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A Week of First Grade Celebration!

Can you believe the year is quickly drawing to a close? We will take this week to sum up and celebrate.

Each day  the first grade team has planned one learning event to keep everyone involved in showing

what we know.

Monday is Splash into Summer Reading. Come ready to enjoy great summer reading titles as we travel to other first grade rooms.

Tuesday is Read Me Day. Wear a shirt with lots of words. We will canvas the first grade children looking for words that begin with each letter of the alphabet and more. Please wear a t-shirt appropriate for school. Why not make a shirt with some of the vocabulary we have learned this year? Also, on Tuesday the Cobb Co. Library will share their summer reading program with us to keep us focused on good literature all summer long!

Wednesday is Board Game Day. Part of the day we will play games in small groups. We will also visit our 4th grade buddies to share our animal reports, which were awesome! It will be our last visit with our good friends.

Thursday we will empty our desks and cubbies. Please send in a handled shopping bag to carry those extra things home. All items must come home by Thursday. Look for items all week that need to stay at home. If you find a book with unfinished pages, please save them for a rainy day this summer!

Thursday is also our end of year ice cream party at 12:00. Thank you for responding to Mrs. Brubacher's request for toppings and juice boxes to make our party a sweet success.  She has done a terrific job as our room rep. Please thank her when you see her! Also thank you for all the help as Story Parents and Helper Parents. Many of you went way beyond the job description and spent time at home to complete our many hands on projects!

Friday will be 1/2 day Target. We will clean, stack, organize and say good-bye.

Thank you for sharing your precious children with me this year. I wish them all the best of summers with you.

Following is the news from Jessica Appleyard:

 

 

On behalf of the entire Sope Creek PTA, we wish to thank the many, many parent volunteers who gave their time and talent to make each of our enrichment and family fun events a huge success. We could not have done it without you.  We hope you have a happy summer!
Barbara Dyck and Lisa McDougall
PTA Co-Presidents

It is hard to believe, but the PTA is already making plans for the new school year.  We need volunteers to help in several areas:

Monday, August 3rd (8:30am - 12:30pm) - Volunteers needed to stuff PTA Membership packets and to deliver school supply packets to the classrooms.  We will start at 8:30am, but volunteers are welcome any time.  Sign up sheets are posted on the PTA office door (2nd grade hallway) or you can contact Lisa McDougall, maclisa@comcast.net.

Thursday, August 6th (one hours shifts, any time between 11:30am and 4:00pm) - Volunteers are needed to help at Meet and Greet.  Please contact Sally Wright, szwright@bellsouth.net, if you are able to help.

Friday, August 7th - Volunteers are needed to help at the Teacher Back to School Luncheon.  Help is needed any time between 10:30am and 1:00pm.  Volunteers are also needed to donate drinks and/or desserts for the luncheon.  Again, sign up sheets are posted on the PTA office door, or you can contact Lisa McDougall, maclisa@comcast.net.


Jessica R. Appleyard
Assistant Principal, Sope Creek
http://sopecreeklibrary.typepad.com/appleyard

The Countdown Begins!

Last week was full of special events. The children honored their moms in a very fitting way and they performed with gusto! Thank you to all of you who made it special for all of the moms. Mrs. Ratcliff added  her special harp music to set a beautiful mood and Mrs Buyckx baked delicious butterfly cupcakes for each of us. I know that your children were proud to prepare the gifts they made and the book that you will read in years to come.

Field Day weather held up perfectly. The children were very tired after the morning relays and the afternoon of the carnival activities. I had a little run in with the pavement. Two hours and 4 x-rays later I was relieved to hear that my wrists were only badly bruised. Believe me I am using this to my advantage this Mother's Day!

This week we will read our last shared story in our anthology, New Shoes for Sylvia. We will do the -4 math facts, several other final summative quizes and have a rather "normal " week.

Thursday morningis our awards day. If your child is receiving a reward you  have been notified.

Our study of animals will be the week's focus. We are learning  indepth about the coyote since this is an animal that illustrates survival by adaptation across all of North and Central America.

Knowledge of the basic need of animals is our essential question. We will learn about vertibrtes and invertibrates and the basic animal groups and  characterisics of those groups.

All library books are now due. Send them in asap. Have a great week.

 We are still in our work mode in class and good behavior is still expected!

Welcome May- A month to celebrate!

Language Arts
Our next story is Julius  Enjoy this tongue in cheekstory about manners, just in time for Mother's Day!

Field Day will be a successful day for the students because of the great planning of our PE department and because of the  parents support.
 Keep fingers crossed so that  the weather will be  beautiful The activities  are guaranteed to be fast paced and fun! We will have fifth grade partners for the carnival to end our day!
A dunk tank, and popcicles  will keep  the day cool!
 
