Cotton Indian Elementary School Newsletter April 2015

A Message From the Principal...

“Community Involved in Education”

CIE Community,

Happy Spring! As we enter into the month of state-wide testing, I would like to take this opportunity to share our testing calendar. The schedule for testing is outlined below, please try your very best not to schedule any doctor appointments and to have your student(s) present and on time each day during the testing window, consistency and normal routines are best for students especially during testing times.

If you should have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to give me a call.

With warmest regards,

Lisa Travis Principal

Cotton Indian Elementary School 1201 Old Conyers Rd. Stockbridge, GA 30281

Phone: 770-474-9983 Fax: 770-474-6959

Lisa Travis Principal

Sean Thompson Assistant Principal

Date Content Area Administration Mode Grade Level

Tuesday, April 14, 2015 ELA Part I/II Paper/Pencil & Online Grade 3 and Grade 5

Wednesday, April 15, 2015 ELA Part I/II Online Grade 4

Thursday, April 16, 2015 ELA Part III Paper/Pencil & Online Grades 3 - 5

Friday, April 17, 2015 Make-Up Paper/Pencil & Online Grades 3 - 5

Monday, April 20, 2015 Math Paper/Pencil & Online Grade 3 and Grade 5

Tuesday, April 21, 2015 Math Online Grade 4

Wednesday, April 22, 2015 Science Paper/Pencil & Online Grade 3 and Grade 5

Thursday, April 23, 2015 Science Online Grade 4

Friday, April 24, 2015 Make-Up Paper/Pencil & Online Grade 3 - 5

Monday, April 27, 2015 Social Studies Paper/Pencil & Online Grade 3 and Grade 5

Tuesday, April 28, 2015 Social Studies Online Grade 4

Wednesday, April 29, 2015 Make-Up Paper/Pencil & Online Grade 3 and Grade 5

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We have really enjoyed our project based learning unit so far! As a grade level we are excited to develop a butterfly garden at our school. We have been learning about living and non-living things, rocks and soils, and plants and animals. Please continue to work on addition and subtraction strategies. Also remember our end of the year sight word goal is 100 so keep working on those words!! We will be going on a field trip in May, more information will be sent home in your child’s folder so make sure you are checking them each night. Thanks for all you do!

The last nine weeks of school 1st grade students will be participating in their first Problem Based Learning (PBL) unit. Students will be learning about the parts of a plant and the basic needs of plants and animals. We will also learning about the important historical figures like George Washing-ton Carver and Theodore Roosevelt. We will be integrating all of this subject matter into our literacy block. We are also visiting Southern Belle Farms April 28 to help us with our PBL unit. In math we will be learning about base ten, addition and subtraction strategies, and reviewing all content standards for the year.

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Many wonderful things are blossoming in third grade as the weather gets warmer and we approach spring. GA Milestones will soon be here and the students and teachers are diligently practicing and preparing to make this a confident and stress free experience for all. We have launched our PBL unit incorporating mini society, ELA, and our Math

Standards with a popular television show SHARK TANK. Does your son/daughter have what it takes to survive SHARK TANK CIE style? The students are excited and engaged in learning all the economic standards and so much more. We are currently learning fractions and will continue working and constructing line plots and other graphs. Teachers are asking that students continue to read daily both fiction and nonfiction material for extended time to build stamina and increase comprehension. We will conclude our third grade historical figures with Lyndon B. Johnson, Cesar Chavez, and Thurgood Marshall. Please continue to review all past taught standards and practice. If supplemental material is needed visit the parent resource room, use teacher recommended websites, or visit your local bookstore.

In April, Second Grade will complete a Project Based learning activity involving the life cycle of living things. Students will have the opportunity to plant seeds and observe the process of the plant’s life cycle. Second grade will also partner with Stockbridge High School, the Henry County Farm Bureau and Dausett Trails to help with their mastering of the standard. In Math, they will learn about fractions, plane shapes and 3 dimensional shapes. We will have many Read Alouds involving Math. Students will also work on opinion writing. They will have to tell us why Jimmy Carter deserves a monument? By doing this students must utilize text to support their opinion.

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We are actively preparing for the Georgia Milestones assessment that will begin after spring break. We are reviewing material and the types of questions that students will encounter on the test. Please help us to build confidence in the students and not add any unnecessary stress to students about the test. Thank you for all you are doing at home!

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April will be very busy in 5th grade. Along with volume and measurement in math, we will be learning the Vietnam and Korean wars in social studies. Don't forget about language arts where we will learn about theme and figurative language and science where we will investigate the earth's surface. Mrs. Paris will start planting a garden with Mrs. Moss' class and TAG students are about to start a science standards project at home. Just because we are on break does not mean learning stops! Continue to

exercise your brain. Please continue to read 20 - 30 minutes every day and try to do something educational to keep your brain in shape for the GA Milestones! (Take "field trips" to the park, museum, library, etc.) Whew! Busy month, but we are ready.

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Outdoor Garden

5th graders played a crucial role as CIE gardeners this week. They put their mathematical skills to good use and helped determine whether or not we bought enough cubic feet of top soil for our raised garden beds. Good News! Looks like we will have all the soil we need and perhaps a bit extra, especially if we mix it in with a little top soil. In addition to the outstanding leadership of our 5th graders, the 1st graders invited the Henry County Farmers Bureau to our school, and of course the Bureau said yes! They spent Friday afternoon giving 1st graders soil, seeds and a little water. Soon we will have a cornucopia at CIE!

CAPS For Cure

Caps for CURE is a grassroots fundraising effort benefiting CURE Childhood Cancer. Inspired by one young teenager battling cancer and wanting to make a meaningful contribution to research, Caps for CURE is now being implemented throughout schools. Our next one is April 17th so bring a $1 and wear your favorite cap to school.

PTO

A great big thank you to everyone who help make our 3rd Annual Lucky Laces 5K

such a success.

A special thank you to our sponsors.

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Keep

CALM And

Tame

The Test Monsters

Parent Workshop

March 31, 2015

6:00 - 7:00 pm

Page 7 April 2015 Cotton Indian Elementary School Newsletter

Cotton Indian Elementary

Invites You to Visit the

Family Resource Room

The Family Resource room is located in Room 103. It is there for the Families of Cotton Indian students! We have FREE materials for

you to take home for two weeks at a time!

Check Us Out!

CIE FAMILY RESOURCE ROOM HOURS

MONDAY-FRIDAY

7:30 AM – 3:30 PM

OR LATER BY APPOINTMENT

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL OR EMAIL IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED

ASSISTANCE.

Cheryl Settle, CIE Family Liaison

770-474-9983

csettle@henry.k12.ga.us Email

Page 8 April 2015 Cotton Indian Elementary School Newsletter

Upcoming Events

April 2nd Art Show at Stockbridge Dwarf House

April 3rd Milestones Testing Pep Rally

April 6-10 Spring break no school

April 14 Milestones test ELA 3rd & 5th

April 15 Milestones test ELA 4th

April 16 ` Milestones test ELA 3rd, 4th, & 5th

April 17 Caps for Cures

April 20 Milestones test Math 3rd & 5th

April 21 Milestones test Math 4th

April 22 Milestones test Science 3rd & 5th

April 23 Milestones test Science 4th

April 24 Mini Relay for Life 8:30 am

April 27 Milestones test Social Studies 3rd & 5th

Progress Reports

April 28 Milestones test Social Studies 4th

April 30 Kindergarten Museum Night 6-7 pm