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Third Grade Newsletter

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

• Multiplication strategies (equal groups, arrays)

• Multiplying by 0, 1, 2, 5, and 10

• Writing a great summary

• Ocean Sunlight

• Phytoplankton and Marine Snow

• Botany Celebration with a Courtyard Scavenger Hunt and Nature Bracelets

• Bird True and False

• The 7 types of feathers and their purposes

DonorsChoose:

We sent home permission slips to be able to submit photos of students using the items we've acquired from DonorsChoose Grants.  If you are comfortable with your child being included in these "thank you" photos, please sign the forms and return it to school in your child's Friday Folder.  

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 and Schoolyard Birds Units).  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.   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

Project FeederWatch

This year third grade will be participating in Project FeederWatch. This is an opportunity for students to participate in Citizen Science! Students will observe and count the species of birds that visit our courtyard during the months of November through April. 

Interested in learning more about Project FeederWatch?  Check out this link: Project FeederWatch 

Interested in supporting our participation?  Make a donation to our DonorsChoose project to provide bird seed and suet for our classrooms this year.  We're about halfway funded right now!

Unit 1 Math Test (Windy's Class):

Our first math test has been graded and will go home next Friday, October 17th.  Please look over the test with your student and send it back to school on Monday, October 20th so it can be put into each child's portfolio.  In class we reviewed the graded test and a few students elected to take the test a second time to improve their scores (with some awesome results).  

If your student is below proficient, I will send home a blank test with the graded test.  You are welcome to review mistakes with your child and if you'd like, give the test again at home.  If you choose to do this, please let your child take the test independently.  Send it back to school so it can be graded.  If your student improves, I'll adjust their score.  (This is a perfect example of our class expectation: Make Mistakes, Please and having a Growth Mindset)

Please Note: I am also happy to adjust quiz scores if a student takes the time to review their work at home and makes corrections.  Return the corrected quiz in your students Friday Folder and I'll make the change in my gradebook.  

Parent Teacher Conferences

See Windy's & Mandy's Parent Teacher Conference Schedules below.  If your scheduled time needs to be changed, please email or text.  

Please note, students are an important part of the conference and should attend so they can guide us through their work and their goals for this year.  

Scholastic Book Orders

If you order through our class page, orders can be placed anytime.  Scholastic sends us an email and we can submit the same day.  Books usually arrive about a week after we submit the order.  Each order adds "points" to our class points total which can be used to purchase new books and keep our classroom library filled with the latest books. 

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

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

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.

Calendar of Events

September 19 - October 19: Lights Out! 

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

Wednesday, October 22: Early Release at 11:50

Monday, October 27- Wednesday, October 29: Spirit Week - See flyer

Wednesday, October 29: Fall Festival

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

Botany Celebration for Both Classes

Windy's Class

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!