Back To
School
Night
2017-2018
Teachers:
Miss Kristen Besspiata
Mrs. Valerie Jaques
Miss Morgan Reech
Fourth Grade
Information and Procedures 2017-2018
Conduct
As we firmly believe that success depends on self-discipline, we have developed a classroom plan that gives every student the opportunity to manage his or her own behavior. Each week, your child will receive a new conduct sheet that he/she will staple in a planner. There are two sections on this sheet. The top section is used to record inappropriate behavior, and the bottom section deals with responsibility. Below each of these sections, you will find a list of rules. Whenever a rule is broken, we will initial the sheet and put the number of the rule that has been broken. You will be able to easily monitor your child’s behavior by checking these sheets daily. Please remember to sign the conduct sheet every Friday afternoon. Students who have no more than one sign will be able to participate in a “Fun Friday” activity.
Planners
The students have been given planners that they are required to keep with them at all times. They will be responsible for copying all homework assignments in each class, as well as the weekly test schedule. It is very important that you sign your child’s planner nightly. It is our “mailbox” to you and from you. Often, we will write you notes in the planner that need to reach you on a timely basis. Also, if you have a question or concern, please write the note in the planner, as we will be checking these every morning in homeroom. If your child does not have his/her planner signed daily, it will result in a mark on the responsibility side of the conduct sheet.
Take Home Folders
Take home folders will come home nightly with the planners. Your child will place all school correspondence in this folder. Please check and empty this folder daily.
Homework
Homework is given to reinforce concepts taught in school. It will also serve to develop responsibility in the children when it is done with little parental involvement. If a student does not complete a homework assignment, the responsibility section of the conduct sheet will be signed. Please check that your child completes his/her homework nightly. Sometimes points will be given for completed homework, and a late assignment will receive only partial credit. Homework in fourth grade should take approximately one hour.
Test Papers
Test papers from all three teachers will be sent home on Thursday in a yellow test folder. Please initial the slip at the top of each stapled packet, and return the folder and all papers by Monday. If you would like to keep the tests longer, please send a note. Otherwise, the responsibility side of the conduct sheet will be signed for each day it is late.
Student of the Week
Each week, one student will be selected as the Student of the Week. The “Student of the Week” will receive an “All About Me” poster from their teacher to complete at home. The poster will be brought to school on the Monday your child is assigned “Student of the Week.”
Birthdays
To celebrate your child’s birthday, you may send a treat to school. Please have enough treats for your child’s homeroom class. If a cake is sent, please make sure that it is cut into pieces beforehand. The treats will be passed out to your child’s homeroom class following lunch.
To celebrate your child’s birthday, you may send a treat to school. Please have enough treats for your child’s homeroom class. If a cake is sent, please make sure that it is cut into pieces beforehand. The treats will be passed out to your child’s homeroom class following lunch.
Classroom News and Happenings
Each homeroom has a class blog where you will find updated news from all three teachers. This includes a test schedule and important information about classroom happenings. It is very important that you check it weekly, as this is our main source of communication with you. You will be notified via email each time the blog has been updated.
Dietary Concerns
There are many times the students are given treats. If your child has any special dietary restrictions, please send us a supply of acceptable treats that we will keep stored for these occasions. Also, when sending treats for the students, please remember that we are a “tree-nut” free campus. Some boys and girls have severe allergies; therefore, our school policy does not allow us to distribute anything containing nuts.
There are many times the students are given treats. If your child has any special dietary restrictions, please send us a supply of acceptable treats that we will keep stored for these occasions. Also, when sending treats for the students, please remember that we are a “tree-nut” free campus. Some boys and girls have severe allergies; therefore, our school policy does not allow us to distribute anything containing nuts.
CURRICULUM
Bible – Students will be memorizing a weekly Scripture verse and completing related activities. They will also participate in weekly school-wide chapel services and lead a service during the school year. In addition, the students will be living out the teachings of the Bible by serving others during the school year. For example, four times last year the fourth graders held events for the residents of The Haven, a nearby assisted living facility. If you know of any other opportunities for our students to minister to others in our community, please let us know.
Reading – This year, we will be reading stories from two different reading series – the Journeys online textbook and the Storytown readers. They provide a variety of classic and contemporary works, including realistic fiction, historical fiction, folktales, informational nonfiction, biographies, autobiographies, plays, and poems. We will also be reading several novels during the year to supplement this program. In addition, the students will expand their vocabulary with our Wordly Wise program that provides systematic vocabulary development.
Spelling – As part of our total language instruction this year, we are using a systematic, explicit phonics program called Johnny Can Spell. Twenty-one words will be introduced each Friday using the “Think to Spell” method. Throughout the week, homework assignments will be given based on this list of words. Students will be given a practice test on Wednesday. If a student scores a 100 A+, he/she will not have to take the test on Thursday.
Language Arts/Writing – The Shurley Grammar program we use in fourth grade is dedicated to creating effective communicators. Through a careful balance of grammar and writing, the students will master the skills they need to write effectively while learning the rules and mechanics of the English language. The boys and girls will explore many different types of writing such as personal narratives, realistic short stories, descriptive essays, poetry, persuasive essays, how-to essays, letter writing, and informational research reports.
Social Studies – We are excited to provide a new global awareness curriculum in our fourth grade social studies program. In the first semester, the students will be studying countries and cultures of the western hemisphere with a special emphasis on Brazil. In the second semester, we will use the Harcourt textbook, States and Regions. Our curriculum will explore the geographic regions of the United States.
Math – The Harcourt Math Book is the primary text. This textbook covers the skills necessary to prepare the students for middle school math. While it provides opportunities for word problems, games, and hands-on activities, it will be supplemented with various projects, computer resources, and resources from other mathematical curriculums throughout the year.
Science – Fourth graders experience a wide-ranging scientific journey as they explore various topics of life, physical, earth/environmental, and engineering sciences. Our school-wide initiative is to incorporate inquiry-based science investigations. This is accomplished with many available resources including the curriculums Discovery Techbook online and Select Science.
Fourth Grade Dates
2017-2018
FIELD TRIPS/SERVICE PROJECTS/ACTIVITIES - These Dates are TENTATIVE!
Tentative Dates Event
August 23 Chapel Skit for Jaques Homeroom
August 29 Back to School Night
August 30 Chapel Skit for Besspiata Homeroom
September 13 Chapel Skit for Reech Homeroom
September 27-29 Landform project due
October 13-16 Long Fall Weekend
October 16-18 Parent/Teacher Conferences - (12:30 Dismissal
Tues. and Wed.)
October 21 Dunham Carnival
October 24 Ocean Commotion
October 27 Fall Harvest Party
November 16 Thanksgiving craft @ The Haven
December 7-8 Reading projects due
December 18 or 19 The Haven Residents Visit for Christmas Program Rehearsal
December 20 Christmas Program
January 18 Governor’s Mansion/State Capitol
February 2 Valentine’s Day @ The Haven
February 8 Valentine’s Day exchange at 2:15
February 9 Grandparents’ Chapel
March 2 Read Across America
March 14 Pi Day
March 14-15 Science Fair projects due
March 16 Science Fair
March 21-23 Parent/Teacher/Student Conference - 12:30
Dismissal
March 27 Bonnets, Bowties, and Bingo Brunch @The Haven
March 29 Easter party at 2:15
May 7-8 State Projects due
May 9 “Presidents Alive” Program
May 11 Field Day
May 14 New Orleans - Audubon Zoo Field Trip
May 22 Moving Up Ceremony
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