SPRING CONCERT REMINDER:

Tuesday, May 15th

Gateway Redemption Church

8743 E. Pecos Rd. Mesa, AZ (15 minutes from STLC)

1st grade program and 2nd grade program combined 6:15 pm (students arrive at 6:00)

Dress: casual, school t-shirts

UPDATED 5/6/12

Weekly Update

Happy Sunday!

This week benchmark and MAP testing will continue.  Homework will vary from week to week so please check our website weekly for updates.  (http://www.santanlearningcenter.com/sportela/homework/)

Please read below for important classroom updates:

  • Homework page updated, NO Spelling again this week due to the testing schedule.
  • Invention Convention:  Last week was the 1st week to work on this project.  Hopefully students have an invention or a personal invention/inventor picked and the brainstorming has started!  I am super excited to see these projects.  Please remind your kiddos to keep their ideas a secret so we can all be surprised at our learning celebration.
  • Thanks for all of those that volunteered to chaperone the upcoming field trip.  I received more than five volunteers, so I drew from a lottery.  I have emailed those parents and will be sending updates closer to our trip!
  • Testing  continues till May 11t.
  • Please have your children begin returning library books from home this week as Mrs. Kenney begins the end of year inventory. The final due date for all school library books as well as Scholastic Reading Books checked out in the classrooms is Friday, May 11th. Late charges will apply to any Library or Scholastic books returned after May 11th.
  • May 9th will be our last SRC volunteer for checking out books.  I will still accept books to be tested by Friday, May 11th.  Please encourage your kiddos to finish up their books and bring them in for testing in order to meet their personal SRC goal.
  • Friday, May 4thwas the last day of clubs.
  • San Tan Summer Program-  It is not too late to sign your children up for the summer program. This is an exciting program where students study weekly science themes and still participate in Physical Education along with having special visitors and fun events planned in their classrooms. Please visit http://www.santanlearningcenter.com/public-charter-elementary-school/elementary-enrollment/ and scroll to the bottom of the page to find enrollment information.
  • Still collecting junk for  “Junk Printing”
  • Still collecting regular 1 gallon milk jugs only.
  • May 9th ½ Day of SchooL
  • May 22nd Learning Celebration
  • Student Service Club Project- You can help feed a local family! At the present time, nearly 1 in 5 Arizonans live in poverty. This results in a massive, increasing need for food that is predicted to remain high. Food banks connect local families in need of assistance. The Open Arms Care Center in Gilbert is helping to fight that problem right here in Gilbert and the STLC Service Club wants to assist in the fight. The Open Arms Care Center, servicing more than 1500 Gilbert residents per month, is the only food bank in Gilbert. Please help them feed your friends & neighbors by donating non-perishable food items to the Open Arms Food Drive.
  • When: The Open Arms Food Drive will run April 30th – May 11th.
  • Where: Collection bins will be located in STLC’s Office Hallway.
  • What: Any non-perishable items will be greatly appreciated, however the Food Bank is especially in need of the following items:
            •  jelly
            •  Tuna
            •  Canned meats
            • Soups with protein in them
            • Rice
            • Beans
            •  SPAGHETTI SAUCE
            •  NOODLES
            • Personal hygiene items
            • Canned fruit

 

SPRING CONCERT REMINDER:

Tuesday, May 15th

Gateway Redemption Church

8743 E. Pecos Rd. Mesa, AZ (15 minutes from STLC)

1st grade program and 2nd grade program combined 6:15 pm (students arrive at 6:00)

Dress: casual, school t-shirts

Thank you for all your support!

Mrs. Sarah Portela

UPDATED 4/28/12

Happy Saturday!

This week benchmark and MAP testing will begin, and last for 2 weeks.  Homework will vary from week to week so please check our website weekly for updates.  (http://www.santanlearningcenter.com/sportela/homework/)

Please read below for important classroom updates:

  • Homework Project- For our last learning celebration we will be holding an invention convention to display an invention of the kiddos choice. The students will have 3 weeks to complete, turning in projects by Monday, May 21st. They may choose either a new invention they would like to create or a display an invention or inventor of the past.  I am leaving all creativity to them on how to display their information.  Each project should include a write up, typed or hand written, that will be displayed with their project.  The write up should include the answers to the W’s (who, what, when, where, and most importantly why?)  When working on invention convention ideas, keep in mind that the students usually need only a drawing of their project and not a 3-D model. I leave that choice to them!!  They have been super excited about technology and communities of the past, so I am excited to see what they come up with!
  • Testing weeks May 1st –May 11th
  • May 9th ½ Day of School
  • Reminder that field trip forms went out last week.  Please fill those out and return as soon as possible.  If I receive more than 5 chaperone requests, I will pull from a lottery.
  • Homework page updated, Spelling page updates Monday.
  • Back by great demand is the need for more “Junk”!  The students had such a great time with “Junk Printing” we will be collecting more junk that can be thrown away after a fun, and creative art project
  • Still collecting regular 1 gallon milk jugs only.
  • The recycling program at our school is underway! The class has been very excited and making sure all things that can be recycled are put into our box.  The kids surveyed the entire 2nd grade on how we are helping save our planet, and displayed the data on 4 different graphs on our recycling box.  The kids had a great time working their math skills into real life situations!
  • Thank you for all that supported your teachers in the STLC annual golf tournament!  I appreciate everything you do to support us and our schools mission!

