Merry Christmas from The Zelmer's

Merry Christmas Everyone!
Hope you have a VERY, MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Blessed 2009!!!

Christmas Party

Thank you to all of the parents who provided food for our party!! Everything was fabulous! Also, thank you to everyone who came early to help setup! You guys are the best. Here are some pictures from the day.

Cupcake Cottages

News From the Zelmer Zoo

Third Grade News
December 15, 2008
Important Info:

• Tomorrow is the last day to send in money to purchase Make Up pictures.
• Student Council has kicked off our annual White Christmas food drive. As with our tradition, students will be bringing in can goods or nonperishable items. Please be sure to mark these items in permanent marker with your child’s grade level on them. Students may also bring in change. We will be taking donations until Tuesday, December 16th. Thank you for all of your help!
• Don’t forget to send in your snacks for the party on Friday!!
• Our party will begin at 2:00pm on Friday. If you would like to come in about 30 minutes early to help me set up that would be great!
• If you haven’t returned the Blue Information Sheet that was sent home by the office last week, please do so as soon as possible.
• Just A Reminder: Field Trip Money is due tomorrow…$10 per person needs to be sent in as your first installment. Thanks!!


Upcoming Dates:
December 18th- White Christmas Program
December 22nd –January 4th- Christmas Break
January 19th –Student Holiday
January 21st – Report Cards Come Home

Units of Study:
Language Arts: Reading Strategies to Enhance our reading: Questioning, Visualizing, Making Connections

Math: Multiplication Shortcuts, Multiplication Stories, and Building Arrays

Science/Social Studies: SC Symbols

This week in math we have been learning multiplication strategies. Here we are making arrays with gingerbread men cookies. I am so impressed with how well they are catching on to multiplication. They are doing an awesome job!!! Be sure they are practicing their facts at home each night!

Nine's Trick

Today in math we learned a trick to help us remember our 9's times tables. To multiply by nine on your fingers, hold up ten fingers - if the problem is 9 × 8 you just tuck under your 8th finger. The fingers to the left of the 8th finger are tens. The fingers to the right are ones. 7 fingers to the left=70. 2 fingers to the right= 2. 9 × 8=72. If the problem is 9 × 7 just put down your 7th finger: 6 fingers to the left = 60 3 fingers to the right= 3. 9 × 7= 63.

Thanks For Giving

News from the Zelmer Zoo

Important Info:

• Money will be collected thru December 15 for makeup pictures.
• Student Council has kicked off our annual White Christmas food drive. As with our tradition, students will be bringing in can goods or nonperishable items. Please be sure to mark these items in permanent marker with your child’s grade level on them. Students may also bring in change. We will be taking donations until Tuesday, December 16th. Thank you for all of your help!
• Information about our classroom Christmas Parties will be coming home this week. Thanks for your help in supplying goodies!
• An information sheet will be coming home in your child’s Take Home Folder today. Please make sure to complete the information and turn it in as soon as possible. This will help us keep our student records updated in the main office. Thanks!


Upcoming Dates:
December 18th- White Christmas Program
December 22nd –January 4th- Christmas Break
January 19th –Student Holiday
January 21st – Report Cards Come Home

Units of Study:
Language Arts: Reading Strategies: Making Connections, Visualizing, Inferring, Questioning, Summarizing, Evaulating

Math: Multiplication Shortcuts, Multiplication

Science/Social Studies: Native Americans and South Carolina

News from the Zelmer Zoo!

Third Grade News
November 17, 2008

Important Info:

•If you plan on attending the Columbia Field Trip, please make sure that you turn your child’s reservation sheet in no later than November 20th. Please keep in mind that you will not be able to attend this trip unless this sheet is returned to your child’s teacher by this date. Thanks!
•Jump Rope for Heart monies are due to be turned in by Tuesday, November 18.
•Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather each day. The days are getting much colder and coats are needed to ensure that your child stays warm. Thanks for your help in this matter!

