Dennis's Dynamos

News and Notes

Hope everyone has a restful Thanksgiving holiday!  Thank you to all of the volunteers for helping out in the classroom. 

Congratulations to Leslie and Nesan for being great "Star of the Month" winners for October and November.  Congratulations to Savannah our new star for December!

Happy Birthday to Doran and Amiyah (over the break)! 

We have enjoyed learning about Thomas Jefferson this week as we all got to sign our own "Declaration of Independence"!  When we get back from break we will begin learning about magnets and how we use them in our lives.  Continue practicing money and making fair trades with it.  Practice counting change back when you go to the store.

Our holiday party is scheduled for December 17, 11:30-12:15.  If you would like to help out let me know and I will contact the Room Mom.

Fall Updates

We celebrated several Fall birthdays recently.  They are Leslie and Nesan (September), Savannah, Hailey, and Olivia (October)  Happy Fall birthdays! 

Thank you to parents for attending conferences this past week.  I enjoyed getting to know you and being able to share your child's stengths and goals.  Your help at home means a lot, so please continue!  It is really important for your child to read every night and be asked comprehension questions to check for understanding.  We have been discussing story characters, setting, problem and solution.  Many students have begun the Accelerated Reader program.

We have begun working on money.  Practice counting change at home.  Think of different ways to make the same amount.  For example, how many ways can you make 37 cents?

Upcoming dates:

Book Fair November 15-19

Thanksgiving Feast (in the cafeteria) November 17

News and Reminders

It's been a great couple of weeks so far.  The students are adjusting well to first grade.  I appreciate all of the support that I have gotten from parents regarding behavior.  It really helps and keeps our classroom focused on learning.

Thanks to Mrs. Rometo for graciously volunteering to be our Room Mom this year.  I know there are many parents that have mentioned they would not mind helping out.  I appreciate all of your time and devotion to our classroom.

We will begin to study weather this week!  We are discussing different types of weather and recording data on weather.  Here are some fun websites:

www.weather.com

www.accuweather.com/kids/kids-games.asp

Reminders:

Wednesday, August 25th is Early Release Day, Dismissal 12:15

Class t-shirt money is due Auguest 31st.

Welcome!

The start to the new school year has been great!  Each day I learn something new about the students.  I loved learning all about their names today.

Thank you all for the supplies and various playground/treasure box donations!

Some of you have asked about Target (Gifted Program).  There is an information session given by our gifted teacher, Monica Hodges on August 31st at 5:30 p.m. 

Please don't be surprised if you get a note that your child is a bit talkative.  First grade is a big change and we need to make sure our behavior is under control so that we can learn and be successful.  I appreciate your support!

We do not have a Room Mom for our classroom yet, so please let me know if you are interested.

Have a great weekend!

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Reminders

Thursday, November 19, 12:22-12:52 will be our Thanksgiving Feast in the cafeteria.

Our Star of the month for November was Chris!  Congratulations to him!

We are learning more about Cole this week as our Star of the Week.

We are enjoying learning about sound (ask your child about our Mystery Eggs) and look forward to learning about the journey of Lewis and Clark!

Remember our Thanksgiving holiday break will be November 23-27. I hope that everyone has a nice break.  We will see you on Monday, November 30th.

News

Important Message about Breakfast: 

Beginning Monday, October 26, 2009,

students that are morning car riders

must be in the breakfast line no later

than 7:40 a.m. This procedure is in

place to help protect instructional

time and begin the day promptly at

7:50 a.m. Thank you for your support.

Congratulations to our October Star of the Month, Riley!  We will learn about our November Star shortly!

We enjoyed learning about Myles last week as he was our Star of the Week.  We look forward to learning more about Christopher this week.

Please continue to work on money with your child.  Students are expected to be able to count out coin combinations up to $1.00.  Also we will be learning how to make fair trades and make change.  We will also be counting paper money and learning the same skills such as making change, counting combinations up to $20.00.

We just finished up learning about the water cycle.  Ask your child how he/she can do an experiment at home to produce condensation.

