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Spring Conferences, Luncheon and 3rd Year Celebration (time change!)

As we head into the final stretch of the school year, we have several exciting events coming up! Here’s what’s on the horizon:

🌸 Spring Conferences will take place from April 28 – May 9. Together with your child, we will review their achievements and progress toward goals this year. You can sign up for a time that works for you here:
Spring Conference Sign-Up

🌎 South America Presentations will take place from May 5 – May 16. If you haven’t yet signed up for a presentation time slot, please do so here:
Presentation Sign-Up

🍽️ South America Potluck Luncheon will be held on May 16 from 10:45–12:00. This year, we’re holding it earlier than usual so it can coincide with our 3rd year celebration. Sign up to bring a dish or lend a helping hand here:
Luncheon Sign-Up

🎓 3rd Year Celebration – Please Note the Time Change!
To make room for the luncheon, our 3rd year celebration will now take place in the morning on May 16 at 9:00 AM. 3rd year families are invited to join us for a special hour-long celebration of all that your child has achieved in our classroom (If you're able to stay and help us set up for the luncheon, we’d love your support from 10:00–10:45 AM).

It’s a full and joyful season—we’re so excited to celebrate these milestones with you and your children!

Warmly,
Miss Molly

State Testing Dates and Practice Test Information

Dear Third Grade Parents,

State Testing begins next week for our students. Please help ensure your child gets a good night’s sleep, eats a healthy breakfast, and brings a refillable water bottle for proper hydration. Monday is not a test day, but I will be reviewing sample tests in preparation for their writing portion, which will be on Tuesday.

Here is a link to the Villa Calendar and testing schedule: https://www.villamontessori.com/apps/events/2025/4/?id=0

It is really important for your child to be at school on:
  • March 31
  • April 1
  • April 2
  • April 15
  • April 17

These are the testing dates.  We have the whole day to take the tests so please do not plan on late arrivals or early pick-ups.

If you would like to do the sample tests with your child at home, here is the link: https://az.testnav.com/client/index.html NOTE: there is no user name or pass. You simply click on the “mic check & sample tests” button under the big blue “sign in" button. 

Reach out to me with any questions. Cheers, Ms. Molly

South America Presentations & Sign-Ups

Just a reminder that students should be working on their South America presentations at home to ensure they are prepared to present in class. Presentations will be held the first two weeks in May.
 

Presentation sign-ups are available here: Sign Up Here. Parents are invited to attend their child’s presentation, so please choose a time that works for you if you’d like to be there. However, even if you are unable to attend, you still need to sign up, as every student is required to present.

The children have chosen topics for their South America presentations.

Presentations will begin in late April/early May. I will create a sign-up genius with 15-minute time slots.

The presentation packet I sent home with your child is a tool to assist with their presentation. It’s their choice if they would like to use it or not. They do not need to turn that into me. I do not require students to complete a certain number of notes cards. I just ask that they become “experts” on their topic. 

Requirements

  • All students should have a tri-fold board for display, a 3-D model, and be prepared to present in front of their peers.
  • 1st years: turn in notecards to me
  • 2nd years: turn in notecards + final draft (this can be handwritten or typed)
  • 3rd years: turn in notecards, written rough draft, and typed paper. 

Exciting Classroom Updates & Upcoming Events!

Dear Parents,

I hope you’re all having a wonderful week! We have some exciting events and activities coming up in our second-grade class, and I wanted to share the details with you.

Upcoming Field Trips – Volunteers Needed!

🐍 Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary – We have arranged a field trip to the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary on March 20th! Please sign the permission slip and volunteer to drive here: Sign Permission Slip.

🌿 Desert Botanical Gardens – The following week, we will be visiting the Desert Botanical Gardens. If you haven't signed the permission slip yet or would like to volunteer to drive, please do so here: Sign Up Form.

Special Events This Week

💖 Pink Shirt Day – Tomorrow!
Tomorrow is Pink Shirt Day for Anti-Bullying Week. Please have your child wear a pink shirt to show support for kindness and inclusion. We will be participating in school-wide activities to raise awareness and promote a positive community!

🎲 Game Time Celebration – Friday
The class has earned a one-hour game time on Friday! Your child may bring a board game or card game to play and share. Please try to keep it to games that are somewhat educational. No electronics or video games, please.

South America Projects – Starting Soon!

🌎 Just like we did in the fall with Africa, students will soon begin researching a South America topic of their choice! They will create a trifold presentation board, a 3D model, and a written report (for 2nd and 3rd years). Each child will become an expert on their topic and present to the class.

