VANOSS 3rd  GRADE

NEWSLETTER

2011-2012

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APRIL 2012

STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

Exemplary students who… *Follow school rules…

*Accept responsibility *Cooperate with others …

*Are rarely absent/tardy …*Are prepared for class.

3A- Summer   3B- Keisha   3C- Jacob

 IMPORTANT DATES

 April 11th, 12th & 13th- OCCT Testing

April 5th- Egg Hunt @ 2:00

April 6th- Good Friday No School

April 13th- Nutritional Snack Sale

April 27th - Last day for AR points toward celebration.* no last minute cramming*

May 2nd - AR Trip (75 points by April 28th)

May 4th- Elementary Fun Day

May 10th – Awards Assembly 1:30 PM

                 3:00-9:00-Parent Teacher Conferences

May 17th- 10:00 Kindergarten Graduation

                  7:00-8th Grade Graduation

May 17th- Last Day of School

 

 THIRD GRADE EGG HUNT

      We are planning to have our Easter Egg Hunt on April 5th at 2:00. Please send at least 12 eggs taped shut with individual wrapped candy or prizes inside.  Let us know if you would be able to help hide eggs.  

STATE TESTING

     APRIL 11th, 12TH AND 13^TH are the dates for the OCCT test.   Please make sure that your child has plenty of rest and eats breakfast so they will be ready to do their best.  

FUN DAY REQUIREMENTS  (TRACK& FIELD)

    Fun Day will be held May 4th in the High School Gym.  We are asking for donations of canned pop, candy bars, chips, and bottled water.  There will be a concession available for all students participating. 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

     Reminder:  The attendance policy states that students must be in attendance 90% of the time.  If not, they may not be able to participate in some of the extra activities and may be in danger of not advancing to the next grade. 

 KEEPING RECORDS UPDATED

Also PARENTS ARE REQUIRED TO COME INTO THE ELEMENTARY OFFICE IF THEY NEED TO ADD OR DELETE ANY PEOPLE FROM THE PICK UP LIST.  CHANGES CAN ONLY BE MADE IN WRITING AND MUST BE MADE ON ENROLLMENT PAPERS. 

 CLASSROOM TID-BITS

• Rileigh participated in the County Livestock Show.  Her show goat, Richard, was injured and was therefore disqualified.
• We celebrated Dr. Seuss Day with loads of fun reading activities.
• Racen, Karlie, and Summer completed the 3^rd grade library of AM Math.  We celebrated by showering them with confetti and presenting them a certificate!
• We attended the middle school Science Olympics competition and watched the toothpick bridges being judged.  The models reminded us of the Fossil to Fuel oil derricks we build early in the year. 
• We finished our Studentreasure publishing project and mailed it in.  Our books will be bound by an out-of-state publishing company. 

 

  

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 MARCH 2012

ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?

VOTER registration forms are available at school!

Contact the school for information about the proposed Vanoss School Bond.

IMPORTANT DATES March 2-- End of 3rd Quarter March 9—PreK Enrollment @ Vanoss March 19-23 – Spring Break March 30 – Extended Deadline for ordering Year Books. April 5 – Easter Party April 6 – Good Friday NO SCHOOL April 11-13 –OCCT 3rd Grade State Test April 27—Deadline for AR Trip Challenge (75 points for 3rd Graders)

 

COUNT DOWN

TO OCCT STATE TEST

        We are working hard in class preparing for the annual 3rd grade state test. 

It's scheduled for April 11-13.

    Daily attendance, plenty of sleep, and healthy eating habits

play an important role in your child’s academic success.

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AR CELEBRATION!!!

  Third Graders with 75 or more AR points

by 3:00 p.m. on April 27th

will be invited to a great AR Celebration!

Excessive behavior problems and/or absences prohibit a student from attending this big celebration. (Principal Discretion).

 

 

INFO. TID-BITS

**Pre-K Pre-Enrollment: Friday, March 9th. Vanoss Library 7:45 – 2:30. 

• 4 years old by Sept. 1st are eligible
• Academic readiness screening, and hearing screening given
• Speech screenings available by request. 
• Bring the child’s Social Security card, birth certificate, shot record, proof of residence, and CDIB card and Sooner Care Card if applicable.

**Scholastic Book Fair Profits for the Media Center is $1450.00; plus $365.00 in Books.

**The Ronald McDonald House is collecting pop can tabs. Rhonda Long and grandson Collen will be going there on spring break to drop off items.

