Nancy Hester

HESTER'S AND BOLIN'S NESTERS NEWS

FIELD DAY

Our Field Day which was scheduled for Friday has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 13.  Due to rain, the fourth and fifth Field Day was moved to Friday the 8th.  If they are rained out on Friday, there is a possibility that ours may get bumped again.  Check your child's agenda for any more updates.  When and if we do get to have a Field Day, have your child wear his/her class t-shirt if they have one.  We will hope for a little sunshine on Friday and Wednesday!

WALK TO SCHOOL DAY

In order to show respect for the environment, we are having a Walk to School Day.  If you do not live close enough to school to walk, you may park at the Mountain View Church on Casteel Rd. and walk from there.  There will be police officers to monitor traffic.  If it is not safe for you to walk, or if you just can't, bus rider students may walk on the upper field to show support.  The rain date for this event is Friday, May 15.

SASE

It is that time of year where we ask you to send in a long, self addressed stamped envelope for us to mail your child's report card home.  Please try to do this as soon as possible.  Our time is quickly running out.  If we do not receive an envelope with stamp attached, you will have to pick up your child's report card after school is out.

SOLDIERS

A flyer went home earlier about this project to help our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The items that second grade has been asked to bring in are:  chap stick, sun screen, hand sanitizer, eye drops, baby wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, deodorant, body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, Q tips, foot powder (Gold Bond), tuna or chicken in foil packets, band aids, small batteries, school supplies for children.  The class is writing letters to send to the soldiers, also.  Thank you in advance for helping out with this cause.  You may send in items up to the end of school.

AR

Our class has exceeded our overall class goal for AR!  We will have lunch with special activities one day soon.  Thanks to Mrs. Rion Flynn for being a great AR Coach this year.  Those students who achieved their own personal goal are as follows:  Parish Brown, Mitchell Camp, Callihan Donnelly, Kai Eigenhuis, Garrett Flynn, Rebecca Kenny, Brenden Mickey, Victoria Som, Reed Tingley, Alex Tucker, and Katie Wacker.  Congratulations to all of you!

LAST WEEK ACTIVITIES

Next week we will be sending home a list of special activities which we will be doing the last week of school.  Each of these activities will be tied to the curriculum in some way.  Therefore, please encourage your child to participate.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

MAY 7 - P.T.A. 6;30 (kINDERGARTEN PERFORMS)

MAY 8 - WALK TO SCHOOL DAY

MAY 13 - FIELD DAY K,1,2

MAY 18 - STEVIE B'S NIGHT

MAY 22 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

HESTER'S AND BOLIN'S NESTERS NEWS

CRCT

The CRCT test is over!!  Everyone did a good job while taking the test and we are all relieved that we have passed this milestone.  Scores usually come in at the beginning of summer.  If they come in on time, you may even get the results in the last report card.  It all depends on the timing.

CURRICULUM

Even though the CRCT test is over, this does not mean that the school year is over yet.  We have eighteen more days of school and teaching.  We hope that there will be eighteen more days of learning, as well.

We continue to learn about life cycles of plants and animals.  We currently have Lima beans growing in the classroom as well as butterfly chrysalides in a butterfly house.  The other life cycles that we will study are birds, mammals, and amphibians.

The Math quarterly test will be on May 12.  Addition and subtraction with regrouping, multiplication and division readiness along with problem solving with money and all of the above.  I still see students counting on their fingers to find the answers to the basic addition and subtraction facts.  As I have said all year, it is imperative that your child memorizes these facts before third grade.  This is the foundation of all other math.  Please work with your child now if this is the case AND this summer to keep this important skill in place.

BOOK REPORT

On Monday, your child brought home a letter and rubric about a book report.  You had to sign the first page and return it to school.  Your child will be writing a book report and making a "bag" to go with it to show examples of important events in the story.  This book should be on their AR reading level.  The book may be read at home or school and the bag items collected at home.  The summary must be written at school.  This is part of our writing, response to literature. 

FIRE SAFETY

This month we have had Cobb County Fire Fighters come into the classroom to teach our second graders about fire safety.  They have learned many valuable lessons about safety in the home. 

