HW - Wednesday, 8/31

Parents:

• Friendly Reminder: I will not be on campus tomorrow due to a District Math Curriculum Meeting at the District Office. However, I will be at Ruskin for Back to School Night.
• Back to School Night is this Thursday from 6:45 - 7:30 p.m.
• No Music class this week as the forms are still being turned in, and the teachers will be making the classes. IT IS NOT TOO LATE to turn them in!
• If you haven't done so already, PLEASE E-MAIL me with your preferred e-mail address.
• Congratulations to Andrea, who had the winning design for our t-shirt! (We are the "Popularly Peaceful Pandas".)

1.  Read for 30 min. 

2.  Language Arts

• Wordly Wise 1e (due Friday); Test on Friday

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 14-17

4.   History

• TEXT pgs. none

5.   Science

• TEXT pgs. 8-11

Santa Clara Vector Control is Fogging Nearby

FYI:

Due to the discovery of West Nile in the Milpitas and North San Jose areas, the following zone (see below) will be ground fogged starting tomorrow, August 31 around 11 p.m. to early Thursday, September 1, around 2 a.m.

Ruskin is definitely out of the area but it's helpful information if you are traveling through or know someone in the affected area.

HW - Tuesday, 8/30

Parents:

• No Music class this week as the forms are still being turned in, and the teachers will be making the classes. IT IS NOT TOO LATE to turn them in!
• Back to School Night is this Thursday from 6:45 - 7:30 p.m.
• If you haven't done so already, PLEASE E-MAIL me with your preferred e-mail address.
• Congratulations to Andrea, who had the winning design for our t-shirt! (We are the "Popularly Peaceful Pandas".)
• Please TURN-IN:
• all important documents like Student Verification Forms, School Handbook forms, etc.
• yellow Highlights Magazine interest paper
• Scholastic Book Orders by this Friday, September 2.

1.  Read for 30 min. 

2.  Language Arts

• Wordly Wise 1 c-d; Test on Friday

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 10-11; 12-13

4.   History

• TEXT pgs. 5-6
• California Symbols Poster due Wednesday
• California Symbols quiz on Wednesday

5.   Science - None

Contest: Create a Public Service Announcement; Win Prizes

The SCCOE Civic Engagement PSA Video Contest is now open for all students in Santa Clara County. Students can enter as groups or individually in three grade-level categories: K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. The deadline to submit applications is September 23 and winning entries will be chosen in each of the three grade level categories. 

• For specific contest guidelines, objectives, and the official application, students can visit the website.
• Application Forms due 9/23.
• Choose one of these two prompts to create your video: 
1. What is Civic Engagement, and why is it important?
2. Create a PSA video that will motivate your peers, family and community members to take action

It would be great if Ruskin could get some submissions! 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places win a Video Production Kit for their teacher/classroom AND students receive gift cards!! 

Videos can even be in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, or Tagalog with English subtitles.

If you need assistance, please let me know.

I hope you enter it! GOOD LUCK!

HW - Monday, August 29

Parents:

• No Music class this week as the forms are still being turned in, and the teachers will be making the classes.
• Back to School Night is this Thursday from 6:45 - 7:30 p.m.
• Today, we started into most of our academic books.
• If you haven't done so already, PLEASE E-MAIL me with your preferred e-mail address.
• Please TURN-IN:
• all important documents like Student Verification Forms, School Handbook forms, etc.
• yellow Highlights Magazine interest paper
• Scholastic Book Orders by this Friday, September 2.

1.  Read for 30 min. 

2.  Language Arts

• Wordly Wise 1 a-b; Test on Friday
• BRING IN magazines to cut for your writing journal. You may also start your cutting at home. We start assembling tomorrow in class. (NOTE: Please do not bring in any magazines with objectionable material. They may be confiscated.)

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 6-9

4.   History

• California Symbols Poster due Wednesday
• California Symbols quiz on Wednesday (Study Sheet passed out today)

5.   Science - None

Road Closure 8/22-11/22: Northbound Capitol Ave. Between Hostetter Rd. and Sierra Rd.

This is going to cause backups around the Ruskin area especially Hostetter, Morrill, Sierra, and Berryessa roads.

Post for the Weekend

• If you have some spare time, check out the brand spanking new Lego Store at the downtown Westfield shopping mall in San Francisco. It's a flagship store so it should be pretty cool. They have special daily offers starting today through Sunday.
• Friday, August 26: FREE LEGO Backpack with a purchase of $50 or more
• Saturday, August 27: FREE Limited-Edition LEGO Store Set with a purchase of $99 or more
• Sunday, August 28: FREE Exclusive LEGO Minifigure Set with a purchase of $50 or more

• If you can't make it, then fret not! Toys R Us is offering a free Lego Captain America mosaic build tomorrow from 12 - 2 p.m.

• Some school-related news:
• T-Shirt designs for "Mr. Amutan's Popularly Peaceful Pandas" are due on Monday. Voting will take place also on Monday. Please keep the pictures black and white on an 8.5" x 11" paper. Simplicity is GOOD.
• Either cut out pictures or bring (appropriate) magazines to cut out at school for your writing journal covers. We will glue them and Mod Podge the covers through Wednesday.
• California Posters are due Wednesday. Research and study your State Symbols study sheet for the Wednesday quiz as well.
• Back to School Night is Thursday, September 1. I will be presenting from 6:45 - 7:30 p.m.
• Music (Band or Orchestra) enrollment forms are due this week. Please return them ASAP so Ms. Wang and Ms. Clements can create the classes. Music classes will start the week of September 6.
• Scholastic Book Orders are due by next Friday, September 3.
• We wrapped up these pre-assessments today: writing (narrative), history and science.
• Next week, we start all of our academic work (Wordly Wise, Reading, Math, Science, etc.).

