Dr. Stevenson's Blog

February News

Well, conferences are over and we are well into the third nine weeks.  Thanks for all the parents who came to their scheduled conference time.  Please continue to read with your child each night and check his/her daily folder.  As the end of the year approaches, there is always a great deal of information to send home.  We are doing very well with "going green" and recycling.  Please continue to send in paper in the blue recycling bag.  We also have started our Dimes for Hope campain to raise money for the American Cancer Society and our Relay for Life team.  The first class to fill up a 16 ounce water bottle with dimes will have raised $100 and will receive a snow cone party.  Amongst first grade, the first class to complete this task will receive a popcorn party.  Please check below for upcoming events:

Tuesday, Feb. 3rd - PTA and chorus performance at 6:30 - Domino's Pizza night

Wednesday, Feb. 4th - Early Release - students are dismissed at 12:20

Monday, Feb. 9th - Stevie B's Pizza Night

Tuesday, Feb. 10th - Bingo Night 6:30

Monday, Feb. 16th - Student holiday - No School

Tuesday, Feb. 17th - Texas Roadhouse Night

Thursday, Feb. 19th - Skate night and Chic-fil-A in morning carpool

Tuesday, Feb. 24th - Johnny's Pizza Night

Thursday, Feb. 26th - Family Trivia Night 6:30

Friday, Feb. 27th - Hat Day bring .50

Have a great month! 

January News

I can't believe it is already 2009!  To celebrate, Blackwell Elementary has gone "GREEN!"  Last week we started a school wide recycling program of paper.  Students came home with a blue bag that they are to use to bring in paper materials for recycling.  I prefer for our class to bring the bags in on Mondays and Thursdays, please.  The following guidelines were set for the program:  Paper products only such as newspapers, magazines, junk mail, etc.  No cardboard boxes, cereal boxes or paper with crayon or glue on it is allowed.

We are also starting an animal research project in the library over the next few weeks.  The children will choose an animal and create an informational book about that animal.  This project will cover several of our first grade standards at one time.

Remember that Parent Teacher conferences are coming up the last week in January. Your children will be dismissed at 12:20 that week.   Please arrive promptly for your scheduled time as we are usually booked back to back and only have a 5 minute buffer between each conference. 

Please use the information I sent home with your child's testing ID number on it to practice for the CRCT which is coming up two weeks after spring break.  This will help your child feel more at ease with this tedious testing process.

You can still purchase yearbooks with the form we sent home earlier.

Also, I am the Team Captain for our Relay for Life Team here at school.  We raise money for the American Cancer Society.  Please look for fun upcoming fun raising activities!

Happy New Year!!

December News

Can you believe December is here and 2009 is just around the corner?  I can't!  The children have been working very hard and are having a great year.  As exciting as this time of year can be, please remind your children how important it is to stay focused because we still have a lot to learn.  As we come to these last 2 weeks before the break we are doing a lot of assessment for the second nine weeks.  I will be sending home some things over the break if your child needs a little extra practice.  Report Cards for the second nine weeks will be handed out during conference week in January.  Check below for upcoming events and I hope everyone has a restful holiday break!

December 4th - PTA Meeting/Holiday Chorus Performance

December 5th - Jump Rope for Heart

December 8th - Stevie B's Night

December 16th - Texas Roadhouse Night

December 18th - Chic-fil-A in morning carpool, Skate Night, Class Holiday Party at 1pm

December 19th - Last day before the break, Sing Along

See you all on Tuesday, January 6, 2009!!

November, Cont'd.

Parents, Please note that our Thanksgiving Feast is during your child's lunch time this Thursday, November 17th. Feel free to come enjoy lunch with us. The adult meal price is $2.50. Also see important county notice below... All teachers, building occupants, or legal guardians Annual notification of asbestos management plan to all This letter is to advise you that this School Facility has in accordance with the mandated requirements of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) prepared an Inspection Report and Management Plan. The purpose of the Inspection Report and Management Plan is for detecting, controlling and informing the public of any asbestos containing materials that may exist in this School Facility. In the even that a building addition, renovation or response action is required at this Facility, the Inspection Report and Management Plan will be revised accordingly. This will advise you that a copy of the Inspection Report and Management Plan for this Facility is available for public review in the Administrative Offices of the Facility during normal working hours. Copies are available, upon request, only in completed sets at twenty-five (25) cents per page.

