Newsletter

Hi,

We had a busy week!  

Mentor Visit
We had our first mentor visit on Tuesday.  Our mentors are residents at The Court at Round Rock Assistive Living Facility.  We had seven eight mentors come to Forest Creek and we met them in the library.  We interviewed them and shared stories, then played games together.  We all had a wonderful time. We will see our mentors again in December.  You are always welcome to come and visit with our mentors!

Author Visit
Thank you, Tara Ross, for sharing your book, We Elect a President: The Story of the Electoral College.  All of the fourth graders enjoyed learning more about the process of electing our president.

Virtual Author Visit
There were technical difficulties, so we were unable to have our virtual author visit with Cathy Camper who wrote Lowriders in Space. We plan to watch a video of the author visit soon.

Donation Drive Winners
Our class won the Cash for Coyotes Donation Drive for week 4!  Thank you to everyone who donated to help our school.  We will have a pajama wearing day on Monday, October 31 to celebrate your generosity.  Thank you again for all your support.

40 Book Challenge-Monthly Challenge
Our monthly challenge for Sept/Oct was to read the first book (or a book) in a series.  Many of the students have already turned in notecards and will be having lunch in the classroom on Monday, Oct. 31.  Be sure that your child is filling out notecards responding to books that he/she finishes reading so that the books will count for the Monthly Challenge and the 40 Book Challenge!   Be sure that your child is reading everyday for at least 20 minutes and recording on the reading log.

Early Release on Wednesday at 12:00. Kona Ice will be here also.

Veteran's Day Program

We have begun planning a tribute to Veterans for the morning of November 11th.  Please invite any veterans you know to Forest Creek to have breakfast with the student(s) they know.  The cafeteria will serve cinnamon rolls, fruit and milk or juice from 7:15-7:30 a.m.  Please help us prepare for breakfast by completing this form to provide an accurate number of those eating.  There is no charge for our special guests.

We will be having two patriotic programs to honor our Veterans on November 11th - one at 8:15 a.m. for grades Kinder-2nd and another one at 9:00 a.m.  You may attend one or both.  
 Thank you for helping us teach our students the meaning of this holiday and why it is so important to honor those who have served our country.

Veteran’s Photo Needed
We look forward to recognizing these special men and women who have contributed so much for our country through a slideshow presentation.Please send a photo of your special Veteran to Kelly_Erickson@roundrockisd.org. Please include the Veteran’s name and unit or job title during their service. Veterans do not need to be present for our program to be included in our slideshow.

Red Ribbon Week

Please help your children celebrate and honor Red Ribbon Week (October 24th-28th) by participating in the fun theme days we will be having all week! Coyotes are PROUD to be DRUG FREE! Please see the attached flyer for more information.

 Monday:  Team up against drugs-Wear your favorite team jersey
Tuesday: Coyotes give drugs the boot-Wear boots 
Wednesday: It's crazy to do drugs-Wear clothes in a crazy way.
Thursday: Coyotes are too smart to do drugs-Wear your picture day clothes
Friday: So, peace out to drugs-Wear tie dye

FCE Service Club Toy Drive
The Service Club is having a toy drive to benefit Dell Children's Hospital and to bring awareness to OMS.  OMS (opsocolonus Myoclonus Syndrome) is a rare  childhood disease that has no cure.  Go to: http://www.omslifefoundation.org/?q=en to learn more about OMS.

Our goal is 200 new toys.  Please bring the new toys to the box by the office by November 30.

If you donate toys, you will put a smile on an ill child's face.  Thank you for your generosity. 

Read about our week:

Reading:  In reading, we worked on summarizing by jotting notes on a sticky note after reading each section and checking to see if our summary matches the subtitle.  We also worked on context clues and responding to and discussing non-fiction text with our reading partners. We will continue reading non-fiction or expository text this week and will begin book club groups the following week.

Writing: We wrote poems about ourselves and some of the children submitted their poems as entries in the Reflections Program.  We also are continuing to revise and edit our expository writing or opinion writing as Google documents. We are using a student friendly checklist to help us with our independent revisions.  We will publish our expository pieces this week and will share and celebrate our writing as a class.  Next we will begin writing poetry.

