Dear Families,

Welcome to another new and exciting school year. I am looking forward to having your child in my third grade classroom and working with you in a parent /teacher team to provide the best learning experiences for you child. Working together we will all (students, parents, and teachers) have a happy and successful year.

•Curriculum

• Math – Investigations series, differentiated math groups, and First in Math
• Reading – Good Habits Great Readers, differentiated reading groups, and vocabulary
• Language Arts – writing, grammar, and usage
• Social Studies – communities, states, and map skills
• Science – Ideas/Inventions, Structure of Life, and Human Body (other shorter topics included)
• Health
  

•Homework in reading and math (often spelling) are assigned every night Monday through Thursday.

•Weekly Progress Reports will be sent home on Fridays of every week, unless we have a short week.  These reports are to be discussed, signed by the guardian, and returned the next Monday (or next school day).  Please expect to see the first report next Friday, September 9, 2011.

•This year we have a very late lunch at 1:05 p.m.  Please ensure that your child eats a nourishing and filling breakfast.  Children may also eat breakfast at school each morning.

•Two new district policies have come to our attention that I need to inform you about:

1.     If your child is to go home a different way than normal, the school office and the teacher must be informed with a note from the child’s parent or guardian.  We are not able to allow a child to go home a different way without that notification.

2.     If you plan on volunteering in the school or chaperoning a field trip the district requires that you have a background check.  This is to help provide a safer environment for our children.  The form required will be sent home with your children on Wed.

If you have questions/concerns about these policies, please contact our principal, Aura Wharton-Beck.

•Our school/room expectations are noted below.  Please discuss them with your child and stress the importance of respect furthers and for self, good behavior, good attitude, and a readiness to learn.

      **Be respectful                                         **Be prepared                                    **Follow directions

      **Have a positive attitude                        **Be responsible

•Please try to have your child bring the following supplies as soon as possible:

            5 - #2 pencils with erasers                4 pocket folders             pencil sharpener with shaving container

            erasers (pencil-top and regular)        scissors                         large box of facial tissues

            1 red correcting pen                          12” standard ruler          backpack or school bag

            washable markers                             glue stick                       tennis shoes

            plastic zippered pencil bag                2 highlighters                NO MECHANICAL PENCILS

  PLEASE DO NOT SEND A TRAPPERKEEPER!

(There is not enough room in desks or lockers to keep them here.)

•Please leave a message at Jenny Lind School, 668-2020, or email me at:  danny.thomas@mpls.k12.mn.us

if you have any questions or concerns during the year. I will return your call/email as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Mr. Danny Thomas