News 9/2
Busy Bee News
“Buzz”-worthy Moment: When we were in our reading groups, the kids loved the selection entitled Preserving a Special Place. They commented on the cute baby turtles that the park rangers helped survive and they were saddened by the collection of trash that pollutes the island. Their hearts are so good!
Social-Emotional Learning: Core Matters More
This author, Alison Fleming, visited today and read her book. You can still purchase your copy for the discounted price of $13 through Friday, 9/9. It has a great message about inclusion and appreciation of our differences. An order form was sent home today.
We are continuing our focus on our iLEAD values as well!
Integrity~Love~Empathy~Accountability~Dedication
This song is on our Google Classroom under the Topic: How to Bee a Busy Bee: Stamina and Perseverance
This week and next: Sometimes, things are hard! Sometimes, we don’t want to do what we ought to do!
Check out our Google Classroom Videos and Quotes for a great conversation with your 3rd grader!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGPMX4zU9jc
https://classroom.google.com/w/NTM3NTQ1NDg5NDA1/t/all
https://classroom.google.com/w/NTM3NTQ1NDg5NDA1/t/all
Daily Schedule
This is subject to change, of course!
Homework
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 so they understand the concepts. 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!!
R.E.D. Folders: Read Every Day (R.E.D) folders were sent home Wednesday. This is to encourage daily reading for fun! Please return the folders on Fridays so I can acknowledge their time and effort!!
RASK
I think everyone got it if they paid. If there is a mistake, please call the office.
RASK (Roadrunner Academic Success Kit). I plan to use these folders and agendas in class so please order yours ASAP if you haven’t already. Let me know if it is a financial concern and I will look into that for you.
We will be taking payments with the following link: Make Online Payment
Clubs At STCS Reckers Campus: Come join the fun!!
Coming Up…
A night with the Diamondbacks!
san-tan-charter-9.12.22-dbacks-game-info
Field Trips
3rd Grade Field Trip: Goldfield Ghost Town and Mine Tours (Oct.14th)
Mark your calendars! More info to come!!
Gifted Field Trip: Don’t Miss Out! We have 17 Busy Bees signed up!!
Gifted Camp @ Camp Friendly Pines!
Our annual trip north for gifted enrichment @ Camp Friendly Pines is right around the corner! Students will attend enrichment activities that are specifically designed to meet the needs of our gifted and talented children. Visit https://gocampway.com/friendly-pines for more information about Camp Friendly Pines including sample meals, cabins and the beautiful forest and lakes!
Who: Recker Gifted Classes Grades K, 1, 2, 3
When: Oct. 28th (Friday)
Cost: Students: $110
Parents: $80
Due: 9/15/2022 * This is a hard deadline! Please be sure to sign up in time.
Registration & Permission Slip: https://yqysjrrxph.formstack.com/forms/k_3gifted_field_trip22
fingerprint-clearance-card-info-2
Chaperones Needed– Camp wouldn’t be possible without parent volunteers! Please join us! We are always looking for parents to join us on our adventures. Chaperones will need a fingerprint clearance card for overnight camps. If you do not have one, there is a flyer attached for your convenience. Fingerprint cards last for 6 years, get yours today! ;-))
Michelle Tischer, M.Ed.
September is BUSY for us BEES!!
9/7-9/9 Usborne Book Fair
9/9 Grandparents Day 8am-9am
In recognition of International Grandparents Day, we are inviting all Grandparents (or any TWO special adults) to visit!
We are really asking that everyone RSVP prior to coming so that we know how many seats to have set up.
Grandparents and special guests are asking to enter in the front doors of the school to be checked in off of the RSVP list.
9/14 Picture Day!
9/19-9/23 A “MARVEL-ous” Homecoming Week!
9/21 Peace Day
9/21, 9/22, 9/23 Conferences and 1/2 Day (11-11:30 Dismissal)
Conference Sign Up Link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DAFAE2CA3F9C70-fall1
9/24-10/9 Fall Break (Kids return to school on Monday 10/10)
This Week’s Focus
Empathy: Several discussions this week have been focused around empathy, although we have not yet linked them to this word. For example, how would you feel if that happened to you? Would you be ok with it if …? How can you make that person feel …? We are setting the stage for increasing our care for others. Your kids are AMAZING!! They have kind hearts!
Continuing to work on Time Efficiency: I am trying to be more diligent about getting the kids to recess, lunch, and specials on time this year… With their help, we are doing pretty well!! Some common statements in class: “I am trying to honor your time and I can do that when we focus in class.” and “We have (these things) to get done before (recess). If we finish early, you get extra the extra time!” and “Sounds like/looks like you’ve earned a Busy Bee Point for that!” and “We like to ‘BEE’ efficient with our time!”