Social Studies:  We had our test on Texas Tribes last week and have begun to learn about explorers in Texas.  We learned about Cabeza de Vaca and read a piece of his journal as a primary source. Ask your child about the painting of Cabeza de Vaca performing the first recorded surgery in North America?  We are talking about the impact of the explorers on the Native People and the world.  We will continue learning about explorers this week.

Grammar and spelling:  In grammar, we practiced combining sentences using fanboys or coordinating conjunctions. (For, And, But, Or, Yet, So) We will continue practicing combining sentences next week.  In spelling we spelled plurals by changing the f to v and adding es.  (shelf-shelves)  We will continue with irregular plurals this week.  (foot-feet)

Dates to Remember:
Monday, Oct. 24- Wear your team jersey. Writing Club 2:50-3:50 in library, Running Club begins

Tuesday, Oct. 25-Wear boots

Wednesday, Oct. 26-Wear crazy clothes-Early Release at 12, Kona Ice at FCE

Thursday, Oct.27-Dress for photos-Fall Picture Day

Friday, Oct. 28-Wear tie dye-Homework packets due,Reading Response Letter due, Spelling test, Turn in Reading Logs as you finish them

Monday, Oct. 31- Wear Pajamas for Donation Drive Winning of week 4, Monthly Challenge Lunch, Service Club 2:50-3:50 in rm 512

Tuesday, Nov. 1-PTA General Meeting 9am, Senior Choir Concert 6:30-7:15

Wednesday, Nov. 2-Senior Choir Concert-1:55-2:30

Thursday, Nov. 3-Report Cards go home

Friday, Nov. 4-Homework packets due,Reading Response Letter due, Spelling test, Turn in Reading Logs as you finish them, FCE Spirit Day! Wear green and purple.

Monday, Nov. 7- College Shirt Day, Writing Club 2:50-3:50 in library

Friday, Nov. 11-Veteran's Day Program at 9:00 for 3rd-5th.  Homework packets due,Reading Response Letter due, Spelling test, Turn in Reading Logs as you finish them, FCE Spirit Day! Wear green and purple.

Monday, Nov. 14-College Shirt Day, NO SERViCE CLUB TODAY

Friday, Nov. 18-Boogie O'Rama at 12:05, Homework packets due,Reading Response Letter due, Spelling test, Turn in Reading Logs as you finish them, FCE Spirit Day! Wear green and purple.

No school-Nov. 21-Nov. 25-Thanksgiving Break

Have a wonderful weekend.  Thank you for sharing your child with me.  

Sincerely,
Pam

Newsletter

Hi,

We have a busy week ahead.  

Author Visits

We will have two author visits on Wednesday.  One will be in the library with Tara Ross, the author of a book about the Electoral College.  Here is her website http://www.taraross.com/bio/ and here is a link about her book.  http://www.taraross.com/books/we-elect-a-president/  We will also have a virtual visit with the author of Lowriders in Space.Cathy Camper.  It will be fun to here about the writing process and to meet these amazing authors.

OMS Toy Drive

The FCE Service Club is leading a Toy Drive to bring awareness to OMS. OMS (Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome) is a rare childhood disease that has no cure. The doctors think it is caused when the child's immune system tries to fight a cancerous tumor and instead attacks the brain. Go to: http://www.omslifefoundation.org/?q=en to learn more about OMS.

One of our 1st grade students has this disease and his mom came and spoke to the Service Club to raise awareness.  She is helping us lead this Toy Drive, which benefits Dell Children's Hospital.

Our goal is 200 new toys. Please bring the new toys to the box by the office by November 30. Toys like Lego’s, Arts and crafts, play dough, Shopkins, Littlest Pet Shop, Hot Wheels, Action Figures, Puppy in my Pocket, Wild Pets, Pokemon, My Little Pony, Disney, cars, stuffed animals, baby blankets, baby toys and games are recommended. $10 Amazon and I-tunes gift cards are also great. (Give any gift cards to me, instead of in the box by the office, please.)

Thank you for your support!

