Polar Express Day and Happy Holidays

On Wednesday, December 21st, we will have Polar Express Day here in 3S. Please allow your child to wear their pajamas to school that day. They can bring slippers to wear also, but make sure they have shoes to wear outside please. We will have treats throughout the day and do lots of things focused on The Polar Express.

Your child will not have a reading log this week or over break. They have worked so hard this year with their reading that I feel they deserve a break. We will get back into the swing of things when we return after break.

I would like to take this time to wish all of you Happy Holidays! It has been a wonderful first half of the year and I look forward to the second half. Safe travels to all of you and Happy New Year!

Miss Smith

November Assembly

On Monday, December 5th, we celebrated the month of November at Washington elementary. We held an assembly to recognize all students that had perfect attendance and one student from each class that excels with the Habit #3 Put First Things First. The student Miss Smith recognized was Samara McLain. Towards the beginning of the year she was really ill and missed quite a bit of school. She did everything she could to get her work made up. To me that showed that she put her schoolwork first. Below is a picture of all of the award winners.

Music Concert Tonight

Just a reminder that our winter music concert is tonight. Please have your child at the Sondheim (civic) center by 6:30 tonight in the side room. It would be off to your right when you walk in the front door. Have them look for your child's teacher. Please pick your child up there tonight after the program also. Please have your child wear red and green if you want and bring an elf hat if they have one.

Book Order

Your child should be bringing home a book order today. These are due back by December 6th, so I can ensure we will get them back before Christmas Break. Books make great gifts. If you find something you would like for your child you can drop off the order in the office, or you can order online and shoot me a quick email that what you ordered is for Christmas. When the order comes in I will contact you to swing by and pick up the order in the office at your convenience.

Veteran's Day Assembly

On Friday, November 11th, we celebrated Veteran's day here at Washington Elementary. We all got together for a wonderful assembly. Jeff Crile from the Iowa National Guard was our guest speaker. He is the father of one of our third graders. It was a great honor to have him take time to come and speak to us. We also got to hear the fourth graders sing a very nice song honoring soldiers. It was a very nice program and helped our students learn a little more about this holiday. Below are some pictures from this assembly.

Monthly Assembly

On Wednesday, November 9th, we celebrated the month of October here at Washington Elementary. Many kids were honored for perfect attendance throughout the month. We also identified a student in each grade that exemplified Habit #2...Begin with the End in Mind. Nathan Whitney was chosen from Miss Smith's room. He is constantly doing his best and working at helping others. Congratulations Nathan!

Conferences and Book Fair

Just a reminder that conferences are tonight and Thursday from 5-8:30. You will receive your child's Quarter 1 report card at your conference. Hope to see you all there.

Also the book fair is going on in our library this week. It will be open during conferences tonight and Thursday night. We will also have a time on Thursday when the kids can go buy stuff if they bring money.

Our Trip to Jefferson County Park

Jefferson County Park Fall 2011-2012 on PhotoPeach

Jefferson County Park on Monday

Just a reminder that we go to Jefferson County Park on Monday, October 17th. Please make sure your child has a cold lunch (with drink) and wears appropriate clothes. Long pants and a jacket or sweatshirt would work as it is supposed to be cooler next week. Please make sure they have good walking shoes also as we will be out hiking most of the day.

Pastries for Parents

Tomorrow, Friday, October 14th, is Pastries for Parents. Please join us in the gym for breakfast with your child. Rolls, juice, milk, and coffee will be provided. Donuts will be served from 7:30-8:15.

Box Tops

Just a reminder to send all of your Box Tops to school with your child. Each class is having a contest and the class that collects the most wins a pizza party either every month or every quarter. Our school receives 10 cents for each one.

Coniferous and Deciduous

Students in 3S have been studying about the difference between coniferous and deciduous trees. We discussed the difference between the two and then went on a nature walk to find artifacts for each type. Back in the classroom we made posters where the students had to draw an example of each type and glue their artifacts on it. The students had a really good time with this activity. It was a great learning experience.

