Mrs. Cummings' Classroom Blog

Merry Christmas to you and your families! May the holiday spirit be with you. I wish for you all a happy and healthy new year. Thank you! PS. I got all the children books as a Christmas gift, but sadly Scholastic was a little slow in delivering them. They will get them for sure when we return to school. :) Also, ask your students what I was supposed to dress up as today....:)

Referendum Information Opportunities: Watch for dates, times and locations! We will have this information on our website and in the Sawyer County Record You are encouraged to attend a session and get all of your questions answered. Keep Warm: Bundle your children up for these cold winter months! We got outside every day that it is above zero degrees. Warm coats, hats, mittens and boots are expected. Illness: We continue to experience a lot of illness this school year. Thank you for encouraging hand washing, healthy eating and rest! Please call our office if you have any questions and enjoy this Wisconsin Winter Wonderland!

There was a slight typo in the Christmas Party letter I sent home yesterday. The party will take place from 12:30-2 on Tuesday, December 22, 2015....not the 23....because I don't know about all of you, but I will be sleeping in and enjoying the first day of Christmas Break! :)

A long over due thank you to those who came to ring the bell with me last week. We had a wonderful time. If any of the moms have a picture, I'd love to have a copy! Helping Others Like a Cane!

Hello! :) The room will be open at 5:30 this evening, but no earlier. If you come to get a seat, please keep your student with you until 5:30. Thank you! Please also plan to stay the entire concert. It is a great show and important for the students to show respect to their other peers by listening to them sing too! Thank you!

Hello! Please be aware that some kiddos in the class have gotten the stomach flu and have missed school. Please take any necessary precautions to avoid the illness! :) We have sanitized the room as best we can. Thank you!

Reminder that the winter sing is Tuesday, December 15 at 6:00pm. Please have your child ready and in the classroom at 5:45pm. They will leave their stuff in the room or their locker. With that being said, the doors to the 4th grade hallway will be locked and no one will be able to open them until the end of the concert. So, please plan on staying through the whole concert and enjoy all the hard work the whole school and Mrs. Wood have put in to this awesome show!

Hello! Please remember that there is some online math help that is available through the 4th grade math blog. The link is below. This blog has videos of either Mrs. Marienfeld or myself teaching the lesson. It is very helpful, so please check it out. 4th Grade Math Blog

Here in fourth  grade we are for sure going to have warm hearts, hands and heads this winter season! Concor Tool and Machine graciously donated a pair of mittens and a hat to each 4th grader in Sawyer County! Hayward 4th graders were lucky enough to be among those who received this awesome donation. The kiddos were so excited and I see them wearing their hats and gloves daily. What an awesome experience. :) Thank you, Concor!

Hello! Please look for a letter in your child's assignment notebook talking about a bell ringing opportunity this year. The letter has a lot more detail in it, so read carefully. If your child is interested in ringing the bell for the Salvation Army with me please have your student at Marketplace at 4pm Monday, December 7, 2015. They will need to be picked up at 5pm sharp at the same location. Any questions, please let me know. Please send the permission slip back on or before Monday. :)

Please look for a letter in your child's folder about ordering Hurricane apparel. Orders are due December 1st, 2015.

Happy Thanksgiving! Wishing to a happy holiday. Enjoy this wonderful time with friends and family. We will see you back at school on November 30. :)

It was so cold today during recess. Most children were cold because they came unprepared for the cold weather. Please remember to send hats, mittens, scarfs and winter jackets. Cold weather is upon us and the children WILL go outside EVERYDAY with or without warm winter items. 

Remember we only have school next Monday 11/23 and Tuesday 11/24. Thanksgiving Break begins 11/25. School will resume on 11/30.

We are starting (or have started) 2nd quarter already! Wow! I can't believe how time flies. Here is what you will see you child learning this quarter: 1.ELA-Revolutionary War Unit 2. Writer's Workshop-Bringing History to Life: An Informational Writing Piece 3. Math Expressions: Finishing Unit 2: Multiplication and starting Unit 3: Division (quite possibly part of Unit 4 as well!) Let the learning begin!

Hello! We have started using Class Dojo as our behavior management tool this quarter! So far it is working out wonderfully and the kiddos love it. There is one thing I need help with form the parents. You are able to see your child's progress and points using an app that is free and can be downloaded form either Google Pay or the App Store. There was a note send home with parent codes and student codes. Here are the steps: 1. read the note 2. sign up for Class Dojo on any device 3. return the slip signed with your student so I know that you understand what class Dojo is Pretty easy! Thanks so much!

There are two important days this week! 1. Tuesday, November 3 (TOMORROW) is Free Time Tuesday! All students are welcome to bring something to play with tomorrow during Cane Club as they reached their goal last week of getting 45 points on our scoreboard. 2. Friday, November 6 is the 1st Quarter Reward Party. There will be movies shown in the classrooms and popcorn provided. The students who get to participate in the activity have shown great progress this 1st quarter by being safe, respectful and responsible. I will be making the judgements a to who is allowed to go and who is not allowed to go based on responsibility, behavior in class, following rules, absences, etc. If your child is not allowed to attend this party, they will be doing make up work. This is a reward for those students who are respectful,  responsible and safe in the classroom and in the school as well.

