Fun at Pompey's Pillar

We had a great day yesterday at Pompey's Pillar.  We had 3 sessions.  One, we walked up to the pillar.  Ask your child how many steps.  Learned a lot about the geography of this area up there and how it was full of wildlife and how Clark and his men came through they.  Saw Clark's signature as well.  Then we were in the Interpretive Center where there was lots of hands-on information and we also got our FREE park passes.  Make sure you and your family take advantage of it this summer.
Lastly, we went into the cabin and learned a lot about animals.  Buffalo, bobcat, grizzly bear, mountain lion, etc.  Then the rain came and we had to eat lunch in the bus, but the kids did great.  We had a very nice, kind bus driver to allow that.  But, it was a typical rain shower and didn't last long so we could get out and run around while others shopped.  So as you can see, it was a GREAT day.  Ask your child their favorite part.
Congratulations to Mia, our final Purple Hand Cookie winner.  She was nominated for being kind, caring, and a good friend.  Great Job!!!!
Dates for next week:

Monday-No School
Tuesday-we will have Library & Music as well as a Post visit from Pompey's Pillar here in our classroom.
Wednesday-students will have the opportunity to spend their fake money.
Thursday-clean out desks and Soul Surfer Movie-don't forget to bring a drink and a treat
Friday-Last Day-12:00 Dismissal

I write this post with a heavy heart as this is my last (12th) year here at Bitterroot so I need to be transferred to another building.  But, I can honestly say that these kids have made my last year the BEST!!  That is what makes it so hard to leave along with all the amazing families & students I have had the privilege to teach and get to know over the past 12 years.  Not to mention the great colleagues/friendships I have.  But, I am not leaving town so I know I will still keep in contact with so many.  But good feeling & memories I am left with.  I don't know as of yet where I will be transferred, but will let you know when I find out.
Have a great 3 day weekend with your families & friends.
Cya next week.

Fabulous!!!

Yes, these kids again showed their FABULOUSNESS by doing their very BEST on the last of the BIG tests for the year.  I am proud of each and every one of them.  Also, I am so happy to report that we had 100% attendance so no make-ups which allows us to take part in the upcoming fun things this week.

Wednesday is Field Day from 12:45-2:45.  Thank you to Jennifer Jones & Jenny Jasper for volunteering to help with this.  Make sure your child dresses for the weather & activities that day.  Sunscreen/hat would be a good idea as well as comfortable clothing & tennis shoes.

Thursday is our Pompey's Pillar Field Trip.  We will leave at 9:00 and return by 2:00.  If any one would like to volunteer to go along, please let me know as ASAP.  Always nice to have an extra body or two.  Thank you.

Other than those 2 big days, academics will remain as normal as possible.
Thank you and have a great weekend.

Last of the Testing on May 16-20!!!

Yes, we are completing the last of the testing on the Week of May 16-20 in the afternoons.  Once again, please make sure your child is prepared for these by getting a good night's rest, a protein breakfast, as well as a protein snack.  Also, they may bring gum to chew for the testing sessions.
As always, give them a little "I BELIEVE IN YOU" speech to encourage them to try hard and do their BEST!!!!  If you do this, write BELIEVE in the planner.
We are winding down to the point of earning our Bitterroot Bucks.  Students will be paying for their last field trip this week and then any money they have left over will be able to be spent on End of the Year Ice Cream Sundaes!!!!

Here are a few important end of the year dates:

May 16-20-SBAC testing
May 25-Field Day- 12:45-2:45 for the Intermediate
May 26-Field Trip to Pompey's Pillar- Permission slips going home on Monday.
May 31st-Pompey's Pillar Follow-up visit.
June 1st-Soul Surfer Movie-permission slips will be coming home for this as well as it is rated PG, but it is an awesome conclusion to all our Character Building & Believing!!!!
June 3-Last Day-12:00- Dismissal

Have a GREAT weekend.

Mid-terms Went Home Today

Yes, midterms went home today.  Overall, they were very good.  Let's keep up the good work Team Hankins and finish the year STRONG!!!!
Speaking of working hard, we finished our first round of testing last week and the overall results were very good.  Lots of good growth especially in Math & Language!!!!  YAYYYY!!!!
The state tests or the SBAC are scheduled for the week of May 16-20 for 4th grade so hopefully this helps you plan accordingly.
Field Trip next week.  Yes, we are going to North Park for the Arbor Day Celebration.  Students will be expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner and show they can handle this privilege and extension of learning outside the 4 classroom walls.  If any of them have difficulty, they will not have the privilege of going on our 2nd trip to Pompey's Pillar.
Congratulations to Sophie, our Purple Hand Winner.  She was nominated for her kind, caring spirit as well as her helpfulness.  Great job!!!!
Carly was our Student of the Week again.  Yes, we are on Round 2 of Student of the week.  Always fun to hear about them and their family lives.
By the time you read this blog, the School Carnival will most likely be over.  I hope all that came enjoyed it and got some fun things to take home.  Thank you for supporting Bitterroot School.  Thank you to all the PTA people that helped make it a success.  Your hard work and time surely do not go unnoticed.
They will be a spelling list next week even though it is a short week.
Yes, there is NO SCHOOL  on Friday, May 6th.
Hopefully, students are practicing their West Region states & capitals.
In Math, we continue to work hard with decimals & fractions.
One more Wednesday for the 5th/6th grade bake sale.
Have a great weekend.

