Cowpoke Families!

It was a bittersweet kind of day yesterday...we didn't send the kids to specials because we just wanted to hang close to them for our last day.  Thank you for not checking them out early...we could have them til the very end!  We had a few cowpokes who were sad, sad, sad for days before and especially reflective and lovable those last few hours.  You are the reason for their willingness to share those feelings and amazing hugs.  When we experience those honest feelings, it can be hard for all...but a real growing up experience for them.  As parents we try to shield our kids from feeling those extremes but from what I understand, these are the events that 'grow them' as individuals.  Congratulations to you for making these cowpokes who they are.

Also, Ann and I were overwhelmed with the beautiful, thoughtful gifts all this week.  You are an amazing group of parents.  The picnic basket will be utilized this weekend!!!!

I just wanted to take the time to tell you to just how much Monet Bartell did for us this school year.  She not only took on and successfully served us in the capacity of 'room parent' but also spent time in the classroom with Ann and the cowpokes once a month most months as my 'guest teacher' when I had team collaboration.  She was our adventures in art representative and once a month taught an artist/style/technique and made it possible for the cowpokes to attempt the technique themselves.  She has an amazing way with kinders...they respond to her very positively!  If you get a chance email her to let her know of your appreciation for her hard work this school year.  Her email is monetbartell@whyidream.com.

This is not the end of my communication with you.  I will be posting a list of 'trade books' on the website for you along with their levels.  Please consider weekly or twice monthly visits to the public library.  Teachers know that if our students are not actively reading and writing this summer...skills will slip.  Don't let that happen to your cowpoke!  Please keep your child's mind on academic as well as physical/fun activities.

Enjoy the summer!  Be safe and happy!  Talk to you soon.

Debra and Ann

PARENTS,

DON'T FORGET THAT TODAY IS OUR VEHICLE RIDING DAY....WE ARE MISSING A LOT OF RIDING TOYS AND CHILDREN ARE UPSET AND WORRIED.  MRS. WALLS AND MRS. HAYMAN ARE OUTSIDE AS WE SPEAK ACCEPTING THOSE LATE ARRIVALS.  OUR FIRST RIDING TIME IS 8:30-9!!!

DEBRA AND ANN            

Happy weekend cowpoke families!  We only have 4 days of school left...and much to do!

On Monday, we have planned our bike day.  You received a note concerning that already.  It will require you dropping off your child's riding toy Monday morning  before carpool (7-7:20 a.m) or after carpool (7:50-8:10).  Mrs. Stephens and I will be out there early...Mrs. Walls and Mrs. Hayman at the latter time.  YOU CANNOT DROP OFF A RIDING TOY DURING CARPOOL IN THE CARPOOL LANE...but we will be glad to meet you bright and early before and after!!!

Remember too that you do not have to pick up the riding toys until tomorrow evening...before or after the picnic.

Hopefully the rain will hold off! 

Thanks for your donations to the beach buckets.  We sent them home today.  The children were so excited to get to 'deliver' their gifts into the buckets themselves.  It made them feel generous to treat friends with a fun end of the year surprise.

Thanks again for ALL you do for us.  It has been a great year and our last 4 days are sure to be memorable. 

Debra and Ann

Don't forget that tomorrow is beach day!

You received a note on Monday with all the details...the biggest thing you need to remember is that the children should wear their bathing suits to school tomorrow under shorts/skirts (girls), shirts.  The children MUST have shoes on as they enjoy the beach day festivities...they will not be allowed to participate barefooted.  Also, they will need to have sunscreen applied before leaving home...we cannot apply for you.  They will need underwear and dry clothing for changing into after.

Beach bags, water bottles, spray bottles, sunglasses, beach towels, hats/visors, bubbles, etc.  might be fun as well.

Today, toward the end of the kickball event, our own Coach Trey Daniels was named Cobb Co. P.E. teacher of the year....what an honor for him!  He is excellent  with the students here at East Side...our kinders are always excited to see him in P.E.!

