Neil A. Armstrong Elementary
Astronomical News
March 2008
Principal’s Message – Victor Uher
We are now far into the third quarter of the school year and it is time to review your child’s academic goals for the year. At this point you can determine if the goals are going to be met. For example, if your child is in 2nd grade and has earned 23 AR points he/she will likely not meet the goal of 50 points for 2nd graders. Is it time to give up? No, because we learn from successes and failures. What could be done differently next year to achieve the goal? Usually it is simply reading 20-30 minutes each night.
A common question I ask our students in 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade is how many AR points do you have and what is your average on the AR tests? When many students see me they don’t even wait for me to ask. Most provide their statistics with great pride knowing they will make their goal. These students almost always are doing well in other subjects because they understand the relationship between their work and the grade they receive.
In order for our academic goals to be met, parents must track student progress throughout the year. The best way to do this is with Monday folders. When a student is tested it is always after instruction so be careful if you hear, “My teacher didn’t teach this.” Any time you see a grade below a 75 you should review the assignment with your child. One or two grades in this range is not a problem. However, if you see grades in the 70s or below regularly, there is room for concern. Contact the teacher.
The best way for a child to reach his/her goal is with a parent’s attention and guidance. There will be many teachers in your child’s life; the only constant will be you.
PTA News – Sharon Tipton, President
We would like to thank Shannon Dimarzo for the great job she is doing as “Box Tops” chairperson this year. In October, Shannon sent in box tops collected from the students which made over $600 for the school! We don’t have a total yet for the box tops collected in February, but please keep saving those box tops because it is free money for our school.
A special thank you to all the volunteers that gave of their time to assist during the Book Fair this year, it was a great success.
We are still looking for PTA board members for next year. This is a great way to become more involved with your child and be informed on what is happening at our school. If you or someone you know is interested in serving next year, contact Sharon Tipton at 936/273-2933.
Counselor’s Message – Nicole Donoho
In March I will be presenting guidance lessons to help students learn the importance of safety and taking care of themselves. I will be using the Child Lures program throughout 1st and 2nd grade. Child Lures is a program developed by Ken Wooden, who is nationally known for his work in anti-victimization programs. This prevention program helps students to understand the possible lures abductors use and sensible prevention strategies. Materials will be presented in a caring and age appropriate way. As always, students will be encouraged to talk over what they have learned with their parents. Research has shown that when children have an opportunity to talk about the best ways to handle situations they are more confident in their abilities. If you have any questions please feel free to call.
“Good Luck!” to all of our TAKS test takers on March 5th. Here are a few helpful tips for preparing your child for the test.
* Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep on the night before taking the test.
* Have your child up early enough to avoid hurrying. Being on time for school is important.
* Make sure that your child is dressed comfortably and does not wear clothes that could be distracting.
* Have your child eat a healthy breakfast.
* Be positive when you send your child to school and encourage them to do their best.
Reminders From The Clinic ….. Myla Cobler R.N.
For the fourth year in a row, Armstrong Elementary will be supporting Olive Garden’s Pasta for Pennies program benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This was formerly called “Pennies for Patients”. This is a program that will take place over a three-week period beginning March 24th and ending on April 10th. We encourage students to collect spare change to support the Society’s mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and Hodgkin’s disease and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The top fundraising class will receive an Olive Garden “Hospitaliano” lunch (pasta party) in their classroom! You will receive more information in your child’s Monday folder in the coming weeks.
Here are a few measures to take to decrease the incidence of communicable diseases in our community:
1.Make certain all immunizations are up to date.
2.Encourage your children to wash their hands with soap and water before eating and after using the restroom.
3.Sharing of drinks and food among children should be highly discouraged.
Thank you for helping us keep your children safe and healthy!
Library News – Lynn Christiansen
The book fair was a huge success!! Thanks so much to all the volunteers who helped keep our fair running throughout the week. We couldn’t have done it without you.
On February 29th, all Armstrong students received a free book from the Conroe Friendly City Kiwanis. This will be the third book that students have received from the Kiwanis Club. They have donated over 2400 books to Armstrong students this year through the Reading is Fundamental program. If you see a Kiwanis member in the community, be sure to give them a huge THANK YOU.
