Winter holiday party

Wow, what a day!  We had so much fun doing different things.  Here's some snapshots from our day!

I would like to wish all of you a wonderful and safe Holiday break with your family and friends!  I look forward to seeing you in 2014!!!

Yearbooks

Just a reminder that the opportunity to order yearbooks on line will end on Dec. 31st.  If you haven't order one and would like to, please go to our school webpage and click on the tab on the right side.  They can be ordered for $18.00 at www.topoftexasyearbooks.com

Candy houses

Today we had a special visitor, Mr. Lowe, who came and talked to the 3rd graders about the house his family created.  Each year his family designs a different candy house using different themes.  Last year they created the log cabin from up on Main Street in Grapevine.  This year his son came up with the idea of the house from the Disney movie "Up".  Mr. Lowe explained to the kids each step that his family goes through when building the houses from the measuring scale to the candies they use.  

Wonder if any of our students will engineer their own candy house over the winter break??

Holiday party

Please watch for a note coming home today regarding the holiday party in your child's binder.  Sorry for the late notice.  I realize the note says to send the stuff to school by tomorrow - don't worry -if you could please send it by Wednesday the 18th, I would appreciate it!  And if you have any questions please feel free to email or call me.  Thank you for your help!

PTA Secret Santa Shop

We will be visiting the Secret Santa Shop on Thursday morning.  If you would like your child to shop please send money and a list of who to shop for by Thursday.  Thanks!!!!

Habitat for Humanity

Cannon Elementary STEM scholars are putting their engineering skills to work for a good cause during the holiday season!  For our annual community service project, Cannon scholars are raising money to donate to a local chapter of the charity, Habitat for Humanity.  The project is called "Homes For the Holidays".  Scholars in each grade level are designing and creating "home-themed" ornaments to be sold at this week's Holiday Choir Concert, scheduled for Thursday, December 12th.  Each grade level's theme is connected to a science or other content area that is part of their grade level curriculum.  All scholars are using the Engineering Design Process to create their ornament. Each grade level will display their ornaments on a grade level tree and ornaments will be "sold" for a suggested donation of $2.00.  All proceeds will be donated directly to Habitat for Humanity and a representative from the local office in Dallas will come to Cannon to accept the donation.  

The attached photo shows an ornament designed by Colin Jones, 4th grade.  Come check out all of the awesome creations on Thursday night and enjoy beautiful holiday music, compliments of the amazing Cannon Choirs.  The fun begins at 5:30!  See you there! 

Ice storm

Wow!  I don't know about you but I am ready for the ice to go away!  Here at my house we have a lot of ice and in fact the road to our little town has been shut down along with the major highway. 

 I'm sure the children are having fun playing it in like my own are.  Please make sure to tell them to take some pictures of them having fun in the ice.  I can't wait to see their pictures and hear their stories!  Please stay safe and warm!

(Here's 1 picture of Tatum & Levi ready to play outside!)

Thanksgiving

I would like to wish all of you a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving Break!  

STEM Night

STEM night is tomorrow and the children are very excited to show you what they have been learning about bridges.  Please join us in our classroom anytime between 5:30-7:00 pm on Thursday evening!  

Spring Creek Night!

Tonight is Spring Creek B-que night from 5:00-9:00 pm.

Please come out and help support our school!  I hope to see all of you there, I will be working there at 6:00 :)

Homework!

Tonight your child has a homework assignment of downloading IOS7 onto their iPad.  We put a copy of the instructions in their homework divider in their binder.  Please be sure to follow the directions step by step.  If you have any questions or problems please let me know.  Thanks!

This Friday

At our Friday assembly we will have Daisy Troop 1416, Brownie Troop 1456, and Cub Scout Packs 300 & 777 present the flags and conduct the pledge of allegiance for us.   Also a GHS band member, is coming to play the Star Spangled Banner.   We will also have a summary read about the history of Veterans Day and why our country has set aside this day of honoring and remembering our Veterans.  We are asking that all of the 3rd graders wear a blue shirt on this day.  We will be forming a flag using all of the students in the school.  

Red day/gardening

Today has been a busy day.  Children wore the color red to bring Red ribbon week to a close.

And this morning we had a special performance by the school choir in our Friday assembly.  They did a great job singing the song "Consider yourself " from Oliver Twist.

And lastly we got to plant our red tulip bulbs that will bloom in the spring to remind us of our promise that we made to be drug free!

Engineer visit

Today we had a special visitor - a civil engineer from HALFF.  His name was Jim Miller and he came out to speak to us about engineering and bridges.  

He shared with us the different types of bridges and the materials that they use.

We got to see real plans that they have used when designing bridges in the DFW area.

And we got to touch the different types of materials that they use.

