I just typed the date in the Title box and thought, "Is it really the end of January already? Are we really a week into the third quarter already?" Yes, and Yes. Here's some news of note:
Report Cards Coming Home Today
Once again, report cards are in sealed envelopes and should be when they get to you. Grades aren't for comparing, unless you're comparing your own first quarter and second quarter grades. Please send back the signature form as soon as possible.
Trivia Contest - A 125th Anniversary Special Event
You may have heard something about some trivia contest thingy we're doing here at school. It's Friday, February 13, from 6:00-8:30. It'll have questions from all over the place - movies, music, current events, TV, school, Bible, sports. Anything's fair game. There will be a lot of laughs, a lot of great music, and we'll even throw in some prizes. Most of the questions are off-the-head stuff, but some may need some quick research.
Basically, it's a big get together for anybody and everybody from school that promises to be a fun time. Get some kids together. Get some parents together. Have some fun! Registration starts Monday, and forms are coming home today.
Auction Basket
We're officially less than a month from the 3rd Annual Celebration Weekend including the Celebration Auction and Spring FunFest. Anyone have any comments on what needs to be in a beach basket? Let me know. Our suggested donation for the class basket is $3-$5 per family.
Valentine's Day
The upper grades (5th-8th) started a tubing tradition for Valentine's Day last year. They are continuing that this year. The younger grades thought they should get in on the act, so we are planning a skating day. Thursday, February 12 from 1-3 has been reserved for our Kindergartners through 4th graders at Skate City. Students may still hand out Valentines, but we won't have a class party. Instead it's a skating party. Keep an eye out for further information.
It's Reenrollment Time for 2009-2010
Have you been thinking about next school year? We here at school have. Reenrollment has begun. Information was presented at the parent meeting last week. Do you have any questions? Any concerns? Let me know and I'll do what I can to answer them OR I'll find someone who can. I'm looking to talk to all fourth grade families over the next week or two, just to check in, about reenrollment and/or any other questions you may have. Thanks!
There are lot's of papers coming home tonight - graded work, notes, Scrip forms, etc. Be sure your fourth graders empties his/her take-home folder for you. Have a great weekend!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Books, Books, Books!
I love this time of day. It is absolutely silent in the room right now. Seriously. Everyone, except me, unfortunately, is reading. Silently. I think I could announce there was a fire and about half of them wouldn't even hear me.
Anyways, some quick notes, all book related, and then I'm off to do some reading conferences.
The Book Fair
The Book Fair
Immanuel's book fair will run through Tuesday. It will close up for the last time at 4:30 on Tuesday. There will be time after school to shop before the Caldecott ceremony, and Tuesday before and after school.
Our Caldecott Activity - TONIGHT!!!
Tonight, tonight, tonight is the night, 4:00 in Kuechle Hall, where we decide what is the best picture book for kids from the past year. All twenty of the books we evaluated will be available for you to look at. Ask you kids what they liked. Ask them what books should make the finals in their opinion (they don't know the final three yet!). Ask them why. You'll be amazed at some of their responses. We hope to see you there.
The Real Caldecott Medal Ceremony
I posted on this earlier in the week, but here's a repeat reminder about Monday's webcast of the ceremony:
I posted on this earlier in the week, but here's a repeat reminder about Monday's webcast of the ceremony:
Also, on Monday, January 26, the actual Caldecott Award will be announced, along with the Newbery Medal and numerous other awards given by the American Library Association. The press conference can be watched live online at this link. (It is not live yet. This alternate link will get you to the webcast also.)
For more information about the awards from the official website, see the following links:
Newbery Medal: Click Here.
Caldecott Medal: Click Here.
P.S. Didn't believe me about the reading? Check this out! (I have some more I might post later.)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Tuesday Newsletter Updates
Tomorrow's Chapel Service
Chapel will begin at 8:50 tomorrow, led by the fourth graders. Everyone is welcome to come and worship with us. Chapel goes until 9:30.
Geography Bee
The Geography Bee, originally scheduled for after chapel tomorrow, has been moved back one week. It will now be on Wednesday, January 28 after chapel. We have not yet determined our class representatives.
Pancake Supper
Parents volunteering for the pancake supper on Thursday evening may take their children to Cougar Kids for child care if it is needed. Please note, this is for volunteering parents. Also, please contact Miss Dian before noon tomorrow if you wish to use the service.
Caldecott Award
Friday night after school is the Caldecott Award ceremony. All families are welcome. We'll start at 4:00 with a last rereading of the finalists. After discussion, students will be asked to vote on a favorite. Then we will have a student-led press conference announcing the winner. More information is coming home today in your child's take-home folder.
Also, on Monday, January 26, the actual Caldecott Award will be announced, along with the Newbery Medal and numerous other awards given by the American Library Association. The press conference can be watched live online at this link. (It is not live yet. This alternate link will get you to the webcast also.)
For more information about the awards from the official website, see the following links:
Newbery Medal: Click Here.
Caldecott Medal: Click Here.
