Friday, February 28, 2020

Week of March 2nd

Welcome! Thank you for visiting our blog and taking the time to read this communication. We appreciate you!





March 2nd-6th: Spring Book Fair
March 5th: Spring Picture Day
March 5th: Open House from 5:30-7:00 PM
March 9th-13th: Spring Break
April 3rd: All Sky Ranch Paperwork due
April 7th: 5th Grade Math STAAR Test
April 8th: 5th Grade Reading STAAR Test







March Coupon
This year, we gave the students a coupon book with a coupon for each month. The coupon for March is in the image above. We plan to let the students use this coupon on Friday, March 6.  

Spring Book Fair
Lions, and Tigers and Books Oh My! Our Spring book fair is March 2nd - 6th, and we would love to have parents volunteer.  Please sign up on the link below. If you're interested in signing up to volunteer in the book fair, visit this link.  

An Announcement from Our Counselor, Ms. Matlock
During the Spring semester, Ms. Matlock, the TCE counselor will be supporting our 5th graders with the facilitation of a tobacco prevention program, the Model Smoking Prevention Program (MSPP). This research based program helps to equip students to make healthy choices when it comes to smoking or using any tobacco product. This district mandated program will empower our learners in a way that guides and supports their decision-making. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Matlock.

An Announcement from Our Librarian, Mrs. Mancuso
The North Texas Teen/ Tween Book Festival will be March 7th at the Irving Convention Center. Your son/daughter might enjoy this event! You can learn more about the festival here: http://www.northtexasteenbookfestival.com/.


Friendship Friday
A quick reminder that we will be having Friendship Friday every Friday for the rest of the year. 


Yearbook Pictures

Upcoming Parent Book Club
Our counselor and librarian will facilitate a parent book club this Spring in the Town Center library, and we would love for you to attend! It will be a great time to get to know and collaborate with other parents. The book study will start towards the end of March and go through April. It will be a total of five sessions, with each session lasting one hour. All participants will receive a free copy of the book, and it will be yours to keep. If you are interested in attending/learning more, please fill out this link. This will help us pick the day that works best for everyone and gauge interest in the book club. (This information is also in Ms. Martin's Principal Blog. If you complete the form on her blog, you don't have to complete it again here.) 

Our Spring Book Club Book:
Teach Your Children Well - Why Values and Coping Skills Matter More Than Grades, Trophies, or "Fat Envelopes"





Thus far, all of the 6th Grade Parent Meetings have occurred. The image below has a timeline that will be helpful for students attending any of the three middle schools. 

Next week, middle school counselors will be coming to Town Center to talk to the students about course selections for next year. 

This website explains a bit about which middle school your son/daughter will attend. In addition, if you are unsure as to which middle school your son/daughter will attend, please contact Laura Fairchild, our Principal's Secretary, or Kelly Matlock, our Counselor. 


6th Grade Parent Meeting - CMS East
Colt Camp for all incoming 6th graders and their families will be on Wednesday, April 29  6-7:30 pm at East.  More details to come! 


Photos for 5th Grade Graduation Slideshow


The 5th grade room parents have created Google photo folders where you can start uploading photos of your learners with their TCE friends to be used for the 5th Grade Slideshow at the end of the year. The ideal photos to upload are of groups of 3 or more and have Town Center 5th graders in them. Please use the links below to upload photos to your homeroom teacher's album.

5A Schaaf: https://photos.app.goo.gl/MKzHHRr5ZM539zW89

5B Foroodi: https://photos.app.goo.gl/EKppkUJuzWkkVW23A


5C Natherson: https://photos.app.goo.gl/xb4Lyjm3zVrnUhGGA


5D Taylor: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NJgD6S8Ef7JyYKh49







Please click here for a digital version of the Sky Ranch information packet. The forms that will need to be filled out are towards the back of the packet. Please ask your homeroom teacher if you have any questions!

For access to a digital Google Folder that includes all of the required forms to be filled out and returned, please click here

Please remember that the required Sky Ranch forms are not due until April 3rd, 2020. However the sooner you get them in the better!


In addition to completing these paper forms, we will need you to complete this Digital Form. With this form, you'll have a chance to tell us about your son/daughter's dietary needs, swimming skill level, and any other information you'd like for us to know about the trip. 



Sky Ranch Payments
As you know, we have a payment plan for our Sky Ranch trip. You can view the information letter hereThe fourth & last payment of $50 is due Friday, March 6th. You may pay by cash, check, or online via this link. Please contact your homeroom teacher or Mrs. Ford, the Assistant Principal, if you would like to discuss payment plans. 