Student Council Representatives

Last week Miss Smith chose our class representatives for Student Council. This year's representatives for 3S will be Lauren Kraemer and Kyle Schubick. Miss Smith felt these were two responsible candidates that would represent our class well. Some of their duties this year will be to help run school store, make decisions on what days we do for Homecoming, organize a food drive for the Lord's Cupboard, and make any other important decisions for the school.

Landform Maps

Today in social studies we made landform maps out of homemade playdough. The kids had a lot of fun doing it and did a really great job! I'm proud of how well they worked to get them done quickly before the playdough dried out. The kids had to spread the playdough around inside an outline of the United States. Then they had to pinch the dough to form the two mountain ranges. Again the kids did a really great job!

First Bookorder

Your child will be bringing home their first book order today. You have until September 15th to decide if you would like to order. If you would like to order there are two ways to do so. First, you can fill out the order form and send it with a check written out to "Scholastic" to school with your child. Or you can order online. Instructions for ordering online are in the letter attached to the book orders. The class does receive a free $3 book for every online order.

Thanks!

Maps, Maps, and More Maps

Currently in Social Studies we have been doing a geography unit using our Nystrom Atlas'.We have been learning all about the differences between maps and globes, different types of maps, and how to read maps. Be sure to ask your child about what they have been learning!

A New Year

Welcome to third grade! I am anxious to get another year started. This is day 4 already and we've had a great time. I'm looking forward to what a great group of kids I have this year. Please feel free to email or call me at anytime with any questions. My email is lani.smith@fairfieldsfuture.org or you can reach me at the school at 641-472-2110.

One quick reminder about after school plans. Whatever you told me at open house that your child will do after school is what they will do unless I have a note from you or you call the school and let us know otherwise. I will not take the kids' words for it. Sorry...just my policy. It's for their own safety.

Last Day of School

Tomorrow, June 1st, is the last day of school. It is not a late start, but it is a 2:25 dismissal. Students are also asked to bring a sack lunch and drink for tomorrow. Lunch will not be served here at school. Students may bring pop if allowed by the parents.

Citizenship

Yesterday, May 23, we had our last quarterly assembly for the year. We recognized all students that have had perfect attendance in fourth quarter and also each teacher chose one student that best represents the character trait of Citizenship. I chose Brady Lovell as our recipient.

Here is what I wrote about Brady:
Brady Lovell is a perfect candidate for this citizenship award. He is always willing to help out and is always respectful. He is a good leader and a perfect example for the rest of the students in my classroom. Brady is always nice to his classmates and adults. He always has a positive attitude.

Attached is a picture of Brady with his younger brother Mason, who also received this award!

Sidewalk Fractions

We have been working with equivalent fractions in third grade. One day last week we took the math groups outside and let them draw equivalent fractions with sidewalk chalk. They did a really good job and had a lot of fun!

Reading Logs

We have officially made it to the last month of school. The kids have done a FANTASTIC job returning their reading logs all year long that I decided to give them the last month off. I know that there are a lot of activities going on and it has been difficult the last few weeks to get these done. I appreciate all of your hard work in helping make sure your child has been returning these.

Just because we aren't returning reading logs does not mean we should not encourage our children to read at home. If you have a night where you don't have any activities I ask that you still encourage your child to read a little bit that night.

Grandparent's breakfast

This last week we were able to invite our grandparents into our school. We held a breakfast two different mornings. Grandparents were able to eat breakfast with their grandchild, be shown around our school, and visit our school's book fair. This was a great event and hopefully something we will be able to continue.

Reminder about Music Concert

Just a reminder that Monday, April 18th is our third and fourth grade music concert. It is at the Sondheim Center at 7:00. Please have your kids there between 6:30 and 6:45. Hope to see you all there!

