Next week the Intermediate campus has a very busy week.  Parents should have received a letter in regards to baby Camryn.  The Intermediate campus is joining the Primary campus in trying to help raise money for Camryn’s family.  Your child can bring in any extra coins next week.  All coins will be collected and given to Primary to give to Camryn’s family.  See below for the daily events of next week.  This is not mandatory that your child participates.

Monday-

“More hugs for Cameryn”-Students may bring a stuffed animal to school.

Tuesday-

“Team Camryn”- Students may wear a shirt from their favorite team.

3&4th grade Math Benchmark (Due to testing students will be eating at a different time.  We ask that you do not come to have lunch with your child on this day nor bring up a lunch.  We appreciated your help on the last benchmark!!)

5:00 5th Grade Parent Information Night for SSI.

Wednesday-

“Wishing sweet dreams for Camryn”- Students may wear dress code appropriate pajamas and tennis shoes to school.

Early Release Day

Thursday-

“Thinking about Camryn”-Students may wear hats to school.

3&4th grade Reading Benchmark and 5th Grade Science Benchmark (Due to testing students will be eating at a different time.  We ask that you do not come to have lunch with your child on this day nor bring up a lunch.  We appreciated your help on the last benchmark!!)

Friday-

“Funny Faces for Camryn”- Students may wear face paint to school (no bloody or scary face paint please.)

Make up testing for any student that missed one of the benchmarks.

 

I hope that all of you have a wonderful weekend!

What does SSI mean?

• Student Success Initiative-  In the state of Texas all fifth graders are required to pass both their Reading and Math STAAR assessments in order to go on to 6th grade.

Take a deep breath!

• Your fifth grader will be given three attempts to do this.  The first STAAR administration for Reading and Math will be April 2nd and 3rd.
• Second administration is May 14th and 15th.
• Third administration is in June.

What are we doing at school to get ready?

• Benchmark tests were given last week.
• Team reviewing data to identify grade level areas of need and individual student areas of need.
• Mrs. Ganong, Mrs. Pullen, Mrs. McFall, Mrs. Freeman, and Mrs. Owens are collaborating to identify student needs and pulling small groups to address areas of concern.  If student is currently seeing Mrs. Bybel, Mrs. Honea, or Mrs. Craven these three are working with teachers to review data to support students during their time with them.

How can you help at home with Math and Reading?

• Multiplication facts….practice, practice, practice.
• If you would like we  have copies of Mastering the TAKS Math workbooks.  It says TAKS, but has great word problems to practice with. (Contact Ms. Freeman if you are interested in getting a copy.)
• Read, read, read.  We have noticed that students lose stamina during the four hours.  Towards the end of the assessment some students are missing questions because they are tired.
• Make sure students are completing their math homework and showing their thinking.  Homework that is being given are areas that showed up as areas of need as a grade level.
• Great Websites:
  • http://www.math-play.com/5th-grade-math-games.html
  • www.IXL.com-select 5th grade and it has everything broken down into subjects in math.
  • www.aaastudy.com – Select 5th grade math and it has several topics for practice.
  • Mrs. Freeman has taught students how to search for extra math practice games as well.

If you have any questions about the above information please feel free to contact myself or any of the fifth grade teachers.  As soon as we have a date for Parent Night I will post.  The above information will be the information shared during that time.   

Important….we are having to reschedule the 5th grade parent night.   As soon as I have new date and time I will post and send a note home with students.  I will also post later today information that was going to be shared in case you are unable to make new night.  We apologize for the change, but again will get new date to you ASAP and I will post information that was going to be shared.

We have had a great start to the second semester!  Our students came back from break working hard and applying what they had learned in the first semester.  January flew by us and I can not believe that we are already in February.  This month has lots of things going on that I wanted to share with you.

This month we will be taking our benchmarks.  These benchmarks give us an idea of where your child is at and what we need to target.  To better prepare our students for the testing environment of STAAR we will have our benchmarks in the same type of manner that they will be in April.  For our fourth and fifth graders they are familiar with the set up, but our third graders are not. On the days that we have benchmarks we are asking that you do not come to have lunch with your children nor bring lunches up.  We appreciate your help with this!!  To help prepare your children for this please help us by:

*Making sure they get a goods night rest the night before.

