Weekend Notes

• No homework this weekend. :(  {booooooo}
• THANK YOU to the parents who provided treats and snacks. Also, five pizzas were perfect for the class. Any unopened snacks will be available for the students this coming week, if they choose to have any.
• Daylight Savings: Fall back an hour on Sunday. :)
• 49er Permission Slips need to be turned in by Tuesday. Event is on Wednesday. No slip = no participation. We still need a few (1-2) parent volunteers.
• If you haven't scheduled a conference yet, please: 1) see the available times here and 2) contact me with a date and time that works for you.
• TOMORROW is the last day to order yearbooks at their cheapest price ($20). Use this website to order yours now: http://www.betteryearbookpublishing.com/login/signin.htm  ( login: ruskin / password:  roadrunner ). Beginning 11/1, the price goes up to $30.
• You can personalize your back cover (by April 1) here: http://www.betteryearbook.com/byp_personalize.htm.
• District interim testing starts this week and runs through the next two weeks.
• This coming Friday, the fourth grades will be having a single Science Lab event in the Multi for about 1.5 hours. The students will be dissecting (sanitized) owl pellets and studying what their owl ate. IF YOUR CHILD IS ALLERGIC TO PET HAIR AND/OR DANDER (i.e., dandruff like skin cells), PLEASE LET ME KNOW. These students will be housed in the library during the Lab and will be working on a related activity.
• Have a Happy and Safe Halloween! :)

HW - Thursday, 10/29

Parents:

• This week is Red Ribbon ("Say NO to drugs") Week. Please see a previous post regarding the events. Tomorrow theme is: "Drugs are a trick NOT a treat" (wear your Halloween costume - this is optional)
• Tomorrow is the Halloween Parade. It will be done differently this year:
• 8:35 a.m. classes: Barrie, Calara, Dhillon, Foster, Jie-Ye, Kawasaki, Lee, Manan, Munoz, Murray, Perez, Rice (announcer), Wong
• 9:45 a.m. classes: Amutan (announcer), Beltran, Bisbee, Burns, Coan, Choi/Ouyang, Evans-Wilson, Kocher, Le, Owens, Pham, Twu, Wang
• We will have a class party after lunch recess. I will provide the pizzas (cheese and pepperoni). If you would like to donate something to the class, please be sure it is purchased from the store and not homemade; if it is homemade, it will not be served. Please email me if you are donating something tomorrow:
• Drinks:
• Snacks: BBQ chips, crackers/pretzels, 
• ALSO, regarding allergies and food preferences: please talk to your children about what foods they should not be eating. Thank you!
• Due to the parade tomorrow, NO science lab.
• Please collect all Walk-A-Thon donations! This week is the last week for collections! Help the PTA reach their goal!
• The November parent conference schedule is posted on the blog and will be updated daily. Please email me your THREE choices of dates and times. First come, first serve!
• November 4 (Wed.) is 49ers Gatorade Junior Training Camp at Ruskin. We will need parent volunteers to assist with the activities. If you are interested, please contact me ASAP. I will then forward your name to the office. Also, range permission slips will be in their Wednesday Folders tomorrow. Please sign and return them.
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. ALL FORMS ARE IN! The order has been submitted. We must now wait a few weeks for processing and hopefully we will get them before Thanksgiving Break. UPDATE: Insane Ink has informed me that the target delivery period is mid- to late- November.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #8e and Crossword 5-8 due Friday/ Test on Friday
• Time for Kids magazine (read and complete worksheet for Friday) / Short Quiz on Friday

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 113
• WKBK pgs. none

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science pgs. none

HW - Wednesday, 10/28

Parents:

• This week is Red Ribbon ("Say NO to drugs") Week. Please see a previous post regarding the events. Tomorrow theme is: "I'm too bright to use drugs" (wear your brightly colored clothing)
• Please collect all Walk-A-Thon donations! This week is the last week for collections! Help the PTA reach their goal!
• The November parent conference schedule is posted on the blog and will be updated daily. Please email me your THREE choices of dates and times. First come, first serve!
• November 4 (Wed.) is 49ers Gatorade Junior Training Camp at Ruskin. We will need parent volunteers to assist with the activities. If you are interested, please contact me ASAP. I will then forward your name to the office. Also, range permission slips will be in their Wednesday Folders tomorrow. Please sign and return them.
• This Wednesday, I will have a substitute as I prepare report cards and confer with a few parents.
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. ALL FORMS ARE IN! The order has been submitted. We must now wait a few weeks for processing and hopefully we will get them before Thanksgiving Break.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #8e and Crossword 5-8 due Friday/ Test on Friday
• Time for Kids magazine (read and complete worksheet for Friday) / Short Quiz on Friday
• Keep writing story ideas for your Harris Burdick picture and typing them using your Google Drive. Stories are due on Thursday. (Giving you one more day!)

