Mrs. Payne's Newsletter, September 18, 2018

Dear Parents,

    Can you believe that we are already halfway

through first quarter?  Time really does fly when you

are having fun!

    Remember that students need to read 150 minutes

a week (every night is best). School reading doesn't

count. Reading Journals are due every Wednesday, with

a letter to me about the book you are currently reading.

    The Orchestra students have gotten off to a good start

and have been bringing their instruments for a

week or so now. Practicing each night is important in

making progress.

    Be sure to look at your child’s progress report

online tonight, as well as this newsletter.  If you see

that your child is missing any work, s/he has until

Friday to get that turned in.  

Students who do have all their missing work handed in and

have an 80% or better on their overall grade will get to

attend Worker’s Holiday on Monday, September 24th.  

Worker’s Holiday: we will have a kickball tournament

plus a treat for students who qualify for Worker's Holiday.

We will start the activity at 12:45 and it will end at 2:15.  

The students who didn't qualify will stay in with

a teacher to get caught up on their missing work.

I really want EVERY student to make it to this fun event!

FIELD TRIP:    Don’t forget our Field trip on Thursday,

September 27th.  We will stop at a volcano, tour Mammoth

Caves, and hike the Alpine Loop at Cedar Breaks. Students

will do a lot of hiking at the caves and at the Alpine Loop,

so make sure that your child wears good hiking shoes,

water, jacket, and a flashlight/headlamp for the cave.

It would also be smart to wear long pants, because the cave

can get pretty slippery. We end up with skinned knees every year.  

We will leave the school at 9:00 and will be back at 3:25,

in time to catch the bus for home.  We have enough parent

help for this field trip. I wish we could accommodate more of you,

but you are welcome to drive your own vehicle, if you'd still

like to come along.

   SEP SCHEDULE:  This schedule is attached to your child's

progress report. If you can make the time that is scheduled for you, sign

and return the bottom portion, but if you can’t make the scheduled

time, please fill your name in an open slot and return it to me.

     South Elementary Family Fun Night will be on Monday, September 24
at the Fiddler’s Fun Center. Movies are at 4:30 and 7:00, with lots of other fun.  
Watch for information and pre-ticket sales.

    There will be a Code Changer kickoff event at Cedar Middle School on
October 10, 2018 at 6:00 PM.  Go and discover what coding is all about and
sign up for the free after-school program.

    

BOOK PROJECT: Students should have brought home a pink paper with options for our class book project activity. All projects are due to present to the class October 8th. Ask your child about this.

  Parents, thanks for your helping your child at home and supporting my efforts at school. I love these students! They must have amazing parents :)

Mrs. Jeanne Payne

jeanne.payne@ironmail.org

435-590-4755

Back to School-2018

September 9, 2018

Dear parents of the best group of students in South Elementary,

I love these kids already, and I’m eager to get to know them better as the year
moves forward.  I know you received a newsletter on Wednesday concerning the
activities that are common to all the 5th grades, but I want to let you know what
we’re doing in our own classroom.

PATRIOT AWARD:

This year I am offering this award to all 5th graders--not just my own class, as I have done
in year’s past. In order to make this work, I am giving a Patriot Award Packet to all 120
students and will teach it during Rotations/Orchestra. The drawback is that the orchestra
students will need to do much of the memorizing on their own, at home or during spare
minutes in class.  Students can take the packet home, but they need to bring it back
each day (keep it in their backpacks) so we can work on it at school.  They can pass
requirements off to you and you can sign it  (any adult can sign).  I hope you will
support and encourage them in their efforts.  Many students are running with this and
have passed off several requirements already!

REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLE CAMPS:

Our class is organized into battle camps.  Ask your child about this. The Revolutionary War is one
of my favorite units.  If you have a special interest/knowledge about aspects of this war, let me know.
 I’d love you to visit our classroom and share with us. Right now we are learning about the major
battles. We are also practicing a Readers Theater about this time period.

SCIENCE:

We are studying tectonic plates and their effects on earthquakes and volcanoes.  I hope you’ve had time
to look at the paper on home safety that your child brought home.  This is for your information only,
and is intended to start a discussion at home.

Our science field trip is Thursday, September 27.  Make sure your child brings a flashlight
(for Mammoth Caves), walking shoes, long pants, and water.  If s/he is bringing a home lunch,
don’t forget that.  The bus will pull out promptly at 9:00 AM.

GENIUS HOUR:

Our first Genius Hour segment was a huge success!  Students reported on earth science topics, and
they all learned valuable information before our unit even began.  I was impressed with their slideshows
(with video clips imbedded). The posters were well done and are hanging on our wall.  Our next
Genius Hour will be in another month as an introduction to our Chemistry unit. Information will
come home later.

MATH:

I am impressed with the “grit” and perseverance these students are showing as they stick with some
difficult math concepts.  Most of these students are coming prepared with their homework, but a few
have had to give up some of their break in order to complete it.  I hate to see that happen; I know
how important breaks are. Please let me know if you see that your child is not understanding a math
concept (and you aren’t able to help at home).   

WRITING:   

Our Scar Stories are almost ready to display.  These students have been willing to work hard to
improve their writing, and I’m impressed with their efforts.  I hope you have the chance to read
their work.

Please feel free to email me with any concerns.  I’ve found that correct information doesn’t
always make it home :)  

I want every one of my students to succeed in school this year.  I want them to feel safe in my
classroom, and eager to learn and grow.  I want this to be a great year for them!

Thanks for sharing your children with me!

Jeanne Payne

435-590-4755