All Around Armstrong News
PK
We are gearing up for Kindergarten next year - extending patterns, learning about measurement, and even learning a few sight words. This month we’ll have lessons about life on a farm, our basic human needs, living and non-living, and how to keep our teeth healthy. March is a very busy month. On the 7th, we will be taking a field trip to the 7 Acre Wood in Willis to feed farm animals and have a ton of fun! Look for a letter and permission slip very soon. As the seasons begin to change this month, we ask that you please do not send children to school in flip-flops, or shoes without backs. Flip-flops are not part of the dress code.
Kindergarten
As springtime approaches, kindergarteners are finding out about the great state we live in, Texas. We are looking at changes in our basic needs and life cycles, like the water cycle. By now your kindergartener, should know all their letters and sounds and 25 sight words. We are beginning guided reading groups and knowledge of these skills will help your children prepare for reading. In math counting to 100 and writing to 30 should have been mastered already. Addition, subtraction, and problem solving are skills we continue to work on daily.
Below are some important kindergarten events this month:
* Patty Puffin (formerly Debbie the Dinosaur) is coming back this year. She will speak to the boys and girls about proper oral hygiene and then will send a packet home with each student.
* We will be supporting our 3rd and 4th graders who are testing on March 5th with quiet behavior. By the way, ask your child to share with you the meaning of the 4 C’s which represent the 4 C Club.
* Please remember to keep up with your student’s lunch account and review the green discipline folder daily.
* The kindergarten fieldtrip to the zoo will be March 5th and we will need volunteers. Look for more information in Monday folders coming home soon.
* Don’t forget to change your watches for Day Light Savings on March 9.
* We will have an early release on March 14, just before our spring break.
We are very pleased to be Kindergarten Teachers at Armstrong Elementary and be part of your child’s academic daily achievements. We love to hear comments from our Kindergarten students like the one that Alexis Segura said: “I love practicing syllables with my homework. I guess that is how I have learned to read.”
First Grade
Thank you to all students and parents who participated in this year’s science fair and for helping to make it a great success!
In March, first graders will continue to read and write about the science and social studies topics they are learning about. This month, students will study the characteristics of Texas and how our state is the same and different from other states, cowboys and their jobs, the life cycle of a chicken, and how the weather affects our environment. In math, children will continue to explore place value by using manipulatives to make sets of tens and ones. Our students will practice counting to 100 by 2’s, find even and odd patterns in numbers, identify the quarter, and use place value to order numbers.
Our field trip is coming up fast! On Wednesday, March 5th, we will visit the Main Street Theater to watch a stage performance of Good Night, Moon. Please remember that your child MUST be at school that morning by 8:00, they should be in jeans and an Armstrong T-shirt (or blue shirt), and they need to bring a sack lunch with them. Thank you for your help.
From the Perspective of a 1st Grade Child
By: Tiffany Guevara
I like my new teacher, Mr. Estes. We are learning to count by 2s, 5s, and 10s. We know about even and odd numbers, too. In English, some of us are reading about Mortimer Frog. Valentine’s Day was fun because we did a graph of candy hearts.
Second Grade
The second grade program was a success. The boys and girls did a great job! In reading, we are focusing on nonfiction materials. Please encourage your child to read nonfiction books at home. Ask him/her to tell you some facts learned from the book. Continue to monitor you child’s reading every night. This has made such a difference in reading progress. In math, we are working on telling time, expanded notation to 999, and two-digit addition/subtraction story problems with/without regrouping. We are reinforcing in class for students to reread the question of story problems several times and get a picture in their head before deciding what operation to use. This seems to be a very difficult concept for some second graders. Please practice story problems at home using your math homework
as a guide. Our science unit will be on the phases of the moon. We encourage you to observe the moon with your child at night and discuss what you see.
Second grade teachers hope everyone has a safe and relaxing spring break.
From the Perspective of a 2nd Grade Child
By: Abigail De Los Reyes
In second grade we are learning many interesting things. In math, we are learning multiplication using manipulatives and patterns in place value. In reading, we are reading many books and articles. In science, we are learning the water cycle. Also, in P.E. we are doing push ups and we are running a lot. Finally, in music we worked very hard to get ready for the program.
Third Grade
Third grade has been having a wonderful time on Warm Up Wednesdays getting ready for our Reading TAKS test that will be given on March 5th. We would like to thank all the parents for your support in helping to prepare your child for the Reading TAKS test. We will continue to develop our comprehension skills for the rest of the year in reading. Our homework focus will shift from reading to language. In March students will begin to have writing and grammar homework weekly. In math we begin Math Rotation on March 26th. Students will rotate to different teachers every Wednesday in order to review objectives. In science we will be flying through the solar system and studying how it works. We will continue our year long study of communities by focusing on cultures and celebrations in social studies.
