yim

I think I can hear the waves of summer!

Yellow Jacket Families,

It has been such a wonderful year together!   The end of each year is always so bittersweet.  I am sad to see them go, but am so proud of the growth that each Yellow Jacket has shown over the year!  And the time has finally come for them to be fourth graders!  Thank you so very much for all of the kindness and support you have given to me all year.  As they say, "It takes a village to raise a child" and I am so grateful to have been a small part of that this year.  I do hope that even though your child will move on, that you and he or she will come back and say, "Hello!"  next year.  Very best wishes, and have a delightful summer!  Please check the blog one more time next week for any additional end-of-the-year information.  Below is a brief schedule of just some of the fun activities we will enjoy together:

Movie Monday - We will watch a movie.  Bring in a drink and a snack to eat during the movie.  This is also Awards Day.

Tuesday Tales - Bring in a great book to read!  You may also bring in a pillow and a stuffed animal to get comfy while you read.

Wednesday Winners - Bring in a board game to play in the afternoon.  We will have class awards on this day!!

Thursday Thrills - We will play a friendly game of kickball against other third grade classes.  If your child purchased a yearbook, he or she may bring it in on this day to have friends sign it.

Friday Fun - We will have pizza in the afternoon.  Bring in your favorite CD's to listen to in class.  We will end the day with another movie!

From PTA:

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.

This week's buzzzz....

We had a super fun Field Day on Friday!!   Thank you to all who helped volunteer your time or money to help make this day as fun as it was!  Not too much this week.   Attached is this next week's newsletter.  That will be the last one for this year!!!!  I will blog one more time, however.  The last week of school the third grade team has a whole host of special, fun activities!  I will be sending home next week the schedule for that week.  Have a terrific weekend!!  Download May11th09news

PTA and other news: 

Turn in your Health and Nutrition Fruit and Veggie Consumption sheet on Monday!  We hope you had fun tracking all the colorful foods your child consumed during the week.

 

Box Top Betty says, “LAST BOX TOPS ARE DUE TUESDAY!  Thank you for making this the best Box Top collection year EVER!  Each Box Top Rewards Coupon is worth 10 cents to the school.  Remember to collect Box Tops all summer for next year’s collection.  Also, sign up for more deals at http://www.boxtops4education.com/AboutBoxTops/News.aspx

 

Papa John Pizza Night Tuesday – The Sope Creek Foundation’s last pizza night of the year is Tuesday.  Feed your family and earn money for the Foundation.  Let Papa John know you are from Sope Creek and turn in your receipt on Wednesday to the Sope Creek Foundation.

 

This year's Awards Days are slightly different from the dates posted on the PTA Calendar.  If your child is going to receive be recognized on Awards Day, you will receive an invitation from their teacher. To check on Awards Day Dates and Times: http://sopecreeklibrary.typepad.com/blogs/

 

If you are a parent of a 4th grader, you know that Pioneer Day is Monday, May 11th.  Volunteers are still needed for full (8:30am - 2:10pm) and half day (8:30am - 11:30am or 11:45am - 2:10pm) shifts.  If you are not able to volunteer your time, food donations (specifics to follow at a later date) for the "Hospitality Room"  are also needed.  If you are able to help in either way, please contact Sarajane Fletcher, sjfletcher@hotmail.com. 

 

2nd Grade Georgia Day is Friday May 15th and volunteers are still needed.  This is a new curriculum enrichment program and we are excited to present all the wonderful history and unique aspects of Georgia to our 2nd Graders.  Please contact Tracy Pickens (tonksy@gmail.com) if you can volunteer.  It will be a great learning opportunity for all involved.

 

Note

Here are the awards day times …

 

May 14^th

«     1^st grade - 8:15 - 9:00 AM

«     2^nd grade - 9:15 - 10:00 AM

 

May 18^th

«     4^th grade - 8:15 - 9:00 AM

«     3^rd grade - 9:15 - 10:00 AM

 

May 20^th

«     5^th grade - 8:00 - 9:15 AM (need to start at this time due to

East

Cobb

Middle School

awards time on that day).

 

Remember, you will be contacted if your child is receiving an award, so you can plan to be here.

