The News from Room 407

Dear Parents,

It’s the last week of school!  We have a lot of fun activities going on.  Please read on for more information.

Tuesday, June 7 - Field Day (today)

Our time is 1-2 pm, with the kickball game following at 2:15.

Wednesday, June 8

• Writing portfolios due
• Finish preparing for Biographer’s Ball
• Science Day
• Return and organize all books (classroom, textbook, and library) today

Thursday, June 9 – Biographers Ball & Picnic

Biographer’s Ball

The Fourth Grade will host a Biographer’s Ball once again on Thursday, June 9 at 10:00 am.  Your child has checked out a biography from the Media Center.  I will provide a pre-writing form that will help your child prepare a short paragraph/monologue about his or her chosen figure.  You can help your child prepare a simple costume or outfit that appropriately represents his or her person.

Fourth Grade Picnic

Following  the Biographer’s Ball, all 4th graders will be treated to a pizza lunch.  Parents, please we need donations of juice boxes and cookies for our class.  Please let me know if you would like to send some in!  Volunteers are needed to help serve pizza.  Thanks!

Classroom Materials Cleanup

Your child will bring home all folders, journals, and other materials from this year today.  Please be sure to send an empty backpack to school on Thursday!

Friday, June 10 – Last Day!

• Board game day — Students may bring in their favorite board game to play with their classmates.
• Movie day – We will enjoy a G rated movie. 
• Reading Buddy Celebration — We will enjoy books and treats with our book buddies.  If you would like to send in a frozen treat, please let me know!

PTA Reminders

Dear Families,

Can you believe that we only have 9 days left of school?  Our final two weeks are full of end-of-year projects and fun activities.  Check out these updates!

EOG Retakes and Makeups

We have completed all of our EOG testing!  We should have all final scores this week, and you should recieve a more detailed EOG score report with your child’s report card.

End-of-Year Conferences

The students are excited to show you evidence of their growth and learning.  Your child will lead our meeting and has already prepared a file folder and outline for our meeting.  Each conference is scheduled for 20 minutes, so please be on time to ensure that we are able to get the most out of every minute!

Conference schedule:

Wednesday 6/1: 7:40 Michaella; 4:00 Asa; 4:20 Sam; 5:10 Derek; 5:30 Evona

Thursday 6/2: 7:40 Cameron; 8:20 Karmynn; 4:00 Alexis; 4:20 Edwin; 5:30 Ricky

Information Meetings Scheduled to Present Details of Student Assignment Proposals

Members of the Wake County Public School System’s Student Assignment Task Force will lead a series of community information meetings to provide details of the two draft student assignment proposals.  Superintendent Tony Tata presented the two draft proposals- known as the Blue Plan and the Green Plan – on May 23 following more than two months of research and analysis by the Student Assignment Task Force. Members of thecommunity may view the two proposals online at http://assignment.wcpss.net/and share their comments on the two draft plans.  The community information meetings will begin at 6 p.m. on the following dates:
  – Tuesday, May 31 at  Enloe High, Millbrook Magnet High and Athens Drive
  High
  – Wednesday, June 1 at  Panther Creek High
  – Thursday, June 2 at Wake Forest-Rolesville High, Garner Magnet High,
  Sanderson High, Cary High and Holly Springs High

Comments on the two proposals will be accepted through June 12. Tata and
members of the Student Assignment Task Force will review all the comments
and suggestions and make any necessary adjustments to the proposals before taking a final recommendation to the Board of Education in mid-June.
Citizens who do not have Internet access and who are unable to attend the
community information meetings may call the school system’s customer
service center at 919-850-1600 during regular business hours to obtain
details about the proposals and submit their comments.

End-of-Year Projects and Assignments

These projects are to be completed in class unless otherwise noted:

Reading:  Read a novel and complete a project of your choice from the “Better than a Book Report” sheet

Writing:

1) Fourth Grade Writing Assessment Content Writing:  “A Special Visit” – DUE LAST FRIDAY, May 27

2) Compile all of your writing (stories, poems, reports) from this year to create “My Fourth Grade Writing Anthology”

Social Studies: NC State Government Project – HOME & SCHOOL PROJECT – DUE June 1, 2011