Penny War Winners!!!

Yes, Team Hankins was the winner of the school-wide Penny War.  Don't you love the trophy??  Thank you, Mr. Crofett for your creativeness!!!  We are excited to report that Bitterroot raised $1500 for the Bravehearts Program.
Monday starts our NWEA testing.  See the note sent home with the schedule on it as well as important information.  Please make sure your child is here to school on time for these testing days.
I am so excited for them to show all they have learned and grown this year.  I will be giving each of them their fall scores and then a level of growth that they are expected to make in a given year for them to set RIT goals for each of the 3 tested subject areas.  As the note says, please have a chat about the importance of working hard to do their best to show all they know to help place them in their next year's classroom.  If you have this visit, write NWEA in the planner.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 28th at 9:00 for the recorder concert.  Once again, they have amazed me as to how far they have come since Day1.
No spelling words next week.
Math-we are working hard on reading/drawing angles of different sizes.
Montana History-Fur trading/trapping-will finish up this week.
Reading-book clubs with lots of skills/strategies/book discussions.  The kids are doing a great job with this and loving their book discussions.
Have a great weekend and as always, if any questions, please ask.

Congratulations to our Award Winners!!!

Great job to each and every one of you, but especially to our BUG/Terrific Kid Award Winners.  They are:  Tira, Ella, Carly, Jerzie, Sophie, Kyle, Faith, Alex, Mia, Nolan, and Damion.  Come on Team Hankins-let's add to this list for the 4th & final quarter of 4th Grade!!!  YOU CAN DO IT!!!!  Remember we are going to finish the year strong with PERSEVERANCE & GRIT!!!!

Our Bobcat Award winner goes to Carly for always be so kind, caring, and helpful to each & every one of her classmates no matter what situation arises.  

NWEA testing is coming up on the week of April 18-22.  We will be taking Math, Reading, and Language so make sure your child gets a good night's rest as well as healthy breakfast, and bring a healthy snack.  Attendance is also a must as students will have to make them up another time and then miss out on more classroom time.  So mark your calendars for this week.  Thank you.

Penny Wars-the jugs are heavy with lots of coins and I am so proud of our class as well as our whole Bitterroot team.  Way to help out those in need.  Final count will be announced next week. Thank you to all who contributed.  Exciting news:  Team Hankins received 500 additional pennies from Mr. English for having great attendance this week. :)  Attendance Matters!!!!!

Next week's happenings:
NO School for students on Monday.

Reading-continue with our book clubs.  We are loving reading and discussing some great literature together.

Spelling-Unit 29 word list

Language-prepositions

Math-Identifying, measuring, and drawing angles as well as decimals/fractions, and multiplying fractions.

Montana History-fur trapping/trading era

Have a great weekend and as always if any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Report Cards Went Home Today!!!

Yes, report cards went home today.  Overall, they were good.  If your child has straight A's (Terrific Kids) or brought up their grades (BUG)  from last quarter, they received a slip in there inviting you to the awards assembly on Friday, April 8th.
Also, some students received another slip about a celebration on Monday.  We are spending our Bitterroot Bucks for 3rd quarter and all students will get to participate in some form or another, but not all are eligible for lunch with me so those are the ones that received a slip so that they don't bring in a cold lunch.  Rewards are based on the amount of money they had which is based on making positive choices.  This last quarter is equally as important to make good choices and maybe even more so as we have field trips coming up and since they are a privilege and an extension to our learning in the classroom, students will need fake money to participate.  But like I always say-it is so easy to make money in here if you do "what is right".  Ask your child about the new ticket system they are excited about as just another way to earn that "fun" money.  If they can tell you, write $ in the planner for free money.
We are all working hard this last quarter to finish the year strong.  We have talked a lot and watched a video about "grit" & "perseverance".    More like that to come this coming week.

In Math, we are working hard on Geometry & Decimals.  Even though, geometry is an easier concept, we still need to take our time and be accurate when drawing angles, lines, segments, etc.
In Reading, we just finished Riding Freedom and will be going into 2 different novels and/or groups.
Spelling-Unit 28 word list which is on here.
Language-prepositions.
Social Studies, we are touring the SW region.  There are only 4 states in this region so no map was sent home to study.  I think your child already knows these 4 so ask them and if they do, write SW in the planner.
Blue slips for next year's re-districting-if you haven't returned yours yet, please do so.  Thank you.
Have a great weekend.