📌 Key Dates:

  • Topics will be assigned before Spring Break
  • Presentations will take place during the first two weeks of May (tentatively)
  • Sign-ups for presentation time slots will go out soon

Thank you for your support in making these learning experiences meaningful and fun! Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best,
Ms. Molly

New Pizza Pick Up Location

We had to switch pizza companies for our Pizza Fridays due to a large price increase at My Slice of the Pie. We are going to try out Barro's Pizza on 32nd street & Indian School. Thank you to all those who are volunteering to pick up the pizza for us. Hopefully this closer location is even more convenient! 
 
To volunteer for pick up duty, sign up here: Pizza Pick Up
 
The address for the new location is: 
Barro's Pizza
3141 E Indian School Rd #106 · (602) 956-1230
 
Thank you!
Molly

Classroom Updates, Valentine's Day & Spring Field Trips

Winter conferences are wrapping up, and it’s been such a pleasure meeting with each of you to discuss your child’s progress. It’s wonderful to celebrate how much they’ve grown and the hard work they’ve put in this year.

We also had a fantastic field trip to the Phoenix Art Museum! The students had a blast exploring the exhibits, and I want to thank our parent volunteers for helping make the trip run smoothly. We couldn’t have done it without you!

In addition, Valley Metro came to visit our class and gave a great presentation on public transportation in Phoenix. The kids learned a lot about how the bus and light rail system work, and it sparked some great conversations about city planning and transportation.

Upcoming Field Trips:

  • Piestawa Peak Quartz Ridge Trail Field Trip
    Date: February 13, 2024
    We’ll be hiking the Quartz Ridge Trail (32nd Street Trailhead), and we’re looking forward to getting outside and exploring nature! Please make sure your child eats a hearty breakfast before coming to school, and packs a snack they can eat before we leave.

    Important reminders for the hike:

    • Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses if desired.
    • Closed-toed walking shoes are required (no crocs).
    • Bring a water bottle that they can carry with them (a bottle sling or small backpack is ideal). Please no toys or extra snacks.

    Be sure to sign the permission slip and volunteer to drive or chaperone at this link: Permission Slip & Volunteer Form

  • Desert Botanical Gardens Field Trip
    Date: March 27, 2024
    We’ve just scheduled a new field trip to the Desert Botanical Gardens, where we’ll be learning about the native flora and fauna of the desert. The kids will also get to experience the Butterfly Exhibit! Afterward, we’ll head to Papago Park for lunch.

    Same reminders for this trip:

    • Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses if desired.
    • Wear closed-toed walking shoes.
    • Bring a water bottle (a sling or small backpack is best) and a hearty snack/lunch to eat before we head out.

    Sign the permission slip and volunteer to drive or chaperone here: Permission Slip & Volunteer Form

Valentine's Day

With Valentine's Day coming up, we’re excited to celebrate in class! Each child is welcome to bring 28 valentines to pass out to their classmates. Please make sure the "To" section is left blank, but feel free to sign the "From" section with your child’s name. On Valentine’s Day, we will also have a special presentation on the functions of the heart from a guest medical professional, which will tie in nicely with our science lessons. If any parents are interested in helping make the day extra special by bringing in cookies for the kids to decorate, please let me know! We’re considering this as a fun way to celebrate and would love your help. Looking forward to a great day!

Areas of Study

In class, we’re continuing our lessons on the rock cycle with some fun, hands-on experiments that are helping the kids really understand how rocks form and change over time. We’ve wrapped up our unit on light and are now diving into the properties of air, where we’ll be doing a series of exciting experiments to explore how air moves and behaves. Please remind your child to continue practicing their weekly spelling words at home, as this is key to building their vocabulary and writing skills. Some students are taking home their lists along with sheets that suggest fun ways to practice. Our 3rd graders also have nightly math homework, so please check in with them about completing it. And of course, everyone should be reading for 20 minutes each night—this is an important habit to help strengthen their literacy skills. Thank you for your continued support in keeping up with these routines at home!

Finally, the students have been working hard on writing essays and stories, which they will be presenting to each other this Friday in an author’s circle. It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to share their hard work and practice public speaking skills.

Thank you again for your continued support, and I look forward to the exciting things we have ahead!

January 2025 Update

Miss Molly’s Class Update: January 2025

Dear Parents,

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a restful and rejuvenating winter break. It’s been so wonderful to see the students returning with such enthusiasm for the new year, and we’re excited to dive into our upcoming lessons and activities.