DATES TO REMEMBER

MAY 1 - SPIRIT DAY

MAY 5 - CHICK-FIL-A NIGHT

MAY 7 - PTSA MEETING/KINDERGARTEN

MAY 8 - 2ND AND 3RD FIELD DAY/WALK TO SCHOOL DAY

MAY 15 - WALK TO SCHOOL RAIN DATE

MAY 18 - STEVIE B'S NIGHT

MAY 20 - 5TH GRADE AWARDS CEREMONY

MAY 22 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

HESTER'S AND BOLIN'S NESTERS NEWS

CURRICULUM

Our last nine weeks began today.  We will be working harder than ever to be ready for the CRCT coming up on April.  We have already learned most of the skills and are just reviewing and practicing what everyone should know.

Our science unit this grading period will be about the life cycles of plants and animals.  We have already planted some Lima bean seeds to watch them grow. 

Social Studies will be covering the life of Jimmy Carter along with government and personal finances for our age students.  These concepts will be pretty basic, but very necessary.

Math is moving into multiplication and division readiness along with addition and subtraction of three digit numbers.

WEE DELIVER

Our mail system at Still Elementary is up and running.  We are in need of one more parent volunteer to give one morning a week to help in the distribution of our mail.  If you can do this, please send in a note and I will get your name to the correct person.  They will contact you.  It is only about an hour of your time that is needed.

NEW STUDENT

We are pleased to welcome Gisselle Castillo to our class.  She is our nineteenth student!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday to Kai Eigenhuis and Mitchell Camp who celebrated birthdays this month!

DATES TO REMEMBER:

APRIL 6-10 - SPRING BREAK

APRIL 14 - CHICK-FIL-A NIGHT

APRIL 21-24 - CRCT TESTING

HAPPY SPRING!

HESTER'S AND BOLIN'S NESTERS NEWS

CHILLY FIELD TRIP

Our field trip to Cato Park was a success, even though the weather was chilly.  We actually were only outside for about 20 minutes.  The students learned about the life cycle of plants and frogs.  This was an introduction to our upcoming Science curriculum.  Everyone had a good time!

CURRICULUM

Our math unit is coming to a close in about a week.  The final test will be next Thursday for most of our class.  Again,  the major concepts that we have covered are:  fractions, reading and recognizing four digit numbers and comparing them,money such as making change from one or two dollars, measurement in standard and metric, temperature and graphs.  Also, many of our students do not have the subtraction facts mastered.  Look in your child's folder this Thursday to see if more practice is needed.  There is a timed subtraction test in there.  Please practice these facts and review the addition.  The CRCT is coming soon and these must be mastered.

The class has enjoyed our study of the relationship of the Earth, Sun, and moon.  We have learned what causes day and night, the seasons, and the phases of the moon.

TISSUES

Once again we must ask for more tissues.  There must be several who have allergies, because our tissue supply has been depleted.  Please send in a box if you can, especially if you know that your child has to have them each day. 

The CRCT is coming up in April on the week of April 21.  You received a student number for your child back in December on a letter which gave instructions on how to get online for practice tests.  Please have  your child practice at home.  We are practicing at school and you will be seeing more homework come home that is in the CRCT format.  Go over any of these papers with your child to reinforce what we are doing here.

DATES TO REMEMBER

MARCH 10-CHICK-FIL-A NIGHT

MARCH 12 - PICTURES

MARCH 16 - STEVIE B'S NIGHT

HESTER'S AND BOLIN'S NESTERS NEWS

NEWS:  We had a wonderful Valentine's Day!  Thanks to Callihan's grandmother for her help! 

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!:  Coming up we have a field trip on March 2 to learn about plants and plant life cycles.  If you have not returned your permission form - please do so!!  The green lunch slips for the fieldtrip are also due!  We can have two chaperones (no siblings, please) provided they transport themselves.  The times are 9:00 - 1:00.  Send in a note if you'd like to do this.  The first two responses will be accepted.   Also, please have your child wear layered clothing and tennis shoes as we will be doing some walking/hiking outdoors.

