Thursday, June 19, 2014

Parent Survey Update

Hello Everyone,

There was a glitch with the parent survey and it has been closed. You may have seen an email from Dr. Rhoads about this yesterday on the listserv. If you would like to provide feedback to me, please print the PDF that he sent or follow the link below. Then you can print it and mail it to me here at school or scan and email to me at bearle@rsu14.org.

Have a great summer! Beth

Link:
https://docs.google.com/a/grsu14.org/file/d/0B_95jb-y9FcxSVo1TTdFei0xZFE/edit

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

PARENT SURVEY


Dear Families,
 
Below is information regarding a survey that all parents at WPS are being asked to participate in. Your feedback is appreciated. I have enjoyed working with your students this year. I hope you have a wonderful summer!
Beth Earle
At Windham Primary School, our staff is dedicated to supporting the learning of all students.  We recognize that the school is most effective for a child’s learning when there is a strong connection between school and home.  We are a learning organization that is always looking for ways to improve. We are creating another opportunity to provide feedback.  We value parent input.    This feedback serves the purposes of allowing families to give feedback to their child’s teacher on things that went well and things that could be improved upon from the parent perspective.  It also will hopefully strengthen the school to home connection for our future students. 

We are asking parents to take a few minutes to complete this brief survey.  The information you provide will go directly to your child’s teacher.  You have the option of adding your name or not. 

Your time in completing the survey is greatly appreciated by July 1st
link:
https://docs.google.com/a/grsu14.org/forms/d/1cwJAYoWC4Os0CXrqEoHveRfhUOgMfcP9Au3OqRK2-BM/viewform




Thursday, June 12, 2014

Scarborough Marsh Trip UPDATE ON WEATHER

Hi Families,

We will plan to go the marsh tomorrow unless it is threatening thunder and lightning. Please be sure you send your child with appropriate clothes/footwear for muddy, wet conditions. We will be outdoors for a total of 3 hours.

You might also want to pack dry clothes and shoes for them if they will be spending the rest of the day at school. They can leave dry clothes here and change when we return to school.

I plan to purchase a box of trash bags to make homemade ponchos for kids who don't come prepared. The kids think that would be fun to wear, but please send them in raincoats if they own them. The bag ponchos won't cover their arms very well.

The marsh has also been very buggy this week. If you would like your child to wear bug spray, please apply at home. The marsh is strict about not spraying bug spray near the wildlife.

I will be making a call in the morning on whether to go or not. Kids know there is a possibility of us not going. I will be sure to refund all of your money if we do not go. We will be having a picnic lunch in our room if we have to stay at school.

Cross your fingers and do an anti-rain dance tonight! :)

Beth

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Permission Slips, Volunteer Forms, Invitations, and Such!

Hello Everyone,

Tonight I'm sending along an invitation to the Ice Cream Social in all backpacks. Please consider coming to enjoy one last ice cream with the staff of WPS!

Also, you will see information about Field Day. I need you to let me know by Monday, June 9th whether your child will need a bagged lunch from our school lunch program. Read the form and return by Monday, please.

On Field Day we will be wearing coordinating colors. Please try to send your child in a MAROON t-shirt that day. If they don't have a maroon shirt, they can wear a color that's close to it OR just anything with Windham Eagles on it.

Last, chorus kids brought home slips yesterday regarding a field trip to Ledgewood Manor in Windham on Monday, June 9. If you haven't sent the slip back, do it asap. They cannot go with Mrs. Cash-Cobb if it hasn't been returned. If you don't have the slip you can contact her to arrange permission.

Next week our special days are
Monday--Sports Day (wear sporting apparel)
Tuesday--Tale of Despereaux Movie Day (if you have this on DVD, not blu-ray, and are willing to share for the day, please email me or send it in--also you may send popcorn for your child, but they won't be able to share
Wednesday--Step Up to Fourth Grade--kids will come home knowing their new teacher
Thursday--Mystery Reader Day
Friday--Field trip to Scarborough Marsh Day

It will be a busy last full week!

Beth

Friday, May 30, 2014

Reminders and Info in Backpacks

Hello Families,

Just a reminder to get field trip money in by Thursday, June 5. The more chaperones, the merrier!

Coming tonight to folks who don't get electronic communication are fliers about the FREE Summer Lunch Program for Kids and Teens and a WPS school lunch menu for June.

