Rome Projects

The students did a fabulous job on the long term Rome projects that we did during 2nd Quarter. I hope all of you will come by the hallway display outside classroom #156 sometime after the New Year and appreciate the Mosaics and accompanying Writing projects that were completed by each student.

The Ship Sails at Daybreak!

There is big fun on the horizon, but we need the following items to make certain everyone is on board:

So . . .If you have:

plastic bottles such as soda pop comes in - either large or small

newspaper

modeling clay

straws

Please send them in AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Planning Ahead for our Winter Party

We will have a Winter Party on Friday, Dec. 17, from 2:00 - 3:35.

I would like each child to choose a book from their home library that they have enjoyed, and bring it in to trade with another student. The book should be gently used, suitable for a boy or a girl, and wrapped. The book title and subject should be kept a SECRET.

I need several HELPERS for the party. PLEASE CONTACT ME if you can HELP.

For food, please use the following guide:

If your Last Name starts with: Please Bring:
A, B, C, D - - - - - - - -- - - -2 dozen plain sugar cookies suitable for decorating
E, F, G, H, I, J, K - - - - - - -1 can frosting and 1 package of sprinkles
L, M, N, O, P, Q, R - - - - - - - 1 tray fresh, bite-sized fruit and/or veggies
S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z - - - - - 1 jug of apple cider

Christmas is Coming . . .

As we get ever closer to the Winter Break, please remind your children of the importance of respect, manners, and inside voices during the school day. Thank you so much for your help!!

Rome has INVADED Room 156!!

The kids have been having a great time learning about Ancient Rome. Part of the assessment is an art piece made in the tradition of tile mosaics. Some of the kids need to finish so they will be bringing home the components today. Since we have a 5 day break, they should be able to finish the project at home. It should be ready to turn in on Monday. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Imagination Makers

PARENTS, PLEASE JOIN US FOR A FANTASTIC PLAY RIGHT HERE AT BROMLEY EAST!!

Does your child know there was once a time in the days of early Colorado where kids didn't have video games? There were even some kids that had to work after school and on weekends to help feed their families.

Imagination Makers play, “Colorado Children”, transports students back to a time in the early 1900’s when an eight-year old boy helped his family pay the bills by having a job in a coal mine near Canon City. After seeing all nine true stories of these young pioneers, your children will feel a deeper appreciation for their 21st century comforts. But it wasn't all hard work for those early Colorado kids. Some of these true tales show how they also had fun in the still wild, west! This fast moving, toe tapping, musical play is performed by four professional actors and one musician. It is likely to inspire some lively discussions with you and your child.

We know exposing your child to cultural events can be expensive. Thanks to funds from our school and a grant from the Adams Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, Imagination Makers is performing this play at our school at no cost to parents, and only $1 for your student. You are warmly invited to “come on down” and see a slice of Colorado history step off the page and onto the stage!

TITLE: “Colorado Children”
DATE: Wednesday, December 8, 2010
TIME: 9:00 AM

If you are unable to attend, feel free to use your 21st century technology to see a clip of the play, or to download a free copy of the “Colorado Children” parent activity and discussion guide on Imagination Makers website (www.imaginationmakers.org).

Birthday Party Invitations

A Reminder:

Please pass out birthday party invitations at school only when everyone in the class is invited. When you have invitations for a select group of students, please find another time off campus to deliver the envelopes. I understand that it is not always financially possible to invite the entire class. However, it is very disheartening to the children to be left empty-handed while others are being 'chosen' to attend the event. If you could mail or otherwise deliver invitations to the smaller group of invitees, it would be very helpful. Thank you SO MUCH for your help in this matter.

Specials Schedule

Please note that I have added a tab for our Specials Schedule. Please make certain your student has the proper shoes on P.E. days, and library books on Library days.

Thank YOU!!

Thank you so much for attending conferences. When you take the time out of your schedule to attend conferences, it emphasizes the importance you place on education. Your child sees this, and internalizes the message that "School is Important!"

Fall Conferences

Please be sure to return the Conference Sign-up sheet that went home with your student last Thursday, Oct. 14. Times are assigned on a 'First Come, First Served' basis. Once I have you scheduled, your student will bring home the Confirmation sheet with the date and time indicated.