Looking Ahead...
May 14, 8:15 a.m. is Awards Day. If your child is receiving an  award you will be  contacted by a teacher.

TARGET will be Monday to make up the missed day of Career Day.
No TARGET on May 8, Field Day.

We need a parent to send in a cooling snack or two for Field Day on May 8.  Also send your child in his class t-shirt and a water bottle.
Math
We are working with weight and the balance  Please  continue to work with flash cards.  Many of the students are not
at the automatic recall level yet.
Subtraction fact focus this week is -3. My research proves that repetitive daily practice yields solid results.  This summer, a few minutes each day of flash card review will help your student in second grade.

Relay for Life 2008
Relay for Life is Friday, May 8.  Penny Wars will be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week. Students will bring in change and the competition will be tallied  daily. Thanks from the entire
 faculty for your support.
Thank you for sharing part of your day with us this Thursday for our tea.  A special thanks goes to Mrs.Ratcliff, and all who contribute items for us to share. We are practicing every day! Please be prompt!
Happy Mother's Day!

     

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Thursday, May 7th from 9:00- 10:30 - Kindergarten Sneak a Peek.
If you or someone you know is a parent of a rising Kindergartner, please be sure to join us for the Kindergarten Sneak a Peek.
The student will get a taste of what his/her new school will be like while parents will be given the opportunity to learn more about Sope Creek and all it has to offer.


Friday, May 8th is Field Day.  

The week of May 4th - 8th is "Eat Your Fruits and Veggies Week" at Sope Creek.  Students will have an opportunity to track their fruit and vegetable intake and enter the results into a drawing for a special prize.  One winner per grade level will be announced on Monday, May 11th.  During the week of May 4th - 8th, students should track their fruit and veggie consumption.  Tracking forms are available on both the Sope Creek blog and the Sope Creek PTA blog.  All forms should be turned into the front office on the morning of Monday, May 11th.  Please contact Natalie Rogers, fluffyjune@yahoo.com or Robin Zeldin, rrzeldin@aol.com with any questions.

The Sope Creek Community Outreach PTA Committee is currently taking applications for the Dr. Karen Looft Memorial Scholarship.  Any Walton or Wheeler graduating senior who is also a Sope Creek alumni is eligible to receive this award.  Additional details as well as the application are available on the following site:  http://sopecreeklibrary.typepad.com/pta_events/2008/03/community-outre.html.  The due date is May 15th.

CALENDAR UPDATES!

As the year has progressed, we have had to make some changes to the published PTA Calendar.  Please make the following revisions:

Thursday, May 7th:  Kindergarten Sneak-a-Peek 9:00- 10:30

Friday, May 8th:  Field Day   |   Rain Date:  Wednesday, May 13th

Awards Days:
Thursday, May 14th:  1st & 2nd Grades
Monday, May 18th:  3rd & 4th Grades
Wednesday, May 20th:  5th Grade

Second Annual Sope Creek Penny Wars!

Who? All Sope Creek Students and Faculty

What? Penny Wars to raise money for Relay for Life to help raise money for the American Cancer Society

When?  Tuesday, May 5- Thursday, May 7 from 7:20-7:50

Where? Fundraising tables will be set up in the café each morning.

Why?  Because last year we raised $3,000 and this year we can raise even more!

Rules and objectives of the “War”

Penny Wars is a game to be competed between homerooms. The object is to get as many points as possible during the "war." The money raised during the penny war will be donated to the American Cancer Society!

• The project will run for THREE, CONSECUTIVE SCHOOL DAYS ( MAY 5-7)
• Each home room or class will have a labeled container (labels will be placed in your boxes Friday, homeroom teachers are to provide containers, milk jug pitcher or large container).
• The containers will be placed in the lunch room in the mornings from 7:20-7:50.
• Students put their pennies in their class' container. One point is received for every penny in the container.
• Classes may put other coins and paper currency into the containers of OTHER classes. Each silver coin or bill reduces the number of points from that container by the amount of the coin. (e.g. a nickel reduces the points by five, a dime by ten, a dollar by 100, etc...) This is where strategy counts. Have fun with it, but don’t put anything other than pennies in your own containers!
• Containers are emptied and counted daily by homeroom parent volunteers, which will be arranged for you. The total monetary amount of silver coins and paper currency is deducted from the total number of pennies for the day.  The daily winners will be announced that afternoon AND a banner will be placed over your door to note that you are the winner for the day. 
• Thank you for your participation and enthusiasm with our Second Annual Penny War! Be sure to get your students involved in this healthy competition and remember this is all for a FANTASTIC cause!

Thank You! Sope Creek Relay for Life Team

 

 

April 27-May 1 The Week Ahead

Thank you for having your children so prepared for the CRCT testing!  They all were on time with a snack and they were ready to go. Results will be in by the end of May.

