READING IS FUNDAMENTAL /November 2009

We are so excited to have the Junior League of Jackson so involved in our school. They help children in so many ways. One way is in providing the books that are distributed to all children three times a year. Children get to celebrate reading with a particular theme and are allowed to choose a book to call their own.

A Short Segment of a Great PTA Program

Above is a short segment of the ending of the program by the second and third grade students!!

Mrs. Land is BACK and the PTA performance!! AWESOME!!!

Mrs. Land missed her Open Doors students this week while she was at home recovering from pneumonia. She was back at school on Friday and loved being there. The students in the fourth grade are going to begin a book called, "The Magnificent Mummy Maker" and the students in the fifth grade will begin a book called, "Howliday Inn". Our Health unit that we will begin working on this week is "The Skeletal System"......just in time for Halloween!!! The second and third grade students will construct a skeleton from pastas. The students in fourth and fifth grade will create games that teach about the skeletal system and they will also research to find information on how to take care of the skeletal system.

The day at school ended with an evening performance by Mrs. William's Showchoir, and the second and third grade students!!! WOW!!! These students did more than "SHINE" for this performance....."THEY GLOWED!!!" We are so blessed to have a wonderful music teacher like Mrs. Williams whose smile and excitement motivate the students each day. Hopefully, we will get a video on the Blog of some of the performance. Mrs. Land was so proud of the students!!!

Van Winkle Lunch Week Visit

Mrs. Land enjoyed meeting Sherwin Johnson, public relations for the School District. He took wonderful pictures of the events for National Lunch Week and was excited to hear about the Open Doors Blog. Thanks for sharing your photos for our Blog, Mr. Johnson. Great pictures.
Click on the link below to see Mr. Johnson's pictures!!

Van Winkle Lunch Week Visit

Second graders learn POWERPOINT SKILLS

The second grade Open Door students are learning to make Powerpoint Slides. They were very excited when Mrs Land told them that there are adults who do not even know how to do this skill and that some people go to college and learn how to make Powerpoint presentations. Mrs. Land explained to the students that they will use these skills in presenting any research that they do this year. On this day, the students learned to use custom animation to make their pictures and words move!!! Mrs. Land is very proud of the students.

Se'Lah, fourth grader, loves to work on the computer!!!

Pictures from National Lunch Week

Students in Open Doors enjoyed making the pictures that were displayed on the wall for National Lunch Week. The students used the week of National Lunch Week to prepare for the DISTRICT TEST by doing activities such as a Cause and Effect Display, writing, and by using Math skills in the display that demonstrates how many sugar grams are in servings of different foods. Mrs. Land had a lot of fun painting some pictures to display also. She was very thankful for Mrs. Giles for providing a large chalk picture of the theme of the week. Mrs. Dixon also contributed to the National Lunch Week by having her daughter, a graphic designer, make wonderful pictures for the display. The Montessori, Kindergarten, and First grade students dressed in Headbands made by Mrs. Land and in t-shirts made from Wal Mart Sacks donated by Wal Mart. National Lunch Week was truly an event that was participated in by the school and school community. Thanks to the cafeteria staff for making wonderful food for this event. They also dressed up and looked AWESOME!!!





Mrs. Land enjoyed painting some original pictures for the event. Her display of pictures showed that Van Winkle is a school full of ALL STARS....leaders, parents,staff,community and most important.....the students!!!

Our ALL STAR LEADERS!!!


Our ALL STAR STAFF


Mrs. Giles' wonderful poster!!


ALL STAR PARENTS


ALL STAR STUDENTS







Students in the Open Doors classes enjoyed using Math skills to determine how many sugar grams are in one serving of select foods.





"Gotta GETCHA Head in THE GAME" was a perfect song for this picture. The students discussed how they had to be focused in all areas of their lives.














Dr. Bowen poses for a picture with visitor to JPS, Dr. Janie Thornton and (below) with the Kindergarten students.