Mr. P's Note Home!

Volume 7  Issue 7                                                                      September 29, 2009

 

Help NeededÉ

Our class is in need of clear, rinsed out two-liter soda bottles.  We are also in need of a few parent volunteers to help cut and prepare these bottles to become eco-columns for our ecosystems unit.  Any parent who could help this Friday at 11:15AM is asked to come to Room 205 (Mrs. RectorÕs room).  Any assistance is greatly appreciated!

 

Spirit Week, Blood Drive, & Student CouncilÉ

There are lots of upcoming extra-curricular activities!  Meigs Spirit Week is underway.  The remainder of the weekÕs activities include Wednesday: MMS Day, Thursday: Hat Day, and Friday: Sports Team Day.  The student council is also sponsoring a food drive next week, October 5-9 to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank.  Please send any non-perishable food items to our classroom, and student council reps Ana & Noah will take it from there.  Mr. P is recording the number of food items and the student donating the most food wins a $50 MM shopping spree in the general store.   The Red Cross is sponsoring a blood drive here at Meigs in November.  The Red Cross will also reward the class with the most adult participants with a pizza party!  LetÕs work hard to help these good causes and be a winning class!

 

Invest in ExcellenceÉ

Our annual INVEST in EXCELLENCE campaign continues. If you havenÕt received a pledge card, please ask for one in the office.  Our class has only sent in 9 pledge cards.  We need 19 more!  Our class goal is $2520.  We have through October to pledge and collect our donations!  There are random drawings over the next few weeks.  On October 15, the 5th grade class with the most students with pledge cards and money collected receives a soda at lunch. On November 6, the 5th grade class with the most students with pledge cards and money collected receives an ice cream party at lunch.  There are other rewards from the PTO and rewards from Mr. P if we can meet our goal of donations and 100% participation (returning pledge cards and collecting as much money as possible).  Check out the INVEST-O-METER on our class webpage at http://www.flyparsons.org/investinexcellence.html.  

 

 

Academic UpdateÉ

1). In social studies, we are beginning a study of the Civil War.  Students will be given a team project next week to research and ultimately teach.  More information will be available on our class website next week.  http://www.flyparsons.org/unitsscivilwar.html

2). In science we are studying cells and working with the science kit, Motion & Design.  We are in need of clear two liter soda bottles for an upcoming science unit.  http://www.flyparsons.org/motiondesign.html

3). Our study of estimation continues in math with an activity involving Skittles.

4). We are focused on writing personal narratives with the Six Traits + One of Writing.

 

Mr. PÕs Class Wish ListÉ

Some of the materials that Mr. P needs for upcoming general stores are:

o      Candy

o      Drinks

o      Small toys

 

Mr. PÕs Student of the WeekÉ

¥September 28- October 2, 2009        

                              Augusto Diedrich

Be sure to read about Augusto on the electronic ÒStudent of WeekÓ board in Mr. ParsonsÕ room and on the web in the password protected area soon.  

Next weekÕs student of the week. . .    Josef Garcia

 

Items to Bring. . .

Ÿ       Red Tuesday Folder Signature ChartÉ

Ÿ       CORRECTED WORKÉ

 

Dates to RememberÉ

10.05.09            INVEST in EXCELLENCE DRAWINGÉ

10.09.09            GENERAL STORE #4

 

25pts: Secret Word = ¥see the websiteÉ

 

 

 

 

For Additional News Items & Info Check:

http://www.flyparsons.org/notehome.html

 

On The WEBSITE ONLY:

 

 

EXTRA EXTRA EXTRAÉ

It pays to check the website, tooÉ

 

This WeekÕs SECRET WORD (Sep 29):

25pts: Secret Word = ÒSpiritÓ

 

Mr. PÕs SECRET INFORMATION LEAK:

www.flyparsons.org/grade5.html

 

TEAM SHIRTSÉ

As always, please watch the website to know which days our class will wear our class shirts in the future!  By the way, the next date to wear class t-shirts is Wednesday, September 30, and maroon class shirts is Friday, October 2 if you are not participating in Spirit Week!.

 

[GRADESPEED]: Check it OutÉ

UPDATE!  Gradespeed.com will update again later this week  The updates will reflect the past week.  Late work has been recorded as of Monday, September 21.  Notice any missing assignments.  Please submit them each week with the Tuesday Folder Sheet.

