Marysville School
Newsletters
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News from Room 116 Mrs. Joy 4/5th Grade Marysville School Contact Information: work 503.916.6363 x78721 Cell 503.329.3456 May 2012
Greetings, Our curriculum focus for May: l MATH We’ll wrap up geometry and measurement and move into decimals and percents. Homework will go home about two times a week. This homework reinforces the concepts shared in class that week. l In READING we continue to work on a variety of comprehension strategies. As always, the best way to improve reading is to read regularly. My afternoon reading group will finish Chains (Halse Anderson) this week and start Maniac Magee (Spinelli) next week. These are thoughtful novels we are studying as a class. Ask you child what themes are present in the book. This encourages higher level thinking. l SPEECH We begin our famous person biography speeches this month. The students have been hard at work researching and writing about someone they admire. Be sure to encourage them to do lots of practice at home. l In SOCIAL STUDIES we will work on colonization of the United States. A nice follow up to our exploration of explorers to the Americas. l For HEALTH we will split the 4th and 5th graders up. 5th graders will join Ms. Lewis for a health study more appropriate to their age. More information on the specific curriculum as well as a permission slip will be going home soon. 4th graders will stay in our room and we’ll focus on 4th grade appropriate health topics. No permission required. l In addition to our regular curriculum focuses we will have some VISITORS to our class. Metro will present a lesson on recycling. A retired teacher, now volunteering with Junior Achievement, will present a short unit called Our Nation. I like this unit because it further extends our classroom conversation about possible careers and why education is so important to career options. In addition, here are some important dates to keep in mind this month: 5/2 Field trip to Jefferson Dancers at the Newmark Theatre and lunch at Pizzacato 5/6 we start round 3 of state OAKs testing 5/15 Parent Connection – details to come 5/16 Late Opening (10:40 start) 5/25 Volunteer Lunch 5/28 Memorial Day – No School Thank you. And as always, I’ll be in touch!
News from Room 116 Mrs. Joy 4/5th Grade Marysville School Contact Information: work 503.916.6363 x78721 Cell 503.329.3456 April 2012 Greetings, While I promise myself every year I won’t do it, temptation gets the best of me . . . as of April 2 we have just 50 days left in the school year! Oh my – where has the time gone?! There is still so much to accomplish. So without further ado, here is our curriculum focus for this month: l We recently wrapped up fraction in math and are now beginning a unit in geometry and measurement – think area and perimeter. You can expect your student to bring home homework approximately two times a week. The expectation is they return it the next day if at all possible. I realize sometimes other family activities may prohibit this, but I do expect them to make a good faith effort to complete it and return it on time. If your student feels like they would like additional help in math know I run an after school homework club (called Thursday School) every week on Thursdays and there is a bus that will take them home at 4:15pm. That extra hour of help can make a world of difference. l In reading we continue to work on a variety of comprehension strategies. As always, the best way to improve reading is to read regularly. l Our writing focus this month is a biography on a famous person. This paper will then be turned into a speech. Both the speech and the writing are work samples for their 4th or 5th grade portfolio. Ask your student to share with you what they are learning about the famous person they chose and how that person made a positive impact on the world. I’m learning so much from them! l In social studies we will begin work on Explorers and Revolutionary history. Here are some important dates to keep in mind this month: 4/6 Field trip to 10 Grands at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall 4/9 We start round 2 of state math testing. The following week we begin round 2 of reading testing. Only students who did not pass these tests the first time will test again 4/10 Parent Connection (formerly Parent Tea), 8:40am – location TBD 4/12 Room 116 Auction and end of the 3rd quarter grading period 4/13 Planning Day – no school for students 4/18 Late Opening 5/2 All day downtown field trip to see the Jefferson Dancers Thank you. And as always, I’ll be in touch! Kelli Joy News from Room 116 Mrs. Joy 4/5th Grade Marysville School March 2012
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Greetings,
March 6 marks the mid-term of our third quarter. Time is sure flying by this year and we still have so much more to do!
?This month we’ll move our SCIENCE focus to the Food Chain and finish preparing our 5th graders for the state science test the last week of March. ?We’ll continue to focus on our READING strategy skills. Folks at home, you can help by assuring your student is reading a minimum of 20 minutes a night. Often this is the only homework they have and it is definitely our most important. Studies show students become better readers by – wait for it, wait for it – by reading! Make sure they have ample opportunity to practice those reading strategies they are learning at school. ?In MATH we will finish fractions and move onto geometry. ? Peer review is our WRITING focus. We are practicing providing feedback on others’ writing to help strengthen our own. ?And after all this hard work this month we’ll get a much deserved SPRING BREAK March 26 – 30.
Thank you to the parent volunteers who provide snacks for our valentine’s party and helped chaperone our recent field trip to the planetarium. We can’t do activities like this without your support. Our next field trip is on May 2. Please consider joining us for the day if you can. It is such a rewarding experience to take our learning out into the “real world.”
