Mrs. Jefferson's Jewels

Email Notification Service

Parents
The service that we use to automatically notify you when the blog is updated has changed their terms of service in such a way that an ad will begin showing up at the bottom of the email that comes to you. Your email address is still not being shared with anyone other than the school! The mere placement of advertising in school communications is of concern to us, especially since we have no control over what the ad may be.

We are exploring other means of providing this service to you at this time. For now, we ask your patience as we work through the concern. In the meantime, if you receive an ad that is objectionable to you, we would appreciate your notifying the school, and holding onto it so that it may be forwarded to proper personnel.

Thank you for your patience!

Welcome Back!

Welcome Back

Welcome back to school!  We are having a great start to the new school year.  The transition to first grade can be a little challenging for some students.  Please remind your child that we follow the rules in school everyday, whether in the classroom, cafeteria or walking down the hall.  I am very proud of the progress our class has made.   Don't forget that class begins at 7:50 each morning.  If your child arrives after this time, you must walk your child to the office to sign him/her in for the day.  They will be marked tardy.

Homework

Please remember that the students will receive homework on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Homework and notes are sent home in their blue folders and should be returned each day.  Assignments that are checked will be sent home in the red folder.  Please review the work, take it out of the folder and return the folder the next day.  Remember to check your child's backpack every day for important notices.

Thank You

Thank you to those that sent in their supplies.  Most families returned their forms from the Cobb County School District folder.  If you have not sent these papers back, please return them as soon as possible. 

Parent Involvement

We need parent volunteers to assist in various areas.  You can volunteer to assist children with reading in the library, help students in the classroom that may need some more individual attention, or assist with making copies and cutting out items.

The P.T.A. also needs volunteers to help with the upcoming fundraiser and other activities throughout the year.  The cost to join the P.T.A. is only $5.00 for a membership for the year.  You can look at the schools website for more details.

August 30 - Picture Day

August 31 - Spirit Day - Wear your Dowell T-shirt (purchase through th P.T.A.)

September 3 - No School - Labor Day

January Update

Dear Families,

The children are doing an awesome job this month!  We have been focused and learning about many new things in our classroom.  Our counselor, Mrs. Dudley, has shared information about various jobs and careers in the community.  The class has studied weather, the seasons and the water cycle.  We are now learning about sound during science .  We have been learning how to tell time and count money.  These are things that the children will need to practice at home and school.   Ask your son or daughter to tell you the time by the hour and half-hour.  Every child should be able to tell you the value of coins such as pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and half-dollars.   It would be helpful for you to give your child some coins  and ask them to tell you what each one is worth.  Then see if they can add the coins to tell you how much is their total value.  The practice using real coins will help to reinforce what they are learning in class.

Don't forget to read, read, read!!!  Every child should read every night for 30 minutes.  All students have A.R. books that they should read and be prepared to take a test on the computer at school the next day.  Children should also choose from other books that they are interested in so that they enjoy reading.

We have high expectations of each child at Dowell Elementary.  Every student is expected to give their best effort in every subject and in every class (specials such as music, art, P.E. and computer lab).  We encourage students to show respect to all adults and follow the rules even when there is a substitute teacher.  Children need to know that we are working together to help them be successful in life.  The habits they make now will follow them throughout their lives.  So let's keep our children on the right track!

Special thanks...

to Mrs. Ankrom for sending hand sanitizer for the class

to Mrs. Arnold for sending items for the class such as a pack of individual erasers, some big erasers, a set of addition flash cards, a set of subtraction flashcards and  glue sticks

to Mrs. Darby for volunteering in the classroom

to Mrs. Duron for donating the shapes bingo game to the class

During the winter season, we always need tissue boxes and hand sanitizer.  Also, if you have some old board games that are in good shape, please send them in for the children to use during inside recess. 

Supplies - each child should have crayons, scissors, pencils, erasers, a plastic school box for their supplies and glue or a glue stick.  Some children have been leaving their supplies at home and we are thankful for the donations but it is difficult to complete assignments sometimes when children do not have their own supplies.  So if your child has school items that they are taking home, please remind them to bring them back to school to use when needed.  I am asking that everyone  purchase a spiral notebook that will remain at school for the children to use during journal writing time.  We need to have these by Friday, February 2nd.

Thank you for your support.  Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions, comments or concerns at crystal.glaze@cobbk12.org.  Have a great day!

Ms. Glaze

November Update

Ms. Glaze's Glittering Gems' November Update

Thanks!

Thank you to all the parents that helped students with our tie-dying activity on Monday.  The activity was an absolute success because of your involvement.  We also appreciate the pencils donations from the Hicks and Ankrom family.  Mrs. Arnold is our PTA room mom and she is doing a great job.  Thanks to Mrs. Darby for staying and helping our students read and take Accelerated Reader tests on Monday morning.

