Week of 12-16 Newsletter

Dear ⅘ Families,

Congratulations to all of our students for two AMAZING performances of “America’s Tallest Tales”! Thank you, again, parents, for your time, support and encouragement. We could not have done it without you.

There will be a math test on Wednesday, and regular homework Monday & Tuesday nights.

As we wrap up the last few Tall Tales projects before winter break, I’d like to invite you to check out your child’s Tall Tale story in presentation form on www.prezi.com. Your child will have the login information in their comp books today. They worked collaboratively with partners to create these presentations of tall tales that they wrote this month.

We hope you can make it to the Holiday Night, Wednesday, 12-18-13 at 5:30-8:30PM. The students will also be performing on their ukeleles on Thursday, for the Holiday Sing, 12-19-13 at 1PM.

Have a restful week & let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Best,

Ms. Honig

Week of 12-9 Newsletter

Dear 4/5 Families,

I hope this letter finds you all well and warm! With less than 2 weeks left before Winter Break, please do what you can to ensure your child arrives at school on time. The holiday season can be a busy one for everyone but it is important to retain as regular of a schedule as possible during the week. I appreciate your help with this in getting your child to school on time, well rested and prepared.

We are counting down to our performance of “America’s Tallest Tales” and appreciate the time you’ve taken to go over lines and practice songs with your child. Our first dress rehearsal is Monday and we are just about ready for the Thursday evening performance. Here are some final details to take note of before then.

• If you haven’t already looked over the costumes & props sign-up, please do so here. Every student needs a checkered or plaid shirt and pants.
• I would like students to be at school Thursday evening and in costume by 6:45PM. The “curtains open” at 7PM.
• We would like to give Micha a bouquet or plant in thank you so if you can help with that, please contact me (phone or email).
• We will also hold a performance for Mountain School students on Friday, at 11AM. So, if you cannot make it to the evening performance, please come on Friday. Please take note that there will be limited seating, but we always do our best to make sure there’s room for all to see.
• Immediately following the Friday performance, we’d like to have a cast party to celebrate the hard work of all of our students! I’d like for the kids to have some healthy options so please be mindful of our District adopted Wellness Policy. We ask that each family contribute $3.00 per student to cover the cost of pizza. A volunteer sign-up is posted at our classroom. Please give your $3 contribution to Ms. Honig or to Amanda Connors by Wednesday.
  
  

We will have homework each night except for Thursday so please work with your child to take the time each evening to work on the assignments. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me or call me.

Upcoming Dates:

Holiday Night, 12-18-13 at 5:30-8:30PM

Holiday Sing, 12-19-13 at 1PM

Warmly,

Ms. Honig

Week of 12/2 Newsletter

Hello Families,

I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am very grateful for so many things this year, especially that I have the opportunity to be your child's teacher! 

We are full swing into practicing for our play and thanks again to the Parents' Club for funding Micha's time with us. We really could not put on a production without her. Please take a moment to look at the list of needs for the play by next week. Here's a link: play.

We will have regular homework this week, and I've uploaded the spelling and vocabulary words to our website on the Homework Links page. Students also have the words in their homework folders. I chose words from our play script so that the students have a deeper understanding of what they are singing and speaking about. If you have a moment, please work with your child to locate the words in his/her "Home Script" and discuss them.

Please mark your calendars for the Winter Holiday Night, Wednesday, December 18th. If you haven't already contacted Amanda Connors regarding volunteering, please give her a call. The event is a great opportunity to spend quality time with your family and the Mountain School community celebrating the winter holidays. The following day the students will be playing ukelele at the Holiday Sing. It is scheduled to begin at 1PM behind the Kindergarten classroom. Remember, there is no school Friday, December 20, 2013 through January 3, 2014.

If you haven't already submitted a response to my survey about the report cards, please do so by Friday, December 6 at this link. I really appreciate your feedback!

Thank you again for your support in the classroom at at home! Please contact me if you have any questions at rhonig@santacruz.k12.ca.us.

Warmly,

Ms. Honig

Week of 11/18 Newsletter

Dear 4/5 Families,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me during Parent-Teacher conferences. It was wonderful to share your child’s successes and progress with you and I look forward to our continued partnership supporting your child's academic success!

Thank you to the Parent’s Club for continuing to fund the arts, allowing Micha to work with us beginning this week! Our class play is called “America’s Tallest Tales” and is scheduled for December 12 at 7 PM and December 13 at 11 AM. If you are available to help with any of the items below, please let me know:

• donating 30 blank cds
• creating a cd for each child with the songs for the play (this can be done at school on my computer or at home if you have a cd-burner)
• reading through scenes with students
• working with students to design & decorate the set
• organizing costumes & props

WHAT WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT:

4th Grade Math: Multi-digit multiplication & division.

5th Grade Math: Operations with decimals.

Language Arts: Genre study on Tall Tales. We will look for elements of the genre in several texts, and begin a tall tales writing project.

Social Sciences: We'll continue reading about early American Colonies and taking Cornell Notes.

4th Grade Science: We are learning about Magnetism & Electricity; specifically static electricity.

We'll have regular homework this week. There will be math, spelling and vocabulary tests on Friday. Please remind your child to take the time to read & complete the reading log and practice multiplication & division facts every night! Thank you for your help both at home and in class!

Smiles,

Ms. Honig

Week of 11/11 Newsletter

Dear 4/5 Families,

I hope you had a safe and restful Veteran's Day weekend! This week students will be dismissed at 12:35 everyday for Parent-Teacher Conferences. I am looking forward to meeting with each of you to discuss your child's academic progress! If you haven't scheduled a conference, please contact me immediately.

Bravo to Second Grade for a fabulous production of "Geology Rocks!" Our play, "America's Tallest Tales," is scheduled for December 12. This week, we'll be reading through our play and assigning roles. We will begin to work with Micha next week. I would appreciate parent help with the play production, so please let me know if you would like to help with sets, costumes, reading lines, etc.

WHAT WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT:

4th Grade Math: Multi-digit multiplication & division.

5th Grade Math: Operations with decimals.

Language Arts: Finishing up writing an Historical Fiction about Explorers and beginning a genre study on Tall Tales. We will look for elements of the genre in several texts, and begin a writing project writing our own tall tales.

Social Sciences: We'll be reading about early American Colonies and taking Cornell Notes.

4th Grade Science: We'll begin the Magnetism & Electricity Unit.

We'll have regular homework this week but no spelling or vocabulary tests. Please remind your child to take the time to read & complete the reading log every night! Thank you for your help both at home and in class, we couldn't do it without your support!

Best,

Ms. Honig

Week of 11/4 Newsletter

Dear 4/5 Families,

I hope this letter finds you all well! We had a fabulous Halloween, I loved everyone’s costumes. I want to thank everyone who donated foods for the Smells & Tastes of the New World. It was a wonderful experience for our class! A special thank-you to Jennifer, Andrew & Nichole for preparing and organizing. I couldn’t have done it without you!

We will have a spelling & vocabulary test this Friday. Please check out the list on the Homework Links page. Students also have it in their homework folders.

There is no school next Monday, 11-11, in honor of Veteran’s Day. The remainder of the week, students will be dismissed at 12:35 for Fall Conferences. I will be scheduling 20 minute conferences with each family during those afternoons and some mornings. Please stop by our classroom and sign up for a time that works for you. Please discuss with your child if you’d like him/her to attend the conference; I’d like it to be a decision made by you & your child. I am looking forward to meeting with each of you to share your child’s progress this year. I’ll contact you this Friday to confirm your day & time for the conference.

If you have any questions, I can be reached via email or phone, 475-6812 extension 22,  rhonig@santacruz.k12.ca.us.

Best,

Ms. Honig

Week of 10-28 Newsletter

Dear 4/5 Families,

Hello! I hope you had a wonderful time at the Harvest Festival! There will not be spelling or vocabulary this week however there will be a math test on Wednesday.

We are continuing to write our Historical Fictions, and WOW, I am really impressed with the writing abilities of the students! As part of the unit, I’d like to do an activity where we explore foods from the “New World” on Halloween. The list of foods that I’d like to have brought in for a smell & taste test is below. Please let me know if you can help out!

Halloween is Thursday! The parade begins at 8:45 AM.  If your child chooses to come to school in a costume that may be uncomfortable or make it so they cannot sit at their desk, please be sure that he/she brings clothes to change into in order to participate in our regular class schedule for the remainder of the day. Please remind your child that violent or gory costumes are not permitted - nor are weapon accessories. We will be celebrating October birthdays at the end of the day, so please contact me regarding snacks!