Thank you for all your support!

Mrs. Sarah Portela

UPDATED 4/16/12

Hello Families,

This week is Stanford Testing from Tuesday till Thursday.  The kiddos have been preparing all year in the classroom, fine tuning their test taking skills.  This test is not timed, so encourage your kiddos to take their time.

  • Please send in a shoe box and 1 white poster board with your student by Thursday.
  • Homework is updated & No spelling words this week.
  • We have been moving around our math curriculum and this week we start Topic #14 Customary Measurement.
  • The kiddos made and took home a ruler to complete any homework or practice.  We will be focusing on measuring in standard and non-standard units of measurement.  We also will learn how to measure an object to a ¼ of an inch.
  • This week for social studies and science we will be exploring inventions of transportation and placing events on a timeline.
  •  No School April 20th
  • We are collecting cleaned out 1 gallon plastic milk jugs.  Please send those in with your kiddos.
  • We are so excited that the annual golf tournament is almost here!  To join us at this fun event, register at www.stlcgolf.com.  Also, we are collecting donations until April 19th for the auction baskets.  We are focused on filling the following baskets: Fun in the City, Family Fun, and Luxury Spa. 
  • During this year’s golf tournament we would like to invite all San Tan Supporters who are not golfing to come up and join in on the auction! The golf tournament begins early and while the golfers are on the course, you are welcome to stop into the ballroom and bid on some of our great auction prizes! The golfers will have the same opportunity after they finish the tournament. At the end of the event, the auction will be closed and the bidder with the highest bid will win the sought after prize. You do not need to be present to win. All winners will be notified on Saturday evening and payments will be processed at that time.  Here is a sampling of just a few of our auction items: Private Wine Tasting for 20 people, 2-Night Stay at Vino Bello Resort in Napa, Phoenix Suns Tickets, Robin Lopez autographed ball, violin, autographed baseball, Padres Autograph, Kotsay Autograph, Dodgers Autograph, MCSO Pink Underwear & Arpaio Autograph, and more!
  • San Tan will be celebrating Earth Day on Monday, April 23rd.  Please have your child wear green to represent their efforts to help the Earth.  We will kick-off our school wide recycling program on Earth Day, and remember that families are also welcome to participate in recycling at San Tan.  I have attached the Environmental Committee Newsletter providing additional information on how to get involved.

UPDATED 4/13/12

Happy Friday,

The kiddos had a busy week.  Please see all topics below:

  • We have finished up with Topic #16 in math with a math test today.
  • With technology being our science topic we attended a live Webinar, learning about what the Penguins and Ice Caps are telling us about Earth, hosted by the producers of Frozen Planet.  Frozen Planet is an amazing special that has been airing on Discovery channel on Sunday evenings.
  • As a class we are working on collecting and graphing data to analyze how well the second graders at STLC are currently doing to help recycle, reduce, & reuse.  Please make sure you kiddo sends in his completed recycling pledge by Monday.
  • Our social studies focus this week has been how transportation has changed over time, which is cross-curricular with our science topic of Inventions & Technology.
  • Our current read aloud is Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder , this is a great example of how communities have changed across time!  We are enjoying the nice weather by reading outside every day!
  • April 16th-19th  State Testing (AIMS & Stanford)  In grade 2, students will complete the Stanford test which contains reading, mathematics, and language arts content knowledge.  We would like to share a few important reminders to help your child meet their AIMS goal.

Important Testing Reminders:

  1. *Students must be ON TIME for school each morning.  Late arrival might require your student to make up the test on another day.
  2. *Students perform better when they are well rested, well hydrated, and fed well.
  3. *Encourage your student by letting them know that you believe in them and know they will try
  • April 20th No School Last day for parents to complete the school survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9QD6BMR
  • April 21st  STLC Golf Tournament-  We still have room for more golfers because the entire course is reserved for San Tan!  Please visit www.stlcgolf.com to register.  All auction basket donations are being collected in the front office.  If you would still like to donate, our basket themes are Disney, Cooking, Fun in the City, Family Fun, and Luxury Spa.
  • Summer Programs  This summer in addition to our traditional summer school program, we are looking into what interest our community has in bringing the Camp Invention program to campus May 29th- June 1st.  For more information, please see the Camp Invention attachment.