If you get a chance...let him know how proud you are for him.  We will allow the children to make him a card and deliver it to him in P.E. next week.

Debra

Parents!  We had such a wonderful time this morning @ our 'berry' special event...thank you moms(and mom substitutes ) for attending...it made your cowpoke's day!

Tomorrow is field day...we are still missing 2 class shirts...if it is you...you got a note taped in the take home folder.  The shirts will come home forever tomorrow afternoon...but we really want them for field day events.  Your child needs to be comfortable running, climbing, etc....please send your child in shorts and sports shoes...preferably velcro or lace up...no skirts, dresses, etc.  A water bottle might be good...Mrs. Bartell has planned for us to have a yummy snack at our 'break' 1/2 through the events...but if it is hot, a water bottle might be good for your child to have access to.

A beach day note came home today...we think one child did not get it packed...one was left on the table....please check to see if you have that note...so that you have all the details for that event (Fri. 5/18).

Also, don't forget that you will need to send at least 21 items (22 if your child is to receive as well) for our fun end of the year  'gift giving' buckets...we have some cowpokes bringing just a few items...they are short the number needed.

Thanks,

Debra

Parents,

If you are new to 'school' or it's been several years since you had young ones in school, you may not know this but there are no charges allowed the last 9-10 days of school.  I might think that if you are running 'low' on money, you may get a little note from the cashier tomorrow just so that you can 'plan to pay' before the $ is depleted.  I know that many of you pay on line and I think that you can also look at your child's account to see how it is 'holding up'.    Don't forget that the lunches are $1.65 and ice cream runs $.75 (2 Fridays left for possible ice cream purchases).

Also, if I'm not mistaken, there may only be one more 'tiger's cage' opportunity for the students next Tues.  It was announced that if your child has earned little tickets from their Sunshine Math participation...those must be spent in this school year, they can't be carried over to next...so if you have any of those around, you might want to encourage your cowpokes to 'cash them in'.

A big thanks to all parents who were able to join us at the zoo on Tues.  It wound up being perfect weather and Mrs. Walls and I were relieved to have help with the supervising of kinders.  Don't forget that if you signed your child out that day and the class shirt went home...we need it washed and sent back for our field day activities on Tuesday.

If you and your cowpoke participated in the Six Flags Reading (360 minutes)...the tix arrived!  ...Mrs. Walls tucked the ticket and other paperwork into your child's folder for safekeeping...unpack it and put it away for your trip!

Have a great evening.

Debra

PARENTS...I FORGOT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE BOOK ORDER FOR SCHOLASTIC ENDS @ MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!!!!!

Atlanta Zoo...here we come!  The threat of rain appears to be in the later afternoon...so we are on GO!!!!

If you are chaperoning the trip you should have received a chaperone letter with your child on Friday.  The high points we went over with our cowpokes today:

*your parents will not be buying anything for you &/or your classmates...no food treats, drinks, souvenirs, train rides, merry-go-round rides, etc.  Don't ask....

*your parents will meet us at the gate at 9:45 a.m. and we will walk through the gate together as a paid E. Side group. 

*your parents/leaders will allow you to play on the playground (East Side playground rules apply) for a few minutes...petting zoo, elephant demonstrations are optional fun!

*your parents/leaders want you WITH them at all times...do not run ahead or fall behind...walk together and enjoy everything you can!

*go to the bathroom and wash hands before heading toward the picnic area @ 12 noon.

*lunches brought from home need to be in a sack...all 'throw away' items (no containers, utensils will be saved).

*we must stay seated during lunch...if there is time at the end and most people have finished eating...we will let the groups get up, run around and play before loading the buses for school.

*if parents want to drive their own child back to school...sign out on one of our 'sign out' sheets...check with teachers.  You may even want to go back into the zoo for a little while before you and little bit leave toward home.  If that is the case, do feel free...but you need to have your hand stamped for 're-entry' before coming out to picnic.  We will keep their bookbags until they come back Wednesday morning.

