Hello 4A Families,

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Can you believe it is the last week of school?! I am sad as I write this knowing that this is the last newsletter of the year and my last week with this wonderful fourth grade class. I am so proud of the students and all of the gains they’ve made. I’m also extremely grateful to all of the parents for all of the hard work and dedication you’ve put into this unprecedented school year. I’m so grateful to be a part of this wonderful HRS family.

iPads: On Wednesday, June 9th, we will be collecting all iPads. Please make sure your child comes to school with her/his cleaned and wiped-down with the original iPad and charger. 

Report cards will be sent to you by mail next week. Along with the report card you will also be receiving information about math placement for 5th grade and information on the Holy Rosary Summer reading and math programs. 

Summer packets: If you have requested paper copies of the summer math and reading packets they will be placed inside your child’s portfolio. Last chance to request paper copies of the 4th grade work packets! Please let us know by Tuesday morning as we will be running the paper packets on Tuesday. Packets will come home with your children on Wednesday.  Be sure you remove them from their filer and put them in a safe place.   

If you have opted not to receive paper packets you will be able to access the math and reading packets in PDF form both on Google Classroom and on the 4A Webpage.  

• I want to take this moment to reinforce the importance of regular reading and math review over the summer.  Research is clear that students lose a significant amount of growth during the summer months if they do not include regular reading and math into their summer plans. As mentioned, it is more about quality and quantity—short but highly focused reviews a few times a week make a real difference and reduce the “summer slide.”

I have updated the top tabs of the 4A webpage this week where you will find newly added “Summer Math”, “Summer Reading” and “Summer Writing” tabs. In each section you will find links to great websites, resources and ideas to help with summer review. The links on the right side of the webpage that the students have used all year will remain as well. If you are looking for some fun summer work ideas, be sure to check out these tabs.

Those students that can bring in evidence of their summer work in math (worksheets, website online program results, or completed workbooks) should bring them in to me the first week of school for some fun little prizes/goodies to reward a job well done.  Added bonus for me–I get to see my old students!

I also encourage students to continue practicing math and reading via the various programs that they’ve created logins for: Epic, Happy Numbers, Xtra Math, etc.

Summer Reading Challenge: Here is our challenge to each student, parent, teacher, and staff member at Holy Rosary School: make reading a part of your daily schedule this summer by reading for at least 20 minutes each day of summer vacation! Use this calendar to keep track of your reading time by coloring in each day you read. You may have up to 10 free (blank) reading days.  Return the completed calendar by Friday, September 3rd and you will receive your surprise reward. Challenge calendars will be sent home in students’ report card envelopes. 

** IMPORTANT NOTE: Students may have 10 free days for the summer reading challenge. Meaning they can have up to, but no more than 10 dates not colored on their sheet and still will be able to complete the Summer Reading Challenge. **

Portfolios: This Wednesday, one of the items your student will bring home is her/his 4th grade portfolio. In the portfolios you will find many of the bigger/special projects of the year. This is a nice compilation of fourth grade work neatly stored. 

That is about all for this last newsletter. Again, I want to thank you all for a wonderful year. I hope you all have a fun and relaxing summer. I am looking forward to heading out to Montana near the end of June. I love to get letters in Montana (and it is a great way for students to practice those writing skills). If I get a letter I will return a postcard from Montana in return! My summer address will be posted in Google Classroom.

That is about all for this last newsletter. Again, I want to thank you all for a wonderful year. I hope you all have a fun and relaxing summer. I am looking forward to heading out to Montana near the end of June. I love to get letters in Montana (and it is a great way for students to practice those writing skills). If I get a letter I will return a postcard from Montana in return! My summer address will be posted in Google Classroom.

Blessings for a happy, safe, relaxing and rejuvenating summer break.

Sincerely,

Mary Simpson

I