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. none
• WKBK pgs. none
• Worksheets

4.   History pgs. 53-56, 57-60

5.   Science pgs. none

HW - Tuesday, 10/27

Parents:

• This week is Red Ribbon ("Say NO to drugs") Week. Please see a previous post regarding the events. Tomorrow is: "Making smart choices, like not using drugs, make me a superhero" (wear your superhero gear)
• Please collect all Walk-A-Thon donations! This week is the last week for collections! Help the PTA reach their goal!
• The November parent conference schedule is posted on the blog and will be updated daily. Please email me your THREE choices of dates and times. First come, first serve!
• November 4 (Wed.) is 49ers Gatorade Junior Training Camp at Ruskin. We will need parent volunteers to assist with the activities. If you are interested, please contact me ASAP. I will then forward your name to the office. Also, range permission slips will be in their Wednesday Folders tomorrow. Please sign and return them.
• This Wednesday, I will have a substitute as I prepare report cards and confer with a few parents.
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. ALL FORMS ARE IN! The order has been submitted. We must now wait a few weeks for processing and hopefully we will get them before Thanksgiving Break.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #8c-d / Test on Friday
• Time for Kids magazine (read and complete worksheet for Friday)
• Keep writing story ideas for your Harris Burdick picture and typing them using your Google Drive. Stories are due on Thursday. (Giving you one more day!)

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. none
• WKBK pgs. none
• Worksheet

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science pgs. none
- review for your Chapter 3 Open Book Science Test tomorrow

HW - Monday, 10/26

Parents:

• This week is Red Ribbon ("Say NO to drugs") Week. Please see a previous post regarding the events. Tomorrow is: "Turn your back on drugs" (wear your shirt backwards)
• Please collect all Walk-A-Thon donations!
• The November parent conference schedule is posted on the blog and will be updated daily. Please email me your THREE choices of dates and times. First come, first serve!
• November 4 (Wed.) is 49ers Gatorade Junior Training Camp at Ruskin. We will need parent volunteers to assist with the activities. If you are interested, please contact me ASAP. I will then forward your name to the office.
• This Wednesday, I will have a substitute as I prepare report cards and confer with a few parents.
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. ALL FORMS ARE IN! The order has been submitted. We must now wait a few weeks for processing and hopefully we will get them before Thanksgiving Break.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #8a-b / Test on Friday
• Time for Kids magazine (read for today)
• Keep writing story ideas for your Harris Burdick picture and typing them using your Google Drive. Stories are due on Wednesday.

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 108-109, 110-111
• WKBK pgs. none

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science pgs. 108-110; 111-112 (#1-20 and Map the Concept)

Red Ribbon Week is This Week

Just a friendly reminder that this week is Red Ribbon week.

MONDAY - "Sock it to drugs!" Wear crazy socks!

TUESDAY - "Turn your back on drugs!" Wear your shirt backwards.

WEDNESDAY - "Be a hero. Don't use drugs!" Wear a superhero cape and/or shirt.

THURSDAY - "You're too bright to use drugs." Wear bright colors.

FRIDAY - "Drugs are tricks NOT treats." Wear your Halloween costume.

Weekend Notes

• Please contact me to schedule your Parent Conference. I will assign conference dates and times if no message is received. See the previous blog entry for the link to the schedule, which will be updated once on Saturday and Sunday.
• Friday, 10/30 is the Halloween Parade. We will be walking with our little buddies. I believe another room (possibly the library) will be set aside for those students who choose not to participate in the parade. Please let me know if your child will not be participating so that alternate plans can be made.
• Book orders are due Monday, 11/2.
• Burdick stories are due Wednesday. We will be working on them on Monday and Tuesday.
• HW due Tuesday: Math Text (108-109); Science Text (108-110)

Enjoy your weekend!

Go Quakes!

