4/28 News

 In Parent Emails

“Buzz”-worthy Moments: Research Biographies!!

WOW!! The kids worked in groups to brainstorm people they may want to research. I looked at their lists and chose one of their people for them. They researched, wrote, and presented to our 3rd grade friends next door…it was so fun to hear them share about President Andrew Johnson, Taylor Swift, Albert Einstein, LeBron James, Imagine Dragons, Elon Musk, Technoblade (who I did not know existed!), and even Spiderman (which gave us an opportunity to discuss characters vs. real people)!

My Favorite Moment: How EXCITED the Albert Einstein group got when they were told that HE was their person!!

Our April/May Schedule:

Lunch with 3rd Grade (Mondays) Sign Up:

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

Guided Reading Groups: Our last month of Reading Groups and available dates are sporadic.

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

4/27 Zoo Twilight Experience (Wear your Busy Bee Tees!)

In the Dippre Family, We call it a “Late Over” (with the animals!!)

4/28 The day after the Zoo Field Trip!

This day will be light academically, with no new concepts being taught! Those going on the field trip will be out LATE the night before so I am taking that into consideration!!

Week of 5/1 MAP Testing (Wed/Thu)

Friday, 5/5 Early Dismissal (11:00-11:30)

Week of 5/8 MAP Testing (Tue/Wed I think!)

Lots more stuff will be added here!!

Friday 5/26 LAST Day of 3rd Grade 1/2 Day (11:00-11:30)

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/

Book Reviews

The kids decided they would like to write book reviews! I have the sheets available but they can certainly write the review on notebook paper!!

Book Boxes

If anyone wants to create a Book in a Box, GO FOR IT!

Salt Dough Recipe

Here is the recipe to make salt dough at home if you’d like 😊 Maybe use it for Book Box items?

https://wanderhomeschooling.com/easy-homemade-playdough-recipe-with-cream-of-tartar/

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: Choose your PERSPECTIVE

Our goals have gone from FAIL! to FINDING SOLUTIONS!! to FINISH!!! to Do My BEST!! to “Bee” an example!! to “Bee” Optimistic…LOOK FOR THE GOOD! to “Choose your PERSPECTIVE! You get to decide your opinion and attitude!

Read Aloud:  Flora & Ulysses By Kate DiCamillo

The kids INSISTED that we read this book by the same author as Because of Winn Dixie because they loved it so much!! Again, we will be working on comprehension, vocabulary, word structure, and so much more!!

Language Arts

We are in week 2 of  Unit 6 with the Essential Question: Why are goals important?  Ask your student about setting goals and how that helps people get what they want!

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: Research Biography: Ask your 3rd grader which person their group chose and what they learned!! We focused on how these people set goals and made an impact on our world!

Spelling:  Consonant +LE (or NOT!) apple/label

Grammar Focus:

Multiple Meaning Words

Adjectives that Compare (big, bigger,biggest; many, more, most)

Continuing:

Possessive Pronouns

Reflexive Pronouns

Pronoun-Verb Contractions (it’s, you’re, I’m)

Pronoun/Present Tense Verb agreement

Pronouns: Singular/Plural/Personal

Pronoun  Agreement

Irregular Verbs, including Have/Do

Correct Verb Forms

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!!

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 13: Fraction Equivalence and Comparison (sharing food!)

This test will be on Monday after some review time! There are some SERIOUS light bulbs going off about fractions!! It’s so exciting!!@

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: Invisible Forces: How can you go down a slide faster?

The kids even experimented with building a “slide” and creating different items to slide down…how do we manipulate the speed of this object?

Social Studies: Arizona’s Early People

 

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

The Family Engagement Committee (FEC)

San Tan Charter School

www.santancharterschool.com

480-222-0811

From the Principal (Emailed Tuesday)

Letter from the Principal

Dear San Tan Families,

TOMORROW Wednesday (April 26h) we will be conducting a Lockdown Drill to practice our safety scenarios. I will be notifying parents when the lockdown starts and when the lockdown has ended. At San Tan, we firmly believe in safety but also, we believe in a parent’s right to have a say in what their children are exposed to. I wanted to let you know ahead of time so that you can have a conversation with your student or keep your student home if need be. I will be emailing home following the drill to let you know when it is over. I have also attached a “social story” to help guide at home conversations.