**Please continue to collect Box Tops for Education for us!!!

 

CLASSROOM HAPPENINGS DURING FEBRUARY

• Students brought Valentine boxes from home for our party/card exchange.  The pig and the hippo boxes were among the creative containers!  Loads of parents showed up to celebrate with us.  The ice cream sundaes were delicious!  Whipped cream and cherries were the preferred toppings.

• The Scholastic Book fair had a "Decorated Bag" contest.  Our bag featured a book about sharks. It was not a winning entry, but it returned to us with two books donated to our class.  Thank you Ms. Cothren and Ms. Hightower!!!

• Spirit Week brought about some lively discussions as we dressed for the occasion.   Monday was Crazy Hat and Hair Day.  Tuesday was Pink-and-White Day.  Wednesday was Favorite Team Day.  Thursday was Camo/Hillbilly Day, and Fri. was Vanoss Spirit Day.

• The annual FFA sponsored Petting Zoo was a local favorite as always.  The raccoons drew a lot of attention.

• Kendel brought his medallion for show and tell.  He participated in the world's longest firetruck parade!  We expect to seen him in the next world record book.

• Rileigh completed the 3rd Grade Libary of Accelerated Math.  We celebrated with a confetti party! Racen is right behind her in number of math objectives mastered.

 

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FEBRUARY

STUDENTS-OF-THE-MONTH

Recognizing Exemplary Students Who…

*Follow school rules

*Accept responsibility

*Cooperate with others

*Are rarely absent/tardy

*Are prepared for class

George: 3C, Karlie: 3A,   Caeden: 3B

 

 

IMPORTANT DATES Feb. 3- Snack Sale Feb. 10- Valentine’s Day Party (no deliveries to the school please) Feb. 9th, 10th, and 13th  Book Fair Feb. 16th – Progress Reports go home Feb. 20th – First  Snow  Day  NO SCHOOL

 

Valentine Sundae Party

February 10, 2012

• It's the month of "gooy hearts day". To celebrate, we are having ice cream sundaes and a card exchange.
• Students are encouraged to decorate a container to hold their Valentines.
• We are asking each family for $2.00 to cover ice-cream, toppings, bowls, spoons, and drinks.Please send the money by Tues., February 7^th.

• We will exchange Valentines in the classrooms and  join the other 3rd grades for the ice cream sundaes.
• The fun will begin at 2:00.

 

Valentine’s Day – “No More Tears” Solution:

Please help us reduce the tears.

• NO Valentine’s Day gifts delivered at school.
• Student’s who don’t get gifts often cry.
• Students who get gifts cry when damage occurs.
• Flower vases spill and break;
• Balloons pop, tangle or block the bus driver’s view. 

Thank you for understanding as we seek a tearless solution.
 

 

CLASSROOM HAPPENINGS DURING JANUARY

• Tate's mom brought her pet snakes to visit the class and presented an awesome lesson about them.

           I hear that Tate now has her own pet snake.

• Ms. Jackson shared a book with us about Martin Luther King Jr.

• We had a mini 100 Days of School celebration.  Several students brought 100 small edibles.  We combined them and used math skills to estimate, add, and divide the snacks.   

• OSU Nutrition came back for another lesson. 

• We had a second quarter Awards Assembly where Principal and Superintendent Honor Roll students were recognized.

• Ms. Phillips invited us back to her high school science lab.  Her students helped us work with metric measurement.  We used beakers and graduated cylinders to measure volume; rulers to measure distance; and triple-balance scales to measure mass.

2nd SEMESTER

• Now is the time to aim for high achievement.
• Third graders are working even harder to prepare for the end of the year state OCCT test.    
• Daily attendance, good nutrition and plenty of rest is crucial! 

 

(AR) ACCELERATED READING INCENTIVES

• REMINDER: The End of Year AR Celebration requirement for 3^rd grade is 75 pts. 
• Deadline for earning 75 points is April 27th. 

 

 

 

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JANUARY

  STUDENTS-OF-THE-MONTH

Zoe 3B,        Emilee 3C,        Tate 3A

 NOTE FROM THE OFFICE

All students who arrive late

need to stop by the front office

and check in (with or without a parent).