We are learning about Thomas Jefferson and his contributions to our country.  Ask your child about the Declaration of Independence.  We will be learning about different sounds and their pitch. 

Here are some fun websites for your child.

www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/k_5/quizzes  (click on 2nd grade)

www.pitara.com/activities/wordplay

Important Dates:

Friday, October 30 is Hat Day.

Tuesday, November 3 is a student holiday.

Wednesday, November 11th will be Picture Retakes

Beginning Monday, October 26, 2009,

students that are morning car riders

must be in the breakfast line no later

than 7:40 a.m. This procedure is in

place to help protect instructional

time and begin the day promptly at

7:50 a.m. Thank you for your support.

Congratulations to our October Star of the Month, Riley!  We will learn about our November Star shortly!

We enjoyed learning about Myles last week as he was our Star of the Week.  We look forward to learning more about Christopher this week.

Please continue to work on money with your child.  Students are expected to be able to count out coin combinations up to $1.00.  Also we will be learning how to make fair trades and make change.  We will also be counting paper money and learning the same skills such as making change, counting combinations up to $20.00.

We just finished up learning about the water cycle.  Ask your child how he/she can do an experiment at home to produce condensation.

We are learning about Thomas Jefferson and his contributions to our country.  Ask your child about the Declaration of Independence.  We will be learning about different sounds and their pitch. 

Here are some fun websites for your child.

www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/k_5/quizzes  (click on 2nd grade)

www.pitara.com/activities/wordplay

Important Dates:

Friday, October 30 is Hat Day.

Tuesday, November 3 is a student holiday.

Wednesday, November 11th will be Picture Retakes

PTA Newsletter

BLACKWELL BULLETIN

Blackwell Elementary School October 2009

A Big Thank You!

Fall Festival this year was a huge success!

There are so many little things that must come together and THEY DID.

There were countless volunteers who showed up, gave their time and stayed longer than their scheduled time. There were generous donations from the parents. Lots of chips, drinks, prizes and candy were donated and we thank you so much.

Thank you to the teachers, faculty and staff of Blackwell, you are wonderful.

We also plan to do it again

by having a Spring Fling this year!!!

We will be asking for the same

donations and volunteers.

We are planning some GREAT surprises

so look for details in April 2010.

Lucretia Elliott, President Nikki Brown, Vice President

Teresa Kendrick, Secretary Wendy Sandberg, Treasurer

TO DO LIST:



Join PTA for only $5, we need EVERY parent to join!

 Check out the new PTA website

www.blackwell.ptsamail.com



Avoid Fundraisers and PLEDGE INSTEAD…$25, $35 or $45 to Blackwell PTA per family

Blackwell Elementary

678-494-7600

www.cobbk12.org/~blackwell

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

October:

5

th Run Girls Run 6:50-7:20am

6th Domino’s Pizza Night

7th Fall Picture Day

Run Girls Run 6:50-7:20am

12th Run Girls Run

6:50-7:20am

Barnes & Noble Book Fair

Stevie B’s 4:30 – 9pm

13th Barnes & Noble Book Fair

14

th Run Girls Run 6:50-7:20am

15

th Chick-Fil-A morning carpool

19th Run Girls Run

6:50-7:20am

20th Picture Retakes

21

st Run Girls Run 6:50-7:20

Early Release 12:20

22

nd Chick-fil-A Night 5-8pm

Skate Night 6-8pm

26

th–30th Red Ribbon Week

30th Hat Day

31st Halloween

November:

1st End of Daylight Savings

3

rd No School – Teacher Workday

5

th Five Guys Night 5-8pm

PTA GENERAL MTG – 6:30

5th Grade Performance

6

th FOUNDATION-Movie Night

6pm – Chicken Little

Make it a great year,

Become a volunteer!

Make it a great year,

Become a volunteer!

Make it a great year,

Become a volunteer!

Make it a great year,

Become a volunteer!

SCHOOL SUPPLIES @ THE SCHOOL STORE

No more trips to the grocery store to buy paper towels for your child’s class.

