Armstrong Update 11-12-15

Greetings Armstrong Parents! 

            It’s almost time for Mayo’s annual Thanksgiving community day! If you are new to Mayo, we typically have 2-3 Community Days per year where the students stay in their family groups for a half a day to a whole day doing community building activities related to a certain topic. Our Thanksgiving Community day will be on Tuesday, November 24^th. We will be working on Thanksgiving crafts/activities in our Family groups as well as eating a traditional Thanksgiving lunch together- turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, and cranberry sauce. You are welcomed and encouraged to join your child(ren) for lunch on that day, RSVP’s are required if you are eating from the cafeteria. Attached is the last minute RSVP form; make sure you turn it in, it’s due tomorrow! Bring it to the office or give it to your child’s homebase teacher. Lunch times vary depending on your child’s family teacher and the schedule is attached along with the RSVP form. 

Some FYIs:

- The Koalas will be leading Celebrations tomorrow!

- Please remind your child that their lunch is to be eaten in the cafeteria. There have been several students bringing extra chips from their lunch onto the playground during recess. Food is to stay in the cafeteria and not come out to the playground.

-Sadly, we have had another instant where Armstrongs were doing things they shouldn’t be doing.  While Mrs. Smith was gone sick one day, there were certain students who got the master locker list and wrote down people’s combinations.  We are currently trying to find out who those people are.  Most of the kids have been upfront and honest with us and we greatly appreciate that.  We are disappointed, however, in those that decided this was an ok thing to do.  We have talked to the Armstrongs as a group, but anything you can add at home about integrity and honesty would definitely be helpful.  Hopefully, behavior will start changing and we won’t have to keep writing about new negative experiences in the newsletter. 

- (As previously stated) The Armstrong area has had a rough month in regards to hateful words and bullying among the students.  Mr. Joslin was in our area yesterday speaking to all the students about it and we are hoping that this will be a stop to all the negativity.  If you have time, please speak to your student about this subject and guide them on some good things to do in those situations.  Also, encourage your child to report any form of bullying to a teacher or staff member.  Bullying is the repeated harassment of someone in order to make them feel bad, either emotionally or physically. Although we as teachers have addressed this and Mr. Joslin has addressed this, it is still happening. We will continue to have community circles in our homebases about this, but please continue to talk with your child(ren) as well. We are still waiting for this to get better as well.

 - Please remember to return your home ‘n backs to the tubs in the cafeteria or the front lobby. Any items that need to be returned have your students give to their homeroom teacher.

Biztown: February 8^th and 9^th: Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Smith were able to attend a training yesterday to get us ready for our trip to Biztown in February. We got so excited!! The kids will love it!!! What we are asking of you, however, is that we need at least 14 parents from each homebase triad, to commit to coming that day with us from 9-1:30; that is 28 volunteers total for the whole Armstrong area.  If you volunteer you will be taking on a serious responsibility.  The volunteers are expected to help the students at the business they are assigned.  They are also expected to watch a couple training videos online.  You will be helping on the day your student goes, but will not be in the same business as your student. We are sending home a form in the home n’ backs today and would LOVE for 28 of you fine adult volunteers to send those back in saying you’d like to help J. If you have any questions they should be answered on that form.

February 8^th: Najera, Hewitt, Moore

February 9^th: Smith, Guss, Molina    

Mayo Application Window and Tour Dates – The application window for PK students is open!  Applications should be available online and parents can visit http://www.tulsaschools.org/enroll for additional information.  Incoming PK students of current Mayo students receive sibling preference.  However, you MUST still complete the online application by the deadline on Friday, January 15.  Existing parents will need to obtain a letter from Mr. Joslin before submitting the application.  The lottery will be held on Wednesday, February 4 at Thoreau at 6:00PM.  You do not have to be present.  Notification letters are scheduled to be sent out Thursday, February 11.

Potential Pre-K parents must attend a tour of Mayo and obtain a letter signed by Mr. Joslin, which indicates that the parent attended the tour.  Tour dates have been scheduled for:

Wednesday, November 18 @ 8:30AM

Thursday, December 3 @ 8:30AM

Thursday, December 10 @ 8:30AM

Wednesday, December 16 @ 8:30AM

Wednesday, January 6 @ 8:30AM

Thursday, January 14 @ 6:00PM

We will be conducting separate tours for parents who are interested in any available slots for K-5 for next school year.  The window for these applications is Monday, April 4 – Friday, April 22.  We have not yet scheduled those tours.

Mr. Guss’ Literacy Homework - Literacy homework is due November 20, on Friday before Thanksgiving break.  It is the same as last cycle, to read a book and create a response from the Activity Menu.  Please, keep reading over the holiday. The sharper the skills the better the opportunities and that means brighter futures.  

IMPORTANT 5^TH GRADE INFORMATION:

- We had a meeting last night; please be checking your e-mail for notes from the meeting. We will not be having another meeting until January.  If you wanted to pay in installments and haven’t had a chance to turn your $50 for this month in, make sure you do! It can be brought to one of the three of us or you can get in touch with Mallory Sanstra. If you ever have any questions, please email Mrs. Moore (mooreco2@tulsaschools.org), Mr. Guss (gussal@tulsaschools.org) and Mrs. Smith (embryel@tulsaschools.org).

-If you have not already done so, please turn in your parent payment commitment form (click here for the form).  Mrs. Moore has received less than half and we need these to determine future details of our trip.  I have attached another copy in case you need it.

- 5^th grade Thoreau Shadow Dates and Applications – We have specific dates set aside for the 5^th grade Armstrongs to shadow at Thoreau in December. These dates are December 8^th and 9^th.  If your child’s homebase teacher is Mr. Najera, Mrs. Hewitt, or Mrs. Moore then you need to sign up for the 8^th.  If your child is in one of the other 3 homebases then you need to sign up for the 9^th. The purpose of these days is for the 5^th graders to have a chance to “shadow” a Thoreau student and participate in what would be a “typical” day in 6^th grade; you must contact Thoreau to reserve your child’s spot (this is for your child only.  If you wish to tour with your child those must be set up separately). Your child will be spending all day at Thoreau and will need to be dropped off in the morning.  Mrs. Moore sent home an e-mail with specifics a few weeks ago.  If you still have questions feel free to e-mail Mrs. Moore or Mrs. Smith.  All Mayo students have an automatic “in” into Thoreau for their 6^th grade year, however; you will still need to fill out an application and return it to the ESC during the application window. The application process for the 2016-2017 school year opens at midnight Monday, November 9, 2015 and will be available on the TPS website.
 
As always, if you have any questions please feel free to email your child’s homebase teacher, Mrs. Smith (embryel@tulsaschools.org) or myself (mooreco2@tulsaschools.org). I hope everyone has a great weekend!
 

Corinne Moore

Lead Armstrong Teacher 4^th/5^th

Mayo Demonstration

Upcoming Dates:

November 9th – Application Window opens for all TPS Magnet and Lottery schools.

November 16th – Edison MS to talk with 5^th graders (1:30-2:00). Parents welcome.

November 26th-28th – Thanksgiving Break

December 4^th- babysitting night fundraiser put on by the 5^th graders 

December 8^th- Najera, Hewitt, and Moore 5^th graders shadow at Thoreau (have to be signed up!)

December 9^th- Smith, Guss, and Molina 5^th graders shadow at Thoreau (have to be signed up!)