Happy Spring...Mark Your Calendars!

It's hard to believe we are in the last quarter of the school year!  I always find myself asking, "Where has the time gone?!"  Needless to say, there will be many important dates coming up in the next month or two, so...Get out those calendars and get ready to write!

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Spring Pictures (optional--information regarding ordering pictures can be found on the CE website): Wednesday, March 30th
• Summer Math Review Workbook orders are due:  March 31st
• Spring Break:  Friday, April 1st-Sunday, April 10th
• Field Trip:  April 11th
• Carmel Middle School Open House for Incoming 6th Graders and their Families:  April 19th (5:30-7:30 pm)
• Nifty Fifty Final Exam (over all 50 states, capitals, and state locations):  May 5th
• Ruth Lilly "Life Begins" Presentation (at CE):  May 13th
• End of 4th Quarter and Last Day for Students:  May 25th

As time goes on, there will be more information to add to calendars.  I will keep you updated.  Thanks, Parents, for all that you do!

Ooblek and Non-Newtonian Fluids, Oh My!

Hello!

What a week we have had in Room 19!  Our first round of ISTEP is officially behind us, and we are busy wrapping up the third grading period.

Students have been busy learning...Here are a few recent highlights:

• Science:  We wrapped up our Matter Unit with an investigation on non-newtonian fluids.  What is that?!  A non-newtonian fluid is a mixture that exhibits properties of both a solid and a liquid.  Students observed and investigated a mixture called Ooblek made of cornstarch and water to see exactly how amazing non-newtonian fluids can be.  Ask your child about what they discovered!

• Social Studies:  We have officially wrapped up our Revolutionary War unit and are moving forward to the Bill of Rights.  Students will be learning about the first ten amendments of our U.S. Constitution.  Students will also be memorizing the Preamble (introduction) to the Constitution...Believe it or not, it is only one sentence long!  Our states and capitals unit is still in progress, and students will be taking a quiz over the Southwestern Region, comprised of four states, on Tuesday, March 8th.

• Math:  Exponents and negative numbers are the focus in our new math unit.  Students have been working hard on solving the "4 Fours Challenge".  They are trying to form the numbers 1-100 by adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing 4 fours.  It's pretty amazing to see the combos they come up with!  

• Reading:  We have been working in Unit 5:  "Every Drop", which focuses on water around the world, the water cycle, and water conservation.  Students have been working on identifying main ideas and details in text, as well as using those ideas to form outlines.  This skill will come in very handy as they head into middle school!

• Writing/Grammar:  We have been working with adjectives of all kinds (proper, comparative, etc.), and are working to correctly incorporate them into our writing.  

A Few Reminders:

• The end of the third quarter is this coming Friday, March 11th.
• This year's Drama Club production of "101 Dalmations" is on Thursday, March 24th at 9 a.m. and 7 pm.  
• Spring Pictures are on Wednesday, March 30th.
• Spring Break begins on Friday, April 1st.

A special reminder from the CE PTO:

• The 2016 Carmel Elementary Flower Sale is in full swing! This is CE's largest fundraiser, a 40+ year tradition. We count on big proceeds from this sale to create new opportunities that directly benefit our students. From Friday, March 4^th through Monday, March 21^st, we will be collecting preorders and awarding daily prizes. Your student has received a packet of detailed information. Be sure to look it over together. Please consider helping your child participate to not only reap the rewards, but to feel the pride that is associated with being part of this incredible tradition.
  
  
  Also, consider SHARING your success this year via social media! Post your student’s excitement and progress throughout the presale using #CEFlowerSale. Search #CEFlowerSale today to view fun posts from other CE families!
  Questions? Visit flowers4ce.com or email flowers4ce@gmail.com.

Please consider selling flowers to help benefit the students here at CE!  Thank you in advance for your support with this!

Have a terrific weekend!