Keene Kids

Welcome to the First "Keene Kid" Blog for the Future 2011/2012 "Keene Kids" and Families

2011-07-02T18:15:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Room 20 Blog! I am so excited to start my first blog of the 2011-2012 school year! Yep, I know it's still "technically" summer, but I'm having so much fun getting this blog going that I don't mind working already! I can't wait to add all sorts of new great links and features to this site, and I hope everyone enjoys this space!

This site will be "THE SPOT" to come for all types of information and updates on what's happening in Room 20. Check back frequently to see what we're learning as the "Keene Kids" explore an amazing education journey for 2011-2012. :)

Combined with our other "CLASS blog" - this year's students will have the chance to connect to the world and learn in a whole new way! I mean, think about how truly amazing it is to have the ability for students in one part of the world to reach across the globe and talk to other students about subjects and cultures! It takes the idea of "pen pals" (virtually knows as "e-pals") to a whole new level. I can't wait to watch my students expand their minds and experiences via this phenomenal "teaching tool." TECHNOLOGY ROCKS!

This site is still a "work in progress," so please be patient as I upload new tools and links. I'm sure many students (and parents/grandparents) will be learning how to blog for the first time, so just think of this as a wonderful group learning experience. Remember - we're all in this together! Feel free to share suggestions on how to improve either one of our blogs. With so much information out there, I always love to here about great educational sites that you may come across on your online adventures.

Be sure to check back in late July when I should have more updates for the upcoming school year.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Mrs. Keene

P.S. I sure hope you're all remembering to read some fun summer books, and remembering to practice those math facts. Flash cards are an easy way to pass some time during those road/plane trips! :)

Keene Kids' News - May 16,2011

2011-05-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Can you believe we only have 7 school days left? Please take note of the important dates listed below. The absolute final day to turn in any late/missing work is this FRIDAY, MAY 20th! There are no exceptions to this final “due” date.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER :

May 18th –Final MAP TEST in LANGUAGE ARTS at 8:30AM. Please go to bed early the night before, and eat a good breakfast that morning. Our test is first thing in the morning, so arrive on time!

May 18th – FINAL DAY TO TURN IN READING OLYMPICS AR TESTS or BOOK REPORTS!

MAY 20th: - ARIZONA PROJECT DUE & LAST DAY TO TURN IN ANY LATE or MISSING WORK for PARTIAL CREDIT !!!

QUICK REMINDER: PE TOMORROW!! WEAR YOUR TENNIS SHOES!!!

As always, you can contact me via email at bkeene@amphi.com, as this is the BEST way to contact me quickly. You can also call the office directly to leave a message at 696-6020. Leaving a note in the agenda is also an “instant” way to let me know you need to speak with me.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Mrs. Keene

- - - - - Cut off and return bottom portion as the “Monday packet”cover sheet: - - - - - -

(write any notes to teacher on the back of this form)

Number of “Student Work Pages” attached: ______

___ Yes, I have read the newsletter, and reviewed all items in the “Monday Packet”

Student Name: ________________ #___ Parent Signature: _______________________

Keene Kids' Newsletter - May 9, 2011

2011-05-10T15:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

Wow! Can you believe there are only 13 school days left?! Everyone is thinking ahead to summer, but we still need to work hard during this final week and a ½ of grading. Please encourage your child put forth his/her best effort as there is no time for “make up” work with so few school days remaining. Please note below: "Friday, May 20th is the LAST DAY to turn in late or missing assignments" to count toward final grades. Finally, I just wanted to take a moment to wish all our FANTASTIC moms a “Happy Belated Mother’s Day!” I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing day.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER :

May 12th –Final MAP TEST in LANGUAGE ARTS. Please go to bed early the night before, and eat a good breakfast that morning. Our test is first thing in the morning, so arrive on time!

May 13th –POETRY UNIT DUE (there was some confusion about the date, so please contact me if you need extra time)

May 16th – LAST DAY TO TURN IN BIOGRAPHY PROJECT
(Please note: The last day to PRESENT your speech is May 20th - be sure to sign up for a time/date)

May 18th – FINAL DAY FOR READING OLYMPICS AR TESTS or BOOK REPORTS!

MAY 20th: - ARIZONA PROJECT DUE & LAST DAY TO TURN IN ANY LATE or

MISSING WORK for PARTIAL CREDIT !!!

May 24th - READING OLYMPIC AWARD CEREMONY

As always, you can contact me via email at bkeene@amphi.com, as this is the BEST way to contact me quickly. You can also call the office directly to leave a message at 696-6020. Leaving a note in the agenda is also an “instant” way to let me know you need to speak with me.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Mrs. Keene

- - - - - Cut off and return bottom portion as the “Monday packet”cover sheet: - - - - - -

(write any notes to teacher on the back of this form)

Number of “Student Work Pages” attached: ______

___ Yes, I have read the newsletter, and reviewed all items in the “Monday Packet”

Student Name: ________________ #___ Parent Signature: _______________________

KEENE KIDS' NEWSLETTER - April 25, 2011

2011-04-25T15:09:00.002-07:00

Dear Parents,

I wanted to make sure I got a newsletter out to keep everyone updated on what’s happening in the next few weeks as we have LOTS to do, and not much time left to do it! With only 22 school days left in this year, I don’t want to miss another minute of time with this wonderful class. I can’t believe the year is almost done!

