08/02/09

Dear Parents,                                                       

As we begin this year, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you several pieces of helpful information.

School Theme

Our school and classroom theme this year is “Stand Up!… Stand Out! – Do Hard Things!” Our theme verse is found in I Timothy 4: 12 – “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”  Throughout the year, we will be exploring the meaning of these phrases, looking for ways to be productive in serving our Lord, and striving to “Stand Up” and “Stand Out” for God in all that we do and say.  Please pray for us daily – both as individuals and as a class.

Gr. 4 Website

Upcoming events, spelling lists, Bible memory work, the classroom schedule, classroom procedures, and information about how to contact me can be found on the Gr. 4 website.  It can be accessed by following the “Teachers Websites” link found on the OKCS web page (www.oldskoinonia.com) or  directly at www3.telus.net/OKCSGrade4/Welcome.htm.

Student-Led Conferences

At the end of the first reporting period (November), we will be engaging in student-led conferences where your child will take you on a “guided tour” of his/her goals for and work completed throughout the term.  This will include sharing with you an individual portfolio he/she has organized throughout the term.  Opportunity will also be given for you to ask questions of your child or myself and/or to express any concerns you might have. More information will be sent home as the time for interviews approaches.

Communication Book

Each day your child will be completing and bringing home a “Communication Book”.  The purpose of this book is to provide a direct link between school and home. In it your child will be recording:

1)    homework assignments.

2)   test dates.     

3)   test results.    

4)   important reminders.   

5)   dates to remember.

It is also a convenient place for you to write all of your notes to me and for me to write notes to you.  (If your note is confidential in nature, please insert the note into an envelope, seal it, and staple it into your child’s Communication Book.)  Please read the communication booklet with your child each day, sign it, and return it with him/her the next day.

 Classroom Preview

An outline of the work we will be covering in Grade 4 during the next week will be sent home each Thursday.  Please read it over carefully as it will contain important information about tests, assignments, and upcoming events.  The first one will be sent home on Thursday of this week.  It can also be currently found on the Gr. 4 website.

Classroom Schedule

A copy of the Gr. 4 classroom schedule can be found on the Gr. 4 website.

Absenteeism

If your child is absent from school for any reason, please send a note in your child’s Communication Booklet upon his/her return explaining the reason. (I am required to document this information for school records.)  If you know in advance that your child will be absent or leaving early from school, please let me know via your child’s Communication Booklet.

Memory Work

Your child has in his/her backpack today a packet outlining all of the memory work for this school year.  (Please put this packet in a safe place as it is the only copy which will be sent home this year.) Though we make every effort to practice the assigned passage in class each day, memorization of the passage is ultimately the responsibility of your child. 

Memory work is due by the last school day of the month.  Memory work is considered acceptable if your child is able to recite the entire passage at one time with three helps or less.  Mistakes include omitting words/phrases, adding words/phrases, substituting words, and adding suffixes (i.e. “s”, “ed”, etc.) to the end of a word.

Please note:  If your child is absent on the last day of the month, he/she must recite the passage on the day of his/her return in order for it to be considered “on time”.

Student of the Week

Sometime throughout the school year, your child will be celebrated as the “Student of the Week”.  During this week your child will be recognized with a special certificate, be the keeper of our travelling class moose , be in charge of collecting/handing out assignments, and  have the privilege of sharing (approximately 5 minutes) something special in his/her life on the last day of that week. 

Please note:  If your child would like to bring a pet for his/her “share and care” time, please make arrangements with me ahead of time as some class periods/days work out better for these types of visits.

Snacks and Lunch

Students are given time after first recess in the morning (about 10:30) to eat a small snack.  Nutritious snacks are preferable to sweet ones at this time of the day.  At lunchtime, students are expected to eat the majority of the food in their lunch but are allowed to save a small snack for after school.  If you do not expect your child to eat all that you have sent in his/her lunch each day, please let me know via the Communication Book.

Birthday Celebrations

Birthdays are celebrated simply in Gr. 4 on the day of each student’s birthday (or the closest day in the case of a weekend or holiday).  Each child receives a small gift from me as well as being honoured with my operatic version of “Happy Birthday”.  Treats for the class are welcome – just let me know in advance that something special is coming.

Birthday Party Invitations

As we strive to become “people of grace” this year, one of our areas of focus will be on empathizing with others and showing respect for their feelings.  Therefore, if your child is not planning to invite the entire class or all of the individuals of the same gender to his/her birthday party, please find a way outside of school to discreetly invite those chosen.

Class Party

If you would like to plan a class party, please come and discuss this with me before sending out invitations. This will ensure that we avoid conflicting with other school events, student birthday parties, family getaways, etc.

Homework

Usually, homework should not take more than 30 minutes a night. In addition, time should be set aside daily for independent reading, studying spelling, and reviewing math facts.  Please encourage your child to do his/her best work when completing work at home.  All written work should be done in pencil.  Homework will not be accepted if written in pen, crayon, marker, etc. When completing work on notebook paper the heading should include your child’s name, the date, the subject, and the page number of the assignment. 

Please note:  If for some reason your child is unable to complete his/her homework on a particular night, please indicate this in his/her Communication Book and send the unfinished work back to school the next day.  Please be aware that it is important that your child keep caught up in all areas of the Gr. 4 curriculum.  Therefore, if your child does not complete and hand in his/her homework in a timely manner, steps will be taken to remedy the situation at school (missed recess, gym class, computer class, library period, etc.).

Reading Log

This year we will be travelling through space as we read.  Your child’s reading log outlines the number of pages needed to reach each planet and the reward which will be given upon his/her arrival.  Each planet (including Pluto) represents a month of reading.  For the first hundred pages, any type of book will be accepted.  After that, however, chapter books at your child’s reading level are required.  Pages read are cumulative and are added to the number of pages previously read.  Pages read at home should be recorded in the reading log and initialled by you.  Pages read at school will be recorded by your child at school and initialled by me.  

Your child’s reading log should be handed in on the Thursday of each week.  A minimum of 50 pages should have been read in that week’s time unless your child and I have made alternate arrangements.

Dress Code

Please familiarize yourself with the attached Dress Code as it is important for students to come to school in attire which appropriately covers ”those parts that we think are less honorable and unpresentable” (I Corinthians 12:23).  Please ensure that the chosen clothing will adequately cover your child during any activity in which he/she might engage throughout the school day (i.e. bending over, doing exercises in gym, lifting up his/her arms, recess activities, etc.)

Please note:  Swimsuits worn by girls for swimming classes later in the year must completely cover the midriff area.

Classroom Visits

Parents are always welcome to visit our classroom.  If you would like to come in and volunteer, please let me know in advance (Communication Book) so that I can have work ready for you.

Problems/Concerns

If at any time you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at school (556-4038) or at home (556-1816) before 9:00 p.m.  Our teamwork = your child’s success!

Sincerely in Christ,

 Miss Campbell