October 12 - 16, 2009

Hello everyone! I am so excited about our first field trip this week and I know your children are, too! Even with all the fun coming up, we still have a few academic matters to attend to! So here is how you may enable your child to be prepared for the upcoming week!

NEWS: Our new student will be joining us Monday for her first day! Let's welcome the Lucas family to Heritage, so please extend a warm welcome if you see them! I think she will be a great addition to our classroom!

Spelling Test: We will NOT have a spelling test this week due to the fact that it is a short week and we have a field trip! I know there is NO complaining there! However, you may want to start working on the words for List 8 -if it will help your child and to make next week easier on them.

Vocabulary Test: We will have a test on Unit 4 on Tuesday, October 13th. I would encourage you to make flash cards with them and put the words in sentences that will help them understand the meaning of the words. The synonyms and antonyms are really important for the tests as well. I can definitely tell the students that work a little each night on these words because in class they shine with their knowledge. Students have 2 weeks to study these words/definitions and if you consistently helped them to study even a word a night, I know I will see improvement with some that struggle!

Recitations: Our first recitation piece is due Tuesday, October 13th. By now, your child has chosen a piece and should have most of it memorized. I would encourage them to practice it in front of the family. Please be very encouraging! This takes a lot of courage to do before their classmates! The following criteria will be used to evaluate each recitation.

Areas of Evaluation
1)Memory of poem or Scripture
2)Ability to answer question about poem or Scripture
3)Expression/enthusiasm
4)Diction (clarity of speech)
5)Presentation-eye contact, unnecessary movement, etc.

Field Trip: Our first field trip is Wednesday, October 14th. We will be going to the Harbison State Forest. This is an extremely organized educational field trip on forestry. We will be leaving by 8:15 am and will return somewhere between 1:30 - 2:00 p.m. Regular dismissal time.

Please bring:
1)Water bottle
2)Hat/Sunglasses/Jacket (depending on weather)

Students need to wear their PE t-shirt and can wear jeans or jean shorts (depending on weather), remember they will be walking around in a forest, so regular uniform shoes are required.

Our chaperons will be Mrs. Brandon, Mrs. Ashe, Mrs. Garner, and Mrs. Fulmer. If you would like to chaperon a field trip and did not have the opportunity this time, then please remember that you will have first priority on the next one! We want everyone to be included when they can!

Half day (Thursday)/ NO SCHOOL (Friday)
Looks like this is going to be a great week! Please pray that everyone will enjoy it and that transition will go smoothly for our new student. As well, please pray for safety to and from the trip! Thanks,

Mrs. Traylor