Volume 8 Issue 1 August 17, 2010
Welcome BackÉ
The new school year has begun. ItÕs sixth grade time! Students got right down to business on the first day of school picking up where we left off last May. ThatÕs a great perk to looping with the same teacher and class! We did add four new students to our great class! Be sure to welcome Jack Brandes, Jaylon Cunningham, Liam Dougherty, and Elizabeth Gillis! HereÕs a side note to Jaylon. Mr. P taught JaylonÕs dad, Steven, in sixth grade at Brick Church Middle School. Talk about the full circle of life!
MMS Sixth Grade HighlightsÉ
Check out a few of the academic opportunities that are in store for Mr. PÕs class in the first nine weeks of 6th grade! Kids should be able to talk about each of these to their parents!
¯ Science Camp – September 15-17
¯ 6,000,000 Paper Clips – study of place value
¯ Ancient Egypt
¯ National History Day
Open HouseÉ
The Meigs Magnet Open House is this Thursday, August 19 at 6:00PM. As part of that, students in our class are bringing personal artifacts to school (by tomorrow) to display Thursday. The student displays should have artifacts that represent interests, passions, achievements, or just something unique. Mr. P will be on hand to visit with everyone. There is nothing formal planned, just a time to be together!
Weekly ReaderÉ
Mr. P has already ordered this yearÕs Weekly Reader subscription via credit card. The cost per student subscription is $4.00. You may send a cash donation for the subscription to Mr. P beginning tomorrow.
Tech TaskÉ
The tech tasks on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will now be done solely through the www.meigsmail.org Google Document features. Each student has practiced and taken notes about how to use the very intuitive features. Students should be able to do a Òshow and tellÓ about his/her MeigsMail account by this point!
[BLOG]: Weekly Words on WednesdayÉ
This school year, Mr. P will blog weekly educational tips, classroom congrats, and maybe a few humorous stories each Wednesday at this new blog address: http://weeklywordsweblog.blogspot.com/
THANKS!
Many thanks to all the wonderful parent volunteers in our class who have already been here at MMS working tirelessly! Due to our classÕ parents, PTO has had tons of help, MeigsMart has been staffed, and the science camp packets are already made and distributed to sixth grade homeroom teachers! Our class has the best parents!
SCIENCE CAMP!
Students will meet Wednesday to get information about SeptemberÕs overnight science camp. The camp will be from September 15-17 at the 4-H Ridley Center in Columbia, TN. Each class may take two parent chaperones.
Mr. PÕs Student of the WeekÉ
¥August 23-27, 2010
Elizabeth Gillis
Be sure to read about Elizabeth 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. . . Jack Brandes
Items to Bring. . .
Ÿ Red Tuesday Folder Signature ChartÉ
Ÿ CORRECTED WORKÉ
Dates to RememberÉ
08.18.10 CAMP student meeting @ 9:15AM in MPRÉ
08.19.10 OPEN HOUSEÉ
08.20.10 Summer reading DUE/BINDER CHECKÉ
08.31.10 CAMP parent meeting @ 5:30PM in cafeteriaÉ
25pts: Secret Word = ¥see the websiteÉ
For Additional News Items & Info Check:
On The WEBSITE ONLY:
EXTRA EXTRA EXTRAÉ
It pays to check the website, tooÉ
This WeekÕs SECRET WORD (August 17):
25pts: Note Home Secret Word = ÒinequalityÓ
Mr. PÕs SECRET INFORMATION LEAK:
www.flyparsons.org/everybodysomebody.html
TEAM SHIRTSÉ
As always, please watch the website to know which days our class will wear our class shirts in the future! The next date to wear class t-shirts is Wednesday, August 18, and maroon class shirts is Friday, August 20.
[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 August 18. Notice any missing assignments. Please submit them each week with the Tuesday Folder Sheet.
A Special CouponÉ
Print and clip this coupon below for a special REWARD. To get the reward, please obtain a parentÕs signature that states your parent has checked gradespeed.com.
COUPON
StudentÕs Name ______________________________________________________________
ParentÕs Signature ______________________________________________________________
Date: _____________________ Secret Word: _______________________________________
Classroom RemindersÉ
1). Click on the button labeled ÒGRADE 6Ó for links to our
on-line textbooks!
2). Check the HOMEWORK webpage nightly!
3). Link to thte blog at http://www.flyparsons.com/blog
4). Go online to order books at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs Use our class code GLW2M
5). Bring running shoes and water to drink on Tuesdays and Thursdays for Move and Groove in the gym!
6). Personal Narrative Writing begins soon.
7). Study geography land/map features - test soon.
8). AUGUST BOOK: Holes due September 3. Freak the Mighty begins soon in class.
9). Our class will be studying large numbers in a unit called 6,000,000 paper lips!
More About Which to Mark Your CalendarÉ
CAMP student meeting: 08.18.10
OPEN HOUSE: 08.19.10
Summer Reading DUE: 08.20.10
BINDER CHECK: 08.20.10
CAMP parent meeting: 08.31.10
School Picture Day: 09.01.10
SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDER DUE: 09.03.10
NO SCHOOL: 09.06.10
SCIENCE CAMP: 09.15.10 – 09.17.10
FIELD TRIP to CHILDRENÕS THEATRE: 09.29.10
WISH LISTÉ
Our clickers and TI-Nspire calculators are in need of power. AA batteries are needed for the clickers and AAA batteries are needed for the calculators. We also need items for the general store and sports equipment for recess. If you are able to donate, please send those to school at your earliest convenience.
Freak the MightyÉ
We will be reading the Newberry book, Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick. The book is available online for a little as $4.00. We will begin reading the book the week of August 23. The book is one of Mr. PÕs favorites chronicling the lives of two ÒmisfitsÓ who find they share lots of similar values! There is a great plot twist to the story. Many worthwhile themes are found in the selection!
The August Monthly Book is Holes. Students are to read this Ònew classic,Ó for pleasure, by Friday, September 3.
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.
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.
Personal JournalsÉ
Monday, August 30 is the next date for personal journals to be checked. Entries #1-10 will be checked. All entries are to be at least one paragraph in length and hand written in the personal journal composition notebook. Typed or lose papers will not be accepted. There will be no late journal grades this time. If it is not turned in on Monday, and completed, a zero will be assigned. Please be diligent in staying caught up!
RRR/DemeritsÉ
Students, please be reminded about the three Rs! You must be respectful, responsible, and resourceful. The administration has reminded you on announcements about the dress code, tardies, and Mr. P is reminding you about listening in class and doing your work. Several students have received demerits lately as a consequence for continually breaking these rules in class. You must try your very best to be organized and responsible. We are approaching the end of fifth grade and your adjustment to middle school should include being on time with all of your work as well as giving 100% during class and with those heretofore mentioned assignments. Thanks! -- Mr. P
HomeworkÉ
Many thanks go to all of the students who are faithful in turning assignments in on time regularly. We do, still, have a few students who are continuing to be neglectful in getting assignments in at the appointed time. Students, please be reminded that failing to turn assignments in on time is going to affect your report card grade. Please make a new commitment to keep up to date on homework and make your parents, teacher and yourself proud!
Quizlet.comÉ
Thanks for the awesome website Mrs. Knight. Parents and students may use this website to create practice quizzes to study for any tests or review concepts. Mrs. Knight makes spelling test Quizlet links each week and offered to share her link each week. That link will be posted each week on our website. Please take advantage of this service. It is very helpful.
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!
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 www/meigsmail.org
Bye ByeÉ