October 23, 2015

October 23, 2015

Hello Science Families,

Tonight the ISS will be visible over the Arizona sky at 7:02 pm for 4 minutes.  It will appear in the NW sky and zoom over and disappear in the SSE sky.  It is a solid white color, no blinking lights or colored lights, and it moves quickly.  It is so fun to see it in the sky.  We will be talking about studies they are doing on the ISS next week.

Tonight is ASU Prep's Family Science Night - a fun, free, family-oriented exploration of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.  It is from 5:30 - 7:30 pm.  
Arizona Science Center
600 E. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ  85004

The week of October 26-30 is ASU Prep Spirit Week!
Moustache Monday - full uniform
Team Tuesday - wear your favorite team jersey with uniform pants, shorts, skirts, or skorts
Wacky Wednesday - crazy hair and socks, full uniform
Thinking Cap Thursday - wear your favorite hat, full uniform
Famous Celebrity Friday - Dress up like someone famous.  
No makeup, No masks, no weapons or props

Winter Sports tryouts begin Monday October 26 - 29
3:30 - 5:00 pm
Softball at Cholla Field
Wrestling at Cedar Hill
Basketball at Williams Gym
Cheer -  Tues, Weds, Thurs at Cedar Hall
Register at: www.asuprepathletics.com

Please email me if your child is in one of the classes that goes to the garden, and you would like to volunteer at the garden!

We have been working on information text.  It has been good and challenging!  We also received our first issues of Time for Kids and National Geographic Kids.  These are both wonderful publications with beautiful photos.  I only have 1 class set of each, so the classes are sharing.  I might be able to put the magazines into a rotation of classes taking turns to keep them and bring them home.

We will begin our study of the Human Body.  We will be working on different projects in 5th and 6th grade.  I will post a rubric on my planbook and print up a physical copy.  There will be a parent signature required.  We will also mark it in our agendas.

Please watch for information about the "Run Devil Run" event coming up in November.  This will be THE ONLY FUNDRAISER THIS YEAR!  It is a really fun day and a great way for kids to feel like they are contributing to the fund raising.  We appreciate all of the help PTSO provides to helping teachers stock their classrooms and pay for extra supplies.  PTSO paid for our garden plot this year!

I can't even believe it is the end of October!

Have the best weekend and enjoy this beautiful weather!

yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

October 13, 2015

Hello Science Families!

Did you see the Super Blood Moon Eclipse at the end of September?

http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2015-september-28  You can copy and paste this address to read more about it.

I hope you had a wonderful fall break.  I missed your children!

6th graders have been working in the garden.  We have cleaned out the beds, added enrichment, stirred it in, watered, and we have planted.  Our goal is to donate 100% of what we grow to a shelter or food kitchen that is requesting fresh produce.  Your children have been working very hard!  We go during the first hour of school when your child has science.  Contributing to our communities is an important part of your child's education here at ASU Prep.

All 5/6 students will be taking a PreTest this quarter.  It covers all of the standards they will be learning.  Their score will be recorded in the gradebook but will not be part of their grade for science.

Please know that your child is responsible for working in IXL, Study Island, and recording the minutes they read on the computer EVERY week.  Their log in codes should be in their agenda.  The program for recording their minutes read is Learn 2 Earn - Whoo's Reading.  We are having students log in and record the number of minutes they read at school and at home.  It is strictly on "on your honor" system.  We will track minutes, and the reward will be that all students will continue to grow as a reader!

We had a combined meeting on Tuesday morning with all of the 5/6 students together.  Here are the highlights of what we discussed.

• Your agenda is an important tool to help you stay organized and to help your families know what is going on at school.
• Students will write in their agenda every day.  They will write important due dates and include reminders in the weeks in between when the assignment is given and when it is due.
• Students were asked to color code their agenda so that they can see which three classes they have each day.
• We talked about spending time developing a habit and increasing our talents. Our goal is for every student to attend college.  Students begin developing and strengthening their talents by 5th grade.  We would like them to use their agenda to help organize their day so that academics are on track.  Organizing their time in their agenda helps students find extra time to work on their extracurricular activities.  We want all student to attend and graduate college.  Can you imagine your child receiving a scholarship for academics and/or extracurricular activities?  This would be equivalent to about $40,000.  We want every child to have the opportunity to attend college!  
• If a student doesn't have homework in a class we are asking them to write what they did in their agenda.
• We are asking students to walk in the hallways and classrooms.  This is not new.  We will not be giving a warning.  If your child is running they will spend their lunch recess inside with a teacher.  
• We are also asking students to walk quietly in the hallways and to wait quietly as they move from class to class.  
• Students are expected to come in and get started on their classwork immediately.  Please check in with your child to make sure they have the supplies they need in their backpacks.
• We also introduced the Whoo's Reading program.  Every child should have received a paper with log in information.  They can write this or tape their paper into their agendas.

We are planning on an even better 2nd Quarter here at ASU Prep.  Thank you for all that you do to support your child's education.  We appreciate your help.  Thank you for all that were able to attend ILPs.  It was a pleasure to get to know you and your child a little bit better.

Have a great week!

Yours in science,

Mrs. Biggs