Reflections Contest and Workshop

Reflections is here! It’s a program that encourages students to express themselves artistically. This year’s theme is “What is Your Story?” Using this theme, students may create and submit works of art in six categories: dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts. Rules and entry forms will be handed out by your teacher. All entries must be submitted to Ms. Arnold, the art teacher by Oct. 20. Gallery night is Nov. 10.

Yearbook Cover Contest - Only 1 Week Left!
If you would like to enter this year’s contest, please follow these Rules & Guidelines:

1. Please use an 8.5 x 11 white sheet of paper without lines and the design must be vertical. Fill in the page as much as possible.
2. The following must be in the artwork:

FOREST CREEK ELEMENTARY 2016-2017

3. Use colors, markers, colored pencils.
4. Please write your name, grade and teacher on the back of the paper.
5. All designs will need to be dropped off into the basket labeled Yearbook in the front office.
6. PLEASE DO NOT FOLD .
7. Deadline for entry is Friday October 14, 2016
8. Winner will be notified shortly after contest ends.

If you have any questions regarding the contest, please view the flyer or contact Regina Maldonado at fcepta.yearbook@gmail.com.

Read about our week:

Reading:  We read a book called Encounter by Jane Yolen.  I kept the illustrations hidden and we made inferences by using only the text clues and our background knowledge without picture clues.  We realized that the main character in the book was a Taino boy and the stranger who came to his island was Christopher Columbus.  It told the story from the boy's point of boy and this encouraged us to think deeper about perspective and point of view of the person telling the story.  We watched a brain pop about Christoper Columbus to learn more.  We will continue to read critically and think deeply as we read.  This week we will work on summarizing and asking questions as we read expository text.

Writing:  Using google documents, we are writing our expository pieces.  We chose our own topics and most of us chose an opinion to support with details.  Our thesis statements range from Veggies are Horrible to Basketball is my Life to Service Dogs are Important.  We are using examples and small stories to prove our thesis statements. We will use a checklist to help us make our expository pieces effective. These pieces will be finished this week.  We will work on some writing for Reflections as well as more expository writing.   

Social Studies:  We are still learning about tribes of Texas.  We will have an assessment on Monday, October 17  We will continue to learn about the location of different tribes and the way the tribe used the resources of their region to survive. We will work on Cultural Poems and many of these will be entered into the Reflections Contest.  We will then begin learning about explorers to Texas. 

The 2016-17 PTA Direct Donation Drive Continues

So far YOU donated approximately $5,960 to our Cash for Coyotes Donation Drive.  We are ¼  of the way to our $20,000 goal!  

Things To Do:

1. Join the PTA
2. Donate to the Cash for Coyotes Donation Drive

Thanks for your support!

Dates to Remember:

 

Monday, Oct. 17- SS Test on Texas Tribes, College Shirt Day, Service Club 2:50-3:50 in rm 512, Family Fun Night fundraiser at Hat Creek from 5pm-9pm

Tuesday, Oct. 18-Mentor Visit from 9-10:30 in the library

Wednesday, Oct. 19-Author Visits, Tara Ross at FCE and Cathy Camper-Virtual

Friday, Oct. 21-Homework packets due,Reading Response Letter due, Spelling test, Turn in Reading Logs as you finish them, FCE Spirit Day! Wear green and purple.

Monday, Oct. 24- College Shirt Day, Writing Club 2:50-3:50 in library, Red Ribbon Week

Wednesday, Oct. 26-Early Release at 12, Kona Ice at FCE

Thursday, Oct.27-Fall Picture Day

Friday, Oct. 28-Homework packets due,Reading Response Letter due, Spelling test, Turn in Reading Logs as you finish them, FCE Spirit Day! Wear green and purple.

Thank you for sharing your child with me.  

Have a great weekend and I will see you at Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences.

Sincerely,

Pam

Newsletter

Hi,

Don't forget that there is no school on Monday, Oct. 10.  Enjoy your weekend.  Be sure to read everyday and record on your reading log.

OMS Toy Drive

The FCE Service Club is leading a Toy Drive to bring awareness to OMS. OMS (Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome) is a rare childhood disease that has no cure. The doctors think it is caused when the child's immune system tries to fight a cancerous tumor and instead attacks the brain. Go to: http://www.omslifefoundation.org/?q=en to learn more about OMS.

