May 02, 2008

Summer is almost here....

Spring News from Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer May 2, 2008

Cynthia.gutzwiller@cobbk12.org or ruth.pfeifer@cobbk12.org

Testing is OVER! We treated the students to pizza. We also had Funfetti cake and Sprite. What a great way to end testing and to celebrate Mrs. Lundeen’s last day with us. Her TOSS experience ends today. She planned great lessons for the class.

Specials for next week: Monday- Computer Tuesday-ART Wednesday-PE Thursday-Music Friday-PE

Report cards will be MAILED in late May. Make sure you have sent in your LARGE manilla envelope with 3 stamps and self addressed to you. If you do not send this in you will have to pick up the report card in the front office. If your child has any outstanding fees from ASP, lunch or lost media center books- the report card will be held until all fees are paid.

Accelerated Reader Students are REQUIRED to read at least one AR book per week and take a test on the book. The student must pass the test with at least 70% in order for it to count for the week. Daily reading is very important. Make sure your child reads at least 20-30 minutes every day.

Congratulations to Christian Patino for being chosen our Breakfast of Champions winner for May.

EQ: What is my 4th grader currently studying?

Math – Probability

Language Arts: Informational texts

Science: we are studying ecology.

Social Studies: Westward expansion and the new frontier. We are learning about the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Cobb County Youth Museum Our trip to the Youth Museum was awesome. Our trip involved included an interactive play where students took part in re-enacting the main events of the Revolutionary War.

Upcoming dates:

May 13 –FIELD Day for 4th grade 8:15-10:45

May 15 – Well Star program WATER SAFETY

May 20- READ IN- Students can bring in a beach towel and a special snack.

May 21 - AWARDS DAY 8:00-8:50- Cafeteria

May 23- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

April 18, 2008

Spring News from Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer

Spring News from Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer

April 18, 2008

Cynthia.gutzwiller@cobbk12.org  or  ruth.pfeifer@cobbk12.org

Testing begins next Wednesday. We will test on Wed, Thurs, Friday and the following Monday and Tuesday. Prompt and regular attendance is necessary. Make sure your child is here and on time. It is very important for them to have good rest and a good breakfast. Healthy snacks are allowed. No candy and chips. We suggest ½ sandwich, cheese and crackers, or fruit. If all students are present for testing Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer will be buying pizza for the entire class. Encourage your child to be present everyday for testing.

Please check your child’s agenda daily. It is our way of communicating with you! Please sign the agenda each day –this lets us know you have seen it and are aware of any mark-outs (if there are any).

Specials for next week:

Monday- PE

Tuesday-Science

Wednesday-PE

Thursday-Computer

Friday-Art

Field Trip to the GA Aquarium

Our field trip to the GA Aquarium was a huge success! The students had a wonderful time and learned some awesome facts about the aquarium. Thank you for allowing your child to participate.

Accelerated Reader

Students are REQUIRED to read at least one AR book per week and take a test on the book. The student must pass the test with at least 70% in order for it to count for the week. Daily reading is very important. Make sure your child reads at least 20-30 minutes every day.

Congratulations to Jocelyn R. for being chosen our Breakfast of Champions winner for March.

EQ: What is my 4th grader currently studying?

Math solid figures in geometry- we are learning about faces, edges and vertices. Ask your child to draw a cube, sphere, triangular prism and a square pyramid.

Language Arts: CRCT prep and review along with Guided Reading.

Science: we are studying habitats, ecosystems, producers and consumers.

Social Studies: Westward expansion and the new frontier. We are learning about the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Field Day shirts are in and have been delivered.  We will send home more information about field day in the next newsletter.

Cobb

County

Youth

Museum

Our trip to the Youth Museum is next Tuesday. This is a free trip! Please send in permission forms. We will eat lunch at school before we depart. No sack lunch is needed. Our trip will include and interactive play where students take part in re-enacting the main events of the revolutionary war.

