Dear Parents and Students,
We had a great first day together under GOD’S hand.
Although this is a day later than you may have expected it, I’m glad to be able to share a little of what we have talked about so far.
Zephaniah 3:9 foretells a time when the lips of those who serve GOD will be purified that all of them may call on the Name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder. What makes school fun, enjoyable, valuable to me is that we are learning to walk together in GOD’S service shoulder to shoulder (For the kids and the adults it is really more like shoulder to hip or side, but you get the meaning). That is what this year is; us walking together. Teacher/Parents and students all following JESUS as He leads our pursuit of life, of His Father, of Heaven.
Our twenty-one kids bring over half of the energy to this classroom. Although I determine, with GOD’S help and wisdom, what I allow to stand in the classroom, what the pace and amount of work will be, and the atmosphere of the class, they play a huge part in this by what they bring with them, both in attitude and their work. My role is to provide a safe place for them to try, to succeed, and to fail. Maddeningly, I cannot make them learn. It is especially so because I am judged by what they do or do not do with the information I try to pass on to them. It is their job to learn, their choice to attend to what we are doing, or not. And yet, choice is one of the greatest gifts we are given by GOD Himself. Who do I think I am to want to take it from them? So, may they choose well! May GOD grant us wisdom and help! May we all work together the rest of the as well as we did today.
In the next couple of days we’ll discuss the fact that these kids who have received the gift JESUS bled to secure for them are a part of His body, even now. They have other gifts, which they are learning to use for His glory, or for their glory, or for the shame of all of us. Again our prayer is that they will grow up into a functioning, fruitful member of Christ’s body. Just as our school’s verse from Ephesians says:
“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.” – 4:15-16
I am looking forward to seeing what GOD has in mind to do in and through us this year. Please pray that His will is done in room 526, and in this school. I’ll pray that it is so in your family as well. Without Him we are nothing.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
I look forward to seeing you at “Back to School Night” on Tuesday, August 20 when I will share further details about the year ahead. Thank you for your encouragement and prayers as we begin this journey together.
SNACKS
Snacks may be eaten during the morning at recess. 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. If you are dying to help and can’t wait until then, contact me. I’m sure I can find something for you to do.
P.E.
P.E. is scheduled for Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:15-10:50. Be sure clothes and shoes are appropriate 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.
SUPPLIES
Students are supplied with an organizational crate, textbooks, a journal, colored pencils, a pencil and an eraser. Items you should bring:
1. A desire to learn
2. A co-operative and flexible attitude
3. An expectation that GOD will work in us
4. Medium sized pencil box (plastic, no larger than 5″x 8″)
We are also in need of Kleenex and 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.
SPELLING
Spelling lessons are assigned every week. Almost always the first two pages are assigned on Monday and the second two on Tuesday. Trial tests are given on Wednesdays and students achieving 100% (List words and bonus words attempted) 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.
4th GRADE SPELLING WORDS
LESSON 1-Pattern words
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
Bonus
1. Proverbs
2. knowledge
3. understanding
4. upright
5. decisions
COMPUTERS
On Wednesdays we are scheduled to have the cart of laptops from 2:00 until 2:45. Students will use this time for their reading assessments, Reading Counts quizzes, keyboarding practice, and some guided research.
SSR BOOK
Please have your child bring a favorite 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 each day with your child.
MUSIC
Susan Ainley will be teaching our kids to play the recorder this year. She will be working with both fourth grade classes on Wednesdays from 10:50-11:30. A second day, Fridays from 12:35-1:15, will be spent developing the 3rd and 4th grade voices.
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.
BIRTHDAYS
Children may be honored individually on their birthdays or a day that is close (September will be hardest, as there are seven birthdays). Regardless, each child will have a 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 usually do celebrations at 2:45 PM, just before school gets out. 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. We do not endorse all of the books that are offered, so please practice discernment.
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