MAP TESTING SCHEDULE:
Computer MAP Testing continues over the next 3 weeks. Here’s our schedule:

MATH: Tuesday, April 26th READING: Tuesday, May 3rd L. ARTS: Thursday, May 12th

We will be testing in the morning, so please do not schedule appointments until after lunch.
***Be sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep the night before testing, and eat a good breakfast on testing days! Please make sure your child is in school on time on testing days.We’d be very grateful for any snack donations on testing days. Donuts, muffins, bagels, juice, etc. all help the students be at their best!***

READING OLYMPIC UPDATE!
Reading Olympics will be coming to an end on May 18th. We will be having an “official” award ceremony to celebrate the end of the Olympics (kind of like our very own “closing ceremonies”) on May 24th (the day prior to the last day of school). I have spoken to each student about their progress (or lack thereof) towards their Reading Olympics’ goal. They each have a red folder where they keep track of their books read/AR tests taken/book reports turned in, etc. Please ask your child to show you this list so you can see how they’re doing. Most of the students are right on track, but some are severely behind. I am available to help with book selection, as this is a critical component of this program (and REALLY important for students who need help in getting on track to reach their goal).

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
April 29th: Harelson FunFest 5:00 - 8:30pm
May 5th: Symphony Field Trip (Be sure to "dress to impress" in your finest attire). Remember to pack a sack lunch on this day (we will not be at school during our normal lunch time)
May 13th: Last day to turn in/perform Biography Report/Project
May 16th: Last day to turn in Poetry Project.
May 18th:Last day to turn in any AR/Book Reports for Reading Olympics.
May 24th: Reading Olympics : Closing Ceremonies!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
I want to send out a HUGE “Thank You!” to all of our wonderful parents who volunteered for the Cotton Candy Booth, our generous parents who sent in donations for our carnival basket, and also for all those “sweet” parents who sent in treats for AIMS (and volunteered again for MAP testing days). The students and I can’t thank you enough for all you do to help us all succeed in everything we do.

As always, you can contact me via email at bkeene@amphi.com, as this is the BEST way to contact me quickly. You can also call the office directly to leave a message at 696-6020. Leaving a note in the agenda is also an “instant” way to let me know you need to speak with me.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Mrs. Keene

Keene Kids' Newsletter- April 11, 2011

2011-04-11T15:13:00.000-07:00

Well, “AIMS WEEK” has arrived and our first day of testing went really well! The students enjoyed our “Brain Food Buffet,” and felt “fueled up” for the tests. Thank you to everyone who sent in food donations today!!! The students do so much better if their stomachs aren’t grumbling! If any parents are still able to donate some goodies during the rest of this week, please let me know – or just send them in with your child. The kids really love the special TREATment. THANK YOU!!!Again, please make sure your child gets at least 8 hours of sleep each night, and a healthy breakfast in the morning. Studies have proven that scores improve with at least 8 hours of sleep and a good breakfast on test days (actually, this helps EVERY school day).

AIMS testing will take place through THURSDAY of this week. PLEASE try to make sure your child does not miss any of these testing dates. If an emergency comes up, or if your child is too ill to come to school, a make up test will be scheduled. If your child is feeling ill on test day, please DO NOT send your child in to school if there is a chance he/she will not be able to make it through the day to complete the test. Once a student starts a test, he/she MUST finish the test that day.

DONATIONS NEEDED: So far our “Date Night” basket is completely empty and desperately needs some goodies. This year we are collecting items (or money donations) to create our “Date Night” Themed Basket for the FunFest on April 29th. Please send in items such as giftcards for restaurants, movie theaters, Gaslight Theater, Laffs Comedy Club, candles, wine glasses, etc” to create our basket. If you don’t feel like shopping, I will happily accept giftcards or cash towards the basket so I can go purchase gift items. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

CAN YOU HELP? An email went out this weekend from Mrs. DuPont, asking for volunteers to work shifts at our Cotton Candy booth during FunFest. Funfest is from 5:00 to 8:30 this year, and we would like to have 2 people at each shift. The shifts are as follows:4:30-5:30 (set up and 1/2 hour shift);5:30 to 6:15;6:15 to 7:00;7:00 to 7:45; and 7:45 to 8:45(last shift and clean up). If you would like to sign up, you can email Mrs. DuPont directly at ldupont1@q.com. This is a fun booth to work, but if you volunteer… prepare to get sticky!

As always, you can contact me via email at bkeene@amphi.com . My phone is still broken and I cannot call out or get voicemail, so once again, the BEST way to contact me quickly is via email or calling the office directly to leave a message at 696-6020. Leaving a note in the agenda is also an “instant” way to let me know you need to speak with me.

Have a great week,

Mrs. Keene

Keene Kids' News - February 28, 2011

2011-02-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

February 28, 2011

Dear Parents/Grandparents,

I hope everyone had a safe, HEALTHY, and enjoyable Rodeo Break!What a busy week we have in store! Please remind your child to check with me for make up work if he/she was absent recently. I have many students with missing work, but it is their responsibility to come as to take a test or find out what assignments were missed. We are having a huge problem with recurrent absences, and this makes it really hard to catch up if students don’t keep up with the work while they are at home. As a reminder, all homework is posted online each night, and if a student will be gone more than a couple of days, it is crucial to get the homework from a friend, or come pick it up from school. Just send me an email in the morning and I can have it ready by the end of the day. Also, it is important to note that most of the lessons we are covering from here on out are new topics, include “interactive” lessons, and are very hard to re-create at home. PLEASE NOTE: I’m trying something new, and I’ve attached a new “cover sheet” to the bottom of this page. I appreciate any feedback, as it seems many people have not been reading the newsletter’s online version. Thank you!

