December 15, 2015
Dear families,

A few things as we rush towards Christmas:

1. If your child has any missing coats, jackets, gloves, etc. please check the lost and found before this weekend. At the break all items in the lost and found will be taken to a charitable institution.

2. As the kids have probably told you, we are having a snowman pinata for our Christmas party. If you can, please send in a bag of wrapped candy to help us fill it.

3. Our chapter 6 math test will be this Friday. Any late homework is due by then.

4. December book report is due this Friday.

5. Two children have passed off the 'Twas The Night Before Christmas poem. Good for Brookly and Aurora. A couple of others are so close that I think they will get it.

6. The mammal reports were absolutely wonderful. Thank you for letting them work on their own under your guidance where copying wasn't possible.

7. Christmas break begins at 3:30 on Friday. We will begin school again on Monday, January 4th.

Have a marvelous holiday!

November 30, 2015

Dear families,

• Just a reminder that the fourth grade classes are going to the SUU Women's Basketball game at the college tomorrow at 1:00. It is freee for the kids. Please DON'T send any concession stand money.

• The spelling list on the gold paper is our next spelling list. As we teachers reviewed the mistakes made on the previous spelling lists, we found that the students were not sure of the ending spelling patterns for the "L" sound, so we are having the kids practice that skill.

• Tomorrow the December book report and home-reading-time papers for December will be coming home.

• An optional homework (to tease the memorization brainiacs) will be coming in the next day or two. The assignment is to memorize the entire poem of "T'was The Night Before Christmas." We will be working on it in class, but more effort than that will be needed to have it memorized by the last day before Christmas break. The children who accomplish this will earn a candy bar.

Carolyn Olenslager

Dear families,
November 17, 2015

Hi...

Just a few highlights to be aware of:

1. Chapter 4 math test is this Friday. That means that any homework for chapter 4 that is missing will only be accepted until Friday.

2. November's book report is due next Tuesday. Most of the students already have them turned in. Thanks.

3. Thanksgiving holiday begins next Wednesday. Enjoy it with your family or whatever you are doing.

4. Just another plug...if your child doesn't know his/her times tables yet, please run through some flashcards every night. They can't do division if they don't know their facts. They are dieing!!!!

5. We will be starting 2 new units. In Spanish we will begin our color words. In Utah history we will begin learning about Spanish explorers and trappers/fur traders. Our Indian unit has been a blast!

November 3, 2015
Dear families,

I thought I'd better send out the next info from our class.

1. Several parents have asked if their child could retake the math test. The answer is no. It would be a great idea to have them correct the ones they missed. Math adds upon each other, so it's important to know the information.

2. The book report  "teepee" page went home today. This month we thought it would be fun for the kids to read an Indian legend or story with an Indian as a main character. Then do the book report about that. I did "The Sign Of The Beaver" because it is also a battle of the books reader. A shorter story is also completely acceptable like "Arrow To The Sun." If your child did not bring home a legend from the library or from my classroom library, you can google in "Indian legends" and come up with something. The book report is due on Tuesday the 24th.

3. We are going to begin a "shrunken-head Indian" apple sculpture. The kids will need an apple (already starting to shrivel would be perfect) and an empty individual-size plastic water bottle you would take to a ballgame or somewhere. We will probably start the carving on Monday.

4. We are now beginning our division study in math. The students who don't have their multiplication facts memorized yet are really struggling. Please do some flashcards with them each night at home. Thank You!

5. We have our super helpers for our field trip. Thanks!!!!!!

Carolyn Olenslager

If you're interested:

I just saw in the newspaper yesterday that there is a free arts workshop for kids through SUU.

When: October 24th, Saturday

  ages 3-4 from 11:00 to 11:45

  ages 5-8 from 12 to 1:45

  ages 9-11 2 to 3:45

Where: Gateway Prepratory Academy  is hosting this. 201 Thoroughbred Way, Enoch

  (Take the first turn left after the stake center on 3600 North...past the bowling alley.)

Information: 435-865-8024 or suu.edu?pva/ta

-- 

October 5, 2015

Dear families,

By now some of you are dieing! The homework today is for bonus points only for the children who want to expand and go further. The story is from our new unit on the Middle Ages. This is a factual unit and will teach the writing skills of opinion and persuasive papers.

