May 31, 2019

Parent Information for Clarke School
http://clarkeconnection.blogspot.com/


School Picnic

Our school picnic is Wednesday, June 5th in the afternoon. 3rd graders will eat a picnic lunch outside and then proceed to our field events. Hot lunch that day is hot dogs. We love for the kids to eat the hot lunch if they can do that. If not, they are welcome to bring their own cold lunch. 3rd graders will rotate together so they will have lots of time as a grade level that day. Thank you to all of our parents that are helping to make this day possible. Please remember that if you want to join the activities, please contact Meghan Cox at meghan-cox@live.com. Please remember that parents are not allowed as visitors that day because of the enormous amount of volunteers it takes to make the day possible

End-of-Year Cleaning

Please send an extra plastic bag on Wednesday and Thursday so that we can begin to get all of the school supplies home with your child. If you do not want your child to bring home his/her extra markers, colored pencils, or other supplies, please talk ahead of time about this.

Half Days Thursday & Friday

Please remember that the last 2 days are half days of school. Dismissal 12:05. The last day will consist of 3rd grade activities as a group and then the awards assembly. The awards assembly can get long so please talk with your child about being respectful. When they get to be 5th graders they will enjoy a respectful audience. 

Reading Camp

Thank you to all of our WONDERFUL volunteers for making this year's annual Reading Camp a very successful event. The children truly enjoyed themselves! And, we were so lucky to have such beautiful weather!

SUMMER LEARNING

Each year we send information to parents about summer learning. As a parent, you may not understand how much your child can lose in 3 months over the summer. Please talk with your child about what type of learning activities he or she would like to do this summer. Joining the summer reading program at the library is great fun for kids. They love to go in and pick out books and they even earn prizes for reading. This program helps develop that love for learning. Also, our 3rd grade students love prodigy math so that may be a nice alternative. Additionally, the summer learning challenge will occur through E.P. Clarke as usual. Reading or math doesn't have to be every day, and it shouldn't be a chore, but keeping up on the skills keeps your child from losing ground in school and the fall will feel much better to them when school resumes. If you have questions, please contact your classroom teacher.

MOVING?

Please let the office now immediately if you are moving this summer or simply will not be returning to Clarke next year. This helps us plan and prepare for next year's classes. 

Next Week's Schedule:

Monday: B Day
Tuesday: C Day
Wednesday: D Day --NO LATE START
Thursday: E Day (Half Day)
Friday: F Day (Half Day)

Upcoming Events:

June 5th: School Picnic
June 6th and 7th: 1/2 Days

May 20 - 24

NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY--MEMORIAL DAY

END OF YEAR

It is hard to believe that the end of the school year is upon us. There are only 2 weeks left in the year. The end of the year is filled with fun events so look for updates to the information through email or this blog. We will do our best to keep you informed. If you have questions, please email as it is probably something that everyone is wondering about.

SWIMMING

Swimming was so much fun for our 3rd graders. We are very fortunate to be in a district that provides this opportunity to kids. We saw a great deal of progress with swimming skills. We had many kids that were not comfortable in the water, but were jumping in by the end of the week. The importance of swimming skills cannot be overlooked, especially since we live on the great shores of Lake Michigan. There are all too often tragedies that happen with water. Training for children is essential. Swimming lessons are offered at the pool this summer and a flier came home on Friday if you are interested in more lessons for your child. 

READING CAMP

Teachers have been busy preparing for reading camp. We are all set for Friday, May 31st. If you are a volunteer for the day, you will receive an email soon telling you what station you have been assigned to for the day. It will also include the schedule. Additionally, we had a great deal of tents and canopies volunteered. You will receive an email from the classroom teacher if your tent or canopy will be used. If you do not receive an email, then we are not using your tent or canopy. If you are in doubt, please feel free to email us. 

SCHOOL PICNIC

There are many volunteers needed for our school picnic. Please remember that parents are not allowed to visit the field day as spectators. If you would like to volunteer, there are stations that will allow you to see your child as he/she rotates through. This event takes too many volunteers and could not occur if people chose to just come and watch their child. The school picnic is on June 5th with the field activities occurring directly after lunch. If you can volunteer for the event, please email your classroom teacher or the office. 

SUMMER LEARNING

Each year we send information to parents about summer learning. As a parent, you may not understand how much your child can lose in 3 months over the summer. Please talk with your child about what type of learning activities he or she would like to do this summer. Joining the summer reading program at the library is great fun for kids. They love to go in and pick out books and they even earn prizes for reading. This program helps develop that love for learning. Also, our 3rd grade students love prodigy math so that may be a nice alternative. Additionally, the summer learning challenge will occur through E.P. Clarke as usual. Reading or math doesn't have to be every day, and it shouldn't be a chore, but keeping up on the skills keeps your child from losing ground in school and the fall will feel much better to them when school resumes. If you have questions, please contact your classroom teacher.

MOVING?

Please let the office now immediately if you are moving this summer or simply will not be returning to Clarke next year. This helps us plan and prepare for next year's classes. 