Thank you to all the wonderful chaperones who came along on the Tubac field trip, and to those who donated delicious treats for the journey back in time.. It was an amazing day, and one I hope the students will remember for years to come. PLEASE NOTE: If anyone took photos on the trip, it would be a HUGE HELP if you could please save them to a disc or flash drive so I can put together a special presentation for the students at the end of the year. We will also use the photos for a project. THANKS AGAIN! Finally, I want to send out another extra special thank you to Aidan’s grandmother, who made authentic bonnets for the girls to wear! Everyone looked like we truly had traveled in a time machine, and the costumes really added to the “living history” experience. By the way, if you are interested in learning more about the experience, Tubac and Tumacacori makes a great day trip during spring break!

PHONE TROUBLE: My classroom phone is broken. Please contact me via email, OR call the office at 696-6020 and leave a message with the office staff as I am unable to access my voicemail or call out from my class phone. I will do my best to get back with you as soon as possible, and I apologize for any inconvenience. I was unaware it was broken until last week when I began to wonder why I hadn’t gotten any calls!

Have a great week!!!

Mrs. Keene

Keene Kids' Newsletter - February 14, 2011

2011-02-14T12:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day!
I hope everyone was able to get out and enjoy this weekend's beautiful Tucson weather. We have an exciting week ahead, starting with our Valentine's celebration today, the Science Fair judging tomorrow, and our "Trip Back in Time" field trip on Thursday. What a way to top last week's amazing performance of "The Granny Awards!"

THIS WEEK IN CLASS: With so many extra activities to cram into this week, it may be a bit of a challenge to stay focused on the academic side of things. However, I am confident the students will work hard to be the best they can be. :) Vocabulary test this week will be on the prefixes: de, dis, and dys. There will not be a DLR test this week due to the field trip, but we will be getting ready for a big English test next week. All students should be practicing their math facts using IXL.com. This is a fantastic site allowing the students to practice all standards at their level. If you have any trouble accessing the site, please let me know.

THE SCIENCE FAIR IS HERE! The Science Fair projects were due today, and they look great! I can see everyone has been hard at work. Today, we shared our projects with our classmates, and tomorrow the displays will be put up in the Funhouse for judging. SCIENCE ROCKS!

OUR "TRIP BACK IN TIME" IS THIS THURSDAY!
Our“Trip Back in Time” to Tubac is Thursday, February 17th. All students (and adults) must be dressed in period clothing (think "Little House on the Prairie"), so start thinking about a costume. All chaperones must be dressed in period costume as well. The chaperone list is full, and I already have a waiting list. Please let me know if you will no longer be able to attend so I can let others go! Reminder: All snacks/lunch items must be wrapped in "authentic" containers, wax paper, cloth, etc. NO PLASTIC BAGGIES please. (See original letter for more details). If you have not yet paid your field trip fees via check or tax credit, please send it in this week. DONATIONS STILL NEEDED FOR THE TRIP: Beef Jerky, Homeade Sugar Cookies, marbles, or wooden pickup sticks.

Here's to a great week ahead,

Mrs. Keene

P.S. LADIES.... THE RED & WHITE DANCE INVITATIONS WENT HOME TODAY!!!

Keene Kids' News - January 10, 2011

2011-01-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

Today was a day filled with heavy hearts here at Harelson. The students and I spent some time focusing on all the things we are grateful for in life, and I was amazed at how insightful these wonderful young ladies and gentlemen were in regards to this weekend’s tragedy. I was so thankful to see their sweet smiles at the door this morning. I am so blessed to have the chance to teach your amazing children.

FOOD DONATIONS:

The Harelson family would like to help our community in this time of tragedy and need. We will be collecting food for the food bank over the next week or so. Please send in donations if you would like to help out! The food bank was one of Congresswoman Gifford’s favorite local charities.

SCIENCE FAIR: The Science Fair project due date of February 14th is coming up fast. Please help make sure your child is staying on top of his/her project and not waiting until the last minute. Displays will be put up in the Funhouse on the following day (Feb. 15th).

FIELD TRIP:

Our“Trip Back in Time” to Tubac is Thursday, February 17th. All students (and adults) must be dressed in period clothing (think "Little House on the Prairie"), so start thinking about a costume. All chaperones must be dressed in period costume as well. The chaperone list is full, and I already have a waiting list. Please let me know if you will no longer be able to attend so I can let others go! If you have not yet paid your field trip fees via check or tax credit, please send it in ASAP!

As always, you can contact me via email at bkeene@amphi.com or call me at 696-6030 with any questions.

Thanks,

Bonnie

As always, you can contact me via email at bkeene@amphi.com or call me at 696-6030 with any questions.

Have a great week!

Bonnie

Happy New Year!

2011-01-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

January 3, 2011

Dear Parents,

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I am so happy to report that our class is off to a FANTASTIC start already! It’s time to get back into gear and continue to create good work habits to start the year in a positive way. Students should still be using their BOBCAT Organizer every day. PLEASE remember to check and SIGN your child’s agenda each night! An extra special THANK YOU for all those who gave me holiday cards and presents. Your thoughtfulness and generosity made my break start off with a huge smile and a warm heart. This is such a special class, and I’m excited to see what the next chapter of our learning adventure will hold.

REPORT CARDS GO HOME WEDNESDAY!

Please check your child’s backpack for his/her report card on Wednesday. Please sign the envelope where indicated and then return the ENVELOPE ONLY on Thursday. It was a tough quarter for most of the students, with many struggling to stay on top of their work. The great part of the new year, is all the students have a chance for a fresh start. Here’s to a great 3rd quarter!!!

READING OLYMPICS: The “Reading Olympics”continues! The kids are reading like crazy! WHOOO HOOO!!! I’m thrilled to see such enthusiasm. I will be having a first semseter “mini” awards ceremony on Friday. This will hopefully get everyone even more excited and celebrate all the books we’ve read so far.