Upcoming Dates:
November 26th -28th – Thanksgiving Break
December 18th- White Christmas Program
December 22nd –January 4th- Christmas Break

Units of Study:
Language Arts: Writing a summary, identifying Author’s purpose, singular and plural nouns
Writing: Thanks for Giving Letters to Faculty and Staff
Math: Telling time review, Standard Units of Measure
Science: Animal habitats and adaptations/ SC Indians

News from the Zelmer Zoo

Third Grade News
November 10, 2008

Important Info:

• Just a reminder: Students are not allowed to bring any playground balls or equipment to school without administrative approval. Thanks!
• If you plan on attending the Columbia Field Trip, please make sure that you turn your child’s reservation sheet in no later than November 20th. Please keep in mind that you will not be able to attend this trip unless this sheet is returned to your child’s teacher by this date. Thanks!

Upcoming Dates:
November 26th -28th – Thanksgiving Break
December 18th- White Christmas Program
December 22nd –January 4th- Christmas Break

Units of Study:
Language Arts: Common and Proper Nouns, Word Relationships: synonyms, antonyms, homophones, homonyms, Nonfiction Narrative Paragraphs
Math: Telling Time to the Nearest Mintute
Science: Animal Life Cycles

News from the Zelmer Zoo

Third Grade News
October 29, 2008

Important Info:

• Information on the Governor’s Reading Honor Roll will be coming home with your child. To earn this award, your child must read 20 books and record the titles on the log sheet that was sent home with the information packet. Accelerated Reader books can count towards earning this award. Return the log to school when your child has completed their reading. Your child will be recognized at the end of the year on Awards Day for their hard work.
• Just a reminder that Mr. McLeod is asking that NO costumes be worn on Halloween.
• We will have make-up pictures on October 30. If your child was absent, or you want their picture remade they may do so on this date.
• The School District of Oconee County continuously monitors the implementation of our ESOL program and welcomes input from parents, school staff, and community members regarding its current and future plans for working with ESOL students. If you would like to express any concerns about the ESOL program or have suggestions for improving our program, please contact Mike McLeod, Principal, at Westminster Elementary School at 864-886-4520 or you may contact Dr. Wanda Warner at the school district office at 864-886-4400, extension 1134. Thank you for your valued support of our ESOL students!
• Our PTO will be sponsoring the pumpkin decorating contest this year. Next Thursday will be the judging. Prizes will be awarded at each grade level.

Upcoming Dates:
October 29: Report cards for first nine week period
October 30: Make up pictures taken
November 4: Election Day Holiday

Units of Study:
Language Arts: Finishing up Charlotte’s Web, Writing Spooky Stories
Math: Money, Making Change from a Dollar
Science: Plant Life Cycles

News from the Zelmer Zoo

Important Info:
Next week we have a lot of events during the same week. October 19-25 is National Character Counts Week and Oct. 20 – 24 is Red Ribbon Week and Make a Difference Week. To tie in with these events, beginning Monday, Oct. 20 we will focus on the Clemson University Athletic’s Be a T.I.G.E.R. Character Program. Each letter in the TIGER represents a character trait for each day of the week. Monday (T – Teamwork), Tuesday (I- Integrity), Wednesday (G- Gratitude), Thursday ( E- Education), and Friday (R- Respect). Newspapers with information about the character traits will be distributed to students on Monday, Oct. 20.

Red Ribbon Week: October 20-24
Monday- “Get Red Hot Against Drugs” (Wear Red Day)
Tuesday- “I Can, I Can, We Can Say No” (Bring one Can of Food)
Wednesday- “Drugs Don’t Make ‘Cents” (Bring Change For the Needy)
Thursday- “Join the Fight Against Drugs” (Wear Camouflage)
Friday- “Team Up Against Drugs” (Wear Favorite Team Colors)

Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A
This year we will only have two Spirit Nights at Chick-fil-A to raise much needed money for our school. The first will be held on Thursday, Oct. 23 from 5-8 pm. Make sure to stop in and support our school! We look forward to seeing you there!

