More Volunteer Help...

First of all, thank you to everyone who has come to the classroom to help in one way or another. You are so appreciated. Here are some new things that we need a little help with.

• September 30th -10:30 -11:30- Chalk Art Festival - Two or three parents to help student groups tape off their grid, keep students on task with their art project, give design advice if needed. If you can't come, perhaps you can send some of the following items to school on Thursday - sidewalk chalk(new or used), 1 - 2 inch masking tape, sponges for blending, any size paintbrush. Please contact me if you are interested.
• Can anyone come in on Thursday, October 29th from about 1:00- 2:00 to supervise shuttle run practice and lap running, while I test half the class on pull ups? We need to squeeze in two events because of short week. Please contact me if you are interested.
•  On October 10th, Ms. Tucker and I would like to have a makeup session for all Fitness events. We need one or two parents to supervise a Capture the Flag game while we run the tests for students who want to give it one last shot. This will be from 1:00 - 2:00. Please contact me if you are interested.
• Finally, we will be having a sixth grade craft day on Thursday, October 27th, from about 10:15 -12:00. Students will make witches for Halloween. I'll need two or three volunteers to help with fun things like threading needles, and hot glue safety. More information on items students will need will be posted later. Please contact me if you are interested.

Been too long...

It's been over two weeks since I last posted. My intention is to post at least once a week, but things got busy. So here what has been going on.

• Students were sent home today with their first progress reports. They were coached on how to read them, and the expectation is that they share them with parents and discuss what areas they can improve in. Please be sure to sign the chart in front of the Red Folder, so I know parents have been informed. Students may still turn in any work that was missing for any reason, or overlooked because of an absence. I'll be sending an updated version next week. P.S. There is still a box in my class full of "no name" work.
• The Red Folders have the Bobcat Goal Sheet in the back. Please look these over and decide what goals you will strive for this year. It's not too early to start.
• PTA Reflections Contest has started. The theme this year is "Diversity Means...". A flyer went home, but a copy is available at the office. Deadline for entries is Oct. 18th.
• Red Ribbon Week is Oct. 24th - Oct. 27th. Look for information about the activities the PTA has planned for this year. In conjunction with Red Ribbon Week' s message, we have invited Hillcrest High School's Peer Leadership Team to speak to our students about peer refusal skills. They'll be visiting 6th Grade classrooms on October 11th.
• On Friday, September 30th, we will have our first Monthly Incentive Activity. Students who have earned enough money will be participating in a Chalk Art Festival on Friday from 9:30-11:45.  We would love some parents to help kids tape their grids to the sidewalk and supervise.  Please let me know if you're available!  Also, some items your child may find helpful are sidewalk chalk, sponges, clothes that can get dirty, hat/sunscreen, paintbrushes, and masking tape.
  Thank you for your donations!
• Next week we'll conduct the final tests for Presidential Physical Fitness. Each day students will test for one of the events, so dress properly. Next Friday, October 7th, Sixth Graders will walk to Brighton High Track to test for the mile run for Presidential Fitness. They've been training so hard this year! A note went home today asking for the sack lunch count for the field trip.

I hope this was informative. Check in regularly for more information.

SBO Election Speeches

Taemour D.

Alexxis W.

Katie B.

Chloe Y.

Nathan W.

Lindsey S.

Wonderful job on the speeches for Student Body Officers! The audience was highly entertained. The final vote resulted in the election of Taemour D. for president, Katie B. for vice- president, and Lindsey S. for secretary.

Next we will be having elections for classroom representatives this week. This is much more informal, but our class will choose two additional students to represent us in the student council meetings. Anyone with an interest and a passing grades in all academic subjects may try.

Class Volunteers

Just wanted to update everyone on our volunteer needs. We now have 2 room moms, Lisa Fox and Mindy Sowers are co- room parenting this year. So you may be hearing from them from time to time.

We also filled the Meet the Masters position. Thank you!

