C-1 Updates
March 23, 2016
Upcoming dates:
April 11-15 - Spring Break
April 27 - Open House (students attend with you)
May 3, 5, 17, and 19 - SBAC testing (more information to come)
Ms. Carlisle Gurvis and Ms. Ahmad will be completing our regatta art project with the kids on Monday. Donations for the materials can be made by check (made out to Shelley Carlisle Gurvis) or cash in the classroom. You can also make Paypal payments at [email protected], or you can send a check to: 10 Jackson Court, Novato, CA 94947. The suggested donation is $15. Thank you if you have already donated.
This trimester we will be using Words Their Way for phonics, spelling, and vocabulary instruction through daily word study. This differentiated program will provide skill instruction that will cover spelling patterns and focus on examining and manipulating words, not memorizing them. Students will be thinking more critically about words and work on transferring their skills to reading and writing. Words Their Way will focus on teaching students how to spell, decode new words, and to improve word recognition speed in general. To accomplish this goal, I will teach the students how to examine words to learn the regularities that exist in the spelling system. I will also teach them some irregularities of spelling (oddball words). The simple process of sorting words into categories is the heart of our word study program. When students sort words, they are engaged in the active process of searching, comparing, contrasting, and analyzing. Word sorts help students organize what they know about words and to form generalizations that they can then apply to new words they encounter in their reading. Your child will have word sort spelling homework starting next week. We will practice each sort in class first. On Monday your child will sort the words into categories like the ones we did in class. Your child should read each word aloud during this activity. Ask your child to explain to you why the words are sorted in a particular way. On Tuesday your child will do a word hunt, looking for words in a book they have already read that have the same sound, pattern, or both. They should try to find two or three for each category. On Wednesday, do a blind sort with your child. Lay down a word from each category as a header and then read the rest of the words aloud. Your child must indicate where the word goes without seeing it. Lay it down and let your child move it if he or she is wrong. Repeat if your child makes more than one error. On Thursday do a writing sort to prepare for the Friday test. As you call out the words in a random order your child should write them in categories. Call out any word your child misspells a second or even third time. The students will quickly be pros at the routines. I'm excited to implement this program with our class. Let me know if you have any questions.
In language arts we are wrapping up our landmark art and informational writing. Students are continuing to publish their rainforest animal brochures. We are also beginning persuasive letters to the Stamp Advisory Committee inspired by our biography research. In math, we are continuing to learn about fractions.
If your child has past due library books, they were given a notice yesterday. Please help them to do a thorough search for missing books.
March 9, 2016
Dive Deep is next week! You should have received an email from your child's Dive Deep teacher last Friday. Some Dive Deep sessions include field trips. If your child's class is taking a field trip, please print out the permission slip that was attached to the introductory email and return it to the office by Friday. Please be mindful when packing lunches/snacks for next week that your child may be in a class with students with severe nut allergies. Homework for next week is on the Dive Deep website.
During Dive Deep Week, we are excited to have author, Judd Winick, come to speak to our students on Tuesday, March 15. JUDD WINICK is an award-winning cartoonist and has scripted bestselling characters including Batman, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow and characters for Justice League and Star Wars. His latest book is a graphic novel, called HiLo, which is a funny, action-packed, graphic novel series. Pre-orders are available! Just fill out the attached form and return with payment to the Bel Aire Office by Friday, March 11.
Your child's report card will be sent home at the end of the week. The Bel Aire report card web page is a great resource of information about our new report cards: http://newreportcard.weebly.com
Regatta Project - Ms. Carlisle Gurvis and Ms. Ahmad have been planning a special "Muchas Frutas" art project for our class for the Regatta. We are excited to start the project on Friday! The suggested donation is $15 per family to cover the cost of materials for the project. Thank you!
Leap for Liberia Project - Our classroom fundraising competition came to an end on Leap Day. Congratulations to Mr. Gleason’s class for winning the competition with $1,383 raised! Together our school raised $7,500 to help our sister school in Monrovia buy a mini-van for transporting students to and from school. While this is an impressive amount, we fell short of our $10,000 goal. We will be accepting donations for the remainder of the month, even though the classroom competition has ended. Donations can be made in cash or checks payable to the Rotary Club of Tiburon-Belvedere Foundation. Thank you for your support!
March 2, 2016
Tomorrow: Railroad Depot and Old St. Hilary's Field Trip: The class is excited about taking a close look at two more Tiburon Landmarks tomorrow. We will leave Bel Aire at 8:30 and return in time for lunch on campus. Please pack a light snack for the field trip.
Read Across America Week Continues:
Thursday 3/3- Book Swap Cafe in the library during lunch (Students can bring in a book from home that they have read and are ready to trade. They come in before lunch recess and put it on the designated table marked “Book Swap Cafe.” At lunch, they come in a get a new book to take home!
Friday 3/4- Dress as your favorite book character or Dr. Seuss Character Day and A Special Classroom Visit from Thing 1 and Thing 2 with a class treat!
We’re watching a video series about how students can develop a growth mindset! Watch Episode 3 at: www.classdojo.com/BigIdeas, and ask your child these questions tonight.
1. Name a time you were afraid to ask for help. Why were you afraid? (Both parent and student should pick a moment to share)
2. How can you improve the phrase "I can't do this?”
3. Think of a time where you just didn't get “it.” What could you do in that situation?
Update for LearnStorm
It’s official!
Out of roughly 1,000 Bay Area schools competing in the LearnStorm Challenge by Khan Academy, Bel Aire Elementary placed first in Mastery points! Students earn mastery points by mastering math skills at their level on Khan Academy. Each Cup is three weeks long and these results reflect their performance from the first Cup.
Many students placed Top 100 in their respective grade level in either Mastery points or Hustle points. Students earn Hustle points by persevering through difficult concepts (especially if they have previously made mistakes on similar problems). These students will be receiving a certificate for their achievement.
Now it’s time to defend our title and continue expanding our brain with new math concepts and skills!
February 25, 2016
Next week there will be a lot of exciting things going on at Bel Aire for Read Across America Week! It will also be the final week for students to earn AR points and make their 2nd trimester goals!
We have a field trip next Thursday to The Railroad Depot as well as Old St. Hilary's. We do have one chaperone slot still open on Lotsa Helping Hands. Please sign up if you'd like to join us! Permission slips went home yesterday. please fill them out and return them with homework on Friday.
Episode 2: Take-home questions: We’re watching a video series about how students can develop a growth mindset! Watch it at: www.classdojo.com/BigIdeas, and ask your child these questions tonight.
1. When I make a mistake I feel _____ because _____. How does it feel when you make a mistake?
2. What do you do about those feelings so that you don't get discouraged?
3. How can we support one another when facing challenges that result in many trials?
Ms. O'Leary's class is collecting donations for the Liberia Project for three more days. Checks can be made payable to the Rotary Club or Tiburon-Belvedere Foundation.
This week in math we are wrapping up Unit 4: Multiplication and Area. Next week we will begin to learn about fractions. Students should continue to practice multiplication facts consistently. In language arts we are researching endangered rainforest animals for informational writing pieces. We are also focusing on biographies in reading workshop and students are learning to determine importance, to synthesize, and to analyze critically as they read.
February 11, 2016
Tomorrow is our field trip to the China Cabin and the Art and Garden Center. Students should bring a small, portable snack. We will be back on campus for lunch.
We’re watching a video series about how students can develop a growth mindset! Watch it at: www.classdojo.com/BigIdeas, and ask your child these questions tonight.
1. What was the biggest challenge you faced today? (Ask your child, and then have them ask the question back!)
2. How can you and I think about these challenges in a new way?
3. What can we do differently tomorrow if we face similar challenges?
Upcoming Dates:
2/12 Valentine Exchange
2/15-2/19 Mid-Winter Break
2/29 - 3/4 Read Across America Week
3/7 Tri 2 AR deadline
February 5, 2016
Upcoming dates:
Field Trip - Thursday, February 11th
Valentine Exchange - Friday, February 12th
Mid-Winter Break - February 15th - 19th
Students are off to a nice start in LearnStorm. Individual and school leaderboards will go live on February 9th. Also, the first Mindset Activity is ready. Encourage your child to complete it.