VIP Lunch - Thursday

Tomorrow, students will be served lunch with their VIP guest in the cafeteria.  Your child can choose one person to have a special lunch with them.  The cost is $2.50.  Our class is scheduled to have lunch at 11:22.  We look forward to seeing you or another family member tomorrow.

Field Trips

Monday, we will go to the pumpkin patch.  Please dress your child in jeans and old, yet warm clothes.  They should also wear sneakers or comfortable boots as we will be outside for most of the day.  Parents should arrive between 9:00 and 9:15.  The buses are scheduled to leave around 9:30 and return around 1:30 on Monday.  The cost is $7.00 for adults and you can pay at the gate when we arrive.  Then on Wednesday, our class will be going to the Etowah Indian Mounds.  Thank you to the parents that are going with us to chaperone the children.

Friday Folders

The children will no longer bring their red folders home only on Friday.  Please check your child's backpack everyday for important notes, homework and checked work.  Checked work will still be sent in the red folders or it will be stapled together if the child did not have their folder with them that day.

Reading Every Night

Every child should be reading for 30 minutes every night.  When children continue to practice what they have learned at home, it improves their skills and their attitude about learning.  Parents and teachers need to work together to ensure the success of our children.  During this time, please make sure that your child reads aloud to you or a family member.  10 minutes can be used for independent reading practice for the child before they read aloud with someone.

Let's continue our journey of success!

Ms. Glaze

First Grade Expectations

Ms. Glaze's Weekly Update

Our students are doing an excellent job at adjusting to first grade.  The transition from kindergarten to first grade can be difficult sometimes.  However, when parents and teachers are supportive and consistent in letting children know they are expected to do their best at all times most children are able to adjust faster.  Students in first grade are expected to be more independent when remembering items needed for school daily, such as homework folders, reading books, lunch money and snack.

Students may pay for their lunch for the week on Monday which totals $8.00 or they can pay $1.60 daily.  Please remember to send money with your child if they will be purchasing a school lunch from the cafeteria.

Please remember that students will receive homework on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  Assignments and reading books will be placed in their blue folders.  Don't forget to record your child's reading on the reading log.  Children will receive a treat when their reading log has been filled in completely.  Look in your child's backpack on Friday for work that has been checked and returned.  Please remember to participate in our school fundraiser.  Packets were sent home last week.

Don't forget there will be no school on Monday, September4, 2006 in observance of Labor Day.  Open House will be on September 7th from 6:15 - 7:00 for Kindergarten through 2nd grade classes.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Thanks to all parents that have donated tissue, hand sanitizer and other items for the class to use.  We will continually need to replenish these items throughout the year especially as the cold season approaches.  We are also in need of some educational games for our class for rainy days and center activities to reinforce some of the concepts we are learning.  These games can be new or used and they will be greatly appreciated by the students to provide some variety in our activities.  Thank you for your support in advance.

Have a great week!

Ms. Glaze

Update

Dear Families,

We have successfully completed our first week of school.  Our class is wonderful and eager to learn.  I am glad to be teaching your children and together we can encourage our students to gain a level of independence that is necessary for first grade children.  Our students have done an excellent job following their Dowell Dolphin Duties.  Ask your child about these duties and he/she will tell you what they are, along with the hand signals.

Homework will be sent home on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Every child has a blue folder with their name and my name written on the front cover.  Your child's homework will be in this folder each night.  Also included will be any important notices that you will need to read.  I have also been placing work that has been checked into these folders for you to review.  If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to send a note and place it in the blue folder.  You can also e-mail me at crystal.glaze@cobbk12.org.

The children are allowed to have a snack in the morning.  If you choose to participate, please send a healthy snack with your student.  We want to encourage good eating habits.

Thank you to everyone who has made donations to the classroom from our wish list.  Parental support is always greatly appreciated.  Don't forget about joining the PTA.  It only costs $3.50  for a one year membership.  Our PTA Fundraiser will begin today, so please look in your child's backpack for more information.

Have a great week!

Ms. Glaze

Welcome

Welcome Families!

    My name is Crystal Glaze and this is going to be an exciting year here at Dowell Elementary School as we "Dive Into Learning". I am looking forward to working with you as we help your children learn the academic and social skills necessary to succeed as they continue their educational journey.  Although I am new to Dowell, I have been teaching for several years.  Every child will be expected to do their best each day.  Communication between home and school is a very important element in ensuring each student stays on the path to success.  Please feel free to send a note with your child or visit our school's website to view updates.  You can use my e-mail address crystal.glaze@cobbk12.org to reach me directly.  I hope to meet someone from each family in my class at your convenience to demonstrate the beginning of our home-school connection.  I believe this will be a great way to begin our school year.  Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Ms. Glaze