May 25, 2018:
IMPORTANT from the school:
A reminder that Residency verification is being conducted in the office. Please stop in between the hours of 9:00am and 4:00pm with a CURRENT BILL WITH A DUE DATE OF MAY 23 OR LATER (please refer to the pink handout that was sent home with your child if you have questions). Residency must be completed by May 30, 2018, for your child to be placed in a class for the 2018-2019 school year. Thank you!
May 15, 2018:
A few things happening/reminders:
- Our school is hosting the last military event of the year. Please join us on Friday, May 18th for Mingle with Military, as we bid farewell to our military families for the year.
- Attached also is our End of the Year Class Breakfast Party. If you wish to contribute, please sign and return the bottom portion to me. Please keep in mind there are 31 students in class. Thank-you for your generosity!
- School library books: If your child has not returned their school library books, please make sure they do so promptly. There are students who still owe library books from earlier in the year and that fine is quickly accumulating. The fine continues into the next school year, which impacts their ability to check-out any books in 5th Grade.
May 04, 2018:
For testing next week:
1) Please make sure your child is well rested and on time to school. Also, a good breakfast will be very helpful in keeping them alert and focused.
2) PTA has provided snacks for the class, but students are welcome to bring in their own snacks to eat while they test. Please make sure the snacks are healthy and does not stain their fingers because they will be typing on their laptop for testing. Water is permitted, but please avoid power energy drinks or sodas. Recess will be based upon when the class finishes testing; therefore, next week's schedule will not be the usual the class follows. Lunch will be at the usual time.
3) No electronics, phones & watches (includes iWatch) will be permitted. Before students enter the classroom, I will need them to shut off their phone and iWatch and place them in a basket for me to store until testing is done for that day. Once testing is done for that day, then I will return their phones and watches back to them. I will need to follow this protocol for every day that we test next week.
4) There will be no homework next week to give students a break. =)
April 18th, 2018:
A few things:
1) Military Family Game Night is this Friday, April 19th, starting at 6:00pm. ALL military are invited to attend. Please come and enjoy some pizza and games!
2) Friday: If you can, please remind your child to bring their headset. We will be practicing the Listening and Speaking portion in preparation of our CAASP testing coming up.
3) Fundraisers: The Pasta for Pennies fundraiser is ending this Friday. The second fundraiser, APEX Fun Run, just started yesterday and will culminate with the Fun Run next Thursday. Your child's badge should have information on how donors can sponsor a lap or more. Please consider talking to family, colleagues, friends, etc. to help our school fundraise. The proceeds from the Fun Run goes directly to the school to provide students and the school with much needed financial assistance.
4) Achieve 3000 LevelSet Testing & CAASP Testing: For the next 2+ weeks, we will be reviewing in preparation for our End of the Year Assessments. Please note the dates below in case you plan for your child to be out. During testing day & week, please try to have your child be present at school. They will do much better if they are testing with their class, then in isolation to make-up the test. Thank-you!
- Achieve 3000 LevelSet: Tuesday, May 1st
- CAASP Testing Week: Monday, May 7th - Friday, May 11th
April 5th, 2018:
A few things happening:
1) Field trip: We go on April 10th. Please make sure your child is at school on time! We will be leaving around 8:30am, right after I take attendance and go over last minute items.
- Please make sure your child wears comfortable walking shoes and a light jacket/sweater in case the weather is cooler. For lunch, please pack a healthy, non-microwaveable lunch in a ziplock bag (to avoid ripping). They are allowed to bring a water bottle, but will be responsible for holding on to it.
- Chaperones, you will be riding the bus with us. Please be here be at school by 8:20am. Please also pack a lunch for yourself.
3) I sent home a Eureka Math Tip Sheet for Parents today. This sheet is meant to provide helpful tips on the new Math module we started today. Please check for it in your child's homework folder.
4) There are still a few students who have not returned their unpurchased pictures or payment verification (if online) to me. If you need a new payment form, please let me know.
February 20, 2018:
Camarena has been working to increase parent completion of the lunch application this year. It’s important we help to identify those students that may qualify for free or reduced lunch in order to minimize the financial burden on families and allow for all students to have healthy meals every day. In addition, Title 1 funding is at stake. Helping individual families could in turn help our school receive significant funding that could make a huge difference for our school and our students! If you have not done so, please fill out a lunch application. We will receive approximately $100,000 in additional funding to support our students and families in a variety of ways. Please help us spread the word and encourage anyone you know to complete the lunch application by March 1st!
Are planning to eat out for lunch or dinner this Friday? If so, have a bite to eat at Panda Express. 20% of your purchase will support and benefit our military students.