Please encourage your child to do his/her PERSONAL BEST and strive to earn the award (Bronze, Silver or Gold) they feel is attainable. Students still need to keep an official log of the books read (you can find a copy on my website if you misplaced yours – the original sheet should be in your child’s red reading folder). Please remember, this is NOT an optional activity, as it will be graded. I can’t wait to see how far the students soar with this challenge!

Our TRIP “BACK IN TIME” TO TUBAC/TUMACACORI is coming up on February 17th. More information to come next week. There is very limited space on this trip for parents, so I accept chaperones on a first come, first served basis. Please let me know ASAP if you are interested in going. Remember, parents who act as chaperones must also dress in period costume to participate.

FRIENDLY REMINDER: At the beginning of the year, we asked for $50 from each family to cover field trip costs and supplies. With the trip coming up in February, it is crucial that we get the money by the January 24th at the latest to cover the cost of the busses. Since the trip gets back after normal school hours, we cannot take regular school busses. The fees have gone up this year, so we really need your help to make this trip happen. If you have already paid this fee via tax credit, THANK YOU! Please let me know you paid by tax credit on the homework cover sheet. If you still need to pay, please make your checks payable to “Harelson” and mark “4th grade field trip” on the info line. Thanks again!

As always, you can contact me via email at bkeene@amphi.com or call me at 696-6030 with any questions.

Happy New Year!

Mrs. Keene

KEENE KIDS' NEWS - December 13, 2010

2010-12-13T16:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

Happy Holidays!Please check your email for today's official newsletter, filled with last minute information on the Holiday Family (donations due by tomorrow), and our upcoming Holiday/Christmas Party on Thursday, December 16th. Thanks to Gayle Piotrowski, Dyani Blanchard, and Tammi Martin who have offered to come wrap the gifts for our holiday family tomorrow after school. I am so blessed to have such fantastic and helpful parents/grandparents. To save space on the blog, I'm just posting the items I didn't have in the newsletter:

WELCOME TO AIDAN, OUR NEWEST “KEENE KID!” He joined our class today, and everyone made him feel so welcome! I was proud of how helpful they were. The students and I are so excited to have a new member of our “Keene Kid” family.

HELP WANTED: Please let me know if you are still willing/able to help with grading or other class activities once the 2nd semester starts in January. I know several parents offered on parent night, and I asked for a “raincheck” since I had a student teacher. Now that Mrs. DiVetta is gone, I would be THRILLED (and VERY grateful) to have extra help. If you email me with the best days/times and also what type of help you’d like to provide, I will work on making up a possible schedule (or even just offer some open times where it works best to have drop-in help). Thank you in advance!!!

HARELSON IS SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT! A FEW UPDATES:

BARNES AND NOBLE BOOKFAIR STILL GOING ON THROUGH DECEMBER 15th!

Thanks to all those parents who supported the bookfair on Saturday! Remember, if you were unable to attend the event, its not too late to order from Barnes & Noble. For the first time, Barnes & Noble Booksellers has expanded this holiday event to include online orders made between Saturday, December 11th through Wednesday, December 15. Go to BN.COM/bookfairs and use Bookfair ID 10245603 at checkout. Feel free to forward this information to friends and family across the country who may want to order books, CDs, movies or games for the Holiday Season.

DEADLINE FOR TAX CREDIT DONATIONS IS FAST APPROACHING!

Please get your forms into Jill Neubert as soon as possible if you are still interested in taking advantage of this opportunity to help Harelson.

I hope everyone has a wonderful winter break, and a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

See you next year, (Wow! Doesn’t that sound weird?)

Bonnie

Keene Kids' News - December 6, 2010

2010-12-06T16:40:00.000-07:00

December 6, 2010

Dear Parents,

First of all, I apologize that I haven't been able to keep the blog updated for the past month. I have been having some issues with Blogger not working properly from the school computer, however, the glitch seems to have been fixed. This is going to be a quick reminder newsletter filled with information on upcoming events.

Tuesday, Dec. 7th : Winter Band/Orchestra Concert 1:45 pm And 6:30 pm in the Funhouse.
Wednesday, Dec. 8th: Harelson Spelling Bee 9:30-10:30 in the Funhouse.
Saturday, Dec. 11th: Barnes and Noble Bookfair and Art Show 9am-11:00pm(see attached flyers)
Tuesday, Dec. 14th: Harelson Geography Bee 9:00-10:30am in the Funhouse.
Thursday, Dec. 16th: Christmas Party *see below for information. Our “Room Mom” will be contacting parents for treats!

HOLIDAY FAMILY: So far we have received only a few items for the mother and father of our holiday family, with many items still needed. Gift cards to Walmart (or a store where they could by food OR clothing) are a great way to help support this large family. Dad is 33 years old: pant size (38x32), shirt size (XL), shoe size (9-1/2). Mom is 31 years old: pant size (16), shirt size (XL), shoe size (10). THANK YOU in advance for your support! (P.S. If anyone has a girl's bike which is gently used, our family has a 6 year-old who is dreaming of a "Barbie bike - but I'm sure she'd be grateful for ANY bike).

THANK YOU SO MUCH for helping shower Mrs. DiVetta with love and well wishes (along with some special gifts) for her last day. The surprise party was a huge success, and she was quite touched by all the support.

CHRISTMAS PARTY NEWS: Our Christmas party will be on Thursday, December 16th. I have asked the students to each bring in a stocking to hang in the room. (If you can’t send in a stocking, please let me know so I can provide one for your child). If possible, EACH CHILD SHOULD BRING IN **28** SMALL gifts. These little “gifts” from the class will be used to fill up the students’ stockings. Suggestions for the stocking “gifts” include: gel pens, pencils, erasers, candy, stickers, individually wrapped cookies or cakes, fruit roll-ups, mini activity books or mini notepads, etc.

