Make a JOYful Noise!

Make a JOYful Noise!

Friday, January 8, 2016

Newsletter 1-8-16

Dear Parents,
Hello!  It was so great to see your children after Christmas break.  I missed them so much!  We got back into the “swing of things” here in the classroom.  Please see below to see quick updates and what we have been up to!  Thanks!

*Today marks the end of the 2nd quarter!  We are busy working on report cards right now.  Homeschool report cards will come home on Tuesday and full-time report cards will come home on Wednesday of next week.    I shared with the kids today—I will not accept corrected work after today for 2nd quarter.  Thank you for understanding. 

*Third grade shared their 2nd quarter historical fiction book reports today and they were fantastic!  Fourth graders January book reports over a historical fiction book are due Monday, February 1st

*We will have no school on the 18th - MLK, Jr. Day.  We will be learning all about him during the week of the 19-22nd. 

*Lutheran Schools Week is coming up at the end of this month! (January 24-30). More information will come home shortly about all the different dress days.  Fliers came home this week about our Talent Show on the Friday of that week.  (Please check Friday Folders.)  Students are scheduled to sing at our north site on Sunday, January 24th and at our south site on Sunday, January 31st.  More detailed information will definitely come your way as this week gets closer.

*We have a few basketball home games left this season. 
Tonight, 1/8- 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00
Saturday, 1/9-9:00, 10:00, 11:00, and 12:00
Friday, 1/16-6:30 and 7:30
If you can come and cheer on the Rams, please do so!  We would love to see you!

*Re-enrollment packets will be coming home by the end of this month. 

Here is what we have been doing this week: 

In Religion this week, we talked about the story of Gideon, which is one we were not too familiar with.  We discussed ways that we are like the Israelites, always turning our backs on God, and then begging for help…  and He is always there with us.  J 

In Language Arts this week, third graders read a story called “Yonder Mountain: A Cherokee Legend.”  They loved this story and I always enjoy hearing, ”Mrs. Brunkhorst, this story was awesome!”  Yeah!  I agree!  Fourth graders read “Antarctic Journal,” which was an actual account from the author, who spent time in Antarctica watching the penguins and the whales.  They really enjoyed this!  Next week, we will begin cursive!  Woohoo! 
We practiced working with contractions this week and the special spellings for them. 

In Math this week, third graders worked with multiplying three factors and solving word problems.  Fourth graders are learning how to solve double digit multiplication.  Things are getting tough, but they are working hard!  Keep on practicing those math facts! 

We discussed the Science Fair and Science projects this week!  We are going to learn so much and what a memory this will make!  Mrs. Stack came to visit us on Wednesday and got our heads thinking up ideas.  We are so excited!  If your child did not show you the note that came home, please ask for it!  Each child will be participating.  She has set up a website that will help us with the planning process.  Please check this out:  http://TimothyLutheranScienceFair.jmstack.com

If you have any questions, please let me know or email her at: jennifer@the-stacks.com

We also continued with Chapter 1 in our Science books and have learned all about animal and plant cells and their parts.  We talked about the word organism, and will discuss this more next week.  We are busy making poster recreating animal and plant cells.  Be on the lookout for these in the hallway. 

During Art and Writers’ Workshop, we read the true story of Snowflake Bentley, the farmer/scientist who took the first photographs of snowflakes and spent his entire life trying to share his knowledge with the world.   We studied his photographs, and learned quite a bit about the science of snowflakes, and then had some fun creating some of our own, as well as making snowflake snowmen.  Our beautiful creations are hanging in the hallway.  We also finished our drafts of our persuasive essays, and are working on publishing them. 

In P.E. this week, we learned how to shoot baskets correctly, how to shoot free throws, and how the key works. 

In Music this week, we practiced our National Lutheran Schools Week songs that we will be singing in church on January 25 and February 1st.  We also began practicing the song we will sing in church for our new associate pastor, Pastor John Otte.  We will celebrate him at our Saturday evening service on February 6th, so please mark your calendars!  Thanks! 

Upcoming Events:
JANUARY
18- No School, Martin Luther King Day
20- Talent Show Try-Outs
24-30- National Lutheran Schools' Week, Scholastic Book Fair
24- K-8 Choirs Sing, North Campus
26- Mrs. Carrasco's Birthday
29- Grandparent's Day, Talent Show, 12:30pm Dismissal
31-K-8 Choirs sing, south campus

FEBRUARY
1-4th grade December/January book reports are due
3- Morning with Mom 7:45-8:20am
6-Pastor Otte’s installation 6:00—kids are singing
11-Homeschool classes in the morning
11 and 12- Parent/Teacher Conferences, 1:00 Dismissal
12-Mrs. Barnett's Birthday
12- Valentine's Day Party
16- No School - Presidents' Day
22-Mrs. Anderson’s Birthday
22-26 Achievement tests
29-4th grade February book report due  (LEAP YEAR!)


Have a great weekend!
Blessings,

Kim Brunkhorst

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