Leap for Liberia is now accepting checks in addition to cash donations. Checks can be made out to the Rotary Club of Tiburon-Belvedere Foundation. Our goal is to raise $10,000 to buy a small bus to be used as a school bus for our sister school, the Elizabeth Sele Mulbah Institute in Monrovia, Liberia.
Global School Play Day was a big success! Students in C-1 were kind, inclusive, solved problems, and had a lot of fun!
January 27, 2016
Our class will be participating in Global School Play Day next Wednesday, February 3rd. Students may bring in games and toys from home, including: board games, dolls, Legos, blocks, trucks, cars, racetracks, playing cards, empty cardboard boxes, markers, jigsaw puzzles, social games (charades, Pictionary, etc.) These may not be computer or electronic games or include weapons. Peter Gray's TEDx video discusses the importance of play.
We are wrapping up Module 3 in math. Students are becoming expert multiplication and division problem solvers. We will begin Module 4: Multiplication and Area next week. In reading we are focusing on mysteries and students are learning to make judgments and infer about clues. In writing, students have used the Book Creator app to publish their Expert Books into iBooks. We are now using our informational writing skills to turn our Early Coast Miwok research into scripts for iMovies. Students are rotating to Ms. McKay for life science.
We will be exchanging valentines in class on February 12th. I will send a class list home on Monday so that your child can be sure to include all classmates.
Our next field trip is on Thursday, February 11th. We will be visiting The China Cabin and The Art & Garden Center to learn about the history of Tiburon from the Landmark Society docents. Thank you to Mark Goldstein, Caroline Kesmodel, Alana Davis, Jennifer Raby, and Tracy Cunningham for signing up to chaperone.
Message from 5th grade students in Ms. O'Leary's class:
You may have already heard from your children, but here’s another reminder about this year’s Liberia Project. Our school is aiming to raise $10,000 to buy a small bus to be used as a school bus for our sister school, the Elizabeth Sele Mulbah Institute in Monrovia, Liberia. Cash will be accepted immediately, and we will let you know where to write checks as soon as possible. Please send the money with your child to school. Each classroom has a donation envelope, and classes are competing for a prize for the most amount of money raised!
Thank you to Tina Davis, Alana Davis, Jacqueline Jaffee, Monica Coleman, Jennifer Raby, and Shelley Carlisle for braving the rain and chaperoning our field trip to the Museum of the American Indian last Friday. We had fun and learned a lot.
December 9, 2015
Upcoming Important Dates
- Tomorrow, Thurs Dec 10th - Our class will have a sub as I will be at an on-site meeting all day. Please discuss expected behaviors with your child and remind him/her to go above and beyond to make it a GREAT day!
- Classroom Holiday Party - Friday, Dec 18th at 10:30
- Winter Break - - December 21 - January 1st
- No School Monday, January 4th - Teacher In-Service Day
- School resumes Tuesday, January 5th, 2016!
Hour of Code Week!
Please read the note below and see photos of 5th graders taking part in the Hour of Code week during lunch. Your child is welcome to participate during the "3rd Grade Day" tomorrow at lunch in the Library with Ms. Kesten, Ms. Skinner, and Mrs. Rhodes!
Hi Parents,
As many of you know this week is the national Hour of Code and here at Bel Aire and we have a lot going on! We allowed students to self select their group (Novice, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced) and work at lunch in the library to do their Hour of Code!
Novice coders worked on the Code.org website, this can be accessed on a iPad or computer. On Code.org you learn how to write code using code blocks (BONUS: No spelling errors) to put functions together.
Beginner coders worked on Hopscotch, an iPad app that uses the same block coding as code.org only has some more advanced features.
Intermediate coders worked on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript on Khan Academy. This is a great way to make websites using the markup and style languages HTML and CSS and try programming with JavaScript. There were also some kids working on their own front end Code Pen projects. Advanced coders worked on Sonic Pi, a Ruby based programming language that creates music with code. You can download this desktop application on a Windows, Mac or Raspberry Pi.
In addition we had students exploring how 3D printing works and seeing it in action. Students watched a brief video about 3D printing, then drew designs on paper and used the app MakerBot Printshop to transform their drawings into 3D shapes. Their 3D designs will be printed and ready to take home before winter break.
If you want to try coding with your kids this week (or any week) feel free to pick the group you align with above and try out one of the linked activities!
Enjoy,
Ms. Kesten, Ms. Skinner and Ms. Rhodes
Website Updates
The RUSD Math site has been updated with information about our 3rd module as well as Hour of Code resources.
Ritter House Snowman Drive
This is the last week to participate in our student council fundraiser aimed to collect toys for children in need this holiday season. If you're interested in taking part, have your child go to the Bel Aire office to pick a “snowman”, which is essentially a child who needs a gift. You and your child can purchase a new gift for that child (their age and gender are on the snowman) and return the gift to the office by December 11th. All gifts should be unwrapped, and the snowman should be taped securely on the gift.
Sausalito Farms
Another holiday fundraiser! I know some of our classroom families have bought their tree and/or wreaths from Sausalito Farms. Proceeds from these purchases go directly back to our Bel Aire Student Council. Thank you for participating! If you're still in need of a tree or wreath, read below.
A note from Student Council:
Dear Families,
Bel Aire Student Council is very excited to be teaming with Sausalito Farms, a locally owned tree lot in Sausalito, to pre-sell holiday trees and wreaths.
Sausalito Farms will donate $20 per tree and $10 per wreath to the Bel Aire Student Council.You can order anytime up through December 23 and Bel Aire Student Council will receive fundraising money.
Thank you for your support!
Bel Aire Student Council &
Krissy Bradshaw and Lisa Brigulio (Student Council Advisors)
November 18, 2015
Academy of Sciences Field Trip – Tuesday, December 1st
We are excited for our first field trip of the year! We will be attending the planetarium show as an introduction to our space unit, as well as exploring all of the special exhibits at the academy. Please return permission slips on Friday with homework. Students will need to pack a lunch. Thank you to Ms. Carlisle, Ms. Coleman, Ms. Kesmodel, Ms. Swank, and Ms. Raby for signing up to chaperone! We are not allotted any additional chaperones, but we will have more chaperone opportunities coming after winter break.
Math Homework: If your child needs help, here is the link for homework videos: http://rusdmath.weebly.com/grade-31.html
Upcoming Dates to Remember
Tuesday, November 24th - Grandparent's Day
Wednesday, November 25-27 - Thanksgiving Break
Tuesday, January 1st - Field Trip, Academy of Sciences
December 21- January 4 - Winter Break
If your holiday travel plans will impact your child’s attendance, please notify the office at [email protected] and also cc me.
I am enjoying meeting with all of you for parent conferences! Please reach out anytime you have questions about your child’s progress.
November 4, 2015
Thank you to Monica Coleman, Jacqueline Jaffee, Tina Davis, Jennifer Raby and all of the parents that helped make our Halloween party so wonderful! The class had a fantastic time.
I am meeting individually with students to discuss AR goals for the 2nd trimester. Your child will bring home a goal setting form to discuss with you. Please complete and return the bottom portion by 11/13. Thank you!
Today is the last day of the Book Fair. They are open until 7:00 pm, right here in the Bel Aire MPR.
Bel Aire is celebrating the BLUE Ribbon Award on Tuesday, November 10. All students will be part of the celebration. There will be an aerial photographer who will be taking a group picture of all student dressed in BLUE. Please help remind your child to wear BLUE on Tuesday, November 10, 2015.
No school next Wednesday, November 11th - Veteran’s Day holiday.
Parent-Teacher conferences are the following week, November 16 - 20th. Students are dismissed early every day that week! Dismissal time is 12:10 pm.
Grandparents’ Day is Tuesday, November 24th.
Thanksgiving Break begins Wednesday, November 25th.
I look forward to meeting with you all soon.
