Last day of September!

October calendar on blog
This week I updated the calendar on the blog with lots of October events.  Make sure to click on Classroom Calendar at the top of the home page to check it out!

Zoo Permission Slips
Permission slips and money for the zoo are due MONDAY.  I think I am missing about 5 kids.  I will send home more information about the trip on Thursday. We painted dolphin t-shirts for the students to wear yesterday. I will send those home on Thursday too. Also, because of lack of bus space, parents will need to meet at Creekside and then drive to the zoo.  Carpooling with other parents is a great idea to save on parking--the zoo will still charge you to park that day ($6) even though it's a field trip. :(  If you are signed up to chaperone, please be in my classroom at 8am on Friday (we are leaving at 8:15).  Thanks!


Walk A Thon Money
Don't forget to send that Walk A Thon money in when you are finished collecting!  All money is due by next Tuesday!  Don't forget to write your child's name and    t-shirt size on their envelope.  

Superkids
Today we met a new Superkid!  Here are some questions to ask your child to prompt discussion:

• What is the name of the new Superkid?  Doc (short for Doctor)
• What does she like to do?  Fix toys and invent new things 
• What sound does Doc's name begin with?  /d/
• What letter makes the sound /d/?  Dd

Fall Book Fair

The Creekside Fall Book Fair is next week in our library!  Your child will not need to bring library books next Monday (unless they want to return them only.  They will not check out new books next week). Your child will also have an opportunity to go to the book fair during his/her library time here at Creekside next week. You can send money in with your child to purchase books.  See below for more information from Mrs. Bockover:

                                Dates: October 4^th – 6^th

Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.

 &

             12:50 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

***Cash, checks (made out to Creekside Elem.) and Credit cards accepted**

Shiver Me Timbers! Look here…

Monday, October 3^rd  

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

The book fair will be open for parents to shop “after-hours”!

College Go Week

We had a lot of fun celebrating College GO Week this week!  Check out our pictures below!  

 hat day

 dress for an interview day

 career day

 college spirit day

Creekside spirit day

Have a great weekend!

Terrific Tuesday!

Morning Announcements
Parents, did you kow that you can watch our daily morning announcements viaYouTube? You can subscribe to our daily announcements feed, or just select the days you wish to view. This is a great way to keep up-to-date on the happenings at Creekside!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN9PB_wbFTaijlobHzbHstA

Writer's Workshop
The past few weeks in writing time we have been working on adding the "code date" to our writing each day, and writing about things that we love.  We have been coming up with a list of ideas of things to write about.  Sometimes we just draw pictures, sometimes we label the pictures, and sometimes we write the sentence together.  Here is a picture of Madelyn's work from the other day!  Keep up the good work writers!  Now that we have learned several letter sounds, the students can start "working the words out" and writing down all the sounds that they hear.  Practice this at home! :)

Box Tops

Please keep sending in Box Tops labels to our classroom and help our school earn money!  Also we gladly accept Box Tops, Campbell's Labels (also found on V8, Pepperidge Farm, etc.), Coke points (worth $.05 each; parents can enter those online and donate the points themselves, or I can enter them), Tyson Project A+ labels ($.24 each), Sunbeam School Spirit upc's ($.05 each), and also pop can tabs for Riley Hospital.

Walk A Thon Money
Don't forget to send that Walk A Thon money in when you are finished collecting!  All money is due by next Tuesday!  Don't forget to write your child's name and    t-shirt size on their envelope.  

Fall Book Fair

The Creekside Fall Book Fair is next week in our library!  Your child will not need to bring library books next Monday (unless they want to return them only.  They will not check out new books next week). Your child will also have an opportunity to go to the book fair during his/her library time here at Creekside next week. You can send money in with your child to purchase books.  See below for more information from Mrs. Bockover:

                                Dates: October 4^th – 6^th

Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.

 &

             12:50 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

Students will receive a book list flyer for parents to preview, prior to the book fair.  This is only a small sampling of all the AWESOME books available at our fair. (Supplies are limited) Students will have time to buy books each day and during their library time throughout book fair week.

***Cash, checks (made out to Creekside Elem.) and Credit cards accepted**

Shiver Me Timbers! Look here…

Monday, October 3^rd  

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

The book fair will be open for parents to shop “after-hours”!

Direct all questions to Mrs. Bockover at bockoverr@franklinschools.org  

DQ Dine to Donate Night

Tonight at Dairy Queen in Franklin, it is a dine to donate night!  If you bring in the flyer (attached to an email I sent out today) anytime between 10am-10pm, DQ will donate a portion of the sale to our PTO!

