Updates

Ways to Stay Connected:

• • • All updates needed for the week, season, nine weeks, or time of year will be posted here. I will send an email to all parents when this portion of the site is updated.

Current Goals at the coffee corner:

• • • Welcome! Our year long goal this year is Purpose. We want to explore the purpose of everything around us, to create a safe environment for curiosity and creativity.

    • The entire theme of the nine weeks is Change. We will look at weather and regional changes (PBL/nonfiction/class novel), and integrate our learning into an informational writing piece. We will also look at changing our maturity and attitude as we go on into the 4th grade (class novel/author study). Within our regional changes, we will also analyze maps and compasses, which we will integrate magnets (nonfiction). Our goal is to understand how our weather, writings, technology, and our attitudes have changed.

A Note From Mrs. Dunbar:

Wow, I honestly can't believe it is already the last nine weeks of the school year. This year has flown by, and I have honestly loved getting to teach each and every one of the Coffee Corner kids, as well getting to know each of your families. It is a true honor. We still have a lot of fun things to do during the last nine weeks, and after Spring Break, the schedule tends to get a little hectic, so please keep up on the website, newsletters, and weekly videos for information for the rest of the year. It's going to be a GREAT last nine weeks!!

Communication - For me, communication is the cornerstone of a successful school year. My door is always open. I want to work as a team to solve any problems or issues that arise. I prefer to solve problems from the beginning, time can allow issues to fester which can turn something small into something big. I want to problem solve with you if there is an issue. The best way to get ahold of me is through email. I typically respond within 24 hours during the week.

Play & Field Trip- We will do a play at the end of the year ... keep an eye out for the date. I have all the costumes already so please don't worry about that! The third grade team is in the process of planning our last field trip for the year. We only need a few chaperones, so names will be drawn from whoever is interested in helping!

Absent Work- If your child is not at school, we will get them caught up when they return to class. We do a lot of group work, and getting them caught up when they return makes the most sense in our world. I am not strict on due dates, so we can work together to get them caught up via in class time and home time.

Amazon Wish List - Our classroom utilizes an Amazon Wish List. This list will change monthly, and will focus on items that we can use instantly within class. I am so appreciative of our family support within our classroom, and I thank you in advance for your support. Items will get shipped directly to our classroom, which makes it so simple! Our crew LOVES getting packages.

For the Wish List, please click on this link - Amazon Wish List

What are we working on? 

Math - Measurement, Geometry, Review & Application

PBL (Social Studies) - Can pigeons find their way back home?

Class Novel - Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library, 26 Fairmont Avenue, & The Wanderer

Writing- Informational Writing

Reading - Monthly Reading Goals, Sequence, Compare & Contrast

Author Study- Aaron Babley & Jory John

Non-Fiction (Science) - Magnets & Weather

STEM - STEM with Books

Lifelines- Self-Control, Flexibility, Initiative, Curiosity

I have included a list of important dates below for this year, please check the Special Events section below.

If you ever have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to email me.

Mrs. Dunbar

Special Events:

• • • March 13th - Poetry Bash ... grown-ups we welcome to attend!

    • March 16th - 20th - Riley Spirit Week - please see schedule in Friday Folders

    • March 16th - iLearn Checkpoint 3

    • March 17th - Surprise Day

    • March 18th - iLearn Checkpoint 3

    • March 19th - Surprise Day

    • March 20th - Popcorn Friday

    • March 21st - 29th - Spring Break

    • March 31st - Spring Pictures

    • March 31st - Shark Tank Presentations

    • March 31st - Author books via Amazon Wish List need to be ordered!

    • April 1st - Mayor Visit in Coffee Corner

    • April 3rd - Walk-a-Thon (The theme for dressing up is decades! 3rd grade is the 70's!)

    • April 7th - Author Visit to BCE

    • April 10th - Third Grade Music Program (The theme is 90's wear!)

    • April 13th - 17th - Book Fair

    • April 13th - Surprise Day

    • April 15th & 17th - Donuts with Grownups

    • April 17th - Popcorn Friday

    • April 17th - Class T-Shirt Day ... for fun!

    • April 21st- iLearn Summative

    • April 22nd - iLearn Summative ... this may extend another day if necessary.

    • April 24th - No School - Make-Up Snow Day

    • May 1st - PTO Bobcat Block Party

    • May 4th - Surprise Day!

    • May 5th - 2:00- 3:00 Fairy Tale Play!! Students need to wear their class t-shirt!

    • May 14th - PE Field Trip for those selected

    • May 15th - Popcorn Friday

    • May 21st - Field Day!

    • May 21st - Mrs. Dunbar's Last Day of School

    • May 22nd - Last Day of School!

Friday folders

Friday Folders will be used in the Coffee Corner this year! They will be sent home weekly on Fridays and they need to be sent back to school on Mondays. These folders are important as papers, flyers, and our weekly newsletter.

Parent Videos

Each week I will send out a short video for parents to discuss the contents of the Friday Folder, upcoming events, announcements, and other frequently asked questions. This is the first time I am trying this, so constructive feedback is always appreciated. I am hopeful that this will be a great way for us to keep in consistent communication.

Birthdays:

You can send in anything your child would like, as long as there is enough for 20 students, it works for me! Please let me know if you have questions about this! 

If your child has a food allergy, like nuts, please send in some special snacks that can be used in place of a birthday treat they are allergic to. I typically do not know when birthday treats will be sent in, so it makes for a much happier situation for everyone if they are already here. I have a special cabinet to store those snacks.

Please remember that most treats need plates, napkins, or both. It makes my life much easier if those items are sent in with treats if they are needed.

Snacks:

Do we have snacks in the Coffee Corner?

Yes!

It is a little different than in the past because each child will bring their own healthy snack (no candy) each day, this is completely optional and should be discussed as a family on if your child is going to bring snack or not. Nothing can be refrigerator dependent or need a microwave.

We are a peanut free classroom. Please make sure you are not sending in snacks that contain peanuts.

Snacks can be eaten in the morning during math time or in the afternoon during reading. This is completely up to your child's preferences.

Class Parties

Details about each of these parties will be communicated closer to the event.

Fall Party - 3rd Grade County Fair! We will need LOTS of chaperones for this!

Winter Party - 3rd Grade Breakfast & Afternoon Movie! We will need a few morning chaperones for this!

Valentine's Day Party - Ice Cream Sundaes & Valentine's Cards! This one is just for the kids.

Testing Dates:

State Testing begins in third grade. I understand how hard this is on everyone involved, especially high ability kids. The months below are when we will be testing for the school year, these are approximates, and specific dates will be sent out as it gets closer. At home, making sure that students are going to bed early and eating breakfast (at home or school) are great ways to help during testing times.

STAR Test once per nine weeks

August 2025 - iReady Diagnostic

October 2025 - iLearn Checkpoint 1

December 2025 - iReady Diagnostic

January 2026 - iLearn Checkpoint 2

March 2026 - iLearn Checkpoint 3

April 2026 - ILEARN Summative

April 2026 - iReady Diagnostic

How Can You Help:

• • • Amazon Wishlist:  Amazon Wishlist for the Coffee Corner Kids. You can purchase the things we need in class directly from Amazon. Just one more way to support your child's learning!

    • Do you work in a specialized field? Or have an interest that could be a fun guest speaker topic? Reach out if you are interested in being a guest speaker in class and maybe we can tie your field into our curriculum.

    • Volunteering as a chaperone on a field trip or class party! The more the merrier!