Parent News

 

 

 

 

 

February 11, 2005

Dear Parents,

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you! Monday is Valentine’s day and we would love it if you could send a goodie to school for our party. Students are welcome to bring a valentine for each person in the class if they would like.

We’re back in full swing and looking forward to the end of the year. There are a few policies that I wanted to remind you of (just in case you might have forgotten).

Students are not to pass out party invitations at school unless ALL students are invited to the party. I know this is challenging since school is the only way to get a hold of some in class friends, but it also makes the other students feel left out. If invitations are found, they will be confiscated.

If homework is not turned in, a student will not be allowed to attend field trips or parties. It isn’t fair that those who aren’t behaving like students become part of class activities. Please encourage your son/daughter to turn in their work on time, even though I do accept it up to a day late.

The final vocabulary test is on February 18th. I am unsure as to the status of further exams. Some grade level appropriate words might appear for the final report card. Stay tuned for future developments.

Our class calendar was updated with a few new dates in February and March. These dates are projects that are due in class. Test dates can be found in the homework section of our site. The dates are: February 22 (Environment project), February 28 (Poetry Book due), March 10 (Powerpoint Book Report), and March 30 (Scientist Bio). You’ll also notice that there are two parent inservice days listed in March (March 14 and March 31). From 7 to 8:15 the teachers will provide you with a look inside the classrooms. Each of us will teach one part of the curriculum to parents who attend. You are welcome to bring your students as I show you our new computer programs.

Speaking of computers, the students are up and running on Success Maker. They really seem to enjoy this new math and reading program! You’ll also notice that our newspaper stories haven’t been updated. We have something new in store for all our parents and they should be up by the end of the month. Please have patience with us as some of us are not as computer savvy as others.

Each student was asked to donate 2 dollars (if possible) to our economics fund. We’re attempting to buy supplies for our in class stores, which are learning about the economy. If you can help, we appreciate it.

We’re heading for the end of the year and testing is coming up. Below you will find some good ideas for preparing your students for AIMS. Both the 5th and 6th graders will be taking an AIMS exam this year.

Thank you for all you do,

Miss DePuma



AIMS Testing
April 11 to April 22 is the window for the AIMS exam. Students will not have homework and should get to bed early. Each morning they should have a nutritious breakfast and the night before they should be relaxed.
For more information on the exam or to practice with your child, visit the AIMS Website at the Arizona Department of Education's site.



Community Service


Our class had read 100 books! We will be sending our chart to Scholastic so they can give 100 books to a needy school! Go Dolphins!

We will also be collecting pop tabs from soda cans for Ronald McDonald House. Students can bring them in and place them in a bin near the front of the school. As information about this fundraiser for RMH is released, I will post it on our site.




The Book Fair

By: Tawsha

Lifelong Learning Academy is holding a book fair! The book fair started on Monday-Saturday,1-5pm. On Friday, the book fair will be opened at night from 6:30 to 8:30 and include a raffle. There are many books for your whole family. Books for mom, dad, your brothers and sisters. Also there will be posters that will fit your personality and style. So come and join the excitement! . 

 

Class visits Arizona Science Center

By Mary

On November 18, 2004, our class visited the Arizona Science Center. We saw interesting exhibits. My favorite was the Dancing Iron Dust. Many more exhibits were impressive. After looking at the exhibits, we went to the I-max Theater. It was about Mt.Killamonjaro. It was fact-filled. After a long day, we stopped for some ice cream and were dropped off at Mcteacher’s night. (A whole other story…) It was the coolest trip we have has this year!

 

The Class Field trip

by Ben

Our class took a fieldtrip to the Arizona Science Center. It was really amazing because there was stuff I had never seen before and there were space ships that almost looked real! The center had 4floors but only 3 of them had stuff on them. By the center, there was a huge, decorated, Christmas tree. It was amazing. On the way there and back, we counted license plates from different states to see who would get the most.

 

Fieldtrips

By: Jessica

We’ve gone on many fieldtrips and here are a few of them. First, we went to the newspaper factory. There we saw the machines and presses and other things it takes to make a newspaper. We also met a cartoonist and two out of the tons of reporters. Next, we went to the K.V.O.A. news station. We saw how they did the news and the weather. After they did the news and the weather, we got to go up on the stand and explore the equipment. Also, we went to Annie Apples Orchard. There, we picked apples and pumpkins to bring home. Finally, and most recently, we went to the Arizona Science Center. We got to play with wheelchairs, space shuttles, and other neat things. After that, we went to an I-MAX theater and watched a movie about a dormant volcano with people climbing it. We can’t wait to see what other trips are in store for us.

 

Story contest

by Stephanie

We are entering a story contest. The rules are that it has to be 800 words and that you have to pick a first line from a book but you can’t copy the story. You take some ideas from the book like a character. Then you write your ideas down. After that you type it up and the story up and print it. We are going to email it and the winner wins a pries.

 

The Arizona Science Center Fieldtrip

by Erin

On Thursday November 18, Ms. De Puma’s class went to the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix. We walked to every booth in every exhibit. There were many exciting activities, such as the exhibits, the booths in the exhibits, and the I-MAX theatre movie about a dormant volcano. We also went to the gift shop and the ice-cream/shop. I bought a stuffed animal and some tasty ice-cream. I think that the science center was a wonderful experience for the class.

 

Winter Wonderland

By Jacey

Are you wondering what a "winter wonderland is”? If you answered yes, then listen up! Each student will get a tag. On the tag will be a small and cheep wish list. Please buy one item on the list, and put it under the tree.