Happy Summer!

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful summer so far. I sure am trying to do so. I leave for my trip to Alaska in a little over a week so I'm excited about that. Please email me throughout the summer and let me know what everyone is up to. I am at the library almost every Tuesday working with some Ford kids so I may see some of you around there. Enjoy your summer!

ASP Update

This information was sent via email to all of the teachers this weekend. Please read and be advised.

Students will not be allow to stay in ASP the last two weeks of school unless they are prepaid. This Cobb County policy will be enforced during these last weeks. If they are not prepaid they will be asked to call home for the money or another way to go home.

Two Weeks Left!

It is hard to believe, but the end of the school year is fast approaching. I first want to thank you all for sharing your children with me this school year. The scrapbook that they made means the world to me. And the surprise $$ at the end will be put to some good pampering use at the spa soon. I cannot thank you enough.

Here's the scoop for this week:

Sitton Words: tree, course, front, American, & space
Challenge Words: poetry, experience, memory, analogy, & favorite
**This is the last list of spelling words for the year**

Monday - 9-10 Book Buddy Beach Blankets & Books; All media center books due.

Tuesday - 2nd & 3rd Grade Field-day 8:50-1:30; MATH BUSTERS DINNER at Golden Corral 6pm. Parents are welcome to stay and eat with us. Everyone is on their own for dinner. If you are dropping off your child be back by 7pm to pick them up.

Wednesday - Regular Day

Thursday - Art Awareness with Mrs. Ross

Friday - Hawaiian Day

Sunday - Open House at Pickett's Mill Elementary 3-5 p.m. Stop by to tour the school and meet the staff.

Fabulous Friday

Hello again! Testing is finally over and they have been turned in to the state. Yeah! You will know results as soon as I do.

Here's the scoop for next week:
Sitton Words: ground, cold, really, table, & remember
Challenge Words: habitat, organism, insectivores, mammal, & adapt

Math: Multiplication & Division
Science: Animal Habitats & Energy
Reading: Fairy Tale Plays
English: Antonyms

Monday - Regular Day
Ford Talent Show at Durham
Tuesday - 9am Volunteer Tea in Media Center
9:15 Leave for CATO Environmental Fieldstudy
Wednesday - Regular Day
Evening in the Garden 5:30 pm
Thursday - 1:15-2 Multiplication Ice Cream Sundae Celebration outside (all are welcome) See invitation sent home this week for more information.

**ALL media center books are due on Monday, May 12th**
**MATH BUSTERS dinner is Tuesday, May 13th 6pm at Golden Corral**
**3rd grade Field Day is Tuesday, May 13th **

Have a fabulous weekend!!!!

Thrilling Thursday

OK, the parents in our room are AMAZING!!! Mrs. Kelly and I cannot say thank you enough for your wonderful acts of kindness this week. Wednesday we were surprised with both lunch and dinner. Then we found out that lunch is being delivered every day during testing with dinner coming again on Monday evening. I want to thank Mrs. Toper for organizing this special treat for us. Like I said, you are all amazing!

So far so good with testing! The kids have all been to school on time every day. We have had some wonderful snacks and surprises each day to help celebrate each section being over. I am very pleased to watch the kids take the test and finish telling me that I was right, "It is all review Miss McArthur". That makes my heart swell with pride. We have successfully created a stress free environment and that was my goal. These five days should be the easiest days of the year for them. Make sure they get to relax and enjoy the weekend, but don't forget we do test on Monday and Tuesday mornings.

Mrs. Toper sent home a classroom calendar today with upcoming dates for our classroom. I will also list the major ones here for your benefit. Again, thanks for the surprises this week for the kids and teachers. Hugs to all!

Dates to Remember:
April 23-29 CRCT Testing
May 1st - Mrs. Toner (5th grade teacher) retirement party in media center 3-4:30
May 5th - Ford Talent Show
May 6th - Volunteer Tea
May 6th - Environmental Fieldstudy trip to CATO Center "Nature's Neighborhoods"
May 7th - Evening in the Garden
May 8th - Multiplication Ice Cream Sundae Celebration 1:15-2
May 12th - All student books due to the media center. Prize for classes who have them all turned in on this day. WE CAN DO IT!!!
May 13th - 3rd grade field day
May 13th - MATH BUSTERS dinner - only for those who pass Math Buster challenge 6pm at Golden Corral on Barrett Pkwy.
May 16th - Hawaiian Day
May 23rd - Last day of school

**For those of you going to Pickett's Mill ~ There will be an Open House for you to tour the school before the end of this school year. It was voted this week at the charter PTA meeting that we are the "Pickett's Mill Pirates" and our school colors are red and black.**

Terrific Tuesday

Hello to all! Here is the long awaited testing schedule:
* Wednesday - Reading
Snacks/Treats: John, Taylor, Andrew, Teo
* Thursday - English/Language Arts
Snacks/Treats: Griffin, Shaydimon, Annie, Katelyn
* Friday - Math
Snacks/Treats: Ben, Bryce, Natasha, Micah
* Monday - Science
Snacks/Treats: Samantha, Lauren, Jordan, Chandler
* Tuesday - Social Studies
Snacks/Treats: Steven, Megan, Alex, Justin

Remember there will be no homework whatsoever during the testing time period.

I reminded the kids this morning that the next 5 days should be the easiest five days of the school year for them. They are just showing what they know and playing a game of "Are you smarter than a third grader!" Thanks for all of the treats coming in to help keep our brains motivated. Can you believe only 4 1/2 weeks left of this school year? Boy time flies when you are having fun!

Are you smarter than a 3rd grader?

This Wednesday we will start the CRCT testing. I should have a complete schedule after our overview meeting on Monday to share with you all. I do know for sure that the READING section will be on Wednesday. A testing strategies sheet will be sent home Monday to remind you of the important things to do before testing. We want this week to be as stress free as possible. Last week I sent home a note about testing snacks and surprises. Please send in your donation on the day your were assigned. There will be no homework and/or spelling lists for the next two weeks. We will be testing every morning and then doing many "learning experience" activities in the afternoons. The children have reached another goal in the classroom for their behavior so on Thursday we will be celebrating their achievment with popcorn and a movie in the classroom. They will be able to bring a soda to school if they would like to have it at the same time. PLEASE make sure your child gets lots of rest, eats a good breakfast, and gets to school on time every day for the next two weeks. This is extremely important!! Be ready for a great week.

PS~ It was great to see so many of you out having fun at the Spring Fling on Saturday. What a great afternoon of weather for the event!