Weekly Update

Happy Easter to you all! I wish you a peace filled and happy holiday! We have hit the point in the school year we are extremely busy so please read below carefully!

Next week is all about the 4th grade musical. We will practice an hour and half each day following this schedule.

Curriculum Updates

 

Reading: We are reading Flora and Ulysses, which is about a little girl and a squirrel she encounters. Every 7 chapters, the girls respond to comprehension questions and use context clues to figure out certain vocabulary. 

Math: We assessed fraction computation and they did a great job. We are now working with decimals. The girls had a lesson about the Dewey decimal system to make the decimals concrete. We will add, subtract, compare, and order and compare decimals. 

Language Arts: The girls continue to learn new vocabulary with our Wordly Wise lessons. They love to share when they have hear the word being used or seen it in a book. Our current spelling pattern is about words with the /qu/ spelling pattern.

Social Studies: We are learning about the northeast region of the United States. To help learn the states and capitals, the girls have flash cards to help them as well as digital resources.

Reminders:

• Carpool helper next week: Kensi
• Wednesday, April 3: Gold/White Cup announcement and lunch. Girls may wear their gold and white this day. We will have picnic on the green with pizza for all of Lower School. Feel free to pack a different lunch if your daughter does not like pizza. 
• We will also make a trip to flower the cross which will be on the Portico on April 3rd. If your daughter would like to add to the cross, please send in flowers that morning.
• Wednesday, April 10: Fourth Grade Musical at 9:30 am in Endeavor Hall 
• Friday, April 19: Parent/Teacher Conference Day; Sign Up Here 
• Wednesday, April 24: Outdoor Adventure Day: Details Here
• Wednesday, May 1: Visit to 5th grade for a Middle School Orientation- details to follow 
• Thursday, May 30: Final Assembly at 11:00 am
• Scavenger hunt question - answer this!

Weekly Update

We had a great week back following spring break. The girls were excited to share highlights from their week off.

 

On Wednesday, our field trip to The Frontier Museum in Staunton was fun and informative.

Today, we had a great time walking to Gelati Celesti to celebrate 125 class compliments.

 

Curriculum Updates:          

Reading: In reading we started a novel study with the book, Flora and Ulysses. As a preview, we researched about squirrels and created cute illustrations. The girls also read about the author, Kate DiCamillo, and took notes on things they learned about this clever author.

Math: We continue our practice with fraction computation. Next week, we will also begin a unit on decimals and establish the relationship between fractions and decimals. In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, we enjoyed some Lucky Charms cereal while brushing up on our graphing and data skills. We reviewed different types of graphs and recorded data. Completed work was sent home in your daughter's Friday Folder today. 

Language Arts: Our time this week was spent on investigating affixes for our Wordly Wise unit #14. 

Social Studies: We began the a unit on the US regions by seeing what we know about the states and their locations on a map.   

Reminders:

• Carpool helper next week: Andie
• Special Week: Kensi
• Next Friday, March 29: Half day dismissal at noon for Good Friday
  
• April 10: Fourth Grade Musical at 9:30 am in Endeavor Hall
• May 30: Final Assembly at 11:00 am
• Scavenger hunt question - answer this!

Weekly Update - Happy Spring Break!

 

This group of girls is just so precious! In my 13 years as a 4th grade teacher at St. Catherine's, I have never had a class acknowledge my half birthday since my birthday falls at the start of the school year. I arrived today with a card full of precious notes from each of your daughters. When I reminded them that the class celebrated me in September (with the help of you and the Havens family), they replied that they did not know me well then and wanted to celebrate again at my half birthday. They are so sweet and thoughtful! Thank you!!

The class has earned 125 class compliments and we will celebrate the week we return. I will provide more information closer to that time.

During the week we return, we have our field trip and Mrs. Lathe, our new counselor, will start lunch groups. Here is information about both of these below:

1. Field Trip information for Wednesday, March 20

2. Lunch Bunch groups starting week after break

   Reminders:
   

• Carpool helper next week: Ginna
• April 10: Fourth Grade Musical at 9:30 am in Endeavor Hall
• May 30: Final Assembly at 11:00 am
• Scavenger hunt question - answer this!

I wish everyone a wonderful break to recharge and relax. 

