Welcome!

I have been super busy at home taking care of our new baby, but I am eager to meet our new class! Have a great summer! Feel free to email, as I usually check it throughout the summer! Below are some pictures of my family: Brian, Stella (4 yrs), Violet (almost 2yrs), and Charlotte (8 weeks). 

 

 

Charlotte is Here!!

I want to thank you all again for a wonderful baby shower! Every time I look in Charlotte's closet, I am amazed at how mnay diapers and wipes we have! I also love the new outfits she got along with the BeAuTiFuL quilt she now owns :) It is just an overwhelming feeling to grow so close to so many wonderful kids and families in such a short amount of time. One reason I LoVe my job!

 

On April 10th we welcomed our little Charlotte into our family :) She is a perfect fit and her sisters have been nonstop loving on her.

 

A big thank you to my students who made us some wonderful cards! We enjoyed reading them and now have a special spot in Charlotte's room :) I miss everyone and hope all is going well!!

 

Thank You!

Wow! I cannot say thank you enough for the great surprise baby shower last Friday! I was very impressed with the kids' ability to keep it a secret! And all the presents.....WOW! The baby's closet is packed with diapers and wipes.....exactly what we needed the most! Brian was in shock as he unloaded the van and kept bringing in more and more packages! Along with diapers and wipes, we got some great girly gifts as well that will all be put to great use!

 

I really appreciate all of the parents hard work and generosity at pulling this off. You have all helped make a special event even more special.

 

It has been one of the best years ever with your kids. It is such a great group of kids....each and every one of them has so much personality and has been a joy to have in class.

 

Thank you all again, and hopefully I will have some pictures to post by the end of the week!!

Last Week!!

This will be my last week with our class :( I LOVE the end of the year as it brings so much excitement and fun....I hate to miss it. However, I have absolutely no doubt that Miss Kauffman will have a blast with the kids. I know she is very excited to be in our classroom! Originally my last day was supposed to be Monday, but it has changed to this Friday. Miss Kauffman will start on Monday. Please feel free to call or email her just like you would me if you have any questions and/or concerns.

leander.kauffman@nwcs.k12.in.us

I hope to update the blog with some pictures of the new baby along with her name.....which is still undetermined!!

Coming Home

Lots of information coming home today in your child's bookbag! I know it is the start of spring break, but be sure to unpack their folder! Information includes the Office Newsletter, Daddy/Daughter dance, and the spring program.

Have a great spring break!!

Introducing Miss Kauffman!!

Miss Kauffman will take my place for the remainder of the year, beginning Tuesday, April 9th. She currently is a Special Education Assistant here at Ossian Elementary. She helps in several classrooms around the building, including a lot of time in a 3rd grade classroom, so she is familiar with 3rd grade curriculum and our daily routine. Very excited and lucky to have her in our classroom!!

March and April

I can't believe it is March already! We have IREAD coming up next week and then Spring Break to follow. These next couple weeks should fly by!

Open House will be this Friday, March 15th. Hope to see several of you here!

Just a reminder that we have NO SCHOOL on Friday, March 22nd. This is the first day of Spring Break.

Pending School Board approval (at tonight's meeting) my last day teaching this year will be Monday, April 8th. They will also be (hopefully) approving my replacement, which I can announce tomorrow!

ISTEP Snacks

ISTEP will start Monday, March 4th and last throughout the week. Our schedule changes a bit during this time. I like to have a healthy snack to offer the kids each day before or after their testing....kind of a nice treat for all their hard work!

If you are able to donate a healthy snack for the class please let me know, or just send it in. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you!

Read Across America

In celebration of Dr. Suess’ birthday (Saturday, March 2nd), Friday, March 1st will be Read Across America Day! We, along with Americans all over, will be honoring this great author by participating in this event all day long!

I have some Dr. Suess books, but would love to have more for the class to read during that day. The library ones get checked out quite quickly and they like to spread them out for all classes to use. If you have any Dr. Suess books at home that you would be willing to loan the class, please let me know (or just send them in). Please make sure they have your name on them. They will not be leaving the classroom and will be returned at the end of the day!

Events that will possibly be on our agenda that day:

* perimeter and area of Dr. Suess books

*Read to Self (flashlight Friday)

*Popcorn sales day (PTO)

*Jody Heaston - rock/mineral program

* Dr. Suess character match up

*Rhyming like Dr. Suess

*Dress comfy/cozy - ready to snuggle up with a good book

*Reading lots of Dr. Suess books

*Partner reading - fluency practice

*Possible Dr. Suess movie to bring the characters to life!

