Thursday, April 28, 2016

Week of May 2 - 6, 2016


Here’s a peek at next week:

Reading: Since we will begin spending half of each day with our Project Based Learning Classes next week, our schedule will change.  We will have a little time for reviewing reading/language arts skills from this school year.  Our recess, activity, and lunch  time will be moved up due to the altered schedule.  

Writing Workshop: The students will be working on various projects during their writing time for the remainder of the school year.


1. Rock Collecting Story with Comprehension Questions
2. Math Spring Time Story Problems
3. Scholastic News: Insects that will Rock Your Summer!


Students will engage in Project-Based Learning starting on May 2nd and going through May 11th. The students will go to their chosen PBL class from 12:30-2:30. Ask your child about the unique learning experiences they engage in!

Calling All Field Day Volunteers!

We're using VolunteerSpot (the leading online Sign-up and reminder tool) to organize our upcoming Sign-ups. Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to see our Sign-ups on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/X9N3Q5
2) Review the Sign-ups listed and choose the one(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on VolunteerSpot.

Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone.


End of The Year Celebration

 We will serve lunch to the kids (pizza party) and then we will have stations set up outdoors or in each classroom for the classes to rotate around with fun activities planned at each station- one being an ice cream sundae station…what kid won't love that?!  So what we are hoping for and asking for is a donation from each family to help us to pay for the food and supplies needed to make this party successful.  If each family is willing to contribute $5-$7 towards the party, we should be able to cover the cost of every child.  Please send in your donation (we can only accept cash) in an envelope to your child's teacher labeled "End of Year Party." Thank you so much for your help and making this party great for our children!

We have snack every day. Please encourage your student to pack a snack each day. Lunch time can be a long time to wait to eat. :) 


Upcoming Events

~5/2-5/11  Project Based Learning

~ 5/6  ALL Library books are due

~5/12 Field Day

~5/16 Step Up Day (Students visit a 2nd grade classroom)

~5/18 Last Day of School

Have a great weekend!!

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Week of April 25, - 29, 2016

April 25th- April 29th

Here’s a peek at next week:

Spelling words: None

Phonics- review

Reading: We will be reviewing skills already covered this year through Daily 5 groups and other activities. 


L.Arts:  We will review skills already covered this year. 

Writing Workshop: Students will review  and continue to write about realistic fiction. What is realistic fiction? Does it have to be something that could happen to someone? Who can the characters be? What should I include in my writing?

Math: Students will continue a week long project related to goods and services. They will have the opportunity to design a company name and product, create ads, and even a business card. On the final day we will share our ads/commercials.

Social Studies: Students will begin to learn about who are consumers and what it means to have scarcity. Review producers and consumers and how both sets of people are important to each other. How do consumers choices effect producers? 



                              1. Practice Sight Words 
                          2. Reading Passage (Adapting to Survive!)
                                               3. Read 

 iMom Breakfast
Please join us for this school year’s first iMom breakfast, a special time for moms to connect with their children and spend one-on-one time discussing issues around character development and growth. iMom breakfasts are also a great way to get connected with the Rocky Branch community.
What:              iMom Breakfast
Who:               Moms and their kindergarten and first grade students
When:             Monday, April 25th, 7:20 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Where:            Rocky Branch Elementary School cafeteria
Topic:              Things to do this summer

You may order breakfast from Chick-fil-A for you and/or your child. It will be ready and waiting when you arrive the morning of the event. Each Chick-fil-A breakfast will include your choice of a chicken biscuit or chicken minis, orange juice, and coffee for adults for $3.50. Children may also purchase breakfast from the Rocky Branch cafeteria. School breakfasts will be charged to the student’s school meal account.

7:15-7:20 a.m.      Parents check in at the front office
7:20-7:25 a.m.      Parents and children pick up their breakfast orders in the cafeteria
7:25-7:50 a.m.      iMom program and discussion
7:50-7:55 a.m.      Students dismissed to classes
7:50-8:00 a.m.      Summary with parents and door prizes; parents sign out at the front office



We are gearing up for our final Reading MAP  assessment. Our class will take the assessment on April 29th at 9:30. It is important that ALL students attend this day. We suggest getting a good nights sleep and hearty breakfast so that all students can be focused and ready to do their best. 

