2009-09-21
quadratic_formula_cartoon.jpg
quadratic_formula_cartoon.jpg 2009-09-21
We have new fundraisers in progress.
Sally Foster Giftwrap, Edibles, and Gifts are being sold now. Each family got a packet in the Tuesday folders. Students can win prizes for the items they sell. If students order items on-line, using the school's account number, the school gets 50 % of the sales.
SchoolPAX is another new fundraiser for Rainard. There are envelopes on Marie's desk for anyone who is interested. If you use the school code at Subway, Foot Locker, Travelociey, 1-800-flowers.com, Verizon wireless, or MySchoolDebitCard, Rainard will get a percentage of the order.
We have two copies left of the Entertainment 2010, a savings book for the Houston area. The books are $20 each, but have savings of over $19,400. If you want one of the remaining books, you may pay Marie.
A New Parent Volunteer Opportunity
If you are on campus during drop-off or pick-up times or have time for some short-term projects, look in the "Brown Bag" box in the teachers' workroom.
Help our school get free stuff by saving UPC labels from Campbell products.
We are also Saving Box Tops for Education. Clip the icon with the pencil. Each Box Tops Coupon is worth 10 cents to our school. It really adds up fast.
Look on:
Rainard teachers send home weekly Progress Reports. They are e-mailed to parents on Mondays.
Progress Reports tell how students are doing in each class. Students earn greens, yellows, or reds. Green means "GO," the student is doing well. Yellow means "CAUTION," something is wrong. The student isn't working up to his/her potential. Red means "STOP!" The student did not turn in an assignment or misbehaved in class.
Students are also graded on behavior. We expect students to act responsibly and to treat others with respect in the classroom, on the playground, and on field trips.
Attendance is important as well. If students are late to class, they earn a yellow for attendance. If they are habitually late, they earn red.
Students, Teachers, and even parents are encouraged to wear purple shirts on Fridays. This is to encourage school spirit and to create a more unified community. If parents wear purple on Frdays, it may give you an opportunity to talk about Rainard at work, at the gym, the grocery store, etc.
Purple shirts are also worn on field trips, so if there is a field trip, purple shirts will be worn on that day instead of Friday.
Rainard is participating the Bluebonnet Challenge again this year. Flyers were sent home in the Tuesday folders.
The Bluebonnet Challenge
Most of the work is to be done at homw, but when students finish their assigned work at school, they are allowed to read their Bluebonnet books or work on their projects.
Rainard students from Primary through Middle School are encouraged to participate in the Bluebonnet Challenge.
The Challenge lasts through the school year.
Students read books on the list and respond to them in a creative way. Responses should be turned in to the homeroom teacher.
There are three divisions for the Challenge. Primary and Elementary students are encouraged to read the 2 X 2 books. Elementary and Intermediate students are encouraged to read the Bluebonnet books. Intermediate and Middle School students are encouraged to read the Lone Star books.
Prizes are offered in the Challenge. For each book read, a small prize is offered. Students who read five books by December are invited to a pancake breakfast. Students who read ten books by February are invited to a luncheon with the Heads of School. Students who read fifteen books by April are invited to a pizza party. Students who read twenty books by June are invited to go out to lunch.
Here are some of the creative ideas for book responses:
Mondays: Robotics Class
The American Robotics Academy offers a class to excite, inspire, and motivate students about the importance and impact of robotics technology in today's world. They provide guidance and confidence to build simple working robots and more complex robotic inventions.
Students work in teams to design, build, and test remote-controlled and computer controlled robots.
The cost is $155 for six weeks or $310 for six weeks plus a $20 registration fee for each six week class.
Tuesdays: Beginning Guitar Lessons
Bryan Kile, level 1 Suzuki trained teacher, is offering group guitar lessons at Rainard. Guitar will be held from 3:45 to 4:45 in the multi-purpose room.
THe cost is $120 for 10 weeks ($100 for lessons and $20 for the use of the school).
Thursdays: Chess Club
USA Chess is offering a chess club at Rainard. Chris Jones, instructor, offers instruction for beginners to tournament players.
Chris offers a half-hour lesson and half-hour practice and play. THe lessons are designed on the abilities of the students in the class.
THe cost is $130 for each session. The session is from September 23 through December 16.
Finals for the National Geography Bee were held on Friday, January 8. The finalists were David, Jamie E., Orion, and Taylor. In double elimination, David was victorious. David took the test for the state finals. Congratulations to all the finalists and especially to David.
Finalists in the Spelling Bee this year were: Jasmine, Peyton, Katya, Isaac, David, Jamie E., Robert, Nico, Iris, Nanaki, Garveen, and Orion. Orion won for the second year in a row.
Congratulations to these fine spellers.
Classroom holiday parties will be held on Friday, December 18 from 10:30 to 12:15. This is a half-day Friday.
