The Gemini
Blue Tuesday Sheet
“A Weekly School-wide
Communication from Teachers to Families for School Success”
September 9, 2003
English – Mrs. Rezendes: We got off to a great start
last week. The “me box” presentations
were wonderful! This week we will learn
about a descriptive writing technique called snapshots. After we define what snapshots are and
analyze examples, students will be asked to write short snapshot paragraphs for
homework. It is important that students
practice this writing technique each night.
As we have discussed in class, practice is essential for improving our
writing skills.
Geography –
Mr. Palagi: 1st
Class: Graded supply check; 2003 Student Handbook summary. 2nd
Class: World Geography textbooks given out and gone through. 3rd
Class: Planet Earth three ring binder layouts; 4th Class: The
five themes of geography.
Math – Ms.
Burgess: At this point, all students
should have covered their math books, obtained the required materials, and
gotten parent signatures on the math course expectations sheet. Visit http://www.geocities.com/allisonsburgess/index.html
for more information. At the beginning
of this week, students will be completing a Self-Evaluation activity in math
class, where we will determine what each class’s strengths and weaknesses
are. After that, students in the Red
and Orange classes will be beginning Chapter 1, which focuses on Order of
Operations and Variables. Students in
the Yellow, Green, and Blue classes will start with Chapter 2 in their books,
which deals with Decimals. Have a
fantastic week, and I look forward to meeting parents at Parents’ Night on
Thursday! J
Reading – Mrs.
Wheeler: This
week we will begin with “Getting To Know Gemini Blue” and the presentation of
collages. Remember the main focus is
using the CRITERIA sheet! We will also
start discussing strategies – what is a strategy and how are they useful? All students must have an
outside reading book, 3–ring binder, and something to write with every time
they come to reading. We’re off to a great start. THANK YOU!!!
Science – Mr. Fisher: Last week in Science, we explored the different types of smarts that we have and learned which of our classmates excelled in types of smarts. What kind of smarts do you have? This week in Science, we will begin with an Internet treasure hunt, which will get us acquainted with our class web site. (www.mfisher.net) We will also be learning how to complete the assignment, Science in the News, by using our graphic organizer (GO) and completing a GO within small peer groups.
Are you cleaning out your closet or basement? Did you find extra art supplies waiting to
be unleashed into a fantastic art project?
Science class is in need of ANY extra art supplies you have around your
house (crayons, markers, rubber cement, glue, colored tissue paper, old
magazines) We are also in need of some tissues and paper towels for student
use. Bring in any of these items and
you will receive a team spirit stamp!
Thanks! Email questions,
concerns: [email protected]
Educational
Support Specialist – Mrs. Baker: Now that the first week is
over, all students should have their agenda/assignment books. Each day, the
assignments are written in the book, checked by a teacher for accuracy and
completeness, then stamped. The stamps will be different each day since the
class schedule rotates. Please check your child's agenda and homework
completion. At the end of the week, agendas are checked. If there are five daily stamps, the student
will receive a homework stamp on the Success Sheet. Loose pieces of paper are
not counted toward the weekly homework stamp, all assignment sheets must be in
an agenda, assignment book or separate notebook with each entry dated. The students appear to be off to a great
start -- some very good presentations have been given in English, and in math,
the students have turned in their first assignments. If anyone is having
difficulty getting notebooks organized, plan to stay and get them put together.
Also, remember if you have a parent sign
your agenda on Tuesday night that they READ the Tuesday Sheet, you will get
a stamp on Wednesday.
World Language – Mrs. Borstel, Ms. Barnes, & Ms. Sequiera: Bienvenidos, Bienvenus, welcome to World
Language. Students should begin to
memorize the new Spanish or French numbers from 0 to 100. We will be distributing 6 day cycle calendars,
parent information sheets, and text books this week. Please take a moment to read through these items.
TEAM News:
Donations
(PLEASE!): Even though we’re hoping for an allergy
free, spill free fall, we need paper products.
You would not believe the amount of kleenex or paper towels consumed by
a team of 7th graders! We
are offering a “team spirit” success stamp for any student able to bring in
tissues or paper towels to his or her homeroom teacher. The homeroom teachers will then share the
wealth! Thank you.
Home School
Association Book Sox: Students can get order forms from the school
store and in their House office until Friday, September 12th. Prices
are on the order form, and orders may be prepaid by no later than September 12th.
(Checks should be made payable to PCIS H.S.A.) Teachers will collect and
forward new orders to the House Secretary.
Save your math and geography book, and help the Home School
Association. In the end, it helps the
students!
Boxtops for Education: The Boxtops for Education Program will continue again this
year. More information about specific
box tops will be sent home in the future.
Please cut and save any box tops for education labels. Students receive 1 kindness or team spirit
stamp for every 5 box tops.
Thank You(s): We would like to thank parents for their prompt and positive
responses to the Tuesday Sheet and all of the forms that were sent home last
week. We look forward to communicating
with parents regularly, and we appreciate your support. We would also like to thank Mr. Freitas
and Stevie’s Pizza for their generous contribution for our first Blue Bash
Pizza Party. Finally, kudos are due Trevor
MacIntyre for his efforts recycling all the cans and cardboard boxes from
the Blue Bash.
Budget Crisis:
Plymouth is facing a severe budget crisis which will greatly impact your
child’s education. Sports, music, technology, classroom teachers, materials,
after school building use (both children and adults) and much more is on the
cut list if Town Meeting votes October 27th to cut the budget. If
you wish to learn more about these devastating cuts, please call the school or
visit the information table at the Parent Open Houses. Selectmen, School Committee and the Finance
Committee are all meeting to determine how to deal with this crisis. Their meetings can be seen on cable on the
education and government access channels, 14 and 15. We urge all parents to
contact their town meeting members to make their concerns known. A list of town meeting members is available
at http://www.townofplymouth.org/townmtgmem.html
.
Important
Dates:
Tuesday September
9 Joint meeting of School Committee and Board of Selectmen
7
PM Town Hall
Thursday September
11 Magazine
Drive Assembly
Friday September
12 Home
School Association MAGAZINE DRIVE begins
deadline
for book sox orders
Tuesday September 16 Picture Day
Wednesday September 24 Early Release –
teacher inservice
Thursday September 25 end of magazine
drive
Have a pleasant
and productive week!
Together Everyone Achieves More