One of our 1st grade students has this disease and his mom came and spoke to the Service Club to raise awareness.  She is helping us lead this Toy Drive, which benefits Dell Children's Hospital.

Our goal is 200 new toys. Please bring the new toys to the box by the office by November 30. Toys like Lego’s, Arts and crafts, play dough, Shopkins, Littlest Pet Shop, Hot Wheels, Action Figures, Puppy in my Pocket, Wild Pets, Pokemon, My Little Pony, Disney, cars, stuffed animals, baby blankets, baby toys and games are recommended. $10 Amazon and I-tunes gift cards are also great. (Give any gift cards to me, instead of in the box by the office, please.)

Thank you for your support!

Reflections Contest and Workshop

Reflections is here! It’s a program that encourages students to express themselves artistically. This year’s theme is “What is Your Story?” Using this theme, students may create and submit works of art in six categories: dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts. Rules and entry forms will be handed out by your teacher. All entries must be submitted to Ms. Arnold, the art teacher by Oct. 20. Gallery night is Nov. 10.

Reflections Workshop

Please come to the Reflections Workshop on Tuesday, October 11th at 6:30pm in the Ms. Arnold’s Art Room.  You will receive information about the various categories and detailed information for the submissions and complete the application process.

Play Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8dpI20guJg

Yearbook Cover Contest - Only 1 Week Left!
If you would like to enter this year’s contest, please follow these Rules & Guidelines:

1. Please use an 8.5 x 11 white sheet of paper without lines and the design must be vertical. Fill in the page as much as possible.
2. The following must be in the artwork:

FOREST CREEK ELEMENTARY 2016-2017

3. Use colors, markers, colored pencils.
4. Please write your name, grade and teacher on the back of the paper.
5. All designs will need to be dropped off into the basket labeled Yearbook in the front office.
6. PLEASE DO NOT FOLD .
7. Deadline for entry is Friday October 14, 2016
8. Winner will be notified shortly after contest ends.

If you have any questions regarding the contest, please view the flyer or contact Regina Maldonado at fcepta.yearbook@gmail.com.

Read about our week:

Reading:  We are reading expository text and we are using context clues to figure out unknown words. Next week we will learn more about making inferences (text clues and background knowledge) as we read and will identify different non-fiction text structures.  All of these skills help improve comprehension.

Writing:  We are working on developing thesis statements and supporting details.  Our thesis statements usually include our opinion and then we are writing reasons with examples and details to support our opinions.  Some examples of our thesis statements is: My mom is special to me because she cooks delicious food, helps me with my homework, and plays games with me.  Another example is Fall is my favorite season because I love cooler weather, we carve pumpkins, and we trick or treat for Halloween.  Talk to your child about possible thesis statements and supporting details.  We will revise and edit these pieces before we publish them. 

Social Studies:  We are still learning about tribes of Texas.  We will have an assessment on Monday, Oct. 17.  A study guide will come home on Tuesday.  We will continue to learn about the location of different tribes and the way the tribe used the resources of their region to survive.  

The 2016-17 PTA Direct Donation Drive Continues

So far YOU donated approximately $5,960 to our Cash for Coyotes Donation Drive.  We are ¼  of the way to our $20,000 goal!  

Things To Do:

1. Join the PTA
2. Donate to the Cash for Coyotes Donation Drive

Thanks for your support!

Technology Parent Survey - Deadline is Monday, October 10th.

Click www.BByt.es/ZC6ZP to take the questionnaire.

Dates to Remember:

 

Monday, Oct. 10-No school for students/staff development-Book Fair open from 7:30-5:00pm

Tuesday, Oct. 11-Book Fair open from 7:30-6:30, Reflections Workshop at 6:30 pm, PTA Coffee Talk at 6pm in PTA portable

Wednesday, Oct 12-Book Fair open from 7:30-4:30 pm

Thursday, Oct. 13-Book Fair open from 7:30-4:30 pm

Friday, Oct. 14-Homework packets due,Reading Response Letter due, Spelling test, Turn in Reading Logs as you finish them, FCE Spirit Day! Wear green and purple.Book Fair open from 7:30-10:30

Monday, Oct. 17-SS Test on Texas Tribes, College Shirt Day, Service Club 2:50-3:50 in rm 512, Family Fun Night fundraiser at Hat Creek from 5pm-9pm

Thank you for sharing your child with me.  Have a great weekend and I will see you at Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences.

