GALLOPING GOOSE EXPRESS
ISSUE 5,
September 18, 2014
PHONE NUMBERS:
K-5 882-4688,
MS/HS 882-7288,
PS 882-7277,
BUS 882-2649
From the Principal’s desk:
It doesn’t matter if you are the student, the parent, or the teacher, parent teacher conferences are bound to cause some anxiety.
Yet these one-on-one meetings are priceless opportunities for families better understand their children. By preparing well for
your meetings and following up with your children and their teachers, you can strengthen your child’s school success.
Before the conferences, take some time to talk to your child and listen to what they have to say about school. Ask your child if
there’s anything they would like for you to bring up with their teacher. You may even want to ask your child what they think
the teacher is going to say about them! You might jot down a couple of notes to help you remember what it is you want to bring
up during the conference.
During the conference it is vital that you be on time. This allows the teachers to keep to their schedule and you won’t feel so
rushed. You might think about hiring a babysitter for the night so you can attend to the conference without having to supervise
children. Take notes during the conference. This can be especially valuable if other concerned adults are not able to be there,
or if you have several conferences to attend. Try to keep emotion out of the conferences. Keep focused on ways to support
your child as a learner. If issues are not resolved during the time allotted, please make a follow up appointment. We are here
to meet your needs.
Finally, after all is said and done, don’t forget to share the content of the conference with your child. They are anxiously
awaiting the results! Follow up with any issues that need to be dealt with. This year we are piloting exit slips where you will
have an opportunity to share feedback with teachers about the conference and share those last minute thoughts you had on the
way home from the conferences.
We hope your parent teacher conferences are helpful and productive. If you have any further questions or concerns. Please let
us know! We are here to support your family in any way we can.
UPCOMING DATES/EVENTS TO MARK ON YOUR CALENDAR
Sept. 18 - Elementary Accountability - 6th Grade Move Parent Meeting – 5:00
Sept. 23-26 - Book Fair
Sept. 25 - Lace Up Against Bullying
Sept. 25 - Character Day - Respect 9:00 – Aux. Gym
Sept. 25 and 26 - Parent Teacher Conferences
Sept. 29 - Dolores Family Food and Fitness Parent Meeting - 3:45
Oct 2: PTA Meeting - 8:15 – Teachers Lounge
Oct. 9 – School Picture Day
Nov. 6th - 5:00-7:30pm - Schoolarama! A Family Night
CLASSROOM CAPERS:
Mrs. Christenson, Mrs. McNeill, & Mrs. Tourjee – 1st Grade :
We had another wonderful week in first grade. This week we are learning about pets! Ask your child about some of
the great pet books we are reading this week. We are also learning about describing words. How does your child
describe themselves? Please remember to check your student's go home folder each night for homework and notes
from the teacher. Next week, we will be starting a unit on soccer. Have a great weekend (and get out there and play
soccer if you can)!
Mrs. Barry, Mrs. Powell, & Mrs. Vialpando – 2nd Grade:
In science we are studying different habitats and how animals can find what they need to survive within each of these habitats.
The students are working on a project involving time spent during science, writing, and art to share what they have learned
about habitats with you during parent conferences next week. Please let us know if you did not receive your parent conference
time or you need to make a change. We are looking forward to meeting with you.
Mrs. Elder, Mrs. Howerton, and Mrs. Neeley 3rd Grade:
Just a homework reminder for our third grade families and students: math homework comes home every Monday thru
Thursday, read and respond logs are due each Friday, and spelling tests are every Friday. The spelling rules, examples, and red
flag words come home every Monday. Please check planners every night for any other important class news. You may also use
planners if you need to send a message to your child's classroom teacher. Parent teacher conference appointment dates and
times went home with your child last week. We do want to have time with each family, so if you need to reschedule the time
we've set aside for you, please let us know.
