September 7: Labor Day (No School)

September 18: Fall Picture Day

September 21-25: Book Fair, 2:00-3:00 pm in the Barracuda Tank

September 29 - October 2: Science Camp

October 5-8: Goal Setting Conferences

October 9: Staff Development Day (No School)

October 12: No School 

Click here for the yearlong school calendar

We are continuing to make great progress learning the states and capitals! Last week we focused on the Midwest states, and this week we move on to the Northeast. Please remember that each region builds toward our final test, when students will need to know the states and capitals of all 50 states. Please help your kids continue to practice their states and capitals.

Students have also been assigned a state about which they will do both a state report and opinion writing piece. Be sure to ask your child what state he or she chose!

Last week, we have made tremendous progress in the The Great Postcard Race Thanks to new postcards received last week by Alex, Angelina, Blake, Derek, Riley, Vera, Yvonne and Zach, we currently have 26 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In our race against the other classes, we are in second place; I think we are trailing first place by less than five states.

Last week we began Investigation 2 of the Earth Science unit. Students learned that 70% of Earth's surface is covered by water and that only 3% of the Earth's total water is fresh water. They also learned that most of fresh water can be found in the glaciers and ice caps. This week we will continue in Investigation 2 with an activity in which students develop a model of the water cycle. If you would like to extend student learning at home, consider trying this home school connection activity.

We are continuing our class novel, Restart by Gordon Korman. Students take a comprehension quiz after every four chapters, so please check your child's Thursday envelope for these quizzes. They provide a snapshot of your child's understanding as we read together.

Be sure to ask your child about the story! Some great conversation starters include: What do you think of the book so far? What lessons or messages do you think the author wants readers to take away?

In case you missed the book summary in a previous newsletter, Restart is a humorous and thought-provoking novel about second chances, empathy, and personal growth. After the main character, Chase Ambrose, suffers amnesia from a fall, he has no memory of his previous life—including the fact that he was known as a bully. As Chase rediscovers who he was, he must decide who he wants to become. Through multiple perspectives, the novel explores themes of kindness, forgiveness, identity, and the power people have to change.

We have PE weekly on Tuesday mornings from 8:20 - 9:05 am with Ms. Wickemeyer's class.  On Tuesdays, please make sure your child is wearing shoes in which they can run. I also recommend a hat and an extra water bottle for hot days. 

We will have Music every other week beginning August 17 on Monday mornings from 9:00-9:50 am.  On those same weeks, we will also visit our school library on Mondays from 9:55-10:15 am. We have Art on the alternate weeks (the weeks that we don't have Music) on Monday mornings from 9:30 - 10:20 a.m. beginning the week of August 24. 

This year, we will be managing some assignments and hand outs (such as study guides) on Google Classroom. Students will learn how to access Google Classroom this week. Please take some time to have your child login also from a home device and then please bookmark that page so that you will be to access it quickly when needed!

If you are looking for books for your family's library, please consider ordering from Scholastic Books. You can have books shipped directly to your home or to school. Every order earns points for our class, and points help us grow our classroom library. When using the Scholastic website, our class activation code is GKMNT. Place an order of $25 or more and you can pick a FREE $5 book (use code READS at checkout). Here is an online flyer.