Tall Towers

Fifth-grade students learned about geometry, design, engineering, balance, gravity, structure and support, and teamwork as they built towers using marshmallows and toothpicks.  This engineering activity was designed to determine which team of students could build the tallest tower under the guidelines provided.

PTO Grant

We are so proud of all that our PTO does for us, and just recently they provided a financial assistance grant to all of our teachers that applied for the funds. The goal is to purchase material and/or supplies to enhance their classroom(s) and overall learning. Here's a list of items that have been purchased so far...we'll provide pictures as they come in!!

Thank you to our PTO members!

iPad Air -2

Chromebooks-19

Spec. Ed. Activity Table

Shredder

Cassette Player

Reading/Writer Center

Classroom Rugs-7

“Think Tank” Set

Class White boards-4

Printer-14

Computer Chair-2

Lightspeed Microphone-2

Paper Cutter-2

Math Manipulatives Set-2

Book Cases-15

Kidney Table

iPad Mini-7

Apple TV-2

iPad Docking Station

Digital Cameras-2

DVD Player

Headphones

Otterbox for iPad-9

Hundreds of dollars of classroom books.

Rockets launch at PI

GATE students are launching rockets this week.  They are learning about rocketry and the space program for their upcoming trip to the Huntsville Space Center in January.

Library Books

Paine Intermediate library books are now due! If your child has a book at home, please remind them to bring those back to school. We are encouraging students to continue to read over the winter break. You may check books out from the public library, your teacher's classroom, read books that you have at home, or download free eBooks through Over Drive!

Thank you for your help!

Paine Intermediate's Girl Scout Troop (and Brownie Troop 634) held an executive meeting with Dr. Jeter to discuss a possible service learning project for PI. The girls presented their request, discussed their ideas for implementation, and provided an overview of what's needed and what all they will do. The meeting was such a success that Dr. Jeter said yes to their proposal!

Parents Working in the School

Paine Intermediate parents help and support our school in so many ways. This is a glimpse of some of our parents working with students throughout the school day!

Week of December 15th

Week of December 15th

Date	Event
Monday, December 15 H Day	Choir field trip to HTHS 2:00 Dismissal
Tuesday, December 16 A Day	Choir Performance @ HTHS 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 17 B Day	Choir Performances for PI 3rd grade Christmas Parties Drama Practice until 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 18 C Day	4th and 5th grade Christmas Parties
Friday, December 19	12:00 Early Dismissal for students

Amazing Math

5th grade students in Mrs. Summers math class are utilizing their higher order thinking strategies to solve and construct mathematical problems!

Parent Math Academy

Dear Parents,

Math instruction today is different from what most of us experienced in the past.  In order to provide you with information on current instructional approaches and strategies, we will be offering a Math Academy for Parents once a month.  For your convenience, there will be two sessions to choose from:  a morning session from 9:00-10:00 am and an evening session from 5:00-6:00 pm.  We value your time, so these sessions will be limited to one hour, and we will cover what we think is most relevant based on current instruction in the classroom.  We will spend the first half-hour with overall information, and we will break into groups by grade level for the second half-hour.  

The overall session for our first Parent Math Academy will be on the importance of the area model in developing conceptual understanding.  The breakout segments are: 

·        3rd grade - Multiplication Fact Fluency

·        4th Grade - Long Division

·        5th Grade - Multiplying Fractions.  

Your invitation to the Parent Math Academy on Thursday, December 11^th is shown below. 

We have also created a Math Blog for Parents.  If you haven’t already, please sign up to receive blog updates by entering you email address in the designated section on the blog.  The blog can be found at paineintmath.blogspot.com.  We have just added a section on instructional videos by grade level.  We will be creating/adding short video segments on various strategies being taught in the classroom.  These videos can be utilized by both parents and students.

Our goal with the Parent Math Blog and Parent Math Academy is to provide parents with important information and a better understanding of the concepts and strategies being taught in the math classroom today.  If you have any questions, please email Lisa.Lothspeich@trussvillecityschools.com, Math Instructional Coach.

We look forward to seeing you at the Parent Math Academy!

December 19th Dismissal

Parents:

As a reminder, students will be dismissed from school at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2014. We will operate an abbreviated school schedule that day. All students will be offered both breakfast and lunch as normal.