During 2nd quarter, students are participating in a reading challenge called I SPY A GOOD READER . The students in grades 3-5 are asked to read Accelerated Reader (AR) books of their interest and at their reading level and upon completion of a book, they will take a 5-10 question test to earn points toward their AR goal. Teachers will set goals for each student, and they will monitor each student's reading and comprehension level. Students will be rewarded for their efforts. During conferences, you child's teacher gave you a paper titled Renaissance Home Connect; this has your login information to check on your child's Accelerated Reader progress. You will find a link to the website on our school website under Student Computer Programs. The contest begins on November 5th and ends on January 22nd. Here's more information: Individual Student Goals: Students will read AR books, take tests, and earn points to meet 100% of goal while averaging 85% (at least) compr...

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." William Arthur Ward We are truly thankful for all of our students and families here at Hayward Intermediate School (especially in room 406). Thank you. :)

Please be sure your children are dressed properly for the cold winter months. We have recess every day!  Please call the office BEFORE 2:00 with after school changes.

Hello, If your child wrote an essay for the Veteran's Day Essay Contest, they are due TOMORROW. Thank you for encouraging your child to participate in this wonderful opportunity. Also, some of you children have a slip of paper in their assignment notebook that is supposed to go to a family member or friend who is or was apart of the armed forces. It is acting as an invite to the Veteran's Day Program held here at the HIS on November 11th at 9:30 in the gymnasium. IF your child did not receive a slip of paper and has someone they would like to invite, please let me know via email or phone and I will get them an invite. Thank you!

Hello! Happy Halloween! Yay! Please remember that your student can dress up in their Halloween costumes tomorrow. I suggested today that they wear them to school instead of dressing at school. There is not going to be a whole lot of time for that. I also reminded them that the following ARE NOT ALLOWED: blood of any fashion weapons fake weapons masks (even if it is apart of the costume...so sorry! I've got to know who they are!) We will accept face paint as long as it is not blood and gore, etc. Thanks for your help in making this a fun and safe experience for all! 

Wednesday, November 4 is the end of 1st quarter. Report cards will be sent home with our students on Thursday, November 12. Wednesday, November 11 is an Early Release Day. Students will be dismissed at 12:40.

Monday: "RED-y to Live a Drug Free Life and Make a Difference!" Wear red clothing! Tuesday: "Sock it to Drugs!" Wear crazy socks! Wednesday: "Being Drug Free is No Sweat for Me!" Wear sweatpants and sweatshirts! Thursday: "Drugs Can't Find Me!" Wear camouflage clothing! Friday: Say Boo to Drugs!"  Wear a Halloween costume! Please make sure it is something that the students will be comfortable in for the day and NO weapons, look-alike weapons or masks are allowed! In addition to the dress up days, we will be doing classroom activities and daily announcements that encourage healthy lifestyle choices.

Hello! I introduced the RED (read every day) folders today at then end of the day and things may have gotten a little confusing for some students! So, I am here to clarify a few things! There are two scenarios for this RED Folder: 1. your child will be given an A to Z book in their Lexile ZPD level OR 2. your student will read their chosen AR book. Here are the nightly responsibilities for said scenarios. Scenario #1: A to Z Book  Your student will be responsible for bringing said RED Folder to and from school each day. Your student will be given an A to Z book at their Lexile ZPD level that is calculated from their STAR Reading score. They will take this book home and practice reading it with a parent, guardian, sibling, etc. Once they feel comfortable reading it then they will fill out the reading log and ask for your signature and bring the book and folder back to school. I will then listen to them read the book, give them a sticker if they rock it and switch out th...

Click here for the AR Book Find!  With this website you can find all kind of books in your child's ZPD or "Good Fit Book" range. Your child should know their ZPD OR it is also on the sheet I gave at conferences. Thanks!

The time has come! We have begun Unit 2: Multiplication! Please look for a parent letter that was sent home today introducing you to the area model and few other methods that we will be using and the students will be expected to show understanding of here in class. I know! What are we teaching!?!? Don't fret, it's all going to be okay! I promise. We will get through this together. With that being said, if you or your student need help there is a 4th grade math  blog that has yours truly and Mrs. Marienfeld recording ourselves teaching the methods as we would in class. There are also other things such as pictures, graphs, etc. that you may find helpful when going through the homework with your student. Please remember that they will be getting homework home and they will be required to do it to the best of their ability on their own. I say that because I tell them (and will reiterate) that I DO NOT want to know what their parents can do. I need to know what they as students ca...

We are getting a lot of questions about basketball. Please remember that both boys and girls basketball takes place during the evening hours. This is NOT something that students can stay after school for as there are no supervision or staff here. Please make sure your student has some type of plan after school on days that they have basketball and be ready to attend the practice at its scheduled evening time.