*Eat a good breakfast or make it to school in time to eat breakfast.

*Remind them to show their thinking.  We have been practicing and drilling this since the beginning of the school year.

Students who show their thinking will be allowed to attend a strategy celebration.  Our students and teachers have been working on what this looks like since our first six weeks test.  Students know that in math they are to show how they solved their problem.  In reading they are to prove where or how they found their answers.  This celebration is not based on their grades, but the student showing how they solved the questions.

I have also been asked about Valentine parties.  We are not having Valentine parties this year.  The students will still be exchanging Valentine’s, but we will not have the big party.  We will be having an Easter and End of Year party.

Fifth grade parents you are invited to come on February 19th to meet Mrs. Freeman.  We will also be sharing with you the information we have received in regards to this being an SSI year for your fifth grader and what it means for them.

Below are some important dates for this month:

February 12th- 5th Grade Math Benchmark and Day 1 of 4th Grade Writing

February 13th- 5th Grade Reading Benchmark and Day 2 of 4th Grade Writing

February 14th- Benchmark make up for students that missed.

Student’s exchange Valentines, no party.

February 18th- No School

February 19th- 5th Grade Parent Night 5:00 Intermediate Cafeteria

February 26th- 3rd and 4th Grade Math Benchmark

February 27th- Early Release

February 28th- 3rd and 4th Grade Reading Benchmark, 5th Grade Science Benchmark

I first want to say thank you to all of the parents that brought treats and helped make yesterday special for our teachers and staff.  The food was yummy and we appreciated your kind words.  It is great having parents involved and helping make this a successful school year.  Several of you have been kind and donated your time throughout this semester and we appreciate it so much.  I look forward to seeing you on campus helping with different events in the spring semester.

The events that occurred last Friday have made all of us stop and take a moment to hug our own children and students tighter. The students and staff never missed a beat yesterday and our day carried on like any other normal day for White Oak Intermediate.  It was comforting to see those smiles, hear the laughter, and see the excitement for the holidays coming from classrooms.

This week our classes will be having their winter parties.  We sent a note home last week asking that if you are planning on attending and have already had your license scanned to return the note so we can preprint your badge for you.  Several of you have done this and we appreciate it.  We hope that this will help with the lines on Friday morning.  If you do not send in a note or if we do not have you in our system you will have to wait in line to have a badge printed.  We apologize for the wait, but appreciate your understanding.  Staff members will be located throughout the building checking for badges.

Thank you for your continued support this school year.  I am looking forward to a great spring semester.

The semester is coming to an end and it has been such a joy to get to work with your students.  White Oak is truly a great place to work and it has been such a blessing to get to know parents, community members, and staff this semester.  Our campus has undergone a lot of change this year.  Third and fourth grade students have done an incredible job of transitioning into a teaming set up.  The teachers are enjoying focusing on just a few core subjects and have already taken this opportunity to enhance their learning in their subjects with professional development.

We are happy to report that Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs. Johnson are both on the road to recovery.  The community support for these two teachers was overwhelming and was greatly appreciated.  Mrs. Lawrence is still undergoing treatments, but has received great reports from her doctors.  On days she is out Mrs. Crane will work towards being her sub for consistency for the students.  Mrs. Johnson is doing better each day.  She has even come up to the school to begin planning for her return in January.  We are so excited to have her back next semester.  Mrs. Langley has done a fabulous job and we appreciate everything she  has done for our third graders.

As many of you already know Mrs. Smith is retiring at the end of this semester.  She has dedicated over twenty years to White Oak and will be missed.  Courtney Freeman will be recommended to take Mrs. Smith’s place to the board.  Ms. Freeman is very excited to be joining the White Oak family.  She has already been up at the school preparing her classroom and talking with staff.  Once Mrs. Freeman gets set up and gets to know the students we will have an opportunity for you to meet her.  More information will be coming after the winter break.

As the semester comes to an end I do want to stress the importance of your child being at school every day all day.  This is still a grading period and the third six weeks ends next Friday.  Teachers are still teaching lessons, taking grades, and giving assessments.   If your child is sick please make sure to send in a note.