October 29, 2015
Happy Halloween - almost! The class Halloween party will be tomorrow from 12:35 -1:10. Thank you to Monica Coleman, Jacqueline Jaffee, Tina Davis, and Jennifer Raby for planning our party! The Bel Aire Halloween parade will take place on the upper blacktop immediately following the party from 1:10-1:40. Parents are welcome to attend both events.
We need at least six empty 2 liter bottles (with straight sides) for math next week. If you are able to donate an empty bottle, please let me know, and send in by next Wednesday. Thank you!
Blue Ribbon Celebration - Tuesday, November 10th - All students wear blue
Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming soon. I’m looking forward to meeting with you all to discuss how your child is doing in 3rd grade so far! If you haven’t signed up yet, please be sure to do so soon!
New Report Card Information: Below is a link for the next episode of "The Report Card Turns." This is part of a series to help parents understand the new Bel Aire report card. Each episode has a movie, an explanation and an FAQ. Via the tabs on the top you can access the actual report card for each grade level as well previous episodes.
We hope you have a chance to preview this report card prior to your child's parent/teacher conference so you can use that time focusing on the individual needs of your child.
There is a parent workshop to review the new report card on Wednesday, November 4 at 8:30 a.m. at Bel Aire.
Enjoy "As The Report Card Turns, Episode Two"
Bel Aire School hosts the Reed Union School District annual Book Fair on Tuesday, November 3rd and Wednesday, November 4th from 1 – 7pm in the multi-purpose room. Sponsored by Book Passage and the RUSD PTA, the Book Fair offers hundreds of exciting new titles and treasured old favorites during this spectacular two day Book Fair. Students who attend one night of the Book Fair will be given a homework pass for attending the evening’s festivities. Proceeds benefit all three Reed Union School District Libraries.
October 21, 2015
We have an opening for a parent volunteer for math centers this Friday at 9:00. Please sign up on Lotsa Helping Hands if you are interested!
Students took the End of Module Assessment Task on Friday, and brought it home in blue folders yesterday, unless they needed more time. Each of the four problems is worth four points. Four points indicates evidence of solid reasoning with a correct answer. Three points indicates evidence of some reasoning with a correct answer, or solid reasoning with an incorrect answer. Two points indicates evidence of some reasoning without a correct answer overall. One point indicates little of evidence of reasoning without a correct answer. The final page assessed fluency, and 30 or more correct answers was passing. Most students have not yet passed the fluency portion. We will continue to practice fluency every day at school, and reassess periodically. Overall, students are developing strong foundations solving problems with multiplication and division which we will build on throughout the year.
Time to get those costumes ready as Halloween is just around the corner. The class Halloween party will be Friday, October 30 from 12:35 -1:10. We would appreciate donations of (1) empty paper towel or toilet paper roll and (2) glow sticks by Wednesday 10/28. Thank you to Monica Coleman, Jacqueline Jaffee, Tina Davis, and Jennifer Raby for planning our party!
The Bel Aire Halloween parade will take place on the upper blacktop immediately following the party from 1:10-1:40.
Parents and caregivers are welcome to join the fun, but may not wear masks nor make up that obscures facial Identification. Siblings are not permitted due to liability and immunization regulations.
Students may wear or bring their costumes to school, and must be able to get in and out of them without assistance. If wearing, the costume must not interfere with PE, sitting, or standing. Costumes must be in good taste and age-appropriate. No weapons, or wheels, allowed. Students must be able to walk in their costumes. Masks are allowed for the parade only. All makeup, hair sprays, and colors must be applied at home. Students are not allowed to bring these items to school.
Halloween Safety Tips from MCOE
As you all know, this is an especially exciting time of year for our students and young children who celebrate Halloween. I wanted to share these Halloween safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics because safety is our number one priority!
Please share them widely:
In English: https://shar.es/1uxiDK
In Spanish: http://tinyurl.com/px3m3yj
In addition, MCOE will be collecting candy and toothbrushes for our troops in support of Operation Gratitude. Bring your unwanted candy and new toothbrushes in before November 5 so we can ship it to the troops supporting our country overseas!
October 14, 2015
Thursday, October 15th - The Foundation's 3rd annual Fun Run at Blackie's Pasture - 4:00 p.m.to kickoff our Family Giving Campaign.
For more information, check the Fun Run Homepage!
Friday, October 16th - Pajama Day!
Students may wear (appropriate) pajamas to school on Friday. Our class does have PE on Friday, so all students must have appropriate shoes for PE.
Monday, October 19th - No School
The RUSD Annual Book Fair is Coming in November!
Bel Aire School hosts the Reed Union School District annual Book Fair on Tuesday, November 3rd and Wednesday, November 4th from 1 – 7pm in the multi-purpose room. Sponsored by Book Passage and the RUSD PTA, the Book Fair offers hundreds of exciting new titles and treasured old favorites during this spectacular two day Book Fair. Students who attend one night of the Book Fair will be given a homework pass for attending the evening’s festivities. Proceeds benefit all three Reed Union School District Libraries. Students will be receiving information about some of the recommended titles at a grade level assembly at the end of October. We are looking forward to a great Book Fair!
October 7, 2015
Maker Carnival Tonight! Students are looking forward to the festivities tonight from 5-7 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
October is Fire Prevention Month. The fire department will be bringing their truck to Bel Aire tomorrow to teach our class about fire safety.
Our class is visiting the library on Monday. Please have your child bring back his/her books either tomorrow, Friday, or on Monday in order to be able to check out new books.
The Lion King! Bel Aire is becoming a jungle and the Bel Aire play is going to be wildly fun! The student informational meeting is tomorrow, Thursday, October 8th 12:15-12:35 pm in the MPR. Parent information meetings are on Tuesday, October 13 at 6:30 pm and Wednesday, October 14 at 8:30 am. Parents only need to attend one of the meetings.
Friday, October 16 is the first student council sponsored spirit day and the theme is Pajama Day! We have PE on Fridays, so students should still wear athletic shoes.
No school on Monday, October 19.
September 30, 2015
We are halfway through the first trimester! The students have learned so much already, and we are off to a wonderful start. At this point in the trimester, Bel Aire sends Mid Trimester Reports in the mail as notification if students are not yet meeting grade level expectations in any areas. Your child may be doing well overall, but have one or more skills that need more practice. We will be working on skills noted on the Mid Tri at school, and you can support your child's progress at home as well.
I am looking forward to conferencing with everyone in November. Please sign up here, if you have not already.
Today is the last day for students to register for the Maker Carnival. Everyone is welcome to attend the carnival and play the games next Wednesday from 5-7.
Students attended their first Wednesday Mini Dive classes today. Ask your child about his/her experience.
School photos are in! Your child will bring ordering information home today. Make up day is scheduled for October 12.
September 23, 2015
Each month, your child will bring home Scholastic Reading Club flyers. Every book you buy earns free books for our classroom library. If you would like to order books online, you may do so here. The first time you order, you will need our class code: LJGGD
Bring Your Whole Family to the Bel Aire Maker Carnival
Oct. 7th, 5:00-7:00pm
Click here to see the Maker Carnival commercial
Maker Carnival Registration: Registration is due by Sept. 30!
Your child can register by going to register for the Maker Carnival
Students may work alone on their Maker Carnival game, or they may have up to three partners. Please only submit one form PER GROUP! Students should decide who their team leader is, and let the team leader fill out the form if they are working with a partner or partners.
Games students make for the carnival will be played by other students at Bel Aire.
We encourage students to use materials that are up-cycled, such as egg cartons, cardboard boxes, bottle caps, cereal boxes, CDs, etc. We also encourage games made using technology. If a student is making a web-based game, and they need Bel Aire equipment to showcase their game, we can provide iPads only. Any other technology equipment must be brought from home on the night of the Maker Carnival. Just get creative and have fun! See Mrs. Carin Rhodes or Ms. Lisa Skinner for questions or idea help!
September 16, 2015
Parent Teacher Conferences: November 16-20
Each day is an early release day to accommodate the conference schedule.
Please sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences 2015!
Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1. Click here to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot)
3. Sign up! Choose your spots - VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!
Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.
Maker Carnival Registration
October 7th is Bel Aire's Family night, and it's also the Maker Carnival. Students will register to participate in this event, either by themselves, or in a small group. The games that students make will be played that night, by other students. Students are encouraged to use materials that are upcycled such as cardboard boxes, egg cartons, cereal boxes, bottle caps and more! Games can use technology and can be web-based! The idea is to be creative and have fun! Check out the Marker Carnival Website here:
http://belairemakercarnival.weebly.com
Emergency Comfort Kits :
Please be sure to send in a “Comfort Kit” for your child by this Friday. We want to be sure every child has a bit of “comfort” to hold onto in the unlikely event of an emergency or disaster here at school.
Fall Semester Mini Dive:
Students have submitted their top choices for our upcoming Wednesday afternoon Mini Dives. Session 1 is scheduled to begin on September 30th and continue through to the end of January. Students will have an opportunity to choose a different class during the second half of the year
Class Dojo:
If you have not yet registered for Class Dojo, I’ll be sending you an invitation via e-mail. We use this classroom management tool to help us save time during transitions, remind students of expected behavior, reward students for active participation, etc. It is not a perfect reflection of your child's day, but gives you a glimpse into some moments of our day.
Room Parent Emails
Please let me know if you did not have a chance to sign up to receive emails from our room parent, Kati Seymore, at Back to School Night and you would like to be added to her list.
Library
We had out first visit to the Bel Aire library this week. Students may check out two books for two weeks. We will visit the library twice a month as a class to check out books. Students may also return and check out books during most recesses.
September 9, 2015
It was a pleasure to meet so many of you at BTSN last week! If you took the green emergency release form home, please have your child turn it in to the office tomorrow.
Picture day is this Friday.
The Monthly Curriculum Overview is posted on the class webpage under the parents tab.
This week your child has light homework due to the short week. Math is a review and all work is due on Friday. Your child brought home instructions for the first OPTIONAL monthly math project. If your child is ready for a greater challenge, he or she is encouraged to apply math concepts to the real world and create an Everyday Array presentation. This is due October 2nd. Creativity is welcome!
Please return comfort kits by September 19th. A comfort kit is a small zip lock bag filled with items to comfort your child in the event of an emergency requiring students to shelter in place for an extended period of time. You might include a photo, a small non-perishable snack, a note, or a small item of entertainment. Please label the bag with your child's name, as well as my name.
Our Accelerated Reader program is now in full swing, so I'd like to give you some more details about AR.
Accelerated reader starts when students take a specialized assessment which measures reading ability and comprehension. The results of this test help identify "just right books" for your child's reading level. When your child has finished one of these books, he or she takes a comprehension quiz, and earns points towards a goal. Note: quizzes can only be taken while at school.
A "just right book" is a book which falls within your child's Book Level (BL) range. This is also referred to as your child's ZDP range but I say "Book Level" to avoid confusion. An example BL range is 2.7 - 3.9.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know what my child's BL range is?
Now that AR assessments are complete, I have given the children their BL ranges and I will be e-mailing you their ranges shortly.
How do I know if the book my child is reading is at the appropriate book level?
Use the AR book finder. If the book is part of the AR program (most are), you will find a synopsis of the book as well as the Book Level. The AR book finder is also located on the Bel Aire website.
What is my child's AR goal?
All first trimester goals are initially set at 5 points. As quiz scores begin to come in, I can see the trends in your child's reading habits, and comprehension. I meet with each child to re-evaluate the 5 point goal to ensure your child is properly challenged.
How can I check my child's quiz results and progress toward his or her goal?
Use AR Home Connect. Enter in your child's username and password to see quiz results, and progress towards his or her goal. Your child's username and password will be sent home in blue homework folders today.
Help! My child has been reading a book for 3 weeks and I just realized it is not in the AR book finder! How can my child take a quiz and earn points for this book?
Did you spell the name of the book EXACTLY right? The AR book finder is not like Google...mistype one letter and it has no idea what you are looking for. Yes, I typed it correctly: If a book truly is not part of the AR program (again, most are) there is still hope! Children can create their own quizzes for books not in the AR database, and turn them in to me for points. This is not ideal however, since having a child create a quiz is not a valid measure of how well the child comprehended the book (unless I know the book inside and out and can effectively evaluate the created quiz). So...ALWAYS CHECK THE AR BOOK FINDER to see if there is a quiz before you start reading.
My child said he is supposed to read books that are either "yellow, red, or green." What does that mean?
Different book levels have different colors assigned to them.
The books in the Bel Aire library and the books in my classroom library have colored stickers on the spine to help children identify book levels.
September 2, 2015
I look forward to seeing you tonight for Back to School Night! The event will start in the MPR at 6:00. The classroom presentation will follow in C-1 from approximately 6:30 to 7:30.
Starting next week there are two music clubs with Mr. Gist of which 3rd graders can take advantage:
—Chorus - meets every Tuesday at 12:10
— Percussion ensemble - meets every Thursday at 7:30 a.m.
No need to sign-up, just show up.
August 24, 2015
I hope this note finds you all well! I will typically be sending out biweekly updates to each of you. If you would not like to be included on these weekly updates please let me know and I will remove you from the list. I do ask, however, that I have at least one email address per family that I can correspond with.
I am enjoying getting to know each of your children! It was instantly clear what an incredible group they are. We have been having fun-filled days learning about our new school, introducing a new poetry writing assignment, sharing our paper bags, and building teamwork towers.
As parents it's clear you are the people who know your child the absolute best. Because of that, I'm interested in learning more about his/her strengths and needs from your point of view. Thank you if you have already returned the blue questionnaire about your child. If you haven’t yet, please return the questionnaire by Friday, August 28th in your child’s blue homework folder.
Homework?! Yes, that's right, I wrote "your child's blue homework folder" in the last sentence because this is the first week of homework for the school year. Every Monday your child's blue homework folder will be sent home with the current week's assignments. Please send it back to school each day, as students will bring home math pages daily, except Friday. Math homework will be a review of the concept taught in class that day. Your child will also bring home his/her Problem Set, which is completed in class and may be referred to for homework help. Math homework should be returned each day, all other homework is due on Friday. I went over this week's assignments in class but am happy to answer any questions you or your child may have regarding the expectations for completion.
You should also find a Digital Devices Responsibility Contract in your child’s blue folder today. Please review this with your child, sign, and return. This contract is in addition to the electronic Student Technology Use Agreement, which most of you have already submitted. If you have not submitted the Elementary Handbook Agreements yet, please do so here. We will have our first lesson on digital citizenship tomorrow!
Please note attached nut allergy information from our school nurse.
I look forward to meeting each of you at Back to School Night next Wednesday, Sept 2nd from 6:00-7:30!
Please feel free to reach out any time with any questions or concerns you may have. Here's to a great year ahead!
August 20, 2015
Welcome to third grade! I am looking forward to partnering with you to create a rewarding year for your child. This will be my ninth year as a classroom teacher, and my fourth year at Bel Aire. I am thrilled to be back!
My goal this year is to provide challenging and engaging learning opportunities that serve all students. The children in C-1 will work in groups and individually on projects that focus on critical thinking and problem solving skills as well as the standards laid out in the 3rd grade framework.
I am looking forward to meeting all of you in the next few weeks and certainly at Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 2nd. I will be going over class details at that time. If you are interested in volunteering in the classroom, please stay tuned for more information regarding how to sign up.
Please have your child find three or four favorite objects that he/she would like to share for a “Getting Acquainted” activity on Friday. The objects should all fit within the paper bag I sent home with your child today. The objects may include a small stuffed animal, trophy, special card from a collection, art project, photograph, medal, book, etc. These are just a few suggestions.
Please return the email preferences sheet tomorrow and the parent questionnaire by next Friday.
If you have not already, please review the Family Handbook at http://rusdhandbooks.weebly.com/ and submit the Technology Use Agreements.
Lastly, if you would like to get in touch with me, the best way is through email. I check my email before and after school.
