PLANETARIUM FIELD TRIP
SAA’s sixth grade class is getting ready for our annual field trip to the planetarium. Thanks so much to all of you who volunteered to be chaperons; your response was overwhelming! We are such a fortunate school to have so many amazing parent volunteers! That trip will happen on Thursday, February 13th, but we need permission forms ASAP. It is a great field trip, and we want everyone to be able to attend. If money is extra tight in your family, please just let me know and we will find the funds for your student. If you need a permission form, or want more information about the field trip, please visit Mr. Pratt’s blog about the field trip.
Clark Planetarium
JAZZ READING CONTEST
It is time for the annual Jazz Reading Contest! What does this mean? It’s time to read, Read, READ! The Jazz contest is a competition with other Utah schools. The top 10 schools (that read the most minutes per student) get to have a Jazz player visit their school. We’ve been on the top every year that I’ve been at the school, and I’m going to do my part to make sure we are again!
The school has set our goal at 1,140,000 minutes. That’s an average of 50 minutes per student per day. That includes everyone, K-6. It’s usually up to our higher grade students to really boost that average.
The SAA firt grade class has challenged us to read more than they do. They are pledging to read nearly 2 1/2 hours per day. For some of us, that is a tall order. However, when you realize that good reading skills are critical to any career you want, then upping the commitment is a win-win situation.
Our class has discussed our ultimate goal and has begun a list of what prizes would motivate them to read more. Our class has chosen to set a goal of 133,650 minutes, which translates to an average of 150 minutes per student, per day (2 1/2 hrs). Students can count time reading before and after school, whether you do this as a family, individually, or read to a sibling; it all counts, as long as there is a live person reading. Tomorrow we decide on several motivators to encourage students in our homeroom to read more. Suggestions range from Mrs. McGuire dressing up like a baby or super hero – free time - food – naptime – to having Mr. McGuire come in to teach something. Your students are certainly creative thinkers!
There are a few decisions we made in order to help students read more. The first is early morning reading. SAA is offering this on Tuesday mornings in the elementary gym from 7:30-8:15. 6th grade has decided to extend this and make early morning reading available every day of the week. Each 6th grade teacher has volunteered to supervise students in their classroom one morning each week. Please come ready to read at 7:30, to whichever homeroom is on the schedule for that day:
Monday – Mrs. Mayer
Tuesday – Elementary Gym
Wednesday – Ms. Walker
Thursday – Mrs. McGuire
Friday – Mr. Pratt
Students need to come right to the room; no wandering in the halls is allowed. This is a time to help get in those reading minutes!
The school will also be hosting their annual PJs, Pancakes, and Pillow Party! This will be on Monday February 3rd from 5-8 pm. Feel free to wear your PJs to this fun activity, east some pancakes and have a reading party with storytellers. Be sure to bring a book and a pillow to sit on!
Students need to hand in signed reading slips on the dates indicated on the reading form. They are always due on Monday’s. Students who hand them in on time will be entered into a drawing for a free book. The first slip is due on January 27th!
I will count the JAZZ reading contest as both the January and February reading log for our classroom. No other form or email is required.
Jazz Reading Form
Cut on dashed lines and just bring in the bottom section.
