Newsletter 1-24-14

Third and Fourth Grade News

From the Week of January 24, 2014

Dear Parents,

We have had a busy, busy week!   This week we have learned all about Martin Luther King Jr.  We had whole-class spelling words, reads a story called “Happy Birthday, Dr. King,” created portraits of him, listened to his speech, wrote our own speeches, and talked all about the lessons we have learned from him and his exemplary example. 

Lutheran Schools’ Week is next week, January 26-February 2.  The important facts are below in the Upcoming Events.  Please be sure to join us at the north site this Sunday to sing at the 9:00 service.  Have your child in the Music Room by 8:30, please.  If you have grandparents coming for Friday’s Grandparents’ Day, but have not returned the form, please email Lois today, so we can make arrangements for them!  Thank you so much! 

The 100^th Day of School is actually on Friday, February 24^th, which is Grandparents’ Day and is already packed with a lot of events, so we are going to celebrate the 101^st Day of School on Monday, February 3^rd.  Your child does not need to bring anything to school, but just know that this will be a day of 101 Day Centers, and lots of fun!  If you are so inclined to send in a treat, please feel free to do so!  J 

Also, since 4^th grade book reports are due at the end of the month, they will have until Monday, February 3^rd to finish up. Please send these to school Monday.  (historical fiction)

Achievement tests are coming up!  These will be February 24^th-28^th.   The testing will be in the mornings from 8:30-12:00 every day.  The home school students are invited to do this as well.  If you are interested, please let me know and Mr. K will order your supplies.  Thank you! 

Enrollment will be starting soon and you will receive information from Mr. Kuerschner by the end of the month. 

Here is what we did this week:

In Religion this week, we discussed Saul, Goliath, and David.  We talked quite a bit about trying to follow what God commands of us.   We will dig deeper into the life of David next week. 

In Language Arts this week, we used our vocabulary from Martin Luther King Jr. story and used them in sentences and in a fun Bingo Game.

In Math this week, third grade worked with putting data into graphs, making bar graphs, and learning how to read points on a grid.  They will finish this up next week and begin multiplication.  Fourth graders began their review unit over multiplication and division.  On that note, we will begin taking mad minutes regularly next week.  Please, please, please urge your child to practice his or her multiplication facts at home.  They can use flash cards, play fun games, or just recite them to you in the car.  If you need some good websites, please let me know.  This is so important, as math is going to get tougher and tougher and these have to be memorized.  As tradition, I will reward the students with an ice cream party at Winstead’s if they can pass their multiplication test at the end of the school year!  I hope this will be a good incentive, if not just being able to complete assignments and everyday problems just a bit faster!  I will keep you updated on this.  Let this be the year that the entire class can go!!!!!

During Social Studies, we focused on the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.  We read two short biographies, and a story written by his sister.  We practiced with timelines. 

During Art, we made MLK portraits. 

In P.E. this week, we played kickball. 

In Music, we prepared songs for National Lutheran Schools’ Week, and practiced singing our favorite tunes... 

For Writers’ Workshop, we continued work on our collaborative student projects, and we worked on “I Have a Dream” speeches. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

JANUARY

26- Mrs. Carrasco's Birthday, all kids sing at 9:00 service at north site. 
26—Feb. 2 National Lutheran Schools' Week; Scholastic Book Fair

27-Dress as a book character

28-School Spirit Day (school colors)

29-Chapel Family Picks (ask your child and look at the note coming home)

30-Crazy Dress Day—Teachers switch classrooms! 

31-Grandparents’ Day-Dress Your Best-Talent Show-12:30 dismissal

FEBRUARY

2-Kids sing at 9:30 service at the South Site
5-Mornings with Mom/Special Person

13-P/T conferences-1:00 dismissal

14- P/T conferences-1:00 dismissal

17-President’s Day-no school

24-28-Achievement tests

Have a great weekend!

Yours in Christ,

Kim Brunkhorst

Philippians 4:7

^“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”