 

Thanks,

Mrs. Sarah Portela

2nd Grade Teacher

San Tan Learning Center

 

UPDATED 4/2/12

Happy Monday!

This week will be short with no school on Friday but we do have a busy fun-filled week planned.  Please read below for important classroom updates:

  • Homework this week is a bit different so please check the website.  Homework this week will be due Wednesday and Thursday.  Wednesday will have three math assignments and none due Thursday.  We are wrapping up our current topic and will be reviewing.  I remind the kiddos that homework is their responsibility and not yours.  If you could support the importance of turning in homework on time, it would be much appreciated.
  • For one of our learning celebration projects we will be need both a shoe box, and a white poster board.  Please send those with you kiddos to school.
  • Our new themes are well underway and please encourage your kiddos to research an invention or inventor to present for their concept boards.
  • The students have been super excited exploring the world of poetry.  We have learned about acrostic, alliteration, free verse, haiku, shape, and rebus poems thus far.  We have started to dive into couplet poems.  A couplet is a poem made of two lines of rhyming poetry that usually have the same meter. There are no rules about length or rhythm. Two words that rhyme can be called a couplet.
  • Stanford testing will be held during the week of April 16th -19th.  Attendance during those times is very important.
  • Back by great demand is the need for more “Junk”!  The students had such a great time with “Junk Printing” we will be collecting more junk that can be thrown away after a fun, and creative art project
  • Thank you for your support in sending in glue!  We should be good through the rest of the year.
  • In other very important and exciting news, we would like to announce that STLC now has a paper recycling program! Even more exciting, the school will earn money for each ton collected! This will be a wonderful community recycling effort while being a fundraiser for our school at the same time. The classroom bins are not ready yet but feel free to begin recycling! The “Paper Retriever” recycle bin has been placed on the west side of the school, just inside the gate. Simply open the gate and you will see the green and yellow bin. You may put cardboard, food/cereal boxes (plastic liners removed), newspapers, school/office paper, notebooks, spiral notebooks, stapled papers, magazines, books, mail/junk mail, window envelopes, phone books, workbooks and shredded paper. (Shredded paper should be bagged, plastic bag is ok as long as there is a small hole to let air out of the bag.) No post-it notes, metals, glass, greasy cardboard boxes (such as pizza boxes), plastic, or trash please. We highly encourage everyone to start recycling as soon as possible; please consider bringing your paper recycling from home as well and let your family, friends and neighbors know that they can also participate by recycling in the STLC bin. Please check the Environmental Awareness Committee website soon for more details about this program and to watch a very informative video of the recycling process.
  • The annual golf tournament is approaching quickly.  If you are unable to participate in the tournament and would like to help, please help fill our basket!  Each grade is putting together themed gift baskets for a silent auction. Funds raised will go directly to our Growing Brilliance program, which helps fund the teachers and staff at San Tan Learning Center. The kiddos are very excited to help with this, so if each parent could donate anything related a classroom theme; we would appreciate it.

2nd Grade

Theme: Fun in the City

This will be a basket created to give a family of 6, a fun-filled day in our wonderful town of Gilbert. Maybe lunch at a great restaurant, a gift card to a favorite Ice Cream shop or maybe a gift card to your favorite place in town. Let your kiddos tell you what they love to do in Gilbert and run with their imaginations to fill this basket of fun for a special family!!!

Thank you for all your support!

Mrs. Sarah Portela

UPDATE 3/26/12

Hope you had a great weekend and are ready for a busy fun-filled week.  Homework and spelling has been updated on the website.

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for coming into the classroom to help support SRC.  Our kiddos are working really hard to meet their personal quarter goals!

The annual golf tournament is approaching quickly.  If you are unable to participate in the tournament and would like to help, please help fill our basket!  Each grade is putting together themed gift baskets for a silent auction. Funds raised will go directly to our Growing Brilliance program, which helps fund the teachers and staff at San Tan Learning Center. The kiddos are very excited to help with this, so if each parent could donate anything related a classroom theme; we would appreciate it.

2nd Grade

Theme: Fun in the City

This will be a basket created to give a family of 6, a fun-filled day in our wonderful town of Gilbert. Maybe lunch at a great restaurant, a gift card to a favorite Ice Cream shop or maybe a gift card to your favorite place in town. Let your kiddos tell you what they love to do in Gilbert and run with their imaginations to fill this basket of fun for a special family!!!

UPDATED 3/20/12

Hello Families!

Welcome back from the break! J  We are diving right into our new units and the kids are so excited.  The website is up-to-date.  Please see below, there is a lot coming up soon!