Thanks,

Mr. Pittman

IMPORTANT DATES Jan. 3—3rd Quarter Begins Jan. 16 – Professional Day NO SCHOOL Feb. 10- Valentine’s Day Party (no deliveries to the school please)

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DECEMBER 

 STUDENTS OF THE MONTH 

                                  Racen 3A,       Jaymee 3B      Nathan 3C,   

We won’t offer latchkey services on Friday, December 16th!!! Thanks, Ms. Tharp IMPORTANT DATES Dec. 2 – Bake Sale (2nd Graders) Dec. 5-8 – Penguin Patch Christmas Store Dec. 15 – Polar Express Day for 3rd Grade Dec. 16- Christmas Party: 12:30 Dec. 17-Jan. 2 Christmas Break Jan. 3 – Classes Resume Jan. 6 – Bake Sale (3rd Graders)   CLASSROOM HAPPENINGS DURING NOVEMBER We had a classroom winner in Ada Recycling Coalition's poster contest.  Tate won a first place certificate and $25 for her entry. Everyone should be sporting glistening white teeth after working with our dental hygienist.  The OSU Nutrition program was also completed this month.  Ask us about the food pyramid. We joined Ms. Stone's highschool class in the library for a "research" scavenger hunt.  They helped us locate and use reference books such as the almanac, thesaurus, and encyclopedia.  We had a great time and made a new friend. We put together a readers' theater with a story in our reader.  It was called "Pushing Up the Sky".  We recorded the play and presented it to the other 3rd grades. As part of our Celebrate Freedon Week, we worked on a Bill of Rights rap.  Cool!  We also attended an assembly to honor Veterans in our area. We have been working on a classroom publishing project called StudenTreasure.   Part of the class book is called "My Favorite Circle".  We use the Writer's Lab to type in the story, and then draw pictures in the classroom for it.  The book kit will be sent out of state for binding later in the year.  Copies of the book will be available for purchase (about $20 each).  Goody Bag /Gift Exchange Party      The Christmas party is Dec. 16 beginning at 12:30.  There will be: an optional Gift Exchange ($3.00-$5.00). Girls bring a girl gift…Boys bring a boy gift. We are also asking that each student bring 15 individually wrapped edible treats to put into Christmas baskets. Teachers are providing the baskets.  Students will have the basket of treats to take home.

NOVEMBER NEWS

 

IMPORTANT DATES

 Nov.  4 – 1st grade Nutritional Snack Sale

Nov.  6- Celebrate Freedom Week

Nov. 11- Elementary Veteran’s Day

              Assembly in Cafeteria 

Nov. 17- Progress Reports go home 

Nov. 23-25- Thanksgiving Break        

 

CLASSROOM HAPPENINGS 

• We ended our unit on Fossil Fuels by building oil derricks with drinking straws, tape, and paper clips.  We measured the strength of each derrick.  Tate and Racen's derrick tied with Karlie and Jayce's.  The winning derricks each held a total of 700 grams and remained stable.

• Our room was filled with skeletons for October.  We studied the human skeleton. Ask us where the scapula and the clavical are located.

• In honor of fall harvests, we held a "decorated veggie" contest.  One hundred fifty people came through our classroom and voted on their favorite.  The first place "Judges' Choice" was Karlie's bell pepper turtle.  First place "Teachers' Choice" was Tate's carved potato owl.  First place "Students' Choice" tied with Tate's owl and Kendel's military pumpkin. 

• We attended Ada Conservation District's "Outdoor Classroom" and also had a nature scavenger hunt and picnic at Winter Smith Park in Ada.

• For our fall party, we had a picnic in the classroom then joined the other two third grades to watch the movie Halloween Hound.  Ms. Tharp provided lemonade with carmel apples and a pumpkin.  We carved the pumpkin and held a drawing to decide which student took it home.  Brittany won the drawing.

• Our 3rd grade fall carnival booth was the "Taz Token Toss".  Students helped work the booth.  We earned about $140.

• Several students entered Ada's "Recycling at School" poster contest. 

 

 Elementary Veteran’s Day Assembly in Cafeteria

Our Veteran’s Day program will begin at 10:00, Nov. 11th. Veterans and military personnel and their families are invited to attend. We appreciate them fighting for our freedom and rights.

  Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving Break will start November 23rd. We hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Remember to take the time to count your many blessings each day but especially during this special holiday.

  JUST A REMINDER: 

• Please make sure your child does the same thing after school every day.  There should be no changes except for emergencies.
• The following items are collected at school:  Box Tops, Campbell Soup Labels, empty aluminum cans, empty Capri Sun Pouches, empty Frito Lay bags, and Sunny D labels.  