No reason to remember to pick up an extra box of band-aids.

The PTA offers all of the items your teacher needs at the school store. Send in an envelope with your donation of $1, $2, $5 or any amount.

Write your teacher’s name & PTA School Supplies…

That’s it!!!!

The money goes into their account and they can purchase items they need throughout the year.

You can donate any time…

(like when you find a dollar stuck in the couch cushions)

Announcing the 3

rdAnnual

HTMS Husky Foundation

Holiday Shoppe!!!!

Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 10 AM – 3 PM

Hightower Trail Middle School

3905 Post Oak Tritt Road, Marietta

Booth options are available:

Lobby: 5x12 feet or 8x8 feet $ 45

Main entry hall: 5x12 feet $ 40

Adjourning entry hall: 5x12 feet $ 35

Cafeteria: 8x8 feet $ 30

Adjacent hallway: 5x12 feet $ 25

Please also plan to donate an item of your choice;

(approximate $25 value for our gift drawing)

 You may arrive at 8 AM to set up your display.

 Students will be available to help carry in goods.

 Restrooms are available

 Pizza, snacks and drinks will be available for sale.

 Tables are on a first come, first served basis

To reserve your space, contact

DEBBIE GAYNOR at gaynor8@att.net

Your registration fee and proceeds from the drawing will go directly to the HTMS Husky Foundation to provide the needed funding resources for curriculum-connected programs and facilities for the Hightower community of students, parents, and educators to deliver the highest level of middle school excellence.

Thank you for your support of the HTMS Husky Foundation!

BARNES & NOBLE

Book Fair

Monday, Oct. 12th

4:00 - Story-time with Mrs. Sherri, Media Specialist

5:00- Scavenger Hunt

5:30- Story-time with Mrs. O’Dell

5:50- Costume Contest

6:10- Chorus Performance

6:50- Chorus Performance

Parents you can shop anytime that day & the following 2 days also, just let the cashier know you are from Blackwell E. S.

OCTOBER 30TH

Boo-Grams

PTA will be selling chocolate and lollipops Boo- grams.

Look for the flyer in your child’s take home folder.

Boo-grams for all your

friends & teachers!!

CLARKDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE

We will be accepting donations for

one week only!!!!

OCTOBER 12

th – 16th

Please mark all your donations "Clarkdale Donations"

The Blackwell Foundation

would like to thank everyone who sent in donations for the

Fall Festival Silent Auction baskets.

We appreciate your support.

The auction was a huge success and we raised

$1,650

for technology!

Watch for $10 for Technology envelopes coming home soon. Please donate $10 - or more – so we can purchase

SMARTboards for Blackwell classrooms.

The class with the highest participation by December 10th wins a pizza party!

The next Chick-fil-A morning is October 15th

Chicken biscuits and water are $3,

Butter biscuits are $1.

Congratulations to this year's Blackwell Bulldog Honors Chorus!

Abby B.

Alekhya P.

Connor M.

Jade N.

Jaylene C.

Kya S.

Mihail I.

Puja D.

These outstanding students will be performing with 5th Grade singers from across the county on Thursday, October 22 at 7:00 in the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of Marietta. Please join us, if you can!

Blackwell Foundation Presents:

Chicken Little

Bring a blanket & join the Blackwell Foundation for Family Movie Night

In the cafeteria

November 6

th @ 6pm (movie starts at 6:30)

Popcorn, drinks and candy will be available for sale & we are pre-selling

hamburgers and hot dogs.

$5.00 for a hamburger, drink, chips and a glow necklace.

$4.00 for a hot dog, drink, chips and a glow necklace.

Just want to come and enjoy the movie? ...That’s FREE!!

Limited to the first 175 people; so make sure to sign up before October 23rd.

This is a family event, no drop offs please.

Students Name:_____________________________ Grade:______

We would like to purchase ______ hamburger meals.

We would like to purchase_____ hot dog meals.

