Dear Parents,

I just wanted to let you know that, as a gala auction item, I am offering a "Movie and popcorn."

This will be for the auction winner plus a guest.  Approximately 2 hours or the length of a movie at Park 12 on Gordy Parkway.  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 2012GALATicketform to 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!

Monday's equation: 3 days of rain and gloom x 8 year olds x 19=________? The good news is that we have PE tomorrow, and I know my wonderful parents have kept them physically and mentally active. :)

Greetings to all!

I looked at the important dates for the next few weeks and decided it would be easier to add GM's link.www.cobbk12.org/garrisonmill/. If you have any questions, just let me know.

Curriculum Connections:

Math: Division Review: For those students who have mastered the division skills, there will be an extension unit including but not limited to division.

Language Arts: New novel studies will begin this week. I am so pleased with the independent reading that is taking place in our class. I appreciate your support and encouragement in helping your student reach and often exceed the minimal goal. The goal for this quarter is 11 points. I have seen so much growth since the beginning of the year!

Science: Georgia Habitats: This unit integrates well with our third quarter writing focus on informational text. The end result will be a five paragraph research paper. 

Social Studies: Our study of historical heroes will continue with focus on Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Mary McLeod Bethune. Addionally, we will discuss poductive resources.

As always, I appreciate all of your support at home. Have a great week!

Even though I have been teaching for many years, I am always stunned at this time of the year when I think about the semester ending and how quickly it has gone by. The second quarter will end on December 22. Reports cards will be sent home after the holidays. I want you to know how much I am enjoying this class. They are well-behaved and hard workers. I can't ask for more. I give you all of the credit for setting high expectations for your child. I could not ask for better partners!

Dates to Remember: 

12/5-Reading Night   6-8 PM

12/8-International Night

12/18-Chick-Fil-A Toys for Tots Night

12/21-Bozard Holiday Party 1:00-2:00 PM

12/23-Winter Holidays Begin 

We will begin Checkpoint Testing next week in Reading, Math, and Language Arts. We utilize these assessments to guide instruction for the next quarter.

Curriculum Connections:

Reading: Since we have studied Susan B. Anthony, Paul Revere, and Frederick Douglass this quarter, we will extend the biography genre by reading about other famous figures who have impacted our history.

I applaud you for supporting the reading goals at home...9 points for this quarter.

Math: Multiplication practice will continue, but we will also focus on geometric concepts to include polygons and angles. I guess you've heard that we won the First in Math trophy for the month!!! Woohoo!!!

Science and Writing:  We will begin a study of soil, erosion, and weathering. Our writing is connected via the "soil critter" diaries, one of my favorite  writing projects during the year.

Have a wonderful week!!!

We are looking forward to seeing our guests tomorrow. Please plan to meet us in our classroom about 11:15. Our lunch time is 11:45, and we have a short presentation for you. Additionally, the students would like to interview guests about "Thanksgiving Favorites."  The students will graph this data in the computer lab on Friday.

Our lunch will end about 12:15. You may wish to visit our Book Fair and Veteran's Exhibit after lunch with your student. Enjoy! I only request that the students return to the class before 12:45. If you wish to check them out, I will have a sign-up sheet in my class.

To all of you, I wish a wonderful Thanksgiving Week!

Greetings to all. Can it be that we are already into a new month? November is filled with special dates to mark on your calendars.

November 7-Student Holiday (Voting at GM)

November 17-Grandparents' and Special Friends' Luncheon...Our time is 11:45. Plan to be in our classroom by 11:20. We will have a short presentation for you.

November 14-18-Book Fair and Veteran's Day Display

November 21-25-Thanksgiving Vacation.

Message from Dr. Stasiak:

 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 be sure to make your child aware of this activity which is strictly voluntary.

Vicki Stasiak, Ed.D.
Assistant Principal

Curriculum connections:

Math- We will focus on multiplication with emphasis on vocabulary, properties,  and application in word problems. Please continue to review multiplication facts at home. I appreciate the home practice with subtraction facts. Soon we will have all students meeting or exceeding the grade level expectation: Meets=80 to 89 correct problems in 5 minutes. 90% and above exceeds. For multiplication and division, the students have 7 minutes.

