Kindergarten
We are asking, with the cold weather approaching, that you please send in a weather appropriate change of clothes with your student. If they have a set here already, they will be sent home once a replacement is received. Also, please do not send your student in Crocs. Several students are having a hard time keeping them on throughout the day. They are also hard for them to climb, run, and play during recess and PE. Thank you so much for your help and understanding.
Students will continue working on number partners/pairs for the numbers 6-10. This is an introduction to addition. Please work with your student at home practicing these number pairs. There are some fun videos/songs on YouTube by Jack Hartmann that help with this concept.
iPads will be sent home nightly beginning soon. Please be sure that they are taken care of properly when they go home. They should be returned to school daily, fully charged and ready to use. If a student forgets their iPad or it is not charged, after 2 times, they will be kept at school to avoid classroom disruptions due to these issues. Students should know how to access and use all programs (Amplify, iReady Math, and iReady Reading). However, there are cheat sheets in your student’s binder to help you navigate the programs should they forget.
First Grade
Dear Families,
This month, we will focus on:
· Language Arts: Nouns, present and past tense verbs, and adjectives.
· Math: Place value and numbers up to 120.
In the coming weeks, we will dive into some exciting topics like:
· Winter Animals
· Martin Luther King Jr.
· The Five Senses
These subjects will inspire curiosity and understanding of our diverse world!
Second Grade
In our upcoming lessons, we will focus on a variety of important topics to enhance our students' literacy and numeracy skills, as well as their understanding of science. We will explore r-controlled vowels and delve into more complex spellings for vowel sounds, helping students develop their phonetic awareness. In writing, we will engage students in persuasive writing, encouraging them to express their opinions effectively. In mathematics, we will introduce understanding and manipulating 3-digit numbers, focusing on both adding and subtracting these numbers to build their computational skills. Additionally, we will investigate the cycles of nature and the fascinating world of insects, fostering curiosity and a deeper understanding of our environment. Through interactive activities and engaging discussions, students will gain a well-rounded knowledge base across these subjects.
Third Grade
Dear Families,
We hope this newsletter finds you well and excited for the new opportunities that January brings! As we step into this new month, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and involvement in our school community. Together, we create a nurturing and enriching environment for our children.
Important Announcements
● In-House Science Field Trip: On January 9th, our students will engage in an exciting field trip focusing on landforms. This hands-on experience will enhance their understanding of the topic in a fun and interactive way.
● Benchmarks: From January 6th to 29th, our students will participate in benchmark assessments. We encourage you to support them during this time by ensuring they are well-rested and prepared.
● Report Cards: Report cards will be sent home on January 29th. Please take the time to review your child's progress and celebrate their achievements.
● Second Nine Weeks Behavior Party: We are thrilled to announce a behavior party on January 30th! This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our students’ positive behaviors and hard work.
Celebrations from the Week
We had a delightful winter celebration in December with our students and families! It was a joyous occasion filled with laughter, creativity, and community spirit. Thank you to everyone who participated and made it such a special event!
We appreciate the partnership we share with you in your child's education. Thank you for your ongoing support in fostering a love for learning and collaboration.
Looking Ahead
As we move forward into the month, we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we can make this school year a wonderful experience for our children. We look forward to your continued involvement and support.
Warm regards, Third Grade Team
Fourth Grade
Welcome back and Happy New Year! For the month of January in math, students will be finishing their exploration of long division strategies to find the quotient of numbers with up to 4 digits in word problems. Students will delve deeper into perimeter and area using prior knowledge from 3rd grade. We will soon begin fractions which is always a fun unit as well! It is highly encouraged that you review multiplication facts with your child at home nightly and student notes. They have AVID Cornell notebooks to review when needed at home. In science, we are continuing our study of types of rocks and their properties and will also be exploring the 3 states of matter, next.
RI4.5 Text Structure
Our students will dive deeper into understanding text structure, a key 4th-grade reading standard. This skill helps them identify how informational texts are organized, such as:
- Following a timeline (chronology)
- Comparing and contrasting ideas
- Explaining causes and effects
- Presenting problems and solutions
By mastering text structure, students will become better readers, able to navigate complex passages with confidence and comprehension!
RI4.3 Understanding Technical Text
This skill is a key part of the 4th-grade reading standard, known as RI 4.3. It's all about being able to figure out the key points and reasons behind the information presented in an informational text.
So, what does this look like in practice?
When reading a non-fiction text, your child should be able to:
- Explain what happened or what the text is about
- Identify the main ideas and key details
- Understand the reasons behind the events or ideas presented.
By developing this skill, your child will become a more confident and independent reader, able to make sense of a wide range of non-fiction texts.
Black History Month Project
A living wax museum project for Black History Month is a student activity where students research and portray a notable African American figure:
Choose a figure: Students select a famous or lesser-known African American to research and portray. They should choose someone who has had success, represents the best of people, or is historically significant.
- Research: Students research the figure they chose, including their contributions to Black history.
- Create a display: Students create a display board with illustrations and details about their figure.
- Prepare a speech: Students write and memorize a 2–3 minute speech to introduce their figure to visitors.
- Dress up: Students dress up as their chosen figure.
- Portray the figure: Students stand at attention and visitors walk around to tour the exhibits.
- Activate the figure: Visitors press a button on the wall to activate the figure and hear their speech.
