Happy Monday! Its hard to believe, but in just one week we’ll be done with the first quarter…wow! This week we’ll continue with parent-teacher conferences, as a result we will be on a minimum day schedule with students being released at 1:15 pm. I hope your conferences have been informative and helpful. As always, if you have additional questions please make sure to ask your teacher to arrange an appointment for some additional time or if you’d like to speak to me feel free to stop by to arrange an appointment.

PTA FALL FESTIVAL

I want to encourage all of you to mark your calendars for our upcoming PTA sponsored Fall Festival on October 18th.  There will be fun, food, games, live entertainment and prizes, as well as opportunity drawings and silent auctions.  The proceeds will be used to provide educational assemblies, field trips, and playground equipment for our children
here at school. However, we need your help to make this event successful.  Teachers
and their classrooms are contributing by creating a theme basket for the silent
auction.  Here is a list of the classroom baskets:

TK – Sports (Geared for dads)
Kindergarten – Toys for Girls & Toys for Boys
1st Grade – Legos
2nd Grade – Baking/Cooking
3rd Grade – Movie Night
4th Grade – Spa (Geared for moms)
5th Grade – Holiday
6th Grade – Beverages
PTA Baskets – Reading, Gift Cards, a Night Out

Please feel free to contribute an item that is not related to your classroom theme.  Those items can be used in another basket or for the opportunity drawing.  Please send donated items to your child’s classroom by Friday, October 11, 2013.  This will give us time to put the baskets together.

We hope to have enough middle and high school volunteers to
work the game booths, but we need volunteers to help work the food, prize and
ticket booths during the festival.  We hope to have enough volunteers that each
will only need to commit to one hour.  If you are available to help please let us know.  If you have questions, please email dbmendoza1027@yahoo.com or
drop a note in the PTA mailbox located in the main office.

Events This Week:

Tuesday- ELAC meeting at 8:30 am
Thursday- Attendance Awards and 6th grade Rubios fundraiser from 2 pm to 9 m
Friday-Achievement Awards

This week teachers will begin conferencing with parents to discuss student progress. You may be interested in watching this short video to help you prepare for your meeting.

You can also read below for helpful information

A Tip Sheet for Parents

As a parent, you are your child’s first and most important teacher. You and McMillin School have something in common: We both want your child to do well and learn. When parents and teachers talk to each other, each person can share important information about your child’s talents and needs. Each person can also learn something new about how to help your child. Parent–teacher conferences are a great way to start talking to your child’s teachers. This tip sheet suggests ways that you can make the most of parent-teacher conferences so that everyone wins, especially your child.

What should you expect?

⇒ A two-way conversation. Like all good conversations, parent–teacher conferences are best when both people talk and listen. The conference is a time for you to learn about your child’s progress in school. But it is also a time for the teacher to learn about what your child is like at home. When you tell the teacher about your child’s skills, interests, needs, and dreams, the teacher can help your child more.

⇒ Emphasis on learning. Good parent–teacher conferences focus on how well the child is doing in school. They also talk about how the child can do even better. To get ready for the conversation, look at your child’s homework, tests, and notices before the conference. Be sure to bring a list of questions that you would like to ask the teacher.

⇒ Opportunities and challenges. Just like you, teachers want your child to succeed. You will probably hear positive feedback about your child’s progress and areas for improvement. Be prepared by thinking about your child’s strengths and challenges beforehand. Be ready to ask questions about ways you and the teacher can help your child with some of his or her challenges

What should you talk to the teacher about?

⇒ Progress. Find out how your child is doing by asking questions like: Is my child performing at grade level? How is he or she doing compared to the rest of the class? What do you see as his or her strengths? How could he or she improve?

⇒ Assignments and assessments. Ask to see examples of your child’s work. Ask how the teacher gives grades.

⇒ Your thoughts about your child. Be sure to share your thoughts and feelings about your child. Tell the teacher what you think your child is good at. Explain what he or she needs more help with.

⇒ Support learning at home. Ask what you can do at home to help your child learn. Ask if the teacher knows of other programs or services in the community that could also help your child.

How should you follow up?

⇒ Make a plan. Write down the things that you and the teacher will each do to support your child. You can do this during the conference or after. Write down what you will do, when, and how often. Make plans to check in with the teacher in the coming months.

⇒ Schedule another time to talk. Communication should go both ways. Ask how you can contact the teacher. And don’t forget to ask how the teacher will contact you too. There are many ways to communicate—in person, by phone, notes, email. Make a plan that works for both of you. Be sure to schedule at least one more time to talk in the next few months.

⇒ Talk to your child. The parent–teacher conference is all about your child, so don’t forget to include him or her. Share with your child what you learned. Show him or her how you will help with learning at home. Ask for his or her suggestions.

Friday Sept 13 from 6 pm to 8 pm is Movie Night at McMillin sponsored by the PTA.  Hope you can make it!

 

Happy Tuesday!

I hope everyone had the chance to stay cool over a great 3 day weekend. Its hard to believe we only have 3 weeks left before our first break of the year. Teachers will be preparing for our first Parent Teacher Conference, which will officially start on Thursday Sep. 12. More information on this important event soon.

If you missed picture day last week we will have make-up’s on Wed. Sept 4.

Tip of the Week

After downloading our McMillin App please remember to UNSUBSCRIBE from all groups you DO NOT want to receive push notifications from. To do this go to PUSH NOTES on the App and UNSUBSCRIBE from all the ones you dont want.

Have a great week everyone!