CARNIVAL BOOTH during Friday Harvest Hop

I am looking for volunteers to run a carnival booth on our classroom's behalf this coming Friday, Oct 15 during the Harvest Hop. Please contact Miss Seymour right away if you can run a booth from 6:00 to 7:30 on Friday evening.

Candy Needed

If you are able, please send in bags of individually wrapped candy treats. The 3rd and 4th grade teachers will pass out the candy to students during our annual Harvest Hop next Friday, Oct. 15.

Infinite Campus Parent Portal Instructions

Parents,

If you need assistance getting into Infinite Campus to see your child's progress, please email me at diseymour@bromleyeastcs.org, and I will email you a Power Point Tutorial.

PLEASE NOTE: I DO NOT have access to your ID. That is something that you get through the front office.

October Count

In consideration of 'October Count' and to celebrate Bromley East Charter School's tenth year of existence, there will be special activities in our room tomorrow, October 1st.

We will be watching a couple of special movies, including a biography of L. Frank Baum - the author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," getting a four-pack of homework passes which will be valid all year, and possibly having a popcorn party. [If you are a parent and are willing to come in the afternoon to help, that would be spectacular!!]

Of course we are a school, and it is a school day, so there will be the regular spelling and reading tests, as well as a fun Social Studies quiz.

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!! (As we used to say back in my day!)

Picture Day on Monday!

A reminder that Monday, Sept. 27 is Dress Up Day for our Fall pictures for Kindergarten through Fourth grades.

Grade Book

To All Third Grade Parents:
On Friday’s professional development day, the third grade team consulted with the B.E.C.S administration about grading. A decision was made to re-structure our grade book procedures. We all agree that it is important to provide students with many opportunities to practice and master skills, prior to being assessed. Up until now there has been a heavy emphasis on paper and pencil activities.
From this point forward we will continue to work hard to provide our students with instant, verbal in-class feedback. This means the informal daily work, i.e. reteach, workbooks, packets etc. may not be reflected in the grade book. The grade book will primarily reflect formal assessments. This means you will not be seeing as many grades on Infinite Campus, and the volume of graded work in the Friday Folder may decrease.
The data reviewed on Friday’s professional development indicated a more pressing need for a variety of instruction, feedback, and assessments. This will provide your child’s teacher with more opportunity to ensure mastery in the classroom. We are also working hard to incorporate a more effective use of technology. We believe this approach will help us to reach all learning styles more effectively, and continue to prepare our students to be more successful.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact your child’s teacher. We thank you for your support!

Sincerely,
Third Grade Team
Ms. Anderson
Mrs. Ellis
Ms. Seymour

Contact Information

It is extremely important that the school be able to reach you in an emergency. As well, your child should have a contact phone number memorized. If you know that any part of your contact information has changed since the last time you gave it to the school, email Susan in the office (skrider@bromleyeastcs.org) with the current info, including PHONE, EMAIL, and Another PERSON you trust and THEIR PHONE NUMBER.


Please begin immediately reviewing the phone number where your child can reach you should the need arise. Have your student recite the number over and over until s/he knows it by heart.

We're PAPERLESS!

Paperless is Here! We will now post all flyers, announcements, newsletters, etc. on our website. If you prefer to receive a paper copy of materials, you will need to request this option by signing a form available in the front office. Please take time to complete this form, and we will put copies of Friday Folder items in your youngest child’s Friday Folder beginning on Friday, October 1.

PLANNERS are Here. $5 Due NOW

The BECS Planner is a REQUIRED part and a critical piece of your child's 3rd grade education. After a brief delay, the Planners have now arrived. Please send in $5 right away!!! Make checks out to Bromley East Charter School.

MAP Testing

Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) are a series of tests that measure your student's general knowledge in reading, language usage, and math. The testing window is from September 8 to September 20. Please emphasize to your student the importance of doing their best.

On Planners, CSAP, Labor Day, GT Students, Lunch Volunteers, Morning Drop-Off Procedure

A reminder that the Bromley Planner is a required item on your child's 3rd Grade supply list. After a short delay, the Planners have now arrived. They are $5 and may be purchased from the front office.

