Before I forget, a big THANK YOU to everyone who made my birthday so special this month! I appreciate you all!
This week: *Continue to pack a healthy snack daily. *February Homework choice boards are due today. *On Monday, we are celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday/WRAD Day. Students can wear pajamas in celebration! *On Tuesday, we are excited to welcome Pease Brothers to HFE for Exceptional Children's Week. *Tuesday is also our Library Checkout day. Remind your child to bring back their library books from our last visit so they can get a new book to enjoy.
Looking ahead: *March 9-12 Teacher Appreciation Week *March 13 & 16 No School
February 19, 2020 IF the month of January was the tortoise, THEN the month of February is the hare!
This week: *Continue to pack a healthy snack daily. *Today, in science lab, we are exploring the food chain (consumers vs producers). *This week we start Unit 5 across the board (math, reading, writing, social studies/science). *Math -1.2 (Understanding Place Value) -2.1 (Becoming Fluent with Addition and Subtraction) *Reading- Meeting Characters and Learning Lessons *Writing- From Scenes to Series: Writing Fiction *Social Studies/Science- How We Organize Ourselves (Economics, Needs vs Wants, Goods vs. Services)
Looking ahead: *February 21 Step Assembly *February 25 College Pride Day *March 2 Read Across America
February 10, 2020
Kindness Week HFE will be participating in the Great Kindness Challenge the week of February 10th. The program is a proactive and positive bullying prevention initiative that improves school climate and increases student engagement. Week one is devoted to performing as many acts of kindness as possible. Please encourage your child/children to complete at least ten (10) acts of kindness on the checklist.
No Place for Hate! HFE is also in the process of becoming a No Place For Hate designated school. No Place For Hate is a self-directed program that helps schools improve and maintain school climate and combat bias/bullying, so that all students can thrive. As part of Kindness Week, the whole school will be signing a Resolution of Respect.
To close out Kindness Week, the students will be treated to an in-house field trip on Thursday, February 13th featuring Mr. Greg’s Musical Madness Fantastic Band. The performance will focus on being kind and anti-bullying. KINDNESS MATTERS at HFE!
This week: *Continue to pack a healthy snack daily. *Our Valentine's Celebration is Friday! It was brought to my attention that the letter says we have 20 students in our classroom, that is not correct! We have 23 students enrolled in our class. *See attached February Newsletter!
Looking ahead: *February 12-13 Math Unit 4 Test *February 13 Mr. Grey's Musical Madness *February 14 Valentine's Day Celebration *February 17 President's Day- No School *February 25 College Pride Day
February 3, 2020
I am so excited to welcome in the month of February and Black History Month.
This week: *Continue to pack a healthy snack daily. *Invention plans are due Friday, February 7th. (See attachment) *On Tuesday, we are visiting the library. Please remind your child to bring in their library books from their previous visit. *Friday is SOAR Team Spirit Day! Wear Green! *February homework choice boards will go out this week (no later than Thursday), in the mean time, there is math (telling time) practice packets in their red daily folder.
Looking ahead: *February 4 Library visit *February 7 Invention Projects due *February 12-13 Math Unit 4 Test *February 14 Valentine's Day Celebration
January 28, 2020
January has felt like it has lasted a whole year. I am ready to enter February!
This week: *Continue to pack a healthy snack daily. *Invention plans are coming home today in your child's daily red folder, if they have not already made it home. Final projects are due Friday, February 7th. *With some after school activities kicking off their first week this week, please continue to send in change of dismissals. *Please continue to talk with your child about the proper way to wash hands, sneeze or cough in public spaces and the importance of keeping things out of their mouths. Help me keep them as healthy as possible :)
Looking ahead: *January 31 January Homework is due *February 4 Library visit *February 7 Invention Projects due
January 22, 2020
I hope everyone is staying warm this week as we finally welcome in Winter!
This week: *Continue to pack a healthy snack for your child daily. *Be on the look out for Kids A-Z login information in the blue Thursday folders this week! *Yesterday, we completed IReady Reading diagnostic testing. Students are welcome to use IReady at home. *Today, we have Science Lab with Mr. John and our biweekly library visit with Ms. Severson. *For those asking, we will add more dates/slots for Mystery Reader for the second semester.
Looking ahead: *January 28 College Pride Day *January 31 January homework choice board due
January 13, 2020
This past week did not turn out at all how I planned, but nonetheless, I start back tomorrow with the kids, which I have missed! If you have messaged me via ClassDojo or emailed me, I will be responded back to everyone over the next few days.
