Success in Savanna, 4/4

Dear Parents:

         We enjoyed a full week of fairly uninterrupted learning this week.  One highlight was spending Tuesday afternoon outdoors learning about how forests contain “seed banks.” Dr. Dudley Raynal ( Dashiell May’s grandfather) a retired professor of Botany lent his expertise and explained to the entire third grade about dormant plants in the ground.  After learning about seed banks, we were able to go out into the park and collect samples of soil to see what might germinate.  We also took the opportunity to plant out our arugula and chard seeds in our AFAC garden.  It will be exciting to watch both our vegetable garden and seed bank as they come to life.  We did a mini unit and project bulletin board on Diversity, dug deeper into Water and Weather, and kicked off our Explorers unit.  Students may expect tests next week in Math and Science.   Look to your child’s assignment notebook for dates and further information. 

         The journal writing process has been an exciting one and students are working hard to respond to questions that demonstrate their use of various reading strategies.  However, it seems that many are rushing the process in an effort to write two letters per week and I’m not pleased with the overall quality of some of the letters.  That being said, we are going to “slow down” and spend next week revisiting the expectations and doing another sample in the classroom.  I have postponed the due date for the most current letter (#6) until next week and I will be sharing more with them (and you) in the coming week.  Each year this writing/reading activity has been one of the best ways that I’ve found for my students to demonstrate a wide variety of skills that have been learned throughout the year.  As I fully expect my parents to be HANDS OFF in this process, please know that I am not looking for you (parents) to be doing more.  I simply think my students need a refresher about the expectations so that the effort is a worthy one for all.

         If your child is going to be missing any days next week, please let me know.  I cannot always provide work ahead of time but will certainly collect missed work and have it available for catch up upon return.

         Thank you for all that you do and have a great weekend.  Look to the back of this note for a list of upcoming events.

Ms. Coffman

UPCOMING EVENTS

                        Fri. April 11- Third Quarter Report Cards Issued

                        Mon. April 14-Fri. April 18- Spring Break

                      Wed. April 23- Silver Diner Night- 5-8pm

                      Wed. April 30- Career Day

                      Sat. May 10- Family Fitness Day

                      Fri. May 16- Imagination Stage Field Trip

                      Sat. May 17- Home and Garden Tour

                      May 19-31- SOL Testing (exact dates coming soon)

                      Mon. May 26- Memorial Day- No School