SJA-EClass-G4

Tree Dedication and Cultural Arts Fair!

2010-05-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, the fourth graders will dedicate a tree in memory of Ken Graves, Lauren Graves dad. Please join us at 9:15 on the school playground.

Wednesday, May 19th will be our annual Cultural Arts Celebration. All students are expected to be there by 6:15. The program will begin at 6:30.

Students continue to work hard on their poetry books. They will be finished by the end of the year. I hope you take the time to read through their books. They are inspirational and very poetic.

Students will finish their novels this week. They have been discussing their novels in discussion groups. Students will watch both movies after they have taken their quizzes.

Students will have their final science test on Wednesday, May 19 on weather. Students will have their final math test on Thursday, May 20. Review sheets will be sent home in advance.

Students are reading about and discussing the Beatitudes in religion. Originally, students were going to have a quiz, but I have decided to cancel the quiz.

On Wednesday, May 26, the fourth graders will be going to Pin Heads for an end of the year party to celebrate all their accomplishments this year. We will leave around 10:30 and be back by dismissal. Thank you to those parents who have volunteered to chaperon.

The last day of school will be Friday, May 28th. Students will dismiss at 1:00. Report Cards will be given at this time.

Please continue to encourage your child to do his/her very best these last few weeks!

Ken Graves Memorial Service!

2010-05-12T12:04:00.001-07:00

On Thursday, May 20th, the fourth grade class will have a tree dedication for Ken Graves at 9:25 on the school playground. A tree will be planted in his memory and we will have a little memorial service. All are welcome to attend.

Students will have their final social studies Test on Friday, May 14. Students were given a review sheet. Students will complete a project next week.

Students will have their final science test on Wednesday, May 19. Students were given a review sheet!

In math, students continue to study measurement. Students have been measuring line segments to the nearest inch, ½ inch, ¼ inch, and 1/8 of an inch. Students have been converting customary units of length, capacity, and weight. Students will begin measuring to the nearest millimeter and convert units in the metric system. Student will have a test on measurement on Thursday, May 20.

Students are reading their last novels independently and discussing questions in discussion groups. It is great to hear how much they are enjoying their books. Several students are reading Bridge to Terabithia and some are reading Pictures of Hollis Woods. Students will watch both movies next week.

In religion, we began studying the Beatitudes. Students will have a quiz on Thursday, May 20. They will have to match the beginning of each Beatitude with its ending.

In English, we continue to study punctuation. We will begin discussing where commas are placed in sentences.

Thank you again for all my wonderful notes and gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week. I felt truly honored.

Please continue to encourage your child to work hard these last couple of weeks. Thank you for your cooperation!

News!

2010-05-05T07:02:00.001-07:00

We have a very busy month. I will keep you updated each week on upcoming events and tests! Many thanks to the FSF for giving us teachers an afternoon off to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. We are truly grateful for this gift of time.

Tomorrow, a parent survey will be coming home in your child’s Thursday Folder. Please take 5 minutes and fill it out, so we can plan for next year! You input is greatly appreciated. Please return surveys by Thursday May 13^th.

Final Tests for the Year!!!!!!!!

Spelling test, Thursday May 6 on homophones
Social Studies test, Friday May 14 on Chapter 6
Science test, Wednesday May 19 on weather
Math test, Thursday May 20 on measurement.

On Friday, May 7 the third through eight grades will be attending an Indiana Fever Game to celebrate all their successes this year. We will leave around 8:45 and return at dismissal. Students may wear jeans with Spirit Wear attire or they may wear their uniform. They do not need to bring a lunch! Lunch will be provided. Students may bring money if they would like to buy concession stand items.

On Wednesday, May 12 students will be working outside to help make our playground beautiful. Students may wear play clothes on this day!

On Sunday, May 16, students are being asked to attend the 10:30 mass to collect Walk-A-Thon donations. This is optional! Please continue collecting money for Walk-A-Thon. The annual Walk-A-Thon will be Friday, May 21^st. If you would like to help that day, please let FSF know as soon as possible.

On Wednesday, May 19 is our Cultural Arts Celebration starting at 6:30 in the gymnasium. This is mandatory and students need to meet in their classrooms by 6:15. I hope all of you can join us.

Friday, May 28 will be the last day of school. We will have a 1:00 dismissal.

Enjoy the beautiful weather.

April 28 News!

2010-04-28T07:16:00.001-07:00

Progress Reports will be going home today! Please sign and return as soon as possible.
We have one more day of ISTEP! Students will be finished tomorrow morning! Thank you for making sure your child is getting adequate sleep and eating a healthy breakfast. It makes a huge difference.
On Friday, April 30, we will have a 1:00 dismissal! There will be no NYO. Please make arrangements to pick up your child!
On Friday, May 7, the 3rd-8th grades will be attending an Indiana Fever Game. This event is to celebrate the end of ISTEP and to congratulate all of our students on their successes. We are so proud of them!
During the month of May, students will have the option to read Bridge to Terabithia or Pictures of Hollis Woods. They will read the books independently, answer questions, and discuss these questions in their groups. I will allow students to take an AR quiz on the book because they are reading them independently.
We will begin our unit on measurement on Monday. Students will be able to measure to the nearest ½, ¼, and 1/8 of an inch by the end of our unit. They will also be able to convert units of measurement. This will most likely be our last math unit for the year!
In social studies, students are learning how Hoosiers helped in World War I and World War II.
In English, we will begin our unit on end punctuation. Students will discuss where to place commas, periods, exclamation points, etc. in phrases and sentences. This unit will take us to the end of the year!
In religion, we continue to study in depth the Seventh, Eighth, and Tenth Commandment.
Students will complete one more review unit in vocabulary! For the remainder of the year, students will have spelling tests on Friday! A list of words will come home each Monday!
I hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend!