Upcoming Dates:
October 27-28: No School
October 29: Report cards for first nine week period
October 30: Make up pictures taken
November 4: Election Day Holiday

Units of Study:
Language Arts: Charlotte’s Web Unit continued.
Math: number stories, rocket math subtraction
*Please keep in mind that the deadline for finishing Subtraction Rocket Math is coming up! Our goal is to start working on multiplication by the end of November. That means that Multiplication Rocket Math will be starting after the students get back from Christmas Break.
Science: Living things and their needs

Scenes from Literacy Day!

Dr. Lucas, our District's Superintendent, read with us on Literacy Day. He shared his favorite book Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! by Dr. Seuss. He even left his copy of the book as a gift to our class! We also had some athletes from West-Oak High School come and read with us. For Family Literacy Night, the third grade hallway was transformed into the County Fair. It was just like a scene from one of our favorite books, Charlotte's Web.

News from the Zelmer Zoo

Important Info:
1. National walk to school day is October 8th. Car rider drop off will be at the ballfield parking lot. Please refer to school newsletter for details.

2. Join us at the 3rd Grade County Fair!! Tuesday, October 14th from 5pm-7pm
Come join third grade as we celebrate Charlotte’s Web! Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Games, and special activities will all be part of the fun. Stop by and visit the Bookfair!! Hotdog dinners can be purchased from PTO!!

3. Friday’s lunch will not be hot ham and cheese, it will be Philly Steak instead.

4. Our class is collecting loose change for a charity for the bookfair. Each penny raised will be matched by Scholastic. If our class raises the most money, then we can earn gree books from the bookfair.

Upcoming Dates:
October 8: National Walk to school day
October 9: Fire Safety Assembly
October 13: Book Fair Begins
October 14: Book Fair 4:30 – 6:30
Open House 5:00 – 7:00 (3rd Grade County Fair)
October 27-28: No School
October 29: Report cards for first nine week period
October 30: Make up pictures taken

Units of Study:
Language Arts: Charlotte’s Web Unit – Please bring in your chapter book from home if you have one! You can use it in class as we read together.

Math: Subtraction with regrouping, Fact Families, Fact Extensions, Number Stories

Social Studies: Outer Coastal Plain Region and Coastal Zone Region

Solving Mysteries

Reading Detective Clubs were formed in our classroom this week. Each group of Reading Detectives worked to solve a different mystery. Each Reading Detective was given a badge and a case file to solve. Students met in groups to discuss the mystery they were reading. They shared clues they uncovered and possible suspects who were involved in the mystery. After reading their book and solving the mystery, detectives completed a detective case report as their final assignment. On Friday, we had a visitor from the Sheriff Department's CSI team. He talked to us about fingerprints. He even lifted some of our fingerprints off some items in our classroom. Here are a few pictures from our week.



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News from the Zelmer Zoo

Maria hard at work!

Here's what is happening this week in the Zelmer Zoo:

Language Arts: Reading Detective Clubs will be formed in our classroom this week. Each group of Reading Detectives will be working to solve a different mystery. Each Reading Detective will be given a badge and a case file to solve. Students will meet in groups to discuss the mystery they are reading. They will share clues they have uncovered and possible suspects who may be involved in the mystery. After reading their book and solving the mystery, detectives must complete a detective case report as their final assignment.

Spelling: The district is evaluating how Spelling is taught. You received a letter today in your child's Monday Night Folder explaining the new concept of Word Study that our district has adopted. In doing so a list of high frequency (no excuse) word lists have been created for grades K-3. Third grade and above will be expected to be able to recognize and spell all words on the list. We will begin pretesting this week to see what each student already knows and where they need to study and practice. Stayed tuned for more information.

