Dear Parents:

A huge THANK YOU to all of you for participating in the "Links for a Cure" project for Relay for Life. The children were so excited each day to donate and design their links for the chain. Over $1,000 was raised and our class was $103 of that! That was quite an accomplishment in just 4 days! I wish I could have been at Relay. It is always a wonderful event. Unfortunately, I was "under the weather" and went home to bed Friday. I'm on antibiotics now and starting to feel better.

Oh, and did you see the picture of Mrs. Rauman in E-bytes? She had her long locks cut and donated to "Locks of Love" in honor of a dear friend of hers that is battling cancer. What a wonderful thing to do. We are so proud of her. And her new "do" is so cute, too!

Field Day is coming up April 5th. The PE coaches are still in need of parent volunteers to help. If you can do this, please contact either the PE coaches or me. You would need to arrive about 9:30 and plan to be here about 2 hours.

We also have a field trip on Tuesday, April 12th, to Raymond James during Celebrate the Arts week. Parents are welcome to join us! Raymond James is allowing us to go on this tour free of charge for chaperones and students. However, if you plan to go, please let me know no later than Thursday, April 7th. We MUST call in all names going on the tour in advance.

Now, a glance at what we will be doing in class this week:

Reading/Language Arts: Our spelling focus is on the long e sound spelled with y or ie. In phonics, we are learning to change the y to ie before we can add the inflections -ed, -er, -est, or -es to root words ending in y. Our grammar focus will be on verbs that tell about the past. Our word wall words are took, traveled, almost, able, blue, great, and poured. Our anthology story this week is a nonfiction story. Our comprehension focuses this week are on rereading when we don't understand something and noticing and recalling details. Details are bits of information that help readers picture in their minds what is happening. Details can tell what something looks like, how it sounds, or what it does. Details help us answer questions such as Who? What? Where? and When?

Writing Workshop: During our Craft of Revision unit this week, we will continue to work on "showing, not telling". Remember, if an author says, "I was happy," that is telling. If an author writes, "I skipped all the way home, humming happy songs as if my heart would burst," that's showing. We will also work on revising endings.

Math: We will be taking our Unit 7 assessment this week and beginning Unit 8. We will be reviewing counting and exchanging coins, introducing the dollar, facilitating the use of money to explore place-value, and extending place-value concepts to hundreds.

Science/Social Studies: Florida and weather continue to be our focuses. In addition to learning about the various types of weather we have in Florida, we will also learn about the state tree - Sabal Palm, the state animal - Florida Panther, and the state bird - Mockingbird.

Volunteers this week:

* Tuesday - Art - Chris Chen (12:05)
* Thursday - Library Check-out - Julie Piper and Molly Camp - 2:05
* Friday - Math Game - Ailsa Hudson (9:00)
* Friday - Parent Reader - Leigh Harting (2:15)

Other Important Reminders/Dates/Information:

Class Picture Day is this Wednesday, March 30!

Our next Spirit Day is this Thursday, March 31. It is on a Thursday this month Relay for Life was the last Friday of the month.

This Friday, April 1, we will celebrate the groundbreaking for the new Athletic Center. Ceremonies begin at 8:30 a.m. We will return to the classroom at 9:15. There is a reception for adults until 10:00 a.m.

Field Day will be Tuesday, April 5 and will involve grades K-4. Information will come home soon regarding the color of the team your child is on. That is the color shirt they should wear that day. Don't forget to let me or the PE coaches know if you can volunteer to help that day!

During Celebrate the Arts week (April 11 - April 14), we have a field trip to Raymond James on Tuesday, April 12, to view the wonderful sculptures and other art. Remember, if you are planning to join us, you must let me know by Thursday, April 7th.

Stay Dry have a great week!
Susan and Beth