Greetings and salutations to all new 6th grade students and their families! 



Wow! The clock is ticking! School starts next week! How can that be? Well, we all had better make it a point to fully enjoy every single day, since our summer vacation is rapidly dwindling away! I am eager to get to know each student more fully as we work together to empower every student to strive for excellence in all that we do. I see my role as a guide to help each student to grow as much as possible. We are all part of a team, where the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts. How exciting!



I hope everyone is enjoying the magic of summertime and our wonderful reprieve from most academic responsibilities. Of course, I do hope everyone is making time to read every day, but, hopefully, that does not really seem like "work". If anyone has misplaced the paperwork we reviewed in class on the last day of school and should need an update regarding summer reading requirements, please just check out the reading list on the Johnson School web site, as Ms. Pierce has posted the book lists and related responsibilities. The office at school also has copies of the book lists and responsibilities.



So, rest up and enjoy yourselves, so we can all be ready to work hard and try our very best to make 6th grade a memorable, successful, and positive experience for one and all.



Note: The following information can serve as a preview, somewhat, of what to expect in grade 6. While this information does not really apply to summertime responsibilities, I still think it might be a helpful heads-up, if anyone is wondering about expectations.



Completed weekly reading logs will be due during individual conferences each week, upon the assigned days. Please make sure that everyone is making time to read, and keep track of the material and progress, each day. Of course, this includes week-ends, too. Realistically, week-end choices might be of a lighter nature, but each student does need to make a commitment to read every single day. 30+ minutes minimum daily, please. (Later in the year, it will jump to 40+ minutes daily.)



Regarding our assignment notebooks: It is of utmost importance that each student write every assignment down before leaving class. It also is imperative that each student maintain an orderly and organized binder of ELA materials. Good study habits are in the making!



We will be diligently attacking all of the components of our new reading series. It can seem a bit overwhelming how much there is to accomplish! It is a definite "plus", however, to note that our new ELA program is significantly more challenging than the materials we had been using before this past school year. We will be trying to maintain a positive attitude, as we attempt to develop successful strategies to enable every student to experience successes on a daily basis. Every day we are reminded that we truly have sooooooooo much to learn!



Once the school year gets under way, we will be developing very special relationships with our Kindergarten Buddies. We will set up a schedule to get together every other week to participate in joint projects and activities. The beauty of the Kindergarten Buddy Program is that we will actually be helping one another, while we also get to enjoy each other's company. It's truly a win-win situation! The 6th graders always seem to be just as excited as the little ones. All of the teachers, who are involved, also share the same positive vibes and energy. What a promising experience for one and all!



Hopefully, we will also be pen pal buddies with senior citizens in town. The current 7th graders instituted this program, and it was very well received by all parties involved. So, we have lots of cool projects of which to look forward to participating. It should be a great year!





Regarding snacks, please continue to be vigilant insisting that the choices continue to be nutritious, peanut - free, and easy to eat, while working in class.



I continue to be eager to see all of our students' smiling faces bright and early each new day. How refreshing! Remember that we are only limited by our own imaginations, so let's work together to make the most of our time. The sky's the limit! It is important for every student to feel confident and competent as each moves forward on one's academic journey. It is reassuring to know that we are all in this process together, so not to worry!



Take care, and carpe diem.



�Note: Students should always consult the homework board in class each day to make sure that all assignments get written down correctly. Work needs to be completed to the best of one's ability and submitted on time in order to receive full credit. If anyone should ever have any questions regarding a particular project, he or she should be sure to ask the necessary questions before leaving school for the day. Mrs. Tibbo, Ms. Page, all of our Specialists, and I truly want every student to experience success. Yes, teamwork works.



� Let's all strive to continue to live by our motto: Good, better, BEST! Never let us rest, until our good is better, and our better is our BEST.