BRING $5 ON TUESDAY, SEPT. 7 so that your student will have immediate access to this critical organizational tool.


Also, please be certain to read Mrs. Harrell's Sept 2 Newsletter on the front page of the Bromley East Web Site. It contains a number of other very important announcements.

Infinite Campus

If you access your child's "To Do" list, you may see assignments showing read and past due. This is a glitch in the Infinite Campus program. Brighton 27J District is aware of the problem and is working to correct the problem.

What I would ask you to look for to indicate that an assignment is Actually missing is the word "Missing" when you look at your child's Gradebook page.

Thanks!!

Planner Replacement

Until the regular Bromley planners arrive, I have provided a Homework Log for your student. I have taught the children how to read the log, which includes finding daily work that I have filled in for them, fill in work on their own, and keep a daily record of their behavior. Please note that the Log must be signed every day by a responsible adult at home. Please review the Homework Log daily with your child to make certain that they have completed all assignments.

Dear Parents,
Beginning Monday, Aug. 23, the children in my classroom will exchange* their time for misbehavior. Time will be exchanged after school from 3:35 to 4:00. If your child lands on ‘blue’ or ‘red’ they will call you to let you know that they will be kept after school. (If s/he has not already done so, have your child explain our “Golden Ruler” and the clothespins on the gold/blue/red ruler).

While they return their time, I have a “thought” sheet for students to fill out which allows them to analyze their choices, tell what part of the “BECS Way” they failed to follow, and tell me how their behavior will change in the future. At 4:00 the student will be dismissed for home. Please review the Thought sheet with your student and sign & return the next school day so that I know you have read and understood.

As well, students who do not turn in school work at 8:20 will be kept after school from 3:35-4:00 to complete the work. Again, your student will call you to let you know that they will be kept after school. If the student is unable to stay after school that day, I will ask you what your plan is to ensure that the work is completed and turned in at 8:20 the next school day. If the work is not completed and turned in the next school day at 8:20, the grade will revert to zero.

I understand that these expectations are high, and I thank you for your cooperation as we work together for the best interests of your child.



*Exchange: to exchange their time for the time they took away from the class in the process of disciplining, and the resulting disruption of class and loss of instructional time.

Back to School Night

A reminder that 'Back to School Night' for Bromley 3rd graders is Tuesday, August 17, from 6 to 7 p.m.

Miss Seymour will be in the classroom (156). This night is for parents only, although child-care will be provided.

The agenda includes reviewing both general BECS expectations and Miss Seymour's specific expectations. There will be a time for questions and answers.

Our 3rd Grade Family

Wow. Mallory, Morgan, and Miranda can hardly believe that we have finished 3 days of our Third Grade year!

So far, Alexander and Madelyn, along with the rest of us, have learned and reviewed some awesomely spectacular vocabulary words. Samantha, Danae, and Luis especially enjoyed the words caveat, literacy, summary, fiction, realistic, and fantasy.

Along with everyone else, Tristan S, Alexis, Cesar have been issued a plethora of new books.

Jennifer, Dalton, and Alexia have all made at least one new friend. Some of us have made such good friends that we can't stop talking! OOOPS.

Miss Seymour has made 28 new best friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brendon H. and Tristan K. say "Our new teacher is FUN!" Bryce, Toni, and Ebonie had a debate over whether Miss Seymour is "pretty' or "Gorgeous!."

Some of the subjects Michaela, Aiden, Osman, and Colby are excited about are geography, history, and the solar system. Gracie thinks her head will explode if she doesn't learn enough math.

Sadly, Miss Seymour won't allow Chandler, Jason, Kayleigh, or any of us to have water bottles, because it makes us need to leave for the restroom so often. We'll be O.K. though, because there are lots of breaks built into the schedule, and everybody gets one bonus to use any time of the day, except when Miss Seymour is teaching.

Third Grade is going to be a LOT harder, but we are smart kids and we are excited to LEARN!!!!

Welcome

Welcome to my class website. I will be adding information soon!

Thanks