Spring Jefferson County Park Trip

Friday, April 8th, our class gets to go to Jefferson County Park again. We are really excited to be able to go for a second time this year. We will only be going for the afternoon, so a cold lunch is not required. We will eat lunch at school before loading the bus.

Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for being outside all afternoon and for walking through water. Waterproof boots are suggested. Also, if you happen to have an extra pair of boots and would be willing to loan them to another child that day please send them.

Spring Music Concert

This year the Libertyville and Washington Third and Fourth Grade students will be combining to bring you a Spring Program titled Jazz: A Swingin' Celebration. This is a program that came in a magazine subscription that was purchased with funds from one of the parent groups at the end of the year last year.

This program touches on a little bit of the history of Jazz in the United States, its roots as well as other branches of music that began through Jazz. The students have learned the names of several Jazz artists as well as how this music all ties together. There is a little Swing, Jazz, Dixieland, and Blues. Artists are mentioned from Duke Ellington to Herbie Hancock. This should be an exciting program for all.

The spring vocal concert will be on Monday, April 18th at 7pm at the Sondheim Center. There is no admission charge, but a free-will donation basket will be in the lobby.

March 18th

Friday, March 18th, will be our culmination activity for our Spring reading incentive. If your child has returned 3 out of 4 of their last reading logs and has read at least 75 minutes on them they will get to attend this celebration. Your child may wear their pajamas that day, if they wish, and we will go to the gym to watch Peter Pan in the afternoon. We will also have popcorn to help us enjoy our movie.

Tissues and Wipes

Due to the high volume of illness in our classroom this year we have run out of Kleenex and could use some more Clorox wipes. Any donations would be greatly appreciated!

Spring Reading Incentive

Last Thursday we held a kick-off for our Spring reading incentive. The theme is pirates. Each third grader is asked to read 15-20 minutes 5 nights a week and return their reading log signed. We will continue to use our regular reading logs and continue returning them on Mondays.

Below are the prizes:
Week 1: Ring pop and pirate bookmark
Week 2: Root Beer Float
Week 3: Sword pen and pirate tattoo
Week 4: Free recess

Grand prize: If the students return 3 out of the 4 weeks and have read at least 75 minutes on each of them they will get to attend a school-wide pajama party and watch "Peter Pan."

Happy Reading!

March PE Update from Mr. Dunlap

We have a major activity taking place during the month of March. The
third and fourth grades will be participating in the annual Jump Rope
for Heart event. This is a fundraiser for the American Heart
Association. I will be giving the kids a lot more information about
the fundraiser during the first week of March. They will bring home a
fundraiser packet and have a few weeks to raise money. It is not
required that all kids raise money, but strongly encouraged as all the
money goes against the fight against heart disease and stroke. We will
jump rope during the last two P.E. classes before spring break. This
is a fun activity that goes to a great cause and the kids can earn
some prizes along the way.

Comedy/Story telling Assembly

On Monday, January 24th, we had an assembly here at Washington. Rick Huddle, a comedian and story teller, came and put on quite the show. Below are the links to the videos of the assembly. Enjoy!

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Respect

During the second quarter we were working on the character trait of respect. At the end of the quarter I chose one student that I felt always displays this trait. I chose Isabel Allen. She was recognized at our quarterly assembly yesterday. Below is a picture of her with her award.

February News from Mr. Dunlap

During the month of February the second, third, and fourth grades will
be doing a variety of indoor activities during their PE time. Some of
these activities include; volleyball, the climbing wall, scooters, and
playing with the parachute.

The Polar Express

On Wednesday, December 22nd, we had Polar Express Day here in 3S. We started out the day by wearing our pajamas and slippers to school. We went to the gym for our Christmas sing along, and then we got to have hot chocolate and donuts while Miss Smith read us the book. After we read the book we talked about what it would mean to get the first gift of Christmas and then we wrote about what we would choose as the first gift. In the afternoon we got to watch the movie. At the end of the day we filled out a venn diagram comparing the book and movie. We had a great day in 3S!