Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Library Information from Ms. Julie

1- Cleaning out your old books during the holidays?  RBES is in need of BOOKS for the BOOK SHARE FAIR in the spring!  Please donate books that are appropriate for elementary-age students! Each student will choose one book to keep!Image result for books to donate
2- Six Flags Read to Succeed reading logs are due on February 15!

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS


December 4, 2015

Dear Parents of RBES students –
If you’re anything like me you from time to time ask yourself “how can I make a small difference in someone’s life?” Last year we had a family friend serving in Afghanistan with the Marines. Kyle had recently deployed for the first time and would be serving a twelve month mission. He was far from home and those he loved. This is something that impacts not just the soldier, but also the family left behind. Over the course of Kyle’s deployment we collaborated with Ethan’s prek to send over a number of care packages to let him know that his service was appreciated. Receiving a care package from home can be a real morale booster for a deployed service member.  
Kyle was the beneficiary of far more than he needed. What did he do? He shared all of the goodies with other members of his battalion. This random act of kindness reached far further than we initially intended.
We’d like to do this project for a third year and sponsor at least one more soldier (and perhaps even more). What we’re asking of RBES families is to review the list of items below and see if there are items you’re willing to donate. We’re in talks with community members about sponsoring this effort, so we can defray the cost of shipping these packages. Our hope is to begin shipping packages by January 1st. We’ll have boxes placed near the entrance of each first grade class at RBES.
It’s estimated that some 205,000 soldiers are currently deployed overseas. Many of these soldiers are in dangerous combat zones. They are risking the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe and out of harm’s way. Reminding them that we have not forgotten them is important.
Thank you for considering supporting this effort.
Lee, Holly and Ethan Snelling

Popular items to donate:
Protein powder & protein bars (top requested item)           Lip balm / chap Stick / Carmex / Blistex
iTunes gift cards (top requested item)                                 Body wash, liquid soap, facial cleanser
Powder drink mixes                                                             Hair gel (for female troops to pull hair                                                                                                      back)
Beef jerky / Slim Jims                                                         Combs / brushes / bobby pins (in original                                                                                                  packaging)
Sunflower seeds                                                                   Deodorant (travel size)
Granola bars                                                                        Shaving cream in tubes / shaving soap (No                                                                                                CANS)
Trail mix / dried fruit / granola                                           Hand & body lotion / moisturizer (travel                                                                                                     size)
Fig Newtons                                                                        Sunblock, SPF 45, Zinc, Vitamin E, Aloe                                                                                                  Vera Gel
Pretzels / Ritz Crackers / Wheat Thins                               Bug Spray / DEET / Skin-So-Soft
Mouthwash (travel size)                                                     Nasal spray
Breath Mints / breath strips                                                Vitamins
Lozenges / Cough Drops                                                    Feminine Hygiene Products
Nail files / emery boards / nail clippers                             Eye drops (i.e. Visine)
Moleskin & shoe insole cushions (gel kind is best)          Tylenol, Motrin, Advil or Aspirin packets (check expiration dates)

K-cups for Keurig machines                                                                        

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Week of December 14 - 18, 2015

Week of December 14th - December 18th

Here’s a peek at next week:

Spelling words: NO SPELLING THIS WEEK!!

Phonics- review from past weeks

Reading: Daily 5 implementation with emphasis on asking and answering questions about details in texts.(Compare/Contrast)We will be reading The Polar Express and other themed stories.We will review comparing and contrasting, main ideas, story elements, as well as beginning, middle and end. I will be working to assess kids one-on-one in reading during the 3 weeks before the holiday break. More leveled readers will be sent home after the break.  Please keep reading  Raz Kids, Headsprouts, and other books at home!

L.Arts: We will still look at ways to "fix up" sentences. We will continue to point out nouns(person, place or thing) and verbs( action/doing). Lastly we will continue to identify conjunctions and how they can help our sentences have better flow. 

Writing Workshop: Finishing up teaching booklets. (Publishing- Covers and binding) Students will turn in a writing sample to showcase this unit. 

Math: Measuring objects using nonstandard measurement; How can we measure the length of an object?  What can we use to measure objects? How can we order a group of objects by their length? Why would an estimate be helpful when measuring?

Science: Discuss what went well with the STEM snow plow. Students will discuss ways to improve. Share with with one another. 

 Homework 
1. Practice your Sight Word List
2.Reading Passage
3.Math ( Mooseltoe Problem's)
4.READ! :)


Kindness is the focus for our PBL projects this year in first grade. We will be talking about what we can do as 1st grades to make a difference in our school, community and world by sharing kindness with others. Please see the lime green letter about care packages for soldiers! :) We would appreciate any donations to this worthy cause!!
                              