Chapel will begin at 8:50 tomorrow, led by the fourth graders. Everyone is welcome to come and worship with us. Chapel goes until 9:30.
Geography Bee
The Geography Bee, originally scheduled for after chapel tomorrow, has been moved back one week. It will now be on Wednesday, January 28 after chapel. We have not yet determined our class representatives.
Pancake Supper
Parents volunteering for the pancake supper on Thursday evening may take their children to Cougar Kids for child care if it is needed. Please note, this is for volunteering parents. Also, please contact Miss Dian before noon tomorrow if you wish to use the service.
Caldecott Award
Friday night after school is the Caldecott Award ceremony. All families are welcome. We'll start at 4:00 with a last rereading of the finalists. After discussion, students will be asked to vote on a favorite. Then we will have a student-led press conference announcing the winner. More information is coming home today in your child's take-home folder.
Also, on Monday, January 26, the actual Caldecott Award will be announced, along with the Newbery Medal and numerous other awards given by the American Library Association. The press conference can be watched live online at this link. (It is not live yet. This alternate link will get you to the webcast also.)
For more information about the awards from the official website, see the following links:
Newbery Medal: Click Here.
Caldecott Medal: Click Here.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Monday's Back to School Announcements
Tomorrow Night's Parent Meeting
Please plan to attend tomorrow night's parent meeting. The meeting starts at 7:00, but come a few minutes early if you can to sign in and fill out a name tag. Mr. Betts will share information about:
Please plan to attend tomorrow night's parent meeting. The meeting starts at 7:00, but come a few minutes early if you can to sign in and fill out a name tag. Mr. Betts will share information about:
- This school year
- Next school year
- National Lutheran School Accreditation vision for the future plan
- Enrollment
- Programs offered at Immanuel
- Operating Plan
- Technology
- Communtiy Involvement
- Professional Development
- SCRIP
- School Calendar
- And other stuff I'm forgetting...
It will be a sort of State of the School Address, and effort to keep Immanuel families informed about all we do at Immanuel and all it takes to keep our ministry running smoothly. Thanks
Chapel on Thursday
Fourth graders will be leading chapel on Wednesday. We've streamlined our plan a bit so we can be prepared in only two days. I had originally planned to use Thursday and Friday for preparation as well. Nevertheless, it promises to be a memorable worship opportunity.
Friday Night's Caldecott Activity
Grades 4K-4 will gather on Friday night to choose our winner. We've been reading and rereading and discussing and voting and rereading again...all to select the best picture book for kids from the past year. That's big work! And Friday from 4:0o-5:00 is the culmination of all that work. All families and students are invited. Please see the note attached to the school newsletter for more information. Another note will come home this week with more details.
Thursday Night - The Pancake Supper
We may need to take some days off after this busy week. Wow! Thursday night is the annual pancake supper. Hopefully you plan to attend and eat the best pancakes this side of the river. They come from far and wide for these cakes, they do, and you won't want to miss it! Have you decided to volunteer? Come early, eat late. Eat early, stay late. Your help is needed and greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
No School on Thursday
Word just came down from the corner office that there is no school tomorrow due to the FREEEEEZING cold temperatures. Stay home, put on an extra pair of fuzzy socks, find your best/worst comfortable sweatshirt, and stay warm. Hopefully - hopefully! - everyone has a silent reading book...or two.
See you on Friday for Pajama and Movie Day. (Hmmm. Maybe we ought to change that to Twice-As-Much-Work-Day to make up for Thursday. Should we put it to a vote?)
See you on Friday for Pajama and Movie Day. (Hmmm. Maybe we ought to change that to Twice-As-Much-Work-Day to make up for Thursday. Should we put it to a vote?)
Auction Basket and Science Assignment
Two completely unrelated topics to let you know about today.
ILS Celebration Auction
The annual ILS Celebration Auction, part of Celebration Weekend which includes the Fun Fest and the beginning of Lutheran Schools Week, is coming up fast. The auction is on Saturday evening, February 28.
We are continuing our tradition of each class donating a basket to be auctioned off that evening. This year the fourth grade is doing a beach basket. Trying to organize which people should send what item can be difficult, and in this case, could result with our basket having four tubes of SPF50.
A parent has volunteered to do the purchasing for our basket. The suggested donation for the class is $3-5 per family, but please donate whatever you feel is best. Remember, all donations go directly to the school. Last year the weekend earned over $40,000. The fourth grade basket earned (if I remember correctly) $200 by itself, more than doubling the amount donated toward its purchase.
Also, please send your ideas for a beach basket. What needs to go to the beach? What essential item must come along in order to make a trip to beach complete?
Today's Science Assignment
Today we took our science test. It's a take home test, and you'll probably see it tonight. It's a bit...different...from most tests.
I wanted to do something other than multiple choice, fill in the blank, and short answer, so I wrote a test. It's a little silly, and I told the fourth graders to have fun with it. The questions are designed for them to be creative, but also require them to know information from the chapter.
