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