If you have any questions, please email me for the quickest response. You may also send me a note in the agenda. In an emergency, please call the office at 696-6020, as they can reach me during school hours while our class phone is forwarded. Thanks for your support.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Keene

Just Had to Share This!

2010-11-10T12:34:00.002-07:00

Dear Parents,

Today was one of those days in teaching where I find myself stepping back in awe at these wonderful children. The day started out rather "rough," which sadly, has become a bit of a pattern in behavior since the week of Halloween. Teaching for many years, I am well acquainted with the "ebbs and flows" of focus and effort (with students always a bit more "off" as the holiday season kicks in). Mrs. DiVetta, however, was a bit surprised to see the rather drastic change in the students demeanor.

So today, after a rather frustrating morning, I took a moment to have a "heart to heart" with the kids. We talked about respect, responsibility, discipline, and "personal best" effort. We tied it in with the Veterans' Day holiday, and discussed how awesome it is to live in a country where we are free, and how thankful we are to the veterans who have fought for this freedom. From this discussion, we started to talk about how we can "be the best we can be."

The students were amazingly honest and self reflective, so I asked them to jot down their feelings in their journals. What they expressed inside these simple paper pages, warmed my heart and I was overcome with emotions (brought to tears more than once). The fact these young ladies and gentlemen were able to dig deep inside and truly think about how they can become better human beings (in class and out), made me so incredibly proud I just had to share this with you.

I am so thankful to have the opportunity to teach your children,

Mrs. Keene

Keene Kids' News - November 8, 2010

2010-11-08T15:25:00.000-07:00

November 8, 2010

Dear Parents,

I hope everyone gets to enjoy the day off on Thursday in honor of Veterans' Day. Since we lose a day of school, we will be super busy trying to stay on top of all our learning. Our ANCIENT INDIAN DWELLING PROJECT IS COMING UP! The instruction sheet for our big Social Studies project in in your child’s Social Studies packet, but will be explained in detail on Friday. Mrs. Di Vetta and I encourage you to go over this with your child and help them choose which project option they would like to complete. They must turn in a project proposal form by Wednesday, November 17th.

READING LOGS: First of all, I want to say THANK YOU to those students who have been turning in their reading log faithfully since the program started. Parents, thank you for helping by signing these logs each day your child reads. This team effort is AWESOME! I’m happy to report that Mrs. Di Vetta and I have started to see a positive change in attitude and effort!!!

A TIP ABOUT BOOK CHOICE: Students should really try to choose an AR book (at his/her level) to read, as the AR tests are a quick way to prove their reading comprehension. This is a huge time saver if your child is behind on his/her Reading Olympics books. However, I strongly encourage all students to try at least a few “book projects or book reports” throughout the year. This allows their creativity to shine through. Please check out the “Reading” link on our class website for help finding a book AND for a list of great book project ideas or book report forms.. (Note: The 2nd AR test or book report for this quarter is due by November 24th).

PITFIRE IS NEXT THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19th!

TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO ORDER T-SHIRTS! PLEASE SEE ATTACHED FORM.

Please watch for Pit Crew meeting information coming SOON! We are waiting to hear from Ms. Caris as to when she can meet with the dads who are helping! Pitfire Coordinators & Station Leaders ONLY will be meeting this Wednesday at 1:20pm (if you have a form attached asking you to attend, then you need to be there). This meeting is NOT for all volunteers. Thanks.

As always, if you have any questions, please email me at bkeene@amphi.com for the quickest response. I do my best to return phone calls within 24 hours. Of course, you may also send a note to school with your child (or write in their agenda). No matter which method of communication you choose, Mrs. DiVetta and I want to be available to address any concerns or suggestions you may have. Open communication is important to help your child be the “best he or she can be!”

Have a great week!

Mrs. Keene & Mrs. Di Vetta

Keene Kids' News - November 1, 2010

2010-11-01T17:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween weekend. We had a “spook-tacular” time last week, writing “Jack-0-Lantern” stories as we learned more about the 6-Traits of organization and word choice. The stories were amazingly creative and showcased our budding young writers. We also worked on skills for following directions with a fun “Drawing by Directions” activity that doubled as decorations for our end of the week celebration.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! – The Halloween party was a huge success, thanks to our wonderful parents who donated delicious treats (and $ for pizza) for everyone to enjoy. I truly feel blessed to have such amazing parents and grandparents supporting our class! THANKS AGAIN! Everything is better because of your support!!! A special “thank you” to the parents who came to the party and dressed in costume to add to the fun!

PITFIRE: Please send in your T-shirt and/or DVD order forms. The kids love to wear the shirts and save them as a memento of this special day. The DVD is another great way to remember the day!

PICTURE RETAKE DAY IS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17th! Please note: We will be taking our class picture in the morning since I was not here on the original picture day.

COMING UP THIS WEEK: Our first AR test (or book report) is due this Friday. We will also be celebrating our readers with an Olympic celebration, and “Top Reader of the Week.” This week, the students will be finishing up the Fourth Grade Rats novel, and learning the roles involved in “Book Clubs.” Once we finish this lesson, students will start their own book clubs based on selected novel choices. There will not be a DLR test this week.

IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT SPELLING: This week, students will be taking a cumulative spelling review test on Friday. The test will cover 30 words (taken from each of the 6 units), and is meant to check retention and application of the words we’ve worked with so far this year. The students have a study guide and their study packets to review.

If you have any questions, please email me for the quickest response. You may also send me a note in the agenda. In an emergency, please call the office at 696-6020, as they can reach me during school hours while our class phone is forwarded. Thanks for your support.

