May News

Dear Parents,

The end of the year is fast approaching and we would like to make sure you know about important dates and events.

First, the library needs ALL books returned no later than Wed., May 23. Both Mr. Lupo and myself have loaned out (honor system) hundreds of books (literally). Please check backpacks, tote trays, closets, under beds, etc and return them ASAP. Each year we spend $100’s to replace books from our classrooms.

We start our social studies presentations tomorrow, and research papers are due then too. When we finish up those, we will start our debates on the geographical issues of the Western Hemisphere. The kids are very excited to start passionately arguing their issues. Remember that your students should have 30 books read by next Friday, and their spiral summaries turned in then too.

Ken Caryl Middle School’s, librarian will be coming next week to talk to your children about their AR summer reading program. Ask your child about what they heard, and what goals they will set for summer reading.

Our slide show and root beer float get together is Tuesday, May 29 at 5:45 in the gym. We will start at 6:00pm. We will burn CD’s for everyone because the pictures are just wonderful.

The school wide award assembly is Wednesday, May 30 at 9:30 in the gym. From there we will take a bus to the Columbine Knolls pool and arrive around 10:45-11:00. A flyer and permission slip was sent home in Friday folders last week. We need to collect that $5 and slip ASAP. We will hand out continuation certificates, eat lunch and swim until 3:00. It is your responsibility to pick up your child from the pool at that time. Report cards will be handed out at 3:00.

There is no school for sixth graders on Thursday, May 31.

I hope that clarifies everything. If you have any questions, please contact us directly.

Mrs. Story

May News

Dear Parents,

The end of the school year is fast approaching, and we have so many things going on. Please mark down important events on your calendars, as well as due dates for assignments. A lot of the end of year curriculum is a culmination of work that we have been doing throughout the year. The students will be taking all the skills they have learned, and putting it all together.

In social studies we are starting a research project on the geographical issues of the western hemisphere. This will entail working with a partner and identifying issues that affect the people in the western hemisphere. We will spend time researching, taking notes, analyzing data, graphs, maps, videos, texts, etc. to draw conclusions and pose solutions. A writing assignment of an essay will accompany this, as well as an oral presentation. As a culminating project our classes will have a debate on the issues. We are incorporating, reading, writing, math, communication, social studies and technology standards. You children might need some help with this project, so please ask them to keep you updated.

Important dates to remember:

Wed., May 2-Technology book reports, summaries due

Thurs., May 3-Talent show 9:30am

Fri., May 4-Furlough day, no school

Wed., May 9-Dictionary Day

Mon., May 13-Field Day

Wed., May 16-Early Release 1:15

Tues., May 29-Photo slideshow, root beer floats in gym 6:00pm

Wed., May 30-School award ceremony, pool party/continuation

Thurs., May 31-Sixth graders do not have to come to school for half day

Thank you for keeping your students focused and working for the last month of school. We still have a lot to do. If you have any questions, please email us.

Mr. Lupo, Mrs. Story

March News

Dear Parents,
The month of March is finally here. We start TCAP (CSAP) on Tuesday, March 6. As always, please make sure your child comes to school fully rested and with a healthy breakfast. During the two weeks of testing, we won’t be sending home any homework, however they are still expected to read, read, read every night.
Their 3-D book report is due also on Tuesday, March 6. We have been talking about this in class over the last two weeks and your child should have been working on it. Report cards go home next Friday, March 9 and this book report will be reflected on that report card.
Thank you to all the parents who came to conferences this past month. It is wonderful to see such support at home.
Please mark your calendars for the 6th grade continuation meeting to be held on Thursday, March 8, from 6:30 to 7:30pm in the Leawood Community Room. Parents will be discussing plans for the sixth grade continuation activities and the sixth grade memory book. Have you submitted your pictures??? Please send to Ron and Mary Thompson at caseymattie@msn.com or copy to cd and give to Mattie Thompson – Mrs. Story’s class. Please feel free to contact Kristi Zakrzewski if you have questions, 303-797-7060.
If you don’t send in your pictures, your child will have a blank page in the memory book. Please make this a priority.
We just wanted you to know how awesome your sixth graders did at the Share the Love food drive in February. It was freezing cold and none of them whined or complained. We collected over 6 tons of food and more than $1700 in cash and gift cards.

Dear Parents,
We have been very busy since we got back from Christmas break. Your students presented their third book report, as well as completed one science project about water. A social studies project about early cultures in the Western Hemisphere is due next Wed, Feb 1. Don’t forget the science fair is Fri, Feb 3rd.
Spring conferences are coming up during the week of Feb 13-17. Forms are coming home this Friday. We are only conferencing with certain students. If you did not get an invitation for a conference, and would like to chat, please email your teacher and request one.