*fun, fun, fun!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

What a great party! Thank you to Jodi for all of her planning and to all of the parents who were able to donate a bag of Kisses! We had a great time taste tasting and guessing the different flavors along with learning some interesting facts!

• 1907 - 1st Kiss made
• The name "Kiss" come from the sound of the machine when making the candy
• 80 million made per day
• 95 Kisses = 1 pound

Congratulations to Andrew and Isaiah for winning the guessing contest along with a huge bag/box of Kisses!!

Several papers are going home in the kids mailbox today. PLEASE check their folders and bookbags!!

1. OES Newsletter
2. PTO Newsletter
3. Class list for Valentine's Party - cards need to be done by Tuesday and if able, Hershy's Kisses donations are appreciated!
4. I will be purchasing some items for our nursing home buddy's Valentine's bag. If you would like to donate anything, it must be in by Tuesday.
5. Today our class was checked for head lice. Nurse Annie sent home a flyer. PLEASE read the letter - very important information and tips.

Valentine's Party

The Valentine’s Party will be Tuesday, Feb 12 from 2:15-3:15.  All students will need to have their Valentine’s done and to school by the 12^th.  All that is needed for the party are lots of Chocolate kisses.  If you would like to send some in please email Jody Heaston, monarch111399@aol.com to let her know.  Thanks!

Things to Think About

1. Volunteers are needed. They need volunteers to help with the book fair (set up, during school hours, and during parent night). A paper is coming home today.
2. More volunteers are needed to help judge the science fair on February 20th. You really do not need a science background....just some ears to listen to the students present their projects. Please let me know if you are interested in this, or if you know someone who is interested.
3. Lost and Found is PACKED FULL. If your child is missing anything at all, I encourage you to come in and look through the lost and found....there is a lot of good stuff in there!
4. Flashlight Friday is wearing my flashlights out! Help is needed either by sending a flashlight in with your child on Friday OR by donating some AA battteries, thank you!
5. NWCS has a new website! It is amazing! Be sure to check out the Ossian page. Lots of updated information! Please let me know if you have any questions and/or suggestions of other things to include on the website! http://www.nwcs.k12.in.us/

Busy!

I can hardly believe that we will start Februrary this week! Time is flying by and we have a lot going on.

We have started test prep....for both ISTEP and IREAD3. Information on IREAD3 will be going home today. It is a purple paper and I have also included some item samples from the IREAD3 test. The applied parts (writing, written response to literature, and the problem solving pieces of math) of ISTEP will take place in early March. The IREAD3 test for 3rd graders will take place the week before spring break. The second part of the ISTEP (multiple choice) will take place towards the end of April/beginning of May. Third grade is big testing year for these kids :(

We have begun typing and planning our Young Author's books. My goal is to get them done before my maternity leave (I am due April 16th). We are on our way to meet this goal with weeks to spare. If you have not sent in your $2.25 for the bare book, please do so right away.

Also, we will be collecting items for our nursing home buddy for Valentine's Day. As your child makes his/her Valentine's card....maybe make an extra one for Jim :) I have funds left from the Christmas collection fund, and will use some of that to fill his Valentine's and/or Easter basket as needed. Feel free to send in anything you want to add to his bag!

I have updated the upcoming events for as far ahead as I could. Please make note of these on your calendars and I will try to update of any changes.....as we all know they occur all the time :)

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Young Author Books

Young Author books have arrived. I will be keeping them until we begin working on them which will likely be around spring break time. However, we must pay the bill! So I will be collecting the fee for a young author's book. This year, I opted to go with the smaller ones, so they will be $2.25. Please send in the money (if you haven't already) as soon as possible. Thank you!

Reminders

1. I have updated the Upcoming Events along the right hand side.
2. Circus forms are due Friday. We have LOTS of adults who would like to be chapereones. Just a reminder that I can only take 5 adults. We will be drawing these names on Friday.
3. Please make sure students' snow gear is packed in a bag (garbage bags work perfectly). It helps keep their things together and prevents them from getting lost!
4. Also, if you are able or willing to donate a snack for the day of the circus, that would be greatly appreciated! Just send it in next week sometime. We do not return to school until 1:30 pm....which is a really late lunch!