Math
We will continue our unit over 2D Figures and will explore types of triangles, lines, and angles. Be sure to check out the math practice sheet in the "homework" section of the blog for ways you can support your learner's skills!

Science
The learners will continue exploring Patterns of the Natural World. We will focus on rotation vs revolution and how this affects us on earth. We will end the week by taking a post test over this unit.

Language Arts & Reading
In reading, learners will finish Unit 4 by studying perspective and analyzing writer's craft in their nonfiction research. Learners will also focus on annotating texts. In writing, learners will write an argumentative essay about the debatable issue they have been researching in reading. In Spelling, we have just started a brief study of Greek roots. Ask your son or daughter to tell you about the Greek roots phon, graph, photo, & geo.


Social Studies
In social studies next week, we will continue to learn about the effects of Westward Expansion. The learners will create an Animal Journal, taking on the perspective of Lewis & Clark as they explored the west. Learners will also participate in a fun Pack Your Wagon activity as they learn about the Oregon Trail.



As a reminder, all of the activities listed below are optional resources for you and your family. 

Math
With our state assessment quickly approaching on April 7th, we would like to begin providing some optional homework opportunities for the learners to practice the format and question set up they will see on the end of the year state assessment. Please click here to access a collection of mini-assessments on a variety of topics. For this upcoming week, we recommend learners work on pages 15-18. You will also find an answer key. Please let us know if you have any questions!

Reading & Language Arts

We would love for your son/daughter to spend time reading at home! They can read any text that catches their interest. We are currently in our Argument & Advocacy Unit, so persuasive texts, debates, or nonfiction articles would be advised. You can check out some interesting debate topics here.

Here are a couple of websites that offer current event articles targeted towards preteens and teens. With your guidance, they could choose articles of interest to read.





The 5th Graders in the Best Buddies Texan Town Club helped some of the younger kiddos in Mrs. Beecher's club during the Book Fair Preview. We love seeing our bigger kids helping out the younger kids! 

The 5th Graders in the Best Buddies Texan Town Club helped some of the younger kiddos in Mrs. Beecher's club during the Book Fair Preview. We love seeing our bigger kids helping out the younger kids!

The 5th Graders in the Best Buddies Texan Town Club helped some of the younger kiddos in Mrs. Beecher's club during the Book Fair Preview. We love seeing our bigger kids helping out the younger kids!




















Friday, February 21, 2020

Week of February 24

Welcome! Thank you for visiting our blog and taking the time to read this communication. We appreciate you!



March 2nd-6th: Spring Book Fair
March 5th: Spring Picture Day
March 5th: Open House from 5:30-7:00 PM
March 9th-13th: Spring Break
April 3rd: All Sky Ranch Paperwork due
April 7th: 5th Grade Math STAAR Test
April 8th: 5th Grade Reading STAAR Test




February Coupon

This year, we gave the students a coupon book with a coupon for each month. The coupon for February is in the image above. We plan to let the students use this coupon on Friday, February 28.  

Spring Book Fair
Lions, and Tigers and Books Oh My! Our Spring book fair is March 2nd - 6th, and we would love to have parents volunteer.  Please sign up on the link below. If you're interested in signing up to volunteer in the book fair, visit this link.  

Friendship Friday
A quick reminder that we will be having Friendship Friday every Friday for the rest of the year. 



Yearbook Pictures

Upcoming Parent Book Club

Our counselor and librarian will facilitate a parent book club this Spring in the Town Center library, and we would love for you to attend! It will be a great time to get to know and collaborate with other parents. The book study will start towards the end of March and go through April. It will be a total of five sessions, with each session lasting one hour. All participants will receive a free copy of the book, and it will be yours to keep. If you are interested in attending/learning more, please fill out this link. This will help us pick the day that works best for everyone and gauge interest in the book club. (This information is also in Ms. Martin's Principal Blog. If you complete the form on her blog, you don't have to complete it again here.) 

Our Spring Book Club Book:

Teach Your Children Well - Why Values and Coping Skills Matter More Than Grades, Trophies, or "Fat Envelopes"





6th Grade Parent Meeting - CMS West 
Please see the image below regarding a 5th Grade Parent Meeting at West. This meeting is only for parents of incoming 6th graders at Coppell Middle School West. As we receive information about parent meetings at East & North, we will share that information here. If you are unsure as to which middle school your son/daughter will attend, please contact Laura Fairchild, our Principal's Secretary, or Kelly Matlock, our Counselor. 


