Saturday, April 28, 2012

Sunshine Math Brawl

Each year students are offered an enrichment math opportunity sponsored by our PTA. Students who accept the challenge receive a Sunshine Math sheet each Monday and return the sheet for grading by the PTA on Friday. The content of each math sheet varies and is commonly not part of our third grade standards. Students are really expected to stretch their math learning. 

We keep track of participating students, not for accuracy of answers, rather for participation. Twice during the course of the program, participating students are celebrated with an invitation to eat lunch outside at the pavilion. Tickets are drawn for prize winners during the luncheon. 

After completion of the enrichment program, all participating students are given a Sunshine Math test. The top 10 scorers on the test then advance to the Third Grade Chets Creek Math Brawl. The third grade student body attends the Math Brawl and the top competitors answer math questions on a white board at the front of the audience. Each competitor has a green light, yellow light, and red light. After answering two questions incorrectly, they are knocked out of the competition. Once the competition is down to three students, the Final Round begins. The competition then moves to a point system as the next 10 questions are answered by the students. At the end, the Math Brawl winner is announced and celebrated! This year's winner, Jennifer, will advance to the District Math Competition. 

We want to thank all of our Sunshine Math student participants this year for stretching their thinking, and want to give a special shout out to our classmates who made it to the Math Brawl. Way to Go...Luke, Caeden, Cullen, and Abigale!! You made us proud!



Tuesday, April 24, 2012

A great trip to Tree Hill!

Today, we took a wonderful trip to Jacksonville's outdoor nature center Tree Hill!  We had the perfect crisp weather to hike the trails, explore in the gardens, eat lunch under the trees, and make discoveries in the laboratory.  Check out the great time we had below!
Getting ready for our hike!

Learning about woodpeckers' brains!

Check out these holes made by a yellow bellied sap sucker.

Getting ready to study seeds and plants.

Learning about swamps and streams.

Wow, that swamp water moves slowly!

We found a raccoon footprint in the mud!

Mr. Montisano thinks about life while sitting in the Florida woods. :)

Lilly pads in the pond!


Holding Earthworms!  We're so brave!


Monday, April 23, 2012

Social Studies

Over the next two weeks, students will have the opportunity to study and become more proficient at placing all fifty states on a United States map. We encourage students to study the placement of the states daily and  encourage students to log onto the States Jigsaw  so they have an interactive way to practice.

In addition, students will begin working on a Social Studies states project that they will be completing in the classroom. Students will select one of the fifty states to research and learn more about. They will be able to gather information from books and a variety of digital technologies.  We'll keep you posted as our projects get underway.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Because of Winn Dixie

This cute, and cuddly   big dog Winn Dixie can change your life.

Because of Winn Dixie is about a little girl India Opal Buloni. She was shopping in Winn Dixie Super Market when something she doesn’t expect happens! She meets the dog she named Winn Dixie. Then, Opal And her father, the preacher, realize with a little help from Winn Dixie they make a lot of new friends, parties, and a lot of fun! Read more to find out what happens with Winn Dixie and Opal!

By, Ashley and Maritza

Thursday, April 5, 2012

FCAT Spirit Week

The week of April 9th-April 13th is FCAT Spirit week at Chets Creek. Each day the students are invited to celebrate the arrival of FCAT by dressing up in different ways. Please use the schedule below to participate in this fun week!


Monday, April 9th: Career Day (dress for a career)
Tuesday, April 10th: Sports Day
Wednesday, April 11th: Fashion Disaster Day (wacky hair, wacky socks, backwards clothes)
Thursday, April 12th: Our SOLAR Team is encouraged to wear GREEN (for good luck!)
Friday, April 13th: Rock star/Pop Star Day

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Boosterthon Fun Run

The Boosterthon Fun Run was a huge success and Chets Creek Elementary is set to raise over $50,000 from the incredible effort by students and families. The SOLAR teachers are so proud of the dedication and hardwork of our students today as they exercised and cheered their way toward their goals. Thank you to every person who made today's run an incredible success.  We love you!


Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The SOLAR Fun Runners Pie Their Teachers!



The SOLAR Fun Runners met their goal of raising $70 per lap for our Boosterthon Fundraiser. Their reward at this goal, as suggested from the students (thanks a ton!), was to pie a Boosterthon member and THEIR TEACHERS in the face! We couldn't explain in words how totally elated they were to see the task carried out!  Way to Go Fun Runners; We are proud of you!