  • Homework & Spelling Pages were updated 3/20/12
  • Thursday kids will be taking Topic 12 test on Fractions
  • Social Studies- Discussing how communities across time have changed.  We will be learning about early explorers, and even ancient Greek & Roman civilizations.
  • Science- The current event board was such a hit last quarter we will be keeping it.  The current events must be about an invention.  The students have also voted to allow past inventions to be placed on the map.  The student will be able to present the current or past event with their classmates.
  • Our next Noetic Learning Math Contest will take place on April 12th during school hours.  This is a biannual math challenge for elementary students grades 2, 3, 4, and 5. The goal of the competition is to encourage young students’ interest in math, to develop their problem solving skills, and to inspire them to excel in math.  There is a $15 fee to participate.   Please register in the front office by March 30th.
  • It is time for our annual spring parent survey.  I would like to encourage all families to take the time to complete the survey because the results help administration set improvement goals for next year.  The survey will be available online until April 20th at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9QD6BMR .
  • The STLC garage sale is quickly approaching and we need your donations to help make this sale a success.  Donations will be taken before and after school March 21st-23rd starting at 8:00 each day. The drop off area is located across the school in front of the handicapped parking.  This is STLC’s designated storage area.  Signs will also be posted at the donation area. The garage sale will be March 24th from 7am-2pm.  All proceeds will benefit the Growing Brilliance campaign which helps benefit teacher salaries. If you would like to sign up to volunteer at the garage sale please use the following link:
    www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0D4AAEA829A20-stlc/323232.

UPDATE 3/5/12

Hello Everyone,

The kids have been working so hard that past few weeks, and are very excited to share all their projects with you this Tuesday, March 6th!  Can’t wait to see you for that and also catch-up at conferences  :lol:

  • Learning Celebration Tuesday, March 6th @ 3:25 in the classroom
  • No Homework or WTW spelling words this week.
  • Reminder no clubs are held this week.
  • If you have not sent an email about the best three times you are available for conferences please do as soon as possible.
  • Yearbook orders are 3/9 (Friday). They are $20 each and the forms are at the front desk.
  • The book sale starts on Tuesday, March 6. (This is learning celebration day) http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0C4FA5A78-spring1

Tues. 8- 5

Wed. 8- 7 (half day for Elem) – Booknic

Thurs. 8- 5 (half day for all) – Craft day

Fri. 8- 3 (half day for all)

UPDATED 2/27/12

Hello Families!

This is the week of Benchmark testing.  Please make sure kiddos have a great breakfast and a nights rest so they can give their best! J  Below are a few highlights of the week.

  • Homework will be due only on Friday.  I have only assigned 3 lessons this week. (12-5,12-6,12-7)
  • There will be no WTW (spelling) this week.
  • We will not be starting a new LA story.  We will be focusing on our class read aloud Around the world in 80 days.
  • Registration packets are due to the front office.
  • Field trip Friday, March 2, 2012 J  No hot lunch will be served that day.  Please send kiddos with a sack lunch.  Please also send a snack, the field trip lands during our usually lunch time.
  • For our final project your child will need a regular poster board (not the hard foam boards).  Each child needs to bring one board by Friday, March 2, 2012.
  • Our classroom has run out of glue.  We are down to 5 bottles of liquid glue.  Please send at least one glue bottle/stick with your child.

UPDATED  2/21/12

Happy Tuesday!

I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend!  This week is a short one, but very busy.

  • New story this week in Language Arts, Earth
  • Grammar:  Subject & Verb Agreement
  • New Math Unit:  We will be bouncing around to Topic 12 Fractions
  • Still collecting current events, & places visited presentation
  • We still need junk for “junk printing art”.  Please have your kiddos look around for junk around the house and even outside.  Anything that would make a great print!!!
  • If you kids are missing items please visit the Lost & Found.  It will all be donated Friday 2/24/12.
  • Please turn in registration packet to the front office
  • Music Field Trip Permission Slips due 2/24- Please turn into me.

Thanks for all the support!  Have a great short 4 day week.  :mrgreen:

Mrs. Sarah Portela

2nd Grade Teacher

San Tan Learning Center

 

UPDATE 2/6/12

Happy Monday Morning!!!

This will be a busy week ahead of us, with new areas to be explored!

  • New story, The Moon Seems to Change
  • Homework and Spelling pages have been updated on our classroom website.
  • Just as reminder homework that is not turned in on time both Wednesday and Friday will be done at recess and specials.  For homework level B and higher, the math worksheet that is to be printed after the student takes the quiz needs to be turned in.  For example, in the top right hand corner of the worksheet it will state (the current lesson number and reteach, practice, or enrichment).  The student does not have to complete the guided and independent practice.  Only the worksheet is due in class.  Below I have listed the steps to access the worksheet that needs to be turned in to class.
  1. Sign in to your Pearson account
  2. Click to do list
  3. Click on the assignment
  4. Click on quiz
  5. Take the quiz (Please do not help students with the quiz it will print the correct leveled homework that aligns with their understanding of the concept)
  6. Click yes to are you ready to save
  7. Click the button that comes up  (reteach, practice, enrichment)
  8. Click print button on the lower left hand side of the window
  9. Click go back button
  10. Click I’m done button
  11. Turn in completed worksheet J
  • Kiddos are still encouraged to present a summary of a current event, past event, or a place they have visited to pin our global map.
  • We will be exploring the phases of the moon next week, so I have encouraged kids to check it out this weekend!!
  • We are still collecting material an art project “junk printing”!  I love some of the junk coming in so far!!!   Anything that will make a great design and/or texture to our paintings makes all the difference.  Reminder these will be thrown away after.
  • Below I have copied an email for students that would like to compete in a science fair held for charter schools J