Important upcoming dates:

October 31: Halloween parade (8:45AM) & October birthday celebration (2:15PM)

November 1: No School for students, Staff Development Day

November 11: No School - Veteran’s Day

November 12-15: 12:35 dismissal for Parent/Teacher Conferences

Thank you all for your help and support in the classroom and at home. We really appreciate the time you take to volunteer!

Best,

Ms. Honig

Items from the New World

pineapple

sunflower seeds

chili pepper

pumpkin

blueberries

potatoes

corn

marigolds

bell peppers

vanilla bean (or extract)

tomatoes

kidney beans

peanuts

Week of 10-21 Newsletter

Hello! We are continuing to write our Historical Fiction stories about European Explorers and the students are demonstrating very creative writing skills. I can’t wait to share their published stories at conferences! As part of the unit, I’d like to do an activity where we explore foods from the “New World” this Friday. I have a list of foods that I’d like to have brought in for a smell & taste test. Please let me know if you can help out! The list is below.

Tomorrow we will have a Bully Prevention Assembly with a guest speaker named Jeff Caplan. We are looking forward to developing a common language and ways to prevent bullying from coming into our campus.

Halloween is less than 2 weeks away! We will participate in the all-school parade first thing in the morning. There are a few guidelines that I’d like to share with you regarding costumes & behavior expectations. First of all, please remind your child that violent or gory costumes are not permitted - nor are weapon accessories. If your child chooses to come to school in costume, please be sure that he/she brings clothes to change into in order to participate in our regular class schedule for the remainder of the day. We will be celebrating October birthdays at the end of the day, so please contact me regarding snacks!

Important upcoming dates:

October 25: Spirit Wear - come to school in Green &/or Gold to show school spirit!

October 27: Harvest Festival & Pajaro Valley Arts Council Reception - our art will be on display until Dec. 8

October 31: Halloween parade (8:45AM) & October birthday celebration (2:15PM)

November 1: No School for students, Staff Development Day

November 11: No School - Veteran’s Day

November 12-15: 12:35 dismissal for Parent/Teacher Conferences

Thank you all for your help and support in the classroom and at home. We really appreciate the time you take to volunteer!

Best,

Ms. Honig

Items from the New World
pineapple
sunflower seeds
chili pepper
pumpkin
blueberries
potatoes
corn
marigolds
bell peppers
vanilla bean (or extract)
tomatoes
kidney beans
peanuts

Dia de los Muertos - Santa Cruz Style

Wow! Thank you so much to Mary Beth Duncan & Summer Rhee-Pizano for the fabulous direction of the Dia de los Muertos - Santa Cruz Style art project! Check out a quick photo of it as well as the flyer for the Pajaro Valley Arts Council Receptionfor "Mi Casa Es Su Casa" (it opens 10-27 & continues until 12-8) . We are even featured as one of the participating community groups!

Newsletter for week of 10/14

Dear 4/5 Families,

I hope this letter finds you well. We had a wonderful time in San Juan Bautista. Thank you to the chaperones for driving and spending the day with our class, we couldn’t have done it without you! We learned about the sorted history of California from Ohlones to the Gold Rush! I’ll keep you posted for the next field trip.

Important upcoming dates:

October 22: Bully Prevention assembly (grades 4-6 12:45)

October 27: Harvest Festival

October 31: Halloween parade & October birthday celebration

November 1: No School for students, Staff Development Day

What we’re learning:

Language Arts/Social Sciences: We will focus on elements of a historical fiction, character & plot development and the steps of the writing process. Students have become “experts” on a specific explorer and will begin to use that information to write a historical fiction with him as the main character.

Math: 4th graders will continue learning about the Order of Operations (PEMDAS) and 5th graders will also continue learning about Prime Factorization and exponents.

Science: 4th graders will be learning about how to determine an organism’s optimum conditions and environmental preferences, using brine shrimp. 5th graders will continue to learn about plate tectonics and earthquakes.

Art: Our art project with Mary Beth & Summer Rhee-Pizano is beginning to take shape and looks amazing! Our Dia de Los Muertos exhibit that will be put on display later this month with the Pajaro Valley Arts Council (more information to follow soon)!

Thank you all for your help and support in the classroom and at home. We really appreciate the time you take to volunteer! If you have any questions or concerns please email me a rhonig@santacruz.k12.ca.us.

