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Dear Parent(s),
Welcome to a new school year! I am happy to have your child in my class.
Children are truly special gifts from God.
We have a great deal to accomplish in fourth grade. Presently, we are
focusing on organization and neatness of written work. This includes
learning how to use the assignment notebook, coming prepared to school,
and being prepared for each class. I expect the children to always do their
best!
The students switch for one class per day. Reading, Math, English,
Religion, Science, Spelling, and Art are taught in homeroom. Mrs. Polli
teaches Social Studies.
By now, you are aware of the discipline policy for grade four, as well as
our reward system. A parent signature is required on Wednesday when
the white St. Edward envelope is sent home with corrected papers and
tests, as well as important school news.
Room 202 has computer class on Tuesday afternoon, for which they
need their computer folder. Music is on Tuesday and Thursday
mornings. Wednesday morning is when we visit the library. Please
make sure that their library books are in their school bags Tuesday
evening. Gym is on Thursday afternoons and Friday mornings. Please
make sure that your child comes prepared, and follows the gym
uniform policy. Our Spanish class has been scheduled for Wednesday
afternoons. I provide 15 minutes each day for silent reading. It is
VERY important that they are reading at home for at least 15 minutes
a day.
I want to express my thanks for all of your support! I will always strive to
fulfill the educational and spiritual needs of your child.
Here is a sampling of skills and procedures that will be covered and
followed in the various subjects this school year:
Reading: setting, classification, prefixes/suffixes, comparisons, multiple
meanings of words, sequencing, making inferences, main ideas, details,
cause/effects, fact/opinion, dictionary skills, word meaning and vocabulary.
A study guide is given out before each unit test. This study guide is to
be signed for the day of the unit test.
The children will be required to take and pass 5 Accelerated Reading
tests each trimester. (Please review the note that was sent home
regarding Accelerated Reading for more information). Failure to do
so will result in a check on their report card. The number of points is
not considered. Each test passed is rewarded with a book buck. If you
would like to take a look at the titles of the books that are on the
accelerated reading list, you can access the information via internet at
HYPERLINK "HTTP://WWW.STEDWARDSCHOOL.COM/
ACCELREAD.HTML" HTTP://WWW.STEDWARDSCHOOL.COM/
ACCELREAD.HTML .
Math: Place value, problem solving, graphing, multiplication using one
and also two digit numbers, long division, fractions and decimals. A pretest
is given before each chapter’s test as a source of review. This also
acts as a study guide, which needs to be signed for the day of the test.
A test is given after each chapter. Please practice addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division facts with your child.
Spelling: A new unit is covered each week. The new words are reviewed
on Monday. A pre-test is given, with the post-test on Friday. Each test is
based on the 20 basic and 5 review words. I then give 3 challenge words as
extra credit. The pages for the week’s unit must be completed for
Friday, which is corrected for a grade. A worksheet is also given on
Library day, due the next day.
English: Writing sentences, subjects and predicates, nouns, pronouns, verbs
(linking, action, and helping), adjectives, adverbs, writing friendly letters,
How to speeches, writing personal narratives, homophones, punctuation,
and speaking A pre-test is given before each unit’s test as a source of
review. This also acts as a study guide, which needs to be signed for
the day of the test. A test is given after each unit.
Science: Life Science: animals, adaptations, classifications, and
characteristics. Physical Science: properties of matter, states of matter.
Earth Science: Earth’s land resources- moving water, wind, ice, natural
resources, and conservation efforts. Weather and Climate: Earth’s
atmosphere, weather patterns, predictions, seasonal weather changes, and
climate. The Human Body: Organs, functions of the respiratory,
circulatory, and excretory systems, and health measures that prevent or fight
diseases. A test is given after each chapter. The students complete a study
guide after each chapter as a source of review for the test. The study guide
needs to be signed for the day of the test.
Social Studies: Map skills and the study of the United States by region.
The children will take frequent quizzes and a test at the end of each chapter.
Religion: The study of the Beatitudes and the Ten Commandments. A
variety of Advent and Lenten activities. A focus on Creed, Liturgy and
Sacraments, Christian Morality, and Prayer. Family Life
A test will be given after each chapter.
Service Hours: All students are required to complete two service hours per
trimester, totaling six for the year, as part of the Religion curriculum.
For more information see attached sheet.
Grading Policy: Please see the attached scale.
Absences: If your child is absent, please contact the office, alerting them of
how your child’s homework will be getting home, as well as the nature of
the absence. Upon your child’s return to school, please send a note
regarding the reason for the absence. The students will be allowed 2
days to make up the missing assignments. After the homework is
completed, it is their responsibility to turn it in on time.
Music Lessons/Orchestra/Chorus: If a child leaves for a music lesson or
orchestra, it is their responsibility to find out what they missed. Attending
a music lesson, orchestra, or chorus is not a valid reason for missing a
homework assignment. All homework and important things to remember
are written on the chalkboard each day for the students to copy into their
assignment notebooks.
Birthdays/ Holidays: The students are allowed to bring in treats for their
birthday as well as for the major holidays including: Halloween, Christmas,
Valentine’s Day, and Easter. Please be advised that we have 21 students in
Room 202. St. Edward is strongly recommending that students do not
bring in store bought items with excessive frosting on them. Please be
aware that a member of our class has a peanut allergy.
Snack: The students are allowed to bring a HEALTHY snack. The snacks
are eaten mid-morning, giving the students a boost between breakfast and
lunch. Please make sure that it is ready to eat and that the portions are of
snack size.
Mid-Trimester Reports: Progress reports are sent home in the middle of
each quarter in the Wednesday envelope. This report gives a letter grade
for each subject and a list of any missing assignments they may have. The
progress report requires a parent signature and needs to be returned to
school by the given due date. This report reflects the progress made for the
first half of each trimester and is not their final grade. This allows the
students to either maintain their grades or gives them a chance to improve
them.
I have many exciting things planned, and look forward to a wonderful
school year. If you should have any questions or concerns, please feel free
to contact me directly before or after school, leaving a message in the
school office, writing a note and sending it with your child, or via e-mail at
HYPERLINK "mailto:kmchun@aol.com" kmchun@aol.com at any
time.
Thank you for your help and continuous support.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Chun
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