Our Halloween party will be on Friday, October 30th from 12:30-2:15.   We have volunteers coming down from the high school to help facilitate all of the fun.  Mrs. Marienfeld's class will be joining our class for the fun.   As a part of the fun and and in hopes of keeping the massive amount of sugar down a little bit, we are making a classroom trail mix.   I am sending home a letter tomorrow about it. If you did not get the letter from your student you may click here to view it.   For the first time ever (thank you Mrs. Marienfeld for the idea), I am attempting to use Google Drive to help the sign up process. I have shared this sign up through Google Drive with parents who's emails I already have. If you did not get the email, please click here and you can also view it and sign up if you wish. Thank you so much!  Let me know what you think of using email/Google Drive to communicate and sign up for these types of things.

Sending a big thank you to all the parents/guardians who came to conferences last night. It was a pleasure meeting you and sharing with you what and how your students are doing so far in 4th grade. Please remember if you need anything from me or have questions, comments, and concerns please feel free to contact me. I look forward to meeting those parents who have conferences scheduled next week Monday, 10/19. If you need a reminder on what time your appointment is please let me know or write a note in your students' assignment notebook.

We are in need of scissors and glue in the classroom. For some reason, I don't know why, these items were left off of the school supplies list for 4th grade. If your student did not bring scissors and glue to school, please send them with your child as soon as you can. Even though we are in 4th grade we still do a lot of cutting and pasting. Thank you!

Please remember that conferences are Monday, 10/12 and Monday 10/19! If you are unsure of when your conference is please contact me as soon as possible (email or ext. 9350). It is super important that we get this time to talk about 4th grade so far! Please also be aware that the conferences are only 15 minute slots. I will do my  best to keep it at 15 minutes because if I do not there could be a whole lot of consequences. Time is of the essence, so I apologize in advance if it seems as if I am rushing through some information. As always, if we need more time I am happy to accommodate that with after school meetings. Thank you for your help and cooperation in this matter. :)

Yay! Our classroom project through donorschoose.org was fully funded. We should see the seat sacks in the next couple of weeks. Thank you to those who donated! Your kindness and generosity did not do unnoticed and the students are so excited for the organizational tools coming our way! :)

I will be sending pictures home with the students who hadn't picked their up. Please look for them in their take home binder.

Yes! It is true! We are going on another field trip on Friday, October 9th. POD #1 (Click, Cummings and Vesel) will be giong to the Zawistowski Cranberry Marsh at 12:30pm and returning at 2:45pm. We will be learning about the harvesting and processing of  cranberries. Please see the note sent home with your student today. WE DO NOT NEED CHAPERONES!

If you are interested in donating to the project in order to get some organizational supplies for the students use the link below! Thank you for your help! :)  To Donate...Click Here!

Please look at the "upcoming events" page for October happenings.

Parent Notes: 1. If you drop your child off before school, please be sure it is AFTER 7:30am. We do not have supervision before that time and your child's safety is our number one concern and very important to us. 2. Whenever you have questions or concerns please start by contacting your child's teacher first. Our entire staff is committed to make the learning experience a great one for all students.

This was placed on the blog earlier, but wanted to reiterate it. Your child will becoming home with a math homework/remembering worksheet almost every night and completed work will be included in the Core Value Responsibility grade. It is expected that your child complete their homework ON THEIR OWN (with the exception of having a problem read to them if need be) and return it to class the very next day. They will not be required to complete the entire worksheet, just the specific problems circled. Research has proven that time spent practicing new concepts in a different environment leads to a 28% higher comprehension of these concepts. If your child is struggling, please do not hesitate to mark the number and move on. I stress to the students that if they can write something down, draw a pictures, something, they are good and we will review and work through the problems at length in class the next day. We want to do everything we can to make sure your child is successful...

I have my feelers out  for 2 parent volunteers, but I am in need of at least 2 more. If you are interested please write a note in your student's assignment notebook or send me an email. Looking forward to our trip on Thursday! :)

These were sent home today! Please sent them back ASAP! Thank you! First come, first served for conferences.

We have added a field trip to our schedule this year! Woot! Woot! We will be going to Log-a-Load in Seeley, Wisconsin. We will be going next Thursday, October 1st. It will be an all day field trip starting at 9:00am and we will be returning on the buses at 2:30pm. I am not sure if we need chaperons, but will know soon. There will be a letter sent home as well with this information. Any questions, please let me know.

Remember that October 5th is coming quickly! In the letter that was sent home with the flashcards earlier this summer it stated that if the students know all of their facts by October 5th they will receive a special party! So, practice, practice, practice. :) We are on our 5s test today! So keep up the great work. On October 5th we will take a BIG multiplication test. After grading them I will find out who is able to attend the special party. Let's make it a goal for ALL students to participate. Please be aware that if your student does not know their facts, they WILL NOT be able to attend the party. They will be practicing their facts instead. Thanks!