Best,

Ms. Honig

Week of 10/7 Newsletter

Dear 4/5 Families,

I hope this letter finds you well. We have our first field trip this Friday. We will be visiting the San Juan Bautista Mission, Plaza and the San Andreas Faultline as part of what we’re studying in Social Sciences and Science. Please plan to send your child to school on Friday with comfortable walking shoes, a snack & sack lunch, and a water bottle. We will be gone the majority of the day on Friday, leaving at 8:30 AM.

Important upcoming dates:

October 22: Bully Prevention assembly (grades 4-6 12:45)

October 27: Harvest Festival

October 31: Halloween parade & October birthday celebration

November 1: No School for students, Staff Development Day

What we’re learning about:

Language Arts/Social Sciences: We are researching European Explorers and how they led the settlements in the Americas. Students will become “experts” on a specific explorer and use that information to write a historical fiction with him as the main character.

Math: 4th graders will be learning about the Order of Operations (PEMDAS) and 5th graders will be learning about Prime Factorization and exponents.

Science: 4th graders will be learning about how to determine an organism’s optimum conditions and environmental preferences, using brine shrimp. 5th graders will continue to learn about plate tectonics and earthquakes.

Art: We began a 3 week art project with Mary Beth & Summer Rhee-Pizano last week. We will be building a Dia de Los Muertos exhibit that will be put on display later this month!

Thank you all for your help and support in the classroom and at home. We really appreciate the time you take to volunteer! If you have any questions or concerns please email me a rhonig@santacruz.k12.ca.us.

Best,

Ms. Honig

Week of 9/30 Newsletter

Dear ⅘ Families,

Congratulations to all of the students who ran for student council! All of the speeches were fantastic. We will be nominating 2 classroom representatives in addition to Daphne Tong being voted for Secretary. Thanks to Elisa, Wendi, Nicole & Amanda for bringing treats to our monthly birthday celebration. It was so wonderful to be able to celebrate all of the August & September birthdays. We look forward to doing the same for the October birthdays on Halloween.

Your child brought home a yellow permission slip today for our first field trip to San Juan Bautista scheduled for Friday, October 11. Please sign & return the permission slip by Friday, October 4. The cost is $3 per student and if you would like to volunteer to drive and chaperone, please make note of that on the permission slip. I've added a page on our class website called Field Trip Information and there you will find details about the trip as well as a driver form.

What we’re learning this week:

ELA & Social Sciences: We have begun to learn about the early European explorers and will use the information to write a historical fiction revolving around an explorer & the era. Students will be learning to research from a variety of resources and take notes. They will also learn about sentence variety and elements of a story.

Math: 4th graders will be learning how to add and subtract numbers into the thousands using a variety of methods including the traditional algorithm. 5th graders will be learning about square numbers and exponents.

Science: 4th graders will continue to learn about food webs and food chains. 5th graders are learning about plate tectonics and earthquakes.

Thanks for your support and help in the classroom and at home. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at rhonig@santacruz.k12.ca.us.

Best,

Ms. Honig

Week of 9-23 Newsletter

Dear 4/5 Families,

I hope this note finds you well! Our annual Jog-a-thon is Tuesday. Please send your child to school with water, appropriate running shoes, and sunscreen or a hat. We’ll be running at 11:10-11:30 with popsicles afterward. The office is accepting pledges, so please send them in with your child.

Mary Beth Duncan, our new art teacher, has been working with our students to create some fabulous art! Check out a few pictures on our class website of the oil pastel art. She aligned the lesson to our study on Native Americans. Students made pictures demonstrating their understanding of foreground and background as well as the use of Native American symbols. They turned out beautifully!

This week we will be holding student council elections. A packet went home with your child on Friday with information. If your child is interested in running for an office (4th graders: Secretary; 5th graders: Treasurer & Vice President) please work with him/her to complete the application and send to school by this Wednesday. I will help kids with their speeches and they can bring in posters to hang up on Friday. Speeches & elections will be held on Friday at 10:30AM. We will also nominate 2 classroom representatives to participate in the student council meetings. We will be looking for students who demonstrate leadership skills and set an example for the rest of the class.

Thanks for your support both in the classroom and at home! If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at rhonig@santacruz.k12.ca.us.

Smiles,

Ms. Honig

Oil Pastel Artwork: Teepees

Thank you Mary Beth!