The goal of a living wax museum project is to honor the contributions of African Americans and bring their stories to life. It can also help students build confidence by presenting in front of their peers and adults.
Living Museum Date: February 24
Fifth Grade
Hello 5th Grade Families!
Although we have only seen a few days of 2025, we know it is going to be a great year for learning and growing! Here's what we will be learning this month:
- ELA: Interpreting and summarizing historical texts and inferences
- Math: Continuing to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers, and estimating with fractions and decimals
- Science: Continued learning about weather, climate, and the water cycle
- Social Studies: The 50 States (Get ready for a project!)
As a reminder, don’t forget to join PowerSchool's Parent Portal if you have not done so already. This way, you can help your child keep track of their grades and missing assignments. Students have been logging in to complete their assessments and check their grades as well. Please feel free to stop by the front office with identification to complete the form to join.
Thank you for your continued support, and please be sure to keep in touch with us!
EC
Dear Families,
Welcome Back!
We hope this message finds you well and brings you joy as we embark on another exciting season of learning and growth at our school. We have successfully navigated through winter break, marking a significant milestone for both our students and families. This is a moment to celebrate the resilience and determination our students have demonstrated as they return to their educational routines.
Expansion of the EC Team: Progress Update
The EC Team has expanded to include three General Education Separate classrooms, which are thriving in their new environments. The team is also preparing for the Mid-Year (MOY) assessments.
Adaptive Classes and the Unique Program:
The adaptive classes are functioning effectively within the Unique program and have seamlessly adjusted to the combined classroom routine. Both teachers and students have exhibited remarkable flexibility.
Professional Training in SPIRE and LETRS:
Our EC teachers and resource teachers are scheduled for training on the SPIRE curriculum and LETRS. We aim to have all EC and resource teachers professionally trained by the end of February.
Additional Information:
As we move forward, please stay informed about our upcoming events and activities. Your active participation in school events is crucial for fostering a strong community and enhancing our students' educational experiences. We are deeply grateful for your ongoing support and partnership within our school community.
Support Teachers
ESL- Dale - This month, our younger grade students (K-2) celebrated the holidays by painting ornaments that featured family pictures. Students connected the holiday season with the importance of family and traditions. Our older students (grades 3-5) explored their cultural identities by shaping ornaments out of clay and painting them with the flags of their home countries. Students shared their heritage with their peers and celebrated the diversity within our school community. As we move into the new year, we will shift our focus to preparing for the WIDA ACCESS test. This is an annual assessment and an important opportunity for all ESL students to demonstrate their progress in English language development. In the coming weeks we will be focusing on skills tailored to the language domains and discussing/practicing test taking strategies.
Data Manager
Parents just a few friendly reminders . . .
Tardies & Check Outs - Parents, we have many students who are tardy and or check out early, we ask that you please make every effort to arrive on time and only check out early when necessary. These habits cause multiple interruptions to classrooms but most of all it takes away from your child’s instructional time.
Absences - Please make sure you are turning in Dr. notes and or handwritten notes which should include your child’s full name, date of absence along with the personal illness or injury information.
ID Check – Per Onlsow County School Policy, we are a 100% ID check school. Please make sure you bring a state issued ID or driver’s license with you, a military ID will not be accepted as a form of ID.
We appreciate your help and support as we work together to ensure your child has a safe and successful school year.
AVID - 3RD GRADE
In our AVID news this month, we continue to implement our WICOR strategies, which support student learning across all classrooms. Here’s a glimpse of what our students are working on:
● Writing Process: Students engage in the writing process daily, including pre-writing, drafting, reader response, revising, editing, publishing, and reflecting. Quickwrites and weekly reflections are excellent examples of their progress.
● Collaboration: Students collaborate on science tasks and experiments, as well as share common texts in English Language Arts through novel studies.
● Organizational Strategies: Our students are learning to manage their own materials and agendas, fostering independence and responsibility.
Student Services
School Counselor: During the month of January, students will learn the difference between a positive and negative mindset and what to say, think, and do to show a positive mindset.
Nurse Custy:
**All children with fevers of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater will be excluded from school until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications (Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Aspirin, etc.). Those with vomiting and/or diarrhea can return when they have been symptom free for 24 hours.
School Social Worker News- Karen Dew
If you feel I can be of assistance for your student and/or family, please reach out to me by calling me at 910-347-4459 ext. 74015.
Specials
In Art - In art, grades K-5 will be working on different levels of weaving, sewing, and yarn work.
In Media - In the library we will be learning about research skills and a refresher on Destiny Discover. Students will be able to check out the new books that have been added to our collection.
In Spanish -Kindergarten: Learning winter vocabulary, family members, pets, farm animals. Review Spanish alphabet and vowels.
1st - 2nd grade: Spanish Vocabulary about winter, writing sentences, new vocabulary and new verbs.
3rd-5th grades: Vocabulary about winter , new verbs and writing sentences.
In PE-Welcome back and Happy New Year! During the month of January, we will be reviewing rules and procedures in PE class along with some cooperative games and activities. At the end of the month, we will be learning how to play Chinese Jump Rope, a favorite among the 2nd-5th grade students, while kindergarten and 1st grade work on jumping skills to help with leg strength and balance.
In Music - This month in music, students will continue to learn, review and practice the treble clef notes. It is with great hope that students will know how to read play one line of a song on the piano by the end of the month.