Continuing with Procedures: “Feel free to…as long as it does not cause a problem for anyone in the universe!” This is the umbrella, so-to-speak, of all our procedures. This week we focused on Walking out of Romm 206, Collaborative Conversations (Turn and Talk), Bathroom and Water (What/When/How/Where/Who), All Together Now (call outs), Classroom Jobs, Lunchtime, Habits of Discussion,…
Ask your 3rd graders about some of these…it may become a fun conversation!
Read Aloud: School Days According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney
We are nearing the end and it has been fun to hear individual conversations with our third graders who can relate to the kids in Humphrey’s class!
Humphrey is the class hamster and the story is from his perspective. He can read, write, and speak, although the humans only hear “squeak, squeak, squeak”. After Humphrey’s adventures at summer camp (Summer According to Humphrey, Humphrey returns to Room 26 only to be baffled by the wrong students coming in on the first day. Where had his friends from before summer camp gone? It’s a fun read!
ELA Wonders: Unit 1, Week 4
We are continuing our discussions and writing about Family Traditions/culture. We began reading an “Argumentative Text” entitled Preserving a Special Place which discusses Padre Island National Seashore off the coast of South Texas. I loved the hearts of your children showing through when they saw the photos of the baby turtles and then the pile of trash collected on the seashore. We had such great conversations in small groups!
*We did not finish Unit 4 this week so we will continue to work on it next week!
ELA Focus:
complete subject and complete predicate
sentence fragments and run-on sentences
antonyms
Continuing to work on:
multi-syllabic words and related words
word meanings (puddle, pond, lake)
Commands and Exclamations
Rhyming Words
Synonyms
Word Meanings (includes using a dictionary)
Continuing to work on:
Grammar
Complete sentences vs. sentence fragments
Sentences begin with a capital letter and end with a punctuation mark
Statements and Questions
compound words
Reading comprehension (read a passage and answer questions about it)
Editing a paragraph: finding misspelled words
Prefixes/Suffixes: admire, admirer, admiring, admired
Spelling: Long a spelled all ways
Spelling Tests: I am testing on only 10 words, with 2 BONUS Words from now on!
My purpose is to check that they know the spelling concept and we can do that in 10!
REMINDER: This is an opportunity for 3rd grade to “Show what you know” and practice test-taking skills.
Math Topic 3: Apply Properties to Multiplication Facts for 3, 4, 6, 7, 8
We just got started on this topic and it is going to be FUN and challenging at the same time.
We began with the Distributive Property of Multiplication...we will continue to practice this as we move forward!
Example: 7×3 = (5×3) + (2×3)
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
480-222-0811
From the Principal (Emailed Tuesday)
Letter from the Principal
Dear San Tan Families,
I hope you are doing well today! This week kicks off September-madness before Break! We have a ton of fun events coming up shortly these next weeks.
As a reminder, we have a half day on Wednesday (August 31st) dismissal is from 11:00-11:30. I know that often on half days, other people like grandparents pick up. Please ensure that they have their car tags with them in order to pick up. We will be strictly enforcing the rule that if no car tag is present, we will be asking for those picking up to come inside to show ID to bring the students from the classroom. If you need an extra car tag to give to grandparents or siblings, please come into the front office to request a blank one.
– Mrs. Sarah Laramie
Important Announcements
Athletic Sponsorship
Would your business or family like to support our STCS Roadrunner Athletics Program by becoming an athletic sponsor? We have a variety of sponsorship packages that allows entry for any budget. This is a great way to promote your business while supporting our San Tan Athletes. For more information about becoming a sponsor or to initiate the process, please click here Athletic Sponsorship.
Half Day on Wednesday
Half day camp available. Sign up available here: https://yqysjrrxph.formstack.com/forms/stcs_half_day_camp_2022_2023
Details: $25 per student, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Please send a packed lunch and snack with your child(ren) or if you want your child to participate in a group pizza lunch and snack, please email micke@santancs.com or call 480-222-0811ex 2 to contribute $10 per child. Student half day camp pickup by 3:00 PM please. Enter and Exit through the before and aftercare preschool entrance. Please email mbradford@santancs.com or call 480-222-0811ex 2 if your child(ren) will participate in aftercare fun between 3:00 pm and 5:40 pm.
Peace Day Shirt
Last chance as THIS ORDER EXPIRES THURSDAY!!!