 

THANK YOU to all of our wonderful parents at Sope Creek who contributed to making this year's Career Day fantastic.  We really enjoyed hearing all of you talk about your careers.  Yellow Jacket Parents, you may one day be the proud parents of a Delta Pilot, or a magnificant Architect, or an Engineer, or perhaps a Speech-Language Pathologist!  Thank you, Professionals.

 Penny Wars are coming!!  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 3 days next week (May 5-7).  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 each coin (ie. a nickel reduces the points by 5, a dime by 10, a dollar by 100, etc.)  This is where strategy counts!  Our class will not want to put anything other than pennies into our own container.

Thank you for your participation and enthusiasm with our Second Annual Penny War!!  Be sure to get your child involved in this healthy competition and remember...this is all for a FANTASTIC cause.

 

Once again, have a very nice weekend.  Remember to scroll below to download this next week's newsletter.

 

News from the hive....

 Oops, sorry!  The picture above was supposed to be of a bee hive!!     Anyway, hope all finds you well.  Following is this next week's news:  (mostly dates) *tomorrow, 5/1, is Career Day

*5/7 Kindergarten Sneek-a-Peek

*5/8 is Field Day  (Make sure your child has a water bottle, please.)

*Awards Days:

5/14 Grades 1 & 2

5/18 Grades 3 & 4

5/20 Grade 5   

Note:  You will be contacted if your child is receiving an award.  We do not yet have the times.

Braves Raffle for Relay for Life:  Raffle tickets for the Braves game are on sale now through May 8th.  For $10 raffle ticket you have the chance to win 4 tickets to see the Red Sox or the Brewers, or 2 tickets to see the Diamondbacks.  For $25, you can get one raffle ticket per game!  Please check the Sope Creek blog for more information, or stop by the front office for an order form.  The drawing will be held on May 8th, so purchase your raffle tickets today!  Thanks for supporting Sope Creek's Relay for Life Team.

*Download next week's newsletter for curriculum updates.  Have a terrific weekend!Download May4th09news

From PTA:

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

Reminder

Parents, if you have not yet returned your registration packets for next year, please do so on Monday.  These are those large envelopes I sent home last week, asking you to include 3 stamps.  Students will NOT be able to be placed in a class until we get all registration cards returned.  As well, if you choose not to include the 3 stamps, the school will be holding your child's report card in the office for you to pick up once they have been distributed.  Thanks very much!  (Regular weekly blog info. included if you scroll below.)

Only two more days!!

Yellow Jacket Parents,

I want to let you know that your children have been working SO hard on the CRCT's this week.  I could not be more proud of their efforts!!!!!  Thank you again for all the support you have given them and me during this especially important time of year!  I have promised them that if everyone is here each day and on time, that we will have a little ice cream party at the end!  So far so good.  Everyone has been here, so "thank you" for that as well!  And the best part of each day this week has been your sending in  the special snacks!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Reminder:  Please check attached newsletter for this next week's curriculum updates.

Following is the newsletter, and news from our PTA (Gives Field Day, Career Day,  and Awards Day dates!!  Don't forget about Braves Night with the Creek as well.):  Download April27th09news

APRIL 27 – MAY 1 EVENTS

Monday

-Last day of CRCT’s!

Tuesday

-BOX TOPS DUE

-3rd Grade Earth Day Celebration – another great program sponsored by the Sope Creek PTA.

-SOPE CREEK FAMILY BRAVES NIGHT! Our Sope Creek Chorus has been selected to sing The National Anthem. .

Wednesday

-LAST BIRTHDAY BOOK CLUB

Thursday

-PTA OFFICER ELECTIONS 8am in the café

-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 is Here!

Yellow Jackets and Parents,

Our CRCT testing begins this week on Tuesday, April 21.  The schedule is as follows: 

Tuesday, April 21st:  Reading

Wednesday, April 22nd:  English/Language Arts

Thursday, April 23rd:  Math

Friday, April 24th:  Science

Monday, April 28th:  Social Studies

Thank you very much to parents who have graciously volunteered to bring in a snack for the students after they have finished testing each day!  I know that this will be their favorite part of the day!!  Your children are working so incredibly hard to be sure they are prepared for each part of this important test.

