No School for Students…..
There is no school for students on March 10 (tomorrow) due to a Teacher Work Day.  

Character Counts
Our focus this month is fairness.  Students had an assembly that demonstrated what it looks like to be fair.  Discussions and lessons in the classrooms help to reinforce this character.  Encourage your kiddo to talk about it at home.     

Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences for third quarter will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, March 29th and 30th, 2006.

Prekindergarten Students:
All day Wednesday and Thursday, March 29th and 30th.  No school for prekindergarten students.

Grades Kdg. through 6th grade
Wednesday, March 29th 4-8:00 p.m.
Early dismissal at 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 30th.
Thursday, March 30th  2-8:00 p.m.

No school for all students on Friday, March 31st.  

Kindergarten Round Up
Kindergarten Round Up for the 2006-2007 school year is here!  If you have a little one or know of someone in our area who will be turning five years old by October 15th, they can attend our Kindergarten Round Up.  It is scheduled for Tuesday, March 14th beginning at 9:30 a.m..  Please be sure to bring us a birth certificate, immunization information, and proof of address(OPPD or MUD bill).  Be sure to call us to let us know if you will be attending and to send you the necessary registration information ahead of time.  If someone is outside of our area and wants to attend Beals, they may attend our round up, but will need to register and attend the round up of their home school.  At this time, our kindergartens are all day programs.  We hope to see you on the 14th!

A big Thank You to the PTA!!!!
The PTA really spoiled us!  They provided a wonderful lunch for the entire staff on Tuesday and have a terrific surprise for everyone on Friday!   Thank you PTA for your work in helping us and all our kiddos!

California Achievement Tests are Here!  
Next week begins testing for the California Achievement Tests.  Grades 2, 4, and 5 will be tested.  We ask your help so that our kiddos are ready for these important tests.  Please help your youngster by assisting them in:
1)    Getting plenty of rest
2)    Eating a healthy breakfast
3)    Sending your youngster off to school with praise and encouragement
4)    Listening carefully to test directions
5)    Reading every answer before choosing one
6)    Answering the easiest questions first
7)    Checking over their answers
8)    Not scheduling appointments during the day
Remember, too, that these tests are only a PORTION of information that tells us about the academic achievement of your child.  We continue to look at progress on our district content standards, classroom assessments/assignments and social behavior.  Testing dates are March 13th to March 22nd.  

Visitors from Wilson Alternative School
What a wonderful experience our first graders had with students visiting us from Wilson Alternative School!  The students and staff came for a visit and worked in small groups with Miss Bush’s first graders.  They had fun building marshmallow and toothpick towers together!  The middle school students were great teachers for our little ones!  

Letters from Mali
Through a friend of Beals, we learned of school children in the country of Mali who wanted to write to students in America and practice their English!  We received our first set of letters!  The life style in Mali is quite different from the life style here in America.  What a neat opportunity for our students to learn and share with others from around the world.  We look forward to more letters!  

…Ms. Kimball’s Sixth Graders have also been writing to other 6th grade students from different cities in the United States.  What a terrific way to practice writing skills!  

New Computers
WOW – are we excited!  Through a “Technology Distribution Plan” the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education approved the upgrading of all the computers in our schools.  We are now the proud owners of 62 eMac computers for our kiddos!  We want our students educated with the latest technology!  New computers will be in the lab and the classrooms.  Plan to visit our lab at Parent Teacher Conferences!