 

                                       STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

                                                                                              Laney Stone – 3A

                                                                                            Chelsea Murphy – 3C

                                                                                             Julissa Guzman – 3B         

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OCTOBER NEWS

IMPORTANT DATES

Oct. 7^TH – End of 1^st Quarter

Oct. 7^th- Bake Sale

Oct. 10^th- NO SCHOOL Professional Day for Teachers

Oct. 11 – OUTDOOR CLASSROOM FIELD TRIP

Oct. 14- Report Cards

Oct. 18- Award’s Assembly  @ 11:20 lunch

Oct. 18 – Parent/Teacher conferences   3:15-9:15

Oct. 19-21– Fall Break

Oct. 23-27 Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 24- Remediation begins

Oct. 28^- Fall Party {afternoon)

Oct. 28 – Fall Carnival  6:00-8:00

Oct.31-Nov. 1- Dental Program

Nov. 6- Celebrate Freedom Week

 

FIELD TRIP on Oct. 11

• Third grade will be going to Ada on Oct. 11 for an “Outdoor Classroom.”
• Permission slips along with more information will be sent home soon.

PARENT / TEACHER CONFERENCES Oct. 18

• October 18, 3:15-9:15 P.M.
• Please call the elementary office (759-2503) and schedule a conference. 
• Ask for 2 fifteen-minute slots if you think we will need extra time to discuss academic progress.

 

Fall Party OCT. 28

• We will have a picnic lunch on the playground. 
• If you would like to eat lunch with your child please sign up by Wednesday, Oct. 26^th.  (The cost is $3.00) 
• We will have caramel apples and lemonade at 2:00 on the playground plus various physical activities. 

 

FALL CARNIVAL Oct. 28th.

• Bring the family to our Fall Carnival from 6:00-8:00. 
• Third-grade booth is the Loony-Tunes Quarter Drop. 
• Can you donate large candy bars for booth prizes?   
• BINGO follows at 8:00

 

CLASSROOM HAPPENINGS!

• A bearded dragon has joined our class!

                    We are pretty sure we know what we'll name him.

• We brought pillows from home.

                    There's nothing more relaxing than to curl up with a book and a soft pillow.

• Cooper brought cupcakes to celebrate his birthday!

                     He was also featured in our  STUDENT SPOTLIGHT.

• Some of us entered a conservation poster contest.

 

Students of the Month

FOR OCTOBER

Exemplary students :

Bailey 3C

Dalton 3B

Emrie 3A

 

REMINDER:  Items being turned into $$$ for our school include: 

• Box Tops For Education
• Campbell Soup Labels
• empty Capri Sun Pouches
• empty Frito Lay bags
• Sunny D labels

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 SEPTEMBER NEWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

CALENDAR UPDATE

• Sept. 2:  Bake Sale. Students may purchase a

                           healthy snack for 50 cents.

• Sept.  5: LABOR DAY (No School)
• Sept. 13: School Pictures

• Sept. 14: Author, Jo Duhn, Visits Vanoss
• Sept. 14: Deadline for themed baskets’ “Top Sales” Contest

• Sept. 16: Observe Constitution Day
• Sept. 16: Fun Night.  Performances begin @ 6.
• Sept. 26: Library’s “Computers for Education”address fundraiser begins.

• Sept.30: JOM Field Trip (For Students with CDIB Cards)
• Oct.   7: Bake Sale
• Oct. 10: NO SCHOOL
• Oct.19-21: FALL BREAK
• Oct. 28: FALL CARNIVAL

 

FROM THE OFFICE

• Students are required to do the same thing everyday after school. 
• Parent Pick-Up is at 3:05. Please remain in cars to insure student safety.

• 90% attendance is required to pass.  Students can not miss more than 8 days a semester. First semester is May-December.  Second semester is Jan-May.
• Perfect attendance will be rewarded each semester.

 

BOXTOPS FOR EDUCATION

     Please help us collect “Box Tops For Education”.  The coupons generate $$$ for our school.  Send them to the elementary office throughout the year.

 

ELEMENTARY FUN NIGHT FUNDRAISER!!

WHERE: High School Gym.

WHEN: Sept.16th.  Doors Open @ 5:00; Games begin @ 6:00.

WHO:  PK-6th grade students will perform.

WHAT: Students will perform.  Themed baskets will be raffled. Baked Goods will be auctioned. Concession available including a Hot  Dog, Chips, Drink and Cookie for $5.00.

ADMISSION: $2 per adult; $1 per student 7th-12th. Join the fun & support our school.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO SET UP AND RUN CONCESSION STAND.  Please call the office if you can help.

Fun Night Donations are needed:

• Items for 3^rd   grade themed basket: “Baking Basket” (Kitchen items) and a copy of Students’ Favorite Recipe.
• Concession items to sell --pop and candy bars…please send ASAP so we can inventory and buy more if needed.

     Students will be selling chances on the themed baskets.  There is a “Top Salesperson” contest.  Chances and money must be turned in by Wednesday, Sept. 14^th by 8:30 to be eligible for the contest title.  All other tickets and money can be sold up to and during the Fun Night performances.