At San Tan we encourage Peace at every age level – from guiding toddlers to self-calm to teaching peaceful conflict resolution in our preschool and K-12 classrooms. We seek to provide experiences for children to understand and access the peace within themselves, to relate with other people, cultures, and the environment, and to embrace the complexity of humankind. When children are given opportunities to practice peace within themselves, they will be able to share it with others and seek it out in the world.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.” These peacemakers have influenced generations. And inspired by their work, San Tan is educating the next generation of peacemakers and innovators.
Purchase a shirt and wear it on Peace Day, 2022 Wednesday, September 21st and throughout the Year! The shirts cost $10.
https://yqysjrrxph.formstack.com/forms/peace_day_shirt_2022
Author Visit
We are delighted to announce that on September 2nd a children’s book author, Alison Fleming, is coming to San Tan Recker Campus. She will be presenting her book, Core Matters More to K-6th grade.
Core Matters More is a “sweet” story about a girl named Sara who struggles with being excluded because she “does not fit in”. Luckily her apple friend, Miss Gala, has a different way of thinking: “A shape’s just a shape. Doesn’t change what’s inside!”
Ms. Fleming is a former Special Education teacher turned author and lives right here in the East Valley! Her purpose behind writing this book is to encourage children to think about what they care about, write about it, and share it with others. She also wants to teach students principles of inclusion and self-love.
Pre-Orders of Core Matters More are at a special price of $13 per book. To order, please print and fill out the attached order form and return to your student’s teacher with payment in an enclosed envelope. You can also order using Venmo @alisonflemingauthor and note your student’s name and teacher. Your pre-ordered book will also be personalized by Ms. Fleming before her visit.
Pre-orders are due by August 31st! For more information about Ms. Fleming or her book, Core Matters More, please visit alisonflemingauthor.com
Homecoming Spirit Week
September 19-23rd
- Multiverse Monday- Dress as your opposite
- TVA Tuesday- Decades Day
- Captain America Wednesday- Wear Red, White and Blue
- Infinity Stone Thursday- Dress in class colors
- Blue- Kinder and First Grade
- Red- Second Grade
- Yellow- Third Grade
- Green- Fourth Grade
- Orange- Fifth Grade
- Purple- Sixth Grade
- Roadrunners Assemble Friday- Wear your best Roadrunner School spirit!
Grandparents Day Volunteers
This year, in honor of Grandparent’s day, we are coordinating a breakfast for student’s special people on September 9th. More details will be forthcoming regarding this event but for now, we’d love some help volunteering on the day or bringing in some breakfast treats!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C4BAAA922AAFD0-grandparents2
Usborne Book Fair
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C4BAAA922AAFD0-usborne1
Our school will be welcoming back Usborne Books & More for a book fair this Fall! Be sure to stop in September 6th-9th and shop a variety of books for all interests. You will also have the opportunity to gift our wonderful teachers with gift certificates to shop books for their classrooms. If you are unable to attend in-person or prefer to browse the full catalog- you can shop online now through September 9th. In return, our school will receive 50% back in free books based on the book fair’s sales. The book fair will be open during grandparent’s day as well. Let’s make this our best book fair to date. 📚
Shop online:
Recker Academic Success Kit (RASK)
We are asking families for $30 per child to purchase our “Success Kit”. In the success kit, will be the following items.
Agendas
School Communication Folder
Data Tracking Kit
School T-shirt
We will be taking payments with the following link: Make Online Payment
EF Tours
Our list of registered travelers and those interested in travelling is growing each day. Please see our list of travel locations for next school year!
Bell’Italia Trip (Open to Everyone) March 13, 2023 – March 21, 2023
Washington DC Trip (6th Grade Only)
Belize Trip (8th Grade Only) May 5, 2023 – May 15, 2023
New York City (Theater Arts Students Only)
https://www.efexploreamerica.com/tour-website/2543243VF
Guest Teachers
We need guest teachers to fill in when our teaching staff is out ill. If you would like to guest teach for us, please email Ms. Richardson at srichardson@santancs.com to get back on the list for this school year.
Family Engagement Committee
At San Tan, we do not have a PTO, we have the Family Engagement Committee! The FEC will be helping with school events, parent groups, fundraising initiatives and organizing parent support within the classroom.
If you are interested in joining, please email at fec@santancs.com
Helpful Links
- Order Lunch
- Arizona Tax Credit Form
- Spirit Gear – Do you need school spirit gear to wear on Spirit Fridays? Click Here to Purchase
Social Media Links
Facebook- San Tan Charter School Family Connection
Facebook- Mrs. Laramie Principal Recker Campus