Hello! I am sorry that it seemed to turned in to be more of an inconvenience to check the blog last night. Life got ahead of me and I forgot to update it. My true purpose of having the students and parents check the blog yesterday was to ensure that EVERYONE is actually doing it. I know that some have not looked at the blog, so it was more of a way to get some practice in and was supposed to be treated as a reminder to check it. So, thanks for checking in! Book orders were placed this morning, so I anticipate that they will be here the middle of next week. Friday is the Homecoming Parade at 2:30. We will be attending and watching on the sidewalk on 5th Street. If you plan to take your child after the parade, YOU MUST meet them in the office and check them out with Mrs. Gay. Safety is our number one concern. The kiddos are doing a great job this week with the Rules. Keep up the practice if necessary!

Book Orders where due TODAY, but if you have one at home I will take them tomorrow, Friday, at the very latest. Remember, you can also order online. Look at earlier posts for the class code.

We have been having a hard time following the rules lately in class. Next week I am going to be starting another portion of the Whole Brain Teaching. This portion is called Practice Cards. I will be having a pocket chart with each child's name in it. If I see a student not following the direction I will place a practice card in their pocket and they will owe me time at recess practicing that rule. The biggest rule that has habitually been broken is Rule #2 Raise your hand for permission to speak and leave your seat. This then causes extra and unnecessary chatter, redirecting and an unhappy teacher (Rule #5 Keep your Dear Teacher Happy). If the student continuously breaks the rule they will get a letter sent home explaining which rule they are breaking and to please practice at home too. Now, there is also a positive to this. If students are following directions wonderfully and all of the time I will also be sending letters home saying just that. Please speak to your student about...

PICTURE DAY IS TOMORROW! OUR CLASS IS SCHEDULED TO GO AT 9:15AM. PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND THE ORDER SLIP WITH YOUR STUDENT. :)

Book orders are due Thursday, September 17, 2015. I usually give a week to decide and turn in. If you choose to order online the classroom code is: MHFN7. Thank you!

Wahoo! The kiddos earned their reward! They got more Mighty Oh Yeahs! than Mighty Groans! This is wonderful!  As a reward for their awesome behavior I am allowing them to bring in something to play with for Free Time Friday. This may include, but is not limited too, electronics, books, board games, etc.  I have also talked with all of the students and they are aware that they are bringing something in at their own risk. That means I am not responsible for lost, stolen, broken or damaged items.  Congratulate you student on an fabulous week! 

Below you will find websites for multiplication facts practice. www.multiplication.com www.aplusmath.com www.mathisfun.com www.learnyourtables.co.uk www.mathplayground.com www.fun4thebrain.com www.jmathpage.com www.mltfx.com www.coolmath4kids.com www.ixl.com www.learninggamesforkids.com

Our Elementary Campus Handbook is online. You may access it by going to the Intermediate School page on our school website www.hayward.k12.wi.us. Please drop students off AFTER 7:30am. We do not have supervision prior to that time and we want our students to be safe. Students arriving before 8:00am should report to the gym or cafeteria if they are eating breakfast. Always enter the building through our main entrance and check in at the office. Guests are not allowed on our playground unless the principal has approved it.  Please let our secretary know BEFORE 2:00pm if you need to change your child's after school plans.  Information about joining our Parents Assisting Canes Committee can be found on the back of the newsletter sent home on Thursday.  WIN THE DAY! 

If you have not filled out the paperwork from open house or the first day of school, please do that as soon as you can. Thanks for your timely return!

Our tables are on their way. We are hoping to have them ready to go this week. Thank your for being so flexible, understanding and patient with this matter. I think I can speak for the students and myself and say that we are very ready to have a normal classroom soon.

Your students' assignment notebook and take home folder (the fancy, colored one) is in the 1/2 inch binder that most students brought in. I figured this way they would have everything in one spot and it would be hard to forget or hard to lose. Please be sure to check for this every night after school. This is also where I suggested to them to keep their flash cards. The flash cards and this binder MUST be brought back and forth from home to school to home each and every day. The students will be getting s responsibility grade for this and I will be checking every morning. Remember, it is also important and expected for the students to be asking for your signature and talking with you about their homework and paperwork sent home. Thanks! If your student doesn't have a 1/2 inch folder and you are unable to get one please contact me ASAP.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. It's supposed to be quite warm again! Let's enjoy that while we can.  Wow! Those three days of school went by so fast. I can hardly believe it. It sure was a great start to the school year. Thank you for all your help making it run smoothly. As a team (parents and teacher) I  know this year is going to be wonderful.  Your students have their very first homework assignment. It was to practice their flash cards and also to check the blog. If they read over this short break, I told them they could also write that down. Please be sure to talk with your student about the first few days of school and to check their assignment notebook and sign it. We had a lot of Oh Yeahs! And a few Mighty Groans! You could also ask your students to tell you our 5 classroom rules! Make sure they also do the hand motions that go along with them. :)  On Tuesday we will be starting our lessons in full force with math, spelling and ...

Please remember to write your child's name on the inside of their brightly colored folder. That will be their take-home folder!

