Week 17 Off to a New Year!

Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season left you happy, healthy, and ready for the adventures of another year. I'm looking forward to seeing all the students again and catching up with their holiday happenings.

Two items that will be in the forefront this week are the student's book trailers and the Martin Luther King essay. The book trailers are due on Wednesday and we'll spend some time sharing all of them. The MLK essay was a surprise to me but please don't fret. I plan to give the students time to work on this in class. I do ask that you read through the assignment posted on Google classroom with your child, brainstorm some writing ideas, and help begin a rough draft.

The Social Studies fair is on the horizon and it will be required this year. We will be working on this during class time and using it as a vehicle to practice research skills and write a research paper. Start talking about this with your child and help find an interesting and intriguing topic to explore.


Here's a peek at some of the academic topics coming up in class this month:

• cell meiosis, genetics, adaptations, theory of evolution
• citizenship, government, beginnings of our nation
• persuasive writing 
• independent and dependent clauses, action - linking - helping verbs
• author's purpose, genre

One last thing... Mr. Graves is actively planning our end of the year field trip to Williamsburg. The tentative dates are Friday, May 17 - Sunday, May 19. I will keep you informed.

Enjoy these last few days of vacation and best wishes to each of you for a satisfying year ahead.

Mrs. J

Week 16 Holiday Time

Only four more school days until Christmas break. The kids have worked hard these past few months and definitely deserve a little time off. This week we have a few things going on.

• Our class party will happen on Wednesday. Please send a healthy snack for your student that day. We will have pizza for lunch and then PARTY! I'll provide the party food. If your child has a favorite board game, send it on Wednesday. And don't forget the Secret Santa gift. Parents are welcome to come and share in the fun.
• Thursday (December 20) is our last day and one of school wide celebration. Chapel and our Christmas play will start off the morning, followed by Holiday Happenings from 10:30 to 12:00. We can still use some craft centers. If you want to come and help out, just let me know. In the afternoon we'll wind down with a movie and then clean up, pack up, and get out! 

The students have been practicing the mechanics of paragraph writing. By responded to a visual prompt, they practiced writing hooks, topic sentences, details related to the topic sentence,  transition words, descriptive words, and concluding sentences reflecting back to the topic sentence. We took a little time to learn about Norman Rockwell, his art, and his contributions to our country. The students chose one of his Christmas pictures to write about. Enjoy a few of these student samples.

Once there was a man who made Christmas stuff like toys, Christmas lights, and ornaments. When he was a kid, he was a big fan of Christmas. His favorite holiday was Christmas and he wanted to make Christmas things. When he went to school, he always talked about Christmas to his friends. One day three kids bullied him...  Aiden

And it goes on from there with Santa coming out ahead and the bullies getting their dues. It's always interesting to get inside of the minds of the kids.

A Christmas tree is a fun thing. It is fun to decorate it with family. The tree is tall, thin, and rugged. The ornaments are old, rusty, and also breakable and at last the star which is shiny, bold, and big...

So the tree is a very important part in the holidays. Cody

His concluding sentence refers back to his topic sentence and he took the time to add adjectives.

Whoosh - a big, fat guy flew through the sky being pulled by a group of not so excited reindeer. It had been a long night and the man had been drinking a little too many spiked eggnogs... Ian B.

This is certainly an attention getting hook!

...My mom was untangling lights, my dad was hanging decorations on the walls, and my brother just got back from the store with a present for my mom... Jada

This topic sentence spells out what her paragraph should be about.

...The snow was sparkling on the ground, but the kids had their eyes fixed on the skies. They were looking for any signs of reindeer. And then a flash in the sky, like the shimmer of a sleigh... Julia

She used descriptive words and even threw in a simile.

Grandma, who is very kind, is the best grandma there ever was. We pack, drive in the car, and arrive there to see our aunts and uncles... When we get there, we bring in the gifts, help decorate the huge tree, and spend time with grandma. We decorate her tree with all of her ornaments... Mary

She wrote a topic sentence telling what she is writing about and then added details for each idea.     

...They snuggled in bed and as soon as they were absolutely sure their parents were asleep, they crept down the stairs on silent toes. The squishy armchair that sat by the fire bent under the weight of the two children that had just flounced onto it. They stared intensely at the hollow fireplace that was black with soot and coal. However, when Bonnie looked over, Ben was fast asleep, sandy blonde hair spilling over the arm of the chair where his head rested... Maxine

Her word choice is excellent and she even used personification.