Upcoming Events:
- February 27: PTA General Meeting & Board Elections
- March 2: Read Across America
- March 5: Weekly Walk to School at Guadalupe & Crossroads
- March 8: Parent Conferences Begin
February 12, 2018:
Kindness Week is upon us! Students are encouraged to participate in this week through spirit days, as well as The Great Kindness Challenge. Please see the flyer that went home to encourage your child to participate.
- The Great Kindness Challenge: Complete 30 kind acts during the week. Turn in your challenge form to the teacher and your name will appear on the Camarena Kindness Wall!
- Schedule for Spirit Days:
- Monday: A World of Kindness - Dress up in international clothing
- Tuesday: Round Up the Kindness - Dress in western attire
- Wednesday: We Love Kindness! - Wear Valentine clothing or colors
- Thursday: Cheer for Kindness - Wear cheer or sports gear
February 06, 2018:
The following are upcoming events for our school:
- February 9th: Friendship Dance starting at 6:00 p.m.
- February 13: Spring Pictures
- February 13: DAC/DELAC Meeting
- February 15: Weekly Walk to School at Kestrel Falls & Exploration Falls
- February 15: Minimum Day
- February 16 & 19: No School-Presidents’ Day Observed
- March 08-15: Parent Conferences (From March 08th-15th, school schedule is Minimum Day)
Student-led Conference sign-up sheets will be coming home next week. For Quarter 3, Fourth Grade wants to give students the opportunity to take the lead in explaining their progress to their parents, with support from the teacher.
January 26, 2018:
The following are important reminders in preparation for the Star of India trip.
Students going on the night trip:
1) Please make sure you pack according to the packing list sent home this week (including no pillows). DO NOT pack belongings in a luggage. It should be in a double bagged, labeled trash bag. 4th Grade recommends using the sturdy black trash bags. Bring belongings bag to school on January 31st in the morning to the auditorium. There will be a sign as to where your child should be placing their belonging with the class.
2) Please make sure to pack a snack for students in a ziplock bag. This snack SHOULD NOT be packed with the belongings bag.
3) On the day of the trip, students going do not need to bring their school backpack.
4) Students will leave school January 31st and return February 1st in the morning. Upon their return, you can pick them up and they are allowed to go home. Please check-in with the office before you take your child so that the office can mark them as picked up.
5) Parent Chaperones: Please be at school by 12:10 pm. The bus will be leaving by 12:30pm.
Students going on the day trip:
1) We go on January 30th. Please make sure your child is on time for school because attendance will be taken at 8:15am and we have a few things to go over before we board the bus for our trip.
2) Please have your child bring their sacked lunch (unless you ordered a school lunch for them as indicated on the school permission slip) in a sturdy bag.
3) Please make sure they wear comfortable walking/running shoes (no sandals, slippers, etc.), pants, and a sweater or jacket in case it gets chilly.
4) Phones will be left at school, turned off, and in their backpack.
5) Students NOT attending the night trip are expected to be at school on January 31st and February 1st. If your child is absent on one of these days, please make sure to contact the office or their absence will be marked as unexcused.
6) Parent Chaperones: Please be at school no later than 8:35 a.m.
If you have any further questions, please let me know. Thank-you!
January 16, 2018:
- First week of Quarter 3 is now in the books! Students have come back refreshed and very focused to learn!
- Scholastic Book Orders: It is best to order online and enter the class code (P3BHY) so that we can earn points to purchase books for the classroom library. Thank-you!
- Upcoming:
- Valentine Grams: Student Council will be delivering grams on February 14th. All order for grams need to be submitted by noon on Friday, January 19th. Order forms are placed in the classroom.
- January 18th: Weekly Walk to School at Crossroads & Sweet Sage (7:55 a.m.) / Welcoming Schools Parent Meeting (6:30 p.m.)
- January 19th: Jump Rope for Heart Assembly
- January 20th: Spelling Bee at Camarena (8:00 a.m.)
- January 23rd: DAC/DELAC Meeting
- January 23rd: PTA General Meeting
- January 26th: Military Mingle
- January 30th: Star of India - Day trip only
- January 31st: Star of India - Night trip only
December 04, 2017:
- Star of India field trip packet has been sent home. Please make sure to read my ClassDojo message for further information on what is due, etc.
- Upcoming:
- December 8th: Winter Wonderland (5:00-8:00 PM). You can pre-purchase tickets on Camarena's PTA website, but only up to December 7th.
- December 12th: Military Spouse Support Group
- Winter Break: December 18th, 2017 - January 08th, 2018. Students return on January 9th, 2018.
November 13, 2017:
- Camarena has Winter Wonderland coming up in December. To help PTA fundraise during this event, each class is being asked to create a gift basket that will be auctioned off. Our class theme is Superheros. Please donate to our gift basket by November 27th so that a parent volunteer and I can put together the basket. Please click on this link for information about the gift basket. Thank-you for your generosity!
