Last week, CATS classes met for the first time this school year. We had a great start! All classes spent the day catching up with friends from CATS, reviewing some expectations for CATS student, and participating in team-building activities.
If you have not filled out new enrollment paperwork for CATS this year, please do so and send to school with your child. I have attached forms to this email.
Important September dates at a glance: Note: Please check the September calendar that will be tucked in the back of your child’s CATS communication folder. A list of important dates for first quarter is on the back of this calendar. I have also attached this list. Also, you can visit the CATS website (http://fwcats.weebly.com/ ) to see a complete, updated list of important events scheduled, so far, for this quarter, as well as any permission slips and forms needed for the month. Click on the Forms tab.
Curriculum This month, all classes will participation in activities that promote cooperation and basic problem-solving skills. Your child may say that we are just ‘playing games,” but we always discuss and reflect upon the learning outcomes and life lessons of each activity.
Fifth and sixth graders will also be participating in some group STEM challenges. This will encourage cooperation and communication as we work in groups, as well as emphasize the engineering design process. Fifth graders will also start reading the book, Tuck Everlasting. **Sixth Graders, please remember that I am collecting permission paperwork and payments for our upcoming overnight field trip to Mt. Lemmon Sky School on schedules for October 29th-30th. Parents can make 2 payments of $50 each with the first payment date on Monday, September 17th and the second payment date on Monday, October 15th. Please pay in full by October 15th. Students may give payments to me or their regular classroom teacher or front office to send to me. You may use a tax credit to pay for this trip, too. If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at 696-8437 or send me an email.
Third and Fourth Graders will be preparing for the play that they will see , “The Magical Rainforest.” We will be doing some science and art lessons focusing on rainforests – geographic locations, basic characteristics, and the unique plants and animals who live there. Field Trip for 3rd and 4th graders: Thursday, October 4th : Pima Community College to see the play “The Magical Rainforest.” If you are the parent of a 3rd or 4th grader and would like to chaperone this field trip, please indicate that on the permission slip. There is a $5 charge for the theatre ticket, even for chaperones, unfortunately. Our transportation to the P.C.C. will be paid for with our tax credit account.
REMIND Please sign up for REMIND for CATS to receive text messages with information, reminders, and updates about upcoming events for your child’s CATS class. If you signed up for REMIND last year in CATS, you do NOT need to sign up again. Here’s how you sign up for REMIND to receive text reminders:
On your cell phone, enter
Then, for 6th Grade text @2019cat; for 5th Grade text@2020ca; for 4th Grade text@msjslin; for 3rd Grade text @cats202. You will then get a text from REMIND confirming you as a member. It will also provide directions on how to download the free app; however, the app is not necessary to receive REMIND texts.
THANK YOU!Thank you so much to all of the parents who brought in or sent in classroom supplies and snacks. Your generosity is so greatly appreciated! It’s going to be a great year in C.A.T.S.!
Always feel free to contact me with any concerns – 696-8437 or by email.
Tax Credits WE NEED THEM! CATS field trips cannot happen without tax credit donations. Having a tax credit/field trip account enables us to make reservations requiring deposits, pay for transportation, and lower the cost of trips for all CATS students. School tax credits provide a dollar-for-dollar refund on your state income tax. If you are able to contribute, please fill out the form sent out with the CATS enrollment packet & return to it with the packet or to your home school’s front office. Planning field trips is an on-going process, so I cannot provide an exact amount that will cover all costs. I will record all individual donations, though and apply them directly to your child as payment for CATS field trips. Please let me know if you need more information about the State Tax Credit Program for Schools. Our field trips are not possible without tax credit donations. Thanks!
FIELD TRIPS Field trips are an important part of C.A.T.S. The field trip schedule is currently being coordinated and parent volunteers are always needed to make these trips happen successfully. Prior to each field trip, a detailed information sheet and permission slip will be sent home. I must have a signed permission slip for each field trip in order for your child to participate. Check your child’s Communication Log located in his/her CATS folder for field trip information weekly. Field trip information will be included in the monthly newsletter through your email and on the CATS website (http://fwcats.weebly.com).
Puzzle of the Month April Puzzle: Can you think of 2 words in the English language that remain the same even after you turn them up-side-down? ANSWERS: SWIMS, NOON, dip AUGUST:The word persuasion is just one word in the English language that contains all 5 vowels (a,e,i,o,u) just once. Can you find 3 other examples? ANSWERS:(a few examples) Authorize, education, cautioned SEPTEMBER: If the plural of goose is geese, what is the plural of mongoose?