Sight Words
Our sight words for this week are: a, have, to
Make sure to add these to your flashcards or practice at home!!

Parent Teacher Conferences--Time Confirmation
Teachers are meeting tomorrow after school to confirm dates and times for students that have siblings so there are no conflicts.  I will send home a little slip of paper with your day and time on Monday!  Please mark this on your calendar and plan on attending!  We want 100% perfect attendance! :)

Have a great week!

Lots of info today!

College Go Week

Don't forget about college go week starting 9/26 and our fun dress up days!
9/26--Hats off to College (hat day)
9/27--Time to Interview (dress up day)
9/28--We want to be... (dress up like your future career day)
9/29--College Gear (college tshirt day)
9/30--Creekside day (Creekside spirit wear--or wear blue and green day)

Halloween Program
Mark your calendars for the Kindergarten Halloween program!  An "official" invitation will be coming home soon, but until then mark your calendars for Thursday, October 27 from 6-7 pm.  Kindergartners will come dressed in Halloween costumes and put on a performance for families and friends! 

Operation Bundle Up

Operation Bundle Up to help needy children get warm coats for the winter is underway.  September 14th-October 7th, please consider donating any gently used, outgrown coats to school to donate.  You can drop them off in the bin outside the office, or send them to class with your child.

Superkids Test

We completed our first Progress Test for Superkids.  Overall, we did really well!  I sent the results home today.  If you have any questions, please let me know!

Zoo Permission Slips
Permission slips and money for the zoo will be due soon.  Please keep in mind we are in need of many parents to chaperone.  Volunteers will need to have a background check on file prior to the trip.  Also, because of lack of bus space, parents will need to meet at Creekside and then drive to the zoo.  Carpooling with other parents is a great idea to save on parking--the zoo will still charge you to park that day ($6) even though it's a field trip. :( 

Picture day is TOMORROW!

Thursday--dress nicely for picture day (don't forget to send in order forms if you want pictures!)  Even if you don't purchase pictures, all students will have their picture taken!

Superkids

Yesterday in Superkids we met a new Superkid...ALF!  Alf's name is short for Alfalfa.  The class thought that name was very funny!  Here are some questions to prompt discussion at home:

Who is the Superkid? ALF

What does he like to do? go on adventures

What letter is at the beginning of Alf? A

What sound does A make? /a/ like in apple--right now we are only doing the short vowel sound!

Walk-a-Thon
This morning Creekside students headed to the gym for the kickoff to our Walk-a-thon fundraiser.  Look for information about this event to come home in your child's folder tonight.  

Have a great night!

TGIF!

Field Trip
Our field trip to the Indianapolis Zoo is Friday, October 7th.  In your child's folder on MONDAY you will find a blue permission slip for info.  Money and permission slips will be due Monday, October 3.  If you can chaperone, please pay and indicate on the blue form.  You can read more details on the permission slip itself, but I did want to be sure to invite any parents or grandparents who would like to chaperone to be sure to indicate that on the paper.  We need as many chaperones as we can get for the trip.  Please be sure that you also come to Creekside to get a background check sometime before the week of the field trip.  Thanks so much for your help!  It will be a fun day! 

Halloween Program
Mark your calendars for the Kindergarten Halloween program!  An "official" invitation will be coming home soon, but until then mark your calendars for Thursday, October 27 from 6-7 pm.  Kindergartners will come dressed in Halloween costumes and put on a performance for families and friends! 

Operation Bundle Up

Operation Bundle Up to help needy children get warm coats for the winter is underway.  September 14th-October 3rd, please consider donating any gently used, outgrown coats to school to donate.  You can drop them off in the bin outside the office, or send them to class with your child.

Superkids Test

We completed our first Progress Test for Superkids in reading groups today.  Overall, we did really well!  I still have a few sections to finish with a few kids.  When I have them completed and graded, I will send them home one day next week.  If you have any questions, please let me know!

Parent Teacher Conferences (also known as Creekside Family Conferences!)

In your child's folder MONDAY you will find a yellow sign up sheet for parent-teacher conferences that will be held October 19th and 20th.  Please sign up your preference for a time to come meet with me to discuss your child's progress, and return to school as soon as possible.  It will be no problem giving everyone their first choice of day, but please understand you may not get your top choice of times.  I will do my best to accommodate each family, but with 22 children and many having the same top three choices, it just isn't possible.  But I promise to get as close to your time as I can.  I will give preference first to those who turn their forms in sooner!  Our goal is 100% parent participation, so let's make it happen for our class!

Green Goggles

Today in Superkids our Read Aloud story was called Gregory's Green Goggles.  We even made our own green goggles to wear while listening to the story!  Ask your child tonight about Gregory's missing green goggles and where he found them!

