Lost City and Fundraising Drive

Caldecott Honor-winner Ted Lewin takes readers on a thrilling journey to the wilds of Peru in this story of Hiram Bingham, who, in 1911, carved a treacherous path through snake-filled jungles and across perilous mountains in search of Vilcapampa, the lost city of the Incas. Guided the last steps by a young Quechua boy, however, he discovered not the rumored lost city, but the ruins of Machu Picchu, a city totally unknown to the outside world, and one of the wonders of the world.

Our class CSPN fund raising drive in now at 43%. Please consider sending in a small donation. I would love for our class to be the first to reach 100 percent next week.

Because of WinnDixie and Grandparents Day

From Publishers Weekly

DiCamillo's debut novel, a 2001 Newbery Honor Book, percolates with heartfelt emotion and eccentric Southern color as superbly performed by Tony Award-winning actress Jones. Ten-year-old Opal, lonely in the Florida town where she has just moved with her preacher father, instantly takes a shine to a scraggly stray dog she encounters in the local Winn-Dixie supermarket. The pooch, named for their meeting place, becomes a trusted companion with whom Opal can share her thoughts and fears, and her hurt, confused feelings about the mother who left the family when Opal was three. Winn-Dixie is soon helping Opal in other ways, too. The dog's "smile" and sweet temperament act as ice breakers that allow Opal to meet a whole new group of friends who grow to be an unusual extended family. Jones imbues her depiction of Opal with a tone of youthful, hopeful wonder and skillfully transforms her voice to distinguish the other older, life-weathered characters. A Tennessee native, she never sounds hokey as she adopts a Southern accent, and she effortlessly slips into a compelling storytelling rhythm. This is a top-notch treatment of an award-winning tale. Ages 8-up.

Grandparent's Day is 17 days away and we are excited to honor our elders and celebrate all they mean to us!

Thank you for your willingness to support this important event.  

As for the plans:  Here is how it is scheduled for Friday, September 6th:

Parking will be available across from school on Zach Curlin and they will not be ticketing during the event. Parking is also available for $3.00 an hour in the parking garage and for those who need handicap parking can do so on the lowest level of the parking lot if they drive up towards the garage and around to the right. We are pre-selling the parking garage tickets on Friday mornings.  We are also encouraging as many parents as possible to drive the grandparents with their child and drop them off and then pick them back up. 

Then, for Family Gathering:

8:00 – 8:30 family gathering for 1,2 and breakfast in rooms for 3,4,5

8:35 - 9:00 family gathering for 3,4,5 and breakfast in rooms for 1,2

A blue ribbon is earned when a student scores 70% or better on the questions they answer.  Sometimes, this can take multiple sessions.  If your child does poorly on a session (let's say 40%), and subsequently scores an 80% on the next session, the computer will average the two together and your child will receive a 60%--which will not give them a blue ribbon.  However, I have the ability to go in to the program and delete the lower scores.  Therefore, if this happens to your child, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO KEEP REDOING THE LESSON.  As long as they have at least one session at 70%, they can receive credit.  I will update these daily to ensure your child does not complete unnecessary work.  I wish the system self-corrected, but it does not.

Because of WinnDixie and Grandparents Day

From Publishers Weekly

DiCamillo's debut novel, a 2001 Newbery Honor Book, percolates with heartfelt emotion and eccentric Southern color as superbly performed by Tony Award-winning actress Jones. Ten-year-old Opal, lonely in the Florida town where she has just moved with her preacher father, instantly takes a shine to a scraggly stray dog she encounters in the local Winn-Dixie supermarket. The pooch, named for their meeting place, becomes a trusted companion with whom Opal can share her thoughts and fears, and her hurt, confused feelings about the mother who left the family when Opal was three. Winn-Dixie is soon helping Opal in other ways, too. The dog's "smile" and sweet temperament act as ice breakers that allow Opal to meet a whole new group of friends who grow to be an unusual extended family. Jones imbues her depiction of Opal with a tone of youthful, hopeful wonder and skillfully transforms her voice to distinguish the other older, life-weathered characters. A Tennessee native, she never sounds hokey as she adopts a Southern accent, and she effortlessly slips into a compelling storytelling rhythm. This is a top-notch treatment of an award-winning tale. Ages 8-up.

Grandparent's Day is 17 days away and we are excited to honor our elders and celebrate all they mean to us!

Thank you for your willingness to support this important event.  

As for the plans:  Here is how it is scheduled for Friday, September 6th:

Parking will be available across from school on Zach Curlin and they will not be ticketing during the event. Parking is also available for $3.00 an hour in the parking garage and for those who need handicap parking can do so on the lowest level of the parking lot if they drive up towards the garage and around to the right. We are pre-selling the parking garage tickets on Friday mornings.  We are also encouraging as many parents as possible to drive the grandparents with their child and drop them off and then pick them back up. 

Then, for Family Gathering:

8:00 – 8:30 family gathering for 1,2 and breakfast in rooms for 3,4,5

8:35 - 9:00 family gathering for 3,4,5 and breakfast in rooms for 1,2

A blue ribbon is earned when a student scores 70% or better on the questions they answer.  Sometimes, this can take multiple sessions.  If your child does poorly on a session (let's say 40%), and subsequently scores an 80% on the next session, the computer will average the two together and your child will receive a 60%--which will not give them a blue ribbon.  However, I have the ability to go in to the program and delete the lower scores.  Therefore, if this happens to your child, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO KEEP REDOING THE LESSON.  As long as they have at least one session at 70%, they can receive credit.  I will update these daily to ensure your child does not complete unnecessary work.  I wish the system self-corrected, but it does not.

Dear Parents,

 Thank you for attending the Parent/Teacher meeting(s) last night. It was a pleasure meeting all of you. We are off to a wonderful start of the school and I look forward to discussing your child's progress in the near future. 
- Last night you should have gotten a welcome packet from CSPN with a lot of information.  Please spend a few minutes reviewing the information.
- Latter this week or early next week you will get another letter in your child's folder about CSPNs annual support drive.
- Lands' End is having a sale until 8/13 use promo code KEY with pin 8613 for 30% off everything and free shipping when you spend at least $50.

This week we will complete our novel "Davy Crockett"

A biography of the famous frontiersman and Congressman, focusing on his childhood that coincides with our TN History Unit Study.

Study Island, Registration Packets, and Open House

Dear Parents,

All children received their Study Island usernames and passwords today. Most of the homefun this year will be computer based.
Study Island provides:http://www.studyisland.com/web/index/

• Practice, review, and reinforcement of key concepts through rigorous academic content
• Research-based with proven results for all students
• Easy-to-use instruction
• Actionable, real-time assessment data for teachers
• 24/7 anywhere, anytime access (in the lab, classroom, library or home)

Standards Mastery Products

Study Island offers an award-winning suite of fully digital programs that are both fun and engaging for learners of all ages, and are the choice for online standards mastery and academic support.

• REGISTRATION PACKETS were sent home Thursday, August 1st. Please complete these by Thursday, August 8th.
• Open House will be held Thursday, August 8th from 6 pm-8 pm. I hope to see all of you in room 101 - our classroom;-)