This week: *January Newsletter is attached below. *Continue to pack a healthy snack for your child everyday! *Tomorrow, we have Ms. Severson stopping by to help implement Raz-Kids in our classroom. Students will be able to access this at home too! Be on the lookout for login information. *Mrs. Y will also stop by tomorrow to kick off our new IB Unit, How We Express Ourselves. *On Wednesday we will be in the lab for our math portion of the IReady diagnostic test. Just a friendly reminder, that students are not to use IReady at home until all testing is complete, Jan. 28th.
Looking ahead: *January 16 Report Cards go home *January 20 MLK Day, No School
January 6, 2020
Happy New Year!
This week: *Please continue to pack a healthy snack for your child everyday. You are more than welcome to pack more than one. *Tomorrow, we are visiting the library for story-hour with Ms. Severson. Students will also have time to checkout a new book. Please remind your child to bring back their book from their last visit to the library. *On Friday, we have a pep rally! Wear Green! *Friday is also our celebration for Cookies for Character for the learner profile: Open- minded. Celebration will take place at 7:30 AM in the media center. *Since we are starting a new semester this week, please send in a change of dismissal for any after-school activities. We have many students changing activities and some students who are not doing any activities this semester. Please help me make sure that your child gets to the right place! *If you signed up to bring emergency snacks or treasure box items for the month of January, please send those in at your earliest convenience. *January Homework will come home tomorrow, Tuesday. *To save paper, January Newsletters will be posted here on Thursday.
Looking ahead: *January 20 MLK Day, No School
December 17, 2019
As we count down, the last few days of school, here is what is going on in the classroom.
This week:
Today, we start our Math Unit 3 Test.
On Wednesday, we have Science Lab in the morning and our Holiday Party in the afternoon.
On Friday, we will attend a Holiday Sing-along! Oh what fun!
If you have not already sent in a book for our Winter Book Exchange, please do so before our Holiday Party tomorrow. Also, students are more than welcome to wear their holiday-inspired pajamas tomorrow.
Looking ahead:
December 23- January 3 No School
December 10, 2019
8 more sleeps before we are off for the holidays!
This week:
Today, we have our library visit with Ms. Severson. The students will have a chance to check out a new book!
On Thursday, Mrs. Yancey will stop by for a read-aloud about our learner profile of the month: open-minded.
Be on the look out for our Math Unit 3 review packet in your child's blue Thursday folder. We have a math test next week, Tuesday-Thursday (12/17-12/19).
Looking ahead:
Monday, December 16 Wrapped books for Winter Book Exchange due
Tuesday, December 17-19 Math Unit 3 Test
Wednesday, December 18 Science Lab
Wednesday, December 18 Holiday Party & Winter Book Exchange
Friday, December 20 Chorus Concert & Holiday Sing-a-long
December 2, 2019
It seems like our week-long break went by in the blink of an eye, but so will these next 3 weeks!
This week:
On Wednesday, Mrs. Severson will visit our classroom for a mini lesson on the resources available to the students for when they are researching their endangered animals of Ethiopia. Be sure to ask your child what animal they picked!
Cookies for Character will be Friday, 12/6, at 1:30 in the cafeteria. This month we are celebrating students that have exhibited the traits of being reflective.
If you signed up for Emergency Snacks & Treasure box items for the month of December, please be sure to send those in at your earliest convenience. Click the link to check.
Looking ahead:
Monday, 12/9 Visit to the Holiday Shoppe
Tuesday, 12/10 Library Checkout
Wednesday, December 18 Holiday Party & Winter Book Exchange
November 18, 2019
We started off the week with a day full of activities. This is only the beginning.
This week:
Today, the students visited in the garden as they explored parts of a plant and the functions of each part. They even planted bulbs! Later in the afternoon, the students previewed the book fair and made their wish list!
Tomorrow is College Pride Day!
Wednesday, Mrs. Benifield will visit us on behalf of the Nature Center. We are excited to continue learning about plants and animals with her!
Thursday, we have science lab scheduled and our Thanksgiving luncheon @10:45- 11:15.
Just a friendly reminder to please continue to pack a snack daily for your child. Emergency snacks are for the few times that a child forgets their snack due to unforeseen circumstances. Also, we have some growing boys and girls, so please make sure to pack healthy snack(s) that will fill them up so that we can avoid students asking for seconds. Thank you for your constant cooperation and support!
Looking ahead:
Monday, November 25- Friday, November 29 No School
November 11, 2019
As we approach the holidays, we have plenty of activities planned. This week is just the beginning!
This week:
Today, the students visited with author Shanda McClosky! We were all captivated by her story telling!
