Forest Heights Academy of Excellence
From the Principal
It’s hard to believe that the first nine weeks of school is almost over! The end of the first nine weeks of school will officially end on October 9th. Teachers will be sending out conference notices soon. Please make every effort to attend your child’s scheduled conference. According to research, the number one indicator of student achievement is parental involvement. However, no one can do it alone…whether it is a student, teacher, a parent, or another relative. We must all work together! We invite you to become an active participant at school. There are many ways to become involved…just ask your child’s teacher…I know he/she can think of all kinds of things! We hope to see you soon!
As our seasons change, so does the temperature in the air. Please be assured, we are doing everything possible here at Forest Heights to keep everyone healthy and safe. Please join us in our efforts by encouraging your child to wash his/her hands as often as possible, coughing into the elbow and having ill feeling students to remain home.
Health Centers in Schools is once again teaming up with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System in providing free influenza vaccinations for students. Recently, your child received a consent package for this free flu vaccination. This is for seasonal influenza, not swine flu (H1N1).
All of the questions in the packet must be answered completely and the consent form signed for your child to receive the free vaccination. I urge you to return your consent form to the school as soon as possible. The consent form is the last page (yellow) of the packet your child is bringing home about this project.
This vaccination will be in the form of an inhalant known as FluMist, and it is for the average, healthy child. Children with asthma, chronic disease or immune deficiencies should receive an injection from their personal physician rather than receive the FluMist vaccine at their school.
Otherwise, students will receive the FluMist in our school under the advisement of Health Centers in Schools, registered nurses and trained medical personnel on October 30th.
Please help us reduce the number of flu cases in your family, school and community by vaccinating your child. This free service can only be provided if you return the consent form fully completed and signed. If you have any questions, please contact the school at 355-5681. For more information, you also can call Health Centers in School at 343-9505.
Ms. Myra Varmall, Principal
More
School News
Fall Arts Festival
The Forest Heights Academy of Excellence announces its
Fall Arts Festival on Friday, October 30, 2009.
A fund raiser for the Performing Arts Department, this outdoor festival will be lots of fun for all our students. Games and activities are curriculum based, and lots of parent volunteers are needed to make this day of fun happen! Please let your child’s teacher know if you can help.
Bracelets ($5.00) and tickets ($.50/each) must be purchased ahead of time!
Scholastic
Book Fair
Our Scholastic Book Fair will be
Wednesday, Oct. 7 - Friday, Oct. 9.
The fair will open at 9:00 a.m. each day.
On Tuesday, Oct. 6, students will be given a schedule as to when their grade level will be visiting the fair. They will also receive a flyer with information concerning some of the items available at the fair.
All families are invited to attend the fair.
We will also have some information and ideas for parents on how to
help your child become a better reader!
Forest Heights
At Magnet Mania
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Third Grade Classes
along with
Honor Strings
will perform at
Magnet Mania
At Cortana Mall
J.C. Penny Plaza
DANCE ENSEMBLE: 10:25-10:30 a.m.
HONOR STRINGS: 12:30-12:50 p.m.
Performers and Parents please plan to attend!
Easy $$$$$
for our School
Help us earn money to purchase materials and equipment for our school. Please cut, save and send all Community Coffee and Box Top for Education barcode labels to your child’s teacher. Classes that collect the most labels receive special school rewards. Ask neighbors and family members to save labels for you, and consider organizing label drives with your church or community group. The extra money for our school really makes a difference!
Thanks & Keep them coming!
Grade Level
News
Pre-K
The month of September was spent learning many new things. We learned about all aspects of books, print awareness, and two high frequency words. In math we explored shapes, AB patterns, and many skills associated with Calendar Math. We have finished our unit on “Me” and have started our study about the family.
Our first Parent Workshop was a great success— thanks to all who attended. The children enjoyed showing their parents the different aspects of their day. We will hold another Parent Workshop on the next early dismissal day, October 21st. Your child’s teacher will send you an invitation regarding the time.
We hope you can join us!
Kindergarten
In kindergarten during the month of September, we learned about shapes and geometric figures. We sorted objects by color, shape and size.
In reading we learned about different kinds of families. We wrote stories and drew pictures about family fun. In phonics, we are learning letter sounds and blending the sounds into words. Our list of High Frequency Words grows each week!
During our Science lessons, we learned about the day and night sky. We are exploring weather changes and how the weather affects us.
Thanks to our parents who attended our first Sharing Session. We are very grateful for your continued support. We hoped you enjoyed the program as much as we did. Our Arts faculty work extremely hard to support and enhance our curriculum.
First Grade
First graders are doing a great job! We have been learning to spell and read new words. We know who the characters are in our stories, what the setting is, and what happens at the beginning, middle, and end.
Our writing is improving by leaps and bounds. The Write From the Beginning writing program is helping us organize our ideas so that we can write good sentences about a topic.
Math has us busy learning how to add and subtract. We are also acting out stories to help us understand the difference between addition and subtraction.
We are finishing up our Weather unit in Science. It has been fun learning about different kinds of weather, the water cycle, and clouds. We also located and compared proportions of land and water found on earth.