Now you can take your heart back out of your throat and enjoy the night.

October 2, 2015
Dear families,

Just a quick note before I leave school...

• Monday is our chapter 2 GoMath test which means Monday is the last day to turn in any late homework for chapter 2. After that , no makeup homework for that chapter will be accepted.

• We are starting our Native American/ Indian of Utah study. In a few weeks the kids will be making mini dioramas of the different tribes homes and villages. Be saving a couple of egg cartons. toothpicks, skewers, tiny tree branches, anything else you can think of that could be used to make tee pees, wickiups, etc.

• Monday we are also beginning the second unit in our new reading program. It is entitled "The Middle Ages." I think the kids will love to learn about knights and castles. It should be fun.

--

Carolyn Olenslager

September 23, 2015

Just a few things you should know:

• Yesterday the kids were to have checked out a "Battle Of The Books" book to start reading. If your child didn't return books, this will have to wait until next week. Some kids cannot read on that high of a level, so parents are allowed to read it WITH them. Then in the 3rd week in October the students will do a book report on it.

• If you haven't yet signed an electronic permission for safe schools and acceptable computer use, your child has a hard copy in his/her backpack to sign. We want to get the kids on the Chrome Books.

• Remember school pictures this Friday. All children will have a photo taken for the class picture unless a written note is sent in.

• Friday is our walking field trip to SUU so return those permission slips.

 • We'll see you at parent teacher conferences next week :)

September 18th

Dear families,

Your child is bringing home another progress report. Please look it over and sign that you have seen it. When your child returns it, s/he earns 5 points.

Attached also is the Parent Teacher Conference schedule for September 28, 29 and 30. The children who have siblings are already scheduled as a convenience to you. All others haven't been scheduled yet. I try to give you a chance to sign up for a time that is convenient for you and your time schedule. Please sign up for a first and second choice. I will write your child's name in the slot that you choose. It is on a first come, first served basis.

Have a great weekend!

Carolyn Olenslager

September 9, 2015

Dear families,

FYI:

1. Bash and Splash is Saturday at 6:30 at the Aquatic Center if you want to go. Tickets are on sale early here at the school if you want to get them now.

2. Monday the 14th will be the school-wide health screening, dental screening, vision screening.

3. Friday the 18th will be the 4th grade Canyon Park field trip to let the kids see up close and personal the land forms we are learning about in class.

4. A mother pointed out that the August reading calendar hadn't been recalculated for the required reading minutes, so I am changing the home reading time required to be 70 points possible. Those children who earned the 100 points will just have bonus points. Sorry for any heartache this caused.

Curriculum:

Math: I've noticed that the students who still don't have their addition and subtraction facts memorized are really floundering. Please help them memorize these facts through 20 quickly. Then we'll worry about the multiplication tables. We work on those facts constantly in class.

Have a great week!
Carolyn

August 31, 2015

Dear families,

FYI:

1. August home reading is now due. Please be sure to sign or initial your child's paper or there
     won't be credit given.

2. Book orders are due on Wednesday if you are planning on ordering.

3. NO SCHOOL on Monday, September 7th. It is Labor Day.

4. We have school helpers duty this week. Our hall monitors are: Aurora, Tristan, Lydia and Colter.

     Lunchroom workers are: Jade, Max, Peyton, Rae, John, Tucker, and Paizlee. Their lunch is free.

     Flag workers are: Parker, Kloie, and Koden.

     Substitutes are: McKay and Brianna (who already helped out today because of absences.)

     Thanks to these kids.

CURRICULUM:

Science: Utah land zones

Math: Chapter 1,,,keep that homework coming in. I hope that by sending hoe the day's lesson,

     that helps you to see what we have been doing that day. Practice those multiplication facts!

Reading: personal narratives and descriptive language

Writing: summer memories and self-editing instruction

Spanish: "hola"..."Como estas?"..."buenos dias"..."gracias"

As always, I will copy this over to my blog for future reference.

Have a great week.