For example, one question asks what kind of volcano they would like to visit on vacation. There are three tour companies listed. Would they want to tour a dormant, active, or violently erupting volcano? I told them there's no correct answer, but their explanations about why they'd like to visit one and not the other two will show me whether or not they understand the different types of volcanoes.
I encouraged them to be creative, but at the same time to be sure their answers were clear and based on good information. They started slowly, but seemed to get more comfortable as they wrote. We'll see tomorrow, I guess.
ILS Celebration Auction
The annual ILS Celebration Auction, part of Celebration Weekend which includes the Fun Fest and the beginning of Lutheran Schools Week, is coming up fast. The auction is on Saturday evening, February 28.
We are continuing our tradition of each class donating a basket to be auctioned off that evening. This year the fourth grade is doing a beach basket. Trying to organize which people should send what item can be difficult, and in this case, could result with our basket having four tubes of SPF50.
A parent has volunteered to do the purchasing for our basket. The suggested donation for the class is $3-5 per family, but please donate whatever you feel is best. Remember, all donations go directly to the school. Last year the weekend earned over $40,000. The fourth grade basket earned (if I remember correctly) $200 by itself, more than doubling the amount donated toward its purchase.
Also, please send your ideas for a beach basket. What needs to go to the beach? What essential item must come along in order to make a trip to beach complete?
Today's Science Assignment
Today we took our science test. It's a take home test, and you'll probably see it tonight. It's a bit...different...from most tests.
I wanted to do something other than multiple choice, fill in the blank, and short answer, so I wrote a test. It's a little silly, and I told the fourth graders to have fun with it. The questions are designed for them to be creative, but also require them to know information from the chapter.
For example, one question asks what kind of volcano they would like to visit on vacation. There are three tour companies listed. Would they want to tour a dormant, active, or violently erupting volcano? I told them there's no correct answer, but their explanations about why they'd like to visit one and not the other two will show me whether or not they understand the different types of volcanoes.
I encouraged them to be creative, but at the same time to be sure their answers were clear and based on good information. They started slowly, but seemed to get more comfortable as they wrote. We'll see tomorrow, I guess.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Newsletter for 1/9/09
Calendar Dates
There are tons of events coming up on the Immanuel Lutheran School calendar. Here's a (hopefully) complete list:
Monday, January 12 -
Tuesday, January 13 -
Wednesday, January 14 - School spelling bee after chapel
Thursday, January 15 -
Friday, January 16 - PJ and Movie Day. Planned by leadership council as a middle-of-winter activity, students may wear comfortable winter pajamas, and we'll watch a movie in the afternoon.
Monday, January 19 -
Tuesday, January 20 - Parent meeting for school families in Kuechle Hall from 7:00-8:00.
Wednesday, January 21 - Fourth Grade leads chapel at 9:00. School geography bee after chapel.
Thursday, January 22 - Pancake Supper
Friday, January 23 - Grades 4K-4 Caldecott Award Ceremony. See the attachment to the school newsletter today and the note coming home with students.
Sunday, January 25 - Consecration Sunday at Immanuel. One worship service at school, followed by lunch.
Congratulations!
Well done, Treighton and Megan, for being the 4th grade representatives to the school spelilng bee. The bee is next Wednesday after chapel with representatives from 3rd-8th grade. A well done also goes out to Zack, Kyra, Katy, and Kaitlyn for doing their best.
Thank You
It seems like a long time since Christmas, but it can't ever be too late to say thank you. I made a special trip to Barnes and Noble to use my gift cards already. To everyone who gave so generously to the class gift and for the well thought-out personal gifts, thank you.
There are tons of events coming up on the Immanuel Lutheran School calendar. Here's a (hopefully) complete list:
Monday, January 12 -
Tuesday, January 13 -
Wednesday, January 14 - School spelling bee after chapel
Thursday, January 15 -
Friday, January 16 - PJ and Movie Day. Planned by leadership council as a middle-of-winter activity, students may wear comfortable winter pajamas, and we'll watch a movie in the afternoon.
Monday, January 19 -
Tuesday, January 20 - Parent meeting for school families in Kuechle Hall from 7:00-8:00.
Wednesday, January 21 - Fourth Grade leads chapel at 9:00. School geography bee after chapel.
Thursday, January 22 - Pancake Supper
Friday, January 23 - Grades 4K-4 Caldecott Award Ceremony. See the attachment to the school newsletter today and the note coming home with students.
Sunday, January 25 - Consecration Sunday at Immanuel. One worship service at school, followed by lunch.
Congratulations!
Well done, Treighton and Megan, for being the 4th grade representatives to the school spelilng bee. The bee is next Wednesday after chapel with representatives from 3rd-8th grade. A well done also goes out to Zack, Kyra, Katy, and Kaitlyn for doing their best.
Thank You
It seems like a long time since Christmas, but it can't ever be too late to say thank you. I made a special trip to Barnes and Noble to use my gift cards already. To everyone who gave so generously to the class gift and for the well thought-out personal gifts, thank you.
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