A couple of reminders for next week:  Please help your child to get plenty of rest and to have a nice breakfast each day.  In addition, as you know, it is super important that each child is here and is on-time each day as well.  The test will begin promptly at 8:00am.  This means that I need them here before the bell.  Otherwise, it will take longer for roll and morning duties, resulting in a late start on the test.  Any child arriving past the bell will be held in the Media Center until after testing for that day.  This is so that they do not disrupt others taking the test.  Thank you very much for your support in that.  I have offered an incentive to our class if they are all  here and on-time each day during testing. 

As mentioned in my newsletter, no official homework assignments will be given during testing; however, you may want to encourage your child to look over or re-read from any book of the subject we will be testing the following day.  This, of course, is to take one last opportunity to refresh their memories beforehand!

I hope you all have a super weekend.  Attached is this next week's newsletter.  Following is from PTA:  Download April20th09news

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

This week's buzz....

Yellow Jacket Families,

Art Day last week was a magnificant success!  A huge "thank you" goes out to Bonnie Fishman and all who helped to make this day such a wonderful experience for everyone at Sope Creek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're really making progress with long division now!  Thank you for providing additional assistance for your child at home.  Remember, there are a few students who still struggle with this concept because they do not yet recall their multiplication/division facts proficiently.  This causes distraction to following all of the steps it takes to complete long division.  If you are seeing this at home when your child is working on long division problems, please continue to encourage your child to take time to study his or her basic math facts through 12.

Just a reminder that this next week is the last week before Spring Break begins.  There will be no school all the following week (April 6-10).  This will serve as the last newsletter until after the break.  I will put on the blog any information that needs to be sent, however.  CRCT is quickly approaching.  Please ask that your child do a practice test or two online nightly until then, or until they finish.  I will be reviewing for the CRCT in class after the break.  Economic vocabulary terms for CRCT practice came home in your child's Friday Folder today.  These have the vocab. word and the definition so that your Yellow Jacket may either practice as is, or cut the words apart and fold the card so that the definition is on the back of it.  They need to study and know these review terms for the CRCT, so please look for them in the green Friday Folder.

Attached is this next week's newsletter and curriculum updates.  Following is from PTA.  Have a terrific weekend.  I think our April showers are a bit early! Download Mar3009news

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 students.

Happy First Day of Spring!!

  Thank you, Yellow Jacket Volunteers, for coming to the luncheon last week.  I appreciate you very much in so many ways.  I could never do the job I do without you and your help and support.  Thank you again.

Career Day is coming to Sope Creek Friday, May 1.  We are also having a Career Dress Up Day.  Next Friday, March 31, students are encouraged to dress up to represent a particular job or career.  Remember that clothes have to be appropriate for those having PE that day. 

Please check this week's attached newsletter for curriculum news and updates.  Included are suggestions about how you can help your child in Math.  Take some time and play the games mentioned on the 4th quarter newsletter for Math that I sent home last week.  Download Mar2309news

Below is from PTA.  Have a terrific weekend.  Happy Spring!

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.

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. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

  Updates and Reminders for this week:

Fun Run is tomorrow, rain or shine!  Come bid on one of the incredible baskets that each class contributed! 

The clinic is in need of a few supplies.  They are asking for miniature cans of Ginger Ale and boxes of non-latex, regular gloves.  Thank you for considering your donation.

Art Day information came home today in your child's Friday Folder.  Please read it carefully, and remind your Yellow Jacket to wear green next Friday for our whole-school art project.  Each grade level is being asked to wear a specific color.  More information about Art Day will come home on Monday.

The Volunteer Luncheon is this next Tuesday.  I will see you then!!

Have a super weekend.  Try to stay dry.  Attached is next week's newsletter for the week of March 16th: Download Mar16-2009news

Following is PTA information: 

FRIDAY, 3.20.09 IS ART DAY – GOGHING GREEN! One of the most creative days of the year! Extra hands are always needed! Please contact Bonnie Fishman if you would care to volunteer or if you can drop of a food item for all the guests who will be educating and entertaining our students.

Also make sure your students wear the appropriate color to school for Friday’s student performance art picture:

MAKE SURE TO BRING YOUR SHIRT IN BY WEDNESDAY MARCH 18 and have it ready at school. Grade shirt color assignments are as follows:

kindergarten – White

First Grade -- Green

Second Grade -- White

Third Grade -- Green

Fourth Grade -- White

Fifth Grade -- Green