Hello Everyone! Wow, was it a hot one today! I was so wonderful to see all of your smiling faces again this morning! I woke up with a huge smile on my face just so excited to see you all! We had a fantastic day learning routines, rules and expectations! Tomorrow will be a normal scheduled day...we will even have Prime Time. It will be a Day 1, so we ill have Phy. Ed. Thank you for everyone who brought back all of your paperwork. I have it filed away already. Those of you who just got the paperwork, please bring it back as soon as possible. Kudos to those kiddos who have their flashcards all set and ready to go for the fun treat and extra recess on Thursday! I am so excited to see how far you have come with your facts! Yes! :) I hope you all sleep well tonight. Remember to dress cool tomorrow as it will be just as hot! Bring water bottles too if you didn't today.

Hello and welcome to our classroom blog! I am so excited to get the year started. We are going to have so much fun and learn along the way! :) Every Friday (or once a week) I will update this classroom blog which will act as not only our weekly newsletter, but also a means of communication between home and the classroom for updates, announcements, reminders, field trips, needed supplies, volunteer opportunities and so much more! This is going to a very important website and my main source of communication that I would like you to check OFTEN! If you do this, I guarantee that you will be "in the know" and up to date on all classroom happenings and news. I am hoping this will help bridge the communication gap between school and home! Thank you for taking the time to check this blog out and remember to bookmark this page! Enjoy your last few days of summer with your kiddos and I look forward to working with you this school year to give the best possible educational exper...

Report cards will be sent home with your student on the last day of school, June 5, 2015. Please take a minute or two to look through the manilla envelope as there is A LOT of information to watch for as well as good resources for summer learning opportunities. I highly recommend utilizing all that is offered to ensure that your student keeps up their hard work (with a little play mixed in there of course, that's what summer is for, right?). This is SO important! The "summer slide" is the hardest thing to bounce back from. I would hate to see my students, who might I add are all either at or above grade level in both ELA and Math, dip below grade level because they didn't read or practice math for THREE WHOLE MONTHS! Please keep this in mind. I and next year's teacher thank you immensely!! :)

Please remember to send your son or daughter with at least $5 for a Dairy Queen treat as we will be walking there tomorrow with Mrs. Marienfeld's and Mrs. Johnson's room. Thank you! :)

Monday: #1 Hamburgers     or #2 Chef Salad Tuesday: #1 Pizza Dippers       or #2 Deli Sub Sandwich Wednesday : #1 Chicken Nuggets      or #2 Turkey Sandwich Thursday : #1 Hotdog      or #2 Turkey Sandwich Friday : #1 Pizza      or #2 Deli Sub Sandwich

Please have your student bring an extra bag to put his or her belongings in after we clean out our desks and lockers. This will probably happen next Tuesday. Thank you.

Please take a look at the 'upcoming events' tab on the home page of this blog (top of this page) for the upcoming events that we will be participating in next week. It is important that you are aware of the happenings in room 406. :)Thank you!

Please remember that we will be going to the Scheer's Lumberjack Show on Wednesday 5/27. We will be leaving the school at 10:20am and arriving back around 1:00pm. You student should have a lunch either with the prepared at home or should have turned in a slip to have a lunch prepared for them at school. Thank you!

Hello Families! I hope that you all have a wonderful, relaxing (much needed) and fun Memorial Day Weekend. Just a few reminders to keep in the back of your mind as the long weekend begins. *The HCSD will be closed (no school) on Monday, May 25, 2015 *The HCSD will be releasing the students early on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 as we are hosting a Track & Field Meet. The HIS will be releasing at 12:40pm (normal early release time). *The 4th grade will be going on their second/last field trip of the year. We will be going to the Scheer's Lumberjack Show on Wednesday, May 27, 2015. Please check with your student that he/she has turned in $5 and a lunch slip if they plan on getting a school sack lunch.  If there are any questions, please call me at ext. 9350 or email me at acummings@hayward.k12.wi.us. If there is a sudden change in plans for Tuesday, please call Mrs. Gay at the front office ext. 9301. Thank you!

If your student would like to bring the following they can. sunscreen/bug spray blanket water bottle sunglasses hat (optional) cold lunch (a picnic lunch will be provided through the school lunch services)

FYI AS FIELD DAY APPROACHES QUICKLY! AM Events begin at 9:00 – approx. 11:00 .   (3 rd Grade starts at the Baseball field with the Obstacle course event, 4 th Grade starts at the Soccer field with the Scoop, Pass and Catch event, 5 th Grade starts by the Kickball field with the Snake Hoola Hoop event). PM Events begin at 12:35 - approx. 2:45. Sign Ups.   Each student should have about the same amount of events as everyone else.   On average a student should have 2 or 3 events in the morning   and the same in the afternoon.   We try to spilt events evenly between the boys and girls.   But, if a class has a very uneven of amount of boys and girls make sure each student signs up for 4-6 events for the day. Student reminders: ( I will be covering the list below with the students also). No Boom Boxes, ipods, gameboys, toys, etc. Can bring water – do not play...

In class today we had an election for a class President and a class Vice President. Earlier in the week we finished up our unit about the Revolutionary War. It was a very fun unit. We learned about how George Washington was elected to be our first President of the United States of America. We then had a short lesson on how campaigning and voting works. So, the students were asked to make a campaign poster and if they wanted to they could run for President. Those who decided to run for President had to do a campaign speech and then the class voted. It was great! And now to announce the President and Vice President of room 406!! ....... Drum roll please! ....... President Ryan Mays and Vice President Henry Droessler!!