Tomorrow, the students have an in-house field trip from the Teaching Museum. We will learn even more about Sacagawea and her part in Lewis and Clark's expedition.
This week is also our library week. Please remind your child to bring their library books back in the morning so they can check out a new one!
Wednesday, Mrs. Yancey will help kick-off our IB Unit, Sharing the Planet, with some live and engaging discussions and activities.
As the temperature begins to get cooler, please continue to dress your child appropriately and, if possible, please label the inside of each jacket.
Looking ahead:
Monday, November 18 Book fair preview
Monday, November 18 Garden Talk
Wednesday, November 20 Visit from Nature Center with Mrs. Benifield
Thursday, November 21 Thanksgiving Feast @10:45- 11:15
Monday, November 25- Friday, November 29 No School
November 5, 2019
This week:
We are surviving!
Looking ahead:
Monday, November 11 Author Visit- Shanda McClosky
Tuesday, November 12 (In-house field trip) Teaching Museum- Sacagawea
Wednesday, November 13 IB Unit 3 Kick-off with Mrs. Yancey
October 27, 2019
I think it's safe to say that this week will be full of excitement! Here is what we have on our agenda.
This week:
On Monday, first grade will participate in a Pumpkin Parade. We will visit each first grade class to see their display of pumpkins!
On Tuesday, we will visit the library for our bi-weekly story-hour with Ms. Severson. Students will also have a chance to return old books and check out new ones.
Red Ribbon Week starts tomorrow!
-Monday– Proud to be Drug Free! Wear red to help kick off Red Ribbon Week! -Tuesday– Peace Out to Drugs! Wear peace signs and/or tie dye -Wednesday– Follow Your Dreams! Wear your pajamas! -Thursday – Say Boo to Drugs! Dress up as your favorite storybook character (no masks/hoodies/fake weapons)! -Friday - Team Up Against Drugs! Wear your favorite sports shirt or jersey
Looking ahead:
Tuesday, November 5th- No School
Thursday, November 21st - Thanksgiving Feast @10:45-11:15
October 20, 2019
Here is your update for this week! Also, please read the letter about IReady and your child's placement in the program.
This week:
On Tuesday, Ms. Severson will stop by for another Digital Citizenship lesson.
Wednesday we will be heading to the science lab with Mr. John as we explore severe weather patterns.
Cookies for Character will be Friday, 10/25 at 1:30 in the cafeteria. This month we are celebrating students that have exhibited the traits of a thinker/inquirer.
Looking ahead:
Red Ribbon Week: Spirit Days (10/28– 11/1)
You are invited to participate in a week of spirit to celebrate our choice to be drug free. -Monday– Proud to be Drug Free! Wear red to help kick off Red Ribbon Week! -Tuesday– Peace Out to Drugs! Wear peace signs and/or tie dye -Wednesday– Follow Your Dreams! Wear your pajamas! -Thursday – Say Boo to Drugs! Dress up as your favorite storybook character (no masks/hoodies/fake weapons)! -Friday - Team Up Against Drugs! Wear your favorite sports shirt or jersey
October 6, 2019
Fall weather is officially here! I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather. We have a 3-day week ahead, so keep reading to find out what is happening this week.
This week:
On Tuesday, we have our Mariachis Band assembly to close out Hispanic Heritage Month.
Also on Tuesday, Ms. Severson will stop by for another Digital Citizenship lesson.
There will be no school on Thursday- Monday (10/10- 10/14). Enjoy the long weekend!
Looking ahead:
Red Ribbon Week: Spirit Days (10/28– 11/1)
You are invited to participate in a week of spirit to celebrate our choice to be drug free. -Monday– Proud to be Drug Free! Wear red to help kick off Red Ribbon Week! -Tuesday– Peace Out to Drugs! Wear peace signs and/or tie dye -Wednesday– Follow Your Dreams! Wear your pajamas! -Thursday – Say Boo to Drugs! Dress up as your favorite storybook character (no masks/hoodies/fake weapons)! -Friday - Team Up Against Drugs! Wear your favorite sports shirt or jersey
September 29, 2019
Happy Rosh Hashanah! Have a good year!
This week:
Tuesday is our bi-weekly library visit for story hour with Mrs. Severson. Please remind your child to bring their library book back from our previous visit so that they can check out a new book.
Wednesday = Math Unit 1 Test Re-take
Friday is SOAR Team Spirit Day! Wear green!
If you signed up to bring in emergency snacks & treasure box items for the month of October, please send those in at your earliest convenience. Click here to check the sign-up sheet.
Keep a look out for October homework choice board in daily folders tomorrow and October newsletter in Thursday folders.