Those who haven't sent school pictures or picture money back will also be getting a reminder to do so ASAP. Let's have 100% participation this year!

Next week will be a busy one for the last 26 Days Calendar. It might be a good idea to organize things this weekend. Towels for read outside day, pajamas for pajama day, and red clothes for red day. The kids are having fun with each day and are really excited for new name day on Monday. You might want to talk about what they think would be a good name for them to try out. Last year we had some very interesting and creative names!

Last, I'm attaching some information on summer math learning opportunities that your child can access online. See below if you're interested.

Beth


Here are 3 great online summer math opportunities to help students maintain math skills through the summer. 

 


 

www.ixl.com  This is a program that students use at school but can continue to use through the summer months.  Please contact your child’s teacher to get usernames and passwords if you do not already have them.

 

 

Fasttmath Stretch to GO

Fasttmath Stretch to Go   https://samconnect.scholastic.com/auth/zip/STRCH.html  This is geared more toward students entering grades 3 and up.  It  provides computational practice.  Contact your child’s teacher for a username and password if your child does not already know it. 

 

TEN MARKS

Ten Marks is also an online math program that usually has a fee associated with it but it is free for this summer.  It allows parents to choose personalized  incentives that may motivate their child to practice math during the summer.  When signing your child up for the program, you can choose incentives that are personal to your child.  Your child could earn an treat or special activity for work completed in the program.  https://www.tenmarks.com/

 

Monday, May 12, 2014

Last 26 Days of School

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the 2nd post today. I was all set to send this home in hard copy and found a big error, so it's delayed in getting to you. I will send hard copies tomorrow, so you can post somewhere convenient to keep track of our upcoming events. I did go over this with the kids today and they are very excited! If you have any questions please get in touch!

Beth


The Last 26 Days of School


Dear Parents,
Believe it or not, the school year is coming to an end. During the last 26 days of school, our classes will be participating in the alphabet countdown. Each school day will have a different activity depending on the letter of the day. Your child may need to bring certain things on various days.

 

This sheet will help your child remember each day of the countdown. Also, check the daily schedule for reminders for the next day. I hope your child enjoys his/her last days in third grade!

Thanks,
Ms. Tompson and Mrs. Earle



May 13 Awesome Art Day
Students create original artwork.

May 14 Bedtime Book Share
Bring your favorite bedtime book that you either were read as a young child or read now.

May 15 Compliment and Caring Words Day
Come to school ready to compliment classmates and to find ways to care for each other.

(This is also Race for the Playground Day where students will be doing laps to raise money for our playground. Don’t forget those sponsor sheets!)

May 16 DEAR Day
We will take time to Drop Everything and Read!

May 19 Exercise Day
Wear comfortable clothes. We are exercising.

May 20 Fruit for snack
Bring your favorite fruit in for snack.  Fruit scraps can go in our worm compost bins.

May 21 Green Day
Wear green clothing and with weather permitting we will work in the school garden.

May 22 Hat Day
Bring your favorite hat to wear in class.

May 23 “In the Woods” Day
Bring good hiking shoes for a nature walk.

May 26 NO SCHOOL MEMORIAL DAY

May 27 Joke Day
Bring in a school appropriate joke to share with classmates.

May 28 Kindness Day
Everyone will participate in a random act of kindness.

May 29 Learn Something New Day
Bring in an interesting fact to share.

May 30 Mix Match Day
We will wear mix matched clothes.


June 2 New Name Day
We will make up new names/nicknames for the day! We will make name tags and call each other by our new name all day!


June 3 Outdoor Reading Day
We will read outside today (weather permitting).  Be prepared to sit on the ground, bring a towel if you want.

June 4 Pajama Day
Wear your favorite clean pajamas to school.

June 5 Quilt Day
We will make a paper quilt to sum up 3rd grade.


June 6 Red Day
Wear red clothes.

June 9 Sports Day
Wear your favorite sport’s team apparel or a team uniform.

June 10 Tale of Despereaux Movie Day
We will watch the movie Tale of Despereaux.  Bring in popcorn if you want a snack.

June 11 Up to 4th Grade Day
We will take a trip to Manchester to meet your fourth grade teacher.

June 12 Visit from a Mystery Reader Day
Bring your favorite vegetable for snack.