The scent of pine trees filled the air. The train screeched to a stop in the place I call home. It was Christmas Eve when I hopped off the train watching families embrace with tearful hellos. I looked at the clock - eight o'clock on the dot. With a long held sigh, I slung my sack over my back, and I waited and waited for the ones I hold dear to show up and be near... Victoria

Yes, I want to read more!

Happy Holidays. Enjoy!

Mrs. J

Week 15 SNOW!

Happy snow day to you. I'll just take a few minutes of your time on this gorgeous Sunday to update you on the Galaxy's latest adventure.

Our mock trial was a success. All the students learned about a "wild" and pivotal event that occurred as our nation struggled toward freedom. They also were introduced to our legal system by role playing as lawyers and witnesses. The lawyers each wrote their own opening and closing statements. These statements were organized, well written with excellent word choices, compelling, and persuasive. John Wooton was an essential part of this event. He graciously shared his legal and historical expertise. Thank you so much, Judge Wooton.

I'm planning to give an occasional snow day assignment; the first one is assigned for tomorrow. Please make sure your student checks Google Classroom. I've posted The Gift of the Magi in the English Language Arts classroom. The assignment is to read it, answer the questions, and become familiar with the vocabulary.

Tuesday, or whenever we get back to school, we will be finishing up the study of cell mitosis. The other two assignments due this week is one for American Studies and holiday writing. Jog your student's memory about these. They are also reading a book of their choice and will produce a book trailer when they are finished.

If you haven't brought in your Christmas 4 a Knight gift yet,  please do so the first day we go back to school. Our class Secret Santa exchange and party will be held on Wednesday, December 19 and our school wide festivities will happen on Thursday, December 20 which is the last day of school for the year. WOW!

Enjoy the snow.
Mrs. J

Week 14 It's December!

I want to invite family and friends to the Galaxy's mock trial of the Boston Massacre. The Honorable Judge John Wooton will be presiding over our court on Friday, December 7 at 10:00 am. The students are working diligently and this is sure to be a fun as well as educational event. Let me know if you will be attending and if you plan to bring others with you.

As we head into December, please make sure to check the school newsletter and all flyers that come home. There are numerous giving opportunities and events lined up. Also, if you haven't given to the annual fund, please do so. Any amount counts towards our participation. We want a pizza and ice cream party!

Progress reports will be coming to you soon. I've attached a fantastic visual of standard based grading. Take a few minutes to read this so that you can fully understand your child's report.

As always, contact me with any questions and/or concerns. I hope to see many of you this Friday at the trial.

Mrs. J

Week 13

I've been putting the final touches on progress reports. This has led me to tweak my teaching just a little. I realize that some students are ready to soar while others are finding it difficult to get off the ground. This trimester I'm designing lesson plans and assignments that will enable the students to work at their own pace and at their individual level. The students will work independently a good deal of the time, and so it is crucial that they develop positive habits in order to be successful. I expect that when students turn in an assignment, they are turning in what they consider to be their best work. Some students are already doing this while others are rushing through the assignments, not following directions, and sometimes not doing the work at all. I promise to never assign a task that I do not believe is of value. But they need to put the time and effort into learning in order to receive that value.

With all that said, here are some important points about this upcoming trimester.

• Starting tomorrow, every student must have an independent reading book at school. The classroom library is overflowing with excellent choices. They need to be reading a book now and finishing it over Christmas break. They will have a light assignment to do over the holidays.
• All assignments are expected to be finished and turned in on or before the due date. The turned in product should be an example of the student's best work. Mrs. Troyer and I will help any student that might be struggling or not understanding any assignment.
• When there is homework, students will take a homework slip home. Please sign this and return to me the following school day. If I don't get a returned slip, I will call you to make sure you were informed of the homework.
• Please, please, please have your child show you their assignments on Google Classroom. This is a wonderful tool that Mrs. Troyer and I use everyday. It makes it possible to teach to all learning styles - visual, auditory, and kinetic. By accessing the classroom calendar and clicking on the assignment, students not only see exact due dates, they also are directed to precise instructions and necessary attachments.

Here's the line up of study between now and Christmas:

1. Mock Trial of the Boston Massacre

    Skills - reading comprehension, persuasive techniques, public speaking, collaboration, critical thinking, organization, listening skills, and examination of original documents.

2. Cell Mitosis

    Skills - memorization, spelling, reading comprehension, and outlining.