Field Trip to the Phoenix Art Museum – January 22nd
Our class will be going on a field trip to the Phoenix Art Museum on January 22nd to study the work of artist Charles Gaines. This will be a fantastic opportunity for the students to engage with art in a meaningful way. If you haven't already, please take a moment to sign the electronic permission slip here: Field Trip Permission Slip. Thank you so much to all the parents who have already signed and for those who have volunteered to drive or chaperone. We have enough volunteers for this trip, and we really appreciate your support!

Valley Metro Presentation – January 23rd
On January 23rd, representatives from Valley Metro will visit our classroom to give an engaging presentation about public transportation in our city. This is a great way for the students to learn more about how our community is connected and the importance of transportation in our daily lives.

Hike at Piestewa Peak – Quartz Ridge Trail - February 13th
We are also excited to announce another special outing to Piestewa Peak! On February 13th, we will be going on a hike along the Quartz Ridge Trail (located at 32nd Street and Lincoln) to further explore our studies of the rock cycle. This hands-on experience will allow students to observe and discuss the types of rocks and geological formations in a natural setting. This is a moderate, out-and-back hike. We will be walking to the large quartz rock and back, about 1.5-2 miles round trip with short up and down sections. We've done this hike before with the class and it is an easy hike for the kids. 

Please sign the permission slip and volunteer to drive/chaperone here: Piestewa Peak Field Trip Permission Slip & Volunteer Sign-Up. We’re looking forward to a fun and educational experience!

This Week’s Focus
In class this week, we are focusing on the fascinating world of light! We have several hands-on experiments lined up to explore the properties of light, including reflection, refraction, and how light interacts with different materials. We’ll also be learning about rocks, including igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, and how they form. The students will be excited to handle real samples and explore the different characteristics of these rock types.

In addition to science, we’ll continue our regular lessons in math, Words Their Way, grammar, and spelling. The students are making wonderful progress in all areas, and I’m proud of their hard work.

Parent-Teacher Conferences – January 13th-24th
A quick reminder that this week and next are conference weeks! If you haven’t signed up for a time slot yet, please do so as soon as possible using this link: Conference Sign-Up. Conferences are a great opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and goals for the remainder of the year. I look forward to meeting with you all!

Valentine’s Grams
Lastly, don’t forget to donate Hershey's Kisses for the school's Valentine’s Grams! Your donations help make this a sweet and memorable tradition for everyone.

Thank you for your continued support. I’m looking forward to a great rest of the school year with your amazing kids!

Warmly,
Miss Molly

Winter Conference Sign Ups

Hi parents -
 
When we return from winter break, conferences will begin. Please sign up using the link below. During this conference, we will discuss progress toward your student's goals and assessments. Your child will attend this conference with you. 
 
 
We also have slots available for Pizza Pick-up. If you are able, please consider signing up. It's a great way to have lunch with your child!
 
 
We have enjoyed many fun activities this week, but we've also spent time researching Biomes and the Arctic. All children have their spelling words for the week we return and have been encouraged to practice them over the break. Many have chosen to bring a list home. The 2nd and 3rd years have been making math facts flash cards and practicing those over the break will ensure they keep up the momentum we've built in math. All children should be reading 30 minutes a day over the break! 
 
And finally, a reminder that we will be taking a field trip to the Phoenix Art Museum on January 22nd. We need more volunteer drivers! Please make sure you sign the permission slip and let me know if you can drive. 
 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdBEG7QRKQ48jNasx4jdoi70Waq_Zz04lMe-CqSe7Nf0LbuaA/viewform
 
Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season! 
 
With thanks,  
Miss Molly 
 

Dear Families,

We have an exciting and busy month ahead, and I want to make sure everyone has the latest updates so we can enjoy all the wonderful activities planned. There are several permission slips that need to be signed, so please read all the way to the end. 

Field Trip to Taliesin West

Our field trip to Taliesin West is right around the corner! As of now, only about half of our families have returned their signed permission slips. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to complete the electronic permission slip here: Permission Slip – Taliesin West.

We are also in need of volunteer drivers and chaperones to make this trip possible. Your help is greatly appreciated!

Africa Presentations

The students are doing an incredible job sharing their Africa presentations, and they’re enjoying learning from each other. If you haven’t already, please sign up for your child’s presentation time here: Africa Presentation Signup.

Upcoming Activities Before Winter Break

We have some fun and festive events planned for the last week of school:

  • Gingerbread House Building
    Date: December 18
    Time: 8:45 am – 10:30 am
    After our Taliesin West field trip on December 17, we’ll dive into the holiday spirit by building gingerbread houses in class! It’s always a fun, messy, and creative time. We need volunteers and supplies to make this event a success. Please sign up here: Gingerbread House Supplies & Volunteers.

