“Buzz”-worthy Moments: These amazing Minds!!

1. We enjoyed listening to a classmate share a story he wrote at home about a kid who tries to get his dog to eat his homework. The author’s purpose was for the reader to have fun and we sure did! I have a feeling I may be reading one of his published books someday!!

2. We have a student in class who is inventing “WiFi Athletic Shoes”!!!

Seriously, I am always amazed!!

3. One friend is working with Snap Circuits at home! She brought her kit to share! Mrs. Dippre had the same kit at home, so now it is in our classroom to use.

4. A Chess Expert in class is teaching the game to Mrs. Dippre and other students!

…And MUCH, MUCH MORE!!!

Our February Schedule:

Lunch with 3rd Grade (Mondays) Sign Up:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4dafae2ca3f9c70-lunch

Guided Reading Groups (Tue/Wed/Thu) Sign Up:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DAFAE2CA3F9C70-guided

Friday, 2/10 Wear your Busy Bee Tees!

Tuesday, 2/14 Valentine’s Day

PARTY-in-a-BAG

Each Busy Bee will get a paper lunch-sized bag.

His/Her responsibility:

• Put your name on the bottom of the bag

• Decorate the bag for a friend (any friend, not specific)

• Fill the bag with anything that a friend may enjoy!

  • A non-sugary drink (juice box, Capri Sun, etc.)

  • A small bag of snacks, chips, pretzels, etc.

  • Fruit, fruit snacks, dried fruit, etc.

  • A non-food item: stickers, pencil, eraser, etc.

  • A hand-written friendship card

These are ideas, but feel free to “BEE” as creative as you’d like! The intention is to find a low-cost way to make the recipient feel loved!!

• Reminder: No nuts and low-sugar snacks, please!

• The kids will be getting a bag from a friend!

• Please return the bag by Monday, February 13^th

Finally, please let me know if your child does not want to participate. This activity will take place at 2:15 so the rest of the day will be A LOT of REGULAR WORK!!! (HaHa!)

Friday, 2/17 Wear your Busy Bee Tees!

Monday,  2/20 President’s Day (No School)

Friday, 2/24 Wear your Busy Bee Tees!

2/21-3/3 Gifted Testing

All 3rd graders who have not already tested as “Gifted” will be tested.

No need to sign up!

3/1 Spring Pictures/Class Picture

4/27 Zoo Twilight Experience

In other NEWS…

Busy Bee Tees: Wear them on FRIDAYS!!!

The company that made our Busy Bee Tees for us was started by a few STCS High School Students and a dad. Feel free to browse their STCS Spirit Gear! I truly appreciate how they took care of us and our Busy Bee Tees! https://sstshirt.com/

A Glimpse into our Class

Daily Schedule

This is subject to change, of course!

daily-schedule-22-23

Homework

I am encouraging the kids to work on the homework emailed at the beginning of each week.

Any time they spend reading, writing, doing math, and practicing skills will encourage academic success!!

Reminder: I check homework for EFFORT, not COMPLETION. You decide how much gets done at home!

BENEFITS of Homework:

• Extra practice for students who may need it
• Communication with parents about what we are doing in class
• Creates good study habits
• Gives students the opportunity to ‘accomplished’ when they are finished and/or they understand
• Creates opportunities for parents and/or older siblings to spend time with their 3rd grader

***Homework is NOT meant to be a frustration!

My purpose with homework is for the kids to get the practice they need so they understand the concepts AND to show you what they know! If the math packet is easy for them, for example, there is no need for them to complete it at home, although they probably will have finished it at school! THE POINT: I know you are all busy! I am typically flexible with due dates so if you have sports or ??? one night, feel free to wait until the next night to do it.  When they return the homework to me, I acknowledge the time and effort they put into it. If this inspires your child to get the practice at home, wonderful! If not, no added stress!!

Social-Emotional Learning: FINISH!! (Same as las t week!)

Our goals have gone from FAIL! to FINDING SOLUTIONS!! to FINISH!!!

Read Aloud:

Because of Winn Dixie  By Kate DiCamillo

We are going to enjoy this heartwarming story while digging deep into literary concepts such as COMPREHENSION, CAUSE and EFFECT, AUTHOR’S PURPOSE, CHARACTER ANALYSIS, FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE, and BOOK vs. MOVIE COMPARISON (If we decide to watch the movie!)

