May 29,

Gillespie Gazette…May 29, 2011

Blog: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com

Email: anna.gillespie@jordan.k12.ut.us

School: 446-3200

Cell: 801-623-7625

Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

This is the last Gillespie Gazette. The year is over. Wow, time does fly when you are having fun. It has been a lot of work, but in the end, I have come to enjoy this class very much. We have had lots of laughs and good times, we have learned so much, we have grown together and learned to appreciate things about each other. Thank you again for raising caring people.

Conner was our student of the week and kept me on schedule reminding me what was next to do. It was a busy week as I tried very hard to motivate kids to sprint to the end and turn in quality work that they could be proud of. Some will be shopping with Extra Credit work that they have earned this third term and this will be “frosting on the cake” (Idiom) I am sending home all of their work with this Gazette, and asking them to make sure that you are handed it. It has lots of cool writings, journals, Color Journals, and things that you might want to put in their “elementary box’ My children have always got a kick out of going through their grade school boxes and remembering all the different years and teachers. I didn’t save all their papers, but would keep a good sampling of what they had done that year. I strongly recommend you keep the journal pages they have done. They wrote some great things and you will enjoy reading them. You might also notice their improvement over the months.

I have attached a page for you to sign if our child handed you the portfolio. This is important to me and so I will give the students a “prize’ if they bring back this signed paper. You will also be able to better understand the score your child has received on their Report Card by looking over their work. I only wish you could see the work and writing of all the students to compare. This would give you a better handle on why your child received a “4”, “3”, “2” , “1”. However, that can’t happen, so you will just have to trust me that your child has received the score they deserve. Please let me give you a full disclosure on that. When you see a “4”, you will recognize that your child had a tremendous work ethic and did all the required work at an excellent level to earn that grade. Please congratulate them. When you see a “3”, you will recognize that your child had a very good work ethic and tried very hard to follow all the procedures that I asked them to. They did great work and should be congratulated! When you see a “2”, it tells you that your child has an okay work ethic and turned in average work for a fourth grader. They have passed the class and understand the concepts at a typical level for children their age. If your child has earned a ‘1”, I am simply going to tell you that your child has a low focus and low work ethic. I will not sign their Report Card if the Language/Reading Overall score or the Math overall score is a one and will give you a strong warning that your child will struggle in fifth grade. I have worked very hard to help each child advance, but in reality the teacher can only do so much and if the child doesn’t care until the very end, it is very difficult to catch up. However, I have had several children this past week that have proven it is possible. Thank you for your support on this. My Report Cards mean something…I believe in giving the parents a true picture of what is happening with their children. Report Cards will be sent home on Thursday, June 2. School is dismissed at 12:30.

I am quite certain if you attended the Fourth Grade Utah Program, you enjoyed it. Didn’t our kids do great? I am still smiling at how cute they looked in their costumes and doing their great dancing.

The children also enjoyed a fourth grade Kick Ball Tournament. It was great fun to watch them enjoy this.

Congratulations to the following Fantastic Falcons: Tenney, Bailee, Courtnie, London, Nicholas, Conner, Brianna, Braden, Jason, Avie, Danielle, Rebecca, and Ronaldo. Thirteen students went the extra mile and earned this. Parents you are to be congratulated on these students. They went beyond the ‘call of duty’ to achieve this. They used their ‘free time” wisely. I am very impressed with each one.

On June 1, Wednesday, the school will be having a Field Day. Please have the students dress appropriately…tennis shoes and sun screen are smart things. The children will be outside for most of the morning and again between 1:45 and 2:15 playing on a Blow Up Slide Toy. They will be having lunch outside (picnic) and also a Water party. I will need parent volunteers to help during this time. It would be great to have three or more for the morning shift (9:00 to 11:00) and then one volunteer for 1:45-2:15. I know Michelle May (room mother) is trying to arrange that (Thanks). Please know that anyone that can come to help, I will put you to work. I am moving to a new school that is closer to my Provo home and also Year Round Calendar, so I could use lots of help with boxing things up, etc. Thank you to anyone that can spare a few hours either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. It will be greatly appreciated.

