Happy Ground Hog Day and other Fun February Observances!

Well, it looks like we're in for at least six more weeks of winter, accoring to Phil, the ol' Ground Hog in Punxsutwaney, Pennsylvania.

This morning the students in Room 503 learned that the word February is derived from the Latin words februarius mensis (meaning month of purification). To celebrate, each student was given a bottle of water...thought it might be a nice change from all the junk and sweets that usually accompany our classroom celebrations.

Unfortuantely, it is also National Snack Food Month.

On a rather humorous note, yesterday began National Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month, and on a more reverent note, this month is also Black History Month (I'm not sure why this observance falls in February...January seems like a more apropos time. If anyone knows the origins of this, please let me know).

Regardless of any or all of the above observances, the Sixth Graders will be taking their first Spelling/Vocabulary test of the semester on Wednesday. We have had two spelling "pop quizzes" over the last couple of days of class in the hopes that each student will have a good assessment of what they need to study/work on most for the test in terms of spelling. Tomorrow we will go over all the terminology as a refresher pre-test day.

I am writing progress reports this week that should be sent out next week. I was told some of you did not receive report cards until far after winter break (I also am aware that there were some mailing mishaps). If you do not receive your student's report card next week, please let me know and I will give you a personal copy.

Cheers,
Ms. Pitman