MILEAGE CLUB

Thank you to our many volunteers that helped make mileage club a success this year. This is a wonderful activity for our students. It can make a real difference with many children! Your time is appreciated!

BOOK BANANZA

Wow! What an incredible event. It was so nice to see so many of our 3rd graders picking out their books and showing their enthusiasm for reading. Again, we are so fortunate. If you love this event, pass on your thoughts to Mrs. Allen (mallen@stjoebears.com) or our curriculum director, Kelly Gaideski (kgaideski@stjoebears.com). Their planning in this event makes it all possible. How lucky we are! Enjoy those books over the summer!

GAGA PIT

Thank you to our Boy Scouts that installed a Gaga Pit on our playground. We are sure it will be loved for years to come. 

Next Week's Schedule:

Monday: No School
Tuesday: D Day
Wednesday: E Day --NO LATE START
Thursday: F Day
Friday: A Day (READING CAMP)

Upcoming Events:

May 31st: Reading Camp
June 5th: School Picnic
June 6th and 7th: 1/2 Days

What we've been up to:

Reading: Drawing conclusions.

Word Study:  We are studying homonyms. 

Math: We continue to work on solving number stories, multiplying larger numbers, and using mental math to solve problems. 

Science: We continue to learn about animals of long ago and how traits can change in animals.

Social Studies: We are learning about Natural Resources found here in Michigan. 

Writing: We will be finishing up our opinion essays. The kids have had great fun writing these!

May 13th-17th

Reading Camp

Reading Camp is a go!!! Thank you to everyone who volunteered in order to make this day possible. The camp date is May 31st. If you are volunteering, your activity will be sent home with your child the Monday before reading camp. Please take a moment to look it over so you are prepared when your first group comes to you. This is a day that our 3rd graders remember forever. We appreciate the support from PTO and all of your donations from Paws on the Path as this is how we get funding for this event. 

NWEA Testing

Thank you for your flexibility around testing last week! Students worked hard to complete both math and reading and will finish up by Tuesday.  Students and parents often wonder what the difference is between these assessments.  M-STEP is an achievement-based test administered once a year that aligns to the Common Core State Standards. NWEA MAP tests are interim assessments that students complete 3 times a school year so teachers and students can measure progress toward our standards.  Students are able to see their progress immediately after taking the NWEA assessment, while that is not the case for M-STEP. 

It is good practice to talk to your child about doing his or her best work and thinking carefully about each question. However, this should be done with without putting stress on your child. Also remember that a good breakfast on test mornings is good for the brain and helps start the day out right!

Swimming

We are excited about swimming this week! Please be sure to send a dry towel and swimsuit in each day with your child. Don't forget to pack a couple healthy snacks, they will be hungry!

          

Next Week's Schedule:

Monday: E Day
Tuesday: F Day
Wednesday: A Day (late start)
Thursday: B Day
Friday: C Day (last day for walking track)

Upcoming Events:

May 20th-24th: Swimming at the High School

May 22nd: Book Bonanza at SJPS (4:00-6:00pm)

May 27th: No school- Memorial Day

May 31st: Reading Camp
June 5th: School Picnic
June 6th and 7th: 1/2 Days

What we've been up to:

Reading: Drawing conclusions.

Word Study:  We are studying homonyms. 

Math: We continue to work on finding factors, number stories, and using mental math to solve problems. 

Science: We have been discussing how to identify omnivores, herbivores, and carnivores based on their fossils.  

Social Studies: We are learning about Natural Resources found here in Michigan. 

Writing: We have started to study important issues in Michigan and will write persuasive essays about these topics. They will have the opportunity to write about Wind Farms, Asian Carp, Plastic Straws, or Honey Bees. 

May 6th - 10th

Reading Camp

Reading Camp is a go!!! Thank you to everyone who volunteered in order to make this day possible. The camp date is May 31st. If you are volunteering, your activity will be sent home with your child the Monday before reading camp. Please take a moment to look it over so you are prepared when your first group comes to you. This is a day that our 3rd graders remember forever. We appreciate the support from PTO and all of your donations from Paws on the Path as this is how we get funding for this event. 

NWEA testing

We have finished M-STEP testing this week and will be NWEA testing next week.  Students will take both math and reading over the next 2 weeks.  Students and parents often wonder what the difference is between these assessments.  M-STEP is an achievement-based test administered once a year that aligns to the Common Core State Standards. NWEA MAP tests are interim assessments that students complete 3 times a school year so teachers and students can measure progress toward our standards.  Students are able to see their progress immediately after taking the NWEA assessment, while that is not the case for M-STEP. 

It is good practice to talk to your child about doing his or her best work and thinking carefully about each question. However, this should be done with without putting stress on your child. Also remember that a good breakfast on test mornings is good for the brain and helps start the day out right!

Charlton Park

Thank you so much to our parent volunteers for coming along on our field trip! It was a huge success!

Swimming Postponed

Unfortunately swimming has been postponed. We know your child will be disappointed, but let them know that Mrs. Allen, Mr. Jager, Mr. Phaler, and other administrators are working on this event. We will let you know as soon as more information becomes available.

