You're Invited....

The Red Thread Kick-Off  Event at the Park — Connecting Communities Through the Arts

This Saturday, April 16, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Laumeier Sculpture Park

 

Please join us for an afternoon of art activities including knitting hats, weaving, music, storytelling and an opportunity to benefit the community. Knitters, artists of all ages and the creatively curious are invited to work on their own projects or create items for donation to local charities.

  

Based on a Chinese proverb that describes how an invisible red thread connects us all, artist Lindsay Obermeyer’s The Red Thread Project®, as presented by Springboard, is a community art endeavor involving hundreds of students and adults in creating art while performing a community service. It visualizes a community’s interdependence through the making, connecting, exhibiting and distributing of handmade hats.

This is a free event and will take place rain or shine...

I hope to see you there!

http://www.redthreadproject.com/ - More information about the Red Thread Project
http://theredthreadproject.wordpress.com/ - Read the blog about our current project

Inside a Box

For Black History Month earlier this year, our class studied Henry "Box" Brown.  Students from my nephew's school also studied Henry and completed a project which is now on display at the Missouri History Museum through November 27, 2011.  Check it out!

More details at the Missouri History Museum website.

So much to say...

1.  Field trip - Our WiseWrite field trip will last pretty much all day on Friday.  Students should dress nicely (similar to something they would wear for Picture Day...)  Also, lunches will be provided, so no need to send one with your child!

2.  Multiplication Facts - Earlier this week a letter went home showing how your child is doing with multiplication (and division facts).  Please continue working with your child at home!  This is an extremely important skill!

3.  Red Thread Volunteers - The 4th grade is looking for adults who are interested in helping attach the hats our students have knitted to a "red thread."  Students will not be involved in this part of the project.  A letter went home today.

When: Tuesday, April 19   9am - 12pm(volunteers will take shifts and will not be expected to stay the entire time!)

Where: Wyland Elementary

4.  Red Thread Family Day - This event will take place on Saturday, April 16th from 1 pm - 4 pm at Laumeier Sculpture Park in Sunset Hills/South County.  There will be many activities for children and family members of all ages.  Please mark your calendar & plan a special family outing!  Note: This event will take place rain OR shine...  Hope to see you there!

WiseWrite Fieldtrip

All 4th and 5th graders will be going on the WiseWrite fieldtrip as long as their permission slips are signed.  The fieldtrip takes place on Friday, April 8th.  Lunch will be provided and they should dress nicely.  Permission slips went home today!  Please sign and return them to school by Tuesday, April 5th.  Thank you!

Conference Reminder

Conferences start tomorrow night! I will send home a reminder the night before your scheduled conference.  If you are unsure about your time or are unable to make it, please contact me so we can reschedule.  Also, feel free to bring your 4th grader to the conference with you.  It's important for them to hear about their progress, strengths and areas of concern.  I look forward to seeing you all very soon!

Engrade

As many of you know, I keep an online gradebook to keep track of student grades.  During fall conferences I informed parents how to sign up and access their child’s grades.  

Today, I decided to give students the ability to create a username and password for engrade with me, so they have the freedom to check their grades on their own.  I am hoping this will increase their effort and grades, especially if there is room for improvement.  Perhaps students will be more likely to take ownership and responsibility for their grades, learning and overall education.  Feel free to ask your child for the information so you are able to access their grades as well.

If you already created a username and password for engrade, we were unable to make another one.  Please share that information with your child, if you'd like...I will be giving students the occasional opportunity to check their progress here at school.

Your support is always appreciated!

Kleenex

Our supply of Kleenex is running low--and we still have about 3 months to go!  We would appreciate it if you could send in a box.
Thank you!

4th Quarter is here!

Monday, March 7th was the start of 4th quarter!  Can you believe it?  I hope to see students put forth their best effort as they wrap up their fourth grade experience!  Please continue checking in with your child (assignment books, homework, grades, behavior, etc.)  This time of year can cause students to get "summer fever," especially as the weather becomes nicer and the end of the year approaches.

Spring Conferences

Spring conferences are scheduled for:
Tuesday, March 15 - evening
Thursday, March 17 - evening
Friday, March 18 - morning

I look forward to meeting with you and your fourth grader to discuss progress and goals. Reminders will be sent home next week. If you are unable to make your scheduled conference time, please let me know as soon as possible so we can reschedule. Thank you!

Hello Blog World!

Hello to my wonderful students and families!

I've decided to start a blog--Why?  Well, why not?!?  I hope this will enable me to keep families more aware of what's going on in our classroom.  I also plan to post my monthly newsletters, "Mrs. A's Memo," for parent viewing.  It would be great if blogging would simply increase the open lines of communication between families and myself.

Please feel free to comment, question or respond to posts at anytime.  I look forward to blogging with you!