December 1-5, 2014
Reading, Language Arts, and Science
Dear Families,I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday! The next few weeks will be very busy in grade six as we go full steam ahead until the end of the semester. The last day of this semester is on December 19th.
Please note that my Science classes will have a quiz on Thursday, December 4 on volcanoes. We also have another due date for Science Fair work this week. Students should have their materials, procedure and method for gathering data planned out using the guide included in their folder.
As always, please feel free to email me at or call me at school at (256) 772-2075.
Supplies Needed! Cold and flu season seems to have started early in Room 402! To protect students against germs, please consider donating any of the following: tissues, disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer.
We are always in need of printer paper as well!
Homeroom News and Reminders
AR: Scholastic has a great tool for helping students select books. They type in a book, author or series that they enjoyed and the website will give them suggestions for similar books, authors or series. It’s a great way to jumpstart your child’s reading for the next nine weeks! Go to this website, click on “Book Wizard” and check it out!
Remember that your child can complete reading practice at home on Success Maker and the Wonders website. Both of these are great tools to help students with vocabulary practice, grammar practice and reading comprehension. Please ensure that your child is reading at home a minimum of 20 minutes a day. It really does make a difference!
Reading and Language Arts Updates
Wonders Unit 3
Week 2 (After Thanksgiving Break)
Essential Question: What kinds of challenges transform people?
Skills and Strategies / Genre / Grammar / WritingMaking Predictions, Theme, and Paragraph Clues / Realistic Fiction / Verb Tenses / Proofreading
Vocabulary
Week 1 / Capacity, enthralled, fallow, insight, negotiate, regulation, resemblanceWeek 2 / dilemma, feebly, persistent, recoiled, roused, skewed, summon, vastness
Week 3 / abundant, impoverished, ingenuity, productivity, sharecropper, solitude, unearthed, windswept
Week 4 / Adept, aristocracy, collective, perseverance, prevail, prominent, trailblazer
Week 5 / Advocates, commonplace, designate, initial, insulation, irrational, optimal
-Ongoing Skills: Each week, students refine their vocabulary skills by identifying words in context and learning Greek and Latin roots.
Literature Circles: As a complement to Wonders, students will be selecting books to read and discuss in groups. This is a reading structure that promotes student initiative as students are responsible for planning their meetings, settings goals and assignments, and self-assessing their group discussions. Students choose books based on interest and their AR reading level, read assigned chapter individually and then meet with their groups to have discussions.
Science Updates
This week in Science….
When learning about volcanoes, students will be able to:
-identify the three types of volcanoes
-distinguish between explosive and nonexplosive volcanic eruptions
-identify the features of a volcano
-Explain how the composition of magma affects the type of eruption that will occur
Science Fair
The research portion of the Science Fair project was due on Friday, November 21, 2014. If your child did not turn this in, please make a plan with them to get back on track. The Research Plan is due on December 3. This is a sheet that helps students plan the details of their project, including materials, steps in a procedure, methods for gathering data, etc.
Scrip Fundraising Has Arrived!
Dear Heritage Families,
A new and exciting fundraising program called ‘scrip’ is now available at Heritage Elementary! Now you can raise money without buying unwanted items, without having your child sell door-to-door, and WITH NO EXTRA COST TO YOU! Supporting Heritage PTA has never been easier!
How It Works
Scrip refers to gift certificates or gift cards. Our school is able to purchase gift cards from hundreds of retailers nationwide at a discount, which you can then buy at face value. The difference is our profit! These are the same gift cards that you would purchase if you went to the retailer directly. By purchasing these gift cards before you shop for your everyday items - like groceries, gas, clothes, restaurants, etc. – we raise money, without you having to spend a penny extra. It’s just that simple.
Help Us Reach Our Goal
Our goal this year is simple! Technology! We are trying to raise enough money to ensure every classroom has 2 working computers. Our school also needs upgrades in the upstairs computer lab. We need to purchase new computers, chairs, and possibly even new countertops. Every purchase you make will help get us to our goal!
How to Participate
Simply return the attached order form with your check to the office by Monday at 9am. All checks need to be written to HES PTA and must have your Driver’s License number on it. You can print a new order form when needed from the PTA FB page each week, or whenever you need to purchase a new card(s). You may pick up your order each Friday from the office, or check the box on the order form and we will send the cards home with your child in a sealed envelope.
We encourage you to take advantage of the wonderful benefits offered by this on-going fundraiser. If you have questions, please contact Melissa Price @ . Help us exceed our goals, and thank you in advance for your support!
Sincerely,
HES PTA
HES PTA NEWS
- Fall Spirit Wear Items are due on Monday 11/24. We will not accept any late orders. Checks can be written to HES PTA and please don’t forget to write your Driver’s License Number on it.
- Scrippro Gift cards- If you would like to have your cards before the Thanksgiving break we need to have your order in no later than noon on Friday 11/21. So if you have a birthday gift to buy or might be getting some holiday shopping done or maybe you will be driving to see family or friends please consider buying a gift card or two! Gas cards are also available! Just fill out your order form, and choose whether you will be picking them up from the office or if you would like us to send them home with your child.
- Holiday Gift Store will be held Dec. 1-5. Next week in the Tuesday folder you will find an order form that will have prices and will list the time that your child will be coming in to shop with their class. We can use some volunteers so if you are interested and available please email pta_heritage @yahoo.com
The HES PTA would like to wish you and your family a very Happy and safe Thanksgiving! We hope you enjoy your break!
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