Friday, August 21, 2015


Dear Parents,

IT’S GOING TO BE A GREAT YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so excited for this year – I have such exciting units lined up the  kids!!!!!

I want to welcome everyone back to school. I hope everyone had a super summer and are ready to have a year filled with high energy, depth and complexity in problem solving of course we will delve into research!

My informational meeting for TAG is THURSDAY AUGUST 27, 2015 at 7:00am sharp in my classroom #26. It will be a very informative meeting and I look forward to seeing everyone then.

To ALL 5th grade parents, please plan to stay AFTER the meeting as we need to discuss TYBEE and the sidewalk sale.

This year we are not going to be using RENZULLI as the TAG department is now using GOQUEST. This is a tool to extend and enhance the curriculum in TAG. Whatever unit is being studied in class, you are able to visit this website, type in our unit of study topic and various activities design for YOUR child will pop up. Each child’s activities may be different as activities are based on a child’s academic strength, and interest. Every week on their TAG TALLY, each child will document the activities they complete for that week. They will also be responsible for presenting an oral presentation of 1 activity them completed. (more info to follow on August 27th meeting)

Supplies for this week are as follows:
Grade 1 & 2 – 2 blue 3 ring binders
Grade 3 – 2 purple 3 ring binders
Grade 4 – 2 red 3 ring binders
Grade 5 – 2 green 3 ring binders

I’m sure we will need other supplies as the year progresses, but for now we are ready to GO!

For those of you who don’t know, last spring we wrote a grant for our organic garden and through LOWE’S were awarded the  grant! We have been able to enlarge the garden, we now have a good storage area for supplies, a sink, new fencing, an outdoor classroom, a greenhouse, and coming soon, a butterfly garden If you haven’t seen our ORGANIC GARDEN, it’s a MUST!!!! Our produce is awesome!!!! We  have 1 pumpkin, tons  of cucumbers and tomatoes, and eggplants. A HUGE SHOUT out to Ms. Duhig and Ms.Wright for working so hard in the garden to make it great for all kids  at SDC.

But alas………we need more help. Sadly, Ms. Duhig, will be ‘graduating’ to middle school by the end of this school year and we need HELP now. Please contact me if you are able to help in our garden – we really need YOU!

Please remember that on your child’s TAG day they may ONLY bring in a fresh fruit or vegetable for snack!

Your child will be coming home with Student Information Sheet. Please fill it out neatly (especially the email addresses and phone numbers) as this is a great way for me to communicate with you.

Lastly, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me anytime shams@fultonschools.org

With much appreciation of all you do,
Amanda Shams Ed.S

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

GA STEM Day at the Museum of Aviation- this Saturday- 8/15

August 15, 2015 

2nd - 5th Grade Students
9 am - 2 pm
Lunch is provided

Over 100 students participate in the Annual GA Kids’ STEM Day each year. Over 30 volunteers have shown up in past years as career mentors to talk to students about their careers and how STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) affects their daily lives at work. Students then begin a day having fun with science technology, engineering and math activities. Students rotate through four different STEM workshops, such as circuitry and rockets. 
For questions, contact Valerie Myers at vgill@museumofaviation.org or 478-222-7580.
Registration is required and will begin on May 10, 2015.
Follow the link above for more information.