Have a great weekend!

Lots of papers in folders today!

Math DIBELS results
In folders today you will find a Math DIBELS report.  Please look at the back of this page to see a description of each of the four tests your child took.  Remember--this is timed for 1 minute!  Let me know if you have any questions.

Box Top Collection bags
In folders you will find a Box Top collection bag with magnets.  Please stick this bag on the fridge or somewhere safe.  Then you can drop Box Tops in when you get them, and send it in each month.  The class that collects the most box tops each month wins treats from PTO!

Scholastic Book Order
Also going home today you will find the first Scholastic Book order form.   I will send home a book order every month from September-April.Book orders went home with students this week.  Don't forget you can order online if you choose, and all will be due Friday, September 23rd.  There is a letter attached to the book order with more details.  Remember--there is never any pressure to order, but it's a great way to add to your child's home library if you do choose to order. 

College Go Week flyer
There is a college information flyer in folders today from our school counselor, Mrs. Deeter.  Don't forget about college go week starting 9/26!
9/26--Hats off to College (hat day)
9/27--Time to Interview (dress up day)
9/28--We want to be... (dress up like your future career day)
9/29--College Gear (college tshirt day)
9/30--Creekside day (Creekside spirit wear--or wear blue and green day)

Homework
Don't forget to flip over the back of the homework sheet each night to do the handwriting practice!  It's new this week!

Vision Screening Permission Slips
If you haven't yet returned the permission slips for the vision screening, please remember to do so ASAP.  I am only missing a couple.  If you lost yours and need a new one, please let me know and I will send an extra home.  :)

Specials Schedule

Monday--Library

Tuesday--PE

Wednesday--Computer Lab

Thursday--Art

Friday--Music

Sight words
Today I introduced 2 new sight words during.  "yes" and "no" are the words we will focus on this week.  Please add these to your flashcards or your practice time at home!

Superkids
I am sure you have heard that our Superkid isn't really a kid, but a dog!  Here are some questions to ask your child about the Superkids' pet:

• What is the name of the new Superkid character?  Golly
• What kind of pet is he?  Dog
• What sound does Golly's name begin with?  /g/
• What letter makes the sound /g/?  Gg

Math
Here are the skills we will work on this week during our whole group math lessons:

• Used "quick look" cards with dots on them to quickly tell how many dots were on a card
• Examine, describe, and compare triangles
• Use number boards to explore the concept of "one more" and growing patterns
• Use concrete materials to begin exploring and talking about addition and subtraction

Don't forget that some lessons contain the Math Home Link paper that give your and your child an extension on the lesson that many times connects the skill to "real life."  You do NOT need to send the paper of the completed assignment back to school.  This is for home use only.  Thank you!

Tuesday and Wednesday 
I will be at a reading conference all day Tuesday and Wednesday.  I will be going over Substitute Teacher expectations with the class later today.  Please remind your child to be on his/her best behavior while I am out.  If you have a change in transportation on either of these two days, please send a note in your child's folder or call the office.  Please don't email me, as I don't know how much access to email I will have.  Thanks!

Have a great week!

It's the weekend!

Homework
Next week--be sure to check the back side of the sheet with the ice cream lines.  I noticed this week that several kids were not flipping the paper over to the back and practicing name writing on the back.  Next week, please be sure to flip it over.  Each night there will be a different word to write (Monday will still be their name).  Please have them write it exactly like the example!

Bingo For Books
Bingo for Books is next Thursday!  There is a blue RSVP form in your child's folder today.  This event is free!  If you plan on attending, please fill out the form and return to school on Monday, so PTO knows how much pizza to order.

College Go Week
Creekside will be celebrating college go week the week of 9/26.  See below for the schedule of fun dress up days!
9/26--Hats off to College (hat day)
9/27--Time to Interview (dress up day)
9/28--We want to be... (dress up like your future career day)
9/29--College Gear (college tshirt day)
9/30--Creekside day (Creekside spirit wear--or wear blue and green day)

Zoo Field Trip
Planning ahead--Kindergarten will be going to the Indianpolis Zoo on Friday, October 7th.  Permission slips will come home soon, but I wanted to give you a heads up in case you needed to ask off work to come chaperone.  We need lots of chaperones to make this field trip run smoothly, so please consider going with us!