Weekly Update

Curriculum Updates:   

Reading: This week, we finished reading Number the Stars. The girls painted some beautiful paintings of a famous street in Copenhagen, Nyhavn. They also wrote an additional chapter to the story about Ellen and Annemarie reunited after the end of the war.

Math: We completed our chapter 5 fraction test and now are working on fraction computation (with like denominators). The girls did well om this test and they are in today's Friday folder.

Language Arts: The girls have just about completed typing a biography and creating an illustration through the site Canva about a famous African American woman. Here is the link to our work!  We spent quality time researching, editing, revising, and fine-tuning our illustrations. When the rest of the girls finish, the link will update.

Social Studies: Our time was used to complete the biographies and illustration page.

Reminders:

• Carpool helper next week: Eleanor
• March 8: 1/2 Day with dismissal at noon for Spring Break!
  
• March 20: Field Trip to Frontier Museum - details to come
  
• April 10: Fourth Grade Musical at 9:30 am in Endeavor Hall
• May 30: Final Assembly
• Scavenger hunt question - answer this!

Weekly Update

 

It was great to all be back together during this short week. We have had many classmates in and out due to sickness and traveling, so I loved being back together. It is hard to believe that we have two more weeks until we dismiss for spring break at noon, on Friday, March 8. The girls worked hard in our three days. 

In math, they took a mid year assessment last week and I was surprised that the scores were not higher. So, I retaught some concepts and offered them an opportunity to make corrections. The best way to learn from mistakes in math in particular, is to find your mistake, and correct it! Yesterday I sent home the original math check along with the corrections. Next week we will practice adding and subtracting fractions with like and unlike denominators.

The girls are close to finishing their research project for Black History month and I look forward to sharing the finished project on next week's blog post.

We also have almost finished Number the Stars and will do a project at the conclusion of the book. If you are looking for a good discussion question from the book, please ask your daughter to share a way that Annemarie, the main character, has shown bravery in the novel. There are many examples!

Reminders:

• Carpool helper next week: Ella
• Special Week: Reagan
• Cheer Rally Song Practices: Tuesday, 2/27 and Thursday 2/29 from 7:40 - 7:55
• March 1: Cheer Rally with the girls wearing their team colors   
• March 20: Field Trip to Frontier Museum - details to come
• April 10: Fourth Grade Musical at 9:30 am in Endeavor Hall
• May 30: Final Assembly
• Scavenger hunt question - answer this!

 

 

Weekly Update

 

Reminders:

• Carpool helper next week: Reese
• Starting next Thursday 2/22, and again on Tuesday 2/27, and Thursday 2/29, your girls are invited to practice songs for the Gold/White cheer rally from 7:40-7:55 am.  
• March 1: Cheer Rally with the girls wearing their team colors   
  
• March 20: Field Trip to Frontier Museum - details to come
• April 10: Fourth Grade Musical at 9:30 am in Endeavor Hall
• May 30: Final Assembly
  

Weekly Update

The girls and I had another lovely week together. They are working hard and staying kind, which is awesome! Here are some curriculum updates and reminders.

Math: We are just about finished with our first fraction unit. The girls will soon be assessed on equivalent fractions and comparing and ordering fractions. The assessment will also check understanding of converting mixed numbers and improper fractions, and fractions on a number line.  Our next unit is more fractions but focuses on the computation aspect. In addition, the Valentine Math Challenge is due by February 16. 

Reading: Last week, we began the novel, Number the Stars. This is a fantastic novel by Lois Lowry about a ten-year-old girl living in Copenhagen during the Second World War. The story follows her life as well as her best friend, Ellen, who is Jewish. It is a great story and always leads to some great conversations about this time in history. While the story is historical fiction, it also emphasizes the themes of friendship, courage, and bravery. The girls seem very into the story!

Social Studies: We are researching a famous African American woman. Once the girls have gathered facts from at least two sources, they will type an essay and create an illustration through the site Canva. Once these have been edited and revised, a link will come home so you can view our digital class book! 

Writing: On Thursday, the class responded to a very interesting Three Word Thursday (3WT) challenge. Check it out on this collaborative, class slideshow. 🐍

Reminders:

• Carpool helper next week: Maggie
• Special Week: Ruth
• 💖 Valentine's Day mailbox due by Monday, February 12. They need to make a card for each student and here is a list of our classmates. 
• Mid-Year ERB testing: next week
• Scavenger hunt question - answer this!