Sanders's Shout Outs

THANKS to all of you who were able to come to Writer's Tea on Friday.  The children were so proud to share their stories with you.  You are fantastic!

Today our entire class received Math Buttons to show that they achieved the 2nd Grade goal of mastering their addition and subtraction facts with 90% or better within 7 minutes.  Wear those buttons with pride!

VIE Brunch~~Many of you volunteer your time so generously here at GM.  Please let us honor YOU this Friday May 9th, from 8:30-11:00 a.m. in our Media Center.  Take a few minutes and drop by for some delicious munchies!  AND.....THANK YOU from the staff here at GM!

Next Wednesday, May 14th is Field Day for K-2.  Check the weather report and have your child dressed appropriately.  They will be outdoors for the majority of the day.  Please have your child bring a water bottle, (labeled with their name), wear sunscreen, and throw a towel in their bookbag (there are several water centers).  You also might want to pack a change of clothes, shoes, etc. because when we do come inside we switch to an air-conditioned environment and it can get chilly if you are wet.  We plan on a fun-filled day of activities.

We have growing caterpillars and an active tadpole in our room.  Ask you child about any changes they are witnessing.  Mrs. Latimer is doing a unit on LIFE CYCLES with us. 

CRCT's are completed!!!!  The students came prepared and ready to work.   I am confident that they did a wonderful job.  Results will be available late in May or sent with the final report card.   

WRITER'S TEA

Second Grade will have Writer's Tea on Friday, May 2nd from 12:55-1:25.  For those of you who are new to GM, it is a time set aside for your child to share their writing with you.  You may stay in the room, go to the MC, go outdoors, or sit in the hallway to have some private time with your child.  If you are unable to attend, please don't worry.  We will make sure that your child has someone with them.  PLEASE JOIN US IF YOU ARE ABLE!  Refreshments will be served.

GREAT NEWS!

Our entire class "exceeded" on both 7 minute timed tests in addition and subtraction!  What an amazing accomplishment!  Thank you all for your efforts in making this possible. 

Garage Sale

If you need to schedule a large item pick-up to be donated to the Foundation Garage Sale,

Please call Patti Lavender:  770-552-1162

We are planning to schedule pick-ups for Sunday afternoon, April 27^th, but we may be able to make other arrangements.

GME Foundation

Garrison Mill has recently established a Foundation whose purpose is to provide resources above and beyond what the County and the Garrison Mill PTA is able to provide.  Please visit their web page to find out more about who they are, what they do, and help support their first fundraising event.  You can visit them at:GME Foundation.

GME Foundation

Garrison Mill has recently established a Foundation whose purpose is to provide resources above and beyond what the County and the Garrison Mill PTA is able to provide.  Please visit their web page to find out more about who they are, what they do, and help support their first fundraising event.  You can visit them at:  GME Foundation.

March News

A practice CRCT packet will be sent home on Monday, March 10th.  Please have your child complete two-three pages each night, go over them together, and send the entire packet back next Monday, the 17th.  Please sign or initial the top worksheet.  This will familiarize your child with the test format and help alleviate any "test jitters."

The Second Grade's contribution to the Silent Auction this year is a "Movie Night" basket.  Thanks to everyone who sent in a $1.00 donation to help us fill the basket with goodies.  All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society.

Curriculum Night was a huge success.  Your children loved helping you learn the math games and strategies that were taught to them.  We had some very enthusiastic parents score 4's on the Exemplar.  It was interesting to note how many positive comments we received on the strength of our curriculum. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR TWO IRISH LASSES!

ASHLEY WILL CELEBRATE HERS ON MARCH 15TH.

ALANIS HAS A MARCH 16TH BIRTHDAY.

The presidential reports were amazing!  The children stood behind a podium and gave their reports with poise and confidence.  Thank you for helping them with this project.  We have some "experts" on our chief executives!

Dates to remember:

March 14th~Bingo Night at GM

March 20th~Report Cards go home

March 21st~Picture retake day

Thank You!

Thank you for helping make my birthday SO special.  I loved the flowers, hand painted vase, the lunch, cards, and emails.  You are all so kind and thoughtful.  You certainly made the day a great one!

February Update

For Your Calendar:

Feb. 14th~Valentine Exchange, Centers from 1:00-2:00.  You are welcome to come in and help!

