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<strong>Important Days to Remember:</strong>

Wednesday, September 23<sup>rd</sup> :  Open House @ 7pm

Friday, September 25<sup>th</sup>:  Staff Development Day:  NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, September 30<sup>th</sup>:  Picture Day
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Dear Parents/Guardians,

I wanted to remind you that Open House is on Wednesday at 7:00pm.  During this time, we will go over curriculum, ISAT, procedures, and questions &amp; concerns you might have.  Please come to hear about all the upcoming activities your child will be doing this year!  There will also be a sign up sheet for parents who want to volunteer.

If you have not done so, please send supplies to school.  The list is available on the Ray School Website.  I am working on getting my classroom blog up and running and hopefully eliminating the paper copy of this weekly bulletin.  Please send me a note if you would prefer a paper copy.

<strong>Homework:</strong><strong> </strong>

Students paid for a Ray School Planner.  Each child also received a Ray School Folder.  I ask them to write their homework in their planner on a daily basis.  At the end of the day, I write their color in the spot provided and sign next to it.  It is each child’s responsibility to have you sign his/her planner.   Unless otherwise indicated, assigned work is due the following day.  If it isn’t turned in, students will complete it during recess time and it will be marked late unless there is an extenuating circumstance.

In addition, students will be assigned homework every night except Friday.  The homework will consist of the following:  They will be asked to read for 30 minutes (this includes the weekend), They will also have a Home Link for Math almost every night.  Homework in other content areas will be assigned. You will receive a breakdown of the grading scale at Open House.  Any and all rubrics used for assessment will be sent home prior to the due date of the assignment.

<strong>Please sign the planner every night</strong>.  Your signature not only indicates that you are aware that your child completed the homework but that you saw your child’s color for the day.   This is a good place to write short notes for me as well.

<strong>Snacks/Water:</strong><strong> </strong>

Please feel free to send snacks for the class on the first of the month.  I am requesting that you send individually wrapped snacks because it is easier to pass out while students continue working. Students are also allowed to bring water bottles to class.  Flavored water/juice is not allowed.  The bottles should already be filled before school.  Students refilling bottles takes time out of instruction.

<strong>Birthdays:</strong>

Please let me know ahead of time if you would like to send a treat for your child’s birthday.  I am very flexible, but I need to plan my instruction accordingly.  Remember that all food needs to be store bought and we do have peanut allergies in the classroom.  Any treats will be distributed after 2pm.  Please no drinks.
<p align="center"><strong>Instruction This Week</strong></p>
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<em>Literacy:</em>

We are continuing to work on the Daily 5.  We are continuing to work on building our stamina during the “Read-to-Self” component.  This week, we will begin building our stamina with “Working on Writing”.  The Daily 5 is a structure that helps students become independent readers, writers, and learners with literacy.  Students will also begin to work with words in small groups.  You will start seeing Word Work homework soon.  I am also assessing beginning reading levels of each child and will use this data for Guided Reading.  This will start the first week of October.

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<em>Mathematics:</em>

In Math, we will focus on the following lessons:  collecting data, name collection boxes, probability (likely/unlikely), and finding differences.

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<em>Science:</em>

Water is the first unit in Science that we are working on this school year. This week we will work on our first investigation:  Water Observations.  Students will observe the interaction of water with different materials, investigate the property of water surface tension, and investigate the movement of water on a slope.  By the end of the week, ask your students what they have learned about water.

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<em>Art:</em><em> </em>

Once a week, we will do an art lesson.  These lessons will help students to develop the skills of aesthetic perception.  Some lessons will be hands-on, while others consist of students looking at art critically.  The lesson this week is titled “New Clothes”.  The focus of this lesson is to learn about rubbings and patterns.

Student fees are due!  We use this money for classroom activities/supplies. Please turn the money in if you have not done so already.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at <a href="mailto:ssprasad-hei@cps.edu">ssprasad-hei@cps.edu</a>.

I am able to meet for conferences before school from 8:30-8:50 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and after school after 3:45 on Tuesdays and Fridays.

I can’t wait to see you at Open House!

Sincerely,

Ms. Prasad-Heintz