From the Perspective of a 3rd Grade Child
By: Jennah Marquez
What I learned in third grade so far is in writing. I need a beginning, middle and end. I learned to write a strong story that is like you are really there. In reading I learned about cause and effect. When I read I should read with voice. In social studies I have learned about urban and suburban communities. In science I know about rocks. In math I have learned a lot about times, subtraction, dividing and addition.
Fourth Grade
The language arts teachers have been entrenched in preparing the students for TAKS Writing on March 5th. We are certainly expecting a great outcome from all their efforts. It is amazing to see how much they have developed and grown since August. In math, we will continue by reviewing concepts regarding graphing, multiplication and problem solving strategies. Regarding reading we are continuing to go over affixes for context meaning, point of view, and higher level thinking through discoveries in both fiction and non fiction. In social studies, we are focusing on Texas History, such as, the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. In science, we are working on a weather project and the water cycle, as well as the role of the sun. Please continue to have your child read at least 35 minutes and make sure they are
completing their homework each night in preparation of the Reading and Math TAKS tests coming up in April. Also, thank you for your continued support in your child’s education.
From the Perspective of a 4th Grade Child
By: Levi Curnel
In Mrs. Moore’s class we are learning singular and plural possessives. We do warm-ups and practice tests. In Mrs. Schaller’s class we are learning about weather. We all have a project. I am doing lightning. In math, we do a thing called target the question, which is a part of our warm-up. In social studies, we are learning about Texas history, like the Alamo. Well, it’s been a great year so far, and I’m sure there is much more to learn.
Special Subjects
Art News – Mrs. Sharp
In order to celebrate art education and the fine work produced by our school district, the art teachers are hosting a student exhibit at the Montgomery County Libraries in both North and South counties during the month of March. Four Armstrong students will be displaying their work at the North County Library from March 1 to March 30. The students whose work will be displayed are Ammon Ouzounian, Kerby Ireland, Abraham Avila, and Hannah Smith. Hope you can drop in during regular business hours to view the show.
Music News – Mr. Bennett
Congratulations to the second grade students for a wonderful program. EIEI-Ooops was a tremendous success and we had many positive complements on the performance. Next up to perform will be the first graders. They will be performing a children’s opera version of The Little Red Hen. This will take place on Thursday, April 24 at 9:00 a.m. While these students are preparing for their program the Kindergarten students will also start learning some of the songs they will perform at their graduation program. Be on the look out for more information about that event. Third and fourth graders will soon wrap up their unit on recorders. This year many students have progressed very well in their abilities to play. The recorder Karate method has inspired a lot of students to show off their skills. Ask your
child if he/she has received any Karate belts. If they haven’t, try to encourage them to practice up on Hot Cross Buns so that they can receive that first belt!
P.E. News – Mrs. Barber
This month we will be doing our soccer unit. During volleyball and four square we worked on our hand eye coordination and in soccer we will work on our foot coordination. I can’t wait! Our mileage club is a huge success. Make sure to check how many miles your child has run on our bulletin board in the cafeteria. Have a great spring break!
CALENDAR
March 2008
4 Election Day
5 TAKS TEST – 3rd Grade Reading and 4th Grade Writing
1st Grade Field Trip – Main Street Theater
Kindergarten Field Trip – Houston Zoo
7 Prekindergarten Field Trip – 7 Acre Wood
9 Daylight Savings Time Begins (Sunday)
13 4C Club Awards – 8:20 Cafeteria – You will be contacted if your child is getting an award.
7:30 4th Grade Honor Choir – Fellowship of The Woodlands Church
14 Early Release
K – 4th 8:05-12:05
PK 8:05-10:05 morning class
PK 10:05-12:05 afternoon class
End of 3rd Nine Weeks
17-21 Spring Break
24 Begin Pennies for Patients benefiting the Leukemia Society
28 PTA Meet and Greet – 7:30-8:30 Come to the library to find out more about the PTA and how you can get involved.
28 Report Cards Go Home
STUDENT NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
The Conroe Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in its admissions policies, or by excluding from participation in, denying access to, or denying the benefits of district services, academic and/or vocational and technology programs, or activities as required by Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.