Dear Parents and Students,
It’s Back to School Night and I am looking forward to seeing you and meeting those of you who I don’t already know. We are into the second week and I am getting to know each of your children, some more rapidly than others. I am convinced it is going to be a great year.
I am looking forward to the things GOD is going to do this year. Some of these things are already taking shape before my eyes, others are still covered for now. He is faithful though and wants to do good things in the lives of His people even more than we want them done. In spite of all this coming back to school is always a mixed bag for me. I so love being at home to care for my family and our home. The school year is a big investment and commitment.
I am honored to be walking through the year with “our” kids, and you. Will you please consider the help you’d like to give. Our most pressing need is prayer. Without it those things GOD wants to do will be jeopardized. Our enemy is strong and the wounds He has inflicted on each of our souls are powerful. Without GOD’S healing in our lives his lies and bullying are strong enough to hold people in bondage for years. I don’t want to see this all too familiar pattern repeated in” my kids”. Another need is chaperoning field trips. These are exciting and educational days, but without your help, I am not brave enough to take even just 21 4th graders on these fun trips. Classroom help is welcomed. If you are interested in helping in this way, we’ll do all we can to use you with the kids. Math seems to be an area where there are often more hands than teachers.
For Christian education to work, there must be partnership between you, your child’s first and teacher, and those who come along side of you to help. I desire to work with you, and I understand that ultimately it is you who will be accountable before GOD for your cild’s upbringing. In light of that, I’ll do my best to help and partner with you. Let’s all work this way.
BIBLE
We had a wonderful time of worship last week with the whole fourth grade. Worship is a wonderful opportunity to allow GOD to soften our hearts as we bless His. Each child was given a prayer journal that they will use to write and reflect on our devotional discussions and worship time. My prayer is that we will see the importance of spending time in and reflecting on GOD’S Word and worshipping Him.
WELCOME BACK MOVIE NIGHT
Under the stars on August 23
• Time: movie starts at 8:20pm
• Location: FCS football field
• Popcorn and drinks will be provided
Come and enjoy our Fresno Christian family movie night and don’t forget to bring your blanket and enjoy “EPIC” the movie.
PTF FALL FUNDRAISER
Last Thursday, August 15th PTF kicked off our fall fundraiser in our FCS Gym for Grades 1-6! This fundraiser will run through Monday, September 9th. Your child brought home a variety of items for sale and there are some fun prizes. All the profit will benefit your children and the programs at FCS.
LANGUAGE ARTS
During the school year we will be doing many book projects based on different Literary Genres. As the instructions come home you will also see an attached rubric to use as a guide in helping your child complete their project. There will be one project per quarter, our first one coming home in September. They will have time during SSR (Silent Sustained Reading) each day to read their books but the project itself needs to be completed at home. I will discuss more about these projects at Back-To-School night.
Last week we began reading The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh together as a class and are completing a literature study guide together so that the students can recall how to answer questions in complete sentences. Our next novel we will read together and discuss questions, but more and more they will learn to answer them on their own.
MATH/MATH CLUB
Last week we began Chapter 1 in the math book on Place Value and Rounding Numbers. We also started our 4-minute timed tests. We will be testing the basic addition and subtraction facts before we move on to multiplication, division and then mixed facts. Encourage your child to practice these facts at home if they are not yet mastered. To become a member of the 4th Grade Math Club students will need to pass their Multiplication facts. We will work with flash cards in class, but I highly recommended that students study facts at home on a weekly basis. Learning their multiplication facts is a HUGE asset in helping them through our 4th grade math book.
HOMEWORK
Any work not completed in class, such as math, reading or spelling, is considered homework and needs to be returned the following day. Students not finishing their work on a regular basis are subject to finishing before they play. Please communicate with me if there are valid reasons a child was not able to complete an assignment.
GRADES
Grades are as follows:
90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, 59% and below =F
P.E.
We have P.E. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:15-10:50. Water bottles are required on these hot days.
SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDERS
Book orders will be sent home monthly., although I will skip the month of October due to the content of the books that come out for Halloween. Please do not feel obligated to purchase at any time. I have sent home a flyer with information regarding placing your orders online. It is quick and easy and these orders arrive much faster than ordering by mail. I’m sorry but I will not be accepting cash or checks this year. Please place your order online on or before the due date and remember that you can order any books on the website for any grade level, not just from the flyer sent home. Thank you! Our first book order will be due on September 1st.
LIBRARY DAY
Our library time will be on Thursday from 1:15 to 2:00. Students may check out three books for two weeks and return them on or before their Thursday due date. Students may also check out one additional book as needed for special project assignments. We look forward to enjoying all that our library has to offer.
MUSIC
Each week Mrs. Ainley, our choral director, will meet with our 4th graders on Wednesday for recorders and Fridays with both 3rd and 4thgraders for choral instruction.
DRESS CODE
Please review the dress code with your child as there have been some changes. It is important to know the standard to which your kids will be held. Your full cooperation is greatly appreciated. Questions on specific items can be addressed with Mr. Bennett. Modest dress best reflects our Christian values.
There are a couple of changes that should be highlighted:
Girls’ section:
• Sweat pants (including matching sweat or athletic outfits) and pajama bottoms are not allowed at school.
Boys’ section:
• Sweatpants and nylon or cotton athletic shorts are not allowed.
The dress code exists to establish and maintain an atmosphere which is conducive to learning and which makes FCS attractive to the broadest range of families possible.
MINIMUM DAY
Just a reminder that this week Wednesday, August 21 is a minimum day with early release at 12:00 PM due to staff in-service.
BIBLE VERSE
Bible Verse:
“Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the “King”
Reference: I Peter 2:17
Character Trait: Respectfulness
SPELLING
LESSON 2 Pattern Words-Long a
1. raise
2. radio
3. eighth
4. Savior
5. survey
6. weight
7. nature
8. faithful
9. contain
10. disobey
11. volcano
12. straight
13. conveyed
14. neighborhood
High-Frequency Words
15. usually
16. remember
Vocabulary Words
17. repaid
18. reweigh
19. unable
20. unclaimed
Challenge Words (Extra Credit)
1. definition
2. opposite
3. reference
4. beginning
5. foolishness
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
AUGUST
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
August 23 Welcome Back to School Movie Night
SEPTEMBER
September 10 Elementary Pictures
September 18 School dismissed @12:00 PM – Teacher In-service
September 23-27 Parent Teacher Conferences Noon Dismissal
***SPIRIT DAY is every Friday…please have your child wear their favorite FCS spirit wear!
Please pray for us. Thanks!
Matthew Weimer