Have a fantastic week!

Mrs. Keene and Mrs. Di Vetta

Keene Kids' News - October 18, 2010

2010-10-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

I hope everyone enjoyed the week off! It’s always hard to get back into “school mode” after a long break, so please help encourage your child to get back into his or her study routine. Don’t forget to check your child’s BOBCAT Organizer and SIGN the agenda each night!

This quarter brings a bunch of new adventures for our 4th grade class as our Ancient Indian Unit begins to get us ready for the Pitfire on Thursday, November 18th. Please see the blue sheet attached to the Monday packet for Pitfire information (some parents have 2 sheets based on what they signed up for on Parent Information night).

READING NEWS: Reading Olympics continues this quarter! We have started our daily “Reading Log” beginning today. Parents need to sign this nightly (instead of writing in the agenda). Once again, every student should have at least 3 AR tests OR book reports turned in by the end of this quarter. Please do NOT wait until the last minute to turn these in. Time management and careful book selection will really help the students have a great 2nd quarter. We will be reading a realistic fiction book together this quarter and that can count as one of the 3 books. Remember, no matter what award you’re aiming for, you can (and should) always read more than the 3 book minimum per quarter. To help with time management – Mrs. Di Vetta and I have broken the quarter into three week segments. The due dates are conveniently listed at the bottom of the daily reading log. We recommend the following schedule for AR Test/Book Report Due dates:

Book #1 by Nov. 5th -- Book #2 by Nov. 24th -- Book #3 by Dec. 16th

Also, check out the latest Scholastic book order forms. The new “Just Right” catalog is attached to today’s packet. These books have lexile levels, grade levels, and AR test levels listed right on the order form to help pick the book that’s “just right” for your child’s level. If you want, you can order books directly online (go to my website and click on “Scholastic Book Order” tab for more information). Every book or item ordered helps earn free books for our classroom library! If you would like to order books for holiday gifts, just be sure to put a note in with your order so I can pull those books and get them to you without “inquiring eyes” seeing their future gift!

Many parents have asked if we are having a Halloween party next week. We will be having our annual “FALL COSTUME FIESTA” next Friday, October 29th. An information sheet will be sent home later in the week!

As always, if you have any questions, please email me for the quickest response. You may also send me a note in the agenda. In an emergency, please call the office at 696-6020, as they can reach me during school hours while our class phone is forwarded. Thanks for your support.

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Keene and Mrs. Di Vetta

It's Parent/Teacher Conference Week!!!

2010-10-04T21:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It's hard to believe this quarter is winding down! Mrs. DiVetta and I are looking forward to meeting with you this week as conferences begin. The schedule is full, and it's going to be a busy week for everyone. Thanks in advance for arriving on time. This helps keep everyone on track, which is especially important for our parents who have more than one child at Harelson.

Thanks for your support this quarter. When we all work as a team, your child is sure to succeed!

Have a wonderful fall break!

See you soon,

Mrs. Keene and Mrs. Di Vetta

Keene Kids' News: September 27, 2010

2010-09-28T11:12:00.002-07:00

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Just 2 weeks left before fall break! Where did the time go?? In today’s packet, you will find your child’s tests for the past week along with a bright yellow note about parent teacher conferences. Please sign and RETURN the conference sheet as soon as possible. I will do my best to work around time conflicts. However, with only limited time slots available, it will be very helpful if you can keep to the proposed time/date. Thank you in advance for being on time to these conferences, as they are only 15 minutes, and are scheduled “back to back.”

PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED COPY OF THE NEW REPORT CARD IN TODAY'S PACKET: This will help you become familiar with the new format prior to meeting for our conference.

READING OLYMPICS UPDATE: I have attached the most recent AR Quiz score list (pink slip) for each student. All students should really have 2 tests completed (or book reports) at this time since. Please remember, each student is responsible for AT LEAST 3 AR quizzes (or book reports) per quarter. Many students have still not taken a test or turned in a book report (for non AR books, or any AR test with a score below 70%).

PLEASE HELP US REACH OUR DIRECT GIVING CAMPAIGN GOAL: Thanks to all families who have already donated to Harelson. It is so exciting for the students to feel like they’re a part of helping our school, and our class is trying to get 100% participation. We are hoping that every family can donate at least $1-5 to help Harelson reach their goal, and help our class reach our goal, too! FYI – The “Keene Kids” have won the participation prize two years in a row, and the kiddos really want to keep that tradition going! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR HELPING SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL! I have extra “Direct Giving” envelopes if you need them, or stop by the office for one!

COMING UP THIS WEEK: All three math classes have moved on to geometry this week. Last week’s Chapter 3 math tests are in today’s packet. Our combined Week3/Week4 DLR test went really well for most students. We are so proud of how hard the students are working. Spelling packets/tests are also proving to be an area of success for many students. Again, students are encouraged to complete one page per day to help avoid last minute work (many students complete this during daily study skills time) and also help build great study habits. Our Water Unit winding down, and we have changed the date of our first big science test to Thursday. Student should be studying their vocabulary flash cards, and their flip book on the 3 stages/forms of water to help prepare for the final unit test. Wednesday, we will be having a fantastic presentation from Tucson Water called “Our Water, Our Future.”