6th Grade Parent Meeting - CMS East
Colt Camp for all incoming 6th graders and their families will be on Wednesday, April 29  6-7:30 pm at East.  More details to come! 


Photos for 5th Grade Graduation Slideshow


The 5th grade room parents have created Google photo folders where you can start uploading photos of your learners with their TCE friends to be used for the 5th Grade Slideshow at the end of the year. The ideal photos to upload are of groups of 3 or more and have Town Center 5th graders in them. Please use the links below to upload photos to your homeroom teacher's album.

5A Schaaf: https://photos.app.goo.gl/MKzHHRr5ZM539zW89

5B Foroodi: https://photos.app.goo.gl/EKppkUJuzWkkVW23A

5C Natherson: https://photos.app.goo.gl/xb4Lyjm3zVrnUhGGA

5D Taylor: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NJgD6S8Ef7JyYKh49






Please click here for a digital version of the Sky Ranch information packet. The forms that will need to be filled out are towards the back of the packet. Please ask your homeroom teacher if you have any questions!

For access to a digital Google Folder that includes all of the required forms to be filled out and returned, please click here

Please remember that the required Sky Ranch forms are not due until April 3rd, 2020. However the sooner you get them in the better!






As you know, we have a payment plan for our Sky Ranch trip. You can view the information letter hereThe third payment of $50 was due Friday, February 7th. You may pay by cash, check, or online via this link. Please contact your homeroom teacher or Mrs. Ford, the Assistant Principal, if you would like to discuss payment plans. 




Math
In math next week, we will be wrapping up our coordinate planes unit and moving to a unit on 2D figures. We are looking forward to beginning to explore types of triangles, lines, and angles. Be sure to check out the math practice sheet in the "homework" section of the blog for ways you can support your learner's skills!


Science
In Science next week, we will be exploring the characteristics of the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Learners will complete activities about the patterns found in our world and how they affect each other.

Language Arts & Reading
In reading, learners will deepen their research by developing more complex questions, as well as annotating their notes to create more purposeful reading. In writing, learners will read different information about chocolate milk that may shift their opinion. They will research more and take notes on their thoughts, opinions, and questions they have. You could help us out by talking to your son/daughter about claims, reasons, and evidence! In Spelling, we have just started a brief study of Greek roots. Ask your son or daughter to tell you about the Greek roots phon & graph.

Social Studies
In social studies next week, we will be learning about the Louisiana Purchase, which was land that the United States purchased. We will also learn about the events during the War of 1812.



As a reminder, all of the activities listed below are optional resources for you and your family. 

Math
With our state assessment quickly approaching on April 7th, we would like to begin providing some optional homework opportunities for the learners to practice the format and question set up they will see on the end of the year state assessment. Please click here to access a collection of mini-assessments on a variety of topics. For this upcoming week, we recommend learners work on pages 15-18. You will also find an answer key. Please let us know if you have any questions!

Reading & Language Arts

We would love for your son/daughter to spend time reading at home! They can read any text that catches their interest. We are currently in our Argument & Advocacy Unit, so persuasive texts, debates, or nonfiction articles would be advised. You can check out some interesting debate topics here.

Here are a couple of websites that offer current event articles targeted towards preteens and teens. With your guidance, they could choose articles of interest to read.

























Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Week of February 17

Welcome! Thank you for visiting our blog and taking the time to read this communication. We appreciate you!

We had a really great Valentine's Party on Thursday! Our Room Moms worked hard to organize such a fun afternoon for our kids! Thanks Room Moms!




February 20th: TCE Cultural Night (See image below) 
March 5th: Spring Picture Day
March 5th: Open House from 5:30-7:00 PM
April 3rd: All Sky Ranch Paperwork due



3rd Annual TCE Cultural Night
Please see the image above to learn a bit about Cultural Night.

February Coupon

This year, we gave the students a coupon book with a coupon for each month. The coupon for February is in the image above. We plan to let the students use this coupon on Friday, February 28.  

Spring Book Fair
The Spring Book Fair is just around the corner. If you're interested in signing up to volunteer in the book fair, visit this link.  

Friendship Friday
A quick reminder that we will be having Friendship Friday every Friday for the rest of the year. 



Yearbook Pictures






6th Grade Parent Meeting - CMS West 
Please see the image below regarding a 5th Grade Parent Meeting at West. This meeting is only for parents of incoming 6th graders at Coppell Middle School West. As we receive information about parent meetings at East & North, we will share that information here. If you are unsure as to which middle school your son/daughter will attend, please contact Laura Fairchild, our Principal's Secretary, or Kelly Matlock, our Counselor. 



