We Have So Much to Do Together Yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello wonderful parents and brilliant students,

First, I want to thank all the dedicated parents and friends that made Biztown a reality for our kids! With just one exception, all of the kids loved the experience and found it a real life valuable experience. Junior Achievement has additional opportunities for learning and the 4th graders just started working with a financial analyst (Crystal), who will be joining our class every Tuesday for the next five weeks working with them on designing their own companies. The kids and I have met her for our first lesson and she is just great with the kids. They were so excited when they were able to put their business ideas on a map of the United States in the region they may be interested in working. I'll keep you updated on this learning opportunity. Please, ask your children about it?
I will also be receiving the $300.00 grant for a recycling program or start of a program (I haven't checked prices on materials yet)! I have two students in particular who are passionate about recycling. Our goal would be to cut our school's (or part of the school's) waste by 50%. I have no idea at this point if this possible. Is there a parent volunteer that would be willing to do some research and help the students with implementing this program. One of my ideas is to take a picture of one week's worth of trash before and then after we put the program in place. Please contact me ASAP if you are willing to help or possibly do some additional fundraising if needed.
Since Biztown is officially over and we are down to about seven weeks of school, your students have the opportunity with their next (and final) project to study, write, and create a presentation
called the "Passion Project". In other words, they will develop work based on guidelines that will help them learn and teach about their greatest current passion or interest. At this point, we have Avatar, history of the Mustang, the universe, wolves, J. Adams, and army captains' projects started. I sent home an overview of this project with your children. If your child has not shared it with you yet, please contact me as I would like all families to be "on board" to help their children create this "dream" project.
STAR testing begins next week on May 4th. Your children will test from 10am-11:30am that day as well as on May 5th, May 11th, andMay 12th. Please be sure your child has plenty of rest the night before and that they eat breakfast. Many of the students are starved by 10am. I will make time before testing for them to have a snack if they are hungry; however I prefer they don't reach that exhausted/hungry stage. Thank you for helping.
On Friday, May 28th, teachers have a professional day, so there is no school for your children!
In addition, we are out of school on May 31st, Memorial Day! Enjoy your four-day weekend!
I believe that is it for now!
Kim