Housekeeping Items 9-27-13

Please take a look at the following housekeeping items.  Several are time sensitive.

1. All picture money is due on Monday, September 30, 2013.

2. Money for recorders is due on Thursday, October 3rd, 2013.

3. Field Trip slips for the National Building Museum trip are due.

4. Recycled materials for use at the Building Museum may be sent in beginning Monday, September 30th.

5. Please send in any sports schedules you may have for your child.

Savanna 9-27-13

Dear Parents,

            It is so good to have had the feel of fall in the air this week!  We are well into our routines and the children are all working hard to keep up with their responsibilities.  I am very pleased with their (and your) efforts to date.  Remember this is a process and perfection is not expected, rather trying your best.

            The children have been learning about maps and globes in Social Studies, and how to organize information in their composition books.  In Math we continue to work with place value, how to identify numbers in a variety of ways as well as adding larger numbers.  In Language Arts we have focused on how to identify important information in non-fiction text, identifying robust vocabulary words and using them in context, and learning about pronouns. 

            I appreciate all the offers of help that I received at Back to School Night.  I will be reaching out to those of you who signed up over the weekend to confirm and work out the specifics of the different jobs.  This also goes for those of you who showed an interest to chaperone our field trip to the National Building Museum. 

            I would like to remind everyone that the children might need a sweater or light jacket when they come to school as the temperature begins to fall.  This will also mean reminders to bring these items home each evening.  Please remember that we do go outside everyday, and we would like for your children to be dressed appropriately for the weather.  Also, we are beginning to see the first colds in the classroom.  When assessing your child’s ability to come to school with a cold, please remember that we ask if your child has a fever that they stay at home, and not return until they have been fever free for 24 hours.  If your child is sick and not coming to school, please call the Attendance Line (703-228-8320) and report your child’s absence.  Please know that in the classroom the children are being reminded to wash their hands several times a day, as well as to wipe down their desks a couple of times a week.

I hope everyone enjoys a relaxing weekend.

                                                                                    Sincerely,

                                                                                    Mrs. DiNardo

                                                                                    kim.dinardo@apsva.us

Upcoming Events

Tues. 10/8- Building Museum Field Trip- 9:00am-12:30pm

       Thur.-Fri. 10/10-11- Parent Teacher Conferences

       Mon. 10/14- Columbus Day- No School for students

       Tues. 10/22- Mini-Walk for the Homeless-9:15am

       Fri. 10/25- Harvest Fest- 7:00pm

       Thurs. 10/31- Halloween Parade- 2:00pm

          

Mid-Week Update

Good Evening Everyone-

I have a couple of housekeeping matters that I would like to bring to your attention prior to Friday's Savanna Update.

1. As the weather is changing, please be sure your child has a jacket on chilly mornings.  The children are going outside in the mornings for PE and may need the extra layer of warmth.

2. If textbooks come home for an assignment, please help your child to remember to bring them back to school in the morning, as we will be using them in class the next day.

3. All picture monies need to be returned by Monday 9/30 for your child's picture to be taken.

4. Thank you to all of you who volunteered to help out in various capacities.  I will be getting back to you as soon as I can to confirm dates and times.

5. Conference confirmation slips will be coming home with your child this week.  

6. We had our first lock-down drill today.  All went well and the children did a great job.  We had a long conversation afterwards about why we practice these drills, and how my first job is to keep them safe.


I hope the rest of the week goes well for everyone.  Please check back for updates on Friday.

Savanna

Dear Parents,

         I would like to thank those of you who were able to attend Back to School Night on Tuesday evening. It was so nice to meet you all.  I realize there was a lot of information shared in a short period of time, however I do hope you came away from the evening with a bit of an understanding about the year ahead.  While it is a year of change and transition for your child, remember, it is a process and there will be a lot of baby-steps along the way.

It is amazing to me that three weeks of school are under our belts.  We have accomplished quite a lot this month.  In Reading we are learning how to look for important words in non-fiction text, and to “read” the pictures for information.  In Math we have been reviewing number value and place and working with groups of ten and hundred.  Assignment notebooks and binders are now more familiar and papers are where they need to be for the most part.  Most importantly, we are enjoying each other’s company and learning to work together as a community of learners. Looking back there are many successes to celebrate. 

         I do have one housekeeping items I need your help with.  If your child is playing a fall sport, please send me their schedule.  I do like to get out over the weekend and catch a game or two. As always, thank you for all you do to send your child to school excited and ready to learn.  Enjoy the weekend.