--

Carolyn Olenslager

Lego League info

Just a heads up. Students 9 and up can sign up to be part of the Lego League competition team. Coming home tomorrow is a purple note that gives the requirements. It is pretty stiff competition, so if you are interested, get on it quickly.

August 24, 2015

What delightful children you have given me to work with. I love them already!

FYI:

Language homework begins on Monday. Activity Page 1.2 is for reading and practicing fluency. Then kids answer the question that follows. We will discuss it the next day. Then I'll put their score in the progress report information. Activity page 1.3 is only for reference for the unit. Don't panic over it.

Math homework will begin on Tuesday with chapter 1, lesson 1. Have your child do both sides and return it the next day. We will correct it in class. Then I will score it and put that in their progress report information.  This daily back and forth homework, scoring, and recording will be the norm for the year.

   Wednesday will be 1.2.

   Thursday will be 1.3.

   Friday is "Free day" as promised.

Whoever wanted only every two week letters, hopefully these short, to-the-point emails will serve just as well. :)

August 18, 2015

Dear families,
Bienvenidos! Welcome to fourth grade!

Your child will have a delightful year. It is all in the mindset, right? Besides that, it truly is a fun and brain stretching curriculum. I'm looking forward to teaching it.

Have a great last day before the challenge begins anew.

Carolyn Olenslager

Last of year "STUFF"

First let me give you the testing dates:

• Tomorrow (Thursday): final math facts try

• Friday: Chapter 11 math test and end of level writing test

• Monday: Language/reading end of level test

• Tuesday: Math end of level test

Please make sure your child is here! I'm not sure I will even have time to do make up exams.

Homework:

• The last homework paper will be sent tomorrow (Thursday.)

• All homework is due on Monday. That is the day I will record the final year's total on the   

   progress reports.

Home reading:

• All home reading minutes are also due on Monday. I will record the total minutes read for the

   year on that day.

***** Any late turn-ins will not be recorded•!

Wednesday, May 20th is cleaning day. Send the kids in grubbies. They will be getting wet and

   dirty!

Thursday, May 21st is field day and Move It Day. We will be outside all day. The kids can bring

    hats and water bottles. Have them dress appropriately for the weather.

   •A brown manila envelope will be sent home this day. It will contain the end of level tests,

   individual spelling list (if you want to work on it through the summer), progress report,

   graduation card to go to third grade, and anything else I forgot.
  •They will also be bringing home their portfolio that they have been working on throughout the

   year. It is a super remembrance of their second grade year. It also shows their growth from

   coming in as first graders to where they are now. 

Friday, May 22nd will be the day to meet their next year's teacher.
   •We will also be having game day. The kids can bring treats for the class if they want. There are
   27 children in the class at the present moment.

Thank you for letting me work with your children. It has been quite a year!

Thanks for talking with your children. The pushing and shoving, baby talk, back talking, arguing, etc. has magically disappeared. It is great!

Tomorrow, Thursday, will be last day the leveled library books will be sent home. Then all leveled library books are due back on Friday.

Also, if your child still has not returned his/her overdue library books, they were due a week ago. If you did not receive a notice from your child, you are okay :)

Before I forget to email you, I'll do it right now. Your child will need 2 empty cans of the same size for next week's listening center. They will be making stilts. Pop cans crush too easily, so don't send those. Also, #10 storage cans are too large for the kids to maneuver, so don't send those.

Thanks.

Please help your children understand that school is in session for three more weeks. This week we had only 3 children finish all their work and that was only with extra time. This is so frustrating! When children miss 26 on a read and think, you know that they are not even reading directions or the story. They don't care and that is so sad for them. Even the art teacher had to get on them today for their behavior and lack of good work ethic. Please talk with your child.

We will keep up our daily regular schedule through the next two weeks. On the last Monday and Tuesday the students will take the language and math end of level tests. These scores go on the progress report for the permanent cumulative folder that follows them through 12th grade. I won't have time to administer the tests again if they are absent. So please have them here.

Several children didn't return their library books today. Look for a reminder from Mrs. Stucki so you know which books your child still has out. She needs them returned by Monday. If you can't find them, she also listed the replacement cost that will need to be paid.