Now for a very important announcement and invitation…I will be hosting a Raging Water/Seven Peaks party in July. I will need to have this party on one of the following days...July 9, 10, or the 11^th. Please visit with your child and let me know which of these days work the best with their schedule. I will then have the students vote for their best day whether it be Saturday, Monday, Tuesday of those days and then the majority wins. I will then contact Raging Waters and rent a pavilion and let you know where to meet me. I will be there at the open of the park and will be able to buy tickets at a discount because of the number that will be attending. If you want to pay ahead and have me by the ticket, please call me (801-623-7625) and know that it will save you lots of money (usually about $5.00 off the ticket price) I am extending this invitation to any parents or siblings that would like to come. I serve a lunch at 1:00 and will be there to remind your child to put on sun screen. It is a very fun day for me. Please know that I will stay at the Park until the park closes, but will not be able to give your child a ride home, so make arrangements to pick them up or stay the day and have fun with them. I will enclose a flier about this in the Report Card envelope that will explain details (address to the Park, times it opens/closes, pavilion number, and the date we have chosen for the event. Etc.) Please know that you can pay at the entrance if you don’t want to contact me and pay ahead for the event. It is very key to call me if you want to have me get a group discount ticket for you or your child. Please know that I will provide only the lunch (1:00). If your child wants to eat later on in the day, they should bring food, or money to purchase food there. There is also an extra charge to rent inner tubes from the park. I don’t know the price for that.

Thank you to Damon’s Mom who is arranging to have a Pizza Party for the kids on Thursday, June 1. She works for Pizza Hut and has agreed to do this. If anyone would like to contribute a dollar for this, we can buy Root Beer and cover a bit of the cost for the pizza. This is not required, and Damon’s Mother has graciously agreed to cover the cost of the pizza. I just know that it would be nice to have root beer and help her a bit with the cost of this party. There will be no lunch served in the cafeteria on Thursday, so it will be nice to have this little lunch as the kids will be hungry by 12:00. Thanks for any donation you can send.

Gee, I hope I covered everything.

Love,

Mrs. Gillespie

May 29

Finally, I have been able to post a 'post'. I don't know why it hasn't let me, and perhaps you have all given up on reading this blog, but if anyone is out there...celebrate with me. It isn't because I haven't been trying. Anyway, now that I know I can actually post something, I will write the final Gillespie Gazette and get it on the Blog.

May 23,

First important thing to do is read the Gillespie Gazette below or on paper and sign or comment. Second most important thing to do is to sign Progress Report and return to school ( I will then send it back home) If you would rather keep and just comment here or sign a paper saying you have seen the Progress Report that works also.
Third most important thing to do is math homework page 245(1-7)
Fourth most important thing to do is encourage your child to replace the zero on the progress report with the work due.
Fifth most important thing to do is to do Fix Its in Fix It file.

Thanks

May 23

Gillespie Gazette…May 23, 2011

Blog: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com

Email: anna.gillespie@jordan.k12.ut.us

School: 446-3200

Cell: 623-7625

Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

We had a wonderful field trip to This is the Place. The students learned a lot and were very well behaved. They represented our school nicely. Thank you for raising enjoyable children. Thanks to all the parent volunteers that added to the enjoyment of the field trip.

They are still taking Fun Run donations. Your child will be giving the prize that matches the donation. Thanks for all you do to help our school do fun things.