I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with you and your child this year!
Upcoming dates:
April 11-15 - Spring Break
April 27 - Open House (students attend with you)
May 3, 5, 17, and 19 - SBAC testing (more information to come)
Ms. Carlisle Gurvis and Ms. Ahmad will be completing our regatta art project with the kids on Monday. Donations for the materials can be made by check (made out to Shelley Carlisle Gurvis) or cash in the classroom. You can also make Paypal payments at [email protected], or you can send a check to: 10 Jackson Court, Novato, CA 94947. The suggested donation is $15. Thank you if you have already donated.
This trimester we will be using Words Their Way for phonics, spelling, and vocabulary instruction through daily word study. This differentiated program will provide skill instruction that will cover spelling patterns and focus on examining and manipulating words, not memorizing them. Students will be thinking more critically about words and work on transferring their skills to reading and writing. Words Their Way will focus on teaching students how to spell, decode new words, and to improve word recognition speed in general. To accomplish this goal, I will teach the students how to examine words to learn the regularities that exist in the spelling system. I will also teach them some irregularities of spelling (oddball words). The simple process of sorting words into categories is the heart of our word study program. When students sort words, they are engaged in the active process of searching, comparing, contrasting, and analyzing. Word sorts help students organize what they know about words and to form generalizations that they can then apply to new words they encounter in their reading. Your child will have word sort spelling homework starting next week. We will practice each sort in class first. On Monday your child will sort the words into categories like the ones we did in class. Your child should read each word aloud during this activity. Ask your child to explain to you why the words are sorted in a particular way. On Tuesday your child will do a word hunt, looking for words in a book they have already read that have the same sound, pattern, or both. They should try to find two or three for each category. On Wednesday, do a blind sort with your child. Lay down a word from each category as a header and then read the rest of the words aloud. Your child must indicate where the word goes without seeing it. Lay it down and let your child move it if he or she is wrong. Repeat if your child makes more than one error. On Thursday do a writing sort to prepare for the Friday test. As you call out the words in a random order your child should write them in categories. Call out any word your child misspells a second or even third time. The students will quickly be pros at the routines. I'm excited to implement this program with our class. Let me know if you have any questions.
In language arts we are wrapping up our landmark art and informational writing. Students are continuing to publish their rainforest animal brochures. We are also beginning persuasive letters to the Stamp Advisory Committee inspired by our biography research. In math, we are continuing to learn about fractions.
If your child has past due library books, they were given a notice yesterday. Please help them to do a thorough search for missing books.
March 9, 2016
Dive Deep is next week! You should have received an email from your child's Dive Deep teacher last Friday. Some Dive Deep sessions include field trips. If your child's class is taking a field trip, please print out the permission slip that was attached to the introductory email and return it to the office by Friday. Please be mindful when packing lunches/snacks for next week that your child may be in a class with students with severe nut allergies. Homework for next week is on the Dive Deep website.
During Dive Deep Week, we are excited to have author, Judd Winick, come to speak to our students on Tuesday, March 15. JUDD WINICK is an award-winning cartoonist and has scripted bestselling characters including Batman, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow and characters for Justice League and Star Wars. His latest book is a graphic novel, called HiLo, which is a funny, action-packed, graphic novel series. Pre-orders are available! Just fill out the attached form and return with payment to the Bel Aire Office by Friday, March 11.
Your child's report card will be sent home at the end of the week. The Bel Aire report card web page is a great resource of information about our new report cards: http://newreportcard.weebly.com
Regatta Project - Ms. Carlisle Gurvis and Ms. Ahmad have been planning a special "Muchas Frutas" art project for our class for the Regatta. We are excited to start the project on Friday! The suggested donation is $15 per family to cover the cost of materials for the project. Thank you!
Leap for Liberia Project - Our classroom fundraising competition came to an end on Leap Day. Congratulations to Mr. Gleason’s class for winning the competition with $1,383 raised! Together our school raised $7,500 to help our sister school in Monrovia buy a mini-van for transporting students to and from school. While this is an impressive amount, we fell short of our $10,000 goal. We will be accepting donations for the remainder of the month, even though the classroom competition has ended. Donations can be made in cash or checks payable to the Rotary Club of Tiburon-Belvedere Foundation. Thank you for your support!
March 2, 2016
Tomorrow: Railroad Depot and Old St. Hilary's Field Trip: The class is excited about taking a close look at two more Tiburon Landmarks tomorrow. We will leave Bel Aire at 8:30 and return in time for lunch on campus. Please pack a light snack for the field trip.
Read Across America Week Continues:
Thursday 3/3- Book Swap Cafe in the library during lunch (Students can bring in a book from home that they have read and are ready to trade. They come in before lunch recess and put it on the designated table marked “Book Swap Cafe.” At lunch, they come in a get a new book to take home!
Friday 3/4- Dress as your favorite book character or Dr. Seuss Character Day and A Special Classroom Visit from Thing 1 and Thing 2 with a class treat!
We’re watching a video series about how students can develop a growth mindset! Watch Episode 3 at: www.classdojo.com/BigIdeas, and ask your child these questions tonight.
1. Name a time you were afraid to ask for help. Why were you afraid? (Both parent and student should pick a moment to share)
2. How can you improve the phrase "I can't do this?”
3. Think of a time where you just didn't get “it.” What could you do in that situation?
Update for LearnStorm
It’s official!
Out of roughly 1,000 Bay Area schools competing in the LearnStorm Challenge by Khan Academy, Bel Aire Elementary placed first in Mastery points! Students earn mastery points by mastering math skills at their level on Khan Academy. Each Cup is three weeks long and these results reflect their performance from the first Cup.
Many students placed Top 100 in their respective grade level in either Mastery points or Hustle points. Students earn Hustle points by persevering through difficult concepts (especially if they have previously made mistakes on similar problems). These students will be receiving a certificate for their achievement.
Now it’s time to defend our title and continue expanding our brain with new math concepts and skills!
February 25, 2016
Next week there will be a lot of exciting things going on at Bel Aire for Read Across America Week! It will also be the final week for students to earn AR points and make their 2nd trimester goals!
We have a field trip next Thursday to The Railroad Depot as well as Old St. Hilary's. We do have one chaperone slot still open on Lotsa Helping Hands. Please sign up if you'd like to join us! Permission slips went home yesterday. please fill them out and return them with homework on Friday.
Episode 2: Take-home questions: We’re watching a video series about how students can develop a growth mindset! Watch it at: www.classdojo.com/BigIdeas, and ask your child these questions tonight.
1. When I make a mistake I feel _____ because _____. How does it feel when you make a mistake?
2. What do you do about those feelings so that you don't get discouraged?
3. How can we support one another when facing challenges that result in many trials?
Ms. O'Leary's class is collecting donations for the Liberia Project for three more days. Checks can be made payable to the Rotary Club or Tiburon-Belvedere Foundation.
This week in math we are wrapping up Unit 4: Multiplication and Area. Next week we will begin to learn about fractions. Students should continue to practice multiplication facts consistently. In language arts we are researching endangered rainforest animals for informational writing pieces. We are also focusing on biographies in reading workshop and students are learning to determine importance, to synthesize, and to analyze critically as they read.
February 11, 2016
Tomorrow is our field trip to the China Cabin and the Art and Garden Center. Students should bring a small, portable snack. We will be back on campus for lunch.
We’re watching a video series about how students can develop a growth mindset! Watch it at: www.classdojo.com/BigIdeas, and ask your child these questions tonight.
1. What was the biggest challenge you faced today? (Ask your child, and then have them ask the question back!)
2. How can you and I think about these challenges in a new way?
3. What can we do differently tomorrow if we face similar challenges?
Upcoming Dates:
2/12 Valentine Exchange
2/15-2/19 Mid-Winter Break
2/29 - 3/4 Read Across America Week
3/7 Tri 2 AR deadline
February 5, 2016
Upcoming dates:
Field Trip - Thursday, February 11th
Valentine Exchange - Friday, February 12th
Mid-Winter Break - February 15th - 19th
Students are off to a nice start in LearnStorm. Individual and school leaderboards will go live on February 9th. Also, the first Mindset Activity is ready. Encourage your child to complete it.