June 13 Wetlands Day
We will go on a field trip to the Scarborough Marsh and Pine Point Beach.

June 16 X-tra Recess
Day We will enjoy “x-tra” recess!

June 17 Yellow Day

Wear yellow clothes.

June 18 Zip Up and Zoom Off Day
We will zip up our bags and zoom off to enjoy our summer vacation!

Survey


Third grade students at Windham Primary School  have been selected to participate in a school climate survey.  This is an electronic survey that will take students approximately 10 minutes to complete.  Our school will receive the results and will have the opportunity to use them to improve as a school.


Attached is the parental notification of the study with further detail.  If you prefer that your child does not participate, please sign and return the attached form before Friday. 

I will be sending home a consent form this afternoon. Please look for it in backpacks.

Beth

Friday, May 2, 2014

Dates to Remember in May

Here is a list of upcoming dates. You should have received fliers in backpacks this week about most of it. Please let me know if you have questions.

May 5-9 the district ART SHOW is open at the High School. Chorus will perform on Monday, May 5

May 12-16 will be testing week in third grade. All Aimsweb and NWEA testing will be completed this week. Homework will be light that week.

May 16 will be our turn to run on the track for Race for the Playground fundraiser.

May 21 4th Grade Parent Night at Manchester School. Mrs. Curtis, principal, will share curriculum and behavior expectations as well as introduce 4th grade teachers. There will be a tour at the end. 6:30-7:30

May 26 Third Grade Chorus will march in the Memorial Day Parade. Meet at the public library at 8:45 am.

May 28 Portland Sea Dogs game--Chorus members can get a free ticket and will sing the National Anthem prior to the game. Please send slips back whether you are planning to have your child attend or not by May 14, so Mrs. Cash Cobb can send money in to get tickets.

Return or send payment for school pictures ASAP. Lifetouch will donate a bike to WPS for 100% participation this year.

Have a great weekend! Beth

Friday, April 11, 2014

Upcoming Events

Hello Families,

I'm listing a few events happening next week.

Miss Skarbinski's last day with us is Thursday, April 17th. We will miss her after she is gone!

Monday, April 14 is Hat Day at WPS. We will be going to a performance from the Puppet Tree folks called Caps For Sale. This performance is brought to us by our Cultural Arts Committee.

I will not be having spelling words next week. With our change in schedule on Monday interfering with our literacy block and the short week, I thought I'd give the class a break. Please expect some math practice sheets and students should do their 20 min of reading, as usual.

Wednesday and Thursday, April 16-17 is Kindergarten Screening at WPS. Kindergarten students will not be in school. If you know of anyone needing to have their child screened, be sure they have contacted the school.

Notes from Administration:

If you wish to provide input on the placement of your child for next year use the following link.


 

Student Arrival Procedures

 

Once all buses have arrived at WPS in the AM and the outside doors have been locked, the second lane in front of the school will be closed for traffic.  If you are arriving after approximately 8:20 and need to drop off a student, please park in the parent parking spaces above C-House (the lot closest to Windham High School).  After parking, please walk the student into the main office to be checked in.  In the case of an emergency, this will allow rescue personnel vehicles to park as close to the school as possible. Thanks for your help.                                


Have a great weekend!

Beth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Hi Families,
I'm pleased to announce the class has had a great week with Miss Skarbinski. Thank you for your help messaging with them about respect.
As a class they have been working hard to earn a reward by filling in boxes on a 100 grid. They call it 10 in a row, good to go. Today they finally got 10 in a row and voted to have Pajama Day and watch a movie. On Wednesday, April 2 they can wear their PJs, bring a favorite stuffed animal, bring a small blanket and enjoy the movie Frozen together on our Smartboard! If parents want to send popcorn as a special snack, that is great--just remember we can't share snacks. Congratulate your child on making good choices this week!
Beth

SPRING SMENCILS


Go Green for Technology ~ Dollars for Tech Scholars

Now on sale in each house at

WPS the 1st Friday of each

month from 8:00-8:20am

Gourmet Scented Smencils ~ For April 4th we

have new original scents including: Gum-E Bear;

Juicy Melon; Cherry Vanilla; Waffle Cone; Pom Paya;

Sorta Soda; Pearrrfect; Razzle Berry; Syrup Dipity;

Kinda Cola! Still ONLY $1.00

All Smencil sales go towards purchasing technology, like SMARTboards

for Windham Primary Students!