We will wear our field trip shirts...we have them here at school.  If your child leaves from the trip with you, simply wash and dry the shirt and send it back to us a.s.a.p. as we will wear them on field day for the last time!   If your child would like to wear a cap we are good with that...please consider shorts or skorts and good walking shoes...not flip flops or sandals please.

We are supplying a 'Cheez-It' snack for every cowpoke, parent, sibling!  We also will be sending in that snack bag...a 'thawing' drink...Koolaid cooler for all!  Please feel free to enjoy snacks at any point as you tour.  We will eat snacks from home before we leave!

Thank you for all you do to support us here at school.  We are looking forward to a great trip!

Dear Cowpoke families,

We are very thankful for the good health of our cowpokes.  We have had 100% attendance and it makes us thankful as we complete the GKIDS assessment by next Friday and other assessments needed for end of the year.

We just completed our last 'guided math volunteer' week.  Thanks for all who volunteered in our room this year.  You are receiving a 'volunteer tea' invite this week!  Also, the first grade teachers may be very excited to have you next year as you are willing to volunteer.

If you are going, we will see you at the main gate of the Atlanta Zoo on the 8th.  You will receive a 'chaperone guide' for the zoo trip on Friday.  Please read it carefully if you plan to tour the zoo with your child and others from East Side.  You will be allowed to 'check out' your child from school on that day and drive them home yourself if you desire.  The checkout sheet will be with us on the trip.   If not, your child will just ride back on the bus with us!

Moms will receive an invite for our 'berry special event' tomorrow.  Please mark your calendars for this special event!

Lastly, about 6 or 7 of you have not sent the $2.00 for report card envelope/stamps.

Don't forget PTA tonight.  There is art on the 2nd floor (our art display is right outside the art room).

Debra and Ann

Families!
As of this afternoon, we have only received about 1/2 of our stamp/envelope $$$.  The office is starting to call for it so that the purchases can begin to be made.

Also, your cowpoke has been working on address with us in the room but many are struggling with that important piece of info.  After address...it will be city, county, state, country, continent and planet!

We had a great Monday.  Thank you for dressing your child for the weather.  It may be cold in the a.m. through Wed.

I will be out on Wed. as my mom is having some testing/procedures done in N. GA.  Mrs.  Peggy Schneider (from ASP) will be our guest teacher!

Again, thanks for all you do to help your kinder be successful.  We see the difference it has made in your child's academics as you read daily from that reading folder and complete the blue 'phonemic awareness' folder activities! 

Fondly,
Debra & Ann



What an amazingly wonderful day!  We enjoyed some good workshop discussion, many shopped for books today, snacked, lunched, celebrated our books, had punch and cookies, planned our next books, spent time outside on our wonderful front playground, track area with book buddies/teachers, packed, did some math...went home!  It was crazy good.  If your child came home with their little book creations...they are to bring them back Monday so we can add an author picture.  I am going to try and post the author/celebration pix on Sunday on the the website.

Thanks for all you do to make our days/weeks special.  You are a great group of families.  Thank you for all the events notifications, invites and schedules you gave us.  We have you down on our calendars!  (Off to Jake's belt testing shortly!) We are excited!

Debra and Ann

Cowpoke Families:
Thank you for scanning your home and returning the little blue books to school on Friday.  We are still missing 2...one family has promised to help 'recreate' the book and get it completed...thanks, thanks, thanks!  If you did not read my last newsflash related to the missing books...please read below if your child has not brought the book back.  We will have a 'reading' and celebration when the books are all back in and complete.

Many of you totally missed the note on the 'registration card letter' that asked you to please send in $2.00 to cover the cost of envelope and stamps for mailing the final report card and GKIDS test results.  If you can send that in in the next week or two that would be great.