3. "Paul Revere's Ride"- Longfellow, "The Gift of the Magi" - O. Henry, and "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" - Dr. Seuss

     Skills - close reading, paraphrasing, compare/contrast, writing, listening skills, and literary analysis.

4. Family holiday traditions

     Skills  - prewriting, topic sentences, transition words, concluding sentences, and paragraph organization.

I'm looking forward to returning to a refreshed class ready to progress; always being wild and free.

Week 12 Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving break is right around the corner and I think that we're all looking forward to it. The students have worked hard over this past trimester and have compiled much new knowledge. It's always a good practice to reflect on accomplishments so here are just a few...

• Developed discipline while enjoying XC practices and meets.
• Learned or reviewed the parts of speech with a catchy song. (See if they remember it now and then.)
• Became familiar with several Native American tribes and realized that they are truly the first Americans.
• Read Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment", learned about Ponce de Leon, and the Fountain of Youth.
• Got creeped out by Edgar Allan Poe's the Raven and created original blackout poetry.
• Spent a copious amount of time reading and writing about the Monarch butterfly's journey.
• Held snakes!
• Discussed the contradictions of Thomas Jefferson's life.
• Explored plant and animal cells by comparing them to everyday life.

... and I could go on but it's time to move on.

We will be wrapping things up this week and also enjoying some special events.

Monday - Friday: Usborne Book Fair in the Commons.

Monday, 11/12: Luke Bair will visit the class at 1:00 and talk about Armistice Day. Parents are invited to join us. 

Wednesday, 11/14: We will travel to the American Shakespeare Theater in Staunton, VA and view "As You Like It". The day's schedule is-

• Be at school by 8:00 am so that we can leave at 8:15. The drivers are Troyer, Wood, Lumsden, and Johnson. We need to arrive before 10:00 am.
• The play starts at 10:30 am with an actor talk back at 12:45 pm. The snack bar is open at intermission. Students are responsible for buying their own snack if wanted.
• Lunch will be at a local pizza place. Please send $10 with your student for lunch. I will order pizzas to be ready ahead of time.
• We go back to the theater at 2:00 pm for a behind the scenes tour.
• We'll depart at 3:15 with an ETA at GES of 4:45 pm.

Friday, 11/16: Grandparents/Special friend day. Please join us for a morning of fellowship school wide and in our classroom. Let the office know if you are coming and if you will be staying for lunch. Early dismissal is at 1:00 pm.

Monday, 11/19 - Friday 11/23: Thanksgiving Break. Relax... Refresh... Refuel!

Mrs. J

Week 11

I hope you are all enjoying this gorgeous Fall weekend. The end of the first trimester is quickly approaching and I certainly feel that the class as a whole and individually has made quite a bit of progress. We have establish a good routine and are understanding the expectations associated with growing up and being in Middle School.

We had a fabulous trip to Monticello. Our guide was excellent and I know that we all learned a lot about Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence, and Monticello. All the students were well behaved and engaged. It definitely was a success.

We only have two weeks until Thanksgiving break and several items need to be completed before then.

This week...

• we will reflect on our trip to Monticello as we read and discuss the Declaration of Independence. The students will also practice their handwriting skills by copying a portion of the document and committing it to memory.
• we will explore political cartoons of the Revolution and discuss propaganda. This will prepare the class for our mock trial which we will focus on between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• we will learn about ethos, pathos, and logos and how they are used in persuasive arguments.
• the Cell Analogy projects are due (Friday) and will be presented.
• the students will be tested (Friday) on the countries of South America, the Caribbean, and Central America.
• is full of activities and learning experiences, so encourage your students to be well rested and ready to give their best in all they do.

Make sure to support the GrabNGo so that we can continue to pay for our field trips. Please let Tanya know when you are able to provide the food.

Mrs. J

Week 10's Treats

I've been gone all weekend visiting my granddaughter, so this will be brief and to the point.

Events this week:

• Wednesday - Trunk or Treat. Students bring their costumes to school and we'll have a great time celebrating Halloween in the afternoon.
• Friday - Day trip to Monticello in Charlottesville,VA. We need to leave the school at 7:30 A.M. so plan to get up early and be ready to go. Drivers are Keri Troyer, Kate Wood, Tara Wooton, and me. Each student needs to bring money to buy lunch.Please take a look at the menu.  Cafe menu. I anticipate being back to Lewisburg between 4:30 and 5:00 P.M.

