Subject and Predicate Review

We are reviewing sentences and subjects and predicates in language arts. Since we are reviewing these it seemed necessary to pull out a classic Schoolhouse Rock, Mr. Morton. Warning: The song can get in your head.

Later this week we'll spend more time working on compound subjects and predicates.

Homecoming Parade

Treats or Time

This year when students have their birthday they have the option of bring in treats or having time to do a game or extra recess. I am hoping to give kids an option and choose one. If you bring in treats please avoid treats with tree nuts. I am hoping that the birthday games or recess will give the kids the option to do something fun and active as well. It is your choice though.

Also, just so you know, birthday activities and birthdays are never posted on the blog. This private information is in the classroom though, but you won't find a birthday list or birthdates on the calendar for privacy reasons.

Weekend Notes

Join the Blog

I am printing the blog this week, but if you would like to follow it via e-mail just insert your e-mail address at the right of the blog (vanclanblog.blogspot.com). You need to type in some randomly generated letters to prove your a real person. Then you'll get an e-mail from FeedBurner. Open that e-mail and click on the link. From then on you will get the updates straight to you e-mail.

Pictures

If your child got their pictures taken at Open House they should have pictures coming home tonight!

Name Homework

We are doing a short project about each child's name. I sent home a little bit of homework for that which is due on Tuesday, September 8. If you haven't seen that yet you may want to ask. The kids just need to ask you how they got their name. We'll look up the origins of their name at school.

Spelling and Math Homework

Starting next week we'll have a normal spelling list and you'll start to see math homework coming home. Besides the name sheet we haven't had homework yet this first week.

Have a Great Weekend!

Updated Schedule

Our schedule has changed just a little bit from open house. The lunch and lunch recess got pushed back 10 minutes to accommodate supervision schedules. We are going to use the extra 10 minutes in before lunch for our read aloud time. We are starting the year with a classic, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

Here is the updated schedule. I am sending one with the students today too, but this schedule has a little more detail.

8:00-8:10       Get Ready For the Day (unpack, sharpen pencils, find reading book, bathroom, etc.)
8:10-8:25       Morning Meeting (get to know you, reviewing rules, highlight of the weekend, etc.)
8:25-8:55       RtI
9:00-9:30       Art (Days A & D) or P.E. (Days B, C, E, & F)
9:35-10:10     Computers (Days A & B), Science (C & D), or Social Studies (E & F)
10:10-11:35   Language Arts (Reading, Writing, Grammar, Spelling, and Vocabulary)
11:35-11:50   Read Aloud
11:55-12:15   Lunch
12:15-12:45   Recess
12:50-1:50     Math
1:50-2:10       Silent Reading
2:10-2:30       Recess
2:30-2:45       Milk, Snacks, and Clean Up
2:45-3:20       Specials (Library - A, Music - A & E, and Guidance - D)
3:25                Dismiss

Homecoming T-Shirts

The homecoming t-shirt form is coming home tonight. If you are ordering a t-shirt the forms are due by Thursday, Sept. 3 at 3:00 p.m. Homecoming this year is on September 11, so it is a really quick turn around. If your child loses their form I have extras in the classroom.

Go Panthers!

Welcome Back!

We only have a few days of summer left, so I hope you are able to get outside and enjoy the last couple of days. I just wanted to let parents know about a few forms and reminders that will be coming home on the first day.

• Oral Health Permission Slip - This program allows students to get preventative dental work like cleaning. There is a form that needs to be filled out and returned.
• Bus Information - A reminder about making prior arrangements with the buses if there are large bus changes for birthdays or activities.
• Summer Reading Program - If you completed the summer reading program please return that form when you come back to school.
• Smile! - Don't forget to bring your smile too. 

P.S. - If you are the parent of a fifth grader you may still have a subscription to the Van Clan Blog. There is an unsubscribe button at the bottom of the e-mail.  Please let your fifth grader know to not be a stranger and to make sure they say hi to me.

Have a Great Summer!

We made it! I hope everyone has an awesome summer! I thoroughly enjoyed having my class this year and hope I will be able to have such a nice group of kids next year. Thank you to everyone for making it such an enjoyable year.

Hazel Dell School Day

Hazel Dell

Tomorrow after lunch we will go over the Hazel Dell school, across from high school. Students can wear plain clothing if they'd like, but they don't have to. We also have mixed-up day in the whole Iowa-Grant building, so they can do that if they'd like too.

At Hazel Dell we'll spend the afternoon having school as they did in a one room schoolhouse!

Letter

We wrote a letter to different businesses a month or so ago. Several students have received nice responses, but the Badger basketball team went all out. Julia wrote a letter to the team and check out the response!

It was so cool it ALMOST turned me into a Badger fan!

School Messenger Message

I copied this letter from Mrs. Erickson to send home this week. I included it in the blog as well. Happy last week of school!

Dear Parent(s),

We will be implementing a different school notification and reporting system called SchoolMessenger.  This system is loaded with features that will make it easier for us to communicate with all families.  It will be possible for teachers to communicate with the parents of their students. It can also allow a coach to communicate with parents or students involved in a particular sport. To guarantee the messaging system is used efficiently, we will need to confirm that the contact information we have for you is accurate and up-to-date at all times.

SchoolMessenger allows our school to send messages using email, voice, and text messaging.  Voice calls will be sent with 608-943-6311 as the caller ID number, text messages will be sent using a caller ID 68453. Please note you will not be able to reply to text messages sent from the school. 

You must OPT-in to receive text alerts from the Iowa-Grant School District. On Monday, June 1 at 10:00AM, you will receive a text message asking you to reply with a Y or Yes.  If you do not reply, you will not receive any text messages from the Iowa-Grant School District.  Tolls and charges associated with receipt of messages from the school are your responsibility and not the responsibility of the school.  If you miss the text message or accidentally delete the text message, you may send a YES text message to 68453 to opt yourself into the messaging system. However, this will only work if the District already has your cell phone information in our Power School system.

If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Dirks atdirks@igs.k12.wi.us or 608-943-6311, Ext 3010.

Sincerely,

Linda Erickson, Superintendent