WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!
WELCOME NEW AND RETURNING STUDENTS!!!! I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing summer! I am so excited about our new year and the many exciting things that are going to take place!! This is going to be a GREAT class of 4th graders. I believe God has placed each one of them in here for a reason and I am looking forward to seeing what He will do this year. Thank you for entrusting these precious ones into my care and I look forward to getting to know each of you better as well!
Our school theme this year is “WE ARE ONE: Growing In Christ” Our school verse this year comes from Ephesians 4: 15-16:
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
This verse has been posted in our classroom to serve as a daily reminder. My prayer this year is that your child will feel God’s unconditional love and that they will be united as one with their classmates and school!
STUDENT PROFILE
This week I am sending home a STUDENT PROFILE concerning family, school, and religious experiences. This gives you the opportunity to share areas and concerns you would like me to be aware of as I work with your child this year. Some of you completed this last year as a 3rd grade parent in my class, so it will be optional for those not wanting to make any changes. Please take time to fill out the profile this week and return it by THIS Friday. At conference time we can focus on strengths and areas for future growth together. Thanks for your insights.
NEWSLETTERS
At any time you may go online to read our class newsletter. Click on K-6, class newsletter and then Mrs. Ferguson. The newsletter will contain our weekly character trait, Bible verse, spelling words, various homework assignments such as book reports and special activities like field trips.
On Monday, you will also want to look for your child’s graded work from the previous week. Please take the opportunity to go through the work together.
COMMUNICATION FOLDER
Each student will be given a communication folder that will be sent home on Mondays and needs to be returned each Thursday. Please look in your child’s folder for your child’s graded work from the previous week, newsletters, flyers, Bible and spelling lists for the month. Please take the opportunity to go through the work together and correct any mistakes. Please return the folder every Thursday. This will be part of your child’s effort grade for responsibility.
Also, any work not completed in class, such as math, reading or spelling, is considered homework and needs to be returned the following day. For those of you who had me last year, there will NOT be weekly assignments sent home Mondays, but students will be required to complete unfinished assignments outside of class. Thank you!
BIBLE
Each day we start off the morning with prayer requests, praise and worship, devotionals, and studying God’s Word. I am so grateful that we are at a school where this can be our main focus. My goal is that your child will see the importance of spending time daily in God’s Word as they allow His truth to guide them.
The Bible verse may be accessed online and will also be sent home each month. It will focus on a specific character trait verse. Our verses this year will be from the NIV version as this correlates to the Bible they use at school. Bible verse tests are also on Fridays, every week, unless a field trip is scheduled and in that case the test will be on Thursday. All students will be asked to write from memory the Character Trait, Reference, and Bible Verse. Most importantly, we hope to see growth in these character qualities as our students learn God’s word and apply these truths to their lives.
Each child was also given a prayer journal that they can use to write and reflect on our daily class devotions, our morning worship times and any other personal thoughts they might like to jot down.
SPELLING TESTS
You may access the spelling lists online each week or look at the hard copy I send home monthly. Please start practicing your Bible verse and spelling words early to ensure good results on Fridays. Spelling trial tests are given on Wednesdays and students achieving 100% will not need to take the Friday final test. Each week “BONUS” words will be given for those students who are good spellers and like an additional challenge. These words are not mandatory…the student may choose to do them or not. Bonus words missed do not take away from the score of the 20 regular words, but do help a student if his or her quarterly grade is borderline.
Along with our weekly spelling test grades, students will have a Friday sentence dictation grade. This gives the students an opportunity to practice using their spelling words in context and improve writing skills needed for compositions. Every 5 weeks the students will have a multiple choice test over the previous 5 weeks of spelling words. These questions are similar to SAT testing questions so they are great practice for the students. There will be no Pre-test or dictation sentences on these weeks.
SUPPLIES
Supplies provided in class:
Students have been given colored folders for their class assignments, a journal, colored pencils, crayons, a pencil, a large eraser, a dry erase board, a dry erase marker and a white board eraser.
Supplies recommended to purchase:
1. Only ONE medium sized pencil box (plastic, no larger than 5″x 8″)
2. Highlighter
3. Set of felt pens or washable markers (optional)
4. A Franklin Electronic Dictionary (optional)
NOTE: Please help your child to succeed by limiting unnecessary clutter and distractions. Some children bring so many things that they are burdened by their supplies and some use them as toys. In this case they will be asked to take them home. Thank you!
**We are also in need of lots of Kleenex and some disinfectant wipes for the classroom. We use both throughout the year. If you are able to donate any of these items, please send them to school with your child. Thank you! 🙂
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
I look forward to seeing each of you at “Parent Back to School Night” on Tuesday, August 20 when I will share further details about the year ahead. Together, here at FCS, we pledge our sincere effort to continually seek God’s best for your child as he or she is under our care. Thank you for your encouragement and prayers as we begin this journey together!