Leap for Liberia is now accepting checks in addition to cash donations. Checks can be made out to the Rotary Club of Tiburon-Belvedere Foundation. Our goal is to raise $10,000 to buy a small bus to be used as a school bus for our sister school, the Elizabeth Sele Mulbah Institute in Monrovia, Liberia.
Global School Play Day was a big success! Students in C-1 were kind, inclusive, solved problems, and had a lot of fun!
January 27, 2016
Our class will be participating in Global School Play Day next Wednesday, February 3rd. Students may bring in games and toys from home, including: board games, dolls, Legos, blocks, trucks, cars, racetracks, playing cards, empty cardboard boxes, markers, jigsaw puzzles, social games (charades, Pictionary, etc.) These may not be computer or electronic games or include weapons. Peter Gray's TEDx video discusses the importance of play.
We are wrapping up Module 3 in math. Students are becoming expert multiplication and division problem solvers. We will begin Module 4: Multiplication and Area next week. In reading we are focusing on mysteries and students are learning to make judgments and infer about clues. In writing, students have used the Book Creator app to publish their Expert Books into iBooks. We are now using our informational writing skills to turn our Early Coast Miwok research into scripts for iMovies. Students are rotating to Ms. McKay for life science.
We will be exchanging valentines in class on February 12th. I will send a class list home on Monday so that your child can be sure to include all classmates.
Our next field trip is on Thursday, February 11th. We will be visiting The China Cabin and The Art & Garden Center to learn about the history of Tiburon from the Landmark Society docents. Thank you to Mark Goldstein, Caroline Kesmodel, Alana Davis, Jennifer Raby, and Tracy Cunningham for signing up to chaperone.
Message from 5th grade students in Ms. O'Leary's class:
You may have already heard from your children, but here’s another reminder about this year’s Liberia Project. Our school is aiming to raise $10,000 to buy a small bus to be used as a school bus for our sister school, the Elizabeth Sele Mulbah Institute in Monrovia, Liberia. Cash will be accepted immediately, and we will let you know where to write checks as soon as possible. Please send the money with your child to school. Each classroom has a donation envelope, and classes are competing for a prize for the most amount of money raised!
Thank you to Tina Davis, Alana Davis, Jacqueline Jaffee, Monica Coleman, Jennifer Raby, and Shelley Carlisle for braving the rain and chaperoning our field trip to the Museum of the American Indian last Friday. We had fun and learned a lot.
December 9, 2015
Upcoming Important Dates
- Tomorrow, Thurs Dec 10th - Our class will have a sub as I will be at an on-site meeting all day. Please discuss expected behaviors with your child and remind him/her to go above and beyond to make it a GREAT day!
- Classroom Holiday Party - Friday, Dec 18th at 10:30
- Winter Break - - December 21 - January 1st
- No School Monday, January 4th - Teacher In-Service Day
- School resumes Tuesday, January 5th, 2016!
Hour of Code Week!
Please read the note below and see photos of 5th graders taking part in the Hour of Code week during lunch. Your child is welcome to participate during the "3rd Grade Day" tomorrow at lunch in the Library with Ms. Kesten, Ms. Skinner, and Mrs. Rhodes!
Hi Parents,
As many of you know this week is the national Hour of Code and here at Bel Aire and we have a lot going on! We allowed students to self select their group (Novice, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced) and work at lunch in the library to do their Hour of Code!
Novice coders worked on the Code.org website, this can be accessed on a iPad or computer. On Code.org you learn how to write code using code blocks (BONUS: No spelling errors) to put functions together.
Beginner coders worked on Hopscotch, an iPad app that uses the same block coding as code.org only has some more advanced features.
Intermediate coders worked on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript on Khan Academy. This is a great way to make websites using the markup and style languages HTML and CSS and try programming with JavaScript. There were also some kids working on their own front end Code Pen projects. Advanced coders worked on Sonic Pi, a Ruby based programming language that creates music with code. You can download this desktop application on a Windows, Mac or Raspberry Pi.
In addition we had students exploring how 3D printing works and seeing it in action. Students watched a brief video about 3D printing, then drew designs on paper and used the app MakerBot Printshop to transform their drawings into 3D shapes. Their 3D designs will be printed and ready to take home before winter break.
If you want to try coding with your kids this week (or any week) feel free to pick the group you align with above and try out one of the linked activities!
Enjoy,
Ms. Kesten, Ms. Skinner and Ms. Rhodes
Website Updates
The RUSD Math site has been updated with information about our 3rd module as well as Hour of Code resources.
Ritter House Snowman Drive
This is the last week to participate in our student council fundraiser aimed to collect toys for children in need this holiday season. If you're interested in taking part, have your child go to the Bel Aire office to pick a “snowman”, which is essentially a child who needs a gift. You and your child can purchase a new gift for that child (their age and gender are on the snowman) and return the gift to the office by December 11th. All gifts should be unwrapped, and the snowman should be taped securely on the gift.
Sausalito Farms
Another holiday fundraiser! I know some of our classroom families have bought their tree and/or wreaths from Sausalito Farms. Proceeds from these purchases go directly back to our Bel Aire Student Council. Thank you for participating! If you're still in need of a tree or wreath, read below.
A note from Student Council:
Dear Families,
Bel Aire Student Council is very excited to be teaming with Sausalito Farms, a locally owned tree lot in Sausalito, to pre-sell holiday trees and wreaths.
Sausalito Farms will donate $20 per tree and $10 per wreath to the Bel Aire Student Council.You can order anytime up through December 23 and Bel Aire Student Council will receive fundraising money.
Thank you for your support!
Bel Aire Student Council &
Krissy Bradshaw and Lisa Brigulio (Student Council Advisors)
November 18, 2015
Academy of Sciences Field Trip – Tuesday, December 1st
We are excited for our first field trip of the year! We will be attending the planetarium show as an introduction to our space unit, as well as exploring all of the special exhibits at the academy. Please return permission slips on Friday with homework. Students will need to pack a lunch. Thank you to Ms. Carlisle, Ms. Coleman, Ms. Kesmodel, Ms. Swank, and Ms. Raby for signing up to chaperone! We are not allotted any additional chaperones, but we will have more chaperone opportunities coming after winter break.
Math Homework: If your child needs help, here is the link for homework videos: http://rusdmath.weebly.com/grade-31.html
Upcoming Dates to Remember
Tuesday, November 24th - Grandparent's Day
Wednesday, November 25-27 - Thanksgiving Break
Tuesday, January 1st - Field Trip, Academy of Sciences
December 21- January 4 - Winter Break
If your holiday travel plans will impact your child’s attendance, please notify the office at [email protected] and also cc me.
I am enjoying meeting with all of you for parent conferences! Please reach out anytime you have questions about your child’s progress.
November 4, 2015
Thank you to Monica Coleman, Jacqueline Jaffee, Tina Davis, Jennifer Raby and all of the parents that helped make our Halloween party so wonderful! The class had a fantastic time.
I am meeting individually with students to discuss AR goals for the 2nd trimester. Your child will bring home a goal setting form to discuss with you. Please complete and return the bottom portion by 11/13. Thank you!
Today is the last day of the Book Fair. They are open until 7:00 pm, right here in the Bel Aire MPR.
Bel Aire is celebrating the BLUE Ribbon Award on Tuesday, November 10. All students will be part of the celebration. There will be an aerial photographer who will be taking a group picture of all student dressed in BLUE. Please help remind your child to wear BLUE on Tuesday, November 10, 2015.
No school next Wednesday, November 11th - Veteran’s Day holiday.
Parent-Teacher conferences are the following week, November 16 - 20th. Students are dismissed early every day that week! Dismissal time is 12:10 pm.
Grandparents’ Day is Tuesday, November 24th.
Thanksgiving Break begins Wednesday, November 25th.
I look forward to meeting with you all soon.
