Announcements

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December 18,2009    Mrs. Mulligan, 4th Grade Room 19

Dear Families,  May your cherish the gift of time to spend with family and 
making memories!  Your children are excited with expectations of remembered 
traditions and celebrations!  Celebrate and enjoy your vacation!  My best 
wishes for all of you in 2010!  Thank you very much for all your thoughtful 
messages and generous gifts for the holidays! 

December 16, 2009  Room Parents and all others who helped to make the 
student's Holiday Party such a brillant success...thank you!  Delicious food, 
creative crafts and games were all highlights! 

Thank you Gina Christenson for all your help this year with art projects! We 
couldn't have done it without you!  Your creative, artistic talent and time 
spent to help all our students is so very much appreciated! 

December 4, 2009    
It's almost time to begin our Holiday/religious traditions. Please share 
yours with us!  Merry Christmas! 
1 week of school before our 2 week Winter Break!  
Holiday Party - Tuesday, December 15th
 

This is the monthly Newsletter full of information at ABES.  
http://adobebluffspta.org/AztecNews120409.aspx
Additionally, this month is a new feature you can access at home called: 
Study Island.
I've introduced it to our students.  I'll review their login information with 
them:  firstnamelastname@adobe  password student 
 http://adobebluffspta.org/AztecNews103009rev.aspx


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Student homework/due to flu!
1. The first important consideration is for your child to get well!  We can 
always make up homework.
2. When your child is feeling better, but still has a fever and/or not ready 
to return to school...
3. begin by reading:  Textbook, or their reading olympics book. 
4. Math..continue in daily student book and corresponding homework lesson. 
Usually we are introduced, taught/practice 1 lesson per day and complete 
homework for that same lesson. 
Stay well...but if you're sick...rest and recover and come back.We can help 
you catch up...follow the items above if you're well enough. 


ADVICE from the CDC:   DON'T GET THE FLU   DON'T SPREAD THE FLU
                 Seasonal Flu and H1N1 

http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/doc_library/H1NIFluSeasonFlyerAug09.pdf

WASH YOUR HANDS. with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, roughly the time it 
takes to sing “Happy Birthday,” says Dr. Snehal Shah, a pediatrician with the 
Boston Public Health Commission. If you don’t have access to a sink, hand 
sanitizer that contains at least 62 percent alcohol will provide similar 
protection, Zane says.

COVER YOUR COUGH. Flu viruses are transmitted through the air by coughing, 
sneezing, or talking. If you need to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with 
your hands (and then wash them) or cough into your elbow.

STAY HOME. If you develop flu symptoms -- a fever of at least 100 degrees, 
cough, aches, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea -- stay at home, and “plan 
on staying home for 4 days or until your fever has been gone for 24 hours, 
whichever is longer,” Ferrer says. That’s fever-free without the aid of meds.

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See below: Information about Reading Olympics and 
           ACE/Academics, Character and Effort
                         
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CONTACT ME:       PARENT AND TEACHER  
                  Please provide me with your email address.
                  Sometimes telephone numbers change, please update both
                  Adobe Bluffs Office and me.

Email is my preferred communication for quick answers to questions and/or 
replies.     jmulligan@powayusd.com

Written notes are equally helpful to receive. 
Telephone conversations are better for more complex issues. 538-8403 x3119 

Parent/teacher meetings are usually preferred for academic challenges, 
behaviors not in keeping with Character Counts, or other sensitive issues. 
Please schedule an appointment. Nearly daily I have a commitment before or 
after school with meetings, planning, duty, etc. so I don't want to 
disappoint you if I'm not available. 

Your child's ability to be able to inform you about our classroom, homework, 
field trips, etc. is a measure of their growing responsibility, independence 
and listening/speaking skills. Let's give your child the opportunity to 
answer daily/routine questions first.

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"Optimism means… believing that positive results are likely." 
"Success is achieved as much by attitude as aptitude."
                   
Interested in Random Acts of Kindness...here are some 
ideas: http://www.noogenesis.com/malama/kindness/Stories/ideas01.html

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Reading Olympics is required reading/response for all 4th graders. 
Be sure your child is reading at home and send the book to 
school too. They can read at home and at school. Written summary page due for 
each book. Lexile number helps you know what level books your child is 
reading. 
Beginning August 24 through January 8th your child is expected to read as 
many books as possible, at their lexile level, 100 pages or more per book. 
Books over 200 will be counted as 2 books.  Immediately, upon finishing a 
book the student is to write a 3 paragraph summary, beginning, middle and end 
(I have the forms and have given each students 1 form). Upon turning in the 
form they will conference with me or another adult who will ask questions 
about their book, confirming they comprehended what they read.  High quality 
medals will be awarded:  4 books minimum for a Certificate of 
Accomplishment:  6 books = bronze medal, 8 books = silver medal, 10 books = 
gold medal and we have other prizes beyond that. 

ACE - This is a 4th grade program acknowledging excellence for the month. 
1 student from each classroom will be awarded a certificate for outstanding 
achievement in Academics, Character and Effort. This program begins Sept 1 
through May. 9 months, 27 awards. Some students may earn more than one award. 
Some students may not earn an award. This program is based on individual 
student achievement. I hope every student will excel in more or more areas!


CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 9  EDUCATION

"SECTION 1.  A general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence being
essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the
people, the Legislature shall encourage by all suitable means the
promotion of intellectual, scientific, moral, and agricultural
improvement."
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