APRIL NEWS
by Maggie Janssen
April 20, 2008
Mrs. Blakeman’s PE NEWS
Although there were a lot of fun things going on in the gym this winter, we are all happy to see spring weather arrive.
Fourth and Fifth graders have been teaching or presenting activities to their fellow students in class using a lesson template and rubric for guidance. The template and rubric are coordinated with necessary information for a successful game or activity. These include equipment needed, a description of how to play, a diagram of the game, and safety rules. Students receive an immediate evaluation from the teacher and their peers. Parents/guardians are invited to look at some of these “cool games” which will be posted outside the gym. Lance did a nice job showing his juggling skills at our Fine Art’s Night.
First through fifth graders will be assessed in five areas of physical fitness this spring. Those include; mile run, shuttle run, curl-ups, sit and reach, and pull-ups. Our school district uses the national standards in the program called The President’s Challenge on Physical Fitness. www.presidentschallenge.org is the web-site where you are able to view the scores needed for your child to achieve the challenge to be physically fit. Certificates and patches are awarded to National achievers and Presidential standard achievers. Good luck to all and stay healthy!
KINDERGARTEN
The kindergarten classes are ready for spring! We will be finishing up our last four letter units for the year and working on nine new sight words. However, this is not the end of our reading practice. We will be able to apply all of the phonics skills we have learned throughout the year by continuing on with our kindergarten readers. Your student will encounter many simple words in these books that they will need to sound out. You will be surprised at how they will be able to help you read simple story books at home! In math we will finish up our work with addition and subtraction and move on to our next unit, “Greater Numbers”. During this unit we will read, write and order numbers 10 through 31. It is amazing to see how much your child has grown and learned during this school year! Please congratulate them on their many accomplishments. Kindly from Kindergarten, Mrs. Wayman, Mrs. Folkerts & Mrs. Williams
SECOND GRADE NEWS
The second graders have been practicing cursive writing everyday, and are getting neater and quicker at it. Two-digit addition and subtraction have kept us busy in math. Everyone really needs to know their addition and subtraction facts through 18 to be ready for third grade. We have been counting money. Take out those coin jars and practice.
We will also soon begin the last anthology in their reading series and continue to learn spelling words from their reading stories. Remember the spelling words for the week are on the reading homework assignment note that is sent Monday through Thursday. Please see that the assignment sheet is signed on Thursday night and returned on Friday. Usually we do not send homework on Fridays.
AR – Accelerated Reader
Second Graders have been taking tests on the library books they read at home. At the beginning of the year each student took a test to see what reading level they were at and how many points they should get by the end of each month. From now until the end of the year second graders will not have to read 8 books per month, but meet their own personal AR goal. You can go to the school website to see if books from home are books that can be tested. You can only take a test one time so make sure your child understands what they are reading.
As always, thank you for reading to and with your child, studying spelling words, practicing math facts, and going over and talking about papers and projects we have done in school Your help and interest enriches your child's learning.
We hope everyone enjoyed their spring break and are ready to work very hard until the end of the year. We have a lot to do. Mrs. Leake and Miss Schopp
Mrs. Adcock and Mrs. Green’s Fourth Grade
It’s hard to believe this year is almost over. Our fourth graders have been so busy preparing for the ISAT test. This years testing included Science, Reading, and Math. All of our students did their very best.
In Science we have started our Health Unit. On March 19th, we attended the Livingston County Body Walk. Each group of students went to various stations that pertained to different parts of the body. We had many professionals from our community presenting the information. The students had a very enjoyable day.
Our next field trip is tentatively set for May 9th. We will be visiting the Hult Health Education Center in Peoria. We will participate in a program entitled DRUGS: CHOICE OR CHANCE. This is a very informative program that the students are actively involved in throughout the program. In the afternoon we will tour Glen Oak Zoo. This promises to be a very educational and fun day for our students.
Fourth grade students have been invited to participate in the Science Triathlon which will be held at Pontiac Junior High on Saturday, May 3rd. At this time students may participate in one, two, or all three activities. Students may build a rocket, bridge, or land yacht. Please encourage your student to participate in any of the three areas. Mrs. Adcock has the registration forms for interested students.
Our students will continue with our Accelerated Reader program for April. Each student has an individual goal set for each month. You child’s goal is 10% of the yearly goal. Please encourage your student to read at least 15 to 20 minutes each day.
District 429 has adopted a new web based Accelerated Reader program. This gives each of our student access to 120,000 different tests. Now our students will be able to read books that they have at home or may have checked out from the public library. Parents and students alike may check to see what reading level (or book level) books are on and how many A/R points each book may be by accessing the following web site: www.arbookfind.com
Please encourage your student to read everyday. This will strengthen their skills in all subject matters.
A NOTE FROM THE SPECIAL NEEDS OFFICE:
At this time of the school year, there are many meetings scheduled for students such as Problem solving meetings, eligibility reviews, IEPs, and re-evaluations. We are challenged to find time slots for all our meetings as the month of May draws near. Please try to keep your scheduled appointments if at all possible. If you must cancel, please call the teacher so a possible alternative date and time can be found. Thanks!
Science Triathlon
The annual Pontiac Science Triathlon will be held at Pontiac Jr. High on Sat., May 3, 2008. The event is open to any area 4th-8th grade student. Applications are available from Mrs. Adcock at Lincoln School. Registration begins the day of the Triathlon at 8:00 a.m. and the opening ceremony begins at 8:45 a.m. Students are to build the projects at home with their parents or their teammates. Three events that students may compete in are Land Yachts, Bridges, and Model Rockets. The application has complete descriptions and instructions. Students compete against others at their grade level. They may enter as individuals, or as a member of a three-person team. The application has more information about this as well. Mrs. Adcock will have balsa wood available for purchase if students decide to build a bridge. Rocket kits can be purchased at hobby stores- be sure they will fit an A8-3 engine which will be given to you at the event. Materials for land yachts are found or purchased items depending on the builder’s own design. Awards will be presented to first, second, and third place winners in each event at each grade level at the Awards Ceremony at the end of the competition. Students who do not win one of those awards will earn a participation ribbon. Everyone will go home with an award! Hope to see you there! Contact Mrs. Adcock or contact Mrs. Thompson at Central School if you have questions or concerns. (Central 815-844-3023; thompsonbre@p429.k12.il.us).