Feb. 15th~ Box Tops Contest Deadline.  Please help us win AGAIN!

Feb. 18th-19th~Presidents' Day/Student Holidays

Feb. 20th~Honoring Our Heroes Contest entries due.  See this week's Assignment sheet for details.

                6 Hour Reading Club form due back at school.  REMEMBER that all participating students will      receive a free pass to 6 Flags, 10 tokens, and a special treat!  Please encourage your child to do this.

Feb. 26th~Class Pictures

Feb. 29th~GM Talent Show @ 6:30 p.m.

Curriculum Update:

Reading~We have been reading Midnight on the Moon, doing our literacy jobs, and checking our comprehension.  This will be a great introduction to Mrs. Latimer's next science unit on space.  Ask your child to give you some moon facts that they have read about in this selection.

Math~We are hard at work concluding our chapter on MONEY.  If your child is having difficulty, please have them continue to count change and to practice giving change from $1, $5, and $10.  Our next chapter deals with TELLING TIME.

Social Studies~Konnichiwa!  Hello from Japan!  Our class is learning some very interesting facts about this country and seeing how their culture differs from ours.  We have counted in Japanese, learned color words, and made a map and flag of this country.  We will also do some simple origami, make tatami mats, make postcards, and write about this fascinating country.

Spelling~Please take a minute to look at the spelling tests that are sent home.  In the Sitton program, the high frequency words appear over and over.  Many of the students are missing the same ones week after week.  Make note if this is happening with your child and include these words with the 5 that are introduced every week.  Thanks for your help!

Exemplars~We do one Exemplar every week.  Your child can work with a partner or individually.  They are expected to highlight important information, restate the question being asked into a statement, show a strategy, use a math equation, and explain their work using words.  To get a top score of +4 they must be able to expand on the problem.  Please go over the problem sent home to see what problems (if any) your child is experiencing.  This is taught throughout ALL grade levels at GM.

I would like to say "thanks" to all of you who sent in additional donations for High Touch/High Tech.  Thanks to your generosity, we now have enough money to keep the program for March.  You are the best!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I hope that all of you had a wonderful Holiday Break.  Your children came in today with enthusiasm, great stories to share, and an eagerness to get back to learning.  It was great to see their smiling faces back at GM!

There will be many papers coming home in the next few days.  Please read them over and return any necessary items back to me.  Here is a little run-down:

A letter and donation envelope came home today with information about High Touch-High Tech.  Please sign the form and return it to school asap.  A donation of $16.00 is requested.

Tomorrow there will be 3 important items in your child's folder.  One is the Reading Parent Schedule for the remainder of the year.  As always, if you are unable to come in when scheduled, please call someone else on the list and make a switch.  Your child loves to see you here at school!  Second, there will be an updated Student Directory.  Another item being sent home is a form for your child to participate in the 6 Hour Reading Club.  This is an optional activity for all children here at GM.  Your and your child can use the log to keep track of reading minutes.  These minutes can be counted up from independent reading time OR time that you read to your child in the evening.  The "reward"  for those children who successfully reach this goal and return their signed sheet to me is a FREE PASS TO 6 FLAGS.  The free pass will be sent home with their last report card.  What an incentive! 

On Thursday I will send home Conference Information.  Please sign this form and also return it to me asap.  Every effect was made to coordinate conferences for families with other children here at GM.  If you cannot make your scheduled time, please suggest another day/time that works better for you.  Conferences begin on Tuesday, Jan. 22 and run through Monday, Jan. 28th.  Dismissal for your child during conference week will be at 12:20.

A huge "Thank You" to all the moms that helped with the Winter Party.  The class had a great time with the snowman theme. 

Daniel is back at school!  All of us were thrilled to see him today looking healthy and well rested.  We missed you!

The 100th Day of School falls during Conference Week.  We will be doing some special activities to celebrate the day.  If anyone can donate 100 piece puzzles, please let me know.  I would really appreciate it.

Just a friendly reminder...The RFL Bake Sale is on Friday, Dec. 21st.  If you promised to send in something (or if you now realize that you have HOURS AND HOURS of extra time  : )  )  please send it in tomorrow.  Thanks for all you do!