  • Potluck Luncheon & Poster Viewing
    Date: December 19
    Time: 11:30 am – 1 pm
    Join us for a special potluck luncheon where the children will showcase their Africa presentations. Please sign up to bring an African-inspired dish or to help with setup/cleanup: Potluck Signup.

  • Pajama & Movie Day: 'The Chronicles of Narnia'
    Date: December 20
    Our final day before winter break will be cozy and relaxing! Kids can wear their pajamas, bring a blanket and pillow, and enjoy a movie with hot cocoa. We will be watching 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe' (2005, rated PG). Please sign the permission slip here to allow your child to watch this movie: Movie Permission Slip. We are in need of hot cocoa supplies! If you can donate, please sign up here: Hot Cocoa Signup.

Upcoming January Field Trip

Looking ahead, in January we’ll be visiting the Phoenix Art Museum to explore the art of Charles Gaines. Please sign the electronic permission slip here: Permission Slip – Phoenix Art Museum. We’ll also need volunteer drivers and chaperones for this trip.

Thank you for your continued support in making these activities and learning experiences memorable for the kids. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Warmly,
Miss Molly

Dear Families,  
I hope this message finds you well as we approach the season of gratitude and togetherness.
 
Pizza Friday Update: 
We’ve added more Pizza Friday pick-up slots, including this Friday! If you’re able, please sign up to help. The pizza is picked up from My Slice of the Pie between 11:00 and 11:15 a.m. You are more than welcome to stay and enjoy lunch with your child—what a wonderful way to share a moment of connection!
 
Stone Soup Community Activity:  
This week, we read Stone Soup, a story about the power of coming together as a community. To bring the story to life, we’ll be making stone soup next Tuesday. Each child is invited to contribute one ingredient to our pot. Ingredients can be sent in anytime before Tuesday to ensure nothing is forgotten.  
 
To complement our soup, we’ll be baking bread in class on Monday, tying into our lesson on the origins of our food and fostering a sense of teamwork in the kitchen.  
 
Season of Thankfulness: 
To celebrate the spirit of thankfulness, we’ve started a writing workshop where each child is crafting a letter or poem of gratitude. Next week, we’ll welcome a special guest who will teach hand sewing and guide the children in creating a meaningful gift for someone they are thankful for.
 
Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary Visit:
We were thrilled to welcome the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary to our classroom! They shared fascinating live examples of vertebrates and invertebrates, enhancing our lessons on these classifications. The children were captivated by the opportunity to see and learn about these creatures up close, sparking lively discussions and curious questions.
 
Lessons in the Classroom:  
Over the past two weeks, our classroom has been buzzing with discovery. A few highlights include:  
  • Geography: We’ve explored the Layers of the Atmosphere and Parts of a Mountain.  
  • Cultural Studies: We delved into the 3 Branches of Government.  
  • Math: Our math focus has included subtraction, word problems, and multiplication tailored to the three grade levels in our class.  
  • ELA: We’ve been learning about contractions—how to form them, their uses, and the importance of apostrophes. 
As we prepare to take a brief pause for Thanksgiving, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support and for the joy your children bring to our classroom. May your holiday be filled with warmth, love, and cherished moments with loved ones.  
 
With thanks and warm wishes,  
Miss Molly  

Africa Presentations, Potluck & End of Year Celebrations

Hello, wonderful families!
We have some exciting things planned in December and some important sign ups to prepare: 
 
Africa Research Project Presentations - Dec 2 - 12
Everyone should be working on their Africa research project at home. The presentations will take place during the first two weeks of December, and you’re invited to come watch! Please sign up for a timeslot to attend your child’s presentation using the link below.
 
Potluck Luncheon & Poster Viewing – Dec. 19, 11:30 am - 1 pm  
On December 19th, we’ll host a potluck luncheon and showcase the children’s presentations. We’d love for you to join us! Please sign up to bring an African-inspired dish using the link below. We’re also looking for a few volunteers to help with setup and cleanup.
 
Gingerbread House Building – Dec. 18,  8:45 am - 10:30 am
Following our field trip to Taliesin West on December 17, we’ll be building gingerbread houses in class on December 18! It’s always a hilarious, messy, and memorable experience, and we’d love your help. Please sign up to bring supplies or volunteer.
 