Track Meet

The track meet is rescheduled for this Friday, May 17th. This year the track meet will be at Upton Middle School because of issues with the high school track. All students will participate in the 100 m dash, 60 m dash, standing long jump, and running long jump. 4 boys and 4 girls are selected from each class to participate in the relay race. Join us if you have time! We will arrive at the track around 11:30 after an early lunch and will arrive back at school around 2:15 or 2:30. Clarke is in the yellow shirts, but you will have to search for the 3rd graders as we rotate from event to event.

          

Next Week's Schedule:

Monday: F Day
Tuesday: A Day
Wednesday: B Day
Thursday: C Day
Friday: D Day (Track Meet)

Upcoming Events:

May 17th: Track Meet rescheduled

May 22nd: Book Bonanza at SJPS (4:00-6:00pm)

May 27th: No school- Memorial Day

May 31st: Reading Camp

NWEA Test Dates: Thursday, May 16th and Tuesday, May 21st

What we've been up to:

Reading: Our genre study is focused on Pourquoi Tales, and then we will begin drawing conclusions from our reading. 

Word Study:  We are studying spelling changes for plural words, irregular/regular.   

Math: Math assessments for Unit 7 have gone home.  We have begun Unit 8, focusing on ...

Science: Will will begin our discussion on Animals Through Time. 

Social Studies: We will begin learning about Natural Resources found here in Michigan. 

Writing: We have started to study important issues in Michigan and will write persuasive essays about these topics. They will have the opportunity to write about Wind Farms, Asian Carp, Plastic Straws, or Honey Bees. 

Week of April 29th-May 3rd

April 29th-May 3rd

Reading Camp

Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help with Reading Camp. We will be reaching out next week to finalize counselors, tents, and canopies.The camp date is May 31st. 

M-Step Practice Items and Tools

There is a practice site for M-Step and the link is on our ItsLearning pages. If this is your first child to take the M-Step, you would benefit from going through the practice items with your child. We will practice using the tools at school, but please have your child demonstrate the tools for you. These are designed to help children track reading and make notes for themselves. Being able to fluently use these tools will be important for students. Please see the list of our test dates below. 

Charlton Park

Our field trip is Monday!

   Please remember:

          *Bus leaves at 8:00 a.m. Please have your student at school at 7:45 a.m.
          *Your child will need a brown bag lunch. Please make sure all items are 
            disposable.
          *Students will need a morning snack and afternoon snack that will be eaten
            on the bus rides there and back.
          *No money is needed for your child. There is no gift shop.
          *Electronics are allowed on the bus, but there is no wi-fi. Please label all
            electronics (piece of tape with name works great). Please no phones that
            can make calls.
           *We will arrive back at school around 3:15.

Ren Baldwin Tech Festival

All informational books have been submitted to the technology festival. The technology festival will be held at the high school on the evening of May 10th. It is a lot of fun to drop by and  see your child's project and all the amazing work that St. Joe students have created. Your child will enjoy seeing what others, all the up to 12th grade, have created. The festival begin at 6:00 and ends at 7:30.

Track Meet

The track meet is scheduled for May 10th. Specific times will come later, but feel free to stop by and see us. This year the track meet will be at Upton Middle School because of issues with the high school track. All students will participate in the 100 m dash, 60 m dash, standing long jump, and running long jump. 4 boys and 4 girls are selected from each class to participate in the relay race. 

          

Next Week's Schedule:

Monday: A Day (Charlton Park)
Tuesday: B Day
Wednesday: C Day
Thursday: D Day
Friday: E Day (Track Meet)

Upcoming Events:

May 6: Charlton Park
May 10th: Track Meet at Upton and Technology Festival

May 13th: Swimming Week Begins (please send a dry swimsuit and towel each day with your child)

May 22nd: Book Bonanza at SJPS (4:00-6:00pm)

May 27th: No school- Memorial Day

May 31st: Reading Camp

MSTEP Test Dates: Thursday, May 2nd and Thursday, May 9th

NWEA Test Dates: Thursday, May 16th and Tuesday, May 21st

What we've been up to:

Reading: We have been busy comparing and contrasting two amazing books by author, Patricia Palacco. Our genre study will focus on Pourquoi Tales, and then we will begin drawing conclusions from our reading. 

Word Study:  We will have our test on suffixes on Tuesday due to MSTEP and our trip to Charlton. We hope to complete two more units before the end of the year, spelling changes and homophones. 

Math: We are nearing the end of our fraction unit. Students should be quite comfortable comparing fractions and showing fractions on a number line. Please look for their unit test early next week. 

Science: Will will begin our discussion on Animals Through Time. 
Social Studies: Please look over your child's Social Studies test from earlier this week and let us know if you have any questions. We will begin learning about Natural Resources found here in Michigan. 
Writing: We have started to study important issues in Michigan and will write persuasive essays about these topics. They will have the opportunity to write about Wind Farms, Asian Carp, Plastic Straws, or Honey Bees.