Last week of school!

The saying that time flies when you're having fun couldn't be more true.  I can't believe that we are within days of the end of the 2012-2013 school year and that I am sending all of my kiddos on to 5th grade.  It has truly been a pleasure to be your child's teacher and I wish you and your family the very best!

A few reminders for the end of the year:

• End of Year Awards Ceremony is Thursday at 9 am in the cafeteria.  I hope to see you there to help celebrate all their achievements!
• End of Year Party/Breakfast will be at 8:30 on Friday.  Please check in at the front office and then come to the portable to celebrate with us.  If you have not signed up to bring something for the party but would like to, please use the following link.  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A4CA4AF22AB9-endofyear

Alamo Field Trip This Week!

Upcoming Events:

• Book Fair is this week with Family Night on Tuesday. We will have a time for children to make their wish lists.
• During the PTA Meeting on Tuesday, we will also be having Math Night. This is an awesome opportunity to get a few games for your kids to practice their math skills over the summer.
• WBE Explorer Idol Talent Show is on Friday! Come by to see all of the talented kids we have!!!!
• YEARBOOKS FOR SALE! If you haven't yet ordered one, you can still send in $25 (cash or check) to be sure your child gets one. They will be distributed to all of the students on Monday.

Alamo Field Trip Reminders:
The Alamo Field Trip is on FRIDAY! Remember that all students need to be dropped off at school at 6:35AM and picked up at 5:00PM!  The bus is pulling out of the school parking lot at 7:00. We need students here on time so that we can be sure we are prepared to leave. If your child is not at school on time, other arrangements have been made for them to attend class.

• A few reminders:
• All students need to bring a sack lunch! Please do NOT send canned or bottled soft drinks. It is a good idea to bring a disposable plastic water bottle. 
• Camera are allowed, WITHOUT FLASH.
• Children do NOT need to bring money, because we will not have time to stop in the museum or Alamo gift shop.
• Electronic devices are NOT allowed, for example: iPad, iPod, MP3, cell phones, DS
• If you have any questions, please let me know!

Mark Your Calendar:

May 13-17 - Book Fair
May 14 - Book Fair Family Night until 6:00pm
May 14 - PTA Meeting ft. Family Math Night 6:30pm
May 16 - Meet the PTA Coffee Hour 7:30am

May 17 - Alamo Field Trip (be at school at 6:35am, return at 5:00pm)

May 17 - WBE Talent Show
May 21 - Symphony Field Trip
May 22 - Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast 7:30am
May 22 - Walking Field Trip to Mills Pond
May 27 - No School Memorial Day
May 30 - End of the Year Awards Ceremony 9:00am
May 31 - Last Day of School/Breakfast Party 8:30-9:30am

What we're learning...
Math - measuring angles (assessment Tuesday), math project
Science - producers, consumers, decomposers, food webs (assessment Thursday)
Social Studies - modern day Texas
Language Arts -

Homework:
Daily - Read for 20 minutes. Practice multiplication facts.
Monday - Math Warm-Up Series 9 Page 3
Tuesday - summary
Wednesday - Math Warm-Up Series 8 Page 4

Inner Space Caverns Field Trip Week!

Reminders/Upcoming Events:

• This Sunday (May 5th), the Dual Language students in Pre-K to 2nd grade will be having a Lemonade Sale here at WBE for National Lemonade Day. Check out the flier for more information.
• Tuesday is our field trip to the caverns. Please remember to have your child wear their class shirt and tennis shoes!!!!! Also, if you checked on the permission slip they would be bringing a sack lunch, please be sure to send it.
• Friday is Career Day. We will be able to visit with many people in different careeers and learn from them. This is always a fun and interesting day!
• YEARBOOKS ARE HERE! If you haven't yet ordered one, you can still send in $25 (cash or check) to be sure your child gets one. They will be distributed to all of the students on Monday.

Mark Your Calendar:

May 5 - Lemonade Sale
May 6-10 - Teacher Appreciation Week :)
May 7 - Caverns Field Trip
May 10 - Career Day
May 13-17 - Book Fair
May 14 - Book Fair Family Night until 6:00pm
May 14 - PTA Meeting ft. Family Math Night
May 16 - Meet the PTA Coffee Hour 7:30am

May 17 - Alamo Field Trip (be at school at 6:35am, return at 5:00pm)

May 17 - WBE Talent Show
May 21 - Symphony Field Trip
May 22 - Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast 7:30am
May 22 - Walking Field Trip to Mills Pond
May 27 - No School Memorial Day
May 30 - End of the Year Awards Ceremony 9:00am
May 31 - Last Day of School/Breakfast Party 8:30-9:30am

What we're learning...
Math - measuring angles
Science - producers, consumers, & decompsers
Social Studies - current life in Texas
Language Arts - persuasive texts

Homework:
Daily - Read for at least 20 minutes. Practice multiplication facts.
Monday - Series 9 Page 1
Tuesday - summary
Wednesday - Series 9 Page 2
Thursday - summary

Week of April 29th

Upcoming Events/Reminders

• Tuesday evening is Jumpoline Night from 5-7pm. Teachers will be on hand to jump with the kids. Part of the proceeds earned is returned directly to WBE! This is a great fundraiser for us and great opportunity for your children to release some extra energy. $7 per jumper. Every jumper has to sign a waiver. Waivers can be accessed online in advance.  Jumpers must wear socks. You can arrive early to get checked in a sign waiver.
• Friday is Field Day!! Parent Volunteers are still needed by the PE coaches. If you would like to volunteer, please let me know and I'll pass your e-mail on to them. Please be sure your child wears their CLASS SHIRT on Friday! So that you or your child doesn't forget, they can bring their shirt to school earlier in the week and leave it with me. Field Day will not start for us until 12:45. Parents are welcome to join us for Field Day festivities. Students should remember to bring a bottle of water and sunscreen!!
• We will be going on 3 Field Trips in May. The permission slips have all been sent home. The newest is the Alamo on May 17th. Please notice that the field trip requires students to be at school earlier than the normal school day (6:35am) and picked up later than the usual school day (5:00pm). If you have any questions about any of these trips, please don't hesitate to let me know!

