Dear 4A Families,
Happy 3rd Week of Lent. I hope you all had a nice weekend, despite the lost hour of sleep! The extra daylight hours are always nice, but the time change can throw off the sleep schedules a bit. The students are invited to a “Wearin’ O the Green on Thursday this week. No face paint or hair dye.
Regarding Masks: Here is part of what Mrs. Horton included in the principal’s message last Thursday regarding the lifting of the indoor mask mandate:
The most important thing, as we make this transition, is that we remain steadfast in our care for one another. The consistent message that will be shared with students is that we will be respecting the choices of one another and caring for one another. Some students and staff will continue wearing their masks. Others will make the choice not to. And both will be OK and respected. We want to make sure that every person and every family is able to make the choice that is right for you, and that you know you will be supported in that choice. Please join me in speaking to your children about the importance of demonstrating high levels of respect during this transition period.
All 4th grade students should have a mask in their backpack at all times. There will be certain activities that I will ask the students to wear their masks. Thank you for your understanding.
Report cards will be sent home this Friday via email. We will not be sending hard copies of the report cards until the end of the year. I am proud of the progress the 4th grade students have made this trimester! 4A students are creative thinkers and caring, thoughtful people. What a great combination.
Advent/Outreach: Holy Rosary School will hold a schoolwide food drive this Lent, in addition to our ministry to St. Martin de Porres shelter and the CRS Rice Bowl. This local food drive will benefit our neighbors most in need in the West Seattle Community through the Holy Rosary St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. Help us stock the food pantry up for summer! Items can be brought directly into the school and left on the table in the front hallway. Items they currently need are:
FOOD ITEMS: Peanut Butter (16oz,), Canned Chicken, Canned Tuna, Tomato Sauce, Canned Fruit, Crackers (Saltines, Ritz)
HOME AND PERSONAL CARE ITEMS: Paper Towels, Liquid Dish Soap (small/medium size), Toothpaste, Single Packaged Toothbrushes,
Individually wrapped bars of soap (unscented if possible), Shampoo.
Thank you for your generosity as we take care of our neighbors!
Math: We will begin a new unit on fractions this week. Our lessons will begin with a review of some foundational skills including factors and multiples, prime and composite numbers. We will then move into equivalent fractions and simplest form.
Language Arts: Students have read about various inspirational famous people and are busy creating a “mini-bio” poster that details a summary of the person’s life, accomplishments, fun facts and reasons why they are admired. We will continue to complete & present these to each other in class this week. This provides great practice for the oral report to come. Meanwhile, students are excitedly choosing titles for their spring oral biography reports (presented in May). We will check in with students to make sure they have chosen a person to study and are finding biography books for that person. Please let us know if your child is needing extra assistance with this process. All book/topic selections for the oral biography project need to be finalized no later than March 21st.
Spelling: The spelling words for the Friday, March 18th test were sent home last Thursday with the class.
Reading: Students begin the novel, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Prior to reading, we build background by learning about the great artist, painter, sculptor: Michelangelo. Students are exposed to the characteristics of Renaissance art, as well as Michelangelo’s early life.
Vocabulary: As we read, students work with new vocabulary in different ways: defining, writing sentences, finding synonyms and antonyms, sketching symbols for each word, etc. As we encounter vocabulary in the story, I will help the class understand which words we will study for immediate use/context and which words we will work with more extensively, as they will become part of our permanent vocabulary.
Comprehension Target Skill: This week, we focus on “setting,” the time and place of the story and it’s impact on the plot and characters. Our story takes place in 1960’s New York City and students take a virtual tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Religion: Our class work this week will continue to focus on the 10 Commandments and Lent. The Memorare needs to be recited by April 13th at the latest.
Social Studies: The students will have the opportunity to play the old school Oregon Trail game this week (probably the same one many of you played as kids) as a fun way to wrap up our Oregon Trail unit. We will then move into a study of the geography and regions of Washington State.
Science: Students learn about the types, causes, and dangers of landslides. Students explore engineering solutions to help prevent landslides and protect homes during landslides.
Have a wonderful week everyone.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday.