Pioneer Day

Students celebrated our unit on westward expansion with a pioneer day. Students wore costumes, made butter, flapjacks, did chores, played pioneer games and even got to wear a dunce hat.  Students performed a play about pioneer family which we video taped. Students were surprised to come and find the classroom rearranged: boys on one side and girls on another. Mrs. Lundeen did a fantastic job organizing and planning this special day.

Upcoming dates:

April 21 -22 Youth Museum Field Trip

April 23- CRCT TESTING BEGINS

May 1- PTA  Elections for 2008-2009 school year

May 15 – Well Star program WATER SAFETY

May 21 - AWARDS DAY 8:00-8:50- Cafeteria

May 23- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

March 21, 2008

Spring News from Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer

Spring News from Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer

March 21, 2008

Cynthia.gutzwiller@cobbk12.org  or  ruth.pfeifer@cobbk12.org

Tissues are needed!! Please donate a box to our classroom.

Students need to come to school with necessary supplies. Make sure your child has an adequate supply of pencils daily.

It is important for you to check your child’s agenda daily. It is our way of communicating with you! Please sign the agenda each day –this lets us know you have seen it and are aware of any mark-outs (if there are any).

Make sure your child is reading EVERY day even on Saturday and Sunday. Long periods (approx 30 minutes) is good preparation for the CRCT.

Specials for next week:

Monday-music

Tuesday-PE

Wednesday-science

Thursday-PE

Friday-computer

Field Trip to the GA Aquarium

On April 2-3 Dowell 4th graders will visit the GA Aquarium. The cost of the trip is $17.00. Students will be required to take a sack lunch. They will have the option of purchasing a school lunch from school or bringing one from home. Due to space limitations no parents will be allowed to join us. We will be “behind the scenes” and get an up close and personal look at the aquatic life. If sufficient funds are not donated this wonderful opportunity will be cancelled.

CRCT PRACTICE:

We have lots of standards to cover so we can be fully prepared for the CRCT. Make sure your child comes to school ready to learn. If you have access to the internet – use the CRCT test prep web site we sent we sent home. This site offers great practice for students.

Accelerated Reader

Students are REQUIRED to read at least one AR book per week and take a test on the book. The student must pass the test with at least 70% in order for it to count for the week. Daily reading is very important. Make sure your child reads at least 20-30 minutes every day.

Congratulations to the following students for winning a pizza party for having 6 or more weeks with ZERO mark-outs during the 3rd grading period.  They will have pizza on Friday. The winners are: Karina, Jocelyn, Francia, Dejuan, Miguel S., Marquez, and Brenda,

Report cards were sent home on Thursday. Envelopes and signature cards need to be returned as soon as possible.

EQ: What is my 4th grader currently studying?

Math:   Weight, length and capacity using customary and metric measures. Up next…multiplying and dividing decimals and solid figures in geometry.

Language Arts: CRCT prep and review along with Guided Reading.

Science: Space, stars, constellations and the Solar System.

Up next… ecosystems.

Social Studies: Westward expansion and the new frontier

Barnes and Noble Night- Join Dowell Elementary at Barnes and Nobel – The Avenues of West Cobb - for an exciting night of literacy activities on Thursday, March 27.

Upcoming dates:

March 27- Dowell Night at Barnes and Noble.

West Cobb Avenue

April 2-3 Georgia Aquarium

April 3- PTA – Technology Night

April 7-11- Spring Break

April 21 -22 Youth Museum Field Trip

April 23- CRCT TESTING BEGINS

May 1- PTA  Elections for 2008-2009 school year

May 15 – Well Star program WATER SAFETY

May 21 - AWARDS DAY 8:00-8:50

May 23- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

February 29, 2008

The Latest News from Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer

The Latest News from Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer

February 29, 2008

Cynthia.gutzwiller@cobbk12.org  or  ruth.pfeifer@cobbk12.org.

It is important for you to check your child’s agenda daily. It is our way of communicating with you daily! Please sign the agenda each day –this lets  us know you have seen it and are aware of any mark-outs (if there are any).