Have a great weekend!

One week down...many more to go.

HW - Thursday, August 25

Parents:

• Tomorrow, we have P.E. Please dress accordingly and bring a water bottle.
• Refer to the previous Blog post re: Back to School Night times.
• Today, we completed the end-of-the-year 5th grade Math Assessment online as well as a Language Arts Assessment (phonics/vocabulary/comprehension).
• Students enjoyed playing SumDog against each other (and me) in class. Log-ins and Passwords will be individually shared with the students soon.
• PLEASE E-MAIL me with your preferred e-mail address. Thank you!
• Please TURN-IN:
• all important documents like Student Verification Forms, School Handbook forms, etc.
• yellow Highlights Magazine interest paper
• Scholastic Book Orders by next Friday, September 2.

1.  Read for 30 min. 

2.  Language Arts

• "About Me Packet" due tomorrow

3.  Math - None

4.   History

• California Symbols Poster due Wednesday
• California Symbols quiz on Wednesday (Study Sheet passed out today)

5.   Science - None

*NEW* UPDATE: Back to School Night, September 1

EDIT: New revision as of 8/25 evening time. 

Quick update regarding next week's Back to School Night:

5:30 p.m. -- 5th grade (includes Walden West presentation)

6:00 - 6:45 p.m. -- Kinder-2nd grades

6:45 - 7:30 p.m. --  3rd-4th grades

There will only be one 4th grade presentation.

Please try to attend.

Happy New School Year!

Three days into the school year, and we're revving up to go.

Welcome back to many of you and to those new to Ruskin, you're going to love being here. :)

If you're checking this blog, you've most likely have read the brief letter I sent out today via the Wednesday Folder.

PLEASE BOOKMARK THIS BLOG.

It usually is updated after school around 3-4 p.m. (sometimes 5 p.m.) and contains a lot of information regarding the classroom, homework, school activities (i.e., PTA, community events) and other cool stuff.

• "All About Me" packets are due Friday.
• California posters are due next Wednesday. State symbol lists will be distributed tomorrow. (Quiz will be on Wednesday.)
• Wednesday Folders went out today
• Please consider signing up for Highlights. It's a magazine that appeals to this age group. However, you don't have to subscribe. AT LEAST, initial/sign your name and check the box next to NO, then return it to the classroom. We can get classroom supplies and even a free classroom subscription!
• Scholastic Book Orders are due next Friday. You can place them online or bring the order form back to the classroom (and I will submit them).
• Class T-Shirts: We have voted on our class mascot and t-shirt colors. We will be the "Popularly Peaceful Pandas"; the t-shirts will be black with white lettering; and the order forms will go out next week. Like last year, we will be using Insane Ink, a Piedmont Hills "company/class" run by the students and staff at the school.
• Lego Name Tags: Most students have finished planning, coloring, and tallying their Lego counts to create their name tags. When all are done, the order/s will be placed.
• Any remaining signed papers (i.e., those found in the Student Handbook, Verification forms, etc.) need to be turned in ASAP.
• We are almost finished with the Math Online Assessments. So far, the scores for the 3rd Grade Cumulative Standards Test range from the low 60%s to the mid 90%s. Tomorrow, we will see where the class stands with the 4th Grade Standards. I will be wrapping up the Language Arts assessments this week as well.
• Please sign the Wednesday Folder and return it to the classroom so I know you read everything in it. Thank you.

The Weekly Schedule is slowly taking shape. With two PE periods/week, music pull-out program twice a week (student elective), Science Lab once a week, Little Buddies once a week, Library once every two weeks, and a dedicated hour to writing every day on top of Math, Reading, Science and History...it's going to be BUSY EVERY WEEK pretty much for the rest of the school year.

So buckle up, parents.

I look forward to seeing you this coming Thursday (SEPTEMBER 1) for Back to School Night for two sessions (repeated in case you have to visit another classroom): (Session 1) 6:00 - 6:45 p.m. and (Session 2) 6:45 - 7:00 p.m.

Here we go!

Mr. Amutan

FREE Lego Build Event at Barnes and Noble Today

Sorry for the late notice:

Welcome Back!

I hope you had a relaxing summer vacation!

So let's recap what's happened since school was dismissed:

• The San Jose Sharks lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals.
• The LeBron James-led Cavaliers pulled the upset of the century winning the NBA Finals while down three games to one to the Golden State Warriors.
• The US Men's National Team reached the semi-finals of the Copa America, eventually losing to Colombia (again) in the 3rd place game.
• A handful of staff members bid Ruskin adieu.
• Our new principal, Ms. Pender, was the principal at Vinci Park last year. (Ms. Nunez is now at Vinci Park.)
• Mr. Amutan got caught up in the Pokemon Go craze.
• New solar panels are being installed between the blacktop and field.

So what's coming up this August/September:

• Class lists will be posted on Friday, August 19 at 5:00 p.m.
• Bricks By The Bay, a Lego convention, is being held August 18-21. I hope to see you there!
• First day of school is Monday, August 22.
• Walden West (5th graders) is scheduled for September 19-23.

See you on the 22nd!