Parent Letter - 2/13/2009

Dear Parents,

This is just a reminder that Box Tops are due tomorrow. If you have some collected, please send them in if you can. I know we already won the prize once but, we are hoping for a double header!

I sent home yet another field trip form with your child today. This is for our last trip to the Seaside dunes for our restoration work. The trip is on Friday, Feb. 27th. It will be from 8:30 until about noon. There is no cost for the trip. We will need (I know I'm always asking) driver/chaperones for the trip. It's a great excuse to go to the beach and you will know you are doing your part for education and the environment. You'll just have a lot of company!

Thanks everyone. Have a very happy Valentine's Day and 3-day weekend. Don't forget to say happy 200th birthday to Abraham Lincoln!
I'll see your child on Tuesday, the 17th.

Sincerely,
Mary Cunningham-Welsh

Classroom Gift Basket Project

Dear Parents,

We have been asked to put together a gift basket to be auctioned off at the upcoming World Neighborhood Gala on April 11th. This is the school's #1 fundraising event.
http://www.ismonterey.org/WorldGala.html

Each classroom is asked to assemble a themed gift basket. We haven't decided on a theme yet, but some ideas are:
- scrapbooking
- kids crafts
- kids music
- international music
- international cooking
... if you have any good ideas, let Barbara know.

We are requesting a donation of $10 (or whatever you are able to donate) to shop creatively with the assistance of individuals that can get discounts at Target. Your donations may be left in an envelope located in Ms. Welsh's classroom. We need all donations before Wednesday, February 18th.

Thank you for your time and efforts,

Barbara Aoki-Okamura
tkmon@sbcglobal.net

World Math Day - March 4, 2009

On March 4, ISM will participate in World Math Day. This is a day in which students of all ages and from all over the world play against each other in mental arithmetic games. ISM participated for the first time last year and students had a great time. We are hoping even more students choose to participate this year.

Though the actual day of competition is March 4, students can begin to play anytime, and should be encouraged to do so! To play, students log on to http://www.worldmathday.com A user name and password has already been assigned to them and will be provided to them by their homeroom teachers. On the World Math Day site, students are playing in real time against other students. Each game lasts for 60 seconds and students can play as many games as they wish! The questions are leveled for different ages and abilities.

This is a truly unique world event and a fantastic way to promote numeracy and practice mental arithmetic. Students are honing skills and having fun in the process.

Thanks for your participation - Go Team ISM!

Nikki Madden
MS Math Specialist

Gala Preparation Volunteers

ISM Gala coordinator Carrie Miles has issued a "please help" request for gala preparation volunteers. She needs a few people to help stuff the Gala invitation envelopes this week so they can be sent out by the week's end. This can be as simple as picking up a stack of invitations and envelopes at the front office and assembling them conveniently at home.

If you are available to assist with this time-sensitive project, then please contact Carrie Miles for further instruction (clmiles33@aol.com). You can, of course, log this time towards your monthly volunteer hours!

Parent Update - 1/8/2009

Dear Parents,

This week will be almost regular but, not quite. There is an early dismissal day on Wed. The students will be getting out of school at 11:30 am. After school care is offered for that day but, you will need to contact Lisa Wichell-Loomis to set it up ahead of time.

Next Monday, Feb. 16th, is a holiday for President's Day.

Saturday is Valentine's Day. I am not planning a party on Friday but, hope that the students might want to share Valentine cards. If your child brings cards to share, we will have a chance in the morning to distribute them.

Spelling will resume this week as normal. The four students who will be taking the written spelling bee test will do so on Wednesday with the other students who have advanced to this level. The oral test will be with the 10 top 4 and 5th graders from this test and take place on Wed. Feb. 18th in the morning.

The math assessment test will be tomorrow morning. Have your child eat a good breakfast or a snack at recess to help their brain stay nourished.

Homework this week will be:

Monday:
Math: Parents read parent letter at end of Unit 6 to prepare for Unit 7.
Spelling: sort and write words
Reading: 20 minutes
Handwriting: Page 26

Tuesday:
Math: 7.1
Spelling: sort and write words
Reading: 20 minutes
Handwriting: Page 27

Wednesday:
Math: 7.2
Spelling: work with words
Reading: 20 minutes
Handwriting: Page 28

Thursday:
Math: 7.3
Spelling: Study for test
Reading: 20 minutes
Handwriting: Page 29
Bring in Valentine's Day cards tomorrow if you want.

Best wishes,

Mary Welsh