Looking ahead:
To conclude our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, on October 8th a local Mariachis band will play for our students at a school-wide assembly. It will not only be educational, but also enjoyable!
Red Ribbon Week: Spirit Days (10/28– 11/1)
You are invited to participate in a week of spirit to celebrate our choice to be drug free. -Monday– Proud to be Drug Free! Wear red to help kick off Red Ribbon Week! -Tuesday– Peace Out to Drugs! Wear peace signs and/or tie dye -Wednesday– Follow Your Dreams! Wear your pajamas! -Thursday – Say Boo to Drugs! Dress up as your favorite storybook character (no masks/hoodies/fake weapons)! -Friday - Team Up Against Drugs! Wear your favorite sports shirt or jersey
September 22, 2019 Tomorrow is the first day of Fall, therefore Happy Fall! This is my favorite time of year! Keep reading to find out what we have going on this week.
Tuesday is College Pride Day!
On Tuesday, Ms. Severson will stop by for another Digital Citizenship lesson. (The students posted their first lesson on Seesaw last week.)
We have our first Science Lab scheduled with Mr. John on Wednesday.
Our Cookies for Character Celebration takes place on Friday. We are celebrating the communicators in our school for understanding and expressing ideas confidently and creatively and working effectively and willing with others.
THANK YOU to the STEM Day volunteers! It couldn't have gone any better! Seeing the kids brainstorm and work together to create something they could be proud of was special. (Check out the pictures on Dojo.)
Online Consumable Book Resources- The county provides math, science, and social studies consumables as online resources. To access the math and science resources at home, login to Classlink and click on the McGraw Hill Education app. Both Georgia science and math consumables are available. To access the social studies resource login to Classlink, click on social studies and then on the Gallopade app.
September 16, 2019
Here we are once again starting another week of school. We have plenty to keep us busy. Here is what we have on our agenda.
This month September 15- October 15 we are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. (If you have you, a family or friend would like to come in and share a book/activity with the class, feel free to email me.)
We are going to the library on Tuesday for our bi-weekly check out and story hour with Mrs. Severson. Please remind your child to bring their library book back from our previous visit.
We have our Unit 1 Math Test on Wednesday & Thursday(for those who may need some extra time to complete them, I will give them some time on Monday morning, 9/23).
STEM Day is this Friday!(If you have volunteered to help for our STEM activity, we will begin at 9:55- 11:30. We are still in need of one more volunteer for that day. Email me if you are interested.)
(Looking ahead) Cookies for Character Celebration for the month of September will be next Friday, 9/27 at 1:30.
September 8, 2019
As you are enjoying your last few hours of your weekend, here is what we have scheduled for this week.
We rescheduled our first Digital Citizenship lesson to this Tuesday. The students will be discussing how to safely send emails to connect with others.
After school activities started last week! After the confusion of last week, I just want to make sure that this week, everyone gets to where they need to. If your child is taking part in any after school activities, please send in a change of dismissal.
You are welcome to resume using IReady Math. All the students have completed their IReady Math screeners.
September 1, 2019
Happy Labor Day Weekend! Mine will be spent sleeping and brunching (if that is a thing)! Here is what we have planned for this 4-day week.
On Tuesday, we are headed to the library for story-hour with Ms. Severson and the students will be able to return their books from our last visit and checkout some new books. Please remind your child to bring back their library book so they can check out a new one.
September's Homework Choice Board will come home Tuesday in their red folders.
On Wednesday, we have our hearing screeners.
September's Newsletter will come home in the blue Thursday folders.
Friday is our first SOAR Team Spirit Day! Wear green to show some team spirit!
If you signed up to bring in Treasure Box items for the month of September, please send those in at your earliest convenience.
THANK YOU for everyone who came to Curriculum Night! I have attached the slides below!
August 25, 2019
If you are reading this, I hope that you have had a very relaxing weekend with your loved ones and your little ones. Keep reading to see what is happening in the classroom this week.
We have our IReady (Math) Diagnostic testing on Monday in the computer lab. (Hopefully everyone has read their email about the homework mix up, please do not choose IReady Math for homework until we are done with our screeners. I will email you all once we are finished.)
Picture Day is Tuesday. I am excited to see everyone dressed in their Sunday best :)
We have our first Digital Citizenship lesson with Ms. Severson this week. The first lesson will cover how to safely send emails to connect with others.
College Pride Day is Wednesday!
Curriculum Night is Thursday! See you then!
As a send off before the long weekend, we will have our first pep rally of the year! Wear green to show team spirit! #TeemsGreen
No School on Monday, September 2nd. Happy Labor Day!
