Ellington Elementary Update
September 2010Volume 3, Issue 1 / Ellington Elementary
One School Road
Ellington, Missouri 63638
Principal: Carolyn Bouma / Phone: 573-663-2293
Fax: 573-663-2144
Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year. We are excited to get the year off and going. As many of you have already noticed, Ellington Elementary has taken on an ocean theme this year. The teachers and staff have worked hard at decorating and creating a beach atmosphere. Along with the decorating, all students (and parents) have the opportunity to purchase a class t-shirt to wear for school activities, assemblies, field trips, and Field Day. The class shirts can be purchased for $5-7, so remember to turn your order in by Thursday, September 16th.
Bus notes/Student pickup
Please remember to call before 2:30 with bus notes or changes of student pickups as this requires time to get these messages to the students. Please do not leave bus messages on the voice mail system. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Parent Pick-Up
Due to the limited space in the elementary entryway where the students line up to be picked up by parents and safety issues, we are asking that parents wait in the car pick up line to get their children. We are working on developing effective routines that are safe for all of the students. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding on this matter.
Fundraiser
Ellington Elementary will be participating in a fundraiser through “Celebrating Home” September 23rd through October 6th. Proceeds will support state testing incentives and rewards, field trips, incentives for grades and other exciting events that happen over the school year.
Preschool News
Hooray! We have made it through the first few weeks of school and it has been Oceans of Fun!!!
Upcoming learning themes will be: Apples-Letter A, Leave-Letter L, Nursery Rhymes-Letter N, and Community Helpers-Letter C Letter of the Week Homework will be coming home each week. Please have your child complete and send the letter back by Friday of each week. We will be continuing to work on phone #'s and address's throughout the month.
We will be having a Parent Meeting Sept. 1, at 5:00 in the Elementary Cafeteria. All Preschool parents are invited, hope to see you there.
Mrs. Chase and Mrs. Eddington
Kindergarten News
We have had a great start to school! We have been learning so much about rules and procedures (just ask your children) and well continue to do so for these first few weeks of school. We have also been reviewing colors, shapes, counting, and the alphabet. We will continue to review the things we learned in preschool these first three weeks of school. We will also be learning about sorting by attributes, position and location such as: above, below, left, and right… Our reading unit theme for three week is “We Are Special.” We know you feel your child is special and so do we!
Ms. Blakemore and Mrs. Hime
First Grade News
The school year is off to a great start! In reading, we have been reviewing letters, sounds, and high-frequency words from Kindergarten. We will continue this for two more weeks. Then, we will begin our first unit in reading which will include regular weekly spelling and high-frequency words. Please be looking for their weekly spelling list on Monday night.
Our spelling tests will be on Fridays or the last day of the school week. In math, we have been working on numbers and number words from 0-10. We will be testing them on number word recognition from 0-10 in the next few weeks. Our next topic will be comparing numbers (greater / less). Please remember to be watching for homework each week in their backpacks. This will need to be completed, signed, and returned the following day. We are looking forward to a great year!
Mrs. Albert and Mrs. Long
Second Grade News
School has taken off to a great start. Second graders are learning to become more independent readers and writers. We want to remind parents to check their child's folder they bring home each week and see that they study any study guides they may have. The extra practice at home is very beneficial. We will also be sending home weekly newsletters that will keep you informed about what skills we are working on in each subject. We would also like to remind you to send an extra change of clothes that your child may keep at school. We appreciate all of your support in helping make this a great school year!
Mrs. Loyd and Mrs. Tucker
Third Grade News
Welcome back to school! The third grade is already going strong and working hard. As you may have heard, this is the grade that students first start taking the MAP assessment at the end of the year. This is a very challenging assessment consisting of multiple choice questions, short answer essay questions, and story writing. We will be working hard all year to prepare for it, and hopefully have a good time along the way. Parents can help by checking to see that homework is done and turned in on time and helping their child keep good attendance at school. We are looking forward to a great year and are already seeing the wonderful potential in our 3rd grade students!
Mrs. Loyd and Mrs. Whited
Fourth Grade News
We have hit the ground running! We are reviewing place value, multiplication, and practicing reading. We have many exciting things coming up.