We have_____ people that are coming to enjoy the movie. (no food)

Please make checks payable to: Cobb County Schools Foundation

If you would like to volunteer please email Kim Gerdes at blackwellfoundation@yahoo.com.

Congratulations to our Student Council Winners!!!

Head Council Members 5

th Grade Reps 4th Grade Reps Robbie Zeineddine-President David Son Charlie Cortez Josh Blancato-VP Dennis Dubica Raegan Lehaman Nathaniel Elliott-Secretary Nick Cullinane Griffin Brown Michael Dodson Trace Fowler Kendall Bailey Pria Verma

Deidre Long

The Clothesline

Gently used clothing for all seasons for men, women, boys, girls, and infants

will be given away

FREE.

No proof of need is required.

Clothing Giveaway

Open to the Community

October 17

from 8:00am to 1:00pm

Piedmont Church

570 Piedmont Road

Marietta, GA 30066

770-422-2566

Thanksgiving Baskets and Cobb Christmas:

OPEN TO COBB RESIDENTS WHO QUALIFY...

please call Center For Family Resources if you would like to volunteer and/or donate to help feed 1500 families this holiday season! 770-428-2601 ext. 414

Registration is Tuesday October 20th

and Weds. 21st from 9am-4pm...

will close early if slots fill!!!

Cobb Civic Center 548 South Marietta Pkwy.

Marietta, 30060 (by bus depot on 120 Loop)

MUST HAVE:

1. Picture ID

2. Birth certificates or Social Security cards for ALL household members

3. Pay stubs for 4 weeks or separation notice, unemployment compensation, TANF, SS and child support documents

4. Letter from family if they provide support

PICK UP IS

MONDAY NOVEMBER 23

RD & TUES. 24th

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY @ REGISTRATION!!

News and Reminders

Today we celebrated two birthdays!  Happy 7th Birthday to Alex and Joseph!  We also learned about Alex as our Star of the Week.  Thanks to all of the parents for sending in their apples last Friday.  The students enjoyed eating the applesauce.  We also got an introduction to our folk hero, Johnny Appleseed.

We are continuing to study Ben Franklin and good nutrition.  Ask your child what a balanced meal has in it.  Encourage them to eat something from all food groups at each meal.  Ask them to tell you about the food pyramind.

Ask your child about all of the many inventions by Ben Franklin.  We learned a lot about how the things that he invented are still used today.  Ask your child how life would be different.

We are going to be working on counting money up to 30 cents next week.  Please practice counting coins at home to help them.  Use real money to show them ways to make different coin combinations for the same amount.  (Ex. How many different ways can we make 25 cents?)

Please keep working on sight words for the 200 word club.  Also, I will be coming up with something new for those that have already completed the 200 word club.  Please remember to read your "book-in -a-bag" every  night.  It is important for them to read as much as possible.  I am very proud of all those that have been working hard on those books and those that have begun the Accelerated Reader Program.

Have a great weekend!

News and Reminders

This Friday I will be assessing students on the continents and oceans.  A study map was sent home last week.  Also, here is a great website to practice with:  www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/worldquiz.html

We would like to keep our classrooms as germ-free as possible.  If you are able to, please send in Clorox wipes or any other type of disinfectant so that I can clean desks daily.  I appreciate anything you can give.

This week we will be studying good nutrition and Ben Franklin.  We had a visitor from Well Star last week that introduced us to the food pyramid.  Ask you child to name the different food groups!

We are still working on subtraction facts this week.  Practice them at home and remind your child to always check the sign (+, -).  We discussed vocabulary such as sum and difference as well.

We celebrated Cole's birthday last Friday and this week Riley will be turning 7.  Happy Birthday!

Congratulations to Myles, Chris, and Cole for joining the 200 Words Club.  Great Job!

Congratulations to Joseph as our Blackwell Star of the Month, keep up the good work!

Friday we will be cooking applesauce in the classroom to introduce one of our folk heroes, Johnny Appleseed.  Please send in 2 PEELED and SLICED apples on Friday!

Next week, our Star of the Week will be Alex!