Campus News

Lower Division Newsletter

October 9, 2009

Junior Kindergarten

Language Arts

We will study the –at word family and continue with our theme,
“My Five Senses.” We will also continue to work on rhymes. Our
new Alpha friends will be for the letter X, and we will continue to
practice the letter T. Our High Frequency Words (HFW) will
continue to be “I,” “see,” “a,” “my,” and “like.” We will also go
over the color words “red,” “blue,” and “yellow,” and add the
color “purple.”

In handwriting (HWT), we will practice making the letters “I,”

“X,” and “T.”

Social Studies

We will read about and discuss the virtue of Compassion.

Science

We will learn about the five senses.

Math

Students will work on the AB and ABC patterns. We will also work
on calendar patterns, as well as learn how to create our own
patterns and extend other patterns.

Senior Kindergarten

Language Arts

The children will be reading the book, Pumpkin, Pumpkin. They

will review the story elements of characters, setting, events,
and problems. The reading strategy will emphasize the use of
picture clues, trying to sound out words, and checking to see if
the words make sense in a story. They will also work with
rhyming words and CVC patterns and review the vowels (a)
and (i). Students will be introduced to the letter Ee.
Handwriting practice will focus on first and last names, proper
spacing, and letter formation on the letters Jj and Kk. The
children are now working on developing their organization
skills as well as expanding their ideas when writing. We are so
proud of our great young authors!

Science
The children will be watching their pumpkin seeds grow. They are adding entries into a
journal as they record their observations and the seeds’ growth. We are also having a
pumpkin vine growing contest. A few pumpkin seeds will be coming your way soon. The
students will continue to read and discuss nonfiction stories about pumpkins.

Math

Students will continue to work on complex patterns, numbers to 20, graphing, probability,
problem solving, and addition. The math centers will provide individual practice with
odd/even numbers, measuring with non standard units of measure, and recording tally
marks. Munchie Math next week will be sorting and graphing with Halloween crackers.

Virtues

Children will read stories, role play, and discuss the virtue of Compassion.

Grade 1

Language Arts

In the next two weeks our reading

strategies will focus on comparing and
contrasting story elements using a Venn
diagram. Our phonics and spelling skills
will focus on vowel pairs and the
diagraphs, ch, sh, th, and wh. Our
writing will continue to focus on writing
complete sentences, applying capitals
and punctuation marks, organizing our
thoughts, doing pre-writing, and
learning how to write a paragraph.

Social Studies

If you have not yet done so, please

send in an index card with the following
information:
Name, home address, phone number
We need to have a card for each student in order to complete our First Grade Class Phone
Book.

Science

We will continue our unit on Health and nutrition. Students will create a class food pyramid
and plan a healthy meal.

Math

In the next two weeks, students will learn the sums of ten chart and use it to add to 10.
We will also begin subtraction strategies.
Subtraction Clue words: find the difference, subtract, how many are left, minus
Grade 2
Language Arts

We have begun our reading theme “Nature Walk.” We

will continue to focus on poetry as we read fiction and
nonfiction stories about nature. As we read these
selections, we will monitor/clarify, compare and contrast,
sequence events, evaluate, and discuss fact and opinion.
Our phonics and spelling skills focus will be more
practice with long vowels, consonant clusters (r, l, s),
and sounds of “g” and “c”. Our writing will focus on
developing a character sketch, adding details, writing
dates, and writing a paragraph. In grammar we will work
on identifying nouns and verbs, correcting run-on
sentences, and using capital letters, periods, and
question marks correctly.

Social Studies

We will continue to learn the concept of a community,

focusing on a few Native American tribes. The children
will thoroughly enjoy leaning about Native Americans
and communities long ago as we read The Magic Tree
House book, Buffalo Before Breakfast.

Science

We have enjoyed learning about “The Life Cycle of Butterflies.” It was a wonderful
experience releasing the Painted Lady butterflies into our second grade garden. It was a joy
to watch and listen to the children’s excitement and observe their curiosity. We will discuss
how butterflies are insects and investigate our insects and other life cycles. We are finishing
our class reading of The Magic School Bus, Butterfly Battle. What a great science reading
adventure!

Math

We will continue working on data, graphing, and probability before focusing on place value
of numbers through 100. The children have enjoyed taking surveys, as well as reading and
making pictographs, bar graphs, line graphs, and coordinates on a grid. The students will
continue to practice problem solving skills and addition and subtraction facts.