In Missouri History, we will soon be starting on our Famous Missourian projects and we will have a traveling display delivered to us for all to view early October. In Math, we will soon be starting on adding and subtracting larger numbers. Please continue to review place value with your child
at home.
We will be giving the DRA's soon, which will test your child's reading level, please help us explain to your child how important this is. This is one way we can document all of the children's reading level for
SB319, as well as the daily reading practice we send home each night. If you have any questions, please contact
us anytime.
Mrs. Bass and Ms. Morrison
Fifth Grade News
Welcome Back!
We are starting off to another exciting school year! In math we are working on place value with whole numbers and decimals. In science, we are deciphering plants and their parts! Ask your child about the adventure with the 39 clues! In reading, we will be reading tall tales and working on our AR goals. We will be discussing the first chapter in social
studies: The First Americans. Students should be bringing home daily assignment sheets! We look forward to a GREAT year! Remember to check out our websites as we will update them periodically.
Ms. Clark and Mrs. Francis
Sixth Grade News
The students are adjusting to their last year in elementary. It is a year of changes and transitioning for them. We hope to make it as smooth as possible.
In Science the students will begin the study of nutrients and the body's digestion system, with participating in a few class projects. The mathematics class will begin studying variables, expressions, and properties. While in Spelling, we will have weekly test over a new list each week.
The students will be learning how to strengthen their reading comprehension skills this fall. We will be working on several reading strategies as well follow our Treasures Reading Series.
The students will be travelling back in time to the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia in the next month. They will learn how these two civilizations have impacted the world both in medicine and mathematics.
Mr. Berry and Mrs. Shearrer
Counselor’s Corner
September is here already! This month our Talent Search program starts with our sixth grade. Mrs. NaTasha White will meet with several of our sixth graders on September 2nd to go over some program information with them. Our character word for this month is cooperative. Look for the Rotary Student of the Month picture to be in the newspaper soon for our August word, which was self-control. It is always a good idea to talk about having good character with your child(ren). Ask them what they have learned about having self-control and being cooperative. Please give me a call if I can assist you in any way with anything! Enjoy your Labor Day break!
Mrs. Goodman
Librarian’s Tales
Back to School! Come to the Library to check out our new online catalog system, reading programs, and, of course, some really great books! Fall Book Fair is just around the corner! It will be during the week of October 18th – 21st. Our theme this year is “Everyday Heroes.” We appreciate your patronage and support! Have a great Fall!
Mrs. Lee
Nurse’s Notes
We would like to remind you that Missouri Highlands Health Care dental staff will be here on September 17 and 24, with parental permission, perform dental screening and apply fluoride varnish to the teeth of children in grades K-8, at no out-of-pocket cost to you. If indicated, and with your permission, dental sealants will be applied for those in grades 2 & 6. The purpose of these services is to protect your child’s teeth. We will also notify you of the results of the dental screening.
Please remember to save (and ask your friends and relatives to do so, as well) your General Mills Box tops and send them to school. We receive 10 cents for each box-top we send in, and use this money in activities that include all the students. Thank you.
Mrs. Massie and Mrs. Richards
A note from the Principal
We are off and running… I am very proud of all the students and the start to this school year. It is just as though we didn’t have a summer break. They have gotten back into the school routine very quickly.
If I can ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. Feel free to stop by the school or call the elementary.
Mrs. Bouma
Dates to remember:
Sept. 3: No School
Sept. 6: No School
Sept. 7: First day of LEAP
Sept. 15: 12:00 Early Dismissal
Sept. 16: T-Shirt orders due
Sept. 17: Dental Fluoride Varnish Gr. K-8
Sept. 24: Dental Fluoride Varnish Gr. K-8
Sept. 29: “Food Power Round Up” 1:00-2:00 Grades 2-5
Looking ahead:
Oct. 6: 12:00 Early Dismissal
Oct. 15: 12:00 Early Dismissal
Oct. 21: 12:00 Dismissal
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Oct. 22: No School
Oct. 25-29: Red Ribbon Week
Oct. 29: Costume Parade