Here are some important dates to keep in mind this month: 3/2 Dr. Suess Day – we’ll celebrate with a door decorating contest, wearing pajamas to school and spending time with our kindergarten buddies. 3/3 Marysville School Spring Cleaning Party 3/6 Marysville Rebuild Community Night 6:30 to 8:30 Y Arts 3/13 Parent Connections 3/21 Late Opening 3/19 – 23 5th Grade State Science Testing 3/26 – 30 Spring Break Thank you. And as always, I’ll be in touch!
Kelli Joy |
Curriculum focuses for March
Thanks to our parent volunteers!
Important dates for February
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News from Room 116 Mrs. Joy 4/5th Grade Marysville School |
Contact Information: work 503.916.6363 x78721 Cell 503.329.3456
February 2012 |
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Greetings,
The big news in Room 116 this month is state testing. Yep, it’s that time again. We begin reading testing on Feb 6 and the following week test in math. Science testing for the 5th graders will follow in March. Oregon use to test 4th graders in writing but they have eliminated that this year due to budget restraints. But don’t worry -- we’re getting plenty of writing in.
I have met with each student to discuss what kind of yearly progress is expected since their last round of testing. We usually look for a seven point increase a year. The state did raise the reading benchmark in 2012 so some students who met last year will need to make a higher-than-seven-point increase this year to meet benchmark. We’ve all been working very hard, though, so I have no doubt we’ll do our best. You can help your student by encouraging them to get a good night’s sleep and plenty of fresh air and exercise.
As part of our science unit on Earth, Moon and Stars, we have a visit planned to a real life planetarium on February 24. A permission form as well as request for parent chaperones will go home early February. Please consider joining us. It is always a treat have the students experience first-hand what we are learning in the classroom.
Speaking about what we are learning in the classroom, February also brings the end of second quarter. Report cards will follow. Remember, we didn’t do report cards first quarter because we all met at conferences. If, when you receive the report card (expect them around February 8) you have questions, don’t hesitate to email or call.
Here are some important dates to keep in mind this month: w 2/3 No School – Teacher Planning Day/End of 2nd Quarter w 2/14 2pm class room Valentine celebration w 2/14 Parent Connections (time tbd) – Mt. Scott Community Center w 2/15 Late Opening – School begins at 10:45am (students will catch the bus two hours later than their normal time) w 2/20 No School – President’s Day
Thank you. And as always, I’ll be in touch!
Kelli Joy |
State Reading and Math testing begins Feb 6
Get a good night’s sleep during testing!
Field trip alert!
End of 2nd Quarter – report cards coming soon
Important dates for February |
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News from Room 116 Mrs. Joy 4/5th Grade Marysville School |
Contact Information: work 503.916.6363 x78721 Cell 503.329.3456
January 2012 |
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Greetings,
I have the best job in the world. I know that may seem trite to say but I was reminded of it again when we returned from Winter Break and I realized how much I missed my students. One of the things that is most special about our class this year is how hard we’ve worked to create a community. The students are extremely supportive of one and this is particularly important in a blended classroom. One of the favorite ways we support one another is by recognizing a student of the week. Each week every student writes a compliment to a specially selected student and those compliments, along with a photo of the student, is posted on the board throughout the week for all to check out. Please take time to read with your student those compliments when they come home. You will see what I’m talking about.
We start our first round of state testing (OAKS) early February. It will be important to make sure your students are well rested during that time so they can do their best work. As in years past we will have three rounds of testing. If a student does not meet benchmark they will be given another opportunity to take the test. Once a student does pass they will now need to obtain parental consent for any retesting. Please let me know if you have questions on this new requirement.
Curriculum focuses this month include a new unit on imaginative writing (oh, the stories we will tell!), more work on multi-digit multiplication and division (we are working hard to make sure all have their multiplication facts through 12 memorized), and a new science unit on space (to infinity and beyond!). Be sure to ask your students every day to share what they learned in class.
Here are some important dates to keep in mind this month: w 1/16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day – No School w 1/18 Late Opening – School begins at 10:45am (students will catch the bus two hours later than their normal time) w Parent Connections will return in February.
Thank you. And as always, I’ll be in touch!
Kelli Joy |
We are building community in Room 116.
State testing begins February 6.
Curriculum focuses for January.