PTA Update: This Week

• Monday, May 30th – Memorial Day – NO SCHOOL
• Tuesday, May 31st – Friday, June 3rd – Spring Book Fair;  Please see the attached flier for the detailed schedule and information on how you can help.
• Thursday, June 2nd:  4pm-6pm – Yearbook Signing Party;  Yearbooks will be distributed to students who have already purchased them through their classrooms.  Everyone is invited to join the party in the lobby and breezeway from 4pm to 6pm to have your yearbook signed.  (We need adults to help supervise.)  Those who missed the purchase deadline will have the opportunity to purchase one of the extras the printer sent.  The book fair will be open and we will have tshirts and other spirit items available for purchase.  Please see the attached flier for more information.
• Thursday, June 2nd:  6:30pm – Powell PTA General Body Meeting;  We will be sharing the story of the tornado relief efforts right here at Powell.  We will also be voting on new by-laws as well as our officers for 2011/2012.
• Thursday, June 2nd:  7pm – K-2 Drama Performance

Mark Your Calendar!

• May 31-June 1: 4th quarter electives wrap up
• June 2-3: K-2 Theater Performance
• June 7: Field Day – Parent Volunteers Needed!
• June 9: Biographer’s Ball
• June 10: Last Day of School

Dear Parents,

Everyone in our class worked very hard on the EOGs last week!  I am so proud of the students’ diligence and smart use of strategies.  As a whole, the class showed impressive growth and achievement.  I will look forward to sharing more information with you about your child’s individual achievement and growth at our upcoming conferences.

I have a bittersweet announcement:  After five years teaching fourth grade at Powell, I will be leaving at the end of this school year.  Next year, I will be an Instructional Resource/Intervention Teacher at Walnut Creek Elementary School, a brand-new school that is opening in the fall.  Because there is so much to do to start a new school, I have already begun many of my new duties and will begin at Walnut Creek full-time on June 13.  It’s very hard to leave such wonderful students and staff at Powell, but I’m also very excited for this new opportunity.   I will certainly miss everyone and hope to keep in touch!

EOG Makeups and Retakes

EOG Tests scheduled for this week are:

Tuesday – Reading Comprehension

Wednesday – Math – Calculator Active

Thursday – Math – Calculator Inactive

End-of-Year Conferences

Thank you for scheduling your conferences last week.  Your child has a green conference confirmation sheet to give you with your time and date.  The students are excited to show you evidence of their growth and learning.  Your child will lead our meeting and has already prepared a file folder and outline for our meeting.  Each conference is scheduled for 20 minutes, so please be on time to ensure that we are able to get the most out of every minute!

Conference schedule:

Tuesday 5/24:  7:40 Jayla; 8:00 Daisha; 8:20 Natalie

Wednesday 5/25:   4:00 Isabel; 4:20 Brandy; 5:30 Francisco

Thursday 5/26:  8:20 Naes; 4:00 Radhika; 4:20 Takera; 4:40 Emma; 5:10 Chebem; 5:30 Nia

Friday 5/27: 8:00 Katlyn; 8:20 Tyler

Wednesday 6/1: 7:40 Michaella; 4:00 Asa; 4:20 Sam; 5:10 Derek; 5:30 Evona

Thursday 6/2: 7:40 Cameron; 8:20 Karmynn; 4:00 Alexis; 4:20 Edwin; 5:30 Ricky

End-of-Year Projects and Assignments

These projects are to be completed in class unless otherwise noted:

Reading:  Read a novel and complete a project of your choice from the “Better than a Book Report” sheet

Writing:

1) Fourth Grade Writing Assessment Content Writing:  “A Special Visit”

2) Compile all of your writing (stories, poems, reports) from this year to create “My Fourth Grade Writing Anthology”

Social Studies: NC State Government Project – HOME & SCHOOL PROJECT – DUE June 1, 2011

Picture Money  – FINAL deadline is Friday, May 27

Thank you to everyone who has returned their pictures and sent in picture money.  The final deadline is this Friday, May 27.

Field Trip is Friday!

We will go downtown on Friday to see our state government in action!  We will visit the Legislative Building, State Capitol, and state Supreme Court building.  Parent chaperones are welcome to join us!  We will leave Powell at 9:30 and return just before lunch.  Please make sure that your child wears comfortable walking shoes.

Mark Your Calendar!

• Friday, May 27: Downtown Government Field Trip
• May 31-June 1: 4th quarter electives wrap up
• June 2-3: K-2 Theater Performance
• June 7: Field Day
• June 10: Last Day of School