New BLOG

For anyone interested, my new BLOG is www.mckan.weebly.com

Help for Joplin

Willard Parents / Students, Our thoughts and prayers are going out to Joplin residents due to the devastation of the tornado on Sunday. I have received word from the Joplin district that several school buildings have been severely impacted from the storm. Some will most likely be a total loss. A plea for assistance and supplies has went out from the Joplin community and the Willard Chamber of Commerce is organizing a very quick response drive for donations. I spoke to the Chamber President and shared that I believe with the help of 4200 kids and parents we could fill a truck with donations. The items that are most needed at this time are as follows below. I would encourage only new items be donated. I have contacted each building principal and will depend upon them to organize the efforts of each building. The Chamber of Commerce will pick up all donated items on Thursday morning. I know this is only 1 day notice however the need for the supplies is immediate. This is one small way that we can help this effort. Dr. Medlin BlanketsUnder wearTee shirtsFlip flop (only) all sizesWaterBaby suppliesNon-perishable food itemsToiletry items–

Dr. Kent E. MedlinSuperintendent of SchoolsWillard MO

Study Island

At the beginning of the year information came home about Study Island.  (studyisland.com)  This is a great website that should be utilized throughout the summer!  We have started some review in Math and some of the kids said they don’t remember how to log in. 
Log-in:  first three letters of your first name, first three letters of your last name, birth date, a period, then 21.
Mine for example: marmck16.21
Password for everyone is tigers.
Please let me know if you have problems logging on. 

We will be doing some of our reading time outside in our courtyard.  I have asked the kids to bring in a beach towel if they have one.  They may leave them in their cubby for the rest of the year. 

We have a great last few weeks planned at school!  Thanks for all you have done this year!

We are stillworking hard on our ONLY PTO fundraiser this year!!!!  Below are the teachers in the lead for Kiss the Pig fundraiser.  Please keep working hard to help our PTO raise money.    I know I would love to see one of the staff members below kiss a pig!!!
Teacher/Staff Member
Stan Miller                 $150.88
Mrs. Bailey                $94.00
Mrs. Azeez                $81.00
Mrs. Crighton-Smith  $62.00

 

April 8

Our class had a great time at our Publishing party this morning!  We had root beer floats, crackers, cheese, and pepperoni…..This is what they voted on having.  They finished publishing their non-fiction books early this week and they are out on display in the hallway.  If you are in the building, please stop and read your child’s book.  You may leave them a note also. 

We are beginning an economic unit in the beginning of May.  Before we start this unit, I begin using money for behavior.  They will receive money for good behavior, but also money may be taken away.  There is a note coming home today, explaining more about our unit. 

We will be professionally publishing a book.  I will be sending a note home next week explaining how this works, but each child will have the opportunity to purchase this book.  If you do not purchase, there will be one copy in our school library to check out on Library day.  You will only have this one opportunity to purchase, as it will not be available in stores.  This is a book that the entire class helped write and illustrate.  The title is What Teachers Do on Early Out.  All the ideas are from the students. 

We have began our unit in Poetry.  The class is learning how to look at things with a “poets eye”. 

The class has worked very hard on learning how to regroup with subtraction and addition.  They are ready to move on to measuring fractions and finishing up our last unit in Math. 

Please make sure and return the summer school forms.  It’s much better to fill out the papers and back out then to wish you would’ve filled them out and it’s too late. 

Only 35 days left!  We are all hanging in there!  Have a great week!

March 9

I have an amazing website that I want the students to look at, if at all possible. 
http://www.raptorresource.org/falcon_cams/
 It is a live cam of a bald eagle sitting on her eggs.  Expected hatch is April 1st.  I cannot show it at school because it takes up to much space on our district internet.  I really hope you get to see it!  I have been watching this eagle for a few days now and it’s amazing. 

Our annual Sock Hop is being held next week, March 17th, from 6-8.  There will be music, dancing, book walk, book fair, face painting, pop toss, and lots of fun for the whole family.  There will also be a fund raiser that night to benefit the Social Work fund in our school district.  This fundraiser will be “Cupcake Wars”.  It will cost $1 to taste and judge the cupcakes.  Their will also be a cookbook available for $5.00. 

I am running low on our Treasure box treats!  If anyone would like to help me with the treats I would greatly appreciate it.  Items I buy are: stickers, pencils, erasers, pencil grips, candy, bubbles, small toys (examples could be from a Pinata bag) and any other small ideas would be fine. 

We are working hard this week on starting our Non-fiction books.  The students have picked their topic, written their table of contents, and started their first chapter.  These books will be published and sat in the hallway for the entire school to see!  They are working very hard on them. 

I am continuing reading tests for the 3rd quarter grade cards.  Third quarter ends Friday and grade cards will be sent home Tuesday, the 15th. 

The students are continuing to work hard on their behavior.  We have had several compliments in lunch and specials.  Transitions are still very difficult for them.  Talking when lining up or moving from one activity to another is the hardest for them.  Their sticks will be moved for these and they will start completing a “think/processing sheet” if they continue to move their name during this time.  If those come home, I expect them to be signed and returned by a parent. 

Thanks so much for all your support and have a great rest of the week!
Mrs. McKan

Read Across America

Next week is National Read Across America!  Below you will see our schedule of events.

Monday-Hat Day
Tuesday-Stripe day!  Wear stripes of any kind. 
Wednesday-Crazy sock day
Thursday-Dress up as your favorite book character
Friday-Tiger Pride t-shirt/Guest Readers 

If there is a time/day that you would like to come and read to our class, please let me know.  You may bring a book from home or I can pick one from our school Library.  I would love for every parent to read, if possible!!!

Bahavior & PACT Journals

Our entire classroom is having problems working quietly, following directions, and keeping a low noise when asked.  I’m really being tough right now because it’s carrying over into lunch and specials.  LOTS of names were moved yesterday to yellow because of this.  I would appreciate any help from home!  They are moving their cards the first time when speaking out or not following directions so there might be lots of yellow squares colored on their calendar in the next few weeks. 
Thanks so much for your help!

Also, I would like to remind parents to write to their child in their PACT journals by Friday of each week.  THANKS!

Make-up days and lunch menu

Reminder: Student’s will have a half day this Friday, February 18 and a full day on Monday, Februay 21.

The lunch choices for Friday and Monday are as follows:

Friday

Pizza Crunchers or Chicken Sandwich

Monday

Chicken Alfredo or Country Fried Steak

Make-Up Snow Days

This is the information we just received on snow make-up days. 

Feb. 18 – half day for kids, full day for teachers

Feb. 21 – full day of school

April 22 – full day of school

April 25 – full day of school

May 26 – full day of school

May 27 – half day students/full day for teachers