Sincerely,

Pam

From PTA

Attention Coyotes:

Thank you to all that have already donated toward our school fundraiser. We appreciate your support as the PTA funds MOST of our incredible school programs and activities. If you haven't had the chance, please consider donating here: https://www.pt-avenue.com/ShopGP.asp?schcode=FCE or send your cash/check with your donation form in your child's folder. There are extra forms in the main office. This year there are weekly class competitions and grand prize entries for every $25 donated (IPAD, YETI HOPPER20, swim lessons, rounds of golf at Forest Creek.) Let's work together to achieve our goal of $20,000!

Newsletter

Hi,

We had a wonderful week.  Early Release Day went smoothly and the students behaved magnificently and worked hard on Thursday when we had a substitute.  I had a training at another campus.  

Reading-We are working with expository or non-fiction text and this week we reviewed text features (photos, captions, headings, table of contents, glossary, index, etc...) and their purposes.  We will continue to read non-fiction this week and will work on using context clues to figure out unknown words and questioning the text. We will continue to write a summary and response to text read.  

Students did a wonderful job writing reading response letters to me for homework.  If your child didn't turn one in, it is due on ASAP.  A new reading response letter will be due every Friday, unless otherwise noted.  Thanks!

Writing-We are gathering entries to write opinion papers.  We walked around the school last week and observed things.  We noticed things in our classroom. We wrote about what we noticed and pushed our thinking to write what we realized or thought about what we saw.  We will develop some thesis statements this week and begin developing reasons and examples to support our thesis statements.  (ex. Fall is my favorite season because the weather is cooler, Halloween is a fun holiday, and I love pumpkin flavored food!)

Social Studies-We are learning about tribes in Texas and learned about the Karankawa and the Caddo, so far.  We took notes then made a dug-out canoe out of clay to represent the Karankawa tribe and a dome shaped home out of clay and straw to represent the Caddo tribe.  This week we will learn about the Comanche, Jumano, and Lipan Apache tribes.  

Dates to Remember:

Monday, Oct. 3-  College Shirt Day,  FCE Service Club 2:50-3:50 in room 512

Tuesday, Oct. 4-PTA Meeting at 3:15 pm

Wednesday, Oct. 5-Flu Clinic

Friday, Oct. 7-Homework packets due,Reading Response Letter due, Spelling test, Turn in Reading Logs as you finish them, FCE Spirit Day! Wear green and purple. 

Monday, Oct. 10-No school for students/staff development

Thank you for sharing your child with me.  I hope you enjoyed your weekend!

Sincerely,

Pam

Grandparent's Day

Hi,

Tomorrow is Grandparent's Day!  You are welcome to come and eat lunch with your child.  If our cafeteria table is full, you may come to our classroom to eat. (your child can only come if he/she has a guest)  Our lunch time is 11:25-11:55.  

Spirit Day is every Friday!  Wear purple and green and show your FCE pride!

Information went home in Thursday folders today about Writing Club and Choir.  If your child wants to come to the informational meeting for either club, you need to send me a note or email letting me know that he/she will be staying afterschool and let me know how he/she is getting home. Monday 2:50-3:30 will be the Writing Club meeting and Tuesday will be the Choir meeting.  Thank you so much for letting me know in advance.

Don't forget that homework is due tomorrow. That includes the math and weekly grammar paper.  Also the Cultural Information paper is due.  Be sure to read every night and record on reading log.  Next week we will have individual spelling lists and will have a test on Friday, Sept. 16.

Thank you and let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Have a great evening!

Newsletter-Keep Reading

Hello,

Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend our Back to School Night on Thursday. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please let me know. Here is the link to the district At A Glance Map. This resource lets you know what we are teaching in each subject throughout the year. Be sure to click on the 4th grade tab. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E1_YhCIGt318TMTaJni84G0rV0JdndSRzDteWugZM44/edit#gid=1362765212

Read about our classroom:

Reading-We are working on expectations in the reading workshop and beginning to write responses to our books. We will practice more next week and will begin reading response letters for homework in a few weeks. We are focusing on reading fiction and talking about characters and character changes, setting, plot, and theme. We read Stone Fox together and made predictions as we read. We will continue with fiction for a few more weeks and will include using context to figure out unknown words and rereading to be sure comprehension is happening effectively.