Make sure your child is reading EVERY day even on Saturday and Sunday.

Specials for next week:

Monday-music

Tuesday-pe

Wednesday-science

Thursday-pe

Friday-computer

CRCT PRACTICE:

We have lots of standards to cover so we can be fully prepared for the CRCT. Make sure your child comes to school ready to learn. If you have access to the internet – use the CRCT test prep web site we sent we sent home. This site offers great practice for students.

Important

READING

  vocabulary for CRCT test taking:

Dialogue-converstion between 2 or more people

           Drama-a play

           Passage-another name for a paragraph or section to read

           Analyze-think about carefully

Personification- give human characteristics to inhuman things like trees and chairs

Main idea-what the passage is about

Sequencing-tells what comes first, next, last

           Compare and contrast-tell how things are alike and different

Fact-something that is true

Opinion-what someone thinks or feels,

Cause-why something happens or what makes something happen

Effect-what happens as a result of a cause

Inference-infer based on information stated in the story or what is already known from personal experiences

February is Dental Health Month. Well-Star visited and taught us about good dental health. We learned the importance of brushing and flossing regularly. We also learned about healthy snack choices to make to keep our teeth in tip top shape. Ask your child about the incisors, molars, and canine teeth and have them explain the function of each. Each child received a free toothbrush from Well-Star- make sure they use it daily!!

Accelerated Reader

Students are REQUIRED to read at least one AR book per week and take a test on the book. The student must pass the test with at least 70% in order for it to count for the week. Daily reading is very important. Make sure your child reads at least 20-30 minutes every day.

EQ: What is my 4th grader currently studying?

Math:   We are now learning about decimals and equivalent decimals to the hundredths place. We are learning to make connections between fractions and decimals. Next, we move on to weight using customary and metric measures.

Language Arts: Informational writing and research. Each student is researching an invention, collecting facts, and will write a research paper with 5 paragraphs.

Science: Students are learning about sound and pitch. As a culminating activity students will be creating their own instruments.

Social Studies: We are learning about why and how the Constitution was written. We learned about the Bill of Rights and can list them. We learned how important they are in our country’s government.

Upcoming dates:

March 4- TUESDAY- EARLY RELEASE-

March 7- Picture Day

March 14- In-house field trip FREE- Well-Star program on Nutrition.

April 2-3 Georgia Aquarium – more information coming soon.

April 7-11- Spring Break

April 21 -22 Youth Museum Field Trip

April 23- CRCT TESTING BEGINS

The Latest News from Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer

February 29, 2008

Cynthia.gutzwiller@cobbk12.org  or  ruth.pfeifer@cobbk12.org.

It is important for you to check your child’s agenda daily. It is our way of communicating with you daily! Please sign the agenda each day –this lets  us know you have seen it and are aware of any mark-outs (if there are any).

Make sure your child is reading EVERY day even on Saturday and Sunday.

Specials for next week:

Monday-music

Tuesday-pe

Wednesday-science

Thursday-pe

Friday-computer

CRCT PRACTICE:

We have lots of standards to cover so we can be fully prepared for the CRCT. Make sure your child comes to school ready to learn. If you have access to the internet – use the CRCT test prep web site we sent we sent home. This site offers great practice for students.

Important

READING

  vocabulary for CRCT test taking:

Dialogue-converstion between 2 or more people

           Drama-a play

           Passage-another name for a paragraph or section to read

           Analyze-think about carefully

Personification- give human characteristics to inhuman things like trees and chairs

Main idea-what the passage is about

Sequencing-tells what comes first, next, last

           Compare and contrast-tell how things are alike and different

Fact-something that is true

Opinion-what someone thinks or feels,

Cause-why something happens or what makes something happen

Effect-what happens as a result of a cause

Inference-infer based on information stated in the story or what is already known from personal experiences

February is Dental Health Month. Well-Star visited and taught us about good dental health. We learned the importance of brushing and flossing regularly. We also learned about healthy snack choices to make to keep our teeth in tip top shape. Ask your child about the incisors, molars, and canine teeth and have them explain the function of each. Each child received a free toothbrush from Well-Star- make sure they use it daily!!