If you have any questions, please email me for the quickest response. You may also send me a note in the agenda. In an emergency, please call the office at 696-6020, as they can reach me during school hours while our class phone is forwarded. Thanks for your support.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Keene and Mrs. DiVetta

Keene Kids' News - September 20, 2010

2010-09-20T17:22:00.000-07:00

September 20, 2010

Dear Parents,

I’d like to thank everyone who was able to attend our Open House/Ice-Cream Social last Thursday. It was wonderful to see the students enjoying time with you while showing off some of their work and giving the classroom “tours.” Our school is a special place as a result of fantastic parent/family support. Harelson truly is a “family” – and I am thankful each day for the opportunity to teach such wonderful students. I know how hectic weeknights can be, so for those of you unable to attend, I am keeping the student work up on the wall for the rest of this week. Feel free to stop by before or after school to take a peek! :)

THE DIRECT GIVING DRIVE IS UNDERWAY!!!

(Envelopes are in today’s Monday Packet)

PLEASE HELP US REACH OUR DIRECT GIVING CAMPAIGN GOAL: Thanks to all families who have already donated to Harelson. Our class goal is to get 100% participation, so each of us can help Harelson and our class. If money is tight, we understand. We are hoping that every family can donate at least $1 to $5 to help Harelson reach their goal, and help our class reach our goal, too! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!

BACK TO BUSINESS: We are continuing to have some struggles with missing or incomplete work, and hearing a lot of “I forgot it at home.” Continued missing or incomplete work is a concern because this work is practice for the students as they work towards concept mastery in each subject. Missing work often leads to disappointing grades on assessments, and overall frustration for the student. Mrs. Di Vetta and I continually remind them of the importance of ALWAYS giving their PERSONAL BEST, and hopefully, seeing a few “scary” grades will help them realize they need to step up their study/time management skills for the rest of the quarter and beyond. Please help your child get back on track by checking the agenda assignments each night and making sure they have completed all work AND packed it in his/her backpack for the next morning.

READING OLYMPICS UPDATE: The most recent AR Quiz score list for each student is in each packet (on a pink sheet). If you did not see an AR test on the list, please talk to your child. The Reading Olympics start date was August 18th. Tests taken prior to the start of Reading Olympics do NOT count, as the dates are clearly listed on the Reading Olympics information sheet. All students should have AT LEAST 3 tests completed (or book reports) by the end of this quarter in order to count for this grading period. Please remember, each student is responsible for AT LEAST 3 AR quizzes (or book reports) per quarter. This is definitely a great lesson in time management, as well as reading.

COMING UP THIS WEEK: All three math classes will be taking their Chapter 3 Math tests this week. Please check with your child on how he/she is feeling about this chapter. Talking about math concepts is a positive way to reinforce classroom learning, and helps students as they study to do their best. Since we didn’t have a DLR test last week, Friday’s test will cover the lessons from “Week 3&4.” Spelling packets/tests are going well. Students are encouraged to complete one page per day to help avoid last minute work (many students complete this during daily study skills time) and also help build great study habits. Our Water Unit is underway, and students will be making models of the water cycle, and learning more about ways to save water. Our first Science test will be on Friday.

If you have any questions, please email me for the quickest response. You may also send me a note in the agenda. In an emergency, please call the office at 696-6020, as they can reach me during school hours while our class phone is forwarded. Thanks for your support.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Keene and Mrs. DiVetta

Keene Kids' News - September 7, 2010

2010-09-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

September 7, 2010

Dear Parents,

I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend! It’s always hard to get back into “school mode” after an extra day off, so please help encourage your child to stay focused for the rest of the week. Some students are still struggling with the new workload/expectations of 4th grade. To help them with this transition to intermediate level work, PLEASE remember to check your child’s BOBCAT Organizer and SIGN the agenda each night! I am happy to report that most students are consistently/correctly using the organizers. Organized students are more prepared for class and ready to learn. This builds their confidence and success. HOORAY! Please let me know if you have any suggestions to how we can improve this system.

Since we weren’t in school yesterday, the “Monday Packet” is a “Tuesday Packet” today. Please check over your child’s work, sign the cover sheet and return it to school tomorrow. Overall, I am quite happy with the test grades from last week. It is great to see the children succeed! Only a few students were missing any homework this week (check your child’s “cover sheet), and almost every assignment is coming in with names and numbers printed at the top! I love to see the students being so responsible!

In today’s packet, look for their third DLR test, first reading packet, and first spelling test. Also included are some “timed” math tests. I would like to send out a friendly reminder: PLEASE DO NOT PANIC if the score is low. These are 5 minute “timed” tests. Each student has to pass two timed tests on addition, subtraction, and multiplication during the year. PLEASE NOTE: They have the entire year to pass this test with a 98% or better. We take these tests 2-3 times per week. You can help your child study for this test by practicing facts at home with flash cards. I also have flash cards and practice tests available if you would like me to send them home for you to work on with your child.

Our 6th Annual “Keene Kids’ Reading Olympics” is underway. Many students have already started taking their AR tests! Please see the website under “Reading” for all the information and instructions. I will be going over the program in detail with the students tomorrow. If you have any questions, about the Reading Olympics, please let me know. Again, this is a fabulous program that really encourages even the most “reluctant reader” to read.

If you have any questions, please email me for the quickest response. You may also send me a note in the agenda. In an emergency, please call the office at 696-6020, as they can reach me during school hours while our class phone is forwarded. Thanks for your support.

Language Arts MAP TESTING next Tuesday at 8:35am!
Remember to GO TO BED EARLY and EAT A GOOD BREAKFAST!

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Keene and Mrs. Di Vetta

Keene Kids' News - August 30, 2010

2010-08-30T20:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

I hope everyone had a nice weekend. Get ready for a super busy week ahead, as we begin to add more content to each day. Today, we introduced our first spelling packet. Each week, the packet will consist of 4 pages (one page per night), and the students are encouraged to complete one page per night to help them study for the final test on Friday.

