Awesome October

Halloween

Wow! Our first holiday of the year is already upon us, and the sixth grade teachers could use your help! Below, I have included a list of tasks that could use the support of some parent helpers. Again, if you are interested in one of the specific tasks below, please let me know. 

Our party will run from 2:00-2:50 on Wednesday, October 31. If you are coming to the party, you MUST have a background check on file and check in at the front desk before coming upstairs. 

Halloween Party Tasks 

• Go to Winco to purchase 60 reasonable priced, but decent tasting apples. Also purchase enough small caramels (bulk) and cheesy popcorn (popped and cheap!) for the whole sixth grade student body (about 165 students).

• Arrive before party to cut apples

• Stay through party to pass out food

• Stay after party to help clean up

The students are welcome to wear costumes to school on Halloween, but please remember: no gore, weapons, or masks. We are also asking students to NOT to apply make-up during the school day (this includes using markers to decorate your body!). 

Google Accounts

I was hoping our district would be establishing Google Accounts for our students this fall. Unfortunately, it looks like this may not be the case. In the meantime, I have a project I would like the students to work on, which really works much better if they have a Google account. As a result, I am asking families if they could please create an account in the meantime. I will be sending home a form with your student on how to accomplish this task. If your child already has an account, they can use that. Please watch for this form before the end of the week.

Look at all the fun we have learning with technology! This is the class studying vocabulary with  Quizlet!

Progress Reports and Conference Scheduling

Next Friday, November 2, we have no school. This is to give teachers time to prepare progress reports for fall conferences the following week (November 8-9). The progress report is new to elementary schools, and I am still learning about this process. However, I am looking forward to sharing information about your student's progress at conferences. 

Conference scheduling is also different this year. Rather than sending home a sign-up request, parents will be able to log into Signup.com to schedule a time. I will be sending home more information about this process soon. In addition, watch for information in the school's newsletter. 

Fundraisers!

Thank you to all the families who supported our first round of Scrip fundraising. A special thanks needs to be extended to Anne P. and Mindy H. (parents) for helping make sure our order was picked up and organized. The sixth grade team appreciates you participation! 

Our next round of orders will go out the week of November 5th. I will have order forms available at the OPPO's Thirsty Thursday event and will send home notification next week. I know the OPPO would love to see you there, as well! Their support helps keep our field trip costs down and provides classroom monies for supplies. It is a super fun event; I look forward to seeing you there!

How Has it Already Been More Than a Month?

Busy Sixth Graders

Time is flying by in sixth grade! We have been working hard and have now moved more into the routines of the school year. This includes our weekly writing homework expectations, more science and social studies instruction, and a nearly a full unit from our language arts curriculum. 

Our biggest project of the first quarter, the partner interview, is also well underway. Student pairs have been meeting to interview one another in order to create a narrated slide show about their peer. This week, the students will be finishing up their scripts, and will hopefully begin the technology portion of the project before the week's end. My hope is to be able to have the work completed by fall conferences so families can see what their students produced.

Scrip Sale

This week, we should also be sending home information about our first Scrip sale. Please join sixth grade families in supporting our effort to fund raise for an end-of-the-year celebration trip to Oaks Amusement Park. If you have never purchased Scrip before, it easy! Here's how it works:

1. Choose from a number of gift cards available through the Scrip program. They have a number of local options, including Fred Meyer, Papa Murphy's, and Starbucks.

2. Fill out a Scrip order form. If your student forgot their form, you may use the following link HERE, or pick up a form from the main office.

3. Send your order form, and a check or cash payment back to school with your student by Monday, October 15th. Please make checks payable to Otto Petersen Elementary.

4. Orders will be sent home or ready for pick-up on October 19th.

Halloween is Coming

Halloween is just around the corner. If you are interested in helping out with our team party, please feel free to send me an email. I will also reach out to parents who filled out 'Parties' on the volunteer form. If you have time to run errands, like picking up paper supplies and food items for the party, please also let me know. We will hold a the grade level celebration on Wednesday, October 31st, from 1:55-2:50.