October 29, 2015
Happy Halloween - almost! The class Halloween party will be tomorrow from 12:35 -1:10. Thank you to Monica Coleman, Jacqueline Jaffee, Tina Davis, and Jennifer Raby for planning our party! The Bel Aire Halloween parade will take place on the upper blacktop immediately following the party from 1:10-1:40. Parents are welcome to attend both events.
We need at least six empty 2 liter bottles (with straight sides) for math next week. If you are able to donate an empty bottle, please let me know, and send in by next Wednesday. Thank you!
Blue Ribbon Celebration - Tuesday, November 10th - All students wear blue
Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming soon. I’m looking forward to meeting with you all to discuss how your child is doing in 3rd grade so far! If you haven’t signed up yet, please be sure to do so soon!
New Report Card Information: Below is a link for the next episode of "The Report Card Turns." This is part of a series to help parents understand the new Bel Aire report card. Each episode has a movie, an explanation and an FAQ. Via the tabs on the top you can access the actual report card for each grade level as well previous episodes.
We hope you have a chance to preview this report card prior to your child's parent/teacher conference so you can use that time focusing on the individual needs of your child.
There is a parent workshop to review the new report card on Wednesday, November 4 at 8:30 a.m. at Bel Aire.
Enjoy "As The Report Card Turns, Episode Two"
Bel Aire School hosts the Reed Union School District annual Book Fair on Tuesday, November 3rd and Wednesday, November 4th from 1 – 7pm in the multi-purpose room. Sponsored by Book Passage and the RUSD PTA, the Book Fair offers hundreds of exciting new titles and treasured old favorites during this spectacular two day Book Fair. Students who attend one night of the Book Fair will be given a homework pass for attending the evening’s festivities. Proceeds benefit all three Reed Union School District Libraries.
October 21, 2015
We have an opening for a parent volunteer for math centers this Friday at 9:00. Please sign up on Lotsa Helping Hands if you are interested!
Students took the End of Module Assessment Task on Friday, and brought it home in blue folders yesterday, unless they needed more time. Each of the four problems is worth four points. Four points indicates evidence of solid reasoning with a correct answer. Three points indicates evidence of some reasoning with a correct answer, or solid reasoning with an incorrect answer. Two points indicates evidence of some reasoning without a correct answer overall. One point indicates little of evidence of reasoning without a correct answer. The final page assessed fluency, and 30 or more correct answers was passing. Most students have not yet passed the fluency portion. We will continue to practice fluency every day at school, and reassess periodically. Overall, students are developing strong foundations solving problems with multiplication and division which we will build on throughout the year.
Time to get those costumes ready as Halloween is just around the corner. The class Halloween party will be Friday, October 30 from 12:35 -1:10. We would appreciate donations of (1) empty paper towel or toilet paper roll and (2) glow sticks by Wednesday 10/28. Thank you to Monica Coleman, Jacqueline Jaffee, Tina Davis, and Jennifer Raby for planning our party!
The Bel Aire Halloween parade will take place on the upper blacktop immediately following the party from 1:10-1:40.
Parents and caregivers are welcome to join the fun, but may not wear masks nor make up that obscures facial Identification. Siblings are not permitted due to liability and immunization regulations.
Students may wear or bring their costumes to school, and must be able to get in and out of them without assistance. If wearing, the costume must not interfere with PE, sitting, or standing. Costumes must be in good taste and age-appropriate. No weapons, or wheels, allowed. Students must be able to walk in their costumes. Masks are allowed for the parade only. All makeup, hair sprays, and colors must be applied at home. Students are not allowed to bring these items to school.
Halloween Safety Tips from MCOE
As you all know, this is an especially exciting time of year for our students and young children who celebrate Halloween. I wanted to share these Halloween safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics because safety is our number one priority!
Please share them widely:
In English: https://shar.es/1uxiDK
In Spanish: http://tinyurl.com/px3m3yj
In addition, MCOE will be collecting candy and toothbrushes for our troops in support of Operation Gratitude. Bring your unwanted candy and new toothbrushes in before November 5 so we can ship it to the troops supporting our country overseas!
October 14, 2015
Thursday, October 15th - The Foundation's 3rd annual Fun Run at Blackie's Pasture - 4:00 p.m.to kickoff our Family Giving Campaign.
For more information, check the Fun Run Homepage!
Friday, October 16th - Pajama Day!
Students may wear (appropriate) pajamas to school on Friday. Our class does have PE on Friday, so all students must have appropriate shoes for PE.
Monday, October 19th - No School
The RUSD Annual Book Fair is Coming in November!
Bel Aire School hosts the Reed Union School District annual Book Fair on Tuesday, November 3rd and Wednesday, November 4th from 1 – 7pm in the multi-purpose room. Sponsored by Book Passage and the RUSD PTA, the Book Fair offers hundreds of exciting new titles and treasured old favorites during this spectacular two day Book Fair. Students who attend one night of the Book Fair will be given a homework pass for attending the evening’s festivities. Proceeds benefit all three Reed Union School District Libraries. Students will be receiving information about some of the recommended titles at a grade level assembly at the end of October. We are looking forward to a great Book Fair!
October 7, 2015
Maker Carnival Tonight! Students are looking forward to the festivities tonight from 5-7 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
October is Fire Prevention Month. The fire department will be bringing their truck to Bel Aire tomorrow to teach our class about fire safety.
Our class is visiting the library on Monday. Please have your child bring back his/her books either tomorrow, Friday, or on Monday in order to be able to check out new books.
The Lion King! Bel Aire is becoming a jungle and the Bel Aire play is going to be wildly fun! The student informational meeting is tomorrow, Thursday, October 8th 12:15-12:35 pm in the MPR. Parent information meetings are on Tuesday, October 13 at 6:30 pm and Wednesday, October 14 at 8:30 am. Parents only need to attend one of the meetings.
Friday, October 16 is the first student council sponsored spirit day and the theme is Pajama Day! We have PE on Fridays, so students should still wear athletic shoes.
No school on Monday, October 19.
September 30, 2015
We are halfway through the first trimester! The students have learned so much already, and we are off to a wonderful start. At this point in the trimester, Bel Aire sends Mid Trimester Reports in the mail as notification if students are not yet meeting grade level expectations in any areas. Your child may be doing well overall, but have one or more skills that need more practice. We will be working on skills noted on the Mid Tri at school, and you can support your child's progress at home as well.
I am looking forward to conferencing with everyone in November. Please sign up here, if you have not already.
Today is the last day for students to register for the Maker Carnival. Everyone is welcome to attend the carnival and play the games next Wednesday from 5-7.
Students attended their first Wednesday Mini Dive classes today. Ask your child about his/her experience.
School photos are in! Your child will bring ordering information home today. Make up day is scheduled for October 12.
September 23, 2015
Each month, your child will bring home Scholastic Reading Club flyers. Every book you buy earns free books for our classroom library. If you would like to order books online, you may do so here. The first time you order, you will need our class code: LJGGD
Bring Your Whole Family to the Bel Aire Maker Carnival
Oct. 7th, 5:00-7:00pm
Click here to see the Maker Carnival commercial
Maker Carnival Registration: Registration is due by Sept. 30!
Your child can register by going to register for the Maker Carnival
Students may work alone on their Maker Carnival game, or they may have up to three partners. Please only submit one form PER GROUP! Students should decide who their team leader is, and let the team leader fill out the form if they are working with a partner or partners.
Games students make for the carnival will be played by other students at Bel Aire.
We encourage students to use materials that are up-cycled, such as egg cartons, cardboard boxes, bottle caps, cereal boxes, CDs, etc. We also encourage games made using technology. If a student is making a web-based game, and they need Bel Aire equipment to showcase their game, we can provide iPads only. Any other technology equipment must be brought from home on the night of the Maker Carnival. Just get creative and have fun! See Mrs. Carin Rhodes or Ms. Lisa Skinner for questions or idea help!
September 16, 2015
Parent Teacher Conferences: November 16-20
Each day is an early release day to accommodate the conference schedule.
Please sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences 2015!
Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1. Click here to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot)
3. Sign up! Choose your spots - VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!
Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.