We also have a half day of school tomorrow and will begin dismissing at 11:00- 11:30. If you need care for your student, please sign up with the following link,

 

 

https://yqysjrrxph.formstack.com/forms/stcs_half_day_camp_2022_2023

– Mrs. Sarah Laramie

Month at a Glance 

  • Lockdown Drill- 4/26
  • Half Day of School- 4/26
  • Teacher Appreciation Week 5/1-5/5
  • MAP Testing 5/1-5/12
  • Recker Academic Awards 5/2
  • Gifted Information Night 5/4
  • Spring Athletic Awards 5/17
  • Kindergarten Graduation 5/24
  • 8th Grade and 12th Grade Graduation 5/25
  • Last Day of School 5/26
  • School Closed 5/29
  • Parent Teacher Conferences 6/1-6/2

Important Announcements

Teacher Appreciation Week 5/1-5/5

Monday- Write a note to your teacher (This can include a thank you note, why I love my teacher, etc.)

Tuesday- Wear your teachers’ favorite color

Wednesday- Give your teacher a flower (real, paper or draw one)

Thursday- Give your teacher a high five

Friday- Draw a picture for your teacher

 

Kindergarten:

Ms. Aguilar’s Wishlist

Ms. Edam’s Wishlist

 Ms. Harris’ Wishlist

1st-3rd Grade:

Ms. Berhost’s Wishlist

Ms. Burns’ Wishlist

Ms. Camba’s Wishlist

Ms. DeWyke’s Wishlist

Ms. Dippre’s Wishlist

Ms. Rigsbee’s Wishlist

Ms. Sibley’s Wishlist

Ms. Trowbridge’s Wishlist

Ms. Witte’s Wishlist

4th-6th Grade:

Ms. Cowled’s Wishlist

Ms. Gustafson’s Wishlist

Ms. Hubbard’s Wishlist

Ms. Jacobs’ Wishlist

Ms. Messick’s Wishlist

Ms. Sterling’s Wishlist

Ms. Vega’s Wishlist

 

Specials:

Ms. Cordova’s Waitlist

Coach Lee’s Wishlist

Coach Lindemulder Wishlist

Ms. Martinez’s Wishlist

Ms. Strand’s Wishlist

 

Front Office:

Ms. Laramie‘s Wishlist

Ms. Richardson’s List

Ms. Marty’s Wishlist

Shoe Drive Update

The following classrooms are in the lead!

Sibley

90

Vega

35

Yocklin

34

Rigsbee

29

Harris

23

Gustafson

22

Dippre

21

Witte

20

Would you ever think that your old shoes could help offset field trips next year? Well they can and here’s how. Our team is participating in a fundraiser where there is nothing to buy or sell, all we need is your support and your old shoes. We are looking for community members to help support us by agreeing to collect 25 pairs of gently worn, used and new shoes in the next 4 weeks. Here’s how you do it:

Start in your family’s closets and gather pairs of shoes that you’ve out grown, are out of style, or out of season. If you have 25 pairs, great, if not please ask your neighbors and/or co-workers to do the same. These shoes will help support our program as well as individuals in developing nations like Ghana, Haiti and Cambodia. Connect with me to get them picked up or you can drop them off at these locations: in your child’s classroom or at the front of Recker. Can we count on you? Please reply YES, I’LL HELP. PS: if you can’t collect 25, then try for 15, 10, or 5. Remember, every pair that you collect helps.

 

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

Reading Initiative

I am so excited to tell you of an initiative that I am starting that will continue throughout the rest of this year. Dedicated small group reading is proven to not only increase reading scores but also increase student’s love of reading. I am really passionate about students gaining a love of reading so we have created a new initiative.

We would love to invite parent volunteers daily between 8:30-9:30, in half an hour segments, to read to small groups of students in the library. I have attached the sign up. In the sign up, you will see classrooms with teacher’s names in it so that you know which classes you are volunteering for.

Grandparents are also welcome if they are interested! I am really excited about this initiative and want to thank you all for your consideration.

Thank you for your time and your devotion to our community,

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090c4baaa922aafd0-reading6#/

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