October 29th Parent Letter

Greetings.

I just returned from a great conference in Manchester, N.H.   The conference was all about the Rebecca Sitton Spelling Program, which is the spelling program we use at Danville School for grades 3 - 8.  I was able to learn more about the Program and ask some pointed questions to the Sitton experts. 

Today (Friday) I will give the students a spelling assessment (that does not count toward their grade) and then we'll review latitude and longitude once again.  I would say that 95% of the students now understand latitude and longitude, and I'm hoping they will all ace the geography quiz next Wednesday. 

The kids should study their spelling words this weekend because they have a spelling quiz on Monday.  On Monday evening I will post their new spelling words.

Have a safe Halloween.

Mr. Shea
371-8068  (cell ph)

Geography quiz and Spelling Test

I will be at a conference in Manchester, New Hampshire on Thursday, October 28th.  In addition, Mrs. Kennedy's 7th grade students have asked to host a fall celebration on Friday, October 29th, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM.  (Students are NOT supposed to wear any costumes.)

Some of my 5th/6th grade students asked if they could have more time to study before the next spelling test.  Therefore, I AM POSTPONING THE SPELLING TEST TO MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1st. 

IN ADDITION, I AM POSTPONING THE RE-TAKE OF THE GEOGRAPHY (LATITUDE/LONGITUDE) QUIZ TILL WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD.    If your child needs extra help after school to study for the geography quiz, please contact me to set up a time.

Sincerely,

Mr. Shea
371-8068

Monday ice cream party

ICE CREAM PARTY:  I just wanted to let you know that the 5th/6th grade students have asked (and the teachers agreed) to have an ice cream party Monday at 1:00 P.M.   This will be our way of celebrating the end of NECAP exams.  All of the 5th/6th grade classrooms will be celebrating this way.  Each student in my home base room has been asked to bring in one thing for the party.  (Just ask your child what they agreed to bring.)  If your child cannot bring something in, don't worry.  Just email me (JShea@Danvillek12vt.us) and let me know what your child isn't able to get.  I'll make sure I pick it up at Hastings or Marty's on the way in to school on Monday.  Not a big deal.   I will bring strawberries and bananas, too.

NECAPs: Although the 6th and 7th grade students have finished their NECAP exams, 5th grade students still have a 1 hour writing exam on Monday morning.  Please make sure that your 5th grade son/daughter gets to bed early on Sunday night. I don't want any of our students to fall asleep (like actor James Franco) during class.



If any student has missed any of the NECAP tests, they must make up that test on Tuesday.  If your child is one of those who missed a day, please make sure they get to bed early Monday night as well. 

7th GRADE ELECTIONS:  We will be holding an election in my classroom on November 2nd.  The 7th grade students will select their two student council representatives, and I am allowing any 7th grade student to run for Danville Student Council.  I will give the students a chance to campaign and make speeches.  Only two 7th grade students will be elected, and those two will occasionally have to miss a science or social studies class for student council meetings.  They will be responsible for making up any and all work they may miss, so the students who run for student council must be willing to stay caught up in their studies.  If you have any questions about this, please feel free to email me. 

BEAR MEAT:  Lastly, if anyone knows when the Danville Game Supper takes place, please let me know.  I believe it takes place some time in November at the Methodist Church.  I missed the food last year and I really want to get a chance to try some moose and bear meat.  Thanks.

Jim Shea
(802) 371-8068  (cell)

Spelling Words for Next Quiz

Spelling Words for Thursday, October 28^th Quiz

Level 5 Words for Unit 3:

easy, friends, upon, without, week, there’s, country, it’s, language, explain, energy, United States, area, another, beautiful, English, spring, little, lost, certain, usually, special, its, every

Level 6 Words for unit 3:

various, its, opposite, except, broken, rules, different, always, it’s, often, whose, certain, there, son, born, we’ll, sense, produce, meant, who’s, important, you’re, temperatures, your, pull, thought

October 15th Letter

October 15, 2010

Greetings.  The past week has been very busy.

1.)     The students have been knee deep in NECAPs for the past 7 days.  The 6^th graders just finished their NECAP exams yesterday (Thursday).  The 5^th graders have one more day left to complete their writing portion of their NECAP exams.  I think the kids are doing a great job!

2.)    I enjoyed meeting many of the parents during parent conferences last week.  It was great to discuss your children with you.  You have great kids!

