Dear Mr. Cooper,

 

What time will our new school start in the morning? 

Will I still ride the bus with my brother who will be in Richland Elementary?

 

Jack H.

 

 

Dear Jack,

 

Thanks for your questions.  The school district is still working to determine the start time for the new school.  There will be about 1,100 students going to the new school.  The school district is investigating a third bus run just for the Upper Elementary School.  We hope to have a final decision about the start time and the bus run for the Upper Elementary School in the fall of 2007.  Keep checking the website for new information.

 

Your principal,

Mr. Cooper

Hi Mr. Cooper, 

Thanks for the note. 

My sister Sarah and I have a question for you.  My mom went to the PTO meeting and told us there was going to be an exploration class.  What is it?  Is it something that we will do everyday?  What will we do there?  My mom also told us that there was an Exploratorium what is that?

 

Christine and Sarah D.

 

 

Dear Christine and Sarah,

 

It is good to hear from you.  I am so pleased you are interested in our new school.  The Exploration Period is planned to be near the end of the school day.  A variety of activities can happen during Exploration Period.  Two to three days of the six-day cycle, teachers and students will have ÒTeam Time.Ó  This is a time that will be directed by your teachers.  It could be used for any of the following things:

 

á      A time for extended curricular lessons (i.e. an extra period of language arts or science),

á      A time for joint projects for the team, house, or grade level,

á      A time for interdisciplinary activities,

á      A time for special instructional topics,

á      A time for guest speakers,

á      A time to teach a special lesson or unit of study such as study skills, guidance topics, etc.

 

The Exploratorium is a very special place in our new school.  It is a unique room that will serve many purposes.  We will use the Exploratorium for assembly programs, special video presentations, school concerts, grade level activities, arts shows, and many other things.  More information about the Exploratorium can be found under the Upper Elementary Information tab on the website.  Here is the direct link to that information. http://www.pinerichland.org/upperelementary/exploratorium.html

 

Your principal,

Mr. Cooper

Dear Mr. Cooper,

 

I have some questions for you and you might want to answer them.

 

  1. What time does school start and end?
  2. What time does lunch and recess start and end for fourth graders?
  3. Do fourth graders have lockers?
  4. Does the school have days such as Hat Day, Pajama Day, Crazy Sock 
Day, or any of the days that we do something special?
  5. Will one of the activities in gym class be Dance or Dance Revolution (DDR)?

 

I hope you enjoy my questions I sent you. Please e-mail me back soon.               

 

Your fourth grade student in 2 years,

Abby H.

 

 

Dear Abby,

 

Is it hard for you to imagine being a fourth grade in two years?  The time will go fast, and we will soon be opening our new school.  Let me answer each of your questions. 

As you will read in another email, the district has not yet made a final decision about the start time and dismissal time for our new school.

Lunch and recess will begin about the same time as it does in your current school – about 11:00 a.m.  All students in grades 4, 5, and 6 will have recess after lunch.  We will work very hard to keep grade levels together for lunch or recess, but I know that because of the number of students in the building, we will need to have a few combination lunches and recesses with fourth grade and fifth grade together or fifth grade and sixth grade together.

All students in the Upper Elementary School will have lockers.  This is something different for some students.  (There are no lockers at Richland Elementary.)  The lockers are designed to hold larger book bags and backpacks.  Students with musical instruments will store them in special lockers that will be located near the band and orchestra classrooms.

We are hoping the Upper Elementary School will have many special events.  Specific decisions have not yet been made at this time. Our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) will sponsor many special activities.  This group of parents will begin meeting very soon.

The physical education teachers will be teaching many units of interest.  In addition to teaching physical education activities, they will also be teaching health classes.  Dance could possibility be a unit in P.E. class.  DDR will probably be an activity that you will have to do at a game arcade or maybe the school fun fair.

 

Your principal,

Mr. Cooper