Parent Survey

In an effort to improve system practices, Oconee County Schools is conducting a parent survey. We value your opinion and ask that you take the time to complete this survey. The web survey will be available until April 25, 2016.

In order to complete the survey, please go to: http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/9422178

*****Please be assured that your responses to this survey will be anonymous. Your honest opinion is appreciated.*********

We will have the opportunity to go on another field trip to Bear Hollow on Wednesday, April 27th. Please fill out and sign the permission slip as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. This trip will cost $2 per student. :)  We are asking that lunches be sent in a disposable bag with items that can be tossed or recycled after lunch. Thank you for your help! :) 


We have snack every day. Please encourage your student to pack a snack each day. Lunch time can be a long time to wait to eat. :) 


Upcoming Events


~4/22 Relay for Life at OCHS (6pm-12am)

~4/25 iMom breakfast 

~4/27  Field Trip -- Bear Hollow

~4/29  Reading MAP at 9:30

~5/2-5/11  Project Based Learning

~ 5/6  ALL Library books are due

~5/12 Field Day

~5/18 Last Day of School

Have a great weekend!!

Friday, April 15, 2016

Week of April 18 - 22, 2016

April 18th- 22nd

Here’s a peek at next week:

Spelling words: helpless, useless, careless, playful, restful, hopeful, fastest, newest, smartest, sillier.

Phonics- review

Reading: Daily 5 with emphasis on beginning, middle, and ending, finding evidence in text to support answer and retelling the story. What was the author's purpose? This week we will be reviewing skills we have already learned ( comprehension strategies, parts of information text, things to learn from pictures, questioning strategies).We will also review suffixes, story elements, cause and effect, problem and solution. 

L.Arts:  We will review skills already covered this year. 

Writing Workshop: Students will review and begin a new small moment piece of writing. What do I feel comfortable sharing with others? What is the difference between a watermelon and seed story? Why do I want to tell seed stories? How can I hook my reader?

Math: Students will begin a week long project related to goods and services. They will have the opportunity to create a project to sell, name their business, create ads, and even a business card. On the final day we will try to convince our audience to "buy" our product.

Social Studies: Students will begin to learn about goods and services that people provide for each other as well as what producers and consumers do. Who are producers and consumers? How does each person play a role in the lives of the other? What goods do we buy? What are some services we use? 



                                             


1. Practice Sight Words 
2. Reading Passage (Thank you, trees!)
3. Read 
Check Spelling City out to practice your spelling words for the week. :)


Relay for Life Memory/Honor of Ribbon
Each student has the opportunity to decorate a purple ribbon to honor or recognize someone affected by cancer. It will be hung in the main hallway outside of the gym. We are asking for a $1 donation in addition to the decorated ribbon. The money will be given to Relay for Life to help KISS Cancer Goodbye! 

Rocket Relay
Our school will have our very own Relay event much like Relay for Life. On Tuesday, April 19th all first graders are asked to wear orange in recognition of a first grade family affected by Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  Thank  you for your support and we look forward to seeing everyone in orange on Tuesday! 


Parent Survey

In an effort to improve system practices, Oconee County Schools is conducting a parent survey. We value your opinion and ask that you take the time to complete this survey. The web survey will be available until April 25, 2016.

In order to complete the survey, please go to: http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/9422178

*****Please be assured that your responses to this survey will be anonymous. Your honest opinion is appreciated.*********

We will have the opportunity to go on another field trip to Bear Hollow on Wednesday, April 27th. Please fill out and sign the permission slip that went home last week and return as soon as possible. This trip will cost $2 per student. :)  We are asking that lunches be sent in a disposable bag with items that can be tossed or recycled after lunch. Thank you for your help! :) 


We have snack every day. Please encourage your student to pack a snack each day. Lunch time can be a long time to wait to eat. :) 


Upcoming Events

~4/19  Rocket Relay (1st grade will wear orange)

~4/22 Relay for Life at NOHS (6pm-12am)

~4/27  Field Trip -- Bear Hollow

~4/29  Reading MAP at 9:30

~5/2-5/11  Project Based Learning

Have a great weekend!!