Accelerated Reader

Students are REQUIRED to read at least one AR book per week and take a test on the book. The student must pass the test with at least 70% in order for it to count for the week. Daily reading is very important. Make sure your child reads at least 20-30 minutes every day.

EQ: What is my 4th grader currently studying?

Math:   We are now learning about decimals and equivalent decimals to the hundredths place. We are learning to make connections between fractions and decimals. Next, we move on to weight using customary and metric measures.

Language Arts: Informational writing and research. Each student is researching an invention, collecting facts, and will write a research paper with 5 paragraphs.

Science: Students are learning about sound and pitch. As a culminating activity students will be creating their own instruments.

Social Studies: We are learning about why and how the Constitution was written. We learned about the Bill of Rights and can list them. We learned how important they are in our country’s government.

Upcoming dates:

March 4- TUESDAY- EARLY RELEASE-

March 7- Picture Day

March 14- In-house field trip FREE- Well-Star program on Nutrition.

April 2-3 Georgia Aquarium – more information coming soon.

April 7-11- Spring Break

April 21 -22 Youth Museum Field Trip

April 23- CRCT TESTING BEGINS

The Latest News from Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer

February 29, 2008

Cynthia.gutzwiller@cobbk12.org  or  ruth.pfeifer@cobbk12.org.

It is important for you to check your child’s agenda daily. It is our way of communicating with you daily! Please sign the agenda each day –this lets  us know you have seen it and are aware of any mark-outs (if there are any).

Make sure your child is reading EVERY day even on Saturday and Sunday.

Specials for next week:

Monday-music

Tuesday-pe

Wednesday-science

Thursday-pe

Friday-computer

CRCT PRACTICE:

We have lots of standards to cover so we can be fully prepared for the CRCT. Make sure your child comes to school ready to learn. If you have access to the internet – use the CRCT test prep web site we sent we sent home. This site offers great practice for students.

Important

READING

  vocabulary for CRCT test taking:

Dialogue-converstion between 2 or more people

           Drama-a play

           Passage-another name for a paragraph or section to read

           Analyze-think about carefully

Personification- give human characteristics to inhuman things like trees and chairs

Main idea-what the passage is about

Sequencing-tells what comes first, next, last

           Compare and contrast-tell how things are alike and different

Fact-something that is true

Opinion-what someone thinks or feels,

Cause-why something happens or what makes something happen

Effect-what happens as a result of a cause

Inference-infer based on information stated in the story or what is already known from personal experiences

February is Dental Health Month. Well-Star visited and taught us about good dental health. We learned the importance of brushing and flossing regularly. We also learned about healthy snack choices to make to keep our teeth in tip top shape. Ask your child about the incisors, molars, and canine teeth and have them explain the function of each. Each child received a free toothbrush from Well-Star- make sure they use it daily!!

Accelerated Reader

Students are REQUIRED to read at least one AR book per week and take a test on the book. The student must pass the test with at least 70% in order for it to count for the week. Daily reading is very important. Make sure your child reads at least 20-30 minutes every day.

EQ: What is my 4th grader currently studying?

Math:   We are now learning about decimals and equivalent decimals to the hundredths place. We are learning to make connections between fractions and decimals. Next, we move on to weight using customary and metric measures.

Language Arts: Informational writing and research. Each student is researching an invention, collecting facts, and will write a research paper with 5 paragraphs.

Science: Students are learning about sound and pitch. As a culminating activity students will be creating their own instruments.

Social Studies: We are learning about why and how the Constitution was written. We learned about the Bill of Rights and can list them. We learned how important they are in our country’s government.