- Upcoming:
- November 17th: Disney Spirit Day
- November 20th-24th: Thanksgiving Break
- December 8th: Winter Wonderland
October 30, 2017:
- Thank-you for encouraging your children to celebrate Red Ribbon Week in such a fun and engaging manner!
- Camarena is still collecting Box Tops. Please continue to bring them in. Thank-you!
- A few items to view:
- November 1st: Dia de los Muertos memory box is due
- November 3rd: Dia de los Muertos Exhibition
- November 9th: Military Mingle
- November 10th: Veteran's Day - No School
October 19, 2017:
Next week is Red Ribbon Week and we would love to see 100% participation from students. Here is a list of what is scheduled each day:
- October 23 – 27 is Red Ribbon Week at Camarena Elementary
Wear a favorite team shirt
10/24: "Lei" Off Drugs
Hawaiian Day
10/25: Be Red-y to Fight Drugs
Wear red for our annual red ribbon photo
10/26: Have Spirit; Don’t Do Drugs
Wear Camarena gear or colors for the
DEA assembly
10/27: Don’t Be Tricked, Drugs Are No Treat
Character costume parade
- In addition to Red Ribbon Week, Camarena is doing a drive to collect granola bars and ziplock bags. We are partnering up with a few other schools to collect enough items to make bags for the homeless. Thank-you for your generosity!
October 03, 2017:
Welcome back from Fall Break! I hope you all were able to enjoy a memorable break.
A few items to view:
- Scholastic Book Orders: I've started book orders for the class. It is best to order online and enter the class code (P3BHY) so that we can earn points to purchase books for the classroom library. Thank-you!
- Another round for the Box Tops competition has started! Please continue to collect (non-expired) Box Tops and send it to school. This round of the competition will go through December 8th.
- A few events coming up:
October 14-Parent Academy at Hedenkamp (Link to sign-up: www.cvesdparentacademy.com)
October 16-Pastries for Parents/Coffee with the Principal @ 7:45 a.m.
October 20-Military Mingle @ 7:45 a.m.
September 05, 2017:
A few events happening this week or soon:
- Parent Conferences start this Thursday, Sept. 7th and goes to Sept. 14th. During Parents Conferences, our school schedule is minimum day. If for some reason you are unable to make it to your scheduled Parent Conference time, please let me know 24 hrs in advance to see how we can reschedule. Also, if you need a reminder about your day and time, please let me know.
- Camarena Hurricane Relief Fund: Starting today and going through Sept. 14th, Camarena will be collecting monetary donations for those impacted by Hurrican Harvey. All donations will go directly to the American Red Cross. If you wish you donate, please have your child bring in their donation. Any amount would be greatly appreciated! Thank-you in advance for your generosity!
- Sept. 11th: We have 2 special events on this day! It will be our second annual Grandparents Day Breakfast and Patriots Day. Students are encouraged to wear red, white, and blue to celebrate our Pride for Patriot's Day.
- PTA membership: We only have 1/3 (10 families) signed up for PTA. If you haven't had a chance yet to sign-up, please do so. Our goal, as a school, is 60% membership, which will be invaluable in helping grades fundraise for student enrichment activities not covered by the school budget. Please join if you haven't done so! You can join via the Camarena PTA website or I can send home a membership form to you.
August 18th, 2017:
- If you have not yet, please sign up for Camarena PTA. Your membership will greatly help PTA fund classroom needs, which are not met by the school's set budget.
- Please continue to collect Box Tops for Education for us! If you need more of the Box Tops sheets, please let me know. I more than happy to send the sheets home with your child.
- Picture Day is coming! I do not have the schedule for when our class takes pictures yet, but we will take pictures either on August 30th or 31st, 2017.
- The class has moved on to Module 3 for Eureka/Engage NY Math. This module is heavy on multiplication and division. If your child is not fluent with their multiplication facts, please have them work on it by logging into Moby Max or practicing with flashcards. Thank-you!
August 04th, 2017:
- If you have Box Tops for Education at home, please cut them out and have your child bring them to school. Camarena is trying to raise funds collecting Box Tops for Education. Thank-you!
- The slideshow above shows a few pictures of the first few weeks of school. If you have Twitter, please follow Ms. Luong at @msmimiluong and the #cam411scholars to also view these pictures.
July 25th, 2017:
- Calling all Parents to join PTA!!! If you haven't done so, please join Camarena's PTA. They do amazing work and provide the classrooms with valuable resources for field trips, etc. Please see the attached flyer for more information and how to join PTA. PTA Flyer and Reasons to Join Camarena's PTA