We've had a few people come in to help with clerical stuff. I'm always in need of these kind of helpers! If you'd like to come in one day, let me know the day before and I'll set some jobs aside for you.

We've also had a few P.E. helpers,  too.

Thank you for offering your support, and I'll keep you all informed of new things that come up.

Nancy Bauman

Student Body Government

Students interested in SBO prepared speeches and spoke to their peers today about their strengths, their hopes for this school year, and their desire to lead Butler students in making our school a better place. As teachers, Miss Tucker and I were so impressed by the quality of these speeches, and the qualifications of these students.

Alas, there can be only three! So the sixth graders voted for their favorites, and the top six vote receivers will move on to final elections next Friday. Congratulations to Taemour D., Alexxis W., Nathan W., Lindsey S., Katie B., and Chloe Y.

Also congratulations everyone for doing such an amazing job on your speeches, for representing yourselves so well, and for having the courage to speak to your peers.

Jacob N.

Taemour D.

Jack D.

Chloe Y.

Katie B.

MacKenzie L

Lindsey S.

Alexxis W. - (sorry about the sideways format)

Nathan W.

Eric Wagner

Lillian D.

Homework to expect each week ...

Homework to look for every week includes a Spelling assignment, which is given on the first day of the week and due on Friday. The test on that week's words is also on Friday.  For the first seven weeks of school, students will also be given a Current Events asisignment on the first day of the week. This will be due on Thursday.

Other Homework

Generally, I give a lesson, explain an assignment, then I give students time to work on the assignment in class. I try to give them enough time to get a good bit of the assignment done, or at least enough time to discover any misunderstandings. Most students, if they use their time wisely, complete most of their work during class time. However, if an assignment is not completed, I give a due date and write it on our assignment board. The expectation is that the student finish it at home, or even during free time at school.

Book Reports

In my class I require a monthly book report. Please note that the first book report is due Friday, September 23rd. The literature genre is student’s choice, however, there is a 100-page requirement, and the book cannot have been made into a movie. Book reports this month will be written as a 5-Paragraph Report. Each month the book report will have a different format. As a class we will review what is expected, and your student will be given a handout to refer to when completing their report.

 

First 2 weeks!

Dear Parents,

            We had a successful first two weeks of 6^th grade. We spent time getting to know one another and learning about our school rules and classroom expectations. We also began working on our curriculum goals. I’ve enjoyed getting to know your student and their particular interests and abilities.

            In sixth grade we have a lot going on. One way of keeping up with what we are doing in our classes is through your student’s planner. Students are required to record all assignments and check them off as they are completed. Sixth graders are also required to complete at least 150 minutes of independent reading per week.

This year we will participate again in the Road to Success program, which is sponsored by Ken Garff. Students who meet their reading goal each week will receive tickets to enter for a chance to win a brand new bike, which will be given away every 8 weeks.  Please document minutes in the planners with your initials each time your child reads. If student read 150 minutes per week, they will receive two entry tickets for that week (and an A in independent reading). If they read at least 120 minutes per week, they will receive one ticket (but this will result in a B in independent reading).

 I realize that many students have other obligations and that they may have extra homework on some nights, so I will focus on total minutes for the week rather than nightly minutes. I will check planners every Monday for the previous week. Thank you for your cooperation and support.

            Another way of keeping up with your student’s progress is through the progress reports they receive on the last Monday of each month in the Red Folders. We will be teaching mixed math classes this year, and we will rotate home room classes for every new unit of Science. The reports list all graded work, scores, and missing, late or incomplete work. If you ever have problems deciphering the reports, please call or email me at nancy.bauman@canyonsdistrict.org

            As a 6^th grade team we feel that students need to be responsible for their learning and prepared with their assignments. Late work will not receive full credit. Each situation will be given individual consideration. Absent students will have one week following their return to school to complete and turn in missed work.

Also thank you for responding to the SEP survey about your child. Your response was very valuable to me. I will take your recommendations, your hopes and your worries into consideration throughout the year.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Bauman