Upcoming dates:

March 4- TUESDAY- EARLY RELEASE-

March 7- Picture Day

March 14- In-house field trip FREE- Well-Star program on Nutrition.

April 2-3 Georgia Aquarium – more information coming soon.

April 7-11- Spring Break

April 21 -22 Youth Museum Field Trip

April 23- CRCT TESTING BEGINS

February 15, 2008

February news from Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer

February News from Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer

Cynthia.gutzwiller@cobbk12.org  or  ruth.pfeifer@cobbk12.org.

We have seen our students make an amazing amount of progress in the first half of the school year. We want to push them even further. Please encourage your child to read silently every day for 20-30 minutes. The benefits are enormous! 

It is important for you to check your child’s agenda daily. It is our way of communicating with you daily! Please sign the agenda each day –this lets  us know you have seen it and are aware of any mark-outs (if there are any).

CRCT PRACTICE:

We have lots of standards to cover so we can be fully prepared for the CRCT. Make sure your child comes to school ready to learn. If you have access to the internet – use the CRCT test prep web site we sent we sent home. This site offers great practice for students.

High Tech High Touch field trip:

Our students had a great time learning all about the food chain in our exciting hands-on in-house field trip. We learned about producers and consumers and we sifted through owl pellets to look for bones.

Thank you for making this adventure possible!

Accelerated Reader:

Students are REQUIRED to read at least one AR book per week and take a test on the book. The student must pass the test with at least 70% in order for it to count for the week. Daily reading is very important. Make sure your child reads at least 20-30 minutes every day.

EQ: What is my 4th grader currently studying?

Math:   We are now learning about decimals and equivalent decimals to the hundredths place. We are learning to make connections between fractions and decimals.

Language Arts: Informational writing and research. Each student is researching an invention, collecting facts, and will write a research paper with 5 paragraphs.

Science: Students are learning about sound and pitch. As a culminating activity students will be creating their own instruments.

Social Studies: Currently we are studying the events which led to the Revolutionary War. Ask your child about the Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Townshend Acts and the tax on tea. We created posters protesting the actions of the British. We learned about why and how the Constitution was written. We learned about the Bill of Rights and can list them. We learned how important they are in our country’sgovernment.

CRCT testing hint: make sure your child knows how to eliminate incorrect answers so he/she can focus on the correct ones.

Upcoming dates:

February 15- FREE In House field trip from Well-Star – Dental Health

February 18-19- SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

March 4- EARLY RELEASE

March 14- In-house field trip FREE- Well-Star program on Nutrition.

April 7-11- Spring Break

April 21 -22 Youth Museum Field Trip

April 23- CRCT TESTING BEGINS

February 01, 2008

News and Notes from Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer

News from Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer

We enjoyed meeting with you last week during conferences. It was exciting to show you all of the wonderful progress your children are making. If you have additional questions you can contact us at Cynthia.gutzwiller@cobbk12.org  or  ruth.pfeifer@cobbk12.org.

CRCT PRACTICE:

We have lots of standards to cover so we can be fully prepared for the CRCT. Make sure your child comes to school ready to learn. If you have access to the internet – use the CRCT test prep web site we sent we sent home. This site offers great practice for students.

                                                      

High Tech High Touch field trip:

Students will have an opportunity to learn all about the food chain in this exciting hands-on in-house field trip. Permission forms and information are included in weekly folders. Return to school as soon as possible. If sufficient funds are not collected the event will be cancelled. Please send in permission forms and money ASAP!

Accelerated Reader:

Students are REQUIRED to read at least one AR book per week and take a test on the book. The student must pass the test with at least 70% in order for it to count for the week. Daily reading is very important. Make sure your child reads at least 20-30 minutes every day.

EQ: What is my 4th grader currently studying?

Math:   We are now learning fractions, equivalent fractions, and mixed numbers. We are learning to add and subtract fractions with like denominators.

Language Arts: Informational writing and research. Each student is researching an invention, collecting facts, and will write a research paper with 5 paragraphs.