                                                               Sincerely,

                                                               Mrs. DiNardo

                                                               kim.dinardo@apsva.us

Upcoming Events

             

Tues. 10/8- Building Museum Field Trip- 9am-12:30pm

       Thur.-Fri. 10/10-11- Parent Teacher Conferences

       Mon. 10/14- Columbus Day- No School for students

        

Welcome to the Savanna- 9-13-13

Dear Parents,

We have accomplished quite a bit this week.  All of the beginning of the year assessments are complete, which the children were quite relieved about. In Math we have been reviewing number and place value while working with groups of ones, tens, hundreds and thousands.  Assignment notebooks and binders are now more familiar and papers are where they need to be for the most part.  Most important is that we are enjoying each other’s company and learning to work together as a community of learners. Looking back there are many successes to celebrate. 

            As we look towards next week I want to bring your attention to Back to School Night on Tuesday evening, September 17th.  The program will begin at 7:00 pm in the Gym and then move into the classrooms.  I hope you will be able to join us for this evening of information, and opportunity to volunteer both in and outside of the classroom.Please remember that this event is intended for parents only.

With this newsletter, I have begun my blog for this year.  You can access it through the main Tuckahoe Website.  Go to the “Classes” tab and click on “3^rd Grade”.  Under my name there is a link to my blog.  I will be using this my primary method to keep you up to date on what is happening both in our classroom as well as posting upcoming events.  As I will make updates to the Savanna during the week, I am asking that you visit this blog a couple of times per week to stay up to date on what is happening in our class.

As always, thank you for all you do to send your child to school excited and ready to learn.  Hope you all enjoy your weekend

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                    Mrs. DiNardo

                                                                                    kim.dinardo@apsva.us

Upcoming Events

                 

         Tues. 9/17- Back to School Night- 7:00 pm

Tues. 10/8- Building Museum Field Trip- 9am-12:30pm

         Thur.-Fri. 10/10-11- Parent Teacher Conferences

         Mon. 10/14- Columbus Day- No School for students

        

          

Savanna 6-14-13

Dear Parents:

            Thank you to all the shoppers who came and supported the businesses of Tuckahoe Town today.  It is always fun to see our hallway transformed into a shopping mall with all the shoppers and this year was no exception.  The children all worked so hard leading up to this big event and did a wonderful job creating all their products and working with their partners.   From what I saw, I think we have several future entrepreneurs in our midst.

            Next week we will be taking time to look back on our year as well as to look forward towards the year to come.  A portion of the week will be spent cleaning up our room, and sending things home for the year (please send in a grocery bag) and bringing closure to our time spent together this year. In addition, I am planning a special luncheon for the children on Friday, so no lunch will be needed. We will take this time to share our memories of the year and our hopes for the summer and beyond.  

            As we turn our attention to summer and all the fun and relaxing activities in front of us, I hope everyone will find a bit of time to read, write and practice math skills.  There will be information coming home about summer reading challenges, and math packets. A few minutes spent each day on these activities will help keep these skills fresh for the fall.

            It has truly been a pleasure being your child’s teacher this year.  They are each very special in their own way and as a class a very caring group.  As I have said before, thank you for sharing them with me each day.  I also want to thank you all for your support and thoughtfulness throughout the year.

 I hope everyone has a great summer.

Savanna- 5-31

Dear Parents:

            The class has officially been turned into Tuckahoe Town.  This week was the kick off to this culminating economics activity. The children have been quite excited to figure out what good or service they will provide, and whom they will work with.  Next week, a portion of our day will be dedicated to production of goods, creating advertising, setting prices and getting ready for the big sale day on June 14^th. 

            Our trip to the new Planetarium on Wednesday was wonderful.  The children enjoyed seeing the newly renovated space as well as viewing the new show “Tilt.”  Please remember that the Planetarium does offer shows for families throughout the year.  This may be a fun summer activity for you and your family.

Next week we will continue our Health curriculum by discussing and learning about safety in and out of school, continuing our economics unit and we will use our math skills with some “shopping” activities, and learning about creating budgets.  The librarians from Westover Library will visit Tuckahoe to share information about the summer reading program with all the students.  On Friday, we will visit the 4^th Grade Colonial Fair.

            As we come to the last three weeks of school, I would like to once again ask for your additional help in making sure your child comes to school ready to learn.  There is a perception that once the SOL testing is over, and the pools open, that school is over.  We have three weeks remaining in our school calendar.  During this time we do have the opportunity to do a few fun special projects along with concluding our regular curriculum. The children and I have been talking about “finishing the year strong” and your help at home reinforcing this is most appreciated.

            I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

                                                            Sincerely,

                                                                        Mrs. DiNardo

Dates to Remember

June 4- Book Swap and Ice Cream Social-7pm

June 11- Rising 4^th Grade Parent Orientation- 7pm

June 14^th- Tuckahoe Town/Class Picnic (Information to follow)

June 19^th- Early Release

June 21^st- Last Day of School- Early Release

SOL Testing Dates-

Tuesday, June 4- Reading- Part 1

Wednesday, June 5- Reading-Part 2