Hello! Your student brought home a letter about our upcoming field trip to the Scheer's Lumberjack Show on May 27. There is a $5 cost and a choice to have the school make your student a sack lunch. If your child has not turned this in, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you! Money due by May 25 School lunch slip due by May 22

I would like to thank the following chaperones/volunteers who came along with us for the tree planting/school forest field trip! It was such a great day had by all. Thank you Ben Droessler, Travis Hand, Brittany Trepanier, Amanda Jalowitz, Stacey Phillips and Brad Mays.

Hello! So, our heat in our room is very finicky. It is either freezing cold, or stifling hot. I would suggest dressing in layers for the remainder of the year that way clothes can be put on or taken off at the students' leisure. I would also suggest bringing a water bottle to keep in the room. Most students do have one, but there are few that do not. I feel as if the amount of trips to the water fountain after recess will decrease which in turn will allow for more instruction time.

Please remember that Friday, May 1 is our first field trip of the year. We are  going to be planting trees and visiting the school forest. I have told the kiddos already on what to wear. Please reference the list below: long pants  light jacket boots or old shoes  There is no need to pack a sack lunch as it is provided for us from Johnson Timber. I have all of the volunteers I need, so thank you to those who sent in a note right away! It should be very fun! Please email or call if you have any questions or concerns. As far as I know the weather is going to be great! :) 

Yay! We are finished with the Badger 3-8 Exam. The students did a wonderful job and worked so hard and persevered through a tough state test. Be sure to congratulate your kiddo! :) I am so proud of all of them.

Unfortunately (as I am sure you have noticed) the weather has taken an unpleasant turn of events. Please be mindful of this. WE GO OUTSIDE EVERY DAY THAT WE CAN WEATHER PERMITTING for 30 minutes (i.e. snow, rain, etc.). That means your child may be outside without his or her coat or other warm belongings if they fail to bring the proper clothing. Please send them with a jacket or even a sweatshirt at the very least. They may keep it in their locker or on the back of their chair if they do not need it. It is easier to take a piece of clothing off than to try to put something on they do not have. It is expected that they students go outside and is a great way for them to exercise and "blow the stink" off! Thank you!

If your child reached 100% of his or her AR goal for the 3rd quarter they are asked to bring in a topping for the ice cream reward party.

Please remember that we begin our testing week TODAY. Our testing time is schedule for 1:30-2:30 in the afternoon. Please be mindful of this time when planning such things as appointments and the like. It is imperative that your child be present for this testing window as it will be more difficult to reschedule time to test as the state testing period ends. It's best that your child is in school. Thank you!

Tuesday, April 14, 2015 4:00pm-6:30pm Early Expo starts at 4:00pm Breakout Sessions start at 4:30pm Math Mania parent night will be held at the HIS for parents of K-5 students. Parents will hear an overview of the Math Expressions Program followed by 3 break-out sessions that you are sure to enjoy. The break-out sessions are designed to give specific grade level support to parents. Please join us! PLUS!!! There is a FREE CONCERT & a light DINNER for your kids!!

There was a field day t-shirt form sent home with students before Spring Break. I am still looking for money from a few students. I know that it says it is not due until April 24th, but if there is a chance you can send it in as soon as you can that would be great! Thank you! Remember to send the order form with their choice of t-shirt size along with the $5.00.

Morning Drop Off--please remember that students SHOULD NOT be dropped off at school before 7:30am. We do not have supervision until then and safety is our top priority. Field Trips--as spring approaches we get busier with field trips. Please be sure to check your child's backpacks often so you are aware of the special events.

Please look for your child's report card in the normal yellow/brown envelope. Please sign on the line for 3rd quarter and return it with your child after Spring Break.

HCSD will be closed due to Spring Break from Thursday, April 2-Monday, April 6. School will resumed like normal on Tuesday, April 7. Enjoy your long weekend with family and friends. Happy Easter.

ATTENTION! ATTENTION!  NEWS REGARDING MATH BELOW.  This note is to inform you that for the remainder of the school year your child will becoming home with a math homework/remembering worksheet almost every night and completed work will be included in the Core Value Responsibility grade. It is expected that your child complete their homework ON THEIR OWN (with the exception of having a problem read to them if need be) and return it to class the very next day. They will not be required to complete the entire worksheet, just the specific problems circled. Research has proven that time spent practicing new concepts in a different environment leads to a 28% higher comprehension of these concepts. We want to do everything we can to make sure your child is successful and confident when it comes to math. Thank you for your support! 

Please look for a note in your child's assignment notebook talking about the Easter Party coming up.

The Dairy Queen in Hayward is sponsoring the 7th Annual Blizzard Warning welcoming in Spring. You are invited to celebrate the POWER of music. What do you have to do you ask? Well, its simple! Just eat at DQ between the hours of 4:00pm-8:00pm and all the proceeds will go to the Hayward Music Boosters!

We took a small break from the spelling/vocabulary lists, but have now started it up again this week. Please look for this in your child's take home folder. There will be a test on FRIDAY!