Parent Letter #31 and Antonyms/Synonyms are due on Thursday. Please do your best and realize that this will be like a final exam on these papers as you probably will not have a chance to fix them. Everything is due on May 27 (Friday) I have attached a Progress Report for your child to give you a heads-up on what work they will need to complete or fix. Please sign that you have seen this and then I will return the copy to your student so that you will have a copy. If you want to write on a separate paper or on the planner that you have seen the progress reports, that will work also. Remember you will want to encourage your students to fix any zero scores first, then go for the fix its. Also realize that everything must be done by this Friday. They must receive at least a 70% in math and language for me to sign their promotion to fifth grade. “No rest for the wicked” (idiom) this week. You might want to explain what this means if the shoe fits for your child. (Idiom)

Spelling words to be learned by Thursday:

1. noisy

2. crowd

3. council

4. birthday

5. were

6. where

7. environment

8. railroad

9. underground

10. Prof. =professor

11. writing

12. situation

Nicholas had a second turn being the student of the week. He is hoping to have straight fours for his report card. This is the week for all students to prove themselves. If they want to earn a four…Encourage them to do Four Work! Take your time and proof read the work before you turn it in. It is not the first one done that counts. It is the best one done that counts.

Reminder that tomorrow you are invited to come watch our program. They have practiced hard. Pioneers remember to bring Pioneer clothes and hats. Also if you are an Indian, you might want to bring an Indian costume. No stress, parents…if it doesn’t come easy, I have extra costumes for them. Program starts at 10:00 in the gym.

On Wednesday and Thursday, we will be playing kickball and so wear tennis shoes.

Our Fantastic Falcon assembly is at 10:00 on Friday. We have four students that have earned this already and about 12 more that are trying to finish up. Please encourage your student. I will accept all the way until Thursday (the day before)

No school on Memorial Day (Monday)

June 1,Wednesday, Field Day 9:00- 11:00…I need four parent volunteer for this activity. Please help me. I will appreciate it so much. One of the volunteers I will need at 1:45 to 2:15 on June 1 (this is on a Wednesday) this volunteer will be over the Blow Up Slide. This day is also Water Day. So come prepared for all the fun.

June 2…last day of school, dismissal at 12:30. I will send report cards home with them on this day.

One more thing, I always do a Raging Waters (Seven Peaks new owners) Reunion. This is a fun time for me and I will have everyone meet at a Pavilion and serve lunch at 1:00. I need to have students choose the best time in the summer to have this reunion. They will have to pay for their own entrance into the park. However, if I can collect the money before, I can try to get a group discount. More details next week, please just have your students find out from you when you are leaving town for vacations, or when ball games are scheduled, etc. Then they will know what days to vote for and what days to not. I will stay at the park from opening to closing and feed them one meal. Parents and siblings are invited to hang with us and have lunch with us also.

Parent sign____________________

Student name________________________________________

May 19

Math Homework is page 240 (1-23)

Do your best. I will be taking a grade on this from everyone.

May 18

Math Homework due on Thursday is page 237 problems 10-26

Spelling letter #30 and Alphabetized list is due on Thursday also.

May 17

Math Homework is page 281 (3-7)

May 16

Tonight for homework:

Read Gillespie Gazette.
Do math page 279 (3-5)

May 16

Gillespie Gazette…May 16, 2011

Blog: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com

Email: anna.gillespie@jordan.k12.ut.us

School: 801-446-3200
Cell: 801-623-7625
Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

I know there is a saying: “Long Time, No See.” I feel like I want to say, “Long time, no hear.” Sorry about not getting to this Gillespie Gazette all week. I think between testing, teaching, tripping (Kanab one week and daughter’s graduation the week before that) I have felt like I have been behind the eight ball (idiom). Anyway thank you for your patience. (May 12) was our last day of testing, so things should be getting back to normal. I am not even sure if I will be able to send this home today…or will I wait until Monday?…hum….decisions, decisions. Okay, I made my decision…send home May 16.

And then, just when I started to get back into the grove of the Blog again, the computer system wouldn’t let me on the very next day. GRRRRRR!

Thank you for your Field Trip Donations and the promptness in getting those turned in, I guess it helped to bribe them with Extra Credit. We will please accept more donations if you can. It is very costly to get buses (we have to pay for them…can you believe it? Well, thanks to the PTA Funds they pay for the buses. But we are having to pay for each child to enter the park and also each parent volunteer. So I hate to announce this, but any parent volunteer will also have to pay (but only $2.00) Please know you are all invited to volunteer and you will love this field trip.

