Building Dedication Ceremony This Wednesday

More pictures of kids during partnership reading.

October 31st Family Read-In
Please join us on October 31st for a Room K-3 family read-in at 2:20 PM!  Students and parents will read non-fiction books about pumpkins, non-fiction books about autumn, some 'scary' stories, and some Halloween stories.  If you would like to join us and read to a small group of kids please email our Room K-3 Room Parent at the email address I provided over email.  I have a lot of books to share but if you would like to bring a not-too-long favorite from home let our Room Parent know.  If you do not want to read but still want to join us you are welcome to!  Younger siblings are welcome to come as well.

No Costumes on Halloween Please
For families new to Ann Arbor STEAM please be advised that students do not wear costumes to school on Halloween.  Also, please do not send in any food or sweets, save that for trick-or-treating later in the evening.

Warm Clothes
That cold weather last Friday caught me by surprise.  We go out to recess every morning around 9:30 AM before the sun completely comes up.  Make sure your kids have clothes, jackets, and shoes that can keep them warm inside and out.

Half Day For Students This Wednesday
This Wednesday, October 26th, will be a half day for students.  Students will be dismissed at 10:50 AM.

No School On Election Day
On Tuesday, November 8th, all Ann Arbor schools will be closed so they can be used as voting locations.  There will be no school on Tuesday, November 8th.

Ribbon Cutting & Dedication Ceremony
A2STEAM will be hosting a Ribbon Cutting & Dedication Ceremony to celebrate the final phase of construction being completed.  The ceremony is planned for Wednesday, October 26th from 4:30 - 5:00 PM.  I attached an invitation to my weekly email.  Wednesday will also be a half day for students, for unrelated reasons.  Students will be dismissed this Wednesday at 10:50 AM.

Seesaw Learning Portfolio
A2STEAM has been using an app called Seesaw in the primary grades to create a digital portfolio of some of the work students do here at school.  A flyer showing you how to access your child’s work will go home in student folders on Tuesday.  When you access your child’s portfolio you will see many photos of work they have done at school.  All of the photos and videos are taken by students so some things end up slightly blurry.  Some of the first items you will see reflect our current study of all the people at STEAM.  Items tagged with blue were created in Room K-3.  You will also see work tagged yellow from students' time with Mrs. Reader in the Media Center, as well as items tagged pink from Sr. Steuer’s Spanish class.

Mr. Luxon Out on Monday
I was not in school today.  Ms. Guck a visiting teacher taught in my absence.  I will be back on Tuesday 10/25.

Curriculum Overview
STEAM Project - Last week students made posters illustrating the different roles adults at A2STEAM have.  This week the students and I will create photos and video clips demonstrating how to be safe and responsible in the classroom and in the lunchroom.  On Friday, Officer Hickey will visit our class to talk about the importance of being safe in and out of school. 

Reading - This week students will be identifying the characters and setting of fiction books. 

Writing - Students have been practicing the steps necessary to capture and communicate their experiences using drawing and writing.  This week we will do some writing around Fall.

Math - This week we will study and practice all the different ways to break apart ten (i.e. 5 + 5 = 10, 4 + 6 = 10, 3 + 7 = 10, 2 + 8 = 10, 1 + 9 = 10)

Word Study - This week we will practice hearing and counting syllables in words, including our names.  We will also practice hearing the first sound in words.