CURRICULUM:  We are currently studying the moon, stars, and sun for science.  The end of the 9 week grading period is in 3 weeks so please have your child continually review all math and language arts materials they bring home.  Please also continue to practice CRCT skills online (you received a letter in December regarding this).

REMINDERS: 

February 27 - Cosmic Bowling at Still

March 2 - Field trip

March 3 - Early Release (last one of the year)

March 5 - PTA

March 10 - Chick-Fil-A Night

March 16 - Stevi B's

Happy Birthday to Callihan on February 20th!!

HESTER'S AND BOLIN'S NESTERS NEWS

THANK YOU!

We would like to thank all of our wonderful parents for coming to conferences last week.  We enjoyed meeting with each of you.  It is nice to share the successes that we see in the classroom.

CURRICULUM

Math is moving along.  We are studying linear measurement, temperature, fractions, and comparing numbers up to and including four digits.  Help your child with these skills and continue to work on the basic facts.

Our study of Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King, Jr. has ended.  The class enjoyed learning about these two famous Americans.  Ask your child what we learned about civil rights and the character of these two men.  Also, we enjoyed seeing President Obama inaugurated.  What a historic moment in America's history!

SIX FLAGS READING

The due date for the Six Flags, SIx Hours Reading program is February 17.  When your child has read six hours, you may go ahead and send in the reading log.  I will keep it for them.  Keep reading!

WELCOME!

We have a new student, Omari Dumas.  We welcome him to our class!

FIELD TRIP

On Monday, a permission form will be coming home with your child concerning an upcoming field trip.  The trip is science related to plants and is to be at Cato Education Park in Austell.  Our classes have to go on two days, due to our large size.  Our class will go on Monday, March 2.  I will send home reminders the week before, but please go ahead and mark your calendar.  We will go rain or shine and students will be allowed to bring lunch from home or buy a sack lunch from school.  Students will need to dress warmly, since part of the trip is outside.  These forms are due back FEBRUARY 20TH.

VALENTINES

We will have a Valentine exchange on Friday, February 13.  If your child wishes to participate, have them bring in the Valentines on the 13th.  Valentines are only brought in if there is one for every child.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

FEBRUARY 9 - RECYCLE PROGRAM BEGINS

FEBRUARY 10 - CHICIK-FIL-A Night

FEBRUARY 11 - 12  -- FAMILY AND FRIENDS DAY

FEBRUARY 16-STEVIE B'S NIGHT/STUDENT HOLIDAY

FEBRUARY 27 - COSMIC BOWLING

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO VICTORIA ON FEBRUARY 5TH!

HESTER'S AND BOLIN'S NESTERS NEWS

Our blog this week will be short, due to preparations for conferences next week.  We have much to share with you and look forward to seeing each of you at your appointed time.

MUST FOOD DRIVE

Our school is participating in a food drive for MUST  Ministries.  We all are feeling the economic crunch, but we also know that there are those out in the world that do not have as much as we do.  Places like MUST  have a need all year long, not just during the holidays.  If you can spare a can or two of food or a box of dry goods, please send it in with your child.  It is a good lesson for our students to see that others are not as fortunate as we are.  Thank you to all of those who have already sent in some items.  This drive goes until February 6.

TYPING

One of the skills our second graders are supposed to learn is the home keys on the computer keyboard.  Due to our students not going to the computer lab on a regular basis, it would benefit your child if you could have them work on this skill at home.  Our school website has a link to a good program that you can access at home called Dance Mat Typing.  Go to the Still website, computer tab on the left under academics, and pull up the sites listed for each grade level.  The first site on the KINDERGARTEN list is the site to go to.  Have them practice  the number one skill, Home Row and check them to see that they are using the proper hand position.  We have a time during our Workshop that each student is to rotate through this and a similar site, but with only two computers in the room, it takes a while for them to get a second turn.  Try it and see if they don't like doing this practice.