Students who elected to be a part of the Secret Pal gift exchange will reveal themselves to their pals at the party.
Secret Pals will give small gifts to their pals Monday through Thursday, December 14 through the 17. Then on Friday, they give a larger gift and reveal who they had as a pal. Students who chose to participate filled out sheets with their preferences for gift ideas.
Students can create scavenger hunt-type clues to leave around the classroom / school. They can give the gifts to a teacher to deliver. They can stelthily place the gifts on their pal's desk. It will be a fun week.
On Veterans' Day, Tuesday, November 11, we had a ceremony to honor our Rainard veterans. Parents, grandparents, other relatives, and teachers who have served in our armed forces were invited to our ceremony.
Our advanced band played and several classes sang songs.
Sue Thornton, from Lonestar Community College (formerly NHCC) brought thirty future teachers to Rainard on Tuesday, November 3 and Tuesday, November 10. They met with Jennifer Dunham for an overview of Rainard and of gifted education. Then they toured the campus and visited the classrooms.
Sue has brought her students to Rainard for several years now. It is a good opportunity to get the Rainard name out and to acquaint future teachers to gifted education.
We are starting a new program in the mornings. From 8:00 until 8:10 (yes, just ten minutes a day) we will be meeting as a school in the multi-purpose room. This short meeting will allow us to all come together as one group to hear announcements, dicuss changes in schedules, receive reminders, etc.
One fun item that we have imported from our old school is "closing of the book" ceremonies for students who complete a math book. Since we don't move as a class, we celebrate the accomplishments of indivuduals in this way. Our closings will be held during this morning time as well.
We realize that not everyone will be able to make it to school at 8 a.m. so we'll post information that you need to have on this web site.
Field trips are an integral part of the Rainard curriculum, not a day out of school. In order to maximize the learning opportunities of our field trips, we have set expectations for students and chaperones.
When we go on field trips, we are representing Rainard. We want everyone to get to know that our students are respectful of others and of the venue we are visiting, and that our school is a good place for gifted students. Field trips are an excellent way to advertise our school.
We need parent support in order to have successful field trips. All parents should remind their child/children what is expected of them on the trip. Parents who chaperone need to know what is expected of them on the trips.
Field Trip Expectations
Students are expected to:
Listen to guides/teachers/parents
Show respect to guides/teachers/parents
Show respect to other students
Show respect to property and displays
Use inside voices
Stay with the class
Keep voices down in cars
Not distract the driver
Parent chaperones are expected to:
Drive carefully
Not be distracted by students
Not take side trips (Mc Donald's, Dairy Queen, etc.)
Show respect to teachers/guides
Not use cell phones or other electronic devices while on duty
Be responsible for students assigned to them during the trip
Take part in tours
Keep students with them (not let them run off alone)
There are a number of field trips in November.
5th - Intermediate Students - Taste of Texas Restaurant 8:30
5th - Primary Students - Weather Center 9:00
5th - Elementary Students - Weather Center 12:00
13th - Whole School - Gem and Meneral Show 8:30
18th - Intermediate Students - Weather Center 10:00
19th - Middle School Students - Ocean Star Drilling Rig 8:30
Rainard's Annual Fall Festival will be held on Friday, November 6 from 12:15 to 3:00 p.m. We had to postpone the Fall Festival because of rain.
Students are still allowed to bring in Halloween costumes to wear for the festival. They will change into costumes after the Fun Lunch.
We need volunteers to provide spooky snacks.
We need quick and clever crft projects as well as engaging games and activities. Please sign up for food, games, activities, or crafts.
In the past, we have had haunting music and a little Karaoke from the Crypt, the scary spider game, a guessing game with candy-filled jars and more. This year, the advanced band will play some tunes.
Set-up is at 11:45 and clean-up is at 3:00. We need help with set-up and clean-up.
Thank you to all who helped on the Family Work Day. We accomplished so much.
The biggest accomplishment was to clear out a space for our new indoor fitness center coming soon.
Rainard has adopted the Saxon Math series from Primary to Middle School. Our math program is individualized to meet the needs of our gifted students.
Students took placement tests to see which math book they would start in, since all third graders are not in a third grade math book, etc.
Once students were placed in a math class, they started testing through the book. The first third of the book is usually review. When students get to a place where there is new material, they start doing the lessons.
80 % is mastery. In order to move on, students must master previous lessons. Students are able to work at their own pace.
We have ordered CD's for each math book. If parents are interested in purchasing a CD of their child's textbook, they can purchase them at school for $20.00. The books cost around $70 each. If students have a book or CD at home, they won't need to lug the heavy books back and forth.
Electronic games are allowed only on 1/2 day Fridays.
They may be used at breaks or after school.
Please do not allow students to bring in electronic games any other day.