December 14, 2009
Dear Parents,  
   The Bulloch County Health Department will be offering H1N1 flu vaccine at school for 
all elementary students.  Some students will qualify for the nasal mist and some will
need to get the shot.  This determination will be made by the health department personnel
at the time of the administration at your child's school.
    The H1N1 vaccine will be offered to elementary students on December 15. You may
choose to be present at the time the vaccine is given.  Please prepare your child in advance
to let them know this procedure will be taking place at school if you elect for them to
receive the vaccine.
   There is no cost to you for the vaccine.
   Beginning Monday, December 14, the students will have MAP testing.   These tests
determine your child’s instructional level and will be used to measure academic growth
throughout the school year, as well as from year to year.  MAP results are available in
the areas of reading, math, Language Arts,  and science.  MAP tests are unique in
that they are adaptive tests your child takes on a computer.  The more questions your
child answers correctly, the more difficult the test becomes for him or her; similarly,
it becomes easier whenever questions were answered incorrectly. Therefore, your child
takes a test specifically created for his or her learning level.   

    Unlike a typical test that provides a percentage correct, your child’s MAP results
are reported in RIT scores. This is an equal-interval scale (like feet and inches) that
is independent of grade level and allows you and your school to monitor student growth
over time.  As your child advances from grade to grade, you should see this RIT
score increase accordingly.  As a result, we can easily measure growth in learning. 

 
Essential Questions ELA:  How do I find the main idea of historical fiction text?  
How do I use correct subject verb agreement? 

Essential Question Math:  How do I determine ounces to pounds and pounds to ounces? 

Essential Questions Social Studies: What are the causes and events that led to the American
Revolution? 

                                                                                       November 16, 2009

Dear Parents,

     As we near the time of Thanksgiving, I wish to express my thanks to you for your continued
help and support with your child and fourth grade.  As you can probably tell by now, there is a
significant "jump" in content that must be taught from third grade to fourth grade.  The stu-
dents are expected to remember and apply their third grade knowledge to fourth grade skills
and content.  This has proven challenging for some students. 
     Please encourage your child to think before selecting a response, proofread their papers
before submitting them to the teacher, and always always do their best work. 
     The second nine weeks Progress Report and signed papers will be sent home on Tuesday,
November 17, 2009. 

 

                                                                                  November 9, 2009

Dear Parents, 

     Please join us at Mill Creek Elementary School for the 5th annual Mill Creek Elementary
Veterans Day parade.  The parade will be held Wednesday, November 11 at 1:00.  MCES students 
will salute all veterans and active servicemen with cheers, chants, songs, and food.  Our students
will learn about civic pride for the armed services and their important job of protecting
our country.  

 

 

                                                                                       October 26, 2009
Dear Parents,  
     This week Mill Creek Elementary School will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week!  There
are some exciting activities planned to help put an emphasis on this important week of "Saying
No to Drugs". 
     Monday - Red Ribbon Week assemble - drug dog demonstration and wear red ribbons
     Tuesday - "Drugs are a flop!"  - wear flip flops to school
     Wednesday - School spirit day - wear school colors (navy and tan) or a MCES shirt
     Thursday - Red day - wear red
      Friday - Drug awareness  
     Thank you for helping our children understand the importance of "Saying No to Drugs".

 

                                                                                    October 19, 2009

Dear Parents,
     Thank you for your wonderful cooperation during the Fall 2009 Parent/Teacher Conferences.
Our classroom goal of 100% parent participation was not met, but the conference schedule was
still successful.  I hope our time together was insightful, helpful, and positive as we work together
to help your child be the best fourth grader they can be.
     No signed papers will be sent home today, Monday, October 19, 2009.  Signed papers and the
first nine weeks report card will be sent home on Tuesday, October 20, 2009.
     Please join us here at Mill Creek on Friday, October 23, 2009 for the Recognition Assembly
for Good Citizenship and Honor Roll.  
     The qualifications for Honor Roll are a little tougher this school year.  If there are five core
subject grades taken i.e., reading, Language Arts, math, social studies, and science, three of the
core subject grades must be an A for the A/B Honor Roll.  The Principal's Honor Roll qualification
remains that all five subject areas must be A's. 

 

                                                                                                        October 5, 2009

 

                                                                                    September 28, 2009

 

                                                                                    September 21, 2009