Thank you,

Week of December 8th

Week of December 8th 

Date	Event
Monday, December 8 C Day	2:00 Dismissal Choir Rehearsal
Tuesday, December 9 D Day	3rd Grade field trip AR 1/2 way point
Wednesday, December 10 E Day	Drama Rehearsal
Thursday, December 11 F Day	Parent Math Academy @ 9:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m.
Friday, December 12 G Day	Friday Freeze

Researching Causes of the American Revolution

Students in 5th grade have been researching causes of the American Revolution.  They used their Chromebooks to conduct the research and also to create a slide presentation of their findings.  Students pictured are completing their assignments for Mrs. Moore, a 5th grade Literacy teacher.

Parent Night Tonight

Come out and support our very first Parent Night at Paine Intermediate School for this school year! This is an opportunity for you to hear, learn and see the latest information that pertains to your child's school and their learning. We are hosting two meetings with the identical topics for discussion to accommodate all schedules. We look forward to seeing you at either the Coffee with the Principal on Tuesday, December 2nd @ 9:00 a.m. or at the Parent Night on Thursday, December 4th @ 6:00 p.m.

Where: Paine Intermediate School Amphitheater

When: Thursday, December 4, 2014

Time: 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Topics to be Covered: Math at Paine Intermediate School & 

Your Child's Electronic Device: Staying Safe

4th Graders Visit Ruffner Mountain

Charitable 5th Graders

Students in MLong's 5th grade class have decided to help a family from The Salvation Army's Angel Tree this Christmas.  They met at Target over the weekend to purchase just-right gifts.

Upcoming Parent Math Academy

Dear Parents,

Math instruction today is different from what most of us experienced in the past.  In order to provide you with information on current instructional approaches and strategies, we will be offering a Math Academy for Parents once a month.  For your convenience, there will be two sessions to choose from:  a morning session from 9:00-10:00 am and an evening session from 5:00-6:00 pm.  We value your time, so these sessions will be limited to one hour, and we will cover what we think is most relevant based on current instruction in the classroom.  We will spend the first half-hour with overall information, and we will break into groups by grade level for the second half-hour.  

The overall session for our first Parent Math Academy will be on the importance of the area model in developing conceptual understanding.  The breakout segments are:

·        3rd grade - Multiplication Fact Fluency

·        4th Grade - Long Division

·        5th Grade - Multiplying Fractions.  

Your invitation to the Parent Math Academy on Thursday, December 11^th is shown below. 

We have also created a Math Blog for Parents.  If you haven’t already, please sign up to receive blog updates by entering you email address in the designated section on the blog.  The blog can be found at paineintmath.blogspot.com.  We have just added a section on instructional videos by grade level.  We will be creating/adding short video segments on various strategies being taught in the classroom.  These videos can be utilized by both parents and students.

Our goal with the Parent Math Blog and Parent Math Academy is to provide parents with important information and a better understanding of the concepts and strategies being taught in the math classroom today.  If you have any questions, please email Lisa.Lothspeich@trussvillecityschools.com, Math Instructional Coach.

We look forward to seeing you at the Parent Math Academy!

Important Choir Information

Dear Choir Parents: The 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade choirs will practice together on Monday, December 8 until 3:30. This was not on the original information sheet for 3rd and 4th grade. We are in desperate need of some extra practice time and I appreciate your support! Below is a list of upcoming events:

Monday, December 8 

All 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade choir members will stay after school for choir practice. Pick up time is 3:30 in the car line at the back of the school.

Monday, December 15

All 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade choir members will travel to HTHS to practice for the annual holiday concert. Mr. Byars still needs three parent volunteers to chaperon the trip. email: ronald.byars@trussvillecityschools.com.

Tuesday, December 16

The annual TCS holiday concert is at 7:00 p. m. Please bring your child to the high school at 6:20 p. m. Make sure they wear their choir shirt to the  concert.

Parent Night (12-4-14)

Come out and support our very first Parent Night at Paine Intermediate School for this school year! This is an opportunity for you to hear, learn and see the latest information that pertains to your child's school and their learning. We are hosting two meetings with the identical topics for discussion to accommodate all schedules. We look forward to seeing you at either the Coffee with the Principal on Tuesday, December 2nd @ 9:00 a.m. or at the Parent Night on Thursday, December 4th @ 6:00 p.m.

Where: Paine Intermediate School Amphitheater

When: Thursday, December 4, 2014

Time: 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Topics to be Covered: Math at Paine Intermediate School & 

Your Child's Electronic Device: Staying Safe

Coffee with the Principal

Come out and enjoy time at your child's school by attending...

Coffee With the Principal

When: Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Paine Intermediate School-Amphitheater

Topics: Math at Paine Intermediate School &
Your Child's Electronic Device: Staying Safe

Hope to see you there!!