 

Mr. PÕs Class Website

Students use the class website each day.   At this point, the only parts students need access are the red buttons at the top of the page.  Those buttons are Fifth, HW, and TASK.  Students will check the HW (homework) webpage each day and complete a TECH TASK.  Questions each day on the TECH TASK will support learning that occurs in class and will serve as a way for Mr. P to formatively assess student understanding.  The TECH TASKS on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are to be either saved as a WORD DOCUMENT and e-mailed to Mr. P as an attachment, copied on a home printer, or simply written on notebook paper.  The TECH TASKS on Tuesday and Thursday are GOOGLE DOCS and are completed on-line.

 

 

 

 

TwitterÉ

Parents have another way of staying connected to our class.  Log on to www.twitter.com on your computer or cell phone and follow our class.  Mr. P posts daily updates about whatÕs happening at www.twitter.com/meigsmagnet.  It is not necessary to sign up a twitter account to view our class tweets.

 

Weekly ReaderÉ

Our class will be using Weekly Reader News: Senior Edition this year in class.  The subscription for each student is $4.00. Donations of $4.00 cash to cover the subscription will be appreciated!  Thanks to those who have already sent in $4.00!

 

THE 100% CREWÉ

Each Monday, students with all assignments turned in and on time are eligible for the special 100% CREW.  Students can check Mr. PÕs door to see if they have made the CREW each Monday.  This info, as well as the special rewards to be given each week, can also be seen on the class website!

 

A Special CouponÉ

Print and clip this coupon below for a special REWARD the week of October 5.  To get the reward, please obtain a parentÕs signature that states your parent has checked gradespeed.com the week of September 28.

 

COUPON


StudentÕs Name     ______________________________________________________________

ParentÕs Signature ______________________________________________________________

Date: _____________________  Secret Word: _______________________________________

 

 

More About Which to Mark Your CalendarÉ

BettyÕs Brain begins October 15.

The October Monthly Book is due October 30.

INVEST in EXCELLENCE due by November.

 

TuesdaysÉ

Students receive graded papers in the Red Tuesday Folder every Tuesday. All papers do go home on Tuesdays.  If for any reason they do not arrive, let Mr. P know.  Students may correct any and all assignments and assessments for some of the credit (points) back. Those corrections are to be stapled to the Tuesday Folder Signature Sheet.  Mr. P then re-grades the corrections and put the points earned in a category on Gradespeed labeled extra credit.  The original grade does remain, while the points earned by making corrections are cumulated in that extra credit category.  As mentioned, student grades are on-line at https://gradespeed.mnps.org.  Parents and students have a password to check each subject in order to view grades.   This should be done each Tuesday and recorded on the Tuesday Folder Signature Sheet.

 

HOMEWORK WORDS = Special RewardsÉ

Kids, be sure to check the ÒHWÓ webpage for the HOMEWORK WORD each day.  Each week a special reward will await those who follow through! By the way there are also chances for secret words on Twitter and the Tuesday Note Home from time to time!  Please look and donÕt forget!

 

https://gradespeed.mnps.orgÉ

Grades are on-line at gradespeed.mnps.org.  Parents and students have a password to check each subject in order to view grades.   This should be done each Tuesday.

 

Mr. PÕs ProceduresÉ

Students, the following are reminders of specific classroom procedures:

o      Push your chair in when you leave your desk.

o      Have your agenda signed daily.

o      Locker breaks are 7:45AM, and 2:45PM.  Students should remember to take all materials from the locker at that time.  Keep all materials in your locker until needed. 

o      7:45AM morning work is posted on the television each morning as you arrive in the classroom.  This is due at 8:15AM along with your daily tech task and all homework.  Students, be sure to be prepared everyday and be on time with all of your assignments. 

 

NotesÉ

¯    Hey kids, remember to send your Tech Task (Monday, Wednesday, & Friday) via e-mail.  Please send it to Mr. P [james.parsons@mnps.org]. Your tech task should be saved on your computer as a MICROSOFT OFFICE WORD DOCUMENT with your name and date in the title.  Attach the document to an e-mail to send it to Mr. P.  DonÕt forget to include your name and the date in the title of the e-mail.  Doing this will save paper!

 

 

 

Bye ByeÉ