August 19, 2019
I hope everyone has had a smooth start to their week! Here is what is going on in our classroom this week.
We have our IReady (Reading) Diagnostic testing Monday & Tuesday in the computer lab.
We have our first library visit Tuesday with Ms. Severson. (We will go to the library as a class every other week, but students will be allowed to go independently in the mornings during arrival/morning work.)
Homework Choice Boards were sent home last Thursday, they are in the back sleeve of the red folder. Homework is worth 10% of your child's grade and are due back for a completion grade on the last school day of the month, i.e. August 30th.
Thank you to everyone who has already connected on ClassDojo, our goal is to have all parents connected by Friday! ClassDojo is a great app to see what your child is up to by the minute and it is also a quick way to get in contact with me. You will also receive photos throughout the week of students engaged in classwork/activities.
Curriculum Night is next Thursday! See you then!
Welcome!
My name is Eman Towfik-Teems and I am so excited to have your child in my class for the 2018-2019 school year! It was such a pleasure to meet so many of you at Open House - I can already tell this is going to be a fantastic year!
I just wanted to send out an email before the first day of school that covers a ton of information that you will need to know for the year. I am also attaching a link for the contact info and emergency snack & treasure box sign-up doc from Open House for those who didn’t have a chance to fill it out cause of our technical difficulties. Of course, if there is anything I forget or am not clear on, PLEASE feel free to reach out to me. There is so much to know and it can seem overwhelming, but I am here to help!
What to know for the first few days of school:
Students may enter the building beginning at 7:10. Our day officially starts at 7:40. If your child arrives after 7:40 they are marked "tardy".
Parents are not permitted to have lunch with their student for the first two weeks.
If you picked up backpack tags at Open House with your student's carpool number, bus number, or Right at School, please make sure that your student comes to school with ONE tag on their backpack that shows how they will get home for Monday. For example, if your child goes home in carpool some days and bus other days, you will need to change their tags each day. This helps us out tremendously so that we aren't confused on where to send your child for dismissal. If you have not been assigned a carpool/bus number or do not know what tags I am referring to, please contact the office as soon as possible to get that number assigned to you. I cannot stress enough how important it is that we have the correct information so that your child is sent home the right way!
Don't forget to complete all of the forms inside the manila folder from Open House and return them in the folder with your child no later than Tuesday, 8/13.
(Specific to just my classroom) the supplies you purchased for your student are for only them and therefore we do not have communal supplies. Please send your child in with a pencil box or pouch to use in the classroom within the first week.
Information for the year:
Our PE days are Tuesdays & Wednesdays. Please make sure your child is wearing closed-toe shoes on those days.
If your child is going home a different way than usual please send in a "Change of Dismissal" Form that can be found on the school website. It is also helpful to send me an email or text on ClasssDojo just in case.
Each day, your child will come home with a red folder. This will be a way for you to send change of dismissal forms, absence notes, etc. to school. I will also use this to send home completed work or other important information. Please check the folder daily and return to school.
Every Thursday I will send home a blue folder with important information from the school as well as a graded class work. Just like the red folder, you will return this folder to school on Fridays.
With lunch happening at 11:45, we have snack in the mornings (right after specials). You may send your child in with a small snack in their backpack. If the snack requires a spoon or fork, please make sure to include that in their bag as we do not always have extra utensils on hand in the classroom.
For birthdays, the school's policy is that parents may bring small treats (like cupcakes or cookies) to the cafeteria during our lunch time. (no candles, party hats, etc. please!)
We have so many fun events throughout the year that we will need volunteers for! If you are interested in volunteering for anything in our classroom, please make sure that you have completed the Volunteer Training that can be found on the school website. Unfortunately, you will not be able to volunteer unless the school has record of training completion.
If you are interested in being a room parent, please visit the Eagle Alliance website and sign-up! Once the Eagle Alliance has chosen the room parents, they will be responsible for creating a Shutterfly website for the class. On this website you will be able to find volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
Communication: It is so important to stay in touch throughout the year, so I try to make myself as accessible as possible for you all. Email and ClassDojo will be the best way to stay in touch. I typically respond to emails within 24 hours or less (but please allow at least 48 hours) and ClassDojo allows you to send messages straight to my phone, much like a text message. On the Weebly website (listed below) you will find reminders for the week, the standards we are working on for each subject, photos, monthly newsletters, our daily schedule, and more. It is very important that you check it each week because that will be the main way that I communicate important information with you. I typically update it every Sunday evening .
I know this is a lot of information, so please don't hesitate to reach out to me if there is anything else you need from me! I look forward to a fun and successful year.