We will go to the media center tomorrow afternoon...make sure your child has brought his/her book back!
Debra & Ann

Parents,

In writer's workshop this week we have discussed how writers take an event, moment, activity and write it across pages in a book.  So, for 3 days we have practiced that skill with good results!  The cowpokes were asked first of all to i.d. one exciting thing they experienced during spring break and record it in their journals (Monday a.m.).  Then we looked at examples of writers 'savoring the moment'....really zoning in on one thing and adding details to help our audience feel our excitement, smell the smells, taste the tastes, etc...ACROSS 4 PAGES IN A LITTLE BOOK Tues., Wed., and today.

Well, we pretty much finished up the writing activity this morning at 'writer's workshop' but several children had no books as they had taken them home and failed to bring them back.     This activity was an important one for many reasons but the biggest reason of all is that it was their first attempt to slowly, deliberately, carefully create a 4 page book with a real 'focus'.  I need  everyone to bring their books back TOMORROW!!!!!!  My plan was to 'celebrate' our little authors and:

Colin, Rowe, Jake, Jordan, Avery, Charlie, and Andy have no books!  Please get busy finding these precious books (the cover is baby blue...as are the pages inside). 

If your child is on the list with no book...likely as not they are not finished with their books and most of us are.  It would even be helpful if they were able to complete the books tonight with you as some of the above listed have had no book here to work on for 2 days!

And yes,     Mrs. Clackum must take much of the blame as I suggested that if they so desired they could take the book home at night and work on it at home...BUT TO PLEASE MAKE SURE IT WENT INTO THE BOOKBAG AND BACK TO SCHOOL THE VERY NEXT DAY!  I will never utter such words again in this building! 

Also, we will go to the media center on Monday, April 16 @ 1:05.  Make sure the cowpokes have all returned their library books!  If you ordered Scholastic Books for your cowpoke, the order has been submitted...they will likely be here soon.  Pretty quickly I will have Ann send home the May order...it will be our last and parents like to pick up some titles for summer reading.

Notice that the zoo field trip permission came home today in your child's folder.  We love to have many family members at the zoo with us.  You will have your child in your 'group' if iyou go.  If you are not encumbered with younger siblings...you may even have a littile group of cowpokes assigned to you (usually no more that one or two more) as we have many family members attending usually.  We have to keep these 'monies' separate, hence the 2 envelopes.

Thanks,

Debra and Ann

Parents:

Don't forget that the Scholastic book order for April is available online through midnight tonight.

Glad to be back with the cowpokes...had a great day today!

Technology Resource Night is finally here.  Technology Resource Night is THIS Thursday, March 29th from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM.  We will have 3 sessions running approximately every 25 minutes to learn about different technology used in the classroom and how you can use it at home.  We will have 11 classrooms open with various software presentations for you to choose from.  We hope to see you Thursday.

Technology Resource Night is coming.  Mark your calendars.

Technology Resource Night is a series of

presentations designed to show you and your child

materials that are available to help your child’s

education experience. We will be showcasing many

applications that are available to your student at

school and at home.  Please join us for a night

of wonderful learning and fun.  

Please Join us for

Technology Resource Night

Thursday, March 29th

6:00 - 7:30 PM

Parents,

Don't forget the potatoes for the potato investigation.  As of today, we have only received about 6. 

Thanks to Allison's family for agreeing to send in our pudding for our 'pigging out' project next week.

The kindergarten team has decided to 'cancel' the career parade that was scheduled near the end of the month...so you are off the hook on costume design!  We are talking some about careers and jobs in class and it is always a popular subject!

Looking forward to Spring!

Debra and Ann

Families,

Thank you so much for your attendance and support of our program this a.m.  It was so good to see all of you...thank you for your kind words...the cowpokes were proud to have you and be able to 'show you off' to their teachers and peers.  I think that they had a bit of stage fright but it was all good!!!!