#DecisionDay

November Conference Schedule

Parents,

An email was sent to those who provided their email accounts to me. If you did not, I am posting the schedule here: http://ruskinamutan.blogspot.com/p/conference-schedule-nov-2013.html
(Don't worry about the "2013" in the URL above. The content is current.)

It is FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, so please contact me with your THREE choices of dates and times.

Thank you and I look forward to meeting with you,

Mr. Amutan

HW - Thursday, 10/22

Parents:

• Please collect all Walk-A-Thon donations!
• Parent conference forms to be sent via email today. It will be posted on the blog almost simultaneously. Please email your THREE choices of dates and times. First come, first serve!
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. ALL FORMS ARE IN! The order has been submitted. We must now wait a few weeks for processing and hopefully we will get them before Thanksgiving Break.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #7e / Test on Friday
• Keep writing story ideas for your Harris Burdick picture and typing them using your Google Drive

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 104-107
• WKBK pgs. R / P 4-6

4.   History worksheet

5.   Science pgs. 104-107

HW - Wednesday, 10/21

Parents:

• THANK YOU to the parents who volunteered for today's field trip: Ms. Chou, Ms. Dinh, Mr. Gandham, Ms. Teu, Ms. Wu, and Mr. Yip!
• Please collect all Walk-A-Thon donations!
• Parent conference forms to go out Thursday (lots of Wednesday folder work were not filed)
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. ALL FORMS ARE IN! The order has been submitted. We must now wait a few weeks for processing and hopefully we will get them before Thanksgiving Break.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #7e (due Friday) / Test on Friday
• Keep writing story ideas for your Harris Burdick picture and typing them using your Google Drive

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. none
• WKBK pgs. none

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science pgs. none

• Don Edwards packet (students who have missing pages will get them tomorrow to complete)

Alice Finch: An Awesome Lego Builder

I met Alice a few times at Bricks by the Bay, the Lego convention held every August in Santa Clara.

I thought her Rivendell MOC was mind-blowing when I saw it being pieced together from what seemed like over twenty separately organized boxes.

Then I heard she was the one behind the massive Hogwarts MOC. This one is jaw-dropping due to the scale as well as the details she incorporated in the models.

Enjoy her Flickr albums of the models she (and her adolescent son) have completed.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/88574960@N02/albums/with/72157632858317817

HW - Tuesday, 10/20

Parents:

• For tomorrow's field trip, please:
• wear comfortable walking shoes
• bring a sweatshirt as we will be exposed to the cool air of the southern San Francisco Bay
• pack a disposable lunch
• mind your personal effects especially cameras, if you bring one
• Please collect all Walk-A-Thon donations!
• Parent conference forms to go out tomorrow
• Field trip permission slips are needed ASAP!
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. ALL FORMS ARE IN! The order has been submitted. We must now wait a few weeks for processing and hopefully we will get them before Thanksgiving Break.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #7c-d / Test on Friday
• Keep writing story ideas for your Harris Burdick picture and typing them using your Google Drive

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. none
• WKBK pgs. R / P 4-5

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science pgs. 96-99; 100-101

• Don Edwards prep sheets (2)

The Timeline of Star Wars (movies, cartoons, books, comics, etc.)

Here is the "Timeline of Canon Media" according to the Star Wars Wikipedia website.

To make it easier and presumably more manageable in your preparation for Star Wars: The Force Awakens in December, you can actually hide the books, comic books, etc. from the timeline and only focus on the movies and cartoons.

Enjoy!

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Timeline_of_canon_media

Hello Kitty Meets Star Wars

Enjoy "Cat Wars"...meh...-ow...

HW - Monday, 10/19

Parents:

• Please collect all Walk-A-Thon donations!
• Today, the students continued typing and editing their Harris Burdick stories.
• Parent conference forms to go out this Wednesday
• Field trip permission slips are needed ASAP!
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. ALL FORMS ARE IN! The order has been submitted. We must now wait a few weeks for processing and hopefully we will get them before Thanksgiving Break.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #7a-b / Test on Friday
• Keep writing story ideas for your Harris Burdick picture and typing them using your Google Drive

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 100-101; 102-103
• WKBK pgs. R / P 4-4
• Mindbenders #15

4.   History pgs. 49-52

5.   Science pgs. 88-93

Community Meeting on Monday

Two Lego Events...