Academics this week:

• Cell Analogy Project due November 9. Check Google classroom for details.
• History text reading and note taking.  We are learning about the events that sparked our Revolution. This assignment will also be on Google Classroom.
• Word Sorts. Most of the students have begun individualized spelling instruction.
• We'll listen to Clay Jenkinson as Thomas Jefferson reading the Declaration of Independence.
• The students will create a black out poem of "The Raven".

As always, don't hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns. 

Mrs. J

Week 9

Fall weather is definitely here and with it some news to help switch us into another season.

• All students need to have coats on these chilly days because we will go outside. We all need the fresh air whenever possible. 
• Sweaters and sweatshirts wore inside need to continue to be uniform appropriate.
• Please return your student's XC jersey this week.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

• Trunk or Treat - Wednesday, October 31. We will run on a 1 hour delay Thursday, November 1. Happy Haloweening!
• Day trip to Monticello, Charlottesville VA - Friday, November 2. We will leave the school at 7:30 am and return around 4:00 pm.
• Wednesday, November 15 -  We have tickets to see "As You Like It" at the American Shakespeare Theater in Staunton, Virginia. The day will consist of attending the play, having lunch at a pizzeria, returning to the theater for a behind the scenes tour, and traveling home. We'll leave the school at 8:30 am and return around 5:00 pm.
• Grandparent's/Special Friend Day - Friday, November 16 with early dismissal at 1:00pm.

Students can thrive in any educational environment (homeschool, private/public school) if certain elements are in place. Safe classrooms, engaging activities, differentiated lesson plans, and individual attention are just a few elements that GES provides. Another important element is parent involvement. Please talk to your child about what we're doing in the classroom and look at the work. The more accountability students have with caring adults, the better they perform directly affecting their self-esteem.

Here's what's on tap for this week.

• Plant/animal cells, their structure, and organelles. The students will begin a project in which they will create a cell analogy comparing different organelles to different elements in a city, zoo, theme park, school, or whatever they come up with. I will be giving specific instructions and a timeline in order to help with their time management.
• Annotating and note taking. Last week, we read (out loud) chapter 1 from Howard Zinn's A Young People's History of the United States. The students highlighted important and interesting information as we discussed Christopher Columbus. This week, they will go back on their own and write that information (paraphrasing) into note form. They will then have their own notes to study.
• Edgar Allan Poe, "The Raven". We'll begin dissecting this poem. We'll listen to, read out loud, discuss literary elements, and finish up next week by creating a "black-out poem". I know the class will enjoy this.
• Programming. Ves Burford is back and the kids are happy. They will spend time with him every Friday.
• and... I'll begin small group spelling lessons this week. 

I'll end with a thought for the week.

Mrs. J

Approaching Week 8

Upcoming events:
1. Wednesday, October 31 Halloween! Students, start thinking about your awesome costume. Parents, plan to contribute candy or other healthier small treats to the trunk or treat party that afternoon.
2. Thursday, November 1. We'll start school at 9:00 a.m. to allow recovery time for kids and parents.
3. Friday, November 2. Day trip to Monticello. I still need drivers.

We're almost two-thirds the way through the first trimester! As we approach week 8, I'm pretty sure that the students are appreciating some aspects of the classroom.

• The classroom provides time for play and also time to study. By utilizing these times wisely, they are able to get their schoolwork finished on time and do it well.
• Mrs. Troyer and I are available to everyone who wants individualized help. We want the students to learn to work independently and ask for help when they feel that they need it.
• In order to learn the material and perform well on a test, they need to study and use the given study guide. * We will continue to help the students learn time management and study skills.
• Mrs. Troyer and I are doing our best to plan lessons that are engaging and differentiated. We want to know if students are struggling or not being challenged.
• Writing instruction spans the curriculum. In all subjects, students are expected to write in complete sentences, vary their sentence structures, attempt to use proper grammar and punctuation, think about word choice, and try to spell correctly (even if that means referring to a dictionary).
• Google Classroom is their friend. All assignments are posted there.

* Some of the students were unhappy about their performance on Friday's science and geography tests. They were given a study guide last week that listed absolutely everything that they needed to know and where to find the material. So... study skills are lacking. Please encourage your student and help him/her understand that skills are learned over time and to keep plugging away. I will allow students that scored below 80% (3- proficient, meets standards) to correct their answers. These corrections need to be turned in Wednesday and additional credit will be given. 

The point of studying new concepts and ideas, completing assignments well and on time, practicing various writing techniques and styles, and participating in class discussions is to learn the material and refine communication skills.The point of a giving a test is to help students learn how to prepare for and how to take a test. All these skills aid in building a well-educated, well-rounded person.