Don't forget that the book orders are due online by midnight tonight if you want to place an order.  I will submit them bright and early Sat. and they are often here by the next Friday!  Don't forget that if you want the books to be 'top secret' we will not let your child know of your order placement and we will 'hold' the books here in the room and you can come by and pick them up at your leisure.  Then you can give them as Easter gifts, birthday, etc.  Just shoot us an email and we will follow your lead.

Thank you also for your response for literacy night...the response has been light at this busy time of year but we know how it can be with family life and sports commitments.  And, on that note, please make sure to send us a copy of their sports calendar of games...the earlier we get that information, the more dates/games Mrs. Walls and I have to choose from as far as our ability to work it into our schedule.  She has grandsons who play sports and it can be a challenge to fit it all in as we try to attend our cowpoke functions as well.

Thanks again for all you do,

Debra and Ann

Cowpoke Families!!!!

See you in the cafe @ 8:15 tomorrow morning!  You might want to arrive early and get settled in as we will line up downstairs @ 8:05 and begin coming up and readying ourselves for the start @ 8:15.  We will have a center aisle that we will enter through and take our spots on the risers, steps and floor area.  We plan to perform then go back down to our classrooms.  You can follow us down after the classes have exited and greet your kinder briefly...then we have to be back up into the cafe for a presentation for 1st grade @ 9/9:05.

Don't forget jeans or overalls (only if you own them...don't go buy them).

Also, it is hat day tomorrow.  Your child can bring a cap or hat to wear the rest of the school day (after the program).  It is a fundraiser for Rally for Life (cancer $ collection)....your child pays $1.00 and gets the privilege!!

Look forward to seeing you!

Debra and Ann

and 22 cowpokes!!!!

Families!  If you have any old magazines/catalogs featuring rooms of furniture and or furniture pieces would you please send them on Thurs. and/or Fri.?  Mrs. Jentink will be doing In a People House for our Seuss rotation on Friday morning...and could use some pictures.

Also, as March approaches we have some fun learning activities planned for Dr. Seuss, St. Patrick's Day, Spring, etc.  Our 'Gettin' Down With Mama Goose' program is next Friday (the 9th) early in the a.m.  We are also looking forward to a Career (Community Helpers) Parade on March 29.  It will also be an early morning activity to show off what we think we would like to be when we grow up.  Just wanted to give you heads up that you might want to start discussing how your child wants to dress and pulling together some costume pieces...please do NOT go out and buy things...for instance, if he/she is a lawyer...they might wear glasses, carry a briefcase, wear a little suit coat (blazer), etc.  Also, this gives you time to 'save the date' to have a camera ready for this fun event!

You will receive a March calendar tomorrow...these items will be included but just to get you ahead of the game!

Please join us for a fun filled informational overview of Columbia’s Reading Workshop

When: Tuesday, March 13

Where: The kick-off will begin in the Café at 6:00

Time: 6:00-7:30

You will have the opportunity to participate in an interactive mini lesson modeling strategies used during reading workshop in multiple classrooms.

(Childcare will not be provided for young siblings)

More information to come…

Also cowpoke families...we asked the children today to 'interview' their family members (people who live in the house with them) and ask you your favorite Dr. Seuss book when you were younger.  If you want, you can even write down the results and send them in to us...we are looking at the data and will report the results to you in due time!

Also, on Friday, you received 'OLD KING COLE' picture and words.  We are excited that we are doing a nursery rhyme program for you on Mar. 9 early in the morning (more info. to follow).  Help your children with that 2nd verse of Old King Cole particularly...also...it is a 'hoedown' version of Old King Cole...so, if your child has some overalls that would be a perfect 'costume'...if not, just jeans and a shirt would work...Maybe paint some freckles on their face (a little 'country/western' look) And again, that will be March 9 around 8:15 or 8:30....not sure of the exact time...but we are excited and starting to practice.

Debra and Ann