This Tuesday and Wednesday, third graders will take the STAAR math and reading tests respectively.  As a result, no homework will be assigned this week.   Weekly spelling tests will resume next week.

Students may bring one unopened bottle of plain drinking water on test days, as well as 2 pieces of chewing gum and 2 pieces of hard candy.  Please refrain from sending more chewing gum or candy than the requested amount as it can then become a distraction for your child during the test.

New pencils and erasers will be provided to each child for the tests.

Below are some tips on how to prepare your child for the tests on Monday and Tuesday nights:

1)  Get plenty of rest.

2)  Eat a good breakfast. (A free cafeteria breakfast will also be provided to each child on both test days.)

3)  Arrive to school on time.

4)  Encourage your child to have a positive attitude and to do his or her best.

Parents are asked to not bring outside food to school for your child’s lunch on test days, as well as not to plan to eat with your child on test days.  All staff are needed to administer these tests and to ensure compliance with the state procedures for STAAR testing.  Your child can either bring a lunch from home or purchase a cafeteria lunch during STAAR testing.  Thank you for your support and understanding.

The third grade field day is Tuesday, May 7th.  The third grade teachers are asking each student to please bring a plain white t-shirt to school to tie-dye for field day.  The students will tie-dye the shirts at school and, as a class, we’ll wear them on field day.  Each teacher has chosen a different color for her homeroom.

Please send your child’s white t-shirt to school by Friday, April 19th, if you haven’t already.  This will give us plenty of time to finish each shirt.  Please contact me if you have any questions.

Image by psdgraphics.com

Important Schedule Change

I would like to give a very big THANK YOU to all of the parents who helped with our Easter party on Friday.  Thank you especially to Christy Wilkinson and Sonia Trotter for their leadership.  The students were so excited and a good time was had by all.  White Oak is certainly blessed to have such giving and supportive parents.

White Oak Intermediate Easter parties will be on Good Friday, March 29, 2013, from 9:30 – 10:30.  Third grade parties will begin in each homeroom at 9:30, in which students will have Easter treats and activities until 10:00.  Third grade parties will continue with an egg hunt on the playground from 10:00 – 10:30.  The third grade teachers will provide Easter pails for each student to collect eggs. 

Please send 12 plastic eggs filled with prizes or store-bought goodies to school with your child as soon as possible (by Wednesday would be great.)  Due to food allergies, please do not include any chocolate, peanut products, or red dye products.

Additionally, a letter went home with your child on Friday from Mrs. Parker.  If you have not seen the letter please ask your child to show it to you.  If you know you will be attending the party, and your driver’s license has already been scanned in the office, please fill out the bottom portion and return it to school by this Wednesday, and the office will have your visitor’s badge pre-printed for you on Friday morning to ease the wait in the office to print badges.

After the party, you may check your child out with his or her homeroom teacher. If your child will be going home with another family, please send a note to school.  This will also be an early release day.

Happy Spring Break!

March 11 – 15

Spring Pictures will be taken tomorrow, Wednesday, March 6. A flyer was sent home today. Please select your favorite background and send the flyer with your child to school tomorrow. Everyone’s picture will be taken, then a package will be sent home with an order form, so you can see the pictures before you buy.

This afternoon Mr. Gilbert, our superintendent, advised us that there will not be school this Friday, March 8, in order to allow families to travel to Austin to see the White Oak basketball team compete for the state title. This day will be made up on Good Friday, March 29, and will be an early release day.

As a result, our spelling test for this week has been moved up to Thursday, March 7.

Additionally, a letter with your child’s benchmark results in reading and math will be sent home tomorrow, Tuesday, March 6.

Students may bring one new, unopened bottle of clear water to school on Tuesday and Thursday to use during benchmark testing.  Room temperature water with a pop top lid works best during test days.  Students may also bring 2 pieces of gum and 2 pieces of peppermint or other hard candy to use during the test.

Third grade lunch will be from 11:00 – 11:30 on both benchmark days.  Students may bring a lunch from home or purchase a cafeteria lunch.   Please do not deliver lunch on testing dates.

Thank you for all of your support.  White Oak parents, teachers, and students make a great team!

Due to benchmark testing this week, third grade students will not be assigned reading and math homework other than asking that students continue to read at least 20 minutes each night and practice the basic addition/subtraction and multiplication/division math facts.  Additionally, students will not be assigned a spelling list nor have a spelling test this week.