The students will begin publishing their writings. They already have several ways to publish, but I've created two new places. They can publish on this blogspot. GES Galaxy - Going Public or on this FB page. GES Galaxy Publications. Both of these venues are hosted by me and the students' names will not be included. Please check these spots later in the week.

Finally, I want to remind you that there is an Annual Fund Drive contest going on. All families are asked to give a monetary contribution to the fund. This can be anywhere from $1 to $1,000,000. When all classes reach 85% participation, the school will have an ice cream party and when the classes reach 100% participation, we'll have a pizza party.

School uniforms: $XXX.xx

GES tuition: $XXXX.xx

Love of learning: PRICELESS

Mrs. J

Week 7

Hi Galaxy families!

We've certainly had a busy first 6 weeks. Some highlights were our fantastic XC season, a trip to Cranberry Glades and The Falls of Hills Creek, nature journaling, learning about Monarch butterflies and classification, completing a powerpoint on Native Americans, learning to navigate Khan Academy math, attending a performance of "Julius Caesar" at GVT, just to name a few. Whew... no wonder I'm tired!

I've been enjoying our goal setting conferences and I'm pleased to see that we all seem to be on the same page concerning our hopes and dreams for our children. We want them to feel good about themselves and be an important part of the class and the GES community. We want them to graduate from GES with the tools needed for a seamless transition into a successful high school experience, and we want them to be respectful to teachers, to fellow students, and to not be a distraction to others as well as to themselves. Keri and I are dedicated to finding ways and structures to insure that all of these goals can and will be accomplished with the cooperation of the students, parents, and teachers.

With all that said, we'll be tightening up a bit and expecting that each student do their very best to follow the steps that they agree to in their goal setting conferences. We'll be in close communication with each student and their parents in order to assist them in accomplishing their goals.

One important instrument in this communication is our Google Classroom. It is crucial that both students and parents become familiar with this tool and look at it everyday. Parents, you have to see it with your student. There are individual classes as well as a homework thread. Keri and I will post all assignments and homework on these threads. Sometimes, your student will have an assignment that they actually do on Google Classroom. They should already understand this, but you need to understand it also. There are several posts right now, so take a look at it before we go back to school on Tuesday.

I'm committed to teaching organizational and study skills to the class. I'll have exact instructions so that (hopefully) we all know what the expectations are. These instructions and expectations will vary from student to student since we have such a varied group (and I love that we do).

I want to hear from you and am open to working with you and your child in anyway that will be helpful. I have many worthwhile projects to launch and we all need to work together in order for the class to have a year of growth both academically and behaviorally.

Coming up:

• Monday, 10/8 - no school. Goal setting conferences.
• GrabNGo menu this week - Corn dogs, fresh veggies, fruit, muffins, snacks
• Tuesday, Italian Night. Galaxy students need to be at school by 5:15, dressed nicely, and ready to serve.

• Wednesday, 10/31 - Halloween! Be thinking about your costume.
• Friday, 11/2 - Trip to Monticello. We'll leave school at 7:30 a.m. and return around 4:00 p.m. I need some drivers.

With XC over, the schedule is easing up a bit, but academically we're moving full speed ahead. I'm excited and looking forward to all that is ahead. 

Mrs. J

"Julius Caesar"

Sailing to week 6

Here's a preview of our upcoming week.

• We'll spend some time talking about transition words in writing and create our own improvisational story. 
• The students will start a novel (Where the Red Fern Grows or Sounder) and be part of a literacy circle for the next 8 weeks. 
• I'll give a spelling assessment that will be shared during our goal setting conferences.
• We'll discuss  Science Chapter 1, vocabulary words, and begin a classification project.
• The students will have the opportunity to revise and edit their Native American powerpoint presentations in order to raise their grades. We will then be moving on to European explorers and the controversial subject of Christopher Columbus.
• The students always have ongoing math assignments so please be aware of those.
• Some students will have handwriting homework.
• GrabNGo: Mini chicken tacos, burritos, muffins, fruit, and snacks. YUM!

Please check your student's google classroom in order to support him/her in their assignments and homework.

In addition to all of our classroom activities, we have some exciting events this week. Thursday, GVT has invited us to come and view their performance of "Julius Caesar". We will leave school around 9:30 and return after picnicking on the lawn at Carnegie Hall @12:30. I need 2 more drivers so please let me know if you are available on Thursday.

