9/27 Weekly Update

 Happy birthday on Sunday, NELL!  We hope you have a magical day!💖💖💖

______________________________________________________

This week's quote-of-the-week was "There is no substitute for hard work!"  We observed our friends all week for demonstrations of this quality.  Our class nominated Nell Henderson!

______________________________________________________

I have set up a sign-up for fall conferences!  

I tried to incorporate other days and times to help with scheduling.  

Please reach out if none of the offered days/times work for you.  

______________________________________________________

Curriculum Updates:

Reading: Our time this week was used for ERB testing and wrapping up our book projects. The dresses and bracelets look amazing in the hallway outside of our room! To enrich our Wordly Wise reading about the sequoia and redwood trees, we created mini-posters about the trees and added interesting facts. Next week, we will begin our first novel unit with James and the Giant Peach.

Math: We wrapped up our first unit of large numbers. We analyzed place value, rounding, and comparing large numbers through the millions place. Our first assessment was Thursday. On Friday, we reviewed our results and tried to see what went well and what needs more review. These tests will come home next week. We will "spiral review" place value throughout the year to ensure these skills are retained. As you may recall from Back-to-School Night, there are two problems on the test marked as "novel". These are challenging problems. Expect these to become easier as we learn more problem solving skills and how to persevere when the math is "hard." 

Language Arts: This week we wrote a descriptive paragraph about what makes our face unique. We reviewed how to draft a well-developed paragraph. Specific details, vivid vocabulary, and figurative language were encouraged. These writing pieces will come home next week. Use these to discuss "glows and grows". This is the term we use to highlight what is great in our work, and what may need growth. 

We also took our first independent Wordly Wise quiz. Look for this in next week's papers as well.

Social Studies: We continue to work to understand the "road to the white house" and what general requirements are necessary for a candidate to run for the Presidency. Once this is complete, we will progress to a unit about the women's suffragette movement.

______________________________________________________

Reminders and Important Dates:

• Carpool helper next week: Kara Bell

• Special week next week: 

• Singapore math Zoom for parents - October 2  (7:00-8:00):

• Singapore Math Information Session for Lower School Parents (Zoom)

• Blessing of the Animals Chapel on the Green - October 4 at 8:15
• Gold/White/Navy Wear (big St. Cat’s Game Day)- Tuesday, October 

• Technology Dialogue Night for Lower School Parents: Navigating the Ever-Changing Landscape - October 22 at 6:30

• Be sure to check out our photo link for photos from the month.

• Fall BBQ Bash, 6:30-8:30 pm - Thursday, October 10

• Fall Break - no school Monday, October 14

9/20 Weekly Update

    This week's quote was "Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, creativity, or curiosity. Make it the life you want to live!" Students observed their classmates all week and nominated someone for demonstrating the meaning behind the quote. This week's recipient is Fiona Nicholson!

_________________________________________________________

We did an amazing job on our chapel lesson! I am so proud of how well the girls practiced and prepared for chapel. We received many compliments and felt proud of our work! Everyone understood the theme and message we wanted to convey!

_________________________________________________________

Curriculum Updates: 

Reading:  We completed the book The Hundred Dresses.  The message was understanding others and treating them as we would want to be treated! We designed and drew our own dress to showcase our unique creativity like the main character, Wanda. These are on display in the hallway. Our next work will be to analyze the story elements of the book. We continue to use "Picture of the Day" to work on our inferences and questioning skills. 

Language Arts: We are diagramming sentences and rearranging sentences to pay attention to structure and punctuation. The focus is on prepositional phrases to add detail to our sentences in writing. We started a hand-written, descriptive paragraph assignment. We will edit and revise these paragraphs before hanging them in the hall.

Math: We continue our work on large numbers through the millions place. We are rounding and comparing the large numbers. The girls are already showing growth in their thinking with anchor tasks! These are challenging tasks that use what we are studying in a unique, real world way. This growth should be evident in  section C part of the unit test that will take place late next week. 

Social Studies: Our Pixton projects are just about complete. We focused on one branch for a "field trip" to visit the matching federal building for that branch. We will now work to understand the "road to the white house" and what general requirements are necessary for a candidate to run for the Presidency. 

_________________________________________________________

Reminders and Important Dates:

• Carpool helper next week: Hazy Lynch
• Special week next week: 
• Family Fun Night - September 26 at 4:30
• Singapore math Zoom for parents - October 2  (7:00-8:00):
• Singapore Math Information Session for Lower School Parents (Zoom)
• Blessing of the Animals Chapel on the Green - October 4 at 8:15

• Fall BBQ Bash, 6:30-8:30 pm - Thursday, October 10

• Gold/White/Navy Wear (big St. Cat’s Game Day)- Tuesday, October 15
• Be sure to check our our photo link for photos from the month.

9/13 Weekly Update

Please remember to sign up for a special week this year. Your daughter will have a special week to share about themselves, make a poster, and have an adult visit them for lunch.  Let me know if you have any questions!

______________________________________________________________

Curriculum Updates:

The white paper folder will come home every two weeks. 

Next Friday will be the next set of papers that come home.

Reading - As a culminating activity for the summer reading of Because of Winn-Dixie, (or alternate book) we made "I AM" posters.  We imagined we were a character from the book and described ourselves with vivid adjectives.  These are hanging in the classroom and will come home soon! We also used this time to read over and practice our Chapel scripts.

Language Arts - We finished our first Wordly-Wise unit.  We took the quiz together so that I could model the process and answer questions.  We are also diagramming our first set of sentences and copying sentences to focus on correct capitalization and punctuation. For writing, we made a "mystery fourthie" page describing ourselves with clues. We included a pixelated picture of ourselves!

Math - We are working on large numbers to the millions place. We are incorporating number discs, standard, written, and expanded representations of the numbers. The students have enjoyed our enrichment math activities: esti-mysteries, guess my number, and a math mystery challenge.  Ask them to tell you about them!

Social Studies - We reviewed the three branches of government. The girls chose one branch to highlight on a Pixton comic. We developed required criteria together and worked to showcase the information during a "field trip" to explore the chosen branch of government. These are on display in the hall and will come home soon. 

_________________________________________________________

This week's "Quote-of-the-Week" was "Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easy." Students observed their peers all week and looked to see who was demonstrating the qualities of this quote.  Today, students nominated Olivia Costa for being brave with her new school and all of the new adventures!

____________________________________________________________

Reminders and Important Dates:

• Carpool helper next week: Dabney Hark
• Our class chapel will be in the assembly room on Tuesday, September 17 at 8:15
• Picture Day - September 18 at 2:00
• Family Fun Night - September 26 at 4:30
• Singapore math Zoom for parents - October 2  (7:00-8:00)
• Singapore Math Information Session for Lower School Parents (Zoom)
• Blessing of the Animals Chapel on the green - October 4 at 8:15

• Gold/White/Navy Wear (big St. Cat’s Game Day)- Tuesday, October 15 (Day 2)

• Be sure to check our our photo link for photos from the month.

9/6 Weekly Update

Thank you for coming to visit our classroom for Back-to-School Night! It was great to see so many of you and chat about our wonderful school year. The partnership between parents and teachers is so important, and I am excited to work with you this year.

Remember to sign up for a "Special Week" for your daughter! Let me know if you have any questions.

Today was a special day because the girls officially became Fourthies. As a grade level, we discussed what it means to be the leaders of the Lower School, they signed a contract, and received their hats. We will keep the hats here so they may use them when they are a carpool helper. They may bring the caps home at the end of the year! It was a fun day.

Reminders:

• Carpool helper next week: Ruby Sewell
• "Special Week" next week: