Week of October 23rd - 27th

Hello, TCE Families!  WOW!  It's hard to believe that we have completed the first nine weeks of school.  Report Cards went home on Friday, October 20th.  Be sure to celebrate successes with your learner and then set goals for the second nine weeks.  We are very proud of them!

What a great couple of weeks of teaching and learning we've had!  We especially enjoyed having the Dallas Zoo visit us with a lot of their really cool animals.  Be sure to ask your learner to share a fact he/she learned about each animal.  What a great experience!  There are lots of exciting things happening at TCE these next couple of weeks, as well.

Things Happening at TCE:

Storybook Pumpkin Design Challenge:

Town Center Elementary Library is hosting a Storybook Pumpkin Design Challenge for any learner who would like to enter. Be sure to click on this link to find out the details. https://www.smore.com/u6hxg

Capture a Moment of Happiness:  

What makes your family happy?  Be sure to send in a picture capturing a happy moment with your family to be displayed in our front hallway.

Red Ribbon Week - Oct. 23rd - 27th:  

Monday: My Team Needs Me to Be Drug Free!

Wear TCE spiritwear

Tuesday: The Best Me is Drug Free!

Wear an outfit that represents a healthy activity you enjoy (jersey/sport uniform, scout uniform, tae kwon do, a team you like to cheer for, etc.)

Wednesday:  Put a Cap on Drugs!

Wear any hat (ball cap, crazy hat, etc.)

Thursday: Follow your Dreams, Be Drug Free!

Wear your pajamas

Friday: We Choose to Be Drug Free!

Wear red for the Red Ribbon Run

Red Ribbon Fun Run:

This year our Jack O'Lantern Jog is changing names to our Red Ribbon Fun Run!  Please remember that we would love for you to come up and support your kiddo by running, walking our cheering them on during their specials time which is 9:30-10:20.

Shoe Drive:

Kindergarten will be hosting their annual Shoe Drive.  All shoes will be donated to the Salvation Army.  Please bring any used shoes to donate and drop them in the donation box located in A Hall.  Thank you!

Curriculum Tidbits:

Math:

In math, we are beginning our unit over addition and subtraction, including whole numbers to the millions place, and decimals.

Homework Update: We are no longer going to send home weekly homework packets, until further notice. The learners are still required to do Reflex Math 2-3 times a week. If your child has the time during the week, please encourage him/her to strive for 3 sessions. Remember, they have the weekend-Thursday to complete these weekly sessions.

Science:

In science, the learners will be exploring circuits. They will investigate the difference between series circuits and parallel circuits.

ELAR:

In reading, we will continue to learn how to use text codes and thinking tracks to respond to a text.

In writing, we will be starting our expository unit. By the end of our unit, learners will be able to answer the following questions:

How do we use expository writing to communicate ideas?

How do we use the traits of writing to effectively communicate ideas and perspectives?

Social Studies:

In Social Studies, we will be bringing our unit of Regions of Texas and Early Texans to a close. We will begin a new unit on Europeans and Settlement.

Week of October 9th - 13th

Hello, TCE Families!  Thank you so much for coming in to conference with us last week.  It was great to connect with you all and to have the opportunity to brag on all of our learners.  It was also neat to hear learners sharing their goals for the year with you all.  Thank you again for taking time out of your day to conference with us.

Things Happening at TCE:

CGA Writing Competition: The fourth graders have an opportunity to participate in this annual event. Here is a little information about the competition.
- FREE for CISD students to enter.
- Deadline of December 8, 2017.
- Categories: STORY and POETRY
- Rules are available at coppellgifted.org.
- Open for any student in grades 4-12.

Storybook Pumpkin Design Challenge:

You won't want to miss this opportunity! Town Center Elementary Library is hosting a Storybook Pumpkin Design Challenge for any learner who would like to enter. Be sure to click on this link to find out the details. https://www.smore.com/u6hxg

Capture a Moment of Happiness:  

What makes your family happy?  Be sure to send in a picture capturing a happy moment with your family to be displayed in our front hallway.

Picture Retake Day:

Get a second chance at a picture-perfect image next Wednesday, October 18th.  Simply return your original picture package and get your picture retaken. 

Learners' 4th Grade Goals:

If you have not had an opportunity to view your learner's goals for this year, be sure to have your learner access his/her presentation via his/her Google account.  Remember, a goal without a plan is just a wish!

Curriculum Tidbits:

Math:

In math, the learners will continue exploring place value of decimals, along with how they relate to money and fractions. The learners will also practice comparing and ordering, decimals through the hundredths place.

Science:

In science, we will be continuing our Force, Motion, and Energy unit. The learners will be doing various hands on investigations to learn about circuits.

ELAR:

In reading, we will begin to learn about using thinking tracks to show our thinking as we read. Specifically, we will focus on using text codes and making notes in the margins.

Social Studies:

In Social Studies, learners will continue to study different Native Americans and how they adapted to their environment.