Another Great Week in the PBL Classrooms

Hello, 

     It has been another great week in the PBL classrooms!  There are many exciting things coming up.  We will begin a three day project in which students will learn about the different branches of government, which will then lead into our What Kind of Voter Are You? project.  We cannot see what our students learn and how they will excel in these upcoming assignments.  In math we will begin our blended unit on fractions.  We will be hard at work so that students are able to understand the concepts involved with fractions.  This unit will take some time, so when we have a test date, we will be sure to make students aware.  In ELA, the classes are working on editing and revising.  Students are in the process if becoming stronger writers who utilize figurative language and vivid sentences.  


Upcoming Events:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
25 January Military Monday District Writing Assessment	26 January	27 January American Revolution Informational Text Due	28 January Project Courtroom	29 January Class Picture Day Topic 9 & 10 Math Test
01 February Project Courtroom Due	02 February What Kind of Voter Are You? Project Kickoff	03 February	04 February PTO Meeting 6:30 P.M.	05 February 100th Day of School Movie Night: 6:30 - 8:30 P.M.
08 February Jump Rope for Heart Assembly: Wear Red!	09 February	10 February Music Field Study: Please Dress Up	11 February	12 February 11:30 Dismissal

Pontiac Newsletter

- Please have your child practice their multiplication facts each night.

~Loren Grimm & Ashley Saullo~

Pontiac Elementary: 

"Where knowledge is nurtured

and character blooms."

Welcome to 2016!

     We are extremely excited to have students back after our extended break!  There is a lot going on in fourth grade and students have been keeping busy.  In Social Studies, students have started working on their next PBL project, American Revolution Informational Text.  With this project, students will be creating a newspaper in which they will share information about the causes of the Revolution and key battles.  So far, students have been hard at work collecting information from primary resources for their articles.  In Math, students will begin working on division with another blended learning unit.  The students, as well as the fourth grade teachers have greatly enjoyed blended learning because it allows students to work at their pace and for one-on-one instruction with the teacher.  In ELA, the difference between editing and revising is being explored so that writing skills can be developed and enhanced.  

    Pontiac Elementary is collecting Box Tops!  As as school, we are trying to reach our goal of 2,000 Box Tops by the end of January.  In one week, our goal of 1,000 had been reached, so we have increased our goal.  Please send in any Box Tops, each one is worth $0.10 for the school.  We are also participating in "Read with the Gamecocks."  This program provides students an opportunity to ear tickets to a Carolina Gamecocks basketball game!  A form has been given to students to track the number of pages they read, all that is needed is a parent signature.  The forms are due Friday, January 22.  Miss Saullo's class was the top fourth grade class for "Read with the Gamecocks" with over 6,000 pages.  The top reader for fourth grade was Ben with over 2,000 pages, way to go!

Calendar of Events:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
18 January District Holiday No School	19 January NED Show	20 January Saullo: Library Books Due	21 January Report Cards Issued Skate Night 6 - 8 P.M.	22 January Art’s Day
25 January Military Monday	26 January	27 January American Revolution Informational Text Due	28 January	29 January Class Picture Day

Upcoming Field Trip:

    10 February-  Fourth grade will  be traveling to the Koger Center for the SC Philharmonic Orchestra           Children's Concert with Ms. Rayner.  Please be on the lookout for the permission slip and return to 

    school.

Pontiac Newsletter

~ Loren Grimm & Ashley Saullo~

Pontiac Elementary:

"Where knowledge is nurtured

and character blooms!"

Welcoming the Month of December

Happy December All,

     It is definitely an exciting time at Pontiac Elementary for all students as we are bringing the year of 2015 to an end.  Students are busy wrapping up these last few weeks of school better winter break begins.  Miss Grimm and Miss Saullo's classes are working on some very exciting things.  This week the PBL classes began their Earth Model projects that provide students the opportunity to learn about our solar system, the planets, constellations, the phases of the moon, just to name a few.  The end project will be models designed and constructed by the students that will then be displayed to give other Pontiac students a chance to observe these models and learn from them.

     In math, classes have been working hard learning about measurement.  Students are exploring both customary and metric means in length, capacity, and mass.  Students are being engaged in multiple ways throughout the lessons.  They have all become very fond of blended learning in math, but due to the extent of the content that is needed to be shared with the students and the amount of knowledge your child needs to obtain, the fourth grade team felt that the best method while teaching this particular unit was as a whole with numerous activities to allow for a deeper understanding.

    In English Language Arts, students will be working in reading groups to work on deeper understanding and comprehension of the text within their groups.  Students are also working on building their writing techniques by utilizing the districts Step Up to Writing program.  

    The PTO Holiday Shop will open starting next Monday, December 7th and remain open until Friday, December 11th, to give students the chance to purchase gifts.  Pontiac would greatly appreciate if you were able to volunteer and assist in this holiday shop for our students.  

    Pontiac will be assisting in a winter collection, student council is overseeing this wonderful community project.  We are participating in Stuff a Stocking and Homeless Outreach until Monday, December 14th.  Attached is a link that will provide you with further information about items that can be donated.  Any little bit helps.  Stuff a Stocking and Homeless Outreach

     Important information!  Per the district, the following dates will be the days that students will make up due to the flood at the beginning of October:  04 January, 15 February, 25 March, and 29 April.  

Blueprint Website
December Lunch Menu

Science Safari Day has been rescheduled from 16 December to 11 March.  

Upcoming Events:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
30 November Earth Models Project Roll Out	01 December	02 December	03 December PTO Meeting 6:30	04 December College Colors Day Math Quiz Science Quiz
07 December PTO	08 December Holiday	09 December Shop	10 December ------------	11 December Math Quiz- ----------- Science Quiz
14 December Military Monday	15 December	16 December	17 December Earth Models Due	18 December Winter Holiday Celebration Topic 14 Math Test
21 December Holiday	22 December Break	23 December -------	24 December No	25 December School
28 December Holiday	29 December Break	30 December -------	31 December No	01 January School
04 January Make Up Day American Revolution Kickoff	05 January	06 January	07 January PTO Meeting at 6:30	08 January College Colors Days

Some Exciting News!

Below is the registration link for EdVenture’s Girls STEM Camp, hosted in partnership with Ingersol-Rand. Please remember that if you are registering a child that we highly recommend them attending all 7 days of the camp as spots are limited to 20 4^th and 5^th grade girls in Richland Two.

https://14346altru.blackbaudhosting.com/14346altru/Girls-STEM-Camp

Reminders:

- Please ensure that your child is reading 20 minutes each night and completing their log as well as writing a response in their Reading Response Notebook.

-  Students need to be practicing their multiplication facts to become more consistent with their fluency. 

-  Please do not forget to sign your child's Perfect Parrot Procedure sheet nightly!

~ Miss L. Grimm and Miss A. Saullo~

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Pontiac Elementary:

"Where knowledge is nurtured

and character blooms."