Math-A-Thon

On February 24th, your child will be participating in a Math-A-Thon.  The Math-A-Thon will be a fundraiser.   The money raised during the fundraiser will benefit DeMiguel Elementary.  Not only will we raise money for our school but our children will learn something in the process.

The Math-A-Thon will be conducted in the same style that “Rocket Math” is currently given to the children in their classrooms.  Each child will have 2 minutes to work as many “Math Fact” based problems that they can.  Basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division math facts are the building blocks for all higher level math problems.  The math facts will be grade appropriate.   In order to prepare, the kids just need to practice their math facts with flash cards or computer games/apps.  The Kindergarten test will be based basic number recognition.

Your child was sent home with a pledge envelope on Friday or Monday.  Please have your child ask family and friends to make pledges based on the number of problems your child may solve correctly.  You may also make a flat rate pledge.

Every child will take the test whether or not they collect any pledges.  The classroom with the highest percentage of “Math Facts” completed correctly will receive a party sponsored by the PTO.

Pledge envelopes are due back to your child’s classroom on Thurs, Feb 23 and the test will be administered on Fri, Feb 24^th.  The tests and pledge envelopes will be returned to you the following week. 

January Safe and Caring Schools

The Safe and Caring Schools topic for the month of January was "bullying" - a topic you can never talk about too much.  The 1st and 2nd graders viewed a website called "Out On A Limb:  A Guide To Getting Along".  Please visit this site with your kids as it has great information on how to get along with friends, teachers, siblings...!  You can access this website at:  http://urbanext.illinois.edu/conflict/index.html

The 3rd and 4th graders viewed a website called "Kids Against Bullying".  This is a great website for older children and there is a link to information for teens about bullying.  You can access this website at:  http://www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/

The 5th graders did not hear about bullying rather we viewed a website called "It's My Life" which can be found at:  http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/school/index.html.  This website has great stuff for older students.  Topics range from home, friends, family, emotions, body, and the topic we discussed, school.  Specifically, we viewed the middle school information in preparation for the visit from the middle school counselors on January 26th. 

In February our topic will be "Cooperation".

Welcome Back

Welcome back, lobos! Happy January! I hope each and every one of you had a wonderful and restful winter break! We are working in our collaborative teams, weekly, to discuss the needs of all students. Please let us know how we are doing! Our weekly team  meetings  allow us time to analyze data and make informed decisions for instruction in our classrooms.

I am so happy to announce that our iPads and cart have arrived! We are working with our technology folks at the district office to get them set up for class use and to help train our teachers for use in the classroom. We could NOT have purchased these without our Fun Run fundraiser. So I need to thank you all again for your participation!

Next week, we are implementing our "Hall Monitors". This allows our upper grade students to be student leaders in our building. I am excited that many students are interested in helping in our building! We have so many responsible students!

We had our "Spelling Bee" on Thursday January 12th! Congratulations to our first place winner:
Chloe in Ms. Paluszak's fourth grade classroom--WAY TO GO, CHLOE!!!!!
2nd place--Bennett in Mrs. Wheeler's third grade classroom
3rd place--Sophie in Mrs. Griffin's fourth grade classroom
4th place--Ryan in Ms. Jones' third grade classroom
5th place--Caleb in Ms. Jones' third grade classroom
It was great to see!

If you are looking for lost lunch boxes, we now have them upstairs in the common's area. We are keeping the food away from the clothing in our Lost and Found boxes.

Mrs. Smith and I will be having our grade level meeting next Thursday, January 19th. Our focus will be on bullying again. We are going to review what it is, and what to do if it is happening to a student or others.

This year is sure flying by quickly. There are exciting things happening in our classrooms!

Speak Up Survey

This year's Speak Up survey is open until December23. The survey is part of a national research project to collect data about technology and its uses throughout our district, state and country. It is open to educators, students, and parents.

To participate, any stakeholder can head to https://webmail.fusd1.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=1090e6a9f61744c581c33394c0d75248&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.speakup4schools.org%2fspeakup2011%2f, find his or her school, and then use the "secret word" speakup.More information about the survey can be found here:  https://webmail.fusd1.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=1090e6a9f61744c581c33394c0d75248&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.tomorrow.org%2fspeakup/. 

NO SCHOOL

School has been cancelled, Tuesday December 13th. Please be safe out there!

Tax Credit!!!

TAX CREDIT INFORMATION--turn in by December 31st!

You have a choice!
Instead of sending your tax dollars to Phoenix, use them directly to improve education in Flagstaff.

Arizona allows individual state income taxpayers to receive a TAX CREDIT
of up to $400* for contributions made to public schools
which support extracurricular activities.

* Married couples may claim a combined total of $400 when filing jointly.  Single people may claim a total of $200. The credit can be claimed on personal income taxes only.

You help the kids!  It costs you nothing! 

The TAX CREDIT is available to all taxpayers whether or not they have children in the public schools or whether or not they live in the Flagstaff Unified School District.

Extracurricular activities such as field trips generally cannot be fully funded by school district revenues and depend on fees from students.  

Arizona tax law allows taxpayers a TAX CREDIT
of up to $400 for married couples filing jointly if they contribute to extracurricular activities in public schools supported by fees. 

To support any your child’s class, write a check to the school. Send your check to the school or deliver the check to your school directly.

You will be provided a receipt verifying that you have contributed.

For more information log on to:
http://www.azdor.gov/TaxCredits/SchoolTaxCreditsforIndividuals.aspx#public

MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL

Tax Credit

We are accepting tax credit up to December 31....Please follow the link below to read more about tax credit~ Thank you, lobos!
http://www.fusd1.org/19312072912361830/blank/browse.asp?a=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=57281