Grade 3
Language Arts

After ERBs, we will return to “Time for Kids” to practice our comprehension skills using the
Listener’s Check List. Students will also be building vocabulary with Wordly Wise. With each
new month we add new words to our Word Wall and students are eager to make up new
cheers.
We have had fun learning about words to use in our writing that make sounds like buzz and
whack! The use of such words is called onomatopoeia. Most third graders can even spell that
word and that’s pretty impressive! Our creative writers will be moving into the genre of
fictional narratives; they may even create something spooky for Halloween!
Social Studies

After completion of our longitude and

latitude skills, we will zoom in on map skills
by marking some of the major cities of
Florida.

Science

Our inside Fast Seeds plants are in bloom!

Our study of the jobs of the different parts
of the flower will complete our study of
parts of a plant. We will then move on to
the important role and jobs of the honey
bee.

Our outside garden looks impressive with

our plants and hay paths. Students are
thoroughly enjoying and taking full
responsibility for weeding and watering
their garden. We have used collars to protect plants from cut worms and will be using a
spray of soap and water to ward off recent invaders.

Math

After our chapter test for addition, students will work on the rules of subtraction and
subtracting two to four digit numbers with and without regrouping.

Grade 4
Next week students will be taking the ERB assessments in the morning and participating in
production rehearsals in the afternoon. Please make sure the children are getting plenty of
rest and beginning their day with a healthy breakfast. Following this busy week, our
schedule will include the following:

Language Arts

Students will work on utilizing context clues to decipher the meanings of unknown words
and enable them to gain greater comprehension of higher levels of literature. In writing,
they will finalize and print their free verse poetry on the colors of autumn. We will continue
our vocabulary lessons reinforcing the understanding and usage of words with multiple
meanings. Looking ahead further, November will mark the start of reading groups beginning
with the works of Kate DiCamillo.

Social Studies

The students will practice reading information on a line graph. Next, we will learn about
important natural resources in the United States and assess our knowledge of Chapter 1.

Science

To conclude our study of land and water, groups will work in pairs to discover the three ways
in which the direction and flow of water is changed. Following their investigations, they will
present their models and discoveries to the remainder of the class. We will begin Animal
Studies in November.
Math

We will continue with our chapter on multiplication and division. I am encouraging students
who are not yet proficient with their facts to dedicate extra time in order to master facts 0-9.
I am utilizing the Mad Minute multiplication quizzes each week to gauge their improvement
in this area. They are eager to be successful and your support is greatly appreciated. Flash
cards are an easy way to practice at home and in the car.

Did You Know….

Lower Division voted for their Giraffe Club officers via computer in a special arrangement
made with Pasco County. Students were assigned voter registration numbers that they had
to enter into the computer. Then they scrolled through different screens to vote for the
different officers. After voting, all the students got a special sticker that identified them as
having voted. Special thanks go to the high school students who helped our little ones
exercise their right to vote. Congratulations to Miss Twila for making the special

arrangements with Pasco County and Mr. Kapetanis for making all the technology work so
the voting day could be successful! Way to go, team! Our new officers for 2009-2010 are:
President Brielle Weiss, Vice-President Cecilia Beedie, Secretary Quinn Atkinson, and
Treasurer Cassidy Fowler.
Upcoming Events…..
October 12, 2009
No school – Founders’ Day

October 13, 2009

ERB Testing for Grades 3 and 4 – 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.

October 14, 2009

ERB Testing for Grades 3 and 4 – 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.

October 15, 2009

ERB Testing for Grades 3 and 4 – 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.

October 16, 2009

ERB Testing for Grade 4 – 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Report cards go home in home school envelopes
LD production – 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. – McCormick Gym (please read announcements regarding
that day)

Homecoming Week Events:

Monday, October 19, 2009 PJ Day

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 Class Pictures and Picture make-ups – dress uniforms
Crazy Hat Day (Students may bring hats and wear them after
pictures)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 Blue and White Day (wear Academy blue and white with
school uniform
bottoms)
Pep Rally from 12:15 to 2:45 in McCormick Gym

Thursday, October 22, 2009 Twin Day (come dressed up in similar attires with a friend, doll,
or
 stuffed animal)
SK goes to Performing Arts Theater 9:00-12:00 – dress uniforms

Friday, October 23, 2009 Baseball Jersey Day (to celebrate the World Series, come in your
favorite
team jersey with school bottoms)

Special Notice:

On Monday, October 26 all students will have their vision checked by Walesby Vision Center.
We also have a speech and language therapist and learning specialist on hand that day to
support our teachers by providing additional evaluations on some students. There is no
charge for any of the screenings that day. Should your child need a more comprehensive test
in any area, you will be notified by your child’s teacher.