Writing-We went through the writing process as they wrote poems about themselves. We brainstormed, planned, drafted, revised, edited, and published. We conferenced about our writing and shared it with others. We did all of this while working on the expectations of writing workshop. We are now writing entries about personal narratives and will begin working on leads and drafting one of our entries to take it to publication.

Social Studies-Thank you for all the wonderful photos of your children in Texas. Our map in the hallway is covered and it looks amazing. We are using the photos to learn about each other as well as to learn about the regions in Texas. We are taking a virtual bus trip to learn about each region and taking notes. We will continue this next week.

Writing Club will begin on Monday, Sept. 12 after school at 2:50. Writing Club will be every OTHER Monday. In Writing Club, the students in 2-5 grade free write and share their writing. We will have a mini-lesson and talk about a writing craft or strategy. Then the writers can choose to write whatever they want. It can be a poem, story, rap, comic, essay.... anything. They can write individually or in groups. They can choose to share their writing with others as well. It is a place and opportunity for children to be creative and use their imaginations in a risk free environment. Writing Club will take place in the library and we will walk out to the front of the school for pick up. After school, the kids will meet in Mrs.Crochet's music room by the cafeteria and I will pick them up to go to the library to write. All 2-5th graders are welcome.

Service Club will begin on Monday, Sept. 19 after school at 2:50. Service Club will alternate with Writing Club and will be on every OTHER Monday. In Service Club, the children plan, advertise, and facilitate service learning projects for our school. We make signs, write announcements for broadcast and Coyote Call, and persuade people to help. In the past, we helped our school collect toys for Dell Children's Hospital, flip flops for children in Honduras, books for Libraries of Love in Africa and food for the Round Rock Serving Center. We also meet at the Round Rock Serving Center once a month on a Saturday morning to volunteer. . After school, the kids will go to Mrs. Crochet's music room by the cafeteria and I will pick them up to go to my classroom for our meeting. All 4th and 5th graders are welcome.

40 Book Challenge! Fourth Graders are involved in a 40 Book Challenge this year! We will be reading from a variety of genres and charting our progress. It is going to be great and the kids have already finished Stone Fox, so we have 39 books to go! Your child is expected to read everyday for at least 20 minutes. They will record their reading on their reading logs and will let me know when they finish a book. They will talk to me about their book and write a reading response on a notecard. Any books that they already finished since fourth grade started counts! Our September Monthly challenge is to read the first book in a series. It can be any genre, but not a book that they read before. The Monthly Challenge is due on Sept. 29 and we will have a treat and lunch in the classroom on Friday, Sept. 30 for all the children who met the monthly challenge. (1st book in a series) View the powerpoint below. Happy Reading!


Dates to remember:

No school on Monday. Be sure to add some reading to your weekend plans! Enjoy the time with family and friends.

Tuesday, Sept. 6-PTA meeting at 9:00 am in the PTA portable.

Wednesday, Sept. 7-Family Fun Night-5-9 at Chipotle Mexican Grill, 2424 Farm to Market Road 685, Pflugerville, TX 78660

Friday, Sept. 9-Grandparents' Day-our lunch time is 11:25-11:55. All are welcome to come and eat with your child. College Shirt day. Homework Packet is due.

Monday, Sept. 12-FCE Spirit Day! Wear green and purple. Writing Club 2:50-3:50 in the library, Watch DOGS kick off at 6:00, Homeroom Parent & Volunteer Orientation at 6:30

Tuesday, Sept. 13-Homeroom Parent & Volunteer Orientation at 8:15, Sr. Choir Interest Meeting 2:55

Friday, Sept. 16-Austin Jazz Concert at 1:15 for grades 3-5, Homework packets due, Spelling test, College Shirt Day


Thank you for sharing your children with me. They are working hard, being creative, and helping each other. They love to share what they are thinking and learning with each other. It is wonderful to see!

Sincerely,
Pam