Reading back through, this letter sounds so discouraging. Let's all help the kids end on a very positive note. Thank you for your help!

Just a quick note to remind you that tomorrow is our all day field trip to Tonaquint Park and the St. George Children's Museum.

If you still haven't paid the dollar for the museum, please send it with your child tomorrow.

All the children need to take school lunch tomorrow...no home lunches.

The kids can bring water, hats and things to do on the bus.

Do not let them bring any electronic devices!

Also, the bus drivers do not like to have food on the bus, so no treats.

The children will not need spending money as there will be nothing to buy.

 

1 of 50

 Kite flight for sight

Inbox

x

Carolyn Olenslager <carolyn.olenslager@ironmail.org>

1:59 PM (0 minutes ago)

to Addison, Amorina, Ayden, Berkley, Brody, Cache, Camden, Colin, Denym, Derek, Dylan, Emma, Emmy, Gwendolyn, James, Jordan, Kelsi, Kristian, Marley, Megan, Meleah, Morgan, Nelson, Sawyer, Tate

Watch for your child's note about Kite Flight for Reading and Sight. The back has all the home reading minutes that you have turned in to me since January. If you wish to participate, take the note to Cedar Middle School from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday the 25th. There will be activities for the whole family. The information is on the note. Have fun!

April 7th...math review

Tomorrow we will be taking our math test on time and money. I sent home the 2 review pages with the kids today. You might want to have them complete the pages to see if they need any individual help from you. Have fun!

third quarter progress report notification

Just a heads up. Check your child's backpack tomorrow for the third quarter progress report. It is on purple paper. I just finished adding today's 2 minute time test results,so everything is up to the latest minute.

Also, remember to send in the $1 for the HONK play at the college on April 10th. So far only 4 children have brought that in.

Thanks,

March 13

Today is the end of the third quarter. Wow, time goes by quickly.

A few things to be aware of:

1. The music teacher is having the kids do a talent show if they so choose to be a part. The dates are Monday, March 23rd at 1:30 and Thursday, March 26th at 3:00. Parents are welcome to come if they want to.

2. April 10th, the second grade classes will be going to the Playmakers play at the college. The tickets are $1 each. Please send that in as you have a payday. Thanks.

3. Easter Break is April 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

4. We have begun our money chapter in math. Quite a few kids aren't even able to recognize the different coins. Please have your child dump out his/her piggy bank and just practice counting money. Practice is the only way for them to learn. Thank you for your help.

--

Carolyn Olenslager

Spelling Bee

I want to send an exciting announcement!  Three of our classmates made it to the spelling bee "spell off," Kristian Corry, Nelson Jolley and Addison Pampinella. They all did really well. The boys made it into the last few rounds, Addy Pampinella won the whole school in the K, 1st, 2nd grade competition. Congratulations kids!!!!

February 20

Just a note to let you know what is going on at school.

First of all.....thanks to everyone for helping with the treats at the grandparent program. You were all great!

FYI:

1. Next week is our Green Ribbon week. Your child should have brought home the note yesterday that tells you the happenings for each day with a note attached for you to sign and return each day. Look for it if s/he didn't give it to you yet.

2. Coming up the first week of March is Parent Teacher Conference. As I did at the first of the year, those of you who have more than one child attending South will be scheduled to coordinate with the other teachers. Those who have just one child attending South, I will send home the open calendar so that you can sign up for a convenient time for you. It will be on a first come, first serve basis. Watch for it next week.

Curriculum:

Reading: Many of the guided reading groups are now in early chapter books. They are loving it. We delve a bit deeper now into vocabulary, author's purpose, foreshadowing, etc. Comprehension at a deeper level is the goal.

Language: We will begin a deeper study of prefixes and suffixes - how they change meanings of the root words.

Math: We are now on chapter 6, addition and subtraction with regrouping into the hundreds column. The students should do quite well with the strategies and background we have built in so far with the last chapter.

Science: We are still working with our weather unit. This will culminate at the end of February. I usually do this unit in January and February because of the great differences that are seen between the icy winter weather and the spring weather. This year I think the weather backfired on me. Oh, well.