Photos for 5th Grade Graduation Slideshow

The 5th grade room parents have created Google photo folders where you can start uploading photos of your learners with their TCE friends to be used for the 5th Grade Slideshow at the end of the year. The ideal photos to upload are of groups of 3 or more and have Town Center 5th graders in them. Please use the links below to upload photos to your homeroom teacher's album.

5A Schaaf: https://photos.app.goo.gl/MKzHHRr5ZM539zW89

5B Foroodi: https://photos.app.goo.gl/EKppkUJuzWkkVW23A

5C Natherson: https://photos.app.goo.gl/xb4Lyjm3zVrnUhGGA

5D Taylor: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NJgD6S8Ef7JyYKh49





Please click here for a digital version of the Sky Ranch information packet. The forms that will need to be filled out are towards the back of the packet. Please ask your homeroom teacher if you have any questions!

For access to a digital Google Folder that includes all of the required forms to be filled out and returned, please click here

Please remember that the required Sky Ranch forms are not due until April 3rd, 2020. However the sooner you get them in the better!






As you know, we have a payment plan for our Sky Ranch trip. You can view the information letter hereThe third payment of $50 was due Friday, February 7th. You may pay by cash, check, or online via this link. Please contact your homeroom teacher or Mrs. Ford, the Assistant Principal, if you would like to discuss payment plans. 




Math
In math next week, we will be continuing our unit on coordinate planes and graphing. Learners will be exploring scatterplots and lines of trend. They will also participate in learning experiences to see how x and y coordinates follow either a positive or negative trend, or pattern. 


Science
In Science next week, we will be continuing our unit on Patterns in the Natural World. Learners will be exploring cycles such as the Water Cycle and the Moon Phases.

Language Arts & Reading
Last week, the students wrote a second draft of their argument essay. Within this draft, learners focused on adding powerful quotes to support their arguments. As we continue through this unit, the students will begin to focus on writing counter arguments. In reading, each student is researching a debatable issue. Students have been focusing on summarizing their research by including a claim, reasons to support their claim, and evidence to support their reasons. This week, the students will participate in debates in their research groups. You could help us out by talking to your son/daughter about claims, reasons, and evidence! In Spelling, we have just started a brief study of Greek roots. Ask your son or daughter to tell you about the Greek roots phon & graph.



Social Studies
We in our 4th Unit, Westward Expansion. The learners are working through a Numbers file as they learn about Westward Expansion, Manifest Destiny, Lewis & Clark, the Oregon Trail, and the California Gold Rush.



As a reminder, all of the activities listed below are optional resources for you and your family.

Math
With seven instructional weeks left until the learners take the Math STAAR test on April 7th, we would like to begin providing some optional homework opportunities for the learners to practice the format and question set up they will see on the end of the year state assessment. Please click here to access a collection of mini-assessments on a variety of topics. For this upcoming week, we recommend learners work on pages 15-18. You will also find an answer key. Please let us know if you have any questions!


Reading & Language Arts

Please click here for a Time for Kids article:  
We would love for your son/daughter to spend time reading at home! They can read any text that catches their interest. We are currently in our Argument & Advocacy Unit, so persuasive texts, debates, or nonfiction articles would be advised. You can check out some interesting debate topics here.

Here are a couple of websites that offer current event articles targeted towards preteens and teens. With your guidance, they could choose articles of interest to read.









During House Time on Thursday, we had fun making origami hearts and analyzing the geometric features!  

We had a blast during our Coding Experiences led by the District Digital Learning Coaches. 

We had a blast during our Coding Experiences led by the District Digital Learning Coaches. 

We had a blast during our Coding Experiences led by the District Digital Learning Coaches.
Students got to write compliments to each other during a class Valentines activity on Thursday.  


Students enjoyed sharing Valentines with their classmates before our party on Thursday. 
Students enjoyed sharing Valentines with their classmates before our party on Thursday. 

We switched up the class groups for indoor recess, and the kids loved getting to be with a different class! 

We switched up the class groups for indoor recess, and the kids loved getting to be with a different class!

We switched up the class groups for indoor recess, and the kids loved getting to be with a different class!

We switched up the class groups for indoor recess, and the kids loved getting to be with a different class!

We switched up the class groups for indoor recess, and the kids loved getting to be with a different class!