Math: Review of 3 digit Addition & Subtraction with regrouping

Social Studies: Regions of South Carolina: Sandhills & Inner Coastal Plain Regions

Important Information:

• The NEW date for having book bags embroidered is October 1st. Please send in your form and money if you would like your initials or name on your bag.


• Please turn in your Tools for Schools Enrollment Application. The school code is 11411. You must reapply every year for the school to receive the benefits of this program.


• Please turn in your picture order this week if you would like to order pictures. Make-up day will Oct. 30

Upcoming Dates:

October 14: Family Night at the Book Fair 4:30 – 6:30

October 14: Open House 5:00 – 7:00
October 27-28: No School
October 29: 1st Nine Weeks Report Cards
October 30: Make up pictures taken

Scholastic Bookfair Coming Soon!!!

Click on the picture for a link to information about our school's upcoming bookfair!!!

News from the Zelmer Zoo

Important Info:
1. Thank you for sending all money in labeled envelopes.
2. To access Mr. Bedenbaugh’s WES Music Blog please visit: http://wesmusicblog.blogspot.com/
Here, you will find Mr. B.’s weekly newsletter as well as pertinent and timely information about the world of music!
3. All homeroom teachers also have a blog that you can access through the school’s website. Newsletters are posted weekly! Newsletters will only be printed when there is new information. Otherwise, please check our blogs each Monday.
4. We will continue MAP Testing this week. Thursday, September 18th.
5. Good News Club began this afternoon of next week. If your child is interested in attending, I have more permission forms.

Upcoming Dates:
September 15 – Good News Club 2:45 pm
September 17 – Constitution Day
September 18 – Mid-Term report cards
October 14 – Family Night 5-7 p.m.
October 27-28 – No School
October 29 – Report cards for first nine week period
October 30 – Make up pictures taken

Units of Study:
Language Arts: Narrative elements, decoding long words, sentence writing
Math: Rounding numbers, reviewing addition and subtraction

Apple Festivities

Apple Festival

The Apple Festival is in town this Friday & Saturday! Here are some of the events:

Friday, September 5, 2008

11:00a.m. - 7:00p.m. -- ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW, Kiddie Rides, Food Vendors along Historic Old Main Street

11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. -- Entertainment Apple Festival Pavilion, Main Street INDOOR ARTS AND ANTIQUES BAZAAR (in the old Bill's store) Sponsored by the Westminster Area Historic Preservation Society

4:30 p.m. -- APPLE FESTIVAL PARADE from First Baptist Church to First Citizens Bank, downtown Westminster. Look for Westminster Elementary Faculty and Staff float.

8 p.m. -- APPLE FESTIVAL RODEO17th Annual Apple Festival World Championship Rodeo. IPRA Sanctioned. Bibb Street Arena, Westminster. Tickets sold at the gate. Adults $12.00 and Children $5.00.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

8:00 a.m. -- CLASSIC ROAD RACE, sponsored by West Oak Wrestling Team.

8:00 a.m. -- Ridin' For the 3 R's Motorcycle Ride at West Oak High School.

8:30 a.m. -- FUN WALK.

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. --ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW, KIDDIE RIDES, FOOD VENDORS Historic Main Street, Westminster.

10:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. -- ENTERTAINMENT Live entertainment from the Apple Festival Pavilion, Main Street. INDOOR ARTS AND ANTIQUES BAZAAR (in the old Bill's store)
Sponsored by the Westminster Area Historic Preservation Society

10:00 a.m. -- CLASSIC CAR SHOW.

11:00 a.m. -- TALENT SHOW Apple Festival Pavilion, Main Street.Registration begins at 10 a.m.

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. -- CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES Historic Main Street

1:00 p.m. - 5 p.m. -- CLOGGING Historic Main Street

8 p.m. -- APPLE FESTIVAL RODEO17th Annual Apple Festival World Championship Rodeo. IPRA Sanctioned. Bibb Street Arena, Westminster. Tickets Sold at Gate. Adults $12.00 Children $5.00.