My name is Jeff Thornburg. I am the principal of Skyline Tech High School. I would like to invite your students to participate in the Maricopa County Regional Charter Schools Regional Science Fair March 7/8/9, 2012 being held at Arizona Compass School at 2020 N. Arizona Ave, Suite G-62 In Chandler.

We are also recruiting judges.

To register you can go to skylineschools.com and follow the directions there.

Thanks for all your support,

Mrs. Sarah Portela

UPDATED 1/30/12

Hello Families!!!

I hope everyone had a fun weekend.  The kiddos had a busy and fun filled week.

This week we will be exploring:

  • The folktale, Grandmother Spider Brings the Sun
  • contractions & compound words
  • division as sharing and repeated subtraction
  • WTW: spelling words have been updated.
  • Homework page has been updated.  If you child already completed 7-2 last week, they only have to finish 7-3 for the math portion of homework due Wednesday.
  • Important reminder:  If homework is not turned in, they will complete at recess or during specials.  This includes all homework depending what level they are.  If agendas do not have their reading documented and your initials they will read during recess.
  • Mapping Skills
  • Still presenting current events & places visited every morning J  The kids love this part of the day!!!
  • Collecting unusable junk from around the house for “Junk Printing”.  This can be anything that can be used to stamp on our works of art and then thrown away.  Example, extra game pieces, rocks, tissue rolls, anything that would make a cool shape when used like a stamp!
  • Black construction paper needed for art project “Stained Glass”
  • Thank you for your support with collecting coffee grounds!! We have plenty for our project J

Thank you all again for your support!!!!

 

UPDATED 1/23/12

Happy Monday!!

This week will be a busy week for the kiddos!!

  • Today we celebrated the Chinese New Year.  We will be discussing many different cultures throughout this quarter.  If you would like to present to the classroom about travels or family traditions please email me.  The kiddos love having parents come in and share!
  • Homework page is updated.
  • We will be working on math review for multiplication.  Please continue to work on skip counting, and math facts.
  • Math test will be Wednesday.
  • We have started our weekly language arts story all about the sun!   Please encourage conversations about what they have learned about the center of our solar system.
  • Students are still able to present any positive current events and pin our global map.
  • Spelling words have stayed the same this week due to the shortened week.  We tested last Friday but will work for a better score this Friday.
  • We are still collecting used coffee grounds for a fun project.
  • I would like students to explore around outside and bring in different rocks that we will use as a class projects while studying rocks and minerals.  I will collect rocks until this Friday.
  • STAR PARTY– FREE!
    Date: Saturday, 1/28 5:30-9 p.m.
    Ages: All ages
    Cost: Free!
    During this free, annual event, the East Valley Astronomy Club will bring their telescopes to Veterans Oasis Park for visitors to explore Arizona’s amazing night sky! Visitors may see the moon, planets, double stars, nebulae, star clusters, and more. Inside the EEC from 5:30-6:30 p.m. there will be a presentation on a special astronomy topic. An optional $5 donation is suggested for the indoor presentation. Telescope viewing takes place outside from 6:30-9 p.m. at the east end of the parking lot. Pre-registration NOT required.
  • As you may know, San Tan Learning Center is planning its 2nd Annual STLC Golf Tournamentto raise funds for the Growing Brilliance Campaign. The event is now 3 months away and is scheduled to take place on April 21st, 2012.We have a lot of exciting momentum at this stage, and the event date is quickly approaching. Tomorrow, January 24th at 6:30pm, we have a planning meeting in the Gymecafetorium and could use some additional help on our committee.

 

Thank you for all your support!!

 

Updated: 1/19/12

*Homework Page Updated

*WTW Spelling Pages Updated

*I am collecting coffee grounds for a project.  Please send used coffee grounds in a sealed containers or baggies.  If you can please leave grounds open to the air until delivery, so they can dry out and not become moldy.

*We are in need of a pencil sharpener, we have already gone through 2 mechanical pencil sharpeners the year.  We would greatly appreciate a donated manual sharpener that can suction on to a cabinet.  I am hoping that it will hold up better! :)  Thank you for your support.

UPDATED 1/18/12

 

Happy 100th day of school!