Our last XC met is Friday at Pipestem. Please take note of these recent changes in Friday's schedule. I'll leave school at 1:30 with those wanting to caravan and will meet others at the XC course at Pipestem at 3:00. The meet starts at 3:00 with the college women race. College men run at 3:40. Then the HS girls are up at 4:20 and the HS boys at 5:00. The middle schools girls will follow next at 5:40 and then the MS boys at 6:15. We'll watch the meet together. With the changes in the schedule, we won't have time to do other activities. Please plan to join. (We will be practicing on Tuesday and Thursday at the Fairgrounds.)

Also, and more importantly, goal setting conferences are being scheduled for Friday morning, October 5 and Monday, October 8. Please schedule a time for you and your student to come to your individual conference.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement. We are well on our way to a fantastic year. Kudos to our XC team for an excellent showing at the Spartan Invitational. The boys team came in third, Indigo received an individual 15th medal, and Ian L. came in 8th place. Well done!

Mrs. J

Moving into Week 5

I feel that the class is coming together well and ready to tackle more learning! I plan to have ongoing projects that integrate different subject areas. Some will be short term while others will take a few weeks. The students have time in class to work on them, but there will probably be times that your student will need to do some work at home. If you ever have questions or concerns, please contact me. I'm trying to push the students, yet I don't want to overwhelm them.

This week, they have chosen a tribe or tribes of Native Americans to read about and prepare a powerpoint presentation. They are assigned two separate sources to draw from, but they may use others that they discover. The project is due this Friday. Your student has the necessary information and can give you more details.

Tomorrow, I'm assigning a specific writing piece. They will have a couple of weeks to take this piece through the writing process. The assignment is to write a first person narrative about the Monarch's journey. This writing combines our Science studies with writing and also English Grammar.

Some very important events are on the horizon so please take note:

• Tuesday and Thursday this week: XC practice at the fairgrounds parking lot. If it's raining, we'll stay at school and do sprints and yoga.
• Tuesday and Thursday: Band and dance. Remember instruments and dance clothes.
• Thursday 9/27: School pictures
• Saturday 9/29: Spartan Invitational XC meet. I'll let you know what time we will meet there.

• Saturday 9/29: Harvest dinner
• Friday and Monday 10/5 and 10/8: Goal setting - no school. All parents and students must participate. Schedule your time in the office. Return your parent survey this week.
• Friday 10/5: XC meet at Pipestem. We'll plan to meet at Pipestem at 3:30 for some fun together, and then run in the meet. I'll send details next week.

GrabNGo starts this week! The menu is chicken strips with ranch dressing, fruit/grain cereal bars, blueberry muffins, and clementines. Thank you, Tanya and Gretchen. Please talk to Tanya about participating in this fundraiser for our kids.

This was a long post and I appreciate you sticking with me to the end. I'm enjoying your kids and the challenge of keeping them stimulated and focused.

Mrs. J

Snaking our way into week 4

Old business

• If you missed parent night, please come to the classroom and pick up your parent packet. Also, the parent survey needs to be completed and returned by 9/24. 

• Your student will not be allowed to take a chrome book home until you read and sign an agreement form.

New business

• We will have XC practice this Tuesday and Thursday at the fairgrounds parking lot. We need drivers to be at school by 3:15 to help with transportation. Pick up will be at the fairgrounds parking lot between 4:15 and 4:30. If it's raining, we will have practice at school.

• Remember to have your student bring his band instrument or dance clothes on Tuesday and Thursday.

• Please pay attention to the home/school communication which will come home with your student tomorrow.

Future business

• September 29 - XC meet at GEHS.

• September 29 - Harvest dinner

• October 5 - Morning: goal setting meetings - Afternoon, evening: Pipestem XC meet

• November 2 - Day trip to Monticello. Please let me know this week if you are able to drive and/or attend. 

• Beginning of May - Field trip to Williamsburg and Busch Gardens.

• I need a parent to head up fundraising in order to offset the expenses of our field trips. GrabNGo brings in about $200 a week. If someone will get this going, it may be all we have to do. Please contact me if you are willing to do this.

We had a successful trip to Cranberry Glades and the Falls of Hills Creek. We were all captivated by the WV snake program and most of the kids loved being amateur snake handlers. The students did quite a bit of nature journaling while walking the boardwalk of The Glades and enjoyed taking in all the beauty of the waterfalls. I count all that exercise as a mini XC practice!

I'm enjoying class and building relationships with your children. They are an interesting bunch!

Mrs. J