This week we will continue with the story Geraldine's Baby Brother this week, work on -2's, and begin our study of animals as we continue to prepare for the Mother's Day Tea on May 7. We are having lots of fun preparing surprises for you moms. 

Career Day is Friday Morning and I would like the students to wear their class t-shirts on that day.

Award's Day is coming up. You will be notified by phone or email if your child is receiving an award.

The students will choose a good citizen: boy and girl, and we give perfect and faithful attendance awards.

Please note the following dates from the administration!  Have a great weekend!

Kindergarten Program 8:10am in the café

Friday

-Career Day

-Presale Packets Due

CALENDAR UPDATES:

As the year has progressed, we have had to make some changes to the published PTA Calendar.  Please make the following revisions:

Thursday, May 7th:  Kindergarten Sneak-a-Peek

Friday, May 8th:  Field Day   |   Rain Date:  Wednesday, May 13th

Awards Days:
Thursday, May 14th:  1st & 2nd Grades
Monday, May 18th:  3rd & 4th Grades
Wednesday, May 20th:  5th Grade

CRCT Week

As you know we are about to show what we know or how long we can sit              still         whichever comes first!  Seriously, we will take several movement breaks this week during testing and we are going to do our best! Thank you for keeping this week as   normal as you can and for sending in your children in a positive state of mind, well rested and with a good breakfast. Arrive on time. Thanks you for your     support   in this event! I am looking for a class set of fruit Popsicles for Thursday if   anyone  would like to supply them.  Just send an email.  Registration forms for next  year will come home Monday. Locate 3 first class stamps and put them on the large   envelope  before you send it back. They are due this week! Thanks for all that you   do to help  us fulfill our requirements.                                                

Braves tickets for Sope Creek Night at Turner Field have started coming home as of Thursday, 4/16. Your child should bring their tickets home NO LATER than Monday, 4/20. Thanks again for your support!

CRCT Testing begins on TUESDAY!!! Please make sure your student is rested, on time, and has a healthy breakfast!  More information can be found on the Sope Creek blog.

The week of April 20 - 24 is "Turn off the TV" week.  This will be a great opportunity for families to turn off their TV's, computers and video games and spend some quality time playing board games, taking a walk or just talking.

Friday, April 24th is the last TGIF of the year.  Please bring your family and friends to the Chuck E. Cheese on Roswell Road from 3:00pm - 9:00pm for some fun while FUNraising.  This is a great way to support our school.

Friday, April 24th is Spirit Day.

Please make a note of the following important changes to the Sope Creek calendar:

Thursday, May 7th:  Kindergarten Sneak-a-Peek
Friday, May 8th:  Field Day    Rain Date:  Wednesday, May 13th

Awards Days:
Thursday, May 14th:    1st and 2nd
Monday, May 18th:      3rd and 4th
Wednesday, May 20th:   5th

Jessica R. Appleyard
Assistant Principal, Sope Creek
http://sopecreeklibrary.typepad.com/appleyard

Spring Break and Beyond!

You deserve a break from routine and a time to relax. If you are going on a vacation travel safely, if you are experiencing a stay-cation discover more about Atlanta!  Whatever your destination have a wonderful week! when we return we will be in review mode for the CRCT. We will do our personal best and that is all we can do. Try to complete the on line practice if you have not.

Our classroom traditionally has a Mother's Day Tea during the week that precedes that celebration. I will send home a RSVP for the event. Keep in mind that if you can't make it an adult can stand in for mom. However, if too many of you can't make it we will not do it. It is so heart warming for the participants, but heartbreaking for any student whose mom is late or not in attendance. No Pressure...

The new date is Thursday, May the 7, at 8:00 am- 9:00 am.  Field Day has been moved to May 8. Seriously, look at your planner and if you can't make it let me know soon. We will still be making lots of great Mother's Day gifts for you!

Tuesday, April 14th is Papa John's Pizza Night.  When placing your order, please remember to mention Sope Creek.  In addition, please remember to send in the sticker, that shows the amount spent, to school the next day.

A Lunch and Learn featuring Jeff Dess will be held Thursday, April 16th from 11:30am - 12:30pm in the Media Center.

News from the Creek!

ART DAY WAS INCREDIBLE! Thank you to our Art Day Committee for giving us another incredible day!  What a wonderful way to kick off Spring!

Quack Quack! They’re Back!  Duck Sale Tuesday 3/31 for K, 1 and 2 & Duck Sale Wed 4/1 for 3, 4 and 5

PRESALE/DIRECTORY PACKETS:   Volunteers needed to put together the directory forms and the pre-sale forms on Tuesday, March 31st starting at 9am in the Media Center.