Camping day

Today we wore camping wear to school.  There were a few kids in camo and some in pajamas, like myself!    

Tomorrow is wear red day and gardening clothes.  We will be planting tulip bulbs in the morning!

Hawaiian day :)

Today was Hawaiian day and boy did we have fun!  We all got a lei and wore flip flop, what could be better than that!  Here is what some of us looked like :)

Tomorrow is camping wear like camo, flannel, sweats, or pj's.  I know what I will be wearing - pajamas!

Team spirit day!

Today as part of Red Ribbon Week the kids wore their favorite team shirt or jersey.  I must say we have some serious team rivalries in our classroom!  :)

Tomorrow is Beach day....wear your Hawaiian shirt and flip flops!

Red ribbon week!

This week is Red Ribbon Week and as a class we kicked it off by decorating our door!  The kids created the phrase and pictures.  Didn't they do good?

Today was fishing day.  Here's a picture of the kids in their fishing gear...........

Don't forget tomorrow is wear your favorite team shirt or jersey!

Fire safety

Yesterday the Grapevine Fire Department clowns came and did a fire safety class with our 3rd graders, it was quite entertaining!  Somehow I got selected to participate in the lesson, which was fun except for having flour thrown all over me :). Here's a few pictures from the program........

Report cards

Report cards are coming home today in your child's binder.  Please return the envelope signed to school on Thursday.  You may keep all of the papers inside the envelope.  If you have any questions regarding your child's report card please feel free to contact us.  Thank you!

Battle of the Texas Bluebonnets

We got introduced to this years Texas Bluebonnets nominees today in the library with Mrs. Berumen.  The children watched a trailer on 1 of the books at their table and then had to try and convince their table mates that their book was the best one to read.  They then voted on their favorite.  After the votes were counted, Mrs. Step's home room will be reading Glory Be as a class out loud and Ms. Nelson's home room will be reading Giants Beware.  The children had a lot of fun being introduced to these books!

Here's a picture showing all of the nominees for this year.

The children can assess the book trailers and quizzes from the library page on the Cannon website.  It is also bookmarked on their iPads under the folder "library".  My goal is for the children to read at least 5 of them by the end of January and take the quiz on them.  These books can be checked out from our library and the Grapevine Public Library!

Engineering

This week the children created a structure using the following supplies:

10 Popsicle sticks, 5 toothpicks, 2 straws, 5 mailing labels, and 10 marshmallows.

The children had to create a structure that could hold up a styrofoam cup with the goal of seeing how many screws they could have the structure hold in the cup.

Here is our first attempt.....

And then our revisions......

Grapevine read to succeed

This morning we had the privilege of having a Grapevine High School football player (#74 Blake) come and read to us.  The kids enjoyed listening to him and asking questions!

iPads

Oh what a day!!!!!!  iPads are coming home today.  Do these kids look a little excited?

They also have their first homework assignment.  Please make sure to ask them about it!

It looks like this....

Presentation

Today the Southlake Rotary Club ....

came out and presented all of the 3rd graders with a 

new Websters Dictionary!

Special visitors

At our Friday assembly we were honored to have special visitors, Medal of Honor Recipient Bruce Crandell, 3 members of the United States Marine Corps, and Recording Artist Phil Vandel.

Phil Vandel sang us a song he had written.

And Macie in our class received a special coin from Medal of Honor Recipient Bruce Crandall.

Please help us get a makeover!

Please take a moment to visit the following website and enter Cannon into the contest for a new playground.  Registration is really quick...once you sign up, you can enter once every day!!   This is a contest for Title I schools to receive a playground makeover.  Thanks for your help!!  Please share with your friends & families! :) 

http://www.togethercounts.com/at-school/win-for-your-school/sweepstakes

Butterfly Flutterby

On Oct. 19th, bring the entire family, even your pets, to celebrate the migration of the monarch butterfly from Canada to Mexico by way of Grapevine. The 16th Annual Butterfly Flutterby is a free, family-friendly event and will be held at the Grapevine Botanical Gardens for the first time. 

 Visit  http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/30377  for more information.

Toothpick Towers

The children this week came up with a plan and designed a tower out of 50 toothpicks and a small amount of playdoh.  Their goal was to build the tallest tower structure that is free standing on the table.  Here's how the groups did........

Choir

Today Cannon Cub Choir forms went home in your child's binder.  If your child would like to be in choir you need to fill out the form either by using the QR code or website that is located on the top of the form.  Registration needs to be done by Thursday, Oct. 3rd and the first choir practice will be Friday, Oct. 4th!

Back to school bash

Today the Dad's Club held their annual "Back to school bash".  It was a great day for a picnic and lots of fun. I enjoyed getting to see my kiddos and their families and visit with them.  I was able to capture a few photos......