3.)    Some of you asked when your child might be able to re-take the geography (latitude/longitude) quiz.  I had hoped to give the students the opportunity to take it again on October 20^th, but other educational events are pushing that quiz date back.  So I will give the students who wish re-take that quiz a chance on Friday, October 29^th.

4.)    Students who do not wish to re-take the geography quiz can keep their existing quiz grade.  (There were quite a few A’s.)  Those grades will get entered into my grade-book as a TEST.  This will help reward those students who got a good grade the first time.   

5.)    Just so everyone is aware of how I calculate grades, tests count for twice as much as a quiz.  Tests and quizzes will be worth 75% of a student’s grade.  The other 25% of a student’s grade will be class participation.

6.)    I’ve been doing my best to make sure that the students have no homework during NECAPs.  Hopefully your child will be able to get back in the swing of doing homework next week. 

7.)    The Danville Middle School will be starting a homework club in about 1 week. We will let you know what days students can stay after for extra help.  We’ll probably have this available for middle school students 2 days a week.

8.)    If you ever want your child to stay after school and get extra help in spelling or social studies, please feel free to contact me.  I am willing to stay after school almost any day to help students.

9.)    This week our 7^th/8^th grade Spelling Team won the local spelling bee.  Congratulations to those students!  They will move on to the Regional Championships in a few weeks.

10.)                        The next Spelling Test for 5^th/6^th grade students will take place on Thursday, October 28^th.  I will post those words on this blog later today.

Have a great weekend.

Jim Shea

371-8068

A 4 minute movie we watched today

During our lessons on latitude and longitude, the students learned the location of many countries.  Today we watched this short 4 minute youtube video so the students can see the beauty of these countries.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY  The students got to experience everything from Australia to Zanzibar. 

Photos from our September 29th hike at Groton State Forest

October 1st Letter to Parents

October 1, 2010

Greetings.

A.)  Despite all the rain and cooler temperatures we've had recently, this past week has been great.  Perhaps the best day of the week was Wednesday when all of the students in grades 5 – 7 went hiking at Groton State Forest.  We split up into 3 groups and each group hiked different trails.  The foliage was amazing, no one got lost, and the weather cooperated nicely.

B.)  Next week all of the students in grades 5 – 7 have NECAP tests.  We will give the students a NECAP test on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings, and then more NECAP tests the following Monday and Tuesday.  These NECAP tests are administered to students throughout all of New England, and allow us to see how our Danville students are doing compared to students in other schools across New England. 
C.)  HOMEWORK:  Because the NECAPs are important, and because we want your child fully rested for the NECAP exams, we will not give your child any homework next week.  We ask that you make sure your child gets to bed early each night.  The NECAP test will only last about 1 hour a day, but we want your child do their best on it.  Thank you.

D.) SPELLING QUIZ:  Because we pledge not to give our Middle School students homework next week, I will not give my 5^th/6^th grade students a spelling test for

      the next 2 weeks.  We will work on some spelling exercises in class during the next 2 weeks, but there will be no homework, quizzes or tests during NECAPs.  The next official spelling test will be in 3 weeks.  I’ll post the next set of spelling words on this blog next week.

E.)  LATITUDE/LONGITUDE QUIZ:  Although some of my students did quite well on the last geography quiz, some struggled on it.  I’ve decided to let students re-take that geography quiz if they wish.  Since NECAPs take place for the next 7 school days, I have decided to postpone the geography quiz until October 20th.  Rest assured that we will be practicing with longitude and latitude in class over the next 3 weeks, so the material will remain fresh in their heads.

F.)  PARENT CONFERENCES:  You can have a parent conference with us next Thursday, October 7^th, from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, or next Friday morning.  (Danville students do not have school on Friday, October 8^th.)  If you want a parent conference, please call Janice or Sonia in the Main Office and they will schedule it.  These conferences are intended to give parents a quick (10 minute) picture of how your child is doing.  If you feel that you need more than 10 minutes for a conference, please tell Janice or Sonia and they can schedule a time on a different day.
G.)  I will be taking the 5th/6th grade students in my home base class to the Fairbanks Museum next Wednesday, October 6th.  They will learn all about "Weeds and Seeds".  We will leave school at 8:15 AM and return by 10:15 AM.  We will join Ms. Rapoza's class on this fieldtrip.

Have a great weekend!  

Jim Shea   

(cell ph: 371-8068)