WELCOME
AIM FAMILIES!
Agenda
Informational meeting
AIM Ribbon Cutting – Check out our new digs!!
Find lockers, unpack supplies, and then go to your advisory
Rotate through sessions (approximately 15 minutes each):
- Mr. Fisk – Remind sign-up, confirm student emails, laptop use forms, and t-shirt orders
- Mrs. Bielmeier – Name tag craft, Plate signing, MORE Library System and Overdrive
- Mrs. Montana – Field trip lunch sign-up, behavior contracts and Fall Fest food booth donation sign-up
Advisory
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Aspen
Mr. Fisk
Mrs. Bielmeier
Mrs. Montana
Birch
Mrs. Bielmeier
Mrs. Montana
Mr. Fisk
Cedar
Mrs. Montana
Mr. Fisk
Mrs. Bielmeier
Schedule
8-8:20
Breakfast / Check-in / Morning Meeting
8:20-9
Read aloud / Silent reading / CAFÉ
9-9:40
Specials
9:40-10:30
Math
10:30-10:50
Recess
10:50-11:55
Reading Workshop / Words Their Way / Language
11-11:30
5th grade Band (M, W, F)
11:55-12:25
5th grade recess / 3rd-4th grade lunch (w/4th grade)
12:25-12:55
3rd & 4th grade recess / 5th grade lunch (w/3rd grade)
1-3 pm
Project Based Learning (Art/Keyboarding/Maker Space – 2 days a week)
3-3:10
Closure, pack up and dismissal
Specials: 9-9:40 am
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Aspen
Music
Phy Ed
Library Skills
or Guidance
Music
Phy Ed
Math
Birch
Library Skills
or Guidance
Music
Phy Ed
Math
Music
Phy Ed
Cedar
Phy Ed
Math
Music
Phy Ed
Library Skills
or Guidance
Music
Advisory
Specials
Art: 2:15-3:05 pm
Keyboarding: 2:25-3:05 pm
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
August 29:
Day 1
Aspen-Art
Birch-Keyboarding
Cedar-Maker Space
August 30:
Day 2
September 31:
Day 3
September 1:
Day 4
Birch-Art
Cedar-Keyboarding
Aspen-Maker Space
September 2:
Day 5
September 5:
Day 0
Labor Day No School
September 6:
Day 6
September 7:
Day 1
Cedar-Art
Aspen-Keyboarding
Birch-Maker Space
September 8:
Day 2
September 9:
Day 3
Lockers
•
Students will be using two neighboring lockers.
•
Their even numbered locker (name tag attached) will be used to store their
outside clothes and backpack.
•
The odd numbered locker (to right of the locker with the name tag) will house
books and school supplies
•
*Laptops will be stored on the classroom charging stations – never in lockers
Snack
•
Students may bring their own daily healthy snack to eat when they are
hungry (No soda or candy). All students will have the opportunity to have
milk as well.
•
We encourage water bottles and ask students to take these home every
Friday for washing.
Advisories
•
Each student has been assigned to a multiage group – Aspen, Birch, Cedar
•
Your student will stay with this group all year and rotate to a new advisor each
trimester.
•
This advisor will meet with students for goal setting and for reflection. Advisors
will be responsible, with students, for communicating goals, achievements and
assessments to parents.
•
While advisors provide a special relationship with the student, all teachers at AIM
will be interacting with students fluidly throughout the day based on student
groupings during projects and core academics.
Culture Building
•
Getting to know ourselves and each other will be a focus throughout the school
year. Special focus will be given during our first month to developing this culture,
our responsible citizen expectations and routines. We will be using the “Habits of
Mind” to help guide our community.
•
Ropes course training
•
Mentor and Tribe groups
Three Year Rotation
•
Because AIM is a multiage learning community, our curriculum will be on a
three-year rotation with a predominant theme each year
•
Ecological, Historical, Cultural
•
Ecological is our theme focus for this year
This year’s themes:
• Value of a Tree – Tree City Celebration and Fall Showcase: Saturday, October 15
• Constitution/Election Unit
• Nutrition
• Engineering Design – Building Bridges (Civil Engineering, Balance, Force),
Cleaning Up and Oil Spill (Environmental Engineering, Oceans)
• Early to present day American Explorers
• How the Earth Fits into the Universe (Our Place in Space)
• America Revolution
• Ecosystems (School Forest-Community-State, Landforms, Water Cycle)
• Civil War/Reconstruction
Math
•
Workshop approach – ensures we are meeting individual needs
•
Math Expressions by Houghton Mifflin
•
Students work with partners or independently on math games, projects,
workbook pages, and computer programs (Khan Academy, IXL,
XtraMath) to enhance skills while advisors are teaching lessons in small
groups.
