My summer is officially over, though I know you still have a little more than a week left of yours. We’re back at work as of this morning. I’m looking forward to another fun year of exploring and learning. If you would prefer not to receive these updates any more, you can either go to the blog website and manage your subscription options or you can just email me and I can take care of it on my end.

This year, I’ll be requesting the following school supplies:

• two packages of pencils
• a single subject notebook (8.5” x 11”) with a plastic cover for English and/or math – depending on area of identification – one notebook per subject area (Mead Five Star notebooks are a little more expensive but tend to last the year)

These can be brought in during the open house, or your child can bring them in the first few days of school. I also always appreciate donations of hand sanitizer, tissues, and cleaning wipes. I will collect the pencils so that we’ll have them during the course of the year, but please put your child’s name on his or her notebook(s).

I look forward to seeing you during Open House!

This message is for fifth and sixth grade peeps.

The end of the year is almost here. It is time to start returning books. Please do not return books that you are still reading. I would like you to finish reading them. But it is, however, time to start looking under your bed, in the cushions of your couch, and in your backpack for any books you may have borrowed from either me or the Walker library and to return them.

If there are holes in my library that you think need filling please let me know so that I can work on that this summer. Start thinking about what you’re going to read this summer. If you need suggestions, let me know. I’m going to try to squeeze in one last speed-book-talk day before the end of the year so you’ll have some great ideas.

Just a reminder that there will be a TDAP clinic held in the Walker cafeteria tomorrow from 5-7. State law requires children who are 11 prior to the beginning of sixth grade to have a TDAP shot before they can be admitted to class. As students turn 11 they will be required to get the shot as well.

Please call the office at 245-2412 if you have any questions.

Parent conferences are scheduled from 4:00 – 7:00 on February 18.

I am participating in a program sponsored by the Virginia & North Carolina Geographic Alliances and the British National Archives called When We Were British. Unfortunately, this means I will be not be available on February 18. I’ll be in London doing research at the British National Archives that week. If you would like to meet, I would be happy to meet with you once I return. I am free most afternoons from 2:30 – 3:15.

This afternoon 10 Walker students participated in the Geography Bee. Five 5th graders and 5 6th graders competed against each other to see who the top geographer is at Walker. It was close! Frank Myhre, a fifth grader, came in third place, giving the sixth graders a good run for their money. Maya Tatel-McMillan and Reece McKee went head to head in the championship round. Reece was the grand champion, answering two of the round’s three questions correctly. Next up for Reece: taking a test to earn a spot in the state finals.

As you know, AVID is being implemented this year. As part of building an AVID culture, our coach, Crystal Beasley and guidance counselor, Charlotte Geddy are coordinating a College and Career Exploration Night, which will be held on Tuesday, February 10 from 5:30 – 7:30. The snow date is February 17.

They are looking for different people, businesses, and organizations who would be willing to come and share information about various careers. They would like to represent a variety of different careers and pay scales. If you would be willing to set up a table to share information about your career or know people who would be willing to do so, please contact Charlotte Geddy by  phone 245-2917 or at charlotte.geddy@charlottesvilleschools.org.

Parent Teacher Conferences are coming up. You can sign up by either clicking on this link, which will take you my conference calendar for October 28 and October 30 or you can use the calendar located in the left-hand side of the blog to sign up for those dates.

Because I teach so many students, I am setting aside time from 8:00 – 1:00 on November 4 and November 6 for parent conferences as well.  Unfortunately, our conference website didn’t like the different times, so I’ve set up a spreadsheet for those two dates. You can see it below and I will create a page for it on the blog so that you will be able to easily locate it between now and those conference dates. To book a conference for the two later dates, please send me an email with a few times that will work for you.  I will schedule conferences as I receive them, though I will only be able to do this each afternoon. As conferences are scheduled, I will shade that block of time, but will not use student or parent names. I will email you a confirmation of your date and time within 24 business hours of receiving your request.

I received information on UVA’s 2015 Saturday Enrichment Program. If you would like a flier please let me know and I will be happy to send one home with your child. Applications are available at the link above starting October 15 and are due on December 1.