Reading-Please continue to support the reading goal of 9 pts. for the second quarter.

Social Studies-We will complete our study of Paul Revere.

Science-Focus will be on soil, erosion, and weathering. Our focus in writing is informational text and will be integrated into this unit. You may have heard about our "soil critters."

I enjoyed seeing all of you at our music performance last week. Our stars did a great job! 

As always, I appreciate all of your support at home. Have a wonderful week and enjoy your Tuesday holiday.

I look forward to seeing you this week. Please knock at your scheduled time. I will do by best to stay on schedule.

The students are looking forward to the early release time, 12:22. To make it even more exciting, I will not be assigning homework other than the daily independent reading . Hopefully, these beautiful days will continue, and outdoor play will be perfect.

Please note the schedule change for lunch during conference week: 11:15-11:45.

Have a great week!

PS: I just caught a mistake from last week and corrected it...Our regular lunch time is now 11:45-12:15. This will resume after conference week.

We are excited to have testing behind us!!! The kids did a great job. I am so proud that they stayed focused for all of the eight days.

We will only have one "normal" week before conference week. Remember that students will be dismissed at 12:20  during that week. Our schedule will be altered as well.I look forward to seeing you at your scheduled conference time.

 I  also want to remind you that our regular lunch time has changed to 11:45.

Red Ribbon Week (Drug Awareness) begins Monday, the 17th.  Remind your student that Monday is Pajama Day. Please remind them to bring tennis shoes for PE.

Curriculum Notes:

Most students met or exceeded the 8 pt. reading goal for this quarter. Hooray again. Comprehension and vocabulary improve with practice application of reading strategies. 9 pts. is required for the next quarter.

Subtraction with regrouping will continue this week. Students will work in different groups depending on skill level with regrouping. Many thanks for helping with the subtraction timed tests. Many students have met or exceeded the grade level requirement.

Have a great week!! Enjoy this beautiful weather!

 
Greetings on this beautiful and cool weekend. Fall happens to be my favorite season, so I'm enjoying every minute of it.

This is just a reminder that the CoGAT (Cognitive Abilities Test)  will begin on Wednesday and continue through Friday. The ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skill) will begin on August 10 and continue through August 14.

The testing will begin shortly after 8:00 each morning. Our specials will be later in the day. Students will not be allowed to enter the class after the testing begins. They will be kept in the media center until the testing break. Thank you ahead of time for having your child well fed and rested.

The good news for students is...There will be no homework on testing days! I hope that the weather will be cooperative, allowing our "stars" time to relax and play.

Conferences are on the horizon, and I look forward to meeting with you. Letters will be sent home soon. Remember to let me know if you prefer a special day and time.

Thanks to all of you for helping your student with the subtraction timed tests. Our next math unit is subtraction with regrouping.  If you need more practice packets, let me know.

 Have a great week!

Greetings to all on this beautiful day. While thoughts are somber, I know how lucky I am to live in the United States and work with an outstanding group of students and parents.

Curriculum connections:

Math: We will complete chapter two this week on ordering, comparing, and rounding numbers. As estimation is one of our current math standards, rounding is a critical component. We will continue to practice this week, but you may wish to review this concept with your student.

Social Studies: We will begin a unit on Ancient Greece, examining the roots of our democracy and Greek influence on architecture and modern day Olympics. Please contact me if you have personal connections that you would like to share with the class.

Language Arts: We continue to work on grammar skills and reading strategies. Literature circle roles will defined. By the end of this week, your students should have at least 4 points in reading.

Just as an FYI, I will be out for the week of Sept. 19-25. Our students will be in great hands with Mrs. Kathy Druhot, a retired Cobb County teacher. As a "math" lover, she contributes extension math activities connected to literature. The kids will enjoy the week.

Remember: Friday, Sept. 16 is Picture Day! Packets will be coming home later in the week.

Enjoy your week.