News from the Zelmer Zoo

Here's what's happening this week:

Language Arts:

Introduction of Writer's Workshop

Small Groups with Mrs. Hawkins and Mrs. Zelmer on Focus Skill

Math:

Place Value

Addition and Subtraction Review

Social Studies:

Locating Our Place in this World

Other News:
Screening for Gifted and Talented Students
If you have a child in grades 3-5 you may refer them for Screening for the Gifted and Talented program (GATE). All students in grade 2 will be tested. You may stop by the main office to pick up a referral form or you may request one be sent home by your child’s homeroom teacher. All referrals need to be completed by October 15, 2008. If you have any questions contact Donna Baumgarner at 886-4520 or donnab@oconee.k12.sc.us .

Students will have pictures made tomorrow. They do not need to bring money for these photos, and every student will have their photo taken. If you have a background color preference, you will need to send that sheet to school tomorrow!

The APPLE FESTIVAL PARADE will be Friday, September 5th at 4:30. The Parade will take place from First Baptist Church to First Citizens Bank in downtown Westminster. Look for a Faculty and Staff float from our school.

NO SCHOOL!

Just a reminder that there is NO SCHOOL on Monday in observance of Labor Day! Enjoy your long weekend!

This week in the Zelmer Zoo....

August 25- August 29
by Classroom Reporters: Candace and Taylor

Math: This week in math we used our expo boards to practice writing numbers. We also played a place value number game with our partners.

Science: This week in science we learned that chameleons can't live in certain places because of rainfall and temperature. We learned the steps to the scientific method: Make observations, Form a hypothesis, Collect data, Analyze the results, and Draw conclusions.

Language Arts: This week in language arts, we read the story Officer Buckle and Gloria. We talked about bicycle safety, playground safety, internet safety, and more. We each made our own safety tip just like Officer Buckle.

This week in school, we also got jobs. We applied for our jobs and learned that we get paid to do them. For example, our job is the classroom reporter. Reporters write stuff that go on our blog.

News from the Zelmer Zoo

Thank you for making our first week of third grade such a wonderful week. It was the first week of what will be an exciting year together. During our first week together, we spent time establishing our procedures and routines and building our classroom community. On Friday, the children shared the items from their SLURP bags. This was one of the highlights of our week. It was so neat to see what each child was SUPER at, what they LOVED, something UNUSUAL they had, something or someone they RESPECT, and something PRECIOUS to them. Each Monday I will post weekly news about what's happening in our classroom.

Here's what's happening this week:

Language Arts:
Story: Officer Buckle and Gloria
Skill: Decoding Long Words
Word Study (Spelling): Short Vowels
Writing: Introducing Writer's Workshop

Math:
Two digit addition and subtraction review
Place Value

Science:
Inquiry Skills

Other News:
There is a company that will embroider student names or initials on their book bags. They will come to the school and get the bags and return them on the same day. The cost is $8.00 per bag. They will begin collecting bags on September 11th. Information to sign up for this will come home on September 7th!

The Salem Lions Clubs Computer for Kids program is still in business.They are at their building in Walhalla every Monday, from 10 am. until 4:30 pm., except for holiday weekends. If your child needs a computer, contact Ray Bramble at 944-1684 for more information.

Reminders:
Please check your child's CAROLINA Notebook daily for communication from me or the school. Remember all notes, money, homework, etc. should be sent to school in a designated place inside the notebook. The children have done a wonderful job organizing them. Let's try and keep them that way!

Please send in a healthy snack with your child each day.

Remind your child to wear sneakers on PE days, Monday and Tuesday!!!

Thank you for sending all money in an envelope or baggie labeled with your child's name and what it is for!

