Dear Puffins,
It has been a great honor to be your teacher this year!
Each day, you impressed me with your enthusiasm for learning, your positive attitude and thoughtful work. You are all truly fun, unique and special. I believe in you and your potential!
This year we talked about how exceptional people have a special talent for identifying their own strengths and weaknesses. We know that we can grow and accomplish so much if we are willing to put in the effort. Be ready to learn from your mistakes and do your very best to show perseverance. Remember to embrace challenges, put forth your best effort and be creative problem solvers. Go boldly in the direction of your dreams!
You have all grown so much this year and I am exceedingly proud of you!
3rd graders, I am truly delighted that we will have the opportunity to continue our learning journey next year.
4th graders, I will miss seeing you each day, so you must promise to stop by and say hello next year.
Until then, have a wonderful summer everyone!
Best Wishes,
Ginny
Click here to see a slideshow of our amazing year!
SUMMER READING LIST
Recommended Books from the ALSC
www.ala.org/alsc/
Project Blastoff
by Mark Kelly and Martha Freeman, 2015
Twins Mark and Scott Kelly are about to embark on an adventure of epic proportions as they build and engineer their own rocket ship. First in a series.
School for Sidekicks
by Kelly McCullough, 2015
At the Academy for Metahuman Operatives, superhero wannabe Evan’s wisecracks land him in double trouble: he angers the school’s director and is partnered with has-been hero Foxman. First in a series.
The Story of Diva and Flea
by Mo Willems Illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi, 2015
Pampered lapdog Diva and streetwise alley cat Flea strike up an unlikely friendship, finding adventure while exploring the stunning landmarks of Paris, France.
The Tapper Twins Go to War (with Each Other)
by Geoff Rodkey Little, 2015
Fraternal twins Reese and Claudia take sibling rivalry to a new level with their prank war. First in a series.
The Terrible Two
by Mac Barnett and Jory John Illustrated by Kevin Cornell Abrams, 2015
Two pranksters team up for the greatest prank ever. First in a series.
Upside-Down Magic
by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins, 2015
After some mishaps with unpredictable magic, Nory is sent to the Dunwiddle Magic School’s Upside-Down Magic class in this funny and magical novel. First in a series.
Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems
by Bob Raczka, 2016
Raczka offers a collection of twenty-one concrete poems that are a surefire way to draw the attention of young readers and inspire older ones.
The Wild Robot
by Peter Brown Little, 2016
Robot Roz wakes up to find herself alone on a remote island.
Audacity Jones to the Rescue
by Kirby Larson, 2016
Audie Jones finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime when she is whisked away to Washington, D.C., where sinister goings-on are afoot.
The Blackthorn Key
by Kevin Sands, 2015
This adventure, filled with rich suspense, mystery, and unforgettable characters, follows Christopher Rowe as he learns a mysterious cult is preying on London’s apothecaries, and the trail of murders is growing closer and closer to Blackthorn’s shop.
Crimebiters! My Dog Is Better than Your Dog
by Tommy Greenwald Illustrated by Adam Stower, 2015
Jimmy suspects his dog is a crime-fighting vampire; can the canine’s superskills help track down who stole his mother’s diamond necklace? First in a series.
The Door by the Staircase
by Katherine Marsh Illustrated by Kelly Murphy, 2016
Orphan Mary Hayes hopes to escape the Buffalo Asylum for Young Ladies, only to find herself in peril when a mysterious woman named Madame Z adopts her.
A Dragon’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans
by Laurence Yep and Joanne Ryder; Illustrated by Mary GrandPré, 2015
A story about dragons with a twist: Miss Drake (the dragon) has a new human pet!
Eddie Red, Undercover: Mystery on Museum Mile
by Marcia Wells Illustrated by Marcos Calo, 2014
Sixth-grader Eddie is called on by the NYPD to help bust a gang of art thieves by using his photographic memory and talent for drawing. First in a series.
Fable Comics
Edited by Chris Duffy, 2015
Various graphic novelists retell twenty-eight fables from different cultures and traditions in this vibrant collection of comics.
Honey
by Sarah Weeks, 2015
When she realizes her dad may have a secret girlfriend, Melody sets out to find out who it is.
Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photograph
by Roxane Orgill; Illustrated by Francis Vallejo, 2016
This collection of poetry focuses on the process art designer Art Kane went through in order to photograph what was to become the iconic 1958 photo of American jazz greats on a stoop in Harlem.
The Jumbies
by Tracey Baptiste, 2015
Eleven-year-old Corinne must call on her courage and an ancient magic to stop an evil spirit and save her island home.
The Key to Extraordinary
by Natalie Lloyd, 2016
Emma must fulfill her Destiny Dream: to locate a legendary treasure. If she fails, she lets down not only the legacy of her ancestors but also the family business—the Boneyard Cafe.
The Last Kids on Earth
by Max Brallier; Illustrated by Douglas Holgate, 2015
Described as Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets The Walking Dead, this postapocalyptic graphic novel is sure to delight summer readers as Jack Sullivan holes up in his tree house for as long as he can.
Lola Levine Is Not Mean!
by Monica Brown; Illustrated by Angela Dominquez Little, 2015
Sports-loving Lola accidentally injures a classmate during a recess soccer game and resolves to win back her spot on the field—and her friends—by demonstrating what good sportsmanship is all about. First in a series.
My Diary from the Edge of the World
by Jody Lynn Anderson, 2015
Dragon season and homework about Sasquatches’ involvement in American history aside, Gracie Lockwood lives in a normal, uneventful world until a Dark Cloud comes for her little brother. Can her family outrun this harbinger?
My Pet Human
by Yasmine Surovec, 2015
An independent cat resists being tied down by a human pet in this fun tale.
Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California’s Farallon Islands
by Katherine Roy, 2014
This book investigates the mystery surrounding the great white shark.
Oona Finds an Egg
by Adele Griffin, 2016
Follow Oona Oodlethunk on her adventures in prehistoric times as she tries to find the perfect pet. First in a series.