Week of February 23rd

*Check out some of the new links in the Student Link section! The HM Math Site (correlated with our text) is a great place to review for math tests, look up math vocab, or just play some fun games. The Flashcards site has printable flashcards - perfect for multiplication practice.*

I must say how proud I am of all of the students for their dedication to the Bully Skits! They performed the skits for the Kindergarten and 1st grade classes last week, and I have heard nothing but praise from those teachers! Great job! The skits are also being typed and printed for the rest of the Rio teachers to use in their classrooms. 

Notes/Reminders:

* Monday brings our fieldtrip to see a performance by the Santa Cruz Symphony. We'll be leaving (by bus) at 10:00 and returning by 1:00. Students need to bring a lunch (no hot lunch) since we'll be returning after our regular lunch time. There are still a few students who have not yet returned the permission slip and $4 fee - they will have to stay behind if not turned in first thing Monday morning. 

* The last day of the 2nd trimester is March 6th. All work for the 2nd trimester must be turned in by Thursday, March 5th. Report Cards will be sent home the following Friday.  

* PVUSD wants to hear from parents regarding the budget crisis! Go to the PVUSD website and take the parent survey. You can also show your support by joining us Friday afternoons (3:30-5) on the freeway overpass on Rio del Mar Blvd, and by attending the Board meetings. The next one is this Wednesday the 25th. Bring the kids! 

* Please practice the multiplication facts with your child every day - Just 5 minutes in the car on the way to school is all it takes. Mastery of these facts will be a huge help in many other math concepts.  

* Please check your homes for Social Studies and Science textbooks! We began the year with one for every child, and we are now missing a few. We need all the textbooks in the classroom for daily use. 

This week we will...

...finish up Chapter 5 in our Social Studies curriculum. We've been learning all about the Mexican-American War and how California became a state. There will be a test Friday.

...continue reading By the Great Horn Spoon! Thursday brings a quiz covering chapters 5-8. 

...learn about negative numbers and how they are used in "real life" .