Week of September 23rd through 27th

Hello! It's hard to believe that September is nearly over and one month of school has already gone by! I'm happy to report that we are *finally* done with MAP testing. The next MAP testing session will be in the spring. This upcoming week is Homecoming Week at the high school. East Side has always participated in a small way by having each day be a special dress up day. Spirit week this year, however, will be interrupted on Wednesday (the 25th) due to Picture Day at East Side. Please see the important information below for the week ahead.

• Spirit Week will be as follows:
• Monday--Pajama day
• Tuesday--Crazy clothes/hair day
• Wednesday--Picture day!
• Thursday--Dress as your favorite sport, team, or athlete
• Friday--Orange and black day

• The Homecoming Parade will be on Friday, September 27th at 1:30 pm. 

• Students will be told that they can bring headphones or earbuds to school as soon as possible. Due to the fact that I am starting reading groups this coming week, students will have the opportunity to work on an iPod and play educational apps. This will probably be only once a week. However, unless students bring headphones (or earbuds) they will have to play the iPod with the MUTE setting on to avoid disturbing others. 

• As stated above, my students will start reading groups this week. Mrs. Pat Anderson and Mr. Mark Stephens will be pulling a few of my students to give them extra help in reading. In our school this is known as Response to Intervention (or RTI). If your child is one who will be receiving extra help you will be receiving a letter from me indicating just that. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions that you may have. 

• My class will also start serving in the lunchroom this week. This is a new experience for third graders--as this will be the first year they will do it. Even though students may or may not like serving--it's an important skill to learn. It also teaches students necessary life skills and reiterates the fact that we all have to help. If your child is serving on a particular day he/she will receive a free (hot) lunch and will need to leave my classroom around 11:20 to go to the cafeteria to serve. 

• This week's spelling words focus on the long 'i' sound. The different blends that we will be discussing this week include 'ight', 'ild', 'ie', and 'i' by itself. Challenge words will also be given to particular students. Your child should know by now if he/she is receiving the challenge words. 
• slight
• mild
• sight
• pie
• mind
• tie
• pilot
• might
• lie
• tight
• blind
• fight
• die
• midnight
• find
• night
• silent
• frightening
• Challenge Words: (not all students will have these words--ask your child)
• stands
• score
• fans
• league
• slammed
• pronounced
• style 
• polish

Have a great week! 

Mrs. Martinez