework this week unless there your child does not get all his/her project work completed in class.

Thanks for all your support,

Mrs. Smith

Mrs. Okey's Valentine Party, etc.

Good Afternoon Parents!

I will be sending home a letter today informing you about the valentine party, our spa basket for PTO, as well as the cougar bucks store. If you are planning on buying goodies for the valentine party, please be mindful of our students with dye allergies. We have certain students who cannot have red dye.

Thanks!

Katie Okey

Valentine's Day

This newsletter was sent home today:

Dear Parents,

Happy Groundhog’s Day! I hope you are having a great week. Our class is having a blast this week learning about Shakespeare and his great works. I hope you will have a chance to talk with your child about the things they have learned during this unit.

We Need Your Help

·         Valentine’s Day: As you know Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and I would like for our class to have a special celebration on February 14^th at 1:30. Please select what you would like to send and return the paper with your child tomorrow. I will let you know if I need you to select something different once I get a count of the items everyone selected.  Your child will also bring home a list of students in our class in case you would like to purchase Valentine treats/cards. Please make sure your child is equitable to each of their classmates in order to prevent anyone being left out.

·         PTO Basket: Our homeroom decided to create Spa Theme basket.  Please contribute a small donation (at least $5.00) for an item. Generously, a parent volunteer has already offered to buy a tea pot for the center piece which will allow us to use other monies for smaller basket treats.

Some ideas for additional items that we need:

Scones/cookies, teas (leaves or bags), tea accessories (strainer, infusers, press), British type candies or foods, British movies or TV shows (family ones)

·         Cougar Bucks Store: We are having the cougar buck store next Friday. We would appreciate any prizes you would be willing to donate.

·         Composition Notebooks: Many of the students have used up their notebooks. It would be helpful if you could purchase a new notebook for your child’s writing instruction.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Valentine’s Day Treats

Child’s Name___________________________ Parent’s signature____________________

Please check the items you would like to send for our celebrationJ

____Valentine’s Cookies         ____Juice Boxes                       ___ Little Debbie Valentine’s Cakes

____ Plates, and Napkins        _____Conversation hearts     ____Red Hots Candy

____Hershey Kisses                   _____Heart Shaped Candies (any kinds)

Practice EOG assessments February 6-7

Dear Parents,

Please be aware that next week our classes will be participating in assessments that will be similar to the EOG. These will be Tuesday and Wednesday. Please ensure your child is prepared by getting enough sleep, eating breakfast and attending school when at all possible.

Thanks,
Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Okey

Terabithia Test Review (Mrs. Smith's Homeroom)

Students,

Below is the review we discussed today in class. It is a guide for you and you are not required to turn it in to me.

 BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA REVIEW

Know the characters and be able to describe them.

o   The characters you should know are:

§  Jess Aarons

§  The Aarons Family (Mr. and Mrs. Aarons, Ellie, Brenda, May Belle, Joyce Ann)

§  The Burke Family (Bill and Judy)

§  Gary Fulcher

§  Janice Avery

§  Miss Edmunds

§  Prince Terrian

Answer the following questions about each character above.

·         What is his personality?

·         What are his likes and dislikes?

·         What important events happen to him or because of him?

Discuss how Jess and Leslie became friends. What events brought them together? How are their personalities and interests similar?

Compare and contrast the Aarons and Burkes, including the following:

·         Personalities

·         The way they treat their children

·         Their value system (what is important to them)

Describe the plot about Janice Avery. Make sure to include the following details.

·         What caused Jess and Leslie to finally get revenge against Janice?

·         What was the plan to embarrass her?

·         How were Jess and Leslie’s reactions to Janice’s pain different?

·         How did they finally defeat Janice and stop her from bullying them?

Understand the importance of Terabithia to the development of Jess and Leslie. How is Terabithia similar to the real world? Why did they create it?

What did Jess and Leslie give to each other for Christmas and why were their gifts so important?

Understand how the theme of tolerance and appreciation of differences applies to Bridge to Terabithia. 

In the song, “Bridge over Troubled Water,” the narrator says, “Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.” How do Jess and Leslie act as bridges for each other?

Why is the song, “Free to be . . . You and Me,” important to Jess and Leslie?

Mrs. Smith's Homeroom

Please note that weekly folders were sent home today.

Mrs. Smith's Language Arts Week of January 30- February 3

Dear Parents,

Happy Monday! I hope you had a fun and restful weekend.

Reminders and Requests

1.  We need your help:  Each class will be completing a basket for the PTO auction. Please look below to view the particulars for your child’s homeroom.

2. We are in need of Clorox wipes AND black ink for our printer: HP 564

3. Cougar Bucks store will be this Friday February 3rd. Please send a few items for our store.

4.  Yah it is almost party time! Our class will have a Valentine’s Party on February 14^th. Think about what you would like to bring/send for our celebration.  I will send out a class list also for the kids to pass Valentine’s Cards to their classmatesJ.

Weekly News

This week both classes will be participating in activities related to Shakespeare. We begun our week today with an entertaining and informative presentation by The Burning Coal Theatre Company. These individuals will be in our classes two days this week  (Wednesday and Thursday) in order to work with our students in a smaller group. I will also be presenting the students with further information about Shakespeare and his plays. This will be tons of fun (as well as lots of knowledge) for all involved!

Mrs. Okey’s Homeroom

Homework

1. Read at least 20 minutes and complete reading log

2.  PTO Basket- Mrs. Okey’s class is creating A Day at the Spa and is in need of monetary donations of at least $5.00 per student in her homeroom.

Mrs. Smith’s Homeroom

1. PTO Basket Mrs. Smith’s homeroom decided to create an English Theme Basket.  Please contribute either an item for the basket or make a small donation (at least $5.00) for an item. Generously, a parent volunteer has already offered to buy a tea pot for the center piece which will allow us to use other monies for smaller basket treats.

Some ideas for additional items that we may need:

scones, teas (leaves or bags), tea accessories(strainer, infusers, press), British type candies or foods, British movies or TV shows (family ones)

Homework

1. Read at least 20 minutes and complete reading log

2. Bridge to Terabithia vocabulary due by Friday; We will also have a test on the novel Friday