Creekside PTO Sign Ups

Our Creekside PTO is a very active organization that supports our students and staff by purchasing supplies, playground equipment, paying for field trips, school equipment, and by encouraging and recognizing academic accomplishments. We cannot do these things without volunteers. So, please fill out the form below to let our PTO know of your interest to help support our Creekside students and teachers.  https://goo.gl/forms/S59068npfXgdBp7U2

Creekside School Pictures

Creekside school pictures are upcoming on Thursday, September 22nd. You've already received an order form, but I have a few extras if you need one--just let me know. Remember that all students have their pictures taken on this day, but if you wish to order pictures you can do that through this form. You may either order online, or send your order along with payment with your child on Thursday the 22nd. 

Library cards and more!

Library Card Drive

Today we had a visit from a Franklin Public Librarian to tell us about this special program!

THESE APPLICATIONS ARE IN FOLDERS TODAY!

Please read below from the Johnson County Public Library:

It's almost time to start our next round of the Library Card Application Drive. 

Each child should return the completed application to school to get their FREE public library card.  If your child already has a card, you can check the box on the application saying this and return to school.

Cards will be mailed to your home address.

From September 1st to December 31st we will be running a new program called Library Stars. Kindergarteners with library cards will earn incentives for coming to the library three times during the program - stickers for their library cards, sparkly pencils, their name on our Wall of Stars, and a special Library Stars book back. Our hope is that we can encourage families to become regular library users.

The Franklin Elementary with the highest percentage of LIbrary Starts will win a fun visit from the public library!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Today we finished our first writing project and displayed it in the hallway to share!  We read the story Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom.  Then we made our own coconut trees and wrote about our names.  They did a great job!

Box Tops

Don't forget that Creekside collects Box Tops for Education!  When you purchase something that has a Box Top on it (cereal, Kleenex, even some butter tubs!) cut it off and send it in to school!  Each one we send in helps us earn money for projects around the school!

Bingo for Books

Mark your calendars! Creekside PTO BINGO for Books and Pizza Night is next week and you do not want to miss this FREE event at Creekside.  Please join us for free pizza and free BINGO on Thursday, September 15th from 5:30-7pm. Every child goes home with a new book! This event is FREE and for the whole family and loads of FUN!

Picture Day
School Picture Day is September 22nd!  Picture order forms are in folders today.  Every child will get their picture taken on the 22nd.  If you are interested in ordering pictures, please fill out the envelope and return to school on or before the 22nd.

Math
Today in math we played a memory game.  The boys and girls played in partners and had to turn over two dot cards.  If the dot cards matched, they got to keep them.  We had fun!

Have a great week!

3 day weekend!

DIBELS

After reading the title of this section, you may be thinking, "Huh?"  :)  A couple weeks ago we began DIBELS testing.  These tests are administered by Mrs. McCullough, our wonderful Literacy Coach/Title One teacher and her assistants.  DIBELS simply means Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills.  Translation?  How well does your child know letter names and sounds and picture/sound association? 

These tests give me a really good indicator of what your child is ready for and help me guide instruction to meet YOUR child's needs. The results are being sent home in folders today.  Please look over them, and practice needed skills at home.  We will be doing lots of practice at school!  And of course, please feel free to ask any questions about the test or results! 

Learning Objectives

Each of our 4 core subjects will have a learning objective to go along with the lesson.  This tells the children what they will be learning.  Often, they will learn more than one thing during Reading, Language (those are both Superkids) and Math, but we will just recite one.  At the beginning of each lesson, I point out, read, and explain the objective.  The children then read it with me.  Many times they will learn new vocabulary during my explanation of the objective.  For example, yesterday they learned what it means to "identify."  As the boys and girls get more and more used to the objectives, you can start asking your child to tell you what they were each day.  Don't expect them to remember all 4.  Maybe just one or two.  Here is a picture of today's learning objectives board:

Superkids Parent Portal

I have seen that many of you have completed the Superkids parent portal account set-up for your children!  That is GREAT!!  As we do more activities, and meet more Superkids, your child will have more books and games open to play at home.   I hope you will let them get on the website at home and have fun!  If you don't already have an account set up, please do so.  You should have gotten an email from Superkids.  If you need me to resend the email with instructions on how to finish the set-up, please let me know.

Math
This year we are setting a goal for 100% of Kindergartners to count to 100 by the 100th day of school.  I will often assess the children on counting on their own.  If a child reaches 100 WITHOUT hints or help, and without skipping any numbers, their star in our classroom climbs to 100 on our counting chart, they color a slice of pizza to hang on the Kindergarten wall in the hallway, and they are invited to come to a pizza party soon after we celebrate our 100th day of school in January.  So far we have 5 friends from our classroom that have a slice of pizza hanging in the hallway.  Keep practicing at home!  :)

Have a great 3 day weekend and Happy Labor Day!  See you Tuesday!