I am excited to be back and have really missed the kiddos!  I had a great break spending time with baby Owen, thanks to all the support in the classroom.  I want to thank Mrs. Thompson for all her hard work and love for our kids!  Also, I would like to thank Mrs. Griego for all the support as our classroom coordinator, and all the parents that have volunteered.

We have jumped right into our new learning themes, Geography, and Earth, Moon, & Sun.  I have encouraged the students to explore these themes as well as current events at home and bring any resources they have found to add to their concept board.  Current events will be presented by students in the morning and they will be able to pin on a world map where their event took place.  I also ask that they have some type of material that can be posted on the board and shown during their presentation.

For our learning celebration this quarter we will be exploring world geography by following the adventures of Philieas Fogg in the book, Classic Starts Around the World in 80 Day, retold from the Jules Verne original.  If you would like to purchase this book for you student to follow along, it can be found at Barnes and Noble for around $6.00.

There was no homework due today.  Homework will posted online today and will be due Friday.  Also, we have started our WTW spelling and the list can be found online.  **Reminder** tonight 2nd & 3rd grade will be hosting a Math night at 6pm in the gym.  We will be demonstrating math games that you can make and play at home!

Thank you!

Mrs. Sarah Portela

Update 12-12-11

Here’s what is going on this week:

1. No library this week. All library books are due back by Wednesday, December 21st.

2. SRC books are due back, so we can inventory them.

3. “Books Are Fun” is back! This display of unique books and gifts are now up in the
front office for the next week available for staff and parents to order. San
Tan Learning Center receives one free item for every 10 items sold. Check out
the new books by clicking on this tab Cycle 3 . (Type in the code hofft13 to view.) For more  information about this cool program you can visit the website: www.BooksAreFun.com

4. Clubs are over for the fall. New clubs will be available to those who wish to sign up
after the Winter Break!

5. I need 2 parent volunteers to help at the Winter Concert this coming Tuesday, Dec. 13th
(6:30pm). If you’d be available to help us between 6:15PM through the end of the 2nd grade
concert, email me back – I will return an email to confirm the first 2 parents
who reply.

6.  Our field trip is Friday.  It is supposed to rain on Friday.  I suggest
rain ponchos.  They are at the dollar store if anyone is interested.
Umbrellas will get in the way and they may be forgotten somewhere.  We
have our chaperones: Ms. Nair, Ms. Lederman, Ms. Accurso, and Ms. Goluba.
Thank you for volunteering!

7.  Attention Sports Fans!  Arizona Charter School Night with the AZ Cardinals is
around the corner.  Discounted tickets for Dec. 18th and Jan. 1st  games.  Please see the San Tan website for more information.

8.  We are continuing with the same L.A. story and spelling words this week. Tests are on Thursday this week

9.  Testing is almost over.  The students are doing a great job!

10.  Friday is our 2nd quarter Learning Celebration.  Please come see all the fun things that the students have been working on.  Friday, you must pick your child up from the classroom.

11.  Don’t forget next week are all half-days.  Monday-Thursday.  ILP
Conferences are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday next week.  Make sure
you sign up!

I know there is a lot going on.  Please see the school website or email me with any
questions.

Thank you,

Mrs. Thompson

 

Updated 11-30

 

This is what we are working on this week:

 

L.A. – Our story, “Lemons and Lemonade”, Adjectives, Inflectional Ending –Ed, Fact and Opinion, Reality and Fantasy, Reading Test Friday

 

Math – Review of Multiplication, Multiplication 3s, 4s, 6s, and 7s

 

WTW – Spelling Test Friday

 

Science – Choose one of the 4 habitats given for student’s animal diorama, collecting change for us to sponsor a gray wolf from the endangered list.

 

Social Studies – counting money, supply and demand, reality and fantasy regarding money

 

Homework – Animal Habitat takes precedence over homework.  Please work on family diorama.  It is due Wed., December 7th

 

Dates to Remember:

 

November 30th- Elementary Half-Day Early Dismissal, P.E. fundraiser order forms are due

December 1st – Shoe Drive (Please check school website for more information)

December 13th – Music Performance K-2nd grade (more information to come)

December 5-16th – School Wide Benchmark Testing

December 16th – 2nd and 3rd grade field trip to the Phoenix Zoo, more details coming soon, also Learning Celebration that day

December 19th – School Spelling Bee

December 19-22nd – Lego Camp (please see school website)

 

 

**** Please see our P.E. website for more information on the awesome cups our students are selling. Due November 30th

 

**** Our class will be sponsoring an endangered animal this quarter.  We have chosen to sponsor a gray wolf.  As a class, we are collecting change from around the house to contribute to our fund.  Our goal is $25.00!!  (Don’t forget we are learning about economics; the students will be encouraged to help around the house.)

