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Third Grade Newsletter

To find out what your student has been learning this week, ask them about...

• Subtraction

• Fishbowl Discussion about Amos & Boris

• Celery Experiment

• Calming Strategies with Ms. Carranza

• Photosynthesis

• Parts of a leaf

• Sea Video

• Writing on Google Docs

• The Mile (PE)

• Guest Teacher on Thursday

Celebration in Windy's Classroom

Students earned their first 10 class Panther Paws by working together as a team and earning class points.  After brainstorming celebration ideas student voted on celebrating with Stuffy Day.  This will take place on Monday, September 29th.  Students are welcome to bring a stuffy to class.  Here are the expectations for our special day:

• Stuffies should easily fit insides on the student's backpack (nothing super large).

• Stuffies shouldn't have any mechanics or make noise.

• Stuffies stay inside of the school (do not go to specials, recess or lunch)

• If the stuffy distracts from learning, your student will be asked to put it inside their backpack for the remainder of the day. 

Please let me know if you have any qustions.

Scholastic Book Orders

Book order forms went home on Friday the 19th.  If you are interested in purchasing books for your students, please make sure to put in your orders by next Saturday, October 4th.  Books usually arrive within 1-2 weeks after submission. 

Mandy's Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/PK2W3

Windy's Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/HF27Y

Let's Go Check Out the Swifts - Migration Happens!

Thanks so much for coming.  It seems that the swifts have headed south to Central American.  Next year, we'll make a point to plan this event for earlier in September.  

Third Grade Donor's Choose Project:

Our whiteboard project was funded and materials are on their way - thanks for donating!  If you didn't get a chance to give, here's another project that will benefit all our third grade students for your consideration: Pigment & Paper.

Hoyt Arboretum Field Trip

Our first field trip will take place on Thursday, October 16th.  We'll visit the Hoyt Arboretum to take a nature walk and learn about plant life in the park (this trip complements our Botany Unit).  We're hoping for 4-5 parent volunteers to support each class.  If you'd like to join us, please make sure you have a current PPS Volunteer Application on file.  Send us a message via email or ParentSquare to let us know of your interest.  Field Trip Permission slips will be coming home soon for your signature.  Thanks in advance for your support!  

• Windy's Volunteers: Kourtney, Aubrey, Martin - We're hoping for 1-2 more

• Mandy's Volunteers: John, Andre - We're hoping for 2-3 more

Lights Out!

Migration for birds is almost upon us!  Last week we talked about what we can do to help birds safely migrate to their wintering grounds.  Curious?  Take a look at this info from Bird Alliance to find out how you can participate:

The peak of birds' fall migration is expected to get underway Sept. 19 and run through Oct. 19, according to current projections. To help the birds navigate at night, you can do your part by turning off outside lights, drawing your curtains so light doesn't leave your house, and using warmer color (less blue) light bulbs outside.

• Some birds use the stars to navigate.

• Learn more from Oregon Bird Alliance and their Lights Out campaign.

• Keep track of the birds' migration here.

Snack at School

The school fruit and veggie snack program will begin Friday, Sept 13.  School snack is only provided on Tuesdays and Fridays.   If you are able to donate any healthy snacks for the whole class, these donations are always GREATLY appreciated! The students love community snack!

Calendar of Events

September 19 - October 19: Lights Out! 

September 30: Orange Shirt Day in Honor of Indigenous Communities

Thursday and Friday, October 1-2: Guest teacher for Mandy (Jury Duty!  I may be out longer or not at all, depending on how things go.)

Tuesday, October 7: Picture Day

Friday, October 10: No School

Thursday, October 16: Field Trip to Hoyt Arboretum - Volunteers Needed! 

Wednesday, October 22: Early Release at 11:50

Thursday, October 30: No School, Grading Day

Friday, October 31: No School, Planning Day

Tuesday, November 11: No School, Veteran's Day

Monday, November 24: Student led Parent Teacher Conferences (students need to attend)

Tuesday, November 25: Student led Parent Teacher Conferences (students need to attend)

November 26 - 28: No School, Thanksgiving Break

December 22 - January 2: No School, Winter Break

3rd Grade Photo Album

Mandy's Class

This week in botany, we learned about the anatomy of a tree cross section and designed an experiment with a stalk of celery in a cup of colored water to observe xylem at work. We also go to watch our bean seeds germinate! 

In writing, we learned how to use a hand graphic organizer to help us write a great paragraph about the text Amos and Boris!

Windy's Class

Students participated in a gallery walk to review the various "texts" we've studied and prepare for our fishbowl discussion.

Discussion Topic: How do artists, poets, authors explore the sea?

Exploring Calming Strategies

Don't see any pictures of your student here?  If you would like to see occasional pictures of your student in the 3rd Grade Photo Album, take this quick survey and let us know!