MAIN THEMES and LESSONS:

FRIENDSHIP   LONELINESS  JUDGING OTHERS

Language Arts

We are in week 4 of  Unit 4 and continuing with the Essential Question: How do animals adapt to challenges in their habitat? We read a fable called “Little Half Chick” and looked for the lesson within.

Reading:

We enjoy our Guided Reading Groups each week. THANK YOU to our parents who led the groups Tue/Wed/Thu 11:40-12:15. We LOVE having you in class!! If you would like to join us, here is the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DAFAE2CA3F9C70-guided

Writing:

Mood and Tone: This has been really fun! From the movie, “Inside Out”, we are using the feelings/characters to prompt our short, 10-15min writings. By the end of the week, the kids will have written 5 stories: fear, anger, sadness, disgust, and joy. Take a look at thee packets…super creative!!

Spelling:  Homophones

Grammar Focus:

Complex Sentences

Dependent and Independent Clauses (New Concept…A bit confusing!)

Using Subordinating Conjunctions (New Concept…A LOT Confusing!)

Greek and Latin Roots: TOTALLY FUN for some!!

Continuing:

Main Verb/Helping Verb

Commas and Quotations Marks in Dialogue

Contractions with not

Using Apostrophes

Linking Verbs

Using Commas

Content Words

Context Clues

Sequencing Events

Past/Present/Future Tense Verbs

Capitalizing Book Titles

Figurative Language: Idioms, Similes, personification, metaphors, hyperboles

Synonyms

Abbreviations

Name Titles

Verb Tenses and Subject/Verb Agreement

Adding -y to change the meaning: rock to rocky

Quotation Marks

Colons in the time

Verbs

Homographs.

Open Syllables

Possessive Nouns

Closed Syllables

Collective Nouns: class, team, family

Irregular Plural Nouns: tooth/teeth, mouse/mice, deer, moose, woman/women, life/lives

Homophones

Prefixes un/re/dis

Plural Nouns, adding -s or -es AND changing the y to i

Common Nouns/Proper Nouns

Concrete Nouns/Abstract Nouns

Word Meanings, including multiple meanings

Math Topic 8: Using Strategies and Properties to Add and Subtract

We are realizing that the properties for (x) are similar or the same as for (+): The Associative Property, The Commutative Property, and The Identity Property.

Math Test will be on Tuesday so feel free to take a look at those packets coming home! Any practice will help the kids prepare!!

XtraMath.com

This is great math fact fluency practice at home! Let me know if your child earns a certificate!!

Khan Academy

Feel free to do this at home! Here is the link for the ELA practice:

https://www.khanacademy.org/ela

Science:  Evelyn brought in a Snap Circuit Kit. Many kisd said they have it at home and I actually brought in my boys’ to share. They are having fun with that!

Social Studies: Arizona State: Cattle, Copper, Climate

Other San Tan News…

Yearbooks for Sale!

https://store.shopyearbook.com/santan-yb

From our Family Engagement Committee (FEC)

Please join our school’s Family Engagement Committee’s (FEC) Facebook page. Here you will find school wide events that are coming up and ways to volunteer at school.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/620590539585576

Thank you again,

Jenn Jacobs and Heather Warren

From the Principal (Emailed Tuesday)

Dear San Tan Families,

 

I hope your week is going well! With love in the air and Valentine’s Day coming up in under two weeks, please remember our nutrition policy. San Tan Charter is a nut free and low-sugar school. Just a reminder to families to be sure not to have students bring candy on campus for Valentine’s Day.

 

Have a wonderful week!

 

– Mrs. Sarah Laramie

 

Month at a Glance 

• Friendship Grams 2/6-2/10
• Regional Spelling Bee 2/15
• Honk Performances 2/16-2/18
• School is Closed- 2/20
• Gifted Testing 2/20-3/3

Important Announcements

 

Friendship Grams

Friendship Grams for Sale this week!  $1 each

*optional upgrade – get a pair of   friendship bracelets for an additional $1! * Show your friends and teachers that you love them this season! On sale 8:05-8:30 in the atrium next to the front office

Monday 2/6 – Friday 2/10       Delivered 2/13

Questions? Email Mrs. Sterling vsterling@santancs.com

 

Honk! Tickets

Our STCS Performing Arts students are excited for the upcoming performances! Tickets are selling quickly for our winter theater production of, Honk! We have two casts performing for this combined-campus show (based on the Ugly Duckling story). Tickets were sold out last year, so make sure to get your tickets today by clicking on the link below:

 

https://yqysjrrxph.formstack.com/forms/honk_tickets

 

Spring Sports Sign-Ups

It is time to sign-up your students for Spring Sports! Offerings for junior high students: girls/boys basketball and co-ed swim. Offerings for high school students: baseball, beach volleyball (girls), boys volleyball, and co-ed golf.