SNACKS
Snacks may be eaten during the morning at recess. Fruit, veggies, crackers, cheese, chips, yogurt, and fruit snacks are some suggestions. We will save our dessert foods for lunch. Because of various children’s food allergies, we are not allowed to share or trade food.
MILK & JUICE CARDS
Milk and juice will be offered for K-6 students. Milk and juice are 40 cents each. You may purchase a Milk or juice card for $8.00 each. Each card is good for 20 drinks. These are available in the Elementary Office. You will be notified when it is time to purchase a new one. This is offered as a convenience to you and is not mandatory.
CLASSROOM HELPERS
Sign-ups for classroom helpers will be at Back to School Night.
P.E.
P.E. is scheduled during every Monday and Thursday. Be sure to wear appropriate clothes and shoes that are for workouts. Water bottles NEED to be brought to school on a daily basis and kept at your child’s desk. Please inform the office of any health concerns and notify me as well.
SSR BOOK
Please have your child bring a favorite literature book to read during “Silent Sustained Reading” after lunch. The book should be stored in his or her backpack for easy access on a daily basis. Please send one tomorrow with your child.
ASSESSMENTS
I am performing a variety of assessments in class this week in the areas of reading, spelling, writing, and math. Ongoing assessments will be performed to assist in meeting your child’s instructional needs.
POWER SCHOOL
Power School offers a variety of information including attendance, grades, and special notes to parents. This is a SECURE website and therefore you, as a parent, may access your child’s information confidentially.
BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL PROCEDURES
School begins at 8:00 AM sharp. Students who arrive later than 8:00 AM must report to the office for a tardy slip. Students go directly to the play area north of building 5 in the mornings starting Tuesday. After the 7:55 AM bell and whistle, they will line up with their class near the picnic tables and I will escort them to class.
School ends at 2:45 P.M. Please arrange pick up promptly. Children not picked up by 3:00 P.M. will be taken to the office to call parents and wait. The pick-up location at the People’s campus is between Building 5 and the Peoples Church preschool playground near the ship. All children must wait with the teacher until an adult walks over to pick them up. Due to safety concerns they may not go and meet you at your car. Please let me know if you need special arrangements made.
**Please take note of the NEW entrances for drop off and pick up beginning tomorrow.
BIRTHDAYS
Children will be honored individually on their birthdays. Each child will have his/her own day to celebrate. You may bring a treat and drink if you choose. Your child and you may choose and there are no restrictions, whatever is a favorite to your child. I do ask that you not bring anything with peanuts due to peanut allergies. We will have celebrations in the afternoons at 2:30 PM, just before school gets out or at 9:40 just before recess. Please let me know a few days ahead of time if you want to celebrate at school. It certainly is not mandatory, however, the children really do enjoy celebrating with their friends. If your child has a summer birthday, he/she will not be forgotten. We will find a day for them. It can be on their half birthday or any day that works for you.
BOOK ORDERS
Book orders are sent home monthly. Scholastic publishes excellent books and software for children at a moderate price. Please do not feel obligated to make a purchase. I will be sending home the information for online ordering. I will not be accepting checks or cash. The first book order was sent home today and will be due on September 1st if you wish to order. Thank you!
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you need to reach me my email is: sferguson@fresnochristian.com. I check my e-mails in the morning and throughout the day as time allows. You may also call Kerry Roberts in the central office at 299-1695 or send a note with your child.
As you have a wonderful week, please pray for us as we begin a new year!
God Bless You,
Stacey Ferguson
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
AUGUST
August 12 Convocation at Peoples Campus – 8:00 AM
August 15 PTF Fundraiser Kickoff
August 20 Back To School for grades 3-6, Tuesday, @ 7:00 p.m. Meet in the FCS gym.
August 21 School dismissed @12:00 PM – Teacher In-service
SEPTEMBER
September 10 Elementary Pictures
September 18 School dismissed @12:00 PM – Teacher In-service
SPELLING LIST
Week 1 –Aug. 12-16
Pattern words-Short a
1. atlas
2. travel
3. elastic
4. having
5. satisfy
6. candle
7. captain
8. pasture
9. manage
10. Canada
11. example
12. fantastic
13. scramble
14. hamburger
High-Frequency Words
15. enough
16. because
Vocabulary Words
17. absent
18. absolute
19. access
20. accurate
Challenge Words
1. Proverbs
2. knowledge
3. understanding
4. upright
5. decisions