November News

It's hard to believe that it is already November!  Our class is doing a community outreach project for Thanksgiving.  I sent home a letter in each child's folder with a highlighted item for you to bring in for the food basket.  Please have this in no later than November 13.  In Math this month we are really working hard on graphs, comparing numbers, and beginning geometry.  Please continue to practice math facts at home.  It is very important to read with your child each night.  Ask them questions periodically throughout the reading to make sure they are comprehending.  Thank you for checking the homework folder and behavior log each night.  Important information can be found here!  The book fair is coming the week of November 17, with a family night on the 20th.  Your child has already seen a video to preview the book fair and will be completing a wish list.  Teachers can create one too!  So if you'd like to purchase a book to donate to your child's classroom, please look for our wish list.

Upcoming Events:

November 10 - Stevie B's Night

November 17-21 - Book Fair

November 20 - Family Night/Book Fair Activities 5-7pm

November 21 - Hat Day/Support American Cancer Society

November 24-28 - Thanksgiving Holidays/School Closed

October News

Well, the new standards based report card has gone home.  What did you think?  It should have given you a little more insight as to what we are studying and learning about each 9 weeks.  Please be sure to refer to the rubric on the back.  This 9 weeks we are going to be studying magnets and sound in science.  We will also be learning about Thomas Jefferson and Lewis & Clark & Sacagawea in Social Studies.  It is important to continue to read with your child each night.  We go to the library each Thursday, so the children should have a library book to read as well.  Please make sure to send it to school each day.  In math we are moving on to Geometry and extending our addition and subtraction facts to 12.  Money still is confusing for most of us, especially making fair trades for coins and dollar bills.  Please practice every chance you get!  The weather is starting to get cooler, so please check the forecast each morning to make sure the children are properly dressed for the day!

Upcoming Events:  Tuesday, October 21 - Texas Roadhouse Night

                            Thursday, October 23 - Chic-fil-A Night

                            October 37-31 - Red Ribbon Week

Reminder:  The school store is open in the mornings on Tuesday and Friday.

September News

Well, we have gotten off to a good start!  The children are settling in nicely to our routine and are working hard!  In Social Studies this month, we are working on our earth and our country.  One of our standards is that first grade children will know their address and phone number.  Please work on this at home.  We have just finished studying the weather, and the children should be paying close attention to the weather each morning in order to "dress properly for the weather."  Please be sure to join PTA if you haven't done so already.  Our class has been really great at participating in outside of school events and we would like to have 100% participation in PTA.  I have joined; have you?  Soon 41/2 week progress reports will go home, but only for those students who are in danger of receiving a one on any standard on the report card.  Please make note of the upcoming events for this month.

Monday, September 8th - Stevie B's Night

Tuesday, September 16th - early release, students dismissed at 12:20; Texas Roadhouse night; SPLOST vote

Wednesday, September 17th-Friday, September 19th - CogAT testing for all first graders, get a good night's sleep!

Thursday, September 18th - Skate Night and Morning Chic-fil-A in carpool line

Tuesday, September 23rd - Bruster's Night

Happy Fall!!

August - Welcome Back!

Welcome back to a new school year!  I am excited about having your children in my classroom and we are off to a good start!  Please remember to review your child's behavior log daily and complete homework each night.  There is a spot for you to initial on both sheets!  A letter will be coming home regarding our new report card and we will be able to answer some questions at Open House.  If you have not already joined our PTA, please do so.  They work so hard and do so much to help us teachers!  Also, if you have not sent back the contents of the Cobb County folder, please do so ASAP.  We have quite a few and we really need the inclement weather forms and photograph release forms returned.  Make sure that you read with your child every night.  This is extremely important for their reading academic progress this year.  Please take note of the following important dates and activities:

Tuesday, August 19th - Texas Roadhouse Night (proceeds will come back to the school)

Thursday, August 21st - Chic-fil-A will be sold during morning car pool -- Skate Night

Tuesday, August 26th - PTA meeting and Open House 6:15 -- School Picture Day

Thursday, August 28th - Girl/Scout Night 6:30

Friday, August 29th - Hat Day, Bring $.50 and wear a hat to support The American Cancer Society