Principal's Message | Kindergarten | First Grade | Second Grade
Third Grade | Fourth Grade | Fifth Grade | Sixth Grade | Computer Lab

Principal's Message

As we begin to make preparations for the 2006-07 school year, I would like to share how class placements are made and how teacher requests are handled.

Our goal is to create classes that are balanced academically and socially and to avoid groupings that would distract from the learning process. Unbalanced classes create unfair burdens on students, teachers and parents. Classes that are well balanced academically and socially provide wide range benefits to each child and teacher. Requesting specific teachers poses a problem in achieving this balance.

Grade level teams will develop the majority of class lists and I hope that you will not feel it necessary to make requests for teachers. Our philosophy is that Mount Mahogany doesn’t have any “one best teacher,” but all of our teachers are good and possess their own unique qualities that any child could benefit from. Children are extremely resilient and have an uncanny ability to be comfortable in most classroom situations.

Requests for a student to be with a friend, or my neighbor said, “this teacher is best/worst”, or the word in the neighborhood is to get/not get this teacher, are not legitimate reasons for requesting a teacher. Examples of legitimate reasons would include if you feel your child needs to be separated from another child, other situations you would wish to avoid, or if you feel your child would benefit academically under a certain placement.

Request forms and guidelines, if you feel the need to make a specific request under the above mentioned guidelines, will be available at the office beginning Monday, May 8 and are due no later than Thursday, May 11. There will be no exception to this date. Request forms need to be picked up at the office by a parent and will not be sent home with students.

No more than a few requests will be honored per teacher. If more than a few requests are submitted they will be randomly selected. On the request form, a second request also needs to be stated in case the first request cannot be met.

Some requests might not be honored because of faculty recommendations that certain students not be placed together due to potential discipline problems.

Also, remember that there is always the potential that staffing assignments can change before school begins next year, i.e. retirement, change in teaching assignment, etc.

Because of the number of students who move in and out over the summer, class lists will not be posted until our Open House in August.

Thank you for your support of our teachers and the placement decisions we make on behalf of your children. Your backing empowers us to do what is most appropriate for all children.

Mr. Westover

<back to top>

Kindergarten

May is always an exciting time as we begin to wind up our year's activities in Kindergarten. We have enjoyed this year with your children! We encourage parents to continue to work with their children throughout the summer on alphabet letters, names and sounds. The children need to recognize uppercase and lowercase alphabet letters, write them, and know the sound of each letter. Reading with or to your child throughout the summer will help her/him to retain the skills they have acquired and give them a successful start in first grade.

Special Kindergarten days coming in May:
May 10 - Kindergarten Field Trip to Cabellas
May 26 - Bubble Gum Day
May 30 - Teddy Bear Picnic Day

More information will be sent home about each of these exciting activities.

Thanks to all Kindergarten parents for your help this year. We appreciate you more than we can say!

<back to top>

First Grade

With only 23 days left of school we are getting into crunch time. The first grade has been reviewing and will keep reviewing for the end of the year test. Your first grader will be testing the second week of May (8-12). You can help you child to be successful on the test by making sure that they get a good nights rest and eat a healthy breakfast. Also continue reading the PTA take home books. One of the hardest parts on the test for first graders is comprehension. Help your student by asking them questions about what they have read in their take home book. During testing week we request that you have your student to school ON TIME! A special thanks to all the parents who donated money so that we could go on our zoo field trip. It is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17th. Parent volunteers will be contacted by phone by your child’s teacher.

<back to top>

Second Grade

We have been very busy this past month in second grade. The students did a great job showing their patriotic spirit during their "Citizenship" performance at the Student of the Month Assembly. We also had a very exciting Easter Egg Hunt before spring break. Our bowling field trip was a huge success! Everyone had a lot of fun and we want to thank those parents who came and helped.

We are getting ready to begin our end of the year testing. It is important that your student is getting plenty of sleep at night and eating a good breakfast before school. Please make sure your child is at school on time during the testing weeks of May.

Thank you for all your help and support this past year. We have loved teaching your children.

<back to top>

Third Grade

The third grade has had a fantastic April. We wrapped up our rotations on force and motion, habitats, American monuments, and the moon. We also had a great time welcoming Spring with woven baskets and other creative art projects. Our state testing will be taking place May 1st through the 5th. This is an important time for your student to do their best. Please help them to do so by making sure they arrive at school on time, they are well rested and eat a good breakfast. Also, please make every effort to avoid any unnecessary absences during this time.

On a lighter note, we will be participating in a bunch of fun activities throughout the month of May. Check the "May Days" calendar note to see what we're up to each day.

We are so proud of how hard our students have worked this year and we've been thrilled with all the parent involvement and suppport. We are looking for to a busy and exciting month. A big thanks to students and parents for a job well done!

<back to top>

Fourth Grade

We are VERY busy in the fourth grade! We had a rendezvous at the end of April that was a lot of fun. We were able to listen to a mountain man, and learn about trading and trapping in Utah. We also got the opportunity during this day to trade "fur pelts" we had earned for the necessary items that a trapper and trader would need in the Utah wilderness. We had a blast learning new trading and trapping skills, as well as playing games from that era in Utah history.

We are looking forward to a pioneer day at the end of May to help us celebrate and understand the Utah pioneers a little better.

We are also working on reviewing for the end of year tests, the CRTs. We are taking practice tests online, and encourage the students to do this at home as well. The website for this is http://alpine.utips.org. This will really help us be prepared for the real tests we will take mid-May.

We've had a fantastic year and learned so much! We appreciate all the parental support and look forward to a great last month of the year!

<back to top>

Fifth Grade

The 5th grade teachers and Mr. Spencer would like to thank all of the parents, students, and other volunteers who made our "Traveling Show" a success. We really enjoyed working with you! Thanks to all of the teachers who generously gave up their gym time.

Fifth graders will be leaving for Clear Creek on May 3rd (boys) and May 4th (girls.) Parents should have received numerous notes about the event. If you haven't, please let your child's teacher know. Parents who are not sending their child to Clear Creek need to inform us if your child is not coming to school on May 3rd, May 4th, or May 5th.

We will complete Utah Core Assessments the weeks of May 10-14 and May 17-24. Please remind your child to eat breakfast and try to get a good night's rest during these two weeks.

The 5th/6th grades Talent Show will be on Wednesday, May 31st, in the afternoon. Sign-up deadline is Monday, May 8th by 3:30. We will have an informational meeting in Mr. Miner's room on Monday, May 8th, at 2:00-2:15.

<back to top>

Sixth Grade

<back to top>

Computer Lab

As always, things are busy in the computer lab. And it seems there is always more to do. But I will see everyone again next year and look forward to continuing where we left off. Fifth grade will be completing their keyboarding tests in May. We have been working on this all year and they are ready for it. Remind them to use home row whenever they are on the computer at home.

I hope everyone has a safe (remember those internet safety rules) and enjoyable summer. And I hope you spend more time reading books and playing outside than you do on the computer.

<back to top>