DATES TO REMEMBER

JANUARY 26-30 - CONFERENCES; SCHOOL DISMISSED TWO HOURS EARLY

FEBRUARY 4 - EARLY RELEASE DAY; SCHOOL DISMISSED TWO HOURS EARLY

FEBRUARY 5 - PTSA-SECOND GRADE PERFORMS

HESTER'S AND BOLIN'S NESTERS NEWS

CURRICULUM

We are studying civil rights and government in Social Studies this time.  Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King, Jr.  will be our focus for the Nine week period.  These two Americans have many good character traits for our students to learn about.

Our focus in writing this period is persuasive writing.  We are working on a piece that incorporates animal research using the encyclopedia, Internet, and non-fiction books.  We are trying to teach them to use facts to persuade their readers.

CONFERENCES

Most of you have finalized your conference times during the week of January 26.  We look forward to sharing the progress your child has made this year.

WELLNESS

There is a Wellness letter from Mrs. Kim Roberto posted on Still's website.  You may access it from the front page under the wellness button to the left.  This topic is one that is now mandated by the federal government.

LUNCH & LEARN

There will be a Lunch and Learn on Positive Parenting held at Still on February 5 from 11:30-12:30.  There is a flyer concerning this in your child's Thursday Folder.  Please consider coming to this event.

AGRICULTURE DAY

There is a contest for Georgia Agriculture Day.  Students might win up to $200.00.  The theme is "Georgia Grown--A Better Choice".  Second graders may make a picture to show this theme.  Entries are due by January 29.  If you are interested, please send in a note and I will send home the information to you.

DATES TO REMEMBER

JANUARY 19 - STUDENT HOLIDAY-MLK DAY & STEVIE B'S NIGHT

JANUARY 26-30-PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES; STUDENTS DISMISSED 2 HOURS EARLY

FEBRUARY 4 - EARLY RELEASE DAY; STUDENTS DISMISSED 2 HOURS EARLY

HESTER'S AND BOLIN'S NESTERS NEWS

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME BACK!

First, we would like to thank all of the parents who contributed and helped in any way with our Holiday Party.  Everyone had a great time and went away full!  The students played games and heard holiday stories after they ate. 

Also, we would like to thank all of you for the lovely gift card gifts.  We will enjoy spending them for sure!  It was a very generous gesture.  Many others sent in gifts individually and we tried to make sure that we thanked each one of you.  You are a very generous group of parents.  It is greatly appreciated.

CURRICULUM

Our Social Studies curriculum focus will be on civil rights and two of the great civil rights leaders, Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Science will be focusing on seasons, stars, sun and moon phases.  This is usually a high interest topic.

Math brings us to more money, fractions, hundreds, thousands, and more addition and subtraction with regrouping.  In light of this, again, please practice the addition and subtraction facts to memory.  This is one of the most important skills they will ever learn.

Keep reading with your child daily and asking questions about what was read.  This will help your child comprehend what is read.

CONFERENCES

Parent-Teacher conferences are from January 26-January 30.  An appointment letter will come home on Friday asking you to a conference on a certain day and time.  If it is at all possible, please try to come at the time given.  I know some rescheduling cannot be avoided, but keep in mind that we have to schedule the whole class.  Thank you.

REPORT CARDS

Due to conferences being held at the end of the month, report cards will be held until your child's conference.  We will discuss your child's progress and look  forward to seeing all of you.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

JANUARY 6 - CHICK-FIL-A NIGHT

JANUARY 19 - NO SCHOOL; MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY

JANUARY  26-30--CONFERENCE WEEK; DISMISSAL 12:15

FEBRUARY 4 - EARLY RELEASE DAY; DISMISSAL 12:15

FEBRUARY 16 - TEACHER WORK DAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHRIS RICHARDSON ON 27TH!!

HESTER'S AND BOLIN'S NESTERS NEWS

OOPS

I forgot to pass out the Spelling homework for Thursday night.  I apologize for this and hope that you just helped your child study for the test and rainbow the five words they were supposed to do.

On that same line, I must also apologize for a mistake on my Math class's homework sheet.  I forgot to stamp the dollar pictures on one of the problems.  I was not having a good day!  As I tell the class, it is OK to make mistakes, so maybe it is OK for me, too.

Have a great weekend!