First Day of Third Grade

Today was the first day of third grade. The part I liked best...
meeting Mrs. Zelmer. ~Mary
meeting my teacher. ~Fernanda
recess! ~Roman
PE. ~Cory
getting to meet my friends. ~Emily
organizing my stuff. ~Paul
reading First Day Jitters. ~Taylor
meeting the teacher. ~Wesley
seeing Taylor. ~Haley
PE. ~Cole
meeting Mrs. Zelmer. ~Leanna
recess. ~Jayce
gym. ~Trent
everything we did today! ~Jarrett
recess. ~Katy
getting to see everybody that was in my class. ~Candace

Twas the Night Before School Starts

'Twas the night before school started
When all through the town
The parents were cheering.
It was a riotous sound.
By eight the kids were washed
And tucked into bed
When memories of homework
Filled them with dread
New pencils, new folders,New notebooks, too,
New teachers, new friends-Their anxiety grew.
The parents just giggled
When they learned of this fright
And shouted, "Upstairs!GO TO BED! IT'S A SCHOOL NIGHT!"

Watermelon Welcome

Join us for Watermelon Welcome on August 15th from 5PM to 7PM. Come catch up with your classmates, take a tour of our room, meet me, and eat some watermelon!

Supply List

Dear Third Grader,
Welcome to Third Grade! Below is a list of supplies that you will need for third grade.

• Colored pencils
  
• 4- 3 prong folders with pockets (Red, Yellow, Green, Blue)
  
• SMALL pencil box for desk
• Cap erasers
  
• 3 Black and White Speckled Composition book (with pages sewn in)
  
• 1 pack of 5-subject dividers
  
• 1 pack of wide ruled loose leaf paper
  
• 2 large or 4 small glue sticks
  
• Headphones (for computer lab)
  
• 1 Box of Kleenex
  
• Clorox Wipes (boys)
  
• Baby Wipes (girls)
  
• Hand Sanitizer
  
• Ziploc Bags (gallon: boys) (sandwich: girls)
  
• Zippered Binder (Honeycutt & Zelmer only)
  
• 2 inch 3 ring binder (Eakins & Baker only)
  

Supplies provided in the FREE BOOK BAGS from July 26th.

(Please bring to Watermelon Welcome!)

• Scissors
  
• Glue Sticks
  
• 24 pack of Crayola Crayons
  
• 10 pack of Crayola markers
  
• 10 pack of #2 pencils
  
• Pencil Sharpener
  
• Ruler
  
• Big Eraser
• 150 sheet pack of notebook paper
  
• 70 sheet spiral notebook
  
• 2 pocket folders
• Book bag (No rolling book bags, please!)

BackPack Giveaway

The Joe and Kristina Crosby Foundation making a difference once again…. On July 26th from 9am to 5pm, Joe and Kristina Crosby will be giving away backpacks to every Public Elementary School child (Grades K-5) in Oconee County. The backpack distribution will take place in the Bi-Lo parking lot in Seneca, next to Lowe’s.

Each backpack will be filled with basic school supplies along with health, safety, and school tips for a great school year. It is Kristina’s hope that parents will have one less stressor as the 2008-2009 school year approaches. The backpack giveaway was scheduled prior to tax free weekend so that parents will have an opportunity to stretch their back to school budget farther.

Joe & Kristina have also been supporting Elementary School teachers in Oconee County for three years through their Make a Difference Event at Staples. In addition to this effort, the community is going to be encouraged to purchase additional item(s) on tax free weekend and deposit in a bin located outside of Wal-Mart. These items will be stored until January when they will be divided evenly and distributed to each of the Elementary Schools in the County.

Joe and Kristina Crosby Education Foundation is committed to supporting education in Oconee County Public Schools. For more information or to learn how you can become a backpack sponsor individually or through your company, please contact Elisabeth Newberry @(864) 885-9225.

Welcome to Mrs. Zelmer's Class Blog!

Hello everyone! Welcome to our blog. This is a place where we share with the world what's going on in our classroom. We hope you enjoy reading about our learning adventures!