Go Red for Heart Health….Day full of fun!  February 12, 2010
Circle February 12, 2010 in red on your calendars.  That is the day our district will join the American Heart Association (AHA) and Go Red for Women in the fight against heart disease by holding Wear Red Day.  We encourage everyone to participate by wearing red to school/work as a way to make a statement against the number one killer of Women in America-   Heart Disease.  Thank you in advance for supporting this lifesaving program!

Our District History:  Since 1996, USD 265 has raised over $196,000 through Jump Rope for Heart, and Hoops for Heart events.  These funds have furthered the mission of the AHA.

Special Events of the day for February 12, 2010 include:

• Wearing Red to school/work to show your support!
• Hoops for Heart or Jump rope for Heart at each school in the District (see your PE teacher)
• The Big Event…Goddard vs Newton Basketball Game!!  Everyone wear Red!!

The teams will wear Red to warm up, to show support for heart health- sponsored by Heartland Cardiology.
• Girls Varsity-starts at 6pm in the main gym.  Half time approx. 6:30 pm
• Boys Varsity- starts at 7:30 in the main gym.  Half time approx. 8:00 pm
• Half time entertainment of the Girls’ Varsity game:  5/6 grade Challenger/Discovery
• A Healthy survey for all K-6 graders to participate in, with 10 winner’s from a drawing for a Red Basketball signed by GHS players.  (Drawing will be at half time of the girls’ game.  Student need NOT be present to win)
• Heart Health information tables will be available with info from the AHA and Heartland Cardiology.

For Goddard School District residents 
Children must be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2010 

For more information call one of our elementary school offices: 
 Amelia Earhart Elementary School.........794-4080 
 Clark Davidson Elementary School...........794-4260 
 Explorer Elementary School................................794-4181 
 Oak Street Elementary School..................794-4200 

Please bring the following for your child: 
 • copy of birth certificate 
 • immunization records 
 • Social Security number 
 • emergency contact information 
  (name, address, phone numbers) 

Pre-Kindergarten (4 year olds) Program Requirements: 
(children must meet at least ONE of the following qualifications AND be 4 years old on or before August 31, 2010) 
 • Low Income 
 • Teen Parent Family 
 • Single Parent Family 
 • Limited English speaking 
 • Parent with no high school diploma or GED 
 • Delayed in development (screening provided) 

Homework Help
KERC features a direct link to HomeworkKansas at www.kerc-ks.org which is a service provided by the state library of Kansas and Kansas public libraries.  It offers tutoring available seven days a week, from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm and, in Spanish language Sunday through Thursday, from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  The service is high tech and sophisticated, but very simple to use—students indicate their grade level and the subject they need help in and HomeworkKansas connects them to the best available tutor.  Tutors don’t provide answers, they provide help

Remember
Please call the Discovery office by 9:00 a.m. to excuse your student if they will be late or absent.  Requests for homework should be made before 11:00 a.m. to allow teachers time to prepare work for pick up by 3:00 p.m.  Thank you for your cooperation. 

Welcome back!  We hope everyone had a wonderful Winter Break!  Now, its time to get back to work and continue to prepare for the State Assessments!  Students are hard at work, taking formatives and reviewing to keep the skills that they have learned so far ,fresh in their minds.  We will be taking the Reading State Assessment, February  17, 18, and 19.  The Math State Assessments will be after Parent-Teacher Conferences which take place February 23 -25, please make sure to contact the school secretaries to set up your conference time with your child’s teacher (s).

We will be sending home several packets for your child to work on to help prepare for the State Assessment.   Be sure to look for those and please help your child practice those skills.   Continue to check their agenda book and please, call your teacher if you have any questions or concerns about your child and how they are doing in class.  Please remember to review all homework assignments for accuracy and regularly check Skyward to monitor their progress.

Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the bus and recess.  We are required to take them outside for recess as long as the temperature is above 25 degrees.  Brrrr!  So, please make sure they come to school wearing the appropriate attire.

Thank you parents for sending us a wonderful group of 5th graders.  We truly enjoying working with them everyday!

February brings Spring Conferences. Please be sure to call the office and let them know which day and approximately what time you will be in to visit with your child’s teachers. Please try to bring your child as the conference is about them.  Remember, we will be in the gym to meet with all the parents. You might want to bring a list of the teachers your child has if you are not going to bring them. Evening times are the busiest so to avoid any delays, come as early as you can.

In Math we are working with metric system and getting ready for Geometry. We are also really concentrating on review for the State Test that will be March 30, 2010 - April 1, 2010. Plan ahead and try not to schedule appointments for your child the mornings of these three days.

In Reading some of the classes are reading a novel and everyone is working on skills.  We are also reviewing for the State Testing which will be February 16-18, 2010.  Testing is all done in the mornings, so try to be here each of the three testing dates.  Continue to study those spelling words.

In Social Studies we are currently studying Greece.  We are learning all about their culture, religion and government.  Next up is Rome.

In Language we are finishing the chapter on verbs and preparing to study Adjectives, describing words. 

In Enrichment we are working on a problem solving technique called Singapore Math. With this system, some problems are so easy it is almost not even like math at all!