Science: Students are learning about sound. As a culminating activity students will be creating their own instruments.

Social Studies: We jus concluded our unit on colonization. Currently we are studying the events which led to the Revolutionary War. Ask your child about the Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Townshend Acts and the tax on tea.

CRCT testing hint:

Testing involves long periods of sustained silent reading. Allow time for your child to sit quietly and read for a minimum of 30 minutes.

TOSS student: We have the privilege of having a TOSS student from

Kennesaw

State

University

. Mrs. Lundeen is studying to be a teacher and will gain some of her field experience with us. She will be with us through the month of May. In April and May she will be responsible to teaching lessons to class. She is an asset to our room. She provides an extra set of hands to assist our students.

Upcoming dates:

February 6- EARLY RELEASE

February 11 or 12- IN HOUSE field trip – High Tech High Touch – The FOOD CHAIN

February 15- FREE In House field trip from Well-Star – Dental Health

February 18-19- SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

March 4- EARLY RELEASE

March 14- In-house field trip FREE- Well-Star program on Nutrition.

Congratulations to Jordan Day for being chosen our February Breakfast of Champions winner.

January 17, 2008

Welcome to 2008!!

Welcome to 2008 from Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer

Mrs. Gutzwiller and Mrs. Pfeifer hope you had a happy holiday season. We wish you many blessings in 2008!

Conference Week begins next Tuesday, January 22 and runs through Monday, January 28. Students will be dismissed at 12:20. Make a note of the schedule change.

Please be prompt for your conference as we have a tight schedule and would like to ensure each parent receives adequate time to discuss his/her child. If you have to cancel for some reason, please CALL the school and let us know. 678-594-8059 or email us at Cynthia.gutzwiller@cobbk12.org  or  ruth.pfeifer@cobbk12.org

CRCT PRACTICE:

We have lots of standards to cover so we can be fully prepared for the CRCT. Make sure your child comes to school ready to learn. If you have access to the internet – use the CRCT test prep web site we sent we sent home. This site offers great practice for students.

We want to thank all the parents who helped to make our holiday party a success. Your donations were very much appreciated.

BOOK FAIR: Our book fair will run from Friday, January 18 through Monday, January 28. Students AND parents can attend the book fair between 7:20 and 8:00 each morning.

                                                      

High Tech High Touch field trip:

Students will have an opportunity to learn all about the food chain in this exciting hands-on in-house field trip. Permission forms and information are included in weekly folders. Return to school as soon as possible. If sufficient funds are not collected the event will be cancelled.

Accelerated Reader:

Students are REQUIRED to read at least one AR book per week and take a test on the book. The student must pass the test with at least 70% in order for it to count for the week. Daily reading is very important. Make sure your child reads at least 20-30 minutes every day.

EQ: What is my 4th grader currently studying?

Math: We have concluded our unit on basic geometry. We are now learning fractions, equivalent fractions, and mixed numbers.

Language Arts: Idioms

Science: Students are learning about light and sound. Students are learning about fresnel lenses and the differences between convex and concave lenses. Students used prisms to see the colors of the rainbow.

Social Studies: We are learning all about triangular trade routes and thief effects on life in the colonies. TEST next week.

CRCT testing hints:

Make sure your child knows the following math terms:

Division: average, calculate, remainder, sum, and product

Addition terms to know: accumulate, addend, area, average, calculate, combined with, in all, increase, more than, and plus

Subtraction terms to know:

Calculate, change, decrease, discount, left over, and less than

Multiplication terms to know:

Calculate, product, and times

Upcoming dates:

January

21-

SCHOOL

HOLIDAY

January 23-25- CONFERENCES – DISMISSAL at 12:20

February 6- EARLY RELEASE

February 11 or 12- IN HOUSE field trip – High Tech High Touch – The FOOD CHAIN

February 15- FREE In House field trip from Well-Star – Dental Health

February 18-19- SCHOOL HOLIDAYS