•
Students will show mastery of the Common Core State Standards at the
end of each unit (Tests, creation of a project, demonstration, etc…)
Reading/Language Arts
•
Genre Studies – Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Play,
Informational Text, Biography/Autobiography, Poetry
•
CAFÉ – independent reading and conferencing
•
SRA Rate Builders – fluency and comprehension
•
Words Their Way – word study
•
Word Study Notebooks – vocabulary
•
Nature Journals
•
Writing – summaries, descriptions, compositions, essays
•
Research – notetaking, outlining, organizing ideas, using the internet, citing
evidence
Homework
•
Class work may become homework if time given during the school day is not
utilized or due to absence. Students are encouraged to go deeper into topics
and/or projects that interest them at home
•
Students are encouraged to read at home, do word work, and practice math facts
on a regular basis
•
Allow your child to use websites and apps that reinforce skills learned at school
•
Talk with your child about school topics and give them the opportunity to find
answers to inquiries– encourage self-directed learning
Parent C0mmunication
Frequent communication helps build positive relationships between home and school
•
Remind
•
Facebook
•
AIM Website
•
AIM Weekly Newsletter
•
Check your student’s Classroom account
•
Email – If you have questions or concerns, please contact your child’s advisor.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
•
Parents will have a parent/teacher conference with their child’s advisor on October
3rd and 6th. We would like each child present for the majority of the conference.
•
Student-led conferences will take place on February 20 and 23. Each student will
have the opportunity to evaluate his/her academic performance, organize and
prepare materials for the conference, and lead the conference in a positive
manner.
Technology
•
Office 365
•
One Note (organizing documents)
•
Classroom (assignments and calendar)
•
IXL (personalized math and language skills)
•
Khan Academy (math mission)
•
Think Central
•
Accelerated Reader
•
XtraMath (math fact practice)
•
Typing Club
•
Duo Ling0 (foreign language study)
Grants
- Wisconsin Schools GO Outside Fund $500– Covers costs for transportation and supplies for
our Crex Meadows Field Trip
- Healthy Classrooms Foundation Grant $1,650– Funds will equip our kitchen with food
preparation tools, pantry items and fresh produce for our Farm Feast curriculum to educate
students about nutrition, locally grown produce and simple cooking skills.
- Star Prairie Fish and Game Grant $500–Covers costs for waders, water testing materials, small
saws, game cameras, etc.
- Currently investigating grant opportunities to purchase three Tower Gardens – aeroponic
gardening
Donations
Thank you to everyone who has donated items!
Wish List
Plastic bags – sandwich, quart and gallon sized
Disinfectant wipes
Sharpie markers (fine point)
Bottled glue
Rolls of paper towels
Napkins for serving
A dinner sized plate (unique-garage sale, thrift store, etc.)
Silverware
Craft items (sequins, beads, feathers, pipe cleaners, yarn, small acrylic paints, watercolor paint sets, etc.)
Colorful duct tape
Baking ingredients (sugar, flour, spices, and cooking oil. Gluten free options also welcome.)
Fundraising
•
Fall Festival Food Booth: Featuring French dip sandwich and pie
Accepting donations:
-
Homemade pies
-
Bottled water
-
Paper napkins
-
Forks
If you can contribute, please sign up in Mrs. Montana’s session.
Why Fundraising?
•
Reduce cost of field trips
•
Purchase project supplies – project boards
•
Purchase bakeware, cookware, food and microwave for the kitchen
•
Purchase engineering/robotics for the Maker Space
We love our volunteers!
AIM Shirt Orders
•
We would like every student to have an AIM t-shirt to wear for field trips and
special events. If financial assistance is needed, please see your child’s advisor.
•
Orders placed online before August 3 are here! Please see Mr. Fisk.
•
Second round of ordering takes place August 22 – 27.
•
Computers available in Mr. Fisk’s room if you wish to place an order tonight.
To place an order, go to:
Chippewa Valley Sporting Goods
Click on “Team Sales”
Select “Amery Inquiring Minds”
Type “AIM” when asked for Team or Coach
August 23-27 – Second round of shirt orders
September 8 – Crex Meadows Field Trip
September 17 – Fall Festival – Come support our food booth!
October 3 & 6 – Fall Conferences
October 15 – Tree City & AIM Fall Showcase Celebration
Agenda
Now it is time for a brief ribbon cutting ceremony.
Then, find lockers, unpack supplies and go to your advisory. Look for signs and lists on locker
banks to find your locker number, there is a small treat in your locker that you should take home at
the end of the night.
Rotate through sessions (approximately 15 minutes each):
- Mr. Fisk – Remind sign-up, confirm student emails, laptop use forms, and t-shirt orders
- Mrs. Bielmeier – Name tag craft, Plate signing, MORE Library System and Overdrive
- Mrs. Montana – Field trip lunch sign-up, behavior contracts and Fall Fest food booth donation sign-up
Advisory
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Aspen
Mr. Fisk
Mrs. Bielmeier
Mrs. Montana
Birch
Mrs. Bielmeier
Mrs. Montana
Mr. Fisk
Cedar
Mrs. Montana
Mr. Fisk
Mrs. Bielmeier