Mrs. Blake & Mr. Owen – 4th Grade:
In fourth grade, we have started our first science experiment of the year. We have been observing four different plants to
determine their needs of survival. The students have been excited to see how their predictions have been accurate regarding
what a plant needs to live. Please be sure to pencil in the following upcoming dates regarding our Crow Canyon field trip:
>September 17th: Crow Canyon Forms Due
> Fundraiser Starts
>September 29th: Fundraiser Due
>October 3rd: Payment of $100 Due
Mrs. Loera, Ms. Reinhardt, & Mrs. Smith – 5th Grade:
We wanted to welcome our newest 5th grade team members, Mrs. Smith, and Ms. Lisa!
The Great Cornstarch Explosion!
If your child has not relayed the exciting events from the Great Cornstarch Explosion to you, ask them all about it! We had a
fantastic time learning about the scientific process, safety, and the components necessary for fire during this exhilarating
demonstration. In science we are also having a wonderful time with our enrichment garden time.
In social studies we are setting the foundation to learn about the great explorers of Europe by ensuring students know the 7
continents of the world. Our first major project in social studies was the bedroom map. The next major project will be an
explorer PowerPoint. Students may be required to do some research at home, so we appreciate your support in this and all
things!
In math, we are working on knowing addition and subtraction of whole numbers and decimals like the backs of our hands! The
students have been getting a lot of extra practice on this skill.
We finished one story in reading, focusing on the comprehension skill of identifying character traits and events in a plot, as well
as the vocabulary skill of using contextual information to identify synonyms of words. We are preparing for our new story by
defining vocabulary words and will be working on the comprehension skill of determining cause and effect of events in the
story.
Thank you for your awesome support and we look forward to a quick chat with you during conferences!
Mrs. Bean – Music
The recorder orders came in this week for the 4th grade students so now they can start practicing at home! On
Thursday September 25th at 9:00 our 3rd graders will present our first character word of 'Respect', singing one of our
favorite songs, 'Don't Be a Bully'! Come and join us wearing purple and orange that day!
Allie Kibel – Student Council Reporter
This year’s election went very well for Student Council. Our President is Avery Wright. Vice President is Hazel
Smith. Our Secretary is Hailey Melvin. Our Treasurer is Ameena Hobbs. Our Reporter who is reporting late news to
you is Allie Kibel. The recorder orders came in this week for the 4th grade students so now they can start practicing at home! On
Thursday September 25th at 9:00 our 3rd graders will present our first character word of 'Respect', singing one of our
favorite songs, 'Don't Be a Bully'! Come and join us wearing purple and orange that day!
Mr. Vaughn – Art
From the artists’ palette:
What wonderful artists we have here in Dolores! No matter what level, I’ve been very happy to see so many students
working outside their comfort zones and learning new styles and techniques. Several pieces are now on display in the hallways
so please come and enjoy the atmosphere. In the following weeks we’ll be working on:
K
– Joseph Stella (Modernism) - Symmetry, Balance, and Space - Landscape
1st
- Wayne Thiebaud – Shape, Repetition and Texture – Still Life
nd
2
- Nick Mackman – Three Dimensional Sculpture – Animals
3rd
- Charles Demuth (Precisionism) – Value, Depth, Line and Shapes – Cubism
4th
- Baje Whitethorn Sr. – Foreground/Background – Landscape
5th
- Gilbert Lujon – Art and Culture, Portraiture/Caricature – Pop Art
We’re still looking for various supplies you might be able to help us with. Please, if you have any of these items, we sure could
use them. Our needs:
Dads old button down shirt – size (M) or (L) only please
Brown paper bags – any size
Large old, gaudy picture frames – 20” x 30” or so
PTA News:
Spirit Stick Sale is TOMORROW! Each student may purchase 3 sticks.
Book Fair is next week!!! Classes will be coming to the book fair Tuesday-Thursday. Parents you can also shop
during parent/teacher conferences Thursday evening and Friday morning. There will be a lot of great books to choose
from.