Students can bring money in starting March 31st and give to Mrs. Earle. I will gather all pre-sale pencils on Friday morning so they don't have to wait in line. If you want to buy any for Easter as an extra gift, get money to me and I can send your pencils home in disguise. Just email me to set it up.

Beth

Friday, March 21, 2014

Miss Skarbinski finishes her first week!

Hello Families,

Miss Skarbinski has finished her first week lead teaching with success this week. It was a transitional week, for sure, as students got more comfortable with her style, but I think they enjoyed learning from her and I hope they have conveyed that to you.
We have had some behavior bumps in the road and could use your help. Please reinforce the importance of being even more respectful with her as they are with me. She is doing a wonderful job managing my class, but as with all new things, it is challenging. Some students have had some minor consequences this week. They all know that next week parents will be notified if choices don't improve. Most kids are doing very well and are really respectful. I hope all parents can have a conversation this weekend to reinforce good choices and respect toward adults.
Miss Skarbinski will lead teach for the next two weeks. I have been in several times a day to check in and both she and the class are having a great time learning about the solar system. They will be completing a research project about the planets before April vacation. Please ask them what they've learned so far!

From the Leadership team:


There will be no school on March 28th. 

Spring pictures will be Monday, March 31st for Kdg and 1st grades

         Tuesday, April 1st will be for grades 2 and 3.

 

1st Grade Music Concert

March 20th 6:30

 

2nd Grade Music Concert March 24th 6:30

 

3rd Grade Music Concert

April 1st  6:30

 

We are looking for parent feedback on how we do conferences.  Please take a few minutes to complete this brief survey to provide us with your thoughts. Please click on the following link.



Have a great weekend!

Beth

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Hat Day Friday

Hello Families,
Friday is Hat Day at WPS. Students can wear any type of hat they like.
If your child is going on the chorus field trip, Mrs. Cash-Cobb has asked them to dress nicely. Students can put hats on when they return.

Beth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Conferences Update in Case of Snow Storm

Look in backpacks tonight for conference reminder slips. I have written in your conference time and date. If you are planning to conference Wednesday or Thursday, the bottom portion of the slip says the following:


If the weather should be bad enough to cancel school, my conferences will also be cancelled and postponed. If your conference is on Wednesday, I will hold your conference at the same time next Wednesday, March 19th.  If your conference is on Thursday, I will hold your conference at the same time, but on Tuesday, March 18th.  If the rescheduled time doesn’t work for you, please contact me immediately, so we can reschedule. Thanks for your flexibility. I will be glad to see this snow gone for another season.
Cross your fingers that the weather will cooperate, so that we can meet. If for any reason you cannot make it and they are not cancelled, please either email me or call the office and leave a message for me. Thanks for your help!

Beth

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Quick Updates

Hi Everyone,

I'm sorry for my absence in posting to the blog this winter. Things have been extremely hectic in my life, but they are settling down and I will be posting much more regularly for the rest of the year.

I have a few things pieces of info to get out to you before the weekend.

First, conferences are coming the week of March 10-14. The PTC fast site will be live as of 3pm on Friday. The blocks are 40 minutes from start to finish and you will be doing 2 rotations like last time. Students will start by sharing work in the hall for 20 minutes and you will conclude by talking with me. I plan to send a schedule for you to choose times if you do not plan to sign up online. Please DO NOT send back the printed schedule if you are booking your slot online.

Next, I want to clear up confusion I'm hearing from students regarding REACH testing. Mrs. McBride, the coordinator of our Gifted/Talented programming has sent a letter to all parents of third graders in the district. There are criteria listed in the letter for students to receive REACH instruction next year.
If you think that your child may be eligible for gifted/talented services in math and/or language arts, please complete the form at the bottom of this letter and mail it back to the address provided.
Please note that we are seeking students who have demonstrated academic achievement or
potential far above that of their peers, and whose needs can not reasonably be met in the
regular classroom. State law allows us to serve no more than 5% of the class.
 

Last, the playground fundraiser for the basket raffle is underway. Baskets will be on display during conference week. Please get your donated items for our ICE CREAM BASKET to school by March 5. A memo went home earlier in the week, but let me know if you have questions before the 5th.

Thanks and hope to see everyone during the conference week.

Beth Earle