NO SCHOOL  HAYWARD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS DISTRICT WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY, MARCH 13TH  This is due to the girls state basketball tournament in Green Bay. We experienced significant busing concerns last Friday when we opted to not close for girls state hockey tournament. This was unsafe for our students and Hayward Schools puts safety first.  Thank you for understanding.  EARLY RELEASE HAYWARD COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE RELEASING EARLY ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11TH  The Elementary Campus Schools will dismiss at 12:40. Please double check with your students and share their after school plans. 

Hello Families! I have gotten our testing schedule for the upcoming state testing session. We will be testing during the week of April 20th-April 29th. This is different than other teachers, so please  be advised that if you have another student in the Middle School or the Intermediate School they may not be testing during the same time we are. The schedule is set up by class. Everyone will be tested during the testing window though. We will be testing for an hour each day (1:30-2:30) on either ELA or Math. Each test has two parts a CAT (computer adaptive test) and a PT (performance task). PLEASE DO NOT TAKE YOUR STUDENTS OUT EARLY DURING THIS WEEK IF AT ALL POSSIBLE! If you could please wait to schedule doctor appointments and/or whatever else during these days and during the 1:30-2:30 hour that would be greatly appreciated. The amount of time that has been put in to making this schedule is insane and trying to make up testing with students is feat in it and of itself. Thank y...

There is a new video up on the 4th grade math  blog about the "long" way for converting between these two types of fractions. The students know that they are not to use the "sneaky peaky" way of converting...yet! We will learn that, just not right now! Thanks!

Hi Parents! Today I introduced a new classroom management tool. It is called Class Dojo. Your child brought home a letter that explained how to download the app on either Apple Store or Google Play (depending on what kind of device you have). One thing that I love about this tool is that it is user friendly and I can share all the information with parents. There are two apps...one is the student version and one is the parent version. The parent version will allow you to see your child's daily progress with positive and negative behavior (it gives a percentage). It will also allow me to send messages to you and much, much more. I find that if the students are aware that their behavior is shared with their parents daily and right away then they are more likely to act appropriately with good behavior rather than inappropriately with bad behavior. Another reason I really like this tool is that it focuses a lot more on the positive reinforcement of behavior rather than the negative ...

As we start to experience some warmer weather, please continue to make sure your child(ren) are  dressed appropriately. It is important to be warm and dry when we head outside for recess. The window for open enrollment is now open. If you or someone you know is interested in Open Enrolling into the Hayward School District, please have them call our central office at (715) 638-9001. Registration for next year's Kindergarten class beings Monday, March 16. Parents can stop by the Primary School to register and sign up for Kindergarten Screening which will take place on April 23 and April 24. Please spread the work on next year's Kindergarten to friends and neighbors. We will be holding a Math Mania Workshop for parents on Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Please put it on your calendar and plan to attend. Watch for details coming your way soon! Happy March! Please do not hesitate to call our office if you have any questions or concerns at (715) 638-9301. :)

Book Orders are due Monday, March 2nd, 2015. Thank you.

TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2015 MATH MANIA PARENT WORKSHOP PRESENTED BY OUR ELEMENTARY CAMPUS STAFF WATCH FOR DETAILS COMING SOON!

Are you waiting for your child’s conference with Mrs. Cummings? If yes, take a look at the two ipads. you will find mrs. cummings’ classroom blog, the 4th grade math  blog and the florida center for reading research (this will show you some resources you may find helpful for home). Please be sure to NOT close out of the internet, but just set the iPad down so others can see the information too! If you have questions, remember to ask Mrs. Cummings. :) Also, please be patient. It is my goal this conference time to be right on time! That being said, when it is your turn please know that if I cut you off or end quickly, I am not being rude, I am just trying to stick to the schedule. If you are late for your conference there may be a chance that we will have to reschedule. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding in this matter. Best, Mrs. Cummings

Yowza! We have had better test scores. I have sent home the graded tests from today. The students are to go over the test with you and make corrections in a different colored pen or pencil, you are to sign it and they are to return it in order to retake the test Monday when we return. Please talk with your child as some are not required to retake, but rather have an option. Others also had a modified test and their scores will stay as is. Thank you!!

Hello! You're student brought home a Vocabulary Game assignment. This is due Friday, February 27. The directions are very explicit and hopefully easy to follow. I'm excited to see the hard work of all the kiddos! We are even going to plan the games! Yay!

I sent out an updated conference sheet that had available times as of yesterday. The original green slips were due on Wednesday, Feb. 11th. I did not get all of them back. Therefore, you now have until Monday to pick one of the available times and return the sheet with you student. If you do not send a conference slip back, I will pick a time for you. This is very important and I look forward to sharing you child's successes with you. Thank you!

that my students have forgotten that there is a math blog for the 4th grade math lessons. The link is below. Please look/visit at your leisure. 4th Grade Math Blog

We will be visiting the Book Fair on Thursday, February 12 at 11:00-11:30. Students who bring money will be brought down there. I do suggest that they do not buy the "trinkets", but use the book fair to find new and interesting books to buy. :)

Your child brought home a letter explaining our Valentine's Day Party. We will not be having our party until Wednesday, February 18th. As a 4th grade team we decided it would be easiest to do it this day as the week before Valentine's is very busy and we have Thursday and Friday (19 & 20) off for Birkie. There is a class list attached to the letter and the letter also talks about the valentine's boxes and a list of students who volunteered to  bring in a treat for the party. If you have any questions please call or email me. (ext. 9350)

Thursday, February 12th is our Jump Rope for Heart Day! Students will be jumping in hopes to raise money for the National Heart Association. They may also and are encouraged to wear red on this day, too!!