We had a super Fund Run Kick Off Assembly this week and your child brought home a flier explaining about it. Thanks for any donations towards that PTA fund raiser. PTA is so supportive of teachers and so thank you for that.

Parent Letter #30 will be due next week on Thursday, the 19 of May.

Here are the spelling words:
1. can’t = can not
2. favorite
3. cockroach
4. typically
5. grinned
6. hurricanes
7. affect
8. effect
9. sunburn
10. it’s = it is
11. its (possessive pronoun)
12. hurts
13. environments
14. potatoe

Please encourage your child to stay focused and get worked turned in every day so they don’t get behind. Last day to turn in all assignments will be May 27. I will try to send home Progress Reports on May 23 to let you know how your child has been doing and what they need to do to have a great Report Card.

Courtnie helped me a bunch last week. She has been a most enjoyable student to work with all week. Oh wait, it was Ronaldo that got to be the student of the week last week. Okay ditto for what I just said about Courtnie. Both of these kids are over the top in cooperation, attitude, work ethic, desire and they get along so well with everyone. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the enjoyable kids I have worked with this year. Wait, wait, wait…wasn’t Brianna my student helper last week. Yes, of course, these weeks have been flying by, I can’t even keep track of all the good helpers I had. Brianna saved my bacon ( idiom) several times during this week as I was trying to stay ahead of the eight ball and catch up. Thanks Student Leaders…I really couldn’t do it without you.

Congratulations to the following students who were the very first to turn in their Color Journals. This has never happened before, but we had a three way tie: COURTNIE, JASON, and BAILEE! This means I have to buy a prize for each of them. As soon as you three get to school on Tuesday, May 17, rush up to my desk and visit with me on what you might like as your prize. I love doing these Color Journals. I hope you enjoyed them as well, I have told the students that I am giving them grade points towards language for them and so they need to dig them out from deep in their back packs or under their beds or under their parent’s beds and start writing. They will get a fine score if they just do this every day until May 27 (All work is due on this May 27, Friday)

You will notice an invite to our 4th grade program. Please come and enjoy your child in this great program and learn tons about our great state of Utah.

This week: May 17, Tuesday (Wear tennis shoes to participate in the Fund Run and bring your donations) Also last day for Library…Please return book.
May 19, Thursday: This is the Place Field Trip


Parent signature______________________________________
Student name________________________________________May 16

May 11,

Oh my gosh. I apologize for not making entries each day. I have been chased out of the building every night for staying too late and I just can't seem to catch up. It is always like this at the end of the year and with CORE Testing. Please forgive. I also apologize for not having time to do Gillespie Gazette...(See above...same excuse) I have been working hard to help students who have gotten behind and well, that gets me behind.

I will post homework for tonight and explain about last night.

I offered extra credit to any of the students who brought back their permission slip and donation. This is because I needed to get it quickly and I didn't have a minute to write the Gillespie Gazette. I also offered to the kids that if they did their homework last night and bring back their permission slip about the upcoming Field Trip to This is the Place. EXTRA CREDIT!

Tonight the students voted to have their Spelling Letter #29 as their only homework and if they want to do math, they could get extra credit for doing page 227 (56-74)

Thanks for your patience. I did send home an important document about the Fund Run and I will also send home a Gillespie Gazette tomorrow? Wish me luck on that. If it happens on Friday or next Monday...don't be alarmed...It is the end of the year...so hey, give me a break.
Seriously thanks for your patience. I am doing all I can to help your children succeed.
Last Utah Core Test is tomorrow Science. Hope we have kids prepared to come to school with a healthy breakfast, good night sleep, and great attitudes to do their best.

Please comment...I am curious how many of you are still reading these entries since I took a little break. Sorry about that.

May 3

Math homework is page 497 (1-9)

May 2

Sorry crazy day today...I didn't get the Gillespie Gazette posted...so read paper copy. Homework tonight is really page 495 1-18. It is wrong what I put in the Gazette, we did that together in class.

Thanks for your patience.