Maker Carnival Registration
October 7th is Bel Aire's Family night, and it's also the Maker Carnival. Students will register to participate in this event, either by themselves, or in a small group. The games that students make will be played that night, by other students. Students are encouraged to use materials that are upcycled such as cardboard boxes, egg cartons, cereal boxes, bottle caps and more! Games can use technology and can be web-based! The idea is to be creative and have fun! Check out the Marker Carnival Website here:
http://belairemakercarnival.weebly.com
Emergency Comfort Kits :
Please be sure to send in a “Comfort Kit” for your child by this Friday. We want to be sure every child has a bit of “comfort” to hold onto in the unlikely event of an emergency or disaster here at school.
Fall Semester Mini Dive:
Students have submitted their top choices for our upcoming Wednesday afternoon Mini Dives. Session 1 is scheduled to begin on September 30th and continue through to the end of January. Students will have an opportunity to choose a different class during the second half of the year
Class Dojo:
If you have not yet registered for Class Dojo, I’ll be sending you an invitation via e-mail. We use this classroom management tool to help us save time during transitions, remind students of expected behavior, reward students for active participation, etc. It is not a perfect reflection of your child's day, but gives you a glimpse into some moments of our day.
Room Parent Emails
Please let me know if you did not have a chance to sign up to receive emails from our room parent, Kati Seymore, at Back to School Night and you would like to be added to her list.
Library
We had out first visit to the Bel Aire library this week. Students may check out two books for two weeks. We will visit the library twice a month as a class to check out books. Students may also return and check out books during most recesses.
September 9, 2015
It was a pleasure to meet so many of you at BTSN last week! If you took the green emergency release form home, please have your child turn it in to the office tomorrow.
Picture day is this Friday.
The Monthly Curriculum Overview is posted on the class webpage under the parents tab.
This week your child has light homework due to the short week. Math is a review and all work is due on Friday. Your child brought home instructions for the first OPTIONAL monthly math project. If your child is ready for a greater challenge, he or she is encouraged to apply math concepts to the real world and create an Everyday Array presentation. This is due October 2nd. Creativity is welcome!
Please return comfort kits by September 19th. A comfort kit is a small zip lock bag filled with items to comfort your child in the event of an emergency requiring students to shelter in place for an extended period of time. You might include a photo, a small non-perishable snack, a note, or a small item of entertainment. Please label the bag with your child's name, as well as my name.
Our Accelerated Reader program is now in full swing, so I'd like to give you some more details about AR.
Accelerated reader starts when students take a specialized assessment which measures reading ability and comprehension. The results of this test help identify "just right books" for your child's reading level. When your child has finished one of these books, he or she takes a comprehension quiz, and earns points towards a goal. Note: quizzes can only be taken while at school.
A "just right book" is a book which falls within your child's Book Level (BL) range. This is also referred to as your child's ZDP range but I say "Book Level" to avoid confusion. An example BL range is 2.7 - 3.9.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know what my child's BL range is?
Now that AR assessments are complete, I have given the children their BL ranges and I will be e-mailing you their ranges shortly.
How do I know if the book my child is reading is at the appropriate book level?
Use the AR book finder. If the book is part of the AR program (most are), you will find a synopsis of the book as well as the Book Level. The AR book finder is also located on the Bel Aire website.
What is my child's AR goal?
All first trimester goals are initially set at 5 points. As quiz scores begin to come in, I can see the trends in your child's reading habits, and comprehension. I meet with each child to re-evaluate the 5 point goal to ensure your child is properly challenged.
How can I check my child's quiz results and progress toward his or her goal?
Use AR Home Connect. Enter in your child's username and password to see quiz results, and progress towards his or her goal. Your child's username and password will be sent home in blue homework folders today.
Help! My child has been reading a book for 3 weeks and I just realized it is not in the AR book finder! How can my child take a quiz and earn points for this book?
Did you spell the name of the book EXACTLY right? The AR book finder is not like Google...mistype one letter and it has no idea what you are looking for. Yes, I typed it correctly: If a book truly is not part of the AR program (again, most are) there is still hope! Children can create their own quizzes for books not in the AR database, and turn them in to me for points. This is not ideal however, since having a child create a quiz is not a valid measure of how well the child comprehended the book (unless I know the book inside and out and can effectively evaluate the created quiz). So...ALWAYS CHECK THE AR BOOK FINDER to see if there is a quiz before you start reading.
My child said he is supposed to read books that are either "yellow, red, or green." What does that mean?
Different book levels have different colors assigned to them.
The books in the Bel Aire library and the books in my classroom library have colored stickers on the spine to help children identify book levels.
September 2, 2015
I look forward to seeing you tonight for Back to School Night! The event will start in the MPR at 6:00. The classroom presentation will follow in C-1 from approximately 6:30 to 7:30.
Starting next week there are two music clubs with Mr. Gist of which 3rd graders can take advantage:
—Chorus - meets every Tuesday at 12:10
— Percussion ensemble - meets every Thursday at 7:30 a.m.
No need to sign-up, just show up.
August 24, 2015
I hope this note finds you all well! I will typically be sending out biweekly updates to each of you. If you would not like to be included on these weekly updates please let me know and I will remove you from the list. I do ask, however, that I have at least one email address per family that I can correspond with.
I am enjoying getting to know each of your children! It was instantly clear what an incredible group they are. We have been having fun-filled days learning about our new school, introducing a new poetry writing assignment, sharing our paper bags, and building teamwork towers.
As parents it's clear you are the people who know your child the absolute best. Because of that, I'm interested in learning more about his/her strengths and needs from your point of view. Thank you if you have already returned the blue questionnaire about your child. If you haven’t yet, please return the questionnaire by Friday, August 28th in your child’s blue homework folder.
Homework?! Yes, that's right, I wrote "your child's blue homework folder" in the last sentence because this is the first week of homework for the school year. Every Monday your child's blue homework folder will be sent home with the current week's assignments. Please send it back to school each day, as students will bring home math pages daily, except Friday. Math homework will be a review of the concept taught in class that day. Your child will also bring home his/her Problem Set, which is completed in class and may be referred to for homework help. Math homework should be returned each day, all other homework is due on Friday. I went over this week's assignments in class but am happy to answer any questions you or your child may have regarding the expectations for completion.
You should also find a Digital Devices Responsibility Contract in your child’s blue folder today. Please review this with your child, sign, and return. This contract is in addition to the electronic Student Technology Use Agreement, which most of you have already submitted. If you have not submitted the Elementary Handbook Agreements yet, please do so here. We will have our first lesson on digital citizenship tomorrow!
Please note attached nut allergy information from our school nurse.
I look forward to meeting each of you at Back to School Night next Wednesday, Sept 2nd from 6:00-7:30!
Please feel free to reach out any time with any questions or concerns you may have. Here's to a great year ahead!
August 20, 2015
Welcome to third grade! I am looking forward to partnering with you to create a rewarding year for your child. This will be my ninth year as a classroom teacher, and my fourth year at Bel Aire. I am thrilled to be back!
My goal this year is to provide challenging and engaging learning opportunities that serve all students. The children in C-1 will work in groups and individually on projects that focus on critical thinking and problem solving skills as well as the standards laid out in the 3rd grade framework.
I am looking forward to meeting all of you in the next few weeks and certainly at Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 2nd. I will be going over class details at that time. If you are interested in volunteering in the classroom, please stay tuned for more information regarding how to sign up.
Please have your child find three or four favorite objects that he/she would like to share for a “Getting Acquainted” activity on Friday. The objects should all fit within the paper bag I sent home with your child today. The objects may include a small stuffed animal, trophy, special card from a collection, art project, photograph, medal, book, etc. These are just a few suggestions.
Please return the email preferences sheet tomorrow and the parent questionnaire by next Friday.
If you have not already, please review the Family Handbook at http://rusdhandbooks.weebly.com/ and submit the Technology Use Agreements.
Lastly, if you would like to get in touch with me, the best way is through email. I check my email before and after school.
I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with you and your child this year!