LINK to Lego Build Event:

http://shop.lego.com/en-US/minibuild-registration;jsessionid=7A6E415BE3EC5FF68F94DF08A3CC7C0B.lego-ps10?ShipTo=US&_requestid=589871

HW - Thursday, 10/15

Parents:

• Please collect all Walk-A-Thon donations!
• Today, the students were introduced to their Google Drive and many started typing their Harris Burdick stories.
• They continued watching Island of the Blue Dolphins today but have about 10 minutes of the movie left.
• Parent conference forms to go out soon...
• Field trip permission slips (for this coming Wednesday's field trip) are going out tomorrow.
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. ALL FORMS ARE IN! The order has been submitted. We must now wait a few weeks for processing and hopefully we will get them before Thanksgiving Break.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #6e (due Friday) / Test on Friday
• Keep writing story ideas for your Harris Burdick picture and typing them using your Google Drive

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. none
• WKBK pgs. R / P 4-2 and 4-3
• Mindbenders #11-12 (do NOT do any others beyond #12!)

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science pgs. none

HW - Wednesday, 10/14

Parents:

• Tomorrow is our second Spirit Day: Wear Pink for Stand Up to Cancer Awareness
• Please collect all Walk-A-Thon donations!
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. I am still missing ONE order form.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #6e (due Friday) / Test on Friday
• Keep writing story ideas for your Harris Burdick picture

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 96-99
• WKBK pgs. none
• Mindbenders #11 (do NOT do any others beyond #11!)

4.   History Unit 2 packet (two worksheets)

5.   Science Interactive Text pgs. 30-55 / Open Book Chapter 2 Science Test tomorrow

Sumdog News

Just in from Sumdog:

Extra rewards for long questions

Some questions - like word problems, or graphs - just take a little bit longer. So to encourage students, we now give extra rewards for them.

We've analysed each skill to research how long the questions take, and ranked the skills accordingly.

For the longer questions, a correct answer will now be rewarded with one or two bonus coins. 

And that's not all: to help you stay in the game, you'll also get one or two extra turns.

Give it a go - you'll soon find your students loving word problems!

HW - Tuesday, 10/13

Parents:

• TOMORROW is Picture Day.
• Ruskin's Fourth Grade teachers have a training this Wednesday and will be out after class pictures are taken.
• Tomorrow, the students will be watching the movie adaptation of Island of the Blue Dolphins form 1964. A good video which, I feel, is totally appropriate for kids compared to what's on TV these days. Previous classes have seen it and enjoyed it. Amazingly, there hasn't been a more recent, better version done since. (I just found out through some searching that the kid actor who plays Ramo, a Filipino-American named Larry Domasin, is the great-uncle of Hailee Steinfeld, the actress/singer from True Grit, Ender's Game, and Pitch Perfect 2 (and 3).) Here are links to the movie's synopsis as well as some reviews: IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.
• Thursday is our second Spirit Day: Wear Pink for Stand Up to Cancer Awareness
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. I am still missing ONE order form.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #6c-d / Test on Friday
• Keep writing story ideas for your Harris Burdick picture

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 94-95
• WKBK pgs. R / P 4-1; R 4-2
• Mindbenders #10 (do NOT do any others beyond #10!)

4.   History pgs. 45-48

5.   Science pgs. 78-79 / Open Book Chapter 2 Science Test on Thursday

Class T-Shirt Design is in!

I just checked my email from Hallie of Insane Ink and here are the pics of our class t-shirt!

(Note: I don't think the collar will be gray.)

Now all I need are two shirt sizes and the shirts can be ordered!

HW - Monday, 10/12

Parents:

• THANK YOU to the parents and guardians who were able to assist today with the Walk-A-Thon!
• Wednesday (10/14) is Picture Day.
• Ruskin's Fourth Grade teachers have a training this Wednesday
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. I am still missing TWO order forms.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #6a-b / Test on Friday
• Keep writing story ideas for your Harris Burdick picture

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 90-93
• WKBK pgs. none
• Mindbenders #7 (do NOT do any others beyond #7!)

4.   History pgs. 41-44

5.   Science pgs. 76-77 (#1-20 + Map the Concept)

Monday is Ruskin's Walk-A-Thon

Just a few last-minute tidbits:

• Here are the following parents/guardians helping out this Monday from 1:55 - 2:40 p.m.: Ms. Dinh,  Ms. Kuo, Ms. Shen, Ms. Valeroso, Ms. Wang, and possibly another parent or two. Thank you for volunteering!

