Weather permitting, we will be going to the Maine State Museum in Augusta on Tues. Dec. 9.  Your child will need a snack for the bus trip, a picnic lunch, and something to bring along for the long ride. (electronic devices are not permitted though).  Money for the Museum Gift Shop is optional. We will reschedule if the weather is not safe for driving.

The Mystery Box book report project is due no later than Monday Dec. 15.  It may be brought to school as soon as it is completed.  Please remind your child to put their best effort into this project and not to wait until the last minute!

The next book report will be an author study.  Your child will be assigned an author and asked to read many of his/her books.  The research of the author's life and the preparation for the presentations will be completed in the classroom as well as the library and computer lab.

Report cards just went home.  Blank spaces mean that we have not yet covered that standard  but will within the next two terms. Please sign and return just the envelope to me.  Thanks!

The last day of school before vacation will be Tues. Dec. 23.  We will be having a class party that afternoon.  Refreshments but no gift exchange.Your child can bring in a favorite board game to play that day.

If any parent would like to be a Mystery Guest Reader, please let me know and we can make arrangements.  This is a great time of year to read and share some favorite stories.

Just a reminder that if there is snow on the ground, the children need boots for recess; snowpants to actually play in the snow!

Hope you are enjoying this holiday season!

Brenda Case

Thank you once again for all your support on projects, daily homework, and offering your time and help for our Holiday Fair. Your child recently brought home a notice requesting an item to be put in a Sports basket to be raffled at the Fair.  Thanks in advance for whatever you can provide.

Please be looking for a project description for this month's book report.  Your signature is needed. Some of the written work will be done this week during class but the remainder of this project will be completed at home. It will be due Dec. 15 or sooner if completed.  

We are beginning a new Social Studies unit on the State of Maine this week and finishing our science unit on the Watery Earth.   We will soon complete Unit 4 in Math but times tables practice is always a daily assignment!

My best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving vacation!

We are looking forward to our visit to the Water District this Thursday.  It should be very informative!

I'm requesting your help again!  Our Holiday Fair is a major fundraiser for our school.  I need to staff parent volunteers that day (Dec. 4) to help serve chowder from 10 to 2 and also to work on the baked goods table from 9 to 5.  The shifts can be one hour to whatever time you can give.

Please let me know if you will be able to volunteer your time that day!

A huge thanks!

Brenda Case

Ellis Island Day is Friday!  Please have your child come in costume dressed as an immigrant with a small piece of luggage or sack carrying 3 items that they would take with them if beginning their voyage to America.  Any food samples to share with the class is optional.  They may bring a change of clothes with them if they want to change outfits for the afternoon. A notice went home this past week with all these details.  You are also invited to watch our parade of immigrants in the gym at 8:45AM. Some of our immigrants will be interviewed!

Thanks for all your support!  This is a fun project!

Thank you, Parents, for your support in helping your child choose a country and an immigrant name for our immigration project.  We have begun researching our countries and writing letters about our voyage to Ellis Island.  As a heads up, Ellis Island Day will be the morning of Friday Oct. 31.  Your child will need to be dressed as an immigrant from their chosen country that day.  More info will be coming home soon about this.  If you are available to help us in our country research Monday morning, Oct 20 from 9 to 10 AM, please let me know.

Your child should be reading their historical fiction book.  Their project to present a poster about their book will be due Nov. 7.  We have started the posters in school but will finish them at home. Thank you for your quick parent signature on the project description paper.

We have begun a new math unit that will focus on multiplication.  Nightly practice of times tables will be part of your child's daily homework.   I asked the children to just focus on the ones they don't know well and keep the task small each night. 

Thanks for your help!

We finished Unit 1 (Geometry) in Everyday Math and now will begin Unit 2.  A Family Math Letter will come home this week explaining the contents of this unit.

We had our first vocabulary quiz in Science.  Everyone did a fantastic job!  We are certainly preparing for our trip to the Wells Reserve on Oct. 2.  Look for a parent info letter/permission form coming home later this week.  Every student must have signed permission to attend a field trip.

Your child should be preparing for our Book Chat on Wed. Oct 1.  They are encouraged to use notes to chat with the class about their book.  Title, author, main characters, brief summary, and opinion should be included.  During October, we will be reading Historical Fiction books!

Enjoy these beautiful Fall days!

Brenda Case

What a terrific start to 4th grade!  We have been so busy reading, writing paragraphs, learning about geometry, using our mapping skills, and investigating our new science program!

I've been able to reach most of you by phone and have enjoyed our conversations.  I'm looking forward to meeting all of you at our Parent Open House Night next Monday, Sept 15 at 6:30 PM.

Always call me at 985-1105 or e-mail me at bcase@msad.net if you ever have any concerns or questions.

See you next week!