Category Archives: Uncategorized

3rd Grade Update

Hi Families,

Here’s what’s happening in our third grade class:
Writing: We continue working on persuasive writing. The third graders are learning about word choice and writing to their audience. They have had some great ideas for their speeches!

Math: This week we will learn the 6s and 7s multiplication facts. You will see the math test come home today. Our third graders worked hard on this test. Continued practice with multiplication facts will be very helpful as we move forward. Sometime this week, you will see an envelope of multiplication facts coming home. These are facts that have been in our folders the longest and that should be moved to memory. Please keep these in a safe place at home for continued practice. Thank you!

Reading: Today we launched our Mystery reading unit. Each student was given a mystery book they will be reading. As they read, they will be asking questions to find out the mystery and gather clues to solve it. We will be using many reading strategies to do this.

A few more reminders…

Homework: Third grade homework consists of a reading and math fact log due each Monday. Please look for this to come home and support your child in taking responsibility with this. Thank you!

Math practice page: Students complete a math practice page each Friday. This helps build fluency and accountability with learning multiplication facts. Students work at their own pace and keep track of what fact they are working on each Friday. This has been a great way for students to practice using a growth mindset as well!

Fall Celebration: On Friday, we will do some themed activities throughout the day ending with a snack. Thank you for the donations!
While not required, your child may dress up in an appropriate costume. No blood, guts, weapons. Please make sure this is a costume your child can wear all day and can take on/off by themselves. We are trying to limit the amount of students congregating in the restrooms to change into costumes. Thanks for your help with this.

Parent/Teacher Conferences: Conferences will be held Monday, Nov. 16 and Wed. Nov. 18. These will be held virtually and I will be sending a link for signing up in the coming week.

Birthdays: Just a reminder that if your child chooses (this is not required) to bring in something for the class to celebrate their birthday, we ask that it be a non-food item. Items such as erasers, pencils, bookmarks, etc. work well.

Cold Weather Gear: It’s that time of year when the weather changes quickly. Please send your child in appropriate clothing to go out for recess. As you send hats, gloves, etc. please make sure these are labeled with your child’s name.

Thank you!

Ms Van Arkel  🙂

Kids Heart Challenge

Information about Kids Heart Challenge will be coming home with students this week.  Please note that this fundraiser is for the American Heart Association, it does also helps us get P.E. Equipment for GT.  The Kids Heart Challenge Fundraiser is done ONLINE (see link below) and will be open from February 6 until February 28.

When your child joins Kids Heart Challenge (formerly Jump Rope for Heart) they will hear from kids with special hearts and raise funds to help those born with heart defects.  Students learn about taking care of their own heart through fun challenges and activities for physical, social and emotional health.

Get online and register your student today:

http://www2.heart.org/goto/georgetownhudsonville

Please note that thank-you prizes earned by students will be handed out when they come to P.E. class.  Some prizes need to be ordered when the fundraiser is over and will be delivered sometime in March.  Any money donated after Feb. 28 will not earn prizes.

Update: Week of November 12

Parents,
Here is some information for the week:

Social Studies quiz: We have been learning about how we modify and adapt to our environment. We will have a short quiz tomorrow. You will see a review page coming home today.

Multiplication Practice Page: We will have our next practice page on Wednesday. Pages were sent home on Friday. Your child has been keeping track of their progress and should know what facts to practice for Wednesday.

MobyMax Fact Fluency practice: At conferences, I gave you an update of your child’s fact fluency scores for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. We spent the first part of the year reviewing addition and subtraction fluency. Since it is a second grade concept, our hope is that student’s have those facts mastered and have moved on to practice multiplication and division. Starting this week, I will move all students to  multiplication and division on MobyMax. If your child still needs some practice with addition and subtraction, please continue practicing at home.

PE CARES Food Drive continues through November 16.
Please consider donating non-perishable food items that will all be given to Love Inc. in Hudsonville.  The class that brings in the most items will be given a thank you and traveling to Hudsonville Bowling Lanes for a bowling party!!!! Thanks for your help.

Book List: At conferences, we discussed your child’s reading progress and their good-fit level. I am sending home a list of book titles suggestions. Use this as you help your third grader choose ‘just-right’ books. Look for this green paper to come home in daily folders.