Important dates to remember. |
News from Room 116 Mrs. Joy 4/5th Grade Marysville School Contact Information: work 503.916.6363 x78721 Cell 503.329.3456 December 2011
Greetings, I’d like to start by thanking all of you who came to conferences last week. We had almost perfect attendance which just goes to show how important you find your child’s education. I appreciated the time to sit down and celebrate each of my student’s achievements as well as set goals for the future. Let’s not let the great conversations and partnership we started at conferences end there. Feel free to call me anytime with updates, questions, concerns – you name it. I always look forward to hearing from you. As I write this I realize we have just two weeks left before winter vacation which run 12/19 – 1/2/11. I hope your family enjoys some wonderful traditions this time of year. I’d like to invite you to join us on Friday, December 16 from 1:45 to 3:00p in a 3rd – 5th grade Cultural Winter Celebration at Marysville. We’ll do crafts, enjoy treats, and celebrate a successful first part of the school year. If you have a couple hours to share and want to volunteer, send me an email or give me a call. If you can’t join us but want to be here in spirit by donating a treat for the class to share, we’d welcome that to. I’ll post suggestions on the website. Speaking of the website . . . my New Year’s Resolution (yes, it’s early, I’m a planner!) is to more regularly update my website with information of value to you and your student. Right now there are some fun videos of our first week together and our field trip to Whitaker Ponds. I also have some math resources posted. If you have suggestion on what you’d find helpful, please let me know. Here are some important dates to keep in mind this month: w 12/13 Parent Connection (formerly Parent Tea/Coffee Connection) location and time TBA. w 12/14 Late Opening w 3rd – 5th Grade Winter Cultural Celebration, 1:45 to 3:00p w Winter Break – see you in 2012! Thank you. I’ll be in touch! Kelli Joy Let’s keep the great communication we started at conferences going – call me anytime with questions/concerns/feedback.. Come help us celebrate at our Winter Cultural Celebration Friday, December 16, 1:45 to 3:00pm. Visit my homepage on the Marysville School website (address below or just search Marysville School Portland, OR). Important dates in December.
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News from Room 116 Mrs. Joy 4/5th Grade Marysville School |
Contact Information: work 503.916.6363 x78721 Cell 503.329.3456
November 2011 |
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Greetings,
November 1 finds us starting our 41st day of school this year. The time is already flying. And boy, have we been busy. We are writing personal narratives, studying multi-digit multiplication, learning the scientific inquiry process using variables, practicing all sorts of reading comprehension strategies, honing our good sportsmanship skills with Coach Jory and Playworks, and learning the benefits of good nutrition with our visiting OSU nutritionists.
Our big news of November is that we end our first grading period and get ready for Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences. If you haven’t signed up yet for a conference, please contact me right away. There are still good day and evening times available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Early the week of Nov 7 I will confirm prescheduled conferences and will assign conference times to those who have not contacted me. Attending the ½ hour conference is very important to your child’s success in school. We are partners in that process and I look forward to sharing their progress and discussing goals for the future.
There are a couple of important dates to keep in mind this month: l Spirit Week is Nov 7 – 9. On Monday we celebrate with Crazy Hair/Hat Day, Tuesday is School Color (red and black) Day, and Wednesday is Pajama Day. l November 8 at 8:40p is a Coffee Connection for interested parents/guardians. Transportation is provided to and from Marysville @ RCP. l Our grading period ends Wednesday, Nov 9 and we’ll celebrate with a classroom auction where students can spend the money they’ve “earned” with good behavior and hard work the first quarter. l There is no school scheduled November 10 and 11. l Picture re-takes are November 15. l Conferences are Monday, November 21 and Tuesday, November 22. lThere is no school on Nov 23 – 25.
Thank you. I’ll be in touch!
Kelli Joy |
We are studying personal narratives, multi-digit multiplication, and the scientific inquiry process.
Be sure to sign up for parent/student/teacher conferences.
Important Dates listed at the left.
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News from Room 116 Mrs. Joy 4/5th Grade Marysville School Contact Information: work 503.916.6363 x78721 Cell 503.329.3456 October 2011
Greetings, First off, I want to thank all of you for getting your children here every day, and on time. One of the biggest factors in success in middle school and high school is attendance. If your child will not be at school due to illness or otherwise, please take a moment and call the office at 503.916.6363. We spent the first few weeks together assessing where everyone was at and preparing for our literacy groups. A lot of thought is put into making sure every child receives the instruction they need in Room 116. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this process. It was great to meet many of you at Back to School Night. If you did not get a chance to come and are interested in signing up for a conference now, please contact me. There are many convenient times still available. If you do not sign up for a conference, a conference time will be set for you. My contact information is listed above. Many of you have asked how you can help support the learning in Room 116. Special needs right now include egg cartons for an upcoming math activity and extra tissues (as we anticipate an early cold season). I will keep you posted on other needs as they arise. Thank you in advance for sharing these items with us. Students at Marysville are fortunate enough to receive nutritious breakfast every morning and a healthy snack in the afternoon. The snack is provided as part of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. If this snack is not suitable to your child, you may send a healthy snack to school with them. A healthy snack is one that is low fat and low in sugar. I also request that the only beverages the children bring to school for classroom consumption is water. I have water bottles available in the classroom for .25 cents. Please join others from the Marysville community at the Parent Tea scheduled for October 11 at 8:40pm. This event is hosted by SUN. That also happens to be picture day as well. Your students will be bringing home information on both these events in the next week or so. And please note our next late opening is Wednesday, October 19. Thank you. I’ll be in touch! Kelli Joy Call the office if your student will miss school due to illness. Assessments in September. Sign up for conferences. We need egg cartons and tissues for the classroom. We eat healthy in Room 116. Parent Tea 10/11 Picture Day 10/11 Late Opening 10/19