Spelling: As you may have noticed, the children on the higher grade spelling words are seeing suffixes and prefixes added to your child's words. This helps them learn the spelling of the main word with the added challenge of the affixes. I'm trying to expand their little brains.

Writing: We are just finishing our winter poems. This has been a challenge for some of the kids. It requires using the language skills we have studied plus thinking and planning. BUT they did it!

Have a great week. I'll see you at Parent Teacher Conference.

Mrs. O

February 4th

I just thought I would check in with a couple of tidbits.

1. There will be no science fair for the younger grades this year. The district is not sponsoring any science fair. The 4th and 5th grades are still requiring their students to do one as part of their curriculum, though.

2. Going home tomorrow is a pink paper. Be on the lookout for it. It gives you your food assignment for the upcoming grandparent program. Just send it in with your child the morning of the program.

3, Also, the children need to dress in nice clothing for the program. Church attire or not holey jeans are okay. They can just bring their clothes and change into them after lunch if you prefer.

4. There will be NO SCHOOL on Monday, February 16th because of President's Day.

5. Also coming home tomorrow on a purple sheet is the class list for Valentines. Due to the program, we will be handing out valentines on THURSDAY the 12th in the afternoon. The kids will just bring them that morning.

See you at the program!

January 19, 2015

First, congratulations to the students who completed all reading centers this week:

(comprehension, spelling, writing, listening)

Brody       Addy

Cache      Berkley

Colin        Emma

Kristian     Megan

Nelson

Sawyer

Tate

Jordan

*Kids aren't held accountable for centers when they are absent.

Coming home on Tuesday is the information for the spelling bee. I guess some of the rules have changed since I first sent it home last Novemberish. So if your child is interested in joining the spelling bee, please read the new rules so you are aware of the changes. Then start practicing.

Next, we really need the count on how many grandparents are coming to the program. We already started the art portraits. If the kids need to make more, we need to use every available minute to do that. Also, on Thursday we are writing the invitations for the grandparents. The kids need to know how many to write.

During our weather unit, the students will periodically be bringing home homeword-in-a-baggie homework activities. We can't do these at school. They would be destroyed the first time we put them outside. They are such fun activities that I want the kids to have the opportunity to do them. Hands-on is always the best way to learn!

Last, I have found out that we need to have treats for the grandparent program. If you can help with this, let me know. Thank you!

Mrs. O

Grandparents Program

On February 13th at 1:30 in the gym the second grade classes will be putting on a grandparents program. (Of course you are invited, too, but the honored people will be the grandparents.)

I need a count of how many grandparents will be attending so the kids can begin writing the invitations, doing the personalized writing for each grandparent, and drawing a portrait of each one.

Please contact your child's grandparents to see how many will be attending. Either email me with the number, or have your child tell me by next Tuesday.

Thank you for your help!

--

Carolyn Olenslager

Happy New Year!

Very first I want to say thank you for all the lovely things you sent in for the class's use and for me. I appreciated them so much!

FYI:

1. Next Tuesday the children get to have toy day in PE. They can bring one toy to play with.

2. Send in December's home reading sheet if you already haven't.

3. If your child has moved up in his/her reading level, you should be seeing a higher level book coming home in the leveled library bags.

4. Art has changed to 1:30 on Fridays.

5. MLK holiday is on Monday, January 19th. There is no school that day.

6. This Friday is the end of the second term. The following week I will get the progress reports completed and send home a copy to you. If you have concerns or questions, please come in and see me. Let's get these little munchkins going!

Curriculum:

Reading: We began "summary" writing this week. I'm glad we started early because it is going to be a challenge for the kids. They are used to retelling. Now they have to find main ideas and put them together.

Language: We are continuing our review and practice of phonics concepts. this week we are concentrating on silent e at the end of a word.

Math: We are still working on regrouping with addition. Most of the kids have the concept now. We'll continue on through the chapter. Next will be subtraction with regrouping.  The kids who have not been practicing their math facts are struggling now with the new concepts and figuring out the facts. Work with your child if s/he falls into this category.

Science: Next week we will begin our weather unit. It will run about 6 weeks.

Spanish: We finished up our days of the week study today. Next we will learn weather and season words to coordinate with science.