Classroom parties will be next Friday.  If you are sending food it must be prepackaged, this is district wide.  We appreciate your support with this.  If you are planning on attending the party and have already had your license scanned a form will be coming home for you to fill out and return.  We will preprint your badge for you so you do not have to wait in long lines.  Again, we can only do this if you have already had your license scanned and have returned the form that is being sent home.  Third and fourth grade parents can set up at 8:30 next Friday.  Party will begin at 9:00 when students return to class from school activity.  Fifth grade parents can set up at 9:00 in the gym and the party will begin at 9:30.  You are welcome to sign your child out from the class parties.  Each teacher will have a sign out sheet the day of the party.  Please make sure to sign your child out with the teacher before leaving.

What a week we had last week.  Red Ribbon week was a lot of fun and the students looked great in their different socks, hats, and costumes!  This was my first time to experience a White Oak homecoming and I was so impressed with the alumni support and participation.  The high school, alumni, and other district staff that organized and helped set up the different events for homecoming did an amazing job.  Thank you to all of the staff, students, parents, and community members that participated or assisted with the 5K/1K fun run/walk.  It was great seeing everyone come out to support our staff.  It is great to be part of this community.

Just a reminder that fundraiser money is due this Wednesday.  We appreciate all of your support with this fundraiser.  This is our largest fundraiser for the year that helps provide different materials for our students.  Money raised from fundraisers go back to the students through supplies, classroom materials, and other things that support the various needs of our students.  The class that sells the most will win either an I-Pad or 2 I-Touches.  The top class for each grade level will receive one I-Touch.  I am looking forward to the limo ride and lunch with students that earn that award and I am very excited for the inflatable party.  The fundraiser items are scheduled to be delivered to our campus on December 13th, just in time for the holidays.

Next week all of our students will be taking their six week assessments in reading and math.  Math will be given November 12th and the Reading will be given on November 14th.  Please make sure that your student gets plenty of rest the night before and eats a healthy breakfast.  Students will be assessed on skills that have been taught up to this point in the school year.  If your child misses one of the tests we will be doing make up tests on the 15th and the 16th if needed.  November 16th is the end of the second six weeks.  Thank you to all of you that came up for your child’s parent conferences.  It was great seeing you here supporting your child and our teachers.  Together we will continue to work towards helping your child have a successful year.

November 9th, this Friday, will be the last day Mrs. Jones will be with us.  We were so grateful to have her as part of our team for the time we had.  We wish her all the best and I know that she will be missed.

We have had a great first six weeks of school.  Thank you parents for all of your help to assist with making this a success.  The first six weeks was very busy, but I feel like we are into a rhythm and moving.  This past Monday we began the team teaching schedule with third and fourth grade.  The students and teachers have transitioned into this change well and we are already seeing exciting things taking place.

Fifth grade parents, I have been so pleased with how well our fifth graders are doing with our video morning announcements.  The fifth graders are taking the role of videoing, editing, typing the script, and being the broadcasters for our daily morning announcements.  The students are getting better each day and it is great seeing their faces in the morning.

Parent conferences are beginning this month.  Your child’s teacher will be contacting you in some form to set up these conferences.  This is just an opportunity for you to be able to see them and find out how your child is doing.  If you are unable to attend, please feel free to call your child’s teacher and do a phone conference.

Homecoming is quickly approaching and I know that everyone is excited about it.  Students are being given the opportunity to ride on the Box Top float.  Please keep sending in your Box Tops with your child’s name on it so that they get the credit.

We have been so fortunate to have several teachers receive Limeades for Learning grants.  These grants provide teachers the materials they need/want to enhance their curriculum and instruction.  Students gain the benefits from these grants quickly.  Teachers are already starting to get products in and are starting to get them ready for students.  Thank you for your votes and please keep voting.  Thank you Sonic for your continued support of our students!!

This Friday we are having our first R2W and CHAMPS celebration.  As a reminder that students attending the CHAMPS celebration must have a 90% or higher in conduct and must not have had any office referrals.  IF they have not earned the reward they will not be able to participate.

Thank you for all of your support during this time of change.  I am so blessed to have the opportunity to work with your children and have enjoyed getting to know them, observe them in their classes, and talking with parents.  This is a great district and we are going to continue to see great success.  As always, please feel free to contact me anytime if you have any concerns or ideas.  Together we will continue to have a great year!!