Dear Parents,

I just wanted to let you know that, as a gala auction item, I am offering a "Mini Field Day."

This will be for the auction winner plus 3 guests. Approximately 1 hour of all the games we can possibly play at school with snacks provided.  Date and time to be worked out between teacher and parents.

The Gala Auction will be held February 4, 2012 at Olde Towne Athletic Club from 7 to 11 PM. Tickets are on sale at http://gmefoundation.org - $35 and $45 at the door or you can Download 2012GALATicketformto purchase tickets in advance. Visit the website for a sample of items to bid on. All proceeds go back to GMEF.

The proceeds will be used to improve our school by providing funding for programs such as technology, educational curriculum and facility improvements. The GMEF will accumulate and distribute resources beyond those provided by Cobb County or the PTA, in order to further enhance, foster and enrich the educational experiences of all students at Garrison Mill.

Thank you for your support!

Parents,

There will be club photos taken for the school's yearbook on the morning of Thursday, November 10th for any student who has participated in any after school club.

This may include: Chorus, Art Club, Young Rembrandts, Odyssey of the Mind, Drama Club, Chess Club, Golf Club, Spanish Club, Cheer Dance, Club Scientific, Cub Scouts, Student Council, Wee Deliver, News Crew, Safety Patrol, etc. Please make sure to make your child aware of this activity which is strictly voluntary.

Thank you.

Dear Parents,

I wanted to let you know that for this years lunch, I am going to have the students write a special letter to the person/persons that will be joining them that day. Everyone will meet in my room 15 minutes prior to our lunch time to share their writing. It would be of great help if you could talk with your child about who will be coming and some of the things that make that person/persons so very special. They can take some notes if that will help them remember. I want each letter to show just how special these "guests" are! As always if you have any questions, please let me know.

Thanks,

Robin Brown

Thursday, November 3rd is the Third Grade Musical Performance which will follow the P.T.A. meeting that evening. My class will meet in my room at 6:15 p.m. The students are to wear a solid long sleeve black shirt with dark pants or jeans. Please be sure to let me know prior to Thursday, if yo have any problems with this.

Thanks again,

Robin Brown

It was wonderful meeting with all of you at conferences this past week. Your children have been working hard as you could see by their grades. I am very proud of them as I am sure you are as well.

Looking ahead, here is what the second nine weeks will bring.

In reading students will be learning how stories work and how to apply prior knowledge to understanding text.

In writing they be working on how to respond to something they have read as well as continuing with the six traits of writing.

For math we will begin building fluency in multiplication, introduce division, learn the properties of geometric figures, and continue with counting back change, elapsed time, and data analysis.

In science we will learn about different types of soil that are produced from different types of erosion and then begin our big unit on habitats and organisms, part one.

For social studies we will begin with Paul Revere and how he helped the U.S. become an independent country, followed with Frederick Douglass and how he expanded the rights and freedoms of people in our country and then close with how Susan B. Anthony helped women earn the right to vote.

In technology the students will learn to use keywords to search on the Cobb Virtual Library to find information on the biographies listed above for social studies as they begin making a power point.

As always if you have any questions or concerns please let me know.

Sincerely,

Robin Brown

What a great couple of weeks, and week seven is already here! How quickly time passes when you are having fun! Everyone has settled in well and doing a great job as 3rd graders. They are eager and working hard. Please take a look at what the next few weeks will bring.

Science: We have just begun our unit on Rocks and Minerals. High Touch/High Tech was here Friday and the students enjoyed all the hands on activities learning the similarities and differences between the two. We will follow with a unit on Fossils.

Social Studies : We will be learning about what makes our economy work beginning with our four productive resources. We will also end our unit on Democracy learning the three branches of government.

Math: We are working on chapters 3 and 4, addition and subtraction. Students will learn how mental math and estimation strategies are related to place value, the relationship between addition and subtraction, and how we can use addition and subtraction strategies to help us count back change. We will continue daily practice with elapsed time.

Reading: We have started our Guided Reading and Workstations and I can not begin to tell you how well your children are doing with it. They jumped right in and work like have been doing it forever. In reading groups we are working on sequencing, facts and opinions, and non-fiction book features.

Writing: We are finishing our unit on "ideas" and will begin working on the trait of "organization". The students will also begin writing their final narrative piece of writing for the nine weeks. As written in their agendas on Friday, they are to come to school on Monday with an experience they had and remember well so we can begin filling in our graphic organizers!

Grammar: We will continue working on common and proper nouns as well as capitalization.

As always if there is anything you need please don't hesitate to let me know.

Sincerely,

Mrs.Brown

IMPORTANT REMINDER: CoGat testing begins Wednesday, October 5th. We will begin promptly at 8:15 a.m.. Please be sure and have your child at school on time, well fed and well rested!!