SPIRIT DAY – Friday April 3 – wear your favorite Sope Creek t-shirt!

WWF Presents: Ten Things to Do in the Dark  Wondering what to do when the lights go out for Earth Hour?  There are ten fun ideas to help you, your family and your friends make a change and make a difference on March 28 in the PTA Environmental Education Committee blog:  

http://sopecreeklibrary.typepad.com/pta_events/2008/03/environmental-e.html

FOUNDATION SOCIABLES NEWS:

On Tuesday, April 14th Sope Creek will be holding their yearly Football Sociable.  It will be right after school til 4:30 with Walton's own Coach Rocky Hidalgo!  $35 per child 2nd grade thru 5th grades.  Kids will be given a tee shirt, sandwich, snacks and drinks and a few other goodies.  Hosts:  Nancy Garfinkel (garfinks@msn.com), Maureen Lamar(mlamar@na.ko.com), Beth Wiesner  (2m3@bellsouth.net),Lee Oesterling (lee@oesterling.com)

You can email us to sign your child/children up.  Also, send the check with your child/children's name on the check and mark the envelope  Football Sociable.  Their will be a basket in the front office.

Don't miss the chance to sign up for Drama Camp!  Info is on the blog and a flyer will come home with all 2nd - 4th grade

Spring Break is Just Around the Corner!

There is anticipation in the air! A much deserved break is near, but lots of activity and experiences are ahead this week. We will have Dress Up Day on Friday in anticipation of Career Day. Have your child dress up in the garb that would be appropriate for his/her future job.  Please keep sports "gear" at home. (ie, bats, balls, pads, helmets, etc.) Do have a discussion about your child's dream for the future.  It is a PE day for the Butterflies so make a plan for the feet! Thanks for your support.

On Monday we will read with our 4th grade buddies. We'll take our anthologies and read The Adventures of Snail at School.   This will be our story before break. We will continue to do review in LA for the CRCT. Most of the students have mentioned your computer time at home in support of the effort. In math we are starting Chapter 16 while you do the Ch 12 packet I sent home this week.  In Fundations read over the information for marking up the words in Chapter 11. I will give a short trick word assessment this week over all March words on the calendar.

Friday we will have an opportunity to get up close and personal with some exotic animals here, at an in- school field trip.

Other information will be posted as I get it! 

Got Milk?

Got Milk?  The PTA Health and Nutrition Committee needs volunteers to help with their "Got Milk?" campaign going on all next week (3/23 - 3/27).  They need people during lunch to randomly hand out pencils and stickers to children who are drinking either milk or soy milk.  If you are available to help, or would like more information, please contact Robin Zeldin, rrzeldin@aol.com. 

 

Dont' forget that Butterfly Target students will go on Wednesday ,March 25, this week only.

The Seedlings are Peeping Up!

Today we saw evidence of our planting endeavors! It's been 8 days since we planted. The rain fell, we've been watering and watching! The radishes and sugar snap peas have sprouted. Our next step will be to thin the plants. along with the learning goals for plants we are beginning our study of  animals and  their needs. A look at American Folk Heroes is also on our docket for the last nine weeks!. As always we are busy!

Friday is Art Day. We will be Going Green in many ways. Thanks for reminding your child to wear a green shirt.

The Volunteer Luncheon was one way that we staff members express our sincere appreciation for all that you do for us and for your children. I enjoyed sharing lunch with you! You are a wonderful group of parents.

Report cards are coming home today. Please sign the brown envelope and return it tomorrow. Please call if you have any questions or concerns. It is hard to believe that we are 40 short school days remaining! We are working to be ready for second grade.

Monday, March 23rd - The PTA Health and Nutrition Committee is hosting a Lunch and Learn from 11am - 12pm in the Media Center.  The topic is "Litterless Lunches".  Please come to learn how to create lunches that are nutritious, delicious and eco-friendly. Please contact Natalie Rogers, fluffyjune@yahoo.com, with any questions.

Tuesday, March 24th - Box Tops due.  This is a fun and easy way to raise money for Sope Creek...one dime at a time!

Wednesday, March 25th - Birthday Book Club will be held at 7:20am in the Media Center.

Quack, quack the ducks are back!  Mark your calendars.  The Kids Care Club will once again be selling those cute rubber ducks.  They will be available for purchase on Tuesday, March 31st at 7:20am for grades K through 2, and Wednesday, April 1st at 7:20am for grades 3 through 5.  

This week we will continue with the story Pets. We have many skills to address and need the additional week.

While driving around this weekend or walking with your child, please do some skip counting by 2, 5, 10  and 3's to 100. Also counting backwards and skip counting backwards from 100 is a great way to manipulate numbers. We will test on the 8s this week.

Most of the Butterflies are doing very well with the 3 minute fact quizzes.