Pajama & Movie Day – Dec. 20  
On Friday, December 20th, we’ll wrap up our festivities with Pajama Day! Kids can come in their coziest PJs, bring a blanket and pillow, and enjoy a movie with hot cocoa. There’s a signup link below for hot cocoa supplies.
 
All of these links are also available on the Links tab. Thank you for all you do for our kids!
 
Warmly,  
Miss Molly

Hello Families,


The past two weeks have been packed with exciting learning experiences for our class! We had a fantastic time on our field trip to the Musical Instrument Museum, where students explored instruments from around the world and even tried their hand at a few. We participated in an African Drumming Workshop, where we learned about Africa’s most popular instrument and how to play it. This trip was a great complement to our ongoing Africa studies. Thank you to all the volunteers who accompanied us!


As a reminder, students have each been assigned a topic on Africa for an upcoming presentation project. They should be working on this at home, with presentations scheduled to begin after Thanksgiving. We encourage students to visit their local library to find resources about their topics instead of relying solely on the internet. Sign-ups for presentation slots will be sent out soon.


In math and history, we explored how people have kept track of time through the ages with clocks and early calendars. Students enjoyed learning about different methods of timekeeping and made connections to today’s digital world. Our writer’s workshop this week featured an Opinion Writing Workshop, where students practiced expressing their ideas and opinions following the OREO method of Opinion, Reason, Example, Opinion. Students who completed the final draft of their paper on dogs vs. cats received an Oreo treat! These will be kept in their portfolios, where their very best work is gathered to show you at conference time. In geography, we explored different landforms and introduced several new landform works. Ask your child which work is their favorite!


It was wonderful to see so many families at our school events this past week! From Trunk or Treat to the Peter Piper Pizza fundraiser, we loved connecting with students and parents outside the classroom. Thank you all for participating and supporting our school community!


Looking ahead, we are thrilled to announce our next field trip! In December, we’ll be visiting The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation at Taliesin West. This trip will introduce students to the world of architecture as we prepare to build gingerbread houses for the holidays. To simplify the permission process, we’re transitioning to electronic permission slips via Google Forms. Please complete the permission form for Taliesin West at this link: [https://forms.gle/7pBHKip4o9Cof1Kk8].


Sneak peek at future field trips: In November, the Herpetological Society will be visiting our class to compliment our Vertebrates and Invertebrates study unit. In January, our class will head to the Phoenix Art Museum to view the Charles Gaines exhibit. and receive a visit from Valley Metro to learn about public transportation. More details to come.


Thank you for your continued support!

October in the classroom

As we return from fall break, the children are really starting to come together as a community to run the classroom. New jobs were applied for and assigned, so children have been training each other on their new roles and responsibilities. If you haven't yet, ask your child what their classroom job is!
 
We've settled into a daily and weekly routine so students are able to be self-starters and accomplish work independently. Each morning starts with a student-led class pledge and meeting, followed by 15 minutes of silent reading, 10 minutes of handwriting practice and a 2-minute timed math facts practice set. The morning work cycle begins with writing their plan for the day and choosing one work in each category of spelling, math, words their way, writing and reading. Students then begin to work at their own pace while individual and group lessons are given. The daily planner remains in the classroom, but will soon be sent home as we start a new book, so it's a great opportunity to see what your child has been up to. Each day, you can also ask them how they practiced their spelling, what math work they chose, etc. 
 
Each Thursday we have a 3-minute timed math facts test and an individual spelling test. The following Monday students are given a new set of spelling words to practice that week. They progress through the math facts sets (first addition, then subtraction, multiplication, etc) and "level up" to the next set after they have completed a specific number (varies per child) of questions right in the 3 minutes and then done that 3x. Ask your child what math facts set they are on! The children get very excited to "level up" and will hopefully want to share their progress with you. Although the practice sheets are collected and kept in the classroom, tests are sent home periodically in communication folders. Be sure to check those daily for classroom notices and take-home work!
 
We are preparing for our first field trip next week to the Musical Instrument Museum. The children are very excited for this and it is a great achievement for the class to be ready for field trips. Class shirts are in and will be sent home the night before the field trip. Children must wear their shirt on field trip day. We still need a few chaperones so please email [email protected] if you can chaperone and drive. 
 
We've completed lessons in Nouns, Proper Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives and Conjunctions. Cultural lessons have included Layers of the Earth and Animal Cells. We are currently working on Attributes, Types of Triangles and Fractions in math. 
 
Sneak peek at upcoming lessons include: A Year And It's Parts, Our Protective Blanket, Mountains and Faults, Opinion Writing (Includes Oreos!), Informative Writing, and Collective Nouns.