Due to the influx of e-readers and electronic devices since break, we have had to evaluate how to handle these new items in school. In your child’s Friday folder is a contract we need all parents to sign about using this technology in school. Essentially, we want to make sure they are being responsible and safe using the Jeffco guest network. Also, these items are expensive and there is a risk in bringing them to school. Cell phones are considered an electronic device. Please have a discussion with your child, as we have done in our classrooms about these items.

Congratulations to our sixth grade Brain Bowl team last Saturday. They placed 12th out of 30 teams in the North Regional competition. It was a fun-filled Saturday with kids and parents.

Don’t forget Ken Caryl Middle School open house on Feb 2 5:30-7:30. This is for parents only.
See you at the Valentine’s Day party, or the science fair, or at conferences this month. Whew, busy month.
Mrs. Story, Mr. Lupo

Last Minute News

Dear Parents,
Well the time is finally here. Monday we leave for a week at Windy Peak Outdoor Lab School. Here are some things to remember.
• If your child has medication that needs to be checked in Monday morning, please be in the front hallway at 8:30am. The students brought home a form about that today.
• The night time temps at Windy Peak have been 10-5 degrees, so bring winter gear and lots of layers.
• Everyone needs a camera, either digital or disposable.
• Please label everything!
• Water bottles are a necessity!
• If your child does not have medication to be checked in, have them at school no earlier than 8:50am on Monday.
• Have all luggage labeled.

Tomorrow is our Veteran’s Day/Grandparent’s Day celebration. Please bring cookies for girls and juice for boys for our in class reception. The choir concert starts at 2:30 in the gym, and then we will move to our classrooms for a special reading of poems your children have written over the last few days.
Book reports will be due the week after Thanksgiving break, on Dec. 1. This is our oral book report. Their spiral notebook of summaries will be due then also. Report cards will go home on that Friday, Dec 2.
We will hopefully see you tomorrow.
Mr. Lupo and Mrs. Story

Oct-Nov News

Happy Halloween,
Thank you to all who made our parties fun and healthy. We enjoyed every minute of them, and were back to class work by 11:00.
It was wonderful to see everyone last week at conferences. It is a great feeling to work together as a team to make sure your children are a success. Remember to check Parent Portal every week for the latest on grades and missing assignments. This will help you tremendously next year in middle school.
One of our community service projects met this past weekend at the horse stables. We groomed, tacked, untacked horses and were side walkers for the class with disabled students. The weather was great, and so were the horses. Your students were respectful and kind. I couldn’t have been prouder if they were my own kids.
We will pursue the service project with the burn center after Thanksgiving. Of course the Share the Love Food Drive will be in February.
Hopefully students are getting packed for outdoor lab. They are very excited and a bit nervous too. Remember on Mon, Nov 14 they need to be here at the usually time of 8:50 with luggage. If your child has medication to be checked in please be here at 8:30 in the front hallway. On Fri., Nov. 18 we will be back around 1:30 and your children need to be picked up then and taken home for showers, fast food and TV.
Thank you for your continued support of Leawood.
Mr. Lupo and Mrs. Story

October News

Dear Parents,
Conferences are almost here. Be sure to check your scheduled time and bring your student with you. We love to celebrate their successes. If you have a scheduling conflict, please call to reschedule asap.
In math we just completed Unit 1, which was data analysis. We are moving onto place value, working with decimals and powers of 10. Also, please remind students to bring their Math Mates on Thursdays. They have one week to complete them.
In social studies we have recently completed a competition among groups to learn about and prepare a presentation about the Legislative Branch. Wow, they were fabulous. Much emphasis was put on creativity, content and accuracy. This week we are working in partners to research the Executive Branch. They have to design a “hat” that the president wears, representing a job that he does, as well as write an instructional manual of how to be a successful president. We are filming these on Wednesday. It proves to be an interesting assignment.
In science we are taking a break from Ecosystems and moving into Earth’s surfaces. We are studying layers of the Earth, volcanoes and minerals. Check out their web pages and new science terms they have posted.
In writing we are almost done with instructional writing. They have worked hard trying to stay on topic, and keep their writing in second person perspective. One of our new targets is temporal transitions, and they are getting the hang of using them. They are also getting really good at including complex sentences in their writing.
Both classes are focusing on author’s purpose and character traits in our reading groups. Some students are getting double doses of strategies based on the most recent Acuity data. A few are getting some extra help in fluency and phrasing from a resources teacher. We are trying very hard to make sure each child receives individual attention during our reading time.
We ask that your student leave their water bottles at home from now on. The water bottles have become a constant source of disruption in both classes. Students leave them on their desks, or counter for weeks (disgustingly filthy), they roll all over the floor, they leak, they end up getting their school books wet in their backpacks when they leak, they leave them in the other sixth grade room, and they drink out of them all day long which makes the trips to the restroom-numerous. We have a drinking fountain in our rooms, so this shouldn’t be an inconvenience to anyone. Thank you for supporting this decision.

Don’t forget conferences, and don’t forget our Halloween party on Monday, Oct 31 at 9:15-10:45am.

Mr. Lupo
Mrs. Story