Dear Parents and Students,

Well, this week marks the beginning of our second month of school, not technically though.  It’s only been three weeks.  Does it seem like more or less to you?  Change in schedules are hard for almost everyone; so if it seems longer, you’re not alone.  Our mornings here in fourth grade are great; by the afternoon these 15 boys and 6 girls and their teacher are all ready for a break.  GOD is at work already (In truth He has never stopped working in you, your children, and in me), and despite those P.M. blues good things are happening.  I hope they are telling you about the things they are learning here at some point each afternoon or evening.  We frequently pause to allow for reflection and for preparation in anticipation of your, “So, what did you do today?”.  Do not accept “Nothing” or “The same things we always do” as an answer.  Just today we worshipped, read Ch. 4 in The Story for Kids (The Israelites in Egypt and GOD’S calling of Moses to deliver them), began Lesson 4 in the Spelling workbooks, finished  the Courage of Sarah Noble, then wrote a summary of this short book, corrected a couple of pages in our math review packet, began a practice chapter test, heard Ch. 17 of Little Pilgrim’s Progress, and continued the Chapter 1 History Review.  The kids also had P.E. with Mrs. Whipple and then read silently after lunch.  Their opportunities to learn were rich and plentiful.   I truly hope they are taking advantage of them and are then accurately sharing their knowledge with you.

I am learning many things about them, and about teaching this group of kids.  For, let’s be honest, it matters very little to most of you what GOD has done in me and my other classes in years past.  This is the year that counts in your book.

PARENT CONFERENCES

Parent conference forms were sent home yesterday in your child’s work/announcement packet. Please sign and send your form in before Monday, September 16th.  Early dismissal will begin on Monday, September 23rd at 12:00. Early dismissal will be each day of the week through Friday, Sept. 27th. Please assist each other by being on time to the scheduled conference as we have only 20 minutes per conference. At conference time we can focus on strengths and areas for future growth together.  I am looking forward to seeing each of you who will come.

COACHES NEEDED

FCS still looking for an elementary volleyball coach and an elementary flag football coach. If interested please contact our Sports Department at 299-1695 ext. 123 or email: mregnerus@fresnochristian.com

GRANDPARENT’S DAY

Grandparents Day is on Friday, September 13, 2013.  It is a fun day for the children to spend with their grandparents.  If their grandparent is unable to come, feel free to invite a close family friend. It is a long, hard morning for students who have no one to fill this role in their lives.

The schedule is as follows:

9:30-9:50 AM              K-12 Pick up schedules

9:50-11:40 AM             K-12 Visit classrooms

11:40-12:25 PM            K-12 Lunch

12:25 PM                    K-12 Say Goodbye to grandchild

SEPTEMBER SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDER

I will be sending home a new book order during the month of September.  If you would like to place an online order please do so by October 1st.

FALL FUNDRAISER

The fundraiser ends September 9th!  Please put your order forms  AND  money inside the envelope provided and turn it in to your teacher.

FCS FRIDAY SPIRIT DAYS

Fresno Christian Schools Spirit Days are here.  Starting this Friday and every Friday after, wear your FCS spirit wear.

READING

We finished our first book Tuesday. You will see their packet coming home next week with a grade on the inside cover. We completed the questions together as a class this time so they had the correct answers and they know what my expectations are.  If their grade is lower than you expected it is because they did not answer in a complete sentence, they are not using proper punctuation or they didn’t complete the assignment.   They know they are required to use complete sentences and proper punctuation.

Our next book will be Trouble River by Betsy Byars. We will read this together in class but they will be required to answer more of the questions on their own.

BOOK PROJECT for the FIRST QUARTER

Our first book report will be to read a fiction chapter book at their grade level and then complete a “BOOK JACKET’” book project attached to your newsletter. Your child will need to complete the book they selected before starting the actual book jacket.  Try to have the book read within 2 weeks, so you will have plenty of time to complete the book jacket.  Please take notice of the grading rubric expectations located on the back of the project directions.  Students will be marked down one full grade for reports turned in late.

BOOK JACKET fiction book report projects are due THURSDAY, October 3.

SOCIAL STUDIES

We have  begun our study of California’s history by looking at its geography.  We have studied California’s different regions; Coastal, Central Valley, Mountain and Desert regions.  We are also learning how to use lines of latitude and longitude to find an exact location on a map. As an art and History project, each student will be making a California relief map next month to tie into our study of California.

CALIFORNIA RELIEF MAPS (Parent Help Needed)

We will need parent helpers to help the students make dough maps of California on Thursday, October 3rd from 1:15-2:45 p.m. (approximately).  We will mix dough for the map, which we will then form into a relief map of California. We will allow them to dry and then paint them later.  Your help is needed distributing materials, mixing dough and then forming the dough into the shape of our state.  If you would like to help, please send me an e-mail. I will have sign-ups at parent conferences for some of the items needed. (Flour, salt, etc…) Thanks!

Each student will need to bring in a heavy 12X18 piece of cardboard.  The maps are heavy and require a strong, unfolded piece of cardboard.  Please measure because the map does take up that much space.

 MATH

We are preparing for a test on Chapter 1 (Place value and working with money) later this week.  Be sure to look at the practice chapter test that your student has been working on this week.  We are working with numbers up to the hundred million’s place.

BIBLE VERSE LIST

Week of Sept. 3-6

Character Trait:     Self-Control

Reference:     Proverbs 16:32

Bible Verse:     Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.”

Week of Sept. 9-13

Character Trait:      Honesty

Reference:      Ephesians 4:25

Bible Verse:        “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are                 all members of one body.”

Week of Sept. 16-20

Character Trait:       Fairness

Reference:         Luke 6:31

Bible Verse:         “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Week of Sept. 23-27

Character Trait:  Forgiveness

Reference:         Colossians 3:13

Bible Verse:         “Bear with each other and forgive whatever  grievances you may have against one another.             Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

SPELLING LIST

Week 4- Sept. 3-6

Pattern Words-Long e
1.  idea
2.  niece
3.  belief
4.  either
5.  secret
6.  money
7.  reason
8.  receive
9.  chimney
10. breathe
11.  enemies
12.  beaches
13.  seasonal
14.  keyboard
High-Frequency Words
15.  southern
16.  northern
Vocabulary Words
17.  decode
18.  dehydrate
19.  preseason
20.  prearrange
Challenge Words
1.  commandment
2.  tributary
3.  San Joaquin
4.  Sacramento
5.  agricultural

Week 5-Sept. 9-13

Pattern Words-

Short i
1.  living
2.  stitch
3.  picnic
4.  pillow
5.  skillful
6.  biscuit
7.  comics
8.  picture
9.  sincere
10.  difficult
11. hospitals
12.  fifteenth
13.  sandwich
14. whichever
High-Frequency Words
15.  products
16.  mountains
Vocabulary Words
17.  immature
18.  impossible
19.  inland
20.  invisible
Challenge Words
1.  precipitation
2.  drought
3.  procedure
4.  predicate
5.  estimate

Week 6-Sept.16-20

Review Weeks 1-5

Multiple Choice Test  (**No Pretest this week)

Week 7-Sept. 23-27

Pattern Words-

Long i
1.  final
2.  violin
3.  deny
4.  quite
5.  quiet
6.  guide
7.  height
8.  supply
9.  politely
10.  highest
11.  pioneer
12.  realizes
13.  brightest
14.  microwave
High-Frequency Words
15.  answer
16  question
Vocabulary Words
17.  bivalves
18.  biannual
19.  triangle
20.  triathlon
Challenge Words
1.  prediction
2.  conservation
3.  resource
4.  comparison
5.  weirs