• Students should bring water bottles and dress for warm weather (monitor the forecasts). They should also dress with appropriate clothing for walking (shoes, etc.).

• Due to the Walk-A-Thon, we will not be going to the Fitness Center on Monday.

UPDATE: Saturday, 10/10: Girls Day @ The Tech (FREE Admission for girls andtheir families)

UPDATE:  I called The Tech and they said you must register via the (Eventbrite) links on their page. It is FREE admission for the girl's family (sibling/s and parent/s) but up to FOUR PEOPLE can get in for free.

LINK to the Tech Museum's Girls Day Page

Girls Day @ The Tech

Saturday, Oct. 10  |  10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sponsored by Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula

Girls of all ages — along with their brothers and parents! — are invited to a day of hands-on STEM learning at The Tech Museum of Innovation, sponsored by the Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula. Come celebrate computer science pioneer Ada Lovelace as our daughters demonstrate that anyone can code, and everyone can build.

What’s in store, all free with museum admission:

• 90-minute workshops and drop-in activities in circuitry, app design, coding, robot programming and more.
• Drawing demos and activities with special guest April Chu, the New York Times-celebrated illustrator of “Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine.”
• Hands-on exhibits such as Social Robots and Cyber Detectives, presented by Palo Alto Networks.

Afternoon Workshops

Limited seating. First come, first served.

The Tech Awards Social Innovation Workshop | 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Girls Make Games | 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Shadow Stories Workshop with Benesse | 2 to 3:30 p.m.

HW - Thursday, 10/8

Parents:

• Tomorrow is PTA Movie Night: Disney's Monkey Kingdom (2015). Doors open at 6:00 p.m. As always, it's FREE and there will be a snack shop if you're hungry.
• HELP NEEDED: Our classroom needs a parent volunteer to do the Project Cornerstone readings and activities. Please email me if you can do this once-a-month, in-the-classroom activity! Thank you in advance!
• Walk-A-Thon is this coming Monday! This is the time to ask the people you know to help support your child! Also, students will not be allowed to participate unless there is a signed permission slip.
• Next Wednesday (10/14) is Picture Day.
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. I am still missing TWO order forms.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #5e / Test on Friday

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 87
• WKBK pgs. none
• Two Topic 3 Enrichment Worksheets
• Topic 3 Test tomorrow

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science pgs. 72-73, 74 (math)

HW - Wednesday, 10/7

Parents:

• HELP NEEDED: Our classroom needs a parent volunteer to do the Project Cornerstone readings and activities. Please email me if you can do this once-a-month, in-the-classroom activity! Thank you in advance!
• Walk-A-Thon is this coming Monday! This is the time to ask the people you know to help support your child! Also, students will not be allowed to participate unless there is a signed permission slip.
• Next Wednesday (10/14) is Picture Day.
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. I am still missing TWO order forms.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #5e (due Friday) / Test on Friday

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 84-86
• WKBK pgs. none
• Topic 3 Test on Friday

4.   History pgs. 37-40

5.   Science pgs. 64-65 (answer in one paragraph); 68-71

HW - Tuesday, 10/6

Parents:

• Sorry for the late post! I had three meetings after school today!
• Scholastic Book Orders are due tomorrow, 10/7.
• Walk-A-Thon is this coming Monday! This is the time to ask the people you know to help support your child! Also, students will not be allowed to participate unless there is a signed permission slip.
• Next Wednesday (10/14) is Picture Day!
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. I am still missing FIVE order forms.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #5c-d / Test on Friday

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. None
• WKBK pgs. P 3-5, P 3-6

4.   History pgs. None

5.   Science pgs. 56-63

Ruskin's Walk-A-Thon is Next Monday!

Parents,

  With the Walk-A-Thon a week away (Monday, 10/12), here are a few things that need your attention:

• If you haven't yet signed and turned in your child's Walk-A-Thon permission slips, please do so immediately. PTA is collecting them this Wednesday, 10/7.
• WE NEED (about 5) PARENT VOLUNTEERS to assist with marking student tags and supervising the students. Please contact me ASAP if you are interested in volunteering.
• Here is the schedule for the day: 4^th & 5^th Grades – Report at 10:25 am; walk from 10:35 am to 11:20 am (20 min walk, 5 min break, 20 min walk)

  Thank you for your support and cooperation!