Wednesday, February 11th is our February early release. Students will be dismissed from school at 12:40pm. Please make sure your student has previously arranged after school plans. If something changes that day, please call Mrs. Gay at the front office.

Hello Parents! You student received a green conference sheet on Friday of last week. Please take a second and fill this out with your first (1) and second (2) choice for conferences. Our dates are Monday, February 23 and Wednesday, February 25. Please return this by Wednesday, February 11th.

Good Evening Parents! I'm sure some of you have talked with your children by now and I am sure that some of them have told you about a few incidents that have happened in class. These issues deal with stealing and lying. One particular event took place today when a student had his Hershey Kiss hug stolen off of his desk. This hug was given to this student from our guidance counselor in lieu of the Great Kindness Challenge. He placed  it on his desk, went to put his belongings away and then came back and it was gone. Not only was it gone, but the wrapper was also in the trash can. I confronted the class, but no one confessed. This is really very sad to me. So, we talked as a class and I waited for someone to do the right thing, but nothing happened. I guess I am asking for your help. If you could please talk with your student about the importance of telling the truth and the importance of not taking what isn't theirs that would be wonderful. Thank you so much. I believe that ...

Good Morning! Below you will find the link to the dance that Mr. Lee did with all the gym class students. Enjoy!

We will be having the NAEP testing on Wednesday, January 28th. Please remind your students to eat a good breakfast and to get good sleep this week in preparation for this test. You received a letter home from our guidance counselor earlier this year (around Thanksgiving/Christmas I believe) that explained what this test is all about. Unfortunately, I do not know any more than you know. We have not been given any information or have we had anything to do with this test, we have simply been told it will be taken by our fourth graders on this day. Thank you for your patience and understanding with this. If you have any dire questions please feel free to contact Angie Reinke.

The students were not required to fill out their assignment notebooks today as it was a half day. They all promised they would read this weekend though! Enjoy the weather. Thank you!

Tomorrow is the end of Quarter #2/First Semester! Wahoo! We are half way through the school year. In honor of this the 4th grade is having a Movie Day. Students will be allowed to choose a movie (choices soon to come) to watch and we will be serving popcorn. If you student would like to bring a water bottle or a juice that would be fine, but please make sure it has a twist top on it to avoid spills. Students who will be able to watch a movie in celebration of a job well done this quarter will need to have 75% of their tickets. If they do not have this, they will be responsible for catching up on work in another room. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me via email or ext. 9350.

This is a reminder that tomorrow is an early release day. The students here at HIS will be dismissed at 12:40 due to the end of the quarter. Please make sure that your student has after school plans. If something changes, please call Mrs. Gay at the front office as soon as you can. Thanks!

Good Morning! Yesterday was the iRead iRock Celebration. We had 16 out of the 21 students reach their AR points goal (100% or more). That is amazing! Please congratulate your student as this is a wonderful achievement. We had a band, Reverse Order, come and play songs for us. They also talked about bullying and how to deal with it. We then had a Get Low and Glow  dance. It sure was a fun afternoon. Thank you to Mrs. Laird, our reading coach, for organizing this. If your student did not meet their AR goal of 100% they have until Friday. The actual quarter deadline is Friday and I am giving everyone a chance until Friday to work hard and meet their AR goal. We had 3 of the 5 that did not make it who were really, really close! If these 5 students reach their goal, I will be bringing in a treat for them to make their achievement special as well. Please remind your students though, that even if they did meet their goal of 100%, they can still take AR tests and I encourage this ver...

Hello Parents! The 5th grade students and staff are putting on a Pajama Drive this week and next week. We are trying to collect pajamas for students who are in need. If you and your student would like to donate, please send a pair of new pajamas with them too school. I will collect them in my room. I know that buying pajamas can be expensive, so if (as a class) we decide that we cannot buy a pair of pajamas I have come up with an idea to collect $2-$5 from each student (if willing) and I would go a purchase whatever  I can with the money I collect. I will be talking to the students today about this. So, think about it and let them know what you think about that idea. Thank you for helping with this! #caringlikeacane

Here is a video that the Birkie office put together to raise awareness and support for our own Hayward Community School District. Take a look! Go Canes! Birkie Fever!! Ski Like a Cane

Brrr! What a chilly welcome back to school! I hope this finds everyone well. I also hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. I know I sure did. Please remember that I will be on my honeymoon from January 8-13. I will be back in school on January 14. If you have any questions or concerns at this time, please contact me as soon as you can.