Coming Up: 
November 15: PTC meeting- 6:30 in the library
November 16: Last day for PE Cares donations.
November 19: Culver’s Night  5-8pm
December 13: Holiday Program at Fair Haven church – more details to come!
December 14: Early Release – 12:15 dismissal.

Welcome!!

Students and Parents,

I look forward to meeting you at our school open house on Wednesday, August 22. You may meet me and check out our classroom any time between 6:30 and 7:30pm. Students may bring in their school supplies to put in their desk. I’m excited to see you!
Be sure to read a little bit about me on the About Ms Van Arkel page. See you soon!!

 

3rd Grade Supply List: 2018-2019

Dear Third Grade Families,
In case you would like to get started on back to school shopping, I have included a list of supplies that your third grader will find helpful this year.

Items That Will Assist You

  • 2  writing composition books: 1 for writer’s workshop and 1 for word study and grammar (Feel free to decorate the front of them before the first day!)
  • 1 spiral notebook for math work
  • 2 Dry Erase Markers for your whiteboard work (the thin ones work best)
  • 3 glue sticks
  • pencils
  • a small pack of colored pencils, crayons, or markers
  • small (5×8 or smaller) pencil box to store your supplies. Please do not send in larger pencil boxes as they do not fit in the desks. Thanks!
  • scissors if you have some
  • 2 highlighters
  • Pocket folders (5 of them):  red, purple or orange, yellow, green, blue (plastic folders work best, but are not required)
  • tissue box, band-aids, or sanitizing wipes to donate to the classroom

For PE: 
• Gym shoes to be left at school for Physical Education class

Thank you!
Ms Van Arkel  :)

Summer Learning

Dear Parents,

Studies have shown that students can lose up to 50% of learning during the summer vacation.   Georgetown is challenging you and your child to “KEEP ON LEARNING” this summer to prevent summer slide.  There are two ways to record your learning time:

Our goals for students over the summer are below. Students who reach or exceed goals will be entered into a drawing for an Amazon Gift Card (1 per grade). This is for their grade next year.

 

Reading Minutes Mobymax
  • First Grade: 100 minutes
  • Second Grade: 200 minutes
  • Third Grade: 300 minutes
  • Fourth Grade: 400 minutes
  • Fifth Grade:  400 minutes
  • First Grade: 100 pts
  • Second Grade: 200 pts
  • Third Grade: 300 pts
  • Fourth Grade: 400 pts
  • Fifth Grade:  500 pts

READING:  Log into  this form  to record the number of minutes you read.  You can record each day or enter the total for each week.

MOBYMAX via CLEVER:  https://clever.com/in/hpseagles

Login in will be username @hpsstudents.net

If your child is new to the school and you would like login information, email Mrs. Reagan.  treagan@hpseagles.net

Have a great summer…and keep on learning with READING and MOBYMAX!

Box Tops

Did you know that every BOXTOP and every COKE CAPS collected earns money for our school?   This summer we would like you to work hard to collect both. The money we earn will go toward a basketball hoop on our K/1 playground!

BOXTOPS:  Every completed BOXTOP sheet is worth $5.00.  If every child from Georgetown (approx 570) fills one sheet this summer, our school will earn $2,750.  Many thanks to Lori Simpson and all of you who are on her team of BOX TOP counters, trimmers, and packers.  This is a great program that pays off because of all of YOU! Download your form here:  Summer Box Tops

COKE CAPS:  Super easy. Save the caps and go online to enter collection! COKE WEBSITE  (https://us.coca-cola.com/give/)   Select Georgetown Elementary and enter the code on the cap.   Now you can recycle the cap. No need to send it to school.

Welcome!!

Are you visiting our blog because you will be in this class next year? If so, WELCOME!

While you are here, be sure to sign up for email updates (right side of the blog where it says subscribe by email).  Our class blog will be the site for information about school supplies, curriculum and assessment, and much more.  A school supply list will be posted on July 1. Check out the supply list HERE!
Also, remember to sign up for email updates on the Georgetown School Blog.  The school blog will provide updates all summer long about school wide events and important details about open houses and calendar dates.
I am so glad you are here! I will be posting a few times to the blog throughout the summer so please check back! I am getting ready for a great third grade year!   :)
I look forward to meeting you at our school open house on August 22 from 6:30-7:30pm. 
– Ms Van Arkel