This week’s “Monday Packet” includes the following:: DLR TEST #2, Timed Addition Test, Geography Test, Handwriting Sheet(s) and the Chapter 1 Math Test. The first few tests went pretty well for most of the class. Again, please know that the first tests back from summer vacation are often tough for students. I’m sure the scores will continue to improve as the students get used to the expectations of 4th grade.

MATH CLASSES WILL BE ROTATING ON WEDNESDAY! Beginning this Wednesday, the students will be placed in their new leveled math groups. This means your child may have a new math teacher. Be sure to ask your child who his or her teacher will be! If you have questions about math, please direct them to your child’s current teacher. Since it is important that your child continue to practice his/her facts (no matter which math teacher he/she has) please let me know if you would like some practice “timed facts” sheets. I have addition, subtraction, multiplication and divisions sheets available. Contact information for all fourth grade teachers is located on the magnet handed out at parent night.

Here is the contact information to reach your child’s math teacher (if it’s not me):
Mrs Cozart: bcozart@amphi.com 696-6032
Miss Fuca: : kfuca@amphi.com 696-6033

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
Please continue to check agendas and organizers each night. Parents should initial at the bottom of the agenda, and then again in the reading section (to indicate your child has read the required 20 minutes per night). If you do not sign the reading section, that shows me your child did not complete his/her reading requirement. We are starting to have more and more incomplete or missing assignments. Please help us encourage your child to take advantage of the daily study skills time at the end of each day.

If you have any questions, please email me for the quickest response. You may also send me a note in the agenda. In an emergency, please call the office at 696-6020, as they can reach me during school hours while our class phone is forwarded. Thanks for your support.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Keene and Mrs. Di Vetta

KEENE KIDS' NEWS - August 23, 2010

2010-08-23T16:49:00.001-07:00

Dear Parents/Grandparents,

Well, today marks the beginning of the third week of school. The children and I have been getting back into the swing of things and working on becoming the “best we can be.” Please remember to check your child’s organizer each night and become familiar with the organization system. Spending a few minutes each evening to make sure your child is using the organizer properly will help us to establish a great academic habit that will serve them for years to come. If you haven’t yet sent in your $6 to cover the original back-to-school supply fee, please send that in as soon as possible. Thank you to those who have already paid. We are so happy everyone liked this new “back to school/organization” system!

Just another reminder that every Monday you will be receiving a “Monday Packet” which consists of the school/class newsletter (only if you have asked to receive a hard copy from the office), various items of interest from Harelson, and a group of papers stapled with a small cover sheet. This packet should be found in the first pocket of your child’s organizer. These papers will consist of your child’s tests from the prior week, as well as any papers completed in class (which you may look over and keep). Please sign the cover sheet and return it to school the next day. Please note: I DO NOT hand back every homework assignment (to keep you from being inundated with papers). However, I do put each child’s homework into my file. If you ever wish to see your child’s homework, just ask, and I can send it home, or show it to you if you request a conference.

WHAT WORK IS IN TODAY’S PACKET?: So far we have taken three five-minute math tests, and one DLR quiz. The first DLR test went pretty well for most of the class. As far as the timed math tests go, please know that the first tests back from summer vacation are often tough for students. I’m sure the scores will continue to improve as the students get used to the expectations of 4th grade. Also included were their Compass Rose worksheets, and handwriting practice sheets. Several students have still not turned in their handwriting sheet. If you do not see it in the packet, that means it wasn’t turned in to the homework box.

DLR: Testing for DLR (Daily Language Review) will take place every Friday. They work on these sentence corrections every day in class and have the corrected sentences to study from in their DLR notebook. Every Thursday night, students should study the corrected work from Mon-Thursday in their workbooks for the test.

NIGHTLY READING HAS BEGUN! Students should be reading 20 minutes each night! For now, parents can just initial in the “Reading” section of the Agenda to show that your child has read the full 20 minutes.

FIRST MATH TEST ON THURSDAY! We are just finishing up Chapter 1 in our Math textbook. We will be taking practice quizzes tomorrow and Wednesday. Our test will be on Thursday.

If you have any questions, please email me for the quickest response. You may also send me a note in the agenda, or leave a message on my phone 696-6030 (or with the office @ 696-6020). I do my best to return phone calls within 24 hours.

Mrs. Di Vetta and I are so excited about this year. The students are off to a great start, and are really working hard. It’s going to be a fantastic year!

Have a great week!

Mrs. Keene & Mrs. Di Vetta

First Day Update!

2010-08-11T20:54:00.003-07:00

Dear Parents/Grandparents/Guardians,

I just wanted to send out a quick post to tell you how much I absolutely loved getting to meet everyone today! I can already tell that this new class of "Keene Kids" is going to be AMAZING. They are a collective bundle of energy and I know it is going to be a joy to get to know them better. We're going to have an AWESOME year ahead!

Starting school on our "Early Out" schedule (combined with our new hours) made the first day of school a bit more hectic than usual, so we weren't able to get in as many of my favorite "Getting to Know You" activities before the bell rang. As a result, we were mostly "all business" today - having to focus on new routines and procedures. Tomorrow and Friday will be filled with a lot more opportunities for the classmates to get to know each other. I can't wait.

Please remember to check your child's agenda and sign or initial it at the bottom of the page for August 11th. AIMS results, as well as a note from the office, and August cafeteria menu went home with each student tonight (New students to Harelson did not get this information since they weren't here last year).

Thank you so much for all your support and generous donations. I am so fortunate to have such a fabulous bunch of parents/grandparents/guardians (and students)!

Here's to a great first week and beyond,

Mrs. Keene

P.S. A quick reminder: Our new school hours are 8:25am - 2:55pm. The playground opens before school at 8:05am, but students should not be on the playground prior to 8:05, unless accompanied by his/her parent or guardian.