More Photos from Week 1

We sure did miss the sun this past week! Here's a peek at more photos from our first few days together enjoying the SUNSHINE! Hopefully, we'll have better weather this week!

Mrs. Scott's Homeroom

Here's a peek inside our first day!

Mrs. Thornton's Class

Here's a peek inside our first day!

Mrs. Richardson's Homeroom

Here's a peek inside our first day of school!

Playing Geologist :)

Field Tripping

So on Thursday, Mrs. Thornton and I went on a field trip to get up close and personal with minerals, rocks, and fossils. It was so much fun! We visited several locations of rock outcrops. We saw lots of sedimentary rocks. Mr. Billy Morris taught us to use a compass to measure the strike and dip of each outcropping. Check out this photo of Mrs. Thornton!

Next, we visited the southern portion of Taylor's Ridge. We were able to find crinoid and brachiopod fossils at this location. Here we are in action. :)

Mrs. Thornton is measuring the strike and dip of this rock outcropping!

I got a little distracted by a butterfly! But I did find some fossils!

We stopped at the Pocket for lunch! Beautiful place to visit!

All the ladies in this picture are teachers in NW Georgia. 
The gentlemen in the middle is Mr. Billy Morris, a professor at Georgia 
Highlands College in Rome. He was most awesome for class this week.

Seeds, and Leaves, and Pinecones, OH MY!

Graphic by MyCuteGraphics

We're off to visit the Gilbert Greenway 

and Discovery Trail! 

3rd graders began their morning in the outdoor garden. We were measuring our cabbage plants to see how much they've grown. The data collected was charted on our Vee map in the hall. Before planting our Bonnie Cabbage plants, each student made a prediction as to which growing conditions were best for the cabbage. Choices were water only, water & fertilizer, water & compost, and water & plant food. Today, students added their fertilizer, compost, and plant food. Every plant was watered. Wish us luck!


Students also participated in a scavenger hunt on our Nature Trail. They had to find and collect several items including 2 types of seeds, 4 different kinds of leaves, a pinecone and other items from nature. Students were also equipped with an iPad mini. Students used the iPad to photograph items that were too big to bring back to the classroom. Items included a small tree, the tallest tree, a spider's web, a small animal habitat, a photo of your favorite vegetable, etc. It was a fun learning opportunity! Here's a peek!

Wow, our time is almost over!

There will be no homework again this week. We have covered all of our standards. Thus, we have some time to celebrate our accomplishments.

This week students will be allowed to participate in the 3rd grade talent show. This will give the students who are performing in the Gilbert Talent show on May 12 some time to practice performing in front on an audience. It will also give those who didn't make the cut a chance to perform their talent. It's a very low key event that only includes 3rd graders.

I can’t believe the end of the year is here. I just wanted to touch base with you to ensure you were aware of everything we have going on at Gilbert next couple of weeks! 

Friday, May 8

Georgia STEM Day

Monday, May 11

Third - Fifth Grades Field Day

Tuesday, May 12

Talent Show & School Cookout 

Wednesday, May 13

3rd Grade Luau 

1st & 2nd Grade Awards Presentation @ 8:00 a.m.

Thursday, May 14

3rd & 4th Grade Awards Presentation @ 8:00 a.m.

5th Grade Promotion @ 6:00 p.m.

Friday, May 15

Third Grade End of Year Bash @ 10:30 a.m.

For the Awards Ceremony on Thursday, every student will go across the stage. There will be a special slide show at the end of the presentations. You will be asked to remain seated until the end of the presentations to minimize disruptions. Students will be dismissed to the classrooms before the audience. You may check your child out if you wish. Just pick him/her up in the classroom. 

On Friday, our class will host an end-of-year bash. Please plan to join us for refreshments and a more personalized (class specific) slide show. We should wrap things up by 11:00 at the latest. We would like for each family to bring a package of cookies. We could also use help with canned soft drinks (12 packs). Students should bring cookies and drinks to school on Thursday so that we may purchase any needed items. 

See you all soon!

Reading & Library Note

Graphics from: www.mycutegraphics.com

I just wanted to take a moment and update everyone on the current reading/library information. Students will not have a written response/summary due this week or the remainder of our school year.

During the two week testing window, we do not assign homework. You will find out more about that in the letter coming home soon. Our school will operate in testing mode for those two weeks. Students must remain inside classrooms and be considerate of those who are still testing until the all-clear announcement. Pretty much that means, we cannot do anything noisy. So we'll read daily when we complete our testing (within our classroom) until the announcement is made.

The media center will be closed during the two weeks of testing. As a result, I will be asking students to get two chapter books to last them an entire week. Many of them recently moved to a higher level and this will give them a chance to try it out. Students are invited to share a review/recommendation on Fridays. We call them "book commercials". Some feel more comfortable making a few notes as they read to remind them of really good parts they want to share. Sharing is not required, but is encouraged. :)

Difficult as it is to believe, we only have 27 days left in this school year! The media center will close about two weeks before school is out in order to get all books in and inventoried. This means we will only check out books two more times (April 13 and April 20). If you have misplaced a library book, please take care of it as soon as possible. The lost ones will have to be replaced. It will need to be cleared up before awards days and the end of the year, as you will not be allowed to receive your awards if you owe for a lost book.

Until next time, HAPPY READING!

Mrs. Richardson :)

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Aubry Price! Aubry's writing took first place in the Walker County Young Author's Fair competition! She beat out eight other third graders! We are so very proud of you, Aubry! Kudos to Mrs. Thornton for being a great writing teacher, too!

Aubry @ the awards ceremony on 3-26-15