Greer Wells will be planning our holiday celebration.  She may be contacting some of you to assist with donating items or volunteering to run a station.  Please contact her if you are willing to contribute in any way.  We are looking forward to our celebration on the 18th at 1:30 pm. As always, thank you for your support!! :)

At Rocky Branch our focus is on finding solutions to our problems. We have been learning some techniques ( Ignore it, talk it over respectfully with the person, try to agree on a win-win solution or get help from the teacher) We are working to be problem solvers by using the wheel of choice that we created as a class and to share our thoughts with each other during class meetings. We have created bonds by sharing strategies that have worked in the past. :)

     

          


Please have your child participate in the Six Flags Read to Succeed Program by reading and recording 6 hours of reading.  Once they have completed and documented their reading, please have them return the completed form to me.  The deadline to submit your reading log is Friday, February 19.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  You can print out the forms below by clicking on the link.

Parent Letter (Print Out)



Changes in Transportation
Please use attached forms for changes in transportation. 
Upcoming Events

12/11 - Grinch Day: Have your child dress in their Grinchiest Clothing for a fun-filled celebration
Image result for grinch for kids cartoon
12/17 - Polar Express Day: Your child is free to bring in a blanket/towel to lie on during the movie and a small stuffed animal (everything must fit inside of their book bag)

Image result for polar express for kids cartoon
 
12/18 -  LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: End of 2nd 9 Weeks; We will have a class celebration from 1:30 - 2:20.  Remember that if you would like to help out, you must be volunteer trained. 

1/5- Welcome BACK!

1/8- Report Cards Go Home

1/18- Student Holiday ( MLK Holiday)

Have a great weekend!!

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Week of December 7-11, 2015

                        Here’s a peek at next week:

Spelling words: NO SPELLING THIS WEEK!!

Phonics- review from past weeks



Reading: Daily 5 implementation with emphasis on asking and answering questions about details in texts.(Compare/Contrast)We will be reading Moostletoe and Grinch stories and applying reading comprehension strategies.(Looking at non fiction texts and identifying text features) We will also discuss and identify story elements.  I will be working to assess kids one-on-one in reading during the 3 weeks before the holiday break. More leveled readers will be sent home after the break.  Please keep reading  Raz Kids, Headsprouts, and other books at home!

L.Arts: Fix it upSentence correction (capitalization, punctuation, does my sentence make sense, plural/possessive noun, personal pronouns) How can I use conjunctions (FANBOY) and recognize nouns vs. verbs?

Writing Workshop: Working on teaching booklets about things we are 'experts' at. We teach with our pictures by adding details, labels and words. We will make sure our table of contents matches our book. We are publishing our teaching books to share with one another. 

Math:Reviewing 2D shapes and learning about 3D shapes. How are they alike and how are they different? What are defining attributes and non defining attributes of shapes?

Science: Creating Snow Machines out of Legos. What will I need on my machine to move the most snow? How can I improve my idea?

 Homework 
1. Practice your Sight Word List
2.Reading Passage Identifying the Main Idea of the Passage
3.Math 3D Shape Hunt
4.READ! :)
We will take our final Measures of Academic Progress Assessment on Monday at 8:00 am. The questions will be in reference to math standards. We will be in the computer lab at 8:00 am to begin the test. Thank you for having your student here and ready by that time. :) 

Kindness is the focus for our PBL projects this year in first grade. We will be talking about what we can do as 1st grades to make a difference in our school, community and world by sharing kindness with others. More information on this project to come. Thank  you in advance for any help you can offer. 
                              

It's Secret Santa Time!  
If you would like to help with this year's Secret Santa, please use this Secret Santa Survey Link to complete a short survey.  Mrs. Porter will contact you about how you would like to help.
You can help by:
  • Purchasing a specific gift or gifts from a child's wish list (anywhere from $10 - $200).
  • Making a financial contribution to Secret Santa.
  • Volunteering your time to organize the Secret Santa boxes and items.
  • Volunteering your time to shop with donated money.
  • Volunteering your time to write follow-up thank you notes.

Speak Up Survey

Rocky Branch Elementary School would love to have ALL parents and students complete this survey about our school. 

Thank you for taking the time to participate! :) 


          


Please have your child participate in the Six Flags Read to Succeed Program by reading and recording 6 hours of reading.  Once they have completed and documented their reading, please have them return the completed form to me.  The deadline to submit your reading log is Friday, February 19.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  You can print out the forms below by clicking on the link.

Parent Letter (Print Out)



Changes in Transportation
Please use attached forms for changes in transportation. 
Upcoming Events

12/10 - 5th Grade Musical

12/11 - Grinch Day: Have your child dress in their Grinchiest Clothing for a fun-filled celebration

12/17 - Polar Express Day: Your child is free to bring in a blanket/towel to lie on during the movie and a small stuffed animal (everything must fit inside of their book bag)

12/18 -  LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: End of 2nd 9 Weeks; We will have a class celebration from 1:30 - 2:20.  Greer Wells will be coordinating this small celebration.  Remember that if you would like to help out, you must be volunteer trained. 

1/5- Welcome BACK!

1/8- Report Cards Go Home

1/18- Student Holiday ( MLK Holiday)

Have a great weekend!!