 

**** Parents, the students have decided what they would like to include in their habitats (diorama).  Please feel free to make this a family project.  Due December 7th

Here is what should be included in the diorama:

-Choose one Habitat; Tundra, Rainforest, Desert, or Ocean

-Create (decorate) the habitat in a shoebox or other small box

-Include 2 plants from that habitat

-Include 2 animals from that habitat

-3-D

-Creativity, color, and lots of adventure

-Please make visible the name of the habitat (large letters)

 

Updated 11-20

This is what we are working on this week:

L.A. – Our story, “The Go-Around Dollar”, Adjectives, Inflectional Ending – Ed, Reading Test Wednesday, Favorite Family Recipe for Thanksgiving (on Wednesday) 

 

Math – Review our Math test from Friday, practice 0,1,2,5,9,10’s

 

WTW – Spelling Bee Monday (Wear Black and Yellow in support of our classroom Spelling Bee), Spelling Test Wednesday

 

Science – Students (class) will create the guidelines for their animal habitats, decide which endangered animal our class will sponsor

 

Social Studies – sharing money from other countries, making change

 

Homework – on the website

 

Dates to Remember:

Tomorrow, November 21st – December lunch orders due, Classroom Spelling Bee
November 23rd- Charlie Brown Thanksgiving/ Half-Day
November 24th & 25th- No School Thanksgiving Break
November 30th- Elementary Half-Day Early Dismissal

**** Please see our P.E. website for more information on the awesome cups our students are selling.

**** Our class will be sponsoring an endangered animal this quarter.  This week we will choose our animal.  We have narrowed it down to three choices.  As a class, we are collecting change from around the house to contribute to our fund.  Our goal is $25.00!!  (Don’t forget we are learning about economics; the students will be encouraged to help out around the house.)

**** Parents, our class would like to watch a movie called “Life” this week (Tuesday).  It is about animals in different habitats.  It is similar to the movie “Planet Earth.”  If you do not want your child to watch this movie, please email me.  We will be watching part of the series on ocean life.  
Thank you so much for your support in all we do!!!

 

Updated 11-7

Parents,

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!  Here are the things we are working on this week:

  • Reading -  We start a money unit in our reading book this week
  • Grammar – Compound Sentences
  • Math – Multiplication: Comparing, Writing multiplication sentences, Problem solving
  • Science – Cold Climate and what type of animals live there, observing our pumpkin seeds, choose an animal we would like to research.
  • Social Studies – Citizenship, Money from different countries (parents if you have money from different counties and are willing to share, we would love to see it)

 

Going on at School:

No school Friday

Spelling Bee is around the corner

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is on the 23 (half-day) (our class needs to sign up for pineapple)

 

Updated 11-2

Parents, there are updates on our homework page! :)

Updated 10-23

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend.  I sent out an email letting everyone know what is going on this week.  Please let me know if you do not get my emails.  Here’s a mini version of what’s going on this week:

  • Half-day Wednesday

  • Math, L.A., and Spelling test on Friday

  • Homework is on its way!

  • Fall is here!  This week the temperature will finally show it.  Friday, we will not have a Halloween party, but we will celebrate fall with a fun craft!

Have a great week!

Updated 10-18

Hello Families,

Welcome back!  I hope your break was wonderful.  I am so excited to start the new quarter with everyone.  We have great things planned over the next couple of months.

I am trying to get Mrs. Portela’s website up and running.  Please be patient :)   You can contact me at bthompson@santanlc.com

 

Reminders:

  • Picture retakes tomorrow 10/19
  • Everyone wear red Thursday 10/20 for Red Ribbon Week
  • Lunch orders due Friday 10/21
  • Half-day Wednesday 10/26
  • Please check the school website for other important dates
  • We have a new Music and P.E. page on this website.

Thank you for all you do!

Mrs. Thompson

 

Updated 9/28/11

Hello Families!!!

Please see our classroom conference schedule for the second quarter of the 2011-2012 school year (emailed 9/28/11).  As you notice there will be sometimes this week that I will be able to schedule some conferences with me.  The regular times will be with Mrs. Thompson.  To set-up a time please email with the following information:  Child’s Name, Your Name, and the top 3 times & dates in which you would be available.  I will schedule according to the time stamp on the emails as I receive them.  I my last day will be Tuesday, October 4th before I start maternity leave, unless baby Portela decides to come meet us earlier.  J  As you all know they have their own agenda and we just are to follow as parents! J  I am excited to have such a wonderful replacement for this leave.  Mrs. Thompson has been able to spend a good amount of time in our classroom getting to know routines and your kiddos.  I will have access from time to time with my work email address, and will return any questions that I can during my leave.  I also will be sending a picture of the baby per the students request when the baby is born.  Thank you for all your support and continued support during my leave!!!!!!
Thank you,

Mrs. Sarah Portela

Updated 9/26/11

Our 1st quarter is coming to a close already!  The students have been working so hard and are excited to share all their projects with you during our 1st learning celebration of the 2011-2012 school year.  This week students will be taking benchmark tests that will be discussed at the next parent teacher conferences.  Please see a list below of very important dates to mark your calendars. 

