John Johnson Elementary School
Parent Letter
March, 2008
February was a great month at John Johnson Elementary. Our students worked hard to master grade level standards and continue to work towards rewards for attendance, good behavior and Accelerated Reader. In February during PE class, our students in Grades 3-5 raised approximately $2,000 for Jump Rope For Heart. Students also participated in Crazy Hat Day. This money will be donated to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Featured students were showcased in the Art Show at the Firehouse Art Gallery over the weekend. Our school chorus will be participating in the system wide choral concert in April. As always, JJE administration, teachers and staff are grateful for the wonderful support of JJE parents.
JJE has great writers!
The State Writing Assessment for 5th Graders will be on Wednesday, March 5. The students and teachers have been working very hard this year to refine their writing skills and their effort is evident in the high quality of writing they have produced. Good luck, fifth graders!
Important Testing Dates
March 5 – 5th Grade Writing Assessment
March 10 – Reading Benchmark Test – Grades 1-5
March 11 – Math Benchmark Test – Grades 1-5
April 14-18 - CRCT for Grades 1-5
CRCT Online Practice
Don’t forget about the CRCT online practice provided for students by the Georgia Department of Education. There is a link on JJE’s website which directs you to these practice tests. Information was sent home at the beginning of the school year to let you know how to log on to this site. If you need more information, please send a note to your child’s teacher and they will send home the information to you. This is a valuable tool to help your child do his or her best on the CRCT.
Pre Kindergarten Registration
PK Registration will be held on Wednesday, March 12th at John Johnson Elementary. A flyer is attached that gives all the details for registration. Please share this information with any friends or family members who have a potential student for PK. Parents should attend the PK registration at the school in which the family is zoned.
PTO
Our final PTO meeting for the year will be on March 25 at 6:30 pm. Fifth Grade will perform and CRCT test taking tips will be discussed. Pizza Hut Night will be on March 20 from 10 am until 10 pm. Coupons will be sent home and Pizza Hut will share a portion of the proceeds received that day. March 24 – April 7 will be the dates of the Cookie Dough Fundraiser. You will receive more information about this closer to the date. Thank you parents for all your help and support!
Dynamic Dawg Celebration
The Dynamic Dawg Celebration for the 3rd nine weeks will be on Thursday, March 13th. This is the final day of the 3rd nine weeks and is also an early dismissal day for our system. Students in all grades who have met the behavior goals for their grade level will attend a special presentation of Up, Up & Away, which is a science demonstration by Mad Science from Tallahassee. This event will be educational and fun! Praise your child for having great behavior if they have earned the privilege to attend and encourage your child to work hard the 4th nine weeks so that they may attend the final Dynamic Dawg event.
Accelerated Reader Skate Town Party
Encourage your child to work especially hard to reach the AR goal set forth by the student and the teacher at the beginning of the nine weeks. Students who reach their goal will receive rewards in the classroom as well as earn a chance to attend a party at Skate Town scheduled for March 17. Forty lucky students will be able to attend! This event is made possible by the donations of Derek and Shanna Martin and Skate Town.
Also, a special thanks to Mr. Ricky Gibson at Golden Corral for sponsoring the Ravenous Reader’s program. We took many students this month who had reached this reward level in AR points.
Lunchroom
JJE parents will have the opportunity to view your child’s lunch account and to make payments online that will go directly into the student’s lunch account. Please refer to the attached letter form the School Nutrition Program director to learn more and decide if you are interested in participating.
Jelly Bean Field Day
Jelly Bean Field Day will be held on Friday, March 28. You will receive a separate letter about this big event. In the meantime, SAVE THE DATE! We will need many parent volunteers and will offer a hamburger lunch which parents are invited to attend with their students.
SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!
Don’t forget the save Box Tops (check expiration date) and Campbell Soup Labels for JJE! Also, remember to begin your online shopping at www.boxtops4education.com.
School Pictures
Individual and class pictures will be taken on March 19. You will receive a flyer giving all the information about ordering the pictures.
Kindergarten News
Kindergarten is getting ready for Spring! We are kicking off the month with a study of several of the Dr. Seuss books for “Read Across America” week in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March 2. We will rhyme, read and write about a special cat, we’ll even make a fun, striped hat! We will end up the month learning about chicks and eggs! We will be reviewing all skills we have been learning and getting ready for Report Card testing. Please send in clean, empty gallon milk jugs for a project we will be doing this month. Happy Spring!
1st Grade News
March is getting off to a busy start for First Grade!! On March 10, the Magnet Lab from FSU will be coming to work with our kids. Then, on March 13, we will have our Dynamic Dawg Good Behavior Celebration with the Mad Scientists Group from Tallahassee. On March 21, First Grade will hold our Annual Egg Drop! Each child is to bring in a raw egg already packaged in some creative way so that when we drop it from the top of our JJE roof, it will not break! PLEASE do NOT send projects early due to the eggs spoiling. All children who participate will receive a prize bag! If you or your business could donate 100 small items such as pencils, notepads, stickers, etc. for the prize bags, we will gladly accept them!
We are studying graphing, measuring, presidents, and US symbols right now. We have begun to have a reading and math CRCT Practice each week so please check for these sample tests in your child's folder so that you can review them at home.
4th Grade News
CRCT testing is just around the corner. Please encourage your child to get on the OAS website to practice for the CRCT test.
5th Grade News
John Johnson fifth grade will attend the WBMS play, “Tom Sawyer”, on Monday, March 4th. On Wednesday, March 5th, the fifth graders will take the State Writing Test so make sure they get a good night's sleep the night before. Ice cream will be given to every class with perfect attendance!
Media Center News
John Johnson's media center made a profit of $1,083.33 from our book fair. A warm thanks to all the parents who bought items, worked, and helped out!
Upcoming Events:
March 3 - Paw Prints
March 5 – 5th Grade State Writing Test
March 10 – Reading Benchmark Test
March 11 Math Benchmark Test
March 12 Pre K Registration
March 13 – End of 3rd nine weeks; Last day for AR Points; Early Release Day 1:00
March 14 – Teacher Planning Day – no school for students
March 19 – Report Cards issued; School Pictures, School Council 8:00
March 20 - PAC Meeting – WBE; Pizza Hut Fundraiser PTO 10 till 10
March 21 - AR Skating Party; First Grade Egg Drop Contest
March 24-April 6 – PTO Cookie Dough Fundraiser
March 25 – PTO Meeting 6:30 pm
March 31-April 4 – Spring Break
April 7 – PTO Cookie Dough $$$ due
April 8 – PTO – Dairy Queen Fundraiser
April 14-18 - CRCT for Grades 1-5
May 8 - Kindergarten Screening
May 20 – JJE 5th Grade Graduation
May 23 - Last Day for Students