DEADLINE for Junior High registration is Monday. Feb. 20.

 

Please click on the link below to register!

 

https://yqysjrrxph.formstack.com/forms/san_tan_charter_sports_registration

 

Spring Field Trips Links

 

Please sign your student up as soon as possible for our fieldtrips coming up

 

Phoenix Children’s Museum (Kinderversity)

Butterfly Wonderland (1st Grade Mainstream and Gifted)

Arizona Science Center (2nd Grade Mainstream and Gifted)

Zoo Twilight Camp (3rd Grade Mainstream and Gifted)

Aspen Creek (4th & 5th Grade Mainstream, Gifted AND Montessori)

Medieval Times (6th Grade Mainstream, Gifted AND Montessori)

Kartchner Caverns State Park (6th Grade Mainstream, Gifted AND Montessori)

 

Montessori information to follow

 

Kids Heart Challenge

Dear Families – Our Kids Heart Challenge program is kicking off on February 15^th! We are proud to support the American Heart Association and Be the Torch in the fight against heart disease and stroke! Students will learn how to keep their hearts happy and healthy through physical and mental wellbeing, while helping others with special hearts by raising lifesaving donations. Our goal is to have 100% of our school families join the team and learn Hands-Only CPR through Finn’s Mission. Don’t wait, get started TODAY! Students who join the team early and students who complete Finn’s Mission will be recognized at our kickoff assembly!

 

1. REGISTER at http://www2.heart.org/goto/SanTanCharterSchool or download the Kids Heart Challenge App for Apple or Android.
2. TAKE THE CHALLENGE to Move More or Be Kind and earn the FREE Be the Torch Wristband when we kick-off!
3. COMPLETE FINN’S MISSION in your HQ to learn Hands-Only CPR, how to spot a stroke F.A.S.T., and how you can help kids with special hearts!

 

Thank you for supporting our school and this lifesaving program!

 

Get a sneak peek of this year’s Heart Hero Dragons!

 

 

March Conference Food Donation Request

 

Let’s thank our STCS staff during their Parent/Teacher Conference Night on Thursday March 9th!!

If you are able to donate, please drop off all non-perishable items on or before Wednesday, March 8th.  Perishable items can be dropped off after school until 4:00 on March 9th.

Thank you for your help!

Sincerely,

The FEC

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090B48A9AF2EAAFB6-taco

Tax Credit 

This year’s tax credit giving goal is $100,000.00.

Your gift — large or small — will make a difference.

 

The form link is now open at:

https://yqysjrrxph.formstack.com/forms/?1627645-EuNcDzZTd2

 

With your support, we can continue to provide the programs outlined below;

• Junior High and High School Culinary Arts: Restaurant quality cutlery, pots/pans, additional shelving, and supplies for the classroom
• Full-Day Kindergarten Scholarship
• Funding for the Library/Media Space
• Health Care Supplies
• Playground Equipment

 

Reenrollment is LIVE

This year, we have gone to completely ONLINE registration!  No more paper packets!!  While the phone app is convenient for most things – we recommend using a computer to complete re-enrollment.  We highly recommend getting your application finished as soon as possible as we prioritize current families and we already have a substantial pool of new students wanting to enroll.

Please Log into your Parent Portal. Go to “More” and then “Online Registration.”

1. Confirm existing students’ information
2. Add any new siblings

If you are adding a sibling this year you will want to have some documents ready as you will be required to upload them before you are able to move forward in the application.

·     Birth Certificate

·     Proof of Residency

·     Immunization Records (exemption form available in application)

·     IEP/504/Gifted Score Documents (if applicable)

 

If you have questions or need assistance with re-enrollment and/or the parent portal please feel free to reach out to Christine Gray, cgray@santancs.com, or Sydney Burdeno at sburdeno@santancs.com. 

Helpful Links

Order Lunch 

Arizona Tax Credit Form 

Social Media Links  

Facebook- San Tan Charter School Family Connection 

Facebook-PreK-6 Recker Campus 

Facebook-7-12 Power Campus 

Facebook- Mrs. Laramie Principal Recker Campus 

Instagram- Mrs. Laramie Principal Recker Campus 

Instagram-STCS Recker Campus

 

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