***Please remind your kiddo to practice reading their SRC books and bring them to class to take their comprehension test.  This will be the last week to have them achieve their 1st quarter goals.

  1. Benchmark Testing:  9/26/2011-9/30/2011

  2. K-7th Grade 1/2 Day:  9/28/2011  (Pick-up 11:45 2nd Grade)

  3. No Clubs:  10/3/2011-10/7/2011

  4. Learning Celebration:  10/4/2011 (Please plan to pick your child up from the classroom)

  5. K-7th Grade 1/2 Day:  10/3/2011-10/5/2011

  6. Parent-Teacher Conferences:  10/4/2011-10/05/2011 (Please watch for schedule)

  7. Fall Break No school:  10/10/2011-10/17/2011

Update 9/12/11

  1. Grandparents Day (9/12/11) One final reminder that we are celebrating
    Grandparents Day at STLC     tomorrow, Monday, September 12th.  Grandparents are welcome to come and eat lunch with their Grandchildren during the student’s regularly scheduled lunch time.  Grandparents should bring their own sack lunch and sign in at the front office, then they
    will be directed to the lunchroom.      2nd & 3rd Grades 12:00-12:30
  2. Wednesday Half-Day  (9/14) This Wednesday  is a half-day for educator professional
    development.  We do not have lunch on the half-day schedule, although fruit and
    veggie snacks for students are encouraged.  There are no clubs on half days.      Dismissal Times:  Second and Third Grade classrooms 11:45am
  3. October Hot Lunch Orders Hot lunch orders for next month are available to print.
    http://www.santanlearningcenter.com/families/school-lunch/   October orders are due by next Tuesday, Sept. 20.

Updated 9/9/11:

  1. Homework & Math link has been updated.
  2. Thank you for all your support this week with decorations for our NFL Friday.  The students had a great time and our classroom looked great!  A special thank you to Michelle our classroom coordinator for helping hang decoration and perfecting the finishing touches.  I will be uploading pictures to our classroom
    photos link this weekend!
  3. Thank you also for coming to the Words Their Way Parent night.  I have updated the WTW Spelling link with a power point describing our spelling sorts for homework or just the extra practice for you kids!
  4. Needed:  I am looking for magazines that are appropriate for students to search for text and pictures.  Please send those in after you and your family have enjoyed them throughout the year.  We also need Tempera Paint to continue to support our Art Projects.  We need all colors. :-)
  5. We are still collecting paper and toner for the paper drive.  Please send to the office with our classroom name on the package so we get credit for them! :-P

Updated 9/2/2011:

  1. 9/5/2011:  No School
  2. 9/7/2011:  Words Their Way Parent Curriculum Night.
  3. 9/9/2011:  Back to Football NFL Spirit Day:  Help Needed:  We are looking for
    support to decorate our classroom doors to get the students excited for the day.  Please see our sign up genius for details.  If you are unable to come decorate and would like to participate, we need any type of decorations for the Cardinals or their colors.  We will need supplies by Thursday, September 8th or before.
  4. 9/9/2011:  The students are encouraged and welcome to dress up in their school appropriate, NFL attire. The activities planned during the Friday assembly will include music, football activities running – including a football toss area, kick
    off/extra point practice, and an obstacle course – and the Biggest Fan Award
    will be given out as well.

8/26/2011: Updated

  1. Homework and Spelling pages have been update with attachments.

  2. Club registration begins Monday, August 29th
    in the gym at 8:00 a.m.  It is suggested that parents register in person
    to secure your child’s placement in a club because the process is a first come,
    first served basis.  This process can be expedited by coming to
    registration with the registration form completed including the emergency information.
    This form can be printed from the following link. http://www.santanlearningcenter.com/families/clubs/

8/24/2011

Supplies Needed:

We will be conducting some fun hands-on experiments to
investigate light!  We need some supplies by Friday, August 26 to make
this a successful experiment.  If you have a flashlight and a small hand
held mirror please send that with your kiddo in a grocery bag labeled so we can
get it back to you. J  We also
need a roll of tin foil.

Paper & Toner Drive

The competition is on!  The annual STLC paper-drive/toner
drive is officially under way.  Each class is competing to be the one that
donates the most copier paper to the school.  Copier paper can be white or
colored.  Please clearly mark your paper and toner donations with your
child’s teacher’s name and bring it to the front office.  The class that
collects the most paper wins a lunch with Ms. Haughan.  Our classroom
printers are Brother HL-2040, so we would appreciate toner cartridges that
match the Brother model.

Parent Night- Words Their Way

Our first schedule parent information night is coming up on
September 7th.  If you are curious to learn more about our
developmental spelling program and why your child cuts apart their spelling%