Ms. Welsh Fourth Grade Class

Thursday, May 7, 2009

School Supplies for 2009-2010

Dear Families,

In order to reduce costs, ISM would like to try ordering school supplies in bulk. How would this work? Teachers would submit their class supply lists and then a master list would be compiled. We believe we can get a better price for school supplies by ordering in large quantities. Also, some suppliers give the school a 5% or 10% discount for purchases. Once a master list is compiled we would then break it down to a per student cost.

In years past school supplies have cost close to $70 dollars in some classes. Once the per student cost is calculated, each family would be sent an invoice. Families would then submit a check for the requested amount. The checks would have to be received before the end of this 08-09 school year in order to guarantee that the supplies would be ready for the students on the first day of school.

In order for this to work, there must be widespread participation across the grades. Before proceeding, we would like feedback from you as to whether you would like to purchase supplies through ISM or are you more interested in purchasing supplies for your child(ren) individually?

Please respond to this email with your preference to Ms. B in the 5th grade at sburns@ismonterey.org as soon as possible. You can indicate your choices and information on the lines provided below.

Thank You,


Child's Name:
Current Grade:

Child's Name: Current Grade:

Child's Name:
Current Grade:

____ I would prefer to purchase my child(ren)'s school supplies from ISM for the 2009-10 school year.

____ I would prefer to purchase my own school supplies for the 2009-10 school year.

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Saturday Work Day (SWD) for May 9, 2009, 9:30 am - 1:00 pm

Hello All!

This coming Saturday is the scheduled Work Day for May! Heading up the "sprucing fun" will be myself as event chair and Ms. Sally Burns as Co-Chair.
We hope that some of you may take time out this Mothers' Day weekend to spend some time with Ms. Burns and myself; we promise good humor, warm weather,
and community spirit as we take on the following tasks:

* Garden/landscape planting (the bulk of effort on Saturday):
Courtesy of H.O.P.E. and Mr. Greg Dinsmore (husband of Kinder instructor Maren Dinsmore), who is generously donating some drought-tolerant landscape plants,
SWD volunteers will be planting these plants in beds alongside the admin building and in the garden area.
==> tools needed: hand-held and big shovels, rakes, and similar gardening tools

* Detailing one or both of the ISM vans:
Volunteers will be removing trash and debris, vacuuming and cleaning the interior. Once done, students will be reminded to respectfully use the vans and take
trash with them following fieldtrip use.
==> tools needed: buckets, car washing soap, sponges, perhaps an extra hose

* Copying effort for "Student Services Resource Manual" / Dr. Neli Volante:
Volunteers will be trained in the morning by Dr. Volante to make copies needed for several new/missing resource binders needed for 09-10 staff
==> tools needed: organizational skills... and a high degree of patience with the ISM copiers

* Cleaning MUR stage:
Sweeping, vacuuming, perhaps mopping the MUR stage (area not cleaned weekly by custodian) in prep for upcoming concert rehearsals / Spring concert
==> tools needed: wet/dry vacuum, extra brooms

--Standing monthly tasks:
* cleaning sinks in south pod classrooms with cleanser;
==> tools needed: buckets, safe cleaning agents, sponges, rubber gloves

* raking upper playground lot (belonging to Seaside) to ensure level areas;
==> tools needed: rakes

* campus trash pick-up
==> trash bags, rubber gloves (ISM provides)

Once again, the event begins at 9:30 a.m. (no earlier!) and concludes at 1:00 p.m., so that folks can head off to attend to other tasks.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Thanks!

Regards,

Lisa Griffin Burns
ISM Operations / HR Manager
Tel: 831-583-2165
Cell: 831-521-4900
Email: lburns@ismonterey.org

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Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Two Notes

Dear Parents,

Given the Star Testing and the students' energy level, we will postpone our math assessment to Thursday. Tomorrow we will review unit 9. A copy of the study guide has been sent to you via email.

Next week the Star tests will be on Monday and Tuesday for 4th grade not Tuesday and Wednesday as I had said in my last note. Please make sure your child continues to be on time and is well rested and has eaten breakfast as usual.

Thanks,
Mary

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Lower Parking Lot Being Painted

Weather permitting, ISM's lower parking lot will be cordoned off today, Wednesday, May 6 morning (beginning at 7:15 a.m.) for repainting per a work order request to MPUSD last week.

New parking lot spaces will be painted to ensure a safer parking environment. Please plan accordingly and park in other locations on the campus or on adjoining city streets.

The MPUSD painting crew will begin painting after school begins at 8:20 a.m.
tomorrow morning. Ted Balisteri, who'll head up the "operation" tomorrow for MPUSD, expects that the whole painting & drying operation will be complete within two hours. At that time, we will reopen the lower parking lot for use.

Thanks for your flexibility!

Regards,

Lisa Griffin Burns
ISM Operations / HR Manager

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Monday, May 4, 2009

Volunteers Still Needed

Hello ISM families,

If you still need to log some volunteer hours, we have some special needs. Clara Wang is heading up the volunteers for the Castroville Artichoke Festival, May 16-17. Please email her at: clarawang@comcast.net

The art smocks are badly in need of a wash. If you could take them to a laundromat and/or home to wash (be careful with the blue paint!), it would be a great help. Contact Miss Welch or send me an email at njwebb@nps.edu

Finally, Spanish/English data entry is needed in the library. Please contact Janice Barker at barkerjf1@comcast.net

Mr. Robby needs volunteers for Field Day, Thursday, June 18th. Please email him at rfabry@ismonterey.org.

Thanks for your support!

Natalie Webb
656-2013 (office)

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Parent Update - 5/4/2009

Happy May! Let's hope this wet weather helps to extend the beautiful wildflower season we have been experiencing.

This week we will begin taking the Star Test, the California State assessment test. Fourth graders will take the test in the mornings on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week and just Tuesday and Wednesday next week. On Monday, we will take a practice test. On Tuesday and Wednesday will be testing in Language Arts. Next week, we will test in math. Please make sure your child gets a good rest each night and eats a good breakfast as usual. The tests will take only about 1 1/2 hours each day. Please also make sure your child comes to school on time as we will be starting the tests at 8:30 each morning.

We will not have spelling this week or next week due to the Star Test. The other subjects will remain the same. There will be some adjustments with Spanish to make up for the time Spanish and the Star Test overlap. We are working out a Spanish schedule with the teachers.

Next week, on Friday, May 15th, we will be heading to the U.S. Geological Survey for their Open House for schools. If your child has not turned in their field trip form, please send it in. Thank you.

We will have an assessment of math unit 9 on Wednesday this week. I promise to not make it too painful given the Star testing overlap.

We will finish up our Migration Projects this week and begin our study of electricity and magnetism. I may be asking for some supplies you may have around as we go through the lessons. If anyone has a broken electric appliance, please let me know. We may be taking some things apart. I have a weed trimmer I will be donating to science (I guess the weeds were just too big to trim – I burned out the motor).

Homework this week:

Monday:
Math Study Links 9.8
Read 20 minutes and record in planner
Handwriting Book pg. 75

Tuesday:
Math Study Links 9.9
Read 20 minutes and record in planner
Handwriting Book pg. 76

Wednesday:
Read 20 minutes and record in planner
Handwriting Book pg. 77

Thursday:
Math Study Links 10.1
Read 20 minutes and record in planner
Handwriting Book pg. 78

Thank you all for your continued support.

All the best,
Mary Welsh

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