HW - Monday, 10/5 (updated)

Parents:

• Today, we finished Island of the Blue Dolphins, and we will be having a test on Wednesday (open book).
• Scholastic Book Orders will be due this Wednesday, 10/7.
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow. I am still missing NINE order forms.
• Scholastic Book Orders will be due this Wednesday, 10/7.
• Thank you to the parents who have submitted classroom donations!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #5a-b / Test on Friday
• Workbook pgs. 155, 157, 160-163 (don't do the bottom of 163)

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 78-79, 80-81
• WKBK pgs. R 3-5, R 3-6
• Math Quiz postponed to Tuesday

4.   History pgs. 31-36

5.   Science pgs. 48-53

This Saturday at Barnes and Noble, Star Wars Reads Day...and build a free Lego mini-Millennium Falcon set!

Star Wars Reads Day

Special Event, Children's Event (Childrens) 
Saturday Oct 10, 2015 2:00 PM

» More about this event
» See more events at this store
» Add to Calendar
» Email a friend

      

Eastridge Mall

Eastridge Shopping Center 2200 Eastridge Loop Space 1420
San Jose, CA 95122
408-270-9470 | Distance: 6.09 miles

» Map & Directions
» Store Hours

» Add to My B&N Stores  

HW - Thursday, 10/1

Parents:

• Happy October everyone!
• Tomorrow is Ruskin's 2nd Annual Multicultural Fair from 5 - 7 p.m. There will be hands-on crafts and activities; music; live performances; and FOOD...sampler sized, tasty bites from the different countries represented! $2 includes a bowl and utensil for the appetizers and a bottle of water. See you there!
• Our class t-shirt has been chosen! We will be the LUCKY SNOW LEOPARDS and Joanie's picture was selected as the cover art for the light blue shirt with gold lettering (barring production issues). The company we will be using is Insane Ink, a longstanding class business at Piedmont Hills High School, which is staffed by former Ruskin students. Hallie, the account manager for our school, will be mocking up the t-shirt sample next week. Order forms will be in the Wednesday Folder tomorrow.
• Scholastic Book Orders will be due next Wednesday, 10/7.
• Today begins the Sharks Reading Is Cool program. Your child will learn more about what to do in class tomorrow.

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for the month: MOST PAGES READ

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test
• Wordly Wise #4e and Crossword / Test on Friday

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 74-77
• WKBK pgs. R / P 3-4
• Math Quiz tomorrow covering Topic 3, Lessons 1-4 and random Topics 1 and 2 lessons

4.   History pgs. none

• Geography Worksheet

5.   Science pgs. none

This Sunday, Give Hockey a Try for FREE...just for the girls though!

We have had some Ruskin students play for the Junior Sharks program, so it would not be new if a Ruskin student fell in love with the game of hockey and ended up making the team.

But this event is ONLY FOR GIRLS!

You must register (and create an account) so here is the link:  http://www.sjjrsharks.com/news_article/show/552879?referrer_id=799633

DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Spots may fill up.

Two Free Girls Give Hockey-A-Try Sessions on Sunday, October 4th

09/11/2015, 12:00pm PDT

By Sharks Ice Hockey Dept

Open To 2002 through 2010 Birth Year Girls

The San Jose Jr Sharks and Sharks Ice at San Jose are hosting a Girls Give Hockey-A-Try event on Sunday, October 4th. This program is free and open to girls birth year 2002 through 2010. There are two sessions to choose from; 8:30-9:30 am or 12:00-1:00 pm. Complete hockey gear and coaching is included.

If you have a daughter, little sister neighbor, cousin, niece and granddaughter that has been wanting to play ice hockey, then this is their chance. Girls hockey is thriving with the San Jose Jr Sharks Girls teams boasting over 130 female hockey players, ages 5-19, that play against girls all over North America. Go from watching your daughter play dress-up to dressing up to play!

To register for either session, please click on the link below. All you need to do is sign up and show up. That is it! Skates, stick, hockey equipment and coaching will be provided. Participants should wear lightweight, athletic clothing and arrive 45-60 minutes before their scheduled session. Spots are limited so sign up quick!