Second Grade
Second graders are busy preparing for their sharing session-Second Grade Rules. Join us on October 9th at 10:00am for this great showcase. In science, as culminating activities on space and science, the students are creating a research project on the solar system and going on a field trip to LASM on Oct. 23. Please follow the rubric used for grading the Planet Projects. All students and chaperones fees are to be paid in full by October 9, 2009.
We are still progressing through our math unit focusing on basic addition and subtraction facts to solve real-life problems. Unit 2 of our reading series is focusing on “Growth and Change”. Students will continue to summarize, draw conclusions, find main ideas/details, sequence, make inferences, and make and confirm predictions.
Third Grade
Third grade is falling into writing as we practice responding to various types of writing prompts—persuasive, descriptive, and narrative using Write from the Beginning.
In math, we are continuing to practice strategies for addition and subtraction, as well as focusing on data, charts, graphs, and probability. It’s very likely that we will find this an exciting unit!
Science has us investigating the solar system. We look forward to your viewing your child’s planet project. The first nine weeks is coming to a close, and we are eager to see the continuing progress your students will make.
Fourth Grade
Happy Fall! We are having so much fun learning in fourth grade. Your child has been working very hard each day. We have recently taken Edusoft tests in both Reading and Math, and your child has begun new units in both subjects. For the next few weeks, we will be spending a lot of time focusing on writing and the writing process. Our students love all of the writing opportunities! Please encourage your child to continue writing at home.
In Math, we have begun a new unit that focuses on multiplication and division. We are asking for your help in insuring that your child is successful with multiplication facts through 12 x 12. This is a skill that is important for fourth grade students and your help will allow us as teachers to focus more on problem solving related to multiplication and division. Your assistance is always appreciated.
Keep up the good work at home as we will continue to keep your child motivated at school.
Fifth Grade
Fifth graders have been studying the Ancient Empires of South and Central America. We learned about the civilizations of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca before the European Exploration. Students are now working their way across North America studying the Indigenous People of the different Cultural Regions.
In Language Arts, we have been reviewing sentences and sentence structure. We have also been doing lots of narrative writing using our new program Write From the Beginning. Everyday we work to become more educated and better role models here at Forest Heights and in our communities. –Ms. Pitre
Fifth Grade Math and Science- Students will be developing their multiplication and division skills along with learning when to estimate and when to find an exact answer. Our journey has taken us through the rock cycle and now we are learning about the water cycle in our Earth and Space science unit. – Ms. S. Johnson
The second unit in reading is entitled "Discoveries." In this unit, the fifth graders will be working on selections dealing with animals and the proper care for them. The themes of the selections talk about taking personal responsibilities and being proud of one's culture and tradition. The skills are mostly related to literature. We are looking forward an enjoyable and exciting month ahead of us. Happy reading boys and girls! –Ms. Asa
Visual Art
Move Over Famous Artists! Forest Heights artists are taking over the spotlight! Anyone can view the school gallery online at: www.artsonia.com/schools/forest25. Family and friends can browse the artwork in our school gallery by grade level, or by exhibits. I encourage you to join your child's fan club and make comments on their artwork. This is a great way for families to encourage creativity and imagination in our young artists. You can also purchase keepsakes imprinted with the child's artwork, with Artsonia donating 15% of their annual product revenue back to school art programs.
Mrs. Lauren Haddox
Art Specialist
Dance
Congratulations to all students cast in the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker: A Tale from the Bayou.!
In the community: Ailey II will perform downtown, Friday October 16 at 7:30 at the River Center Theatre for the Performing Arts. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre at 766-8379.
Ailey II combines energy and passion with the creative vision of today's most dynamic choreographers. Under the artistic direction of Sylvia Waters, the company continues to embody company founder Alvin Ailey's pioneering mission to establish and extend cultural community programs to all people.
Mrs. Rebecca Acosta
Dance Specialist
Special Thanks
A Very Special Forest Heights Thank You
to
Mr. C. James Rothkamm, Jr.
and the Rothkamm Law Firm, LLC
and
Mr. J. Rodney Messina
and the Professional Law Corporation
for their very generous donation to support our Fall Carnival!
Calling All Carpenters
The Forest Heights Drama Department
needs you!
WANTED:
Skilled carpenters to help build
Simple set pieces
One afternoon after school or Saturday in October
If you are willing to volunteer your time and skill, please contact Ms. Foos at efoos@ebrschools.org or call the school: 355-5681
Fall Production Schedule
October 7, 2009, Wed., at 2:00 pm – 5th Grade
October 9, 2009, Fri., at 10:00 am - 2nd Grade
October 9, 2009, Fri., at 1:00 pm – 3rd Grade
**Mini-musical: November 12, 2009, Thurs., at 11:00 am - 4th Grade
“Poetry Coffee House”
Vocal/General
Music
Congratulations to all the grade levels that put on Sharing Sessions in early October for their parents! A Special Thanks all parents and family who attended your child’s performance. Your support is so important . The presentations were fantastic. We are extremely proud of our Forest Heights students and the excellence they have shown in the first nine weeks of school.
Ms. Medina, our Vocal Music Student Teacher from LSU, is really enjoying working with the students. By the end of this month, she will be teaching all of the vocal music classes and performing groups before school! The students are having lots of fun with her new activities.
Mrs. Susan Chernetz
