10-31-08

Boy have we had fun this week!!! I hope your child is telling you all about what we are learning about Native Americans. We have been focusing, so far, on the Ojibwe Tribe, because Kara, in my afternoon class has Ojibwe ancestors. Her father came to school to get us started and shared a lot of his heritage. He brought deer skins, drums, deer hooves, flutes, music and LOTS of information!!! This was a great incentive to get us started. We have been working with Mrs. Barb Greenlief and Jessie Owens from the computer lab this week. We have learned about smudge pots, Native American pictographs, medicine men, and we made medicine wheels!!! Ask your children about the meaning of the medicine wheel. (It is divided into 4 parts – the Native American magic of four- and represents many things: the 4 seasons, the 4 directions, the 4 winds, the 4 stages of life, the 4 groups of people (white skin, yellow skin, red skin and brown or black skin), and the 4 major parts of nature – animals, fish, birds and plants – where the Native Americans got everything they had!!!) Morgan’s grandfather shared many of his Native American artifacts with us, too! Thank you so much to Mr. Ostroske and Mr. Staton!!!

We will continue our study of Native Americans, leading to the Pilgrims at Thanksgiving through the month of November. Lots more to come!!!



TOMORROW: Don’t forget our career day parade!!! Children are to dress to show what they want to be when they grow up. This is NOT a HALLOWEEN parade!!! No HALLOWEEN COSTUMES, PLEASE!!! The parades will be in the gym at 10:30 and 2:30. Parents and cameras are welcome!

REPORT CARDS went home last week and I am getting lots of requests for conferences. Remember, my planning time is on Monday, Thursday and Friday at either 10:30 or 2:30. If you want to schedule a school conference, send me a note!!!


NEWS::: I am going to begin posting my newsletter on the class blog as soon as I have completed it. I am posting more items on the blog. Please read it. I give directions as to how you can subscribe automatically. Also check my website. www.carlaray.net I am not posting new entries to my website because it is just so much easier to blog!!! However, the website has lots of resources that I put there for parents to use!!! Have fun!!!

Remember, NO SCHOOL on Tuesday! Everyone, be sure to go vote!!!

Pictures are supposed to be here by November 7. Make-up picture day is Friday, November 21. This is for anyone who is dissatisfied with their pictures or who missed school on October 3. Re-takes may be done (free of charge) if families are not satisfied with the original picture. If you want pictures made on this day, let me know and I will send a new payment envelopes to you.
Sally Foster Fundraiser Items are here and ready to be picked up!!! They are in the computer lab.
HOLIDAY CENTRAL Applications have gone home. If your family needs assistance with Christmas this year, please let us know. I plan to draw a family for our class to help. I will let you know what is needed when I choose the family! If you are able to help, it would be greatly appreciated!!
HOMEWORK PACKETS: Completed October Homework packets are due tomorrow in order to receive the October Pizza Hut Book-it certificate. November packets are going home today!!
INDEPENDENT CHECK-OUT BOOKS: As we progress in our reading groups, I will be moving the class up in the level of their check-out books. A and B books are pretty much the same. If your child is moving into the C-D level, there is a lot of difference in the books. You may get an easier one then a more difficult one. Do your best and have fun with them. Praise your child for progressing in reading levels! I am very proud of the progress of ALL students!!!