Other Upcoming Events:

• May 7 - Caverns Field Trip
• May 17 - Alamo Field Trip
• May 17 - WBE Talent Show
• May 21 - Symphony Field Trip
• May 27 - No School Memorial Day
• May 30 - Last Day of School

What we're learning...

Math - angles (specific measurements)

Science - Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers

Social Studies - 21st Century

Language Arts - novel study

Homework:

Daily - Practice multiplication facts. Read for at least 20 minutes.

Monday - Series 9 Page 5

Tuesday - summary

Wednesday - Series 9 Page 4

Thursday - summary

Power up for STAAR!

Upcoming Events/Reminders:

• The Spring Festival is from 2-6 on Saturday. You may purchase tickets in advance at school. (Purchasing in advance is a little bit of a discount.) If you are new to WBE, this is a fun event for your entire family. If you live close, it's best to walk to school. There will be all sorts of games, food for purchase, and a silent auction.
• I will be sending home math homework M-Th of this week.  The pages we have assigned are a review of everything your child will be responsible for on STAAR. This is in addition to their normal Tuesday/Thursday reading homework!
• We will be having motivational week for the upcoming STAAR tests the week of April 15th.  If you would like to donate any trinkets or goodies for that week it would be greatly appreciated.  Contact me if you would like ideas for things to donate.
• Math STAAR is April 23rd and Reading STAAR is April 24th. 
• Tuesday is another School Spirit Day. Students are asked to dress as superheros (no masks please).
• Thank you for all of your Spring Festival donations!!!

What we're learning...
Math - cumulative review
Science - life cycles
Social Studies - 20th Century Texas
Language Arts - reviewing all genres

Homework:
Monday - STAAR Warm-Up Series 10 page 4
Tuesday - STAAR Warm-Up Series 10 page 5/reading passage
Wednesday - STAAR Warm-Up Series 10 page 6
Thursday - STAAR Warm-Up Series 10 page 7/reading passage

Week of March 25-29

Reminders/Upcoming Events:

• We are so very excited about our new Power Up for STAAR (Super Mario Brothers) theme for our STAAR review week.  We will be using this theme to help motivate students to fine tune all of their skills prior to the Math and Reading STAAR Assessment.  If you are able to help make decorations or would like to make donations, please contact me. 
• There is NO SCHOOL on FRIDAY due to a Spring Holiday. Enjoy the 3-day weekend!
• The STAAR Writing Test is Tuesday, April 2nd and Wednesday, April 3rd. Be sure your child is completing their nightly homework as well as getting a good night's rest and healthy breakfast to be sure they are ready for a full day of learning. This is especially important for the nights before the test to ensure they are ready to show everything they've learned this year!
• The STAAR Parent Night provided helpful information so that parents are aware of the types of questions your child will be answering on the upcoming tests. If you were unable to make it and would like to look at those questions, here is the link. There are questions for all grade levels and test subjects. Please look over them and feel free to go over them with your child.
• We are still in need of baking/cooking items and colored hair spray donations for the Spring Festival. 

What we're learning...
Math - geometry (2D, 3D, transformations)
Science - inherited traits and learned behaviors
Social Studies - oil industry
Writing - REVIEW FOR STAAR (revising old compositions, revising/editing, qualities of good )compositions

Homework:
Daily - Read for at least 20 minutes. Practice multiplication facts!
Monday - revising/editing AND 2D shape hunt/p.141
Tuesday - revising/editing
Wednesday - revising/editing AND p.137/138

Week of March 18th

• STAAR Infomation Night is Tuesday, 3/19 at 6:30.  This is a great opportunity to get infomation about the upcoming STAAR Assessment, look at some sample questions, and ask any questions you may have.  I hope to see you there!
• Please remember we only have two weeks before we take our Writing STAAR Tests on April 2 and 3.
• Class will not be held on March 29th. 
• This is the time of year when Round Rock ISD asks all parents and students to fill out a Climate Survey. Please take a moment to fill this out. I will be taking all of your children to the computer lab to fill theirs out before the deadline. I appreciate your participation. Use the links to complete the survey: English or Spanish
• We are still seeking  donations for Spring Festival. We are in need of donations for both our 4th grade auction basket and the 4th grade booth: baking/cooking items & colored hair spray.

What we're learning...
Math - Geometry
Science - Adaptations
Social Studies - Railroads
Reading - expository - cause/effect, main idea/details, fact/opinion
Writing - expository composition about important item

Homework:
Daily - Practice multiplication facts. Read for at least 20 minutes.
Monday - pg. 132-133
Tuesday - revising/editing
Wednesday - pg. 126-127
Thursday - reading passage