News!

2010-04-20T08:18:00.000-07:00

For Earth Day on Thursday, the students and I will plant green peppers in the community garden. We started growing the plants in the classroom and will transfer them to the garden on Thursday!

ISTEP testing will begin next Tuesday. Please make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast and gets plenty of rest. There will be no homework or tests next week! We will spend the rest of the week reviewing past concepts in math and language arts.

Congrats to all the students who participated in the Math Pentathlon Tournament on Saturday! I was proud of each and every one who came. Students received extra credit in the class of their choice.

On Friday, April 30, there will be a 1:00 dismissal for professional development. NYO will be open!

Enjoy the beautiful weather!

News for the week of April 12-16th.

2010-04-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

The spring ISTEP tests will the last week in April. Students in the fourth grade will be tested in math, science, and language arts. Please make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast and gets plenty of rest. Students will be testing in the morning! Please make sure your child arrives to school on time and please do not schedule any appointments for that week! I appreciate your cooperation.

Congratulations to all the students who earned Honor Roll Certificates. The students worked extremely hard during the third quarter. Please encourage your child to work just as hard these last couple weeks of school.

The annual Math Pentathlon tournament will be held at Ben Davis High School on Saturday, April 17, 2010. A letter with a few reminders will be sent home in Thursday folders for students who are registered to attend.

Students have been writing letters to their pen pals in Kenya. Students will meet their pen pals’ teacher on Friday, April 23, when she comes to St. Joan of Arc to talk to the fourth and fifth graders. Everyone is excited to meet her.

Students are reading Maniac Magee. Students will finish the novel by the end of April. For May, I will allow students to choose between two novels for their final book of the year. Their choices will be Pictures of Hollis Woods or Bridge to Terabithia. Students will be split into two reading groups based on the novel chosen. Students will read the novel together and complete activities for the novel. At the end of the year, the students will watch both movies.

Upcoming Tests:
• Chapter 5 Social Studies Test, Friday, April 16
• Math Test, Friday, April 16
Reminders:
• Sign and return Thursday folders
• Sign planner on a nightly basis

Enjoy the beautiful weather!

Fourth Graders are Awesome!

2010-04-07T06:30:00.001-07:00

I am so impressed with all the wonderful comments I get from specials’ teachers and substitutes in the building. They are always commenting on how well behaved the fourth grade students are in class. They are awesome.

Today we had some special visitors in the building from Teachscape. They observed in the classrooms and gave us some advice on how to help build your child’s problem solving skills! I appreciated the input!

On April 21, the fourth and fifth graders will be going to the Children’s Museum. We will leave around 11:00 a.m. and return by 2:00 p.m. I need two volunteers. Please email me and let me know if you would like to go with us. On May 7, the third through eighth grade students will be attending an Indiana Fever basketball game. I will let you know as soon as possible if I need any volunteers for this day!

The Unit 16 Vocabulary test will be on Friday, April 9. This will be last vocabulary test of the year! Students will complete a review unit and a cumulative review unit.

Students continue to study elapsed time, line plots, bar graphs, and pictographs. Next week, students will learn how to construct each graph. Students will have a math test on Friday, April 16.

On Friday, April 16, students will have a Chapter 5 social studies test. Students will complete a review sheet in class on Monday and play a review game on Tuesday.

In English, students are studying parts of a sentence. Students should be able to identify the complete subject and complete predicate in a sentence.

This week in writing, students wrote couplets. Have your child explain to you what makes a couplet a couplet. At the end of the year, students will bring home a Poetry book and a folder of all their writing from the year! I am sure you will enjoy reading them as much as I did.

Middle School students are having a spring flower sale. Please support their efforts by ordering lots of flowers.

Pretzel order forms are due tomorrow.

Have a terrific week!

What are we doing in the classroom?

2010-03-30T11:27:00.000-07:00

In math, we are reviewing time and learning how to find the elapsed time. Please work with your child at home with telling time. Ask them to tell you the time. After they answer, ask, “What time will it be in 37 minutes?” Elapsed time is tricky for most students. The more they practice the better they will become. We will begin exploring different types of graphs next week.

In English, we will begin to study simple subjects and predicates, and complete subjects and predicates.

We continue with the novel, Maniac Magee. Students will make predictions and complete reading comprehension exercises.

Each week, we focus on a type of poem. Students have written an Acrostic poem and three Haikus. This week we are working on Free Verse Poems. Each student will have a poetry book to take home at the end of the year.

In social studies, we continue to study the life of Indiana after the Civil War. The chapter test will be next Friday, April 9.

The Math Pentathlon Tournament is quickly approaching. If your child is going and you would like to help the day of the tournament, please let me know. We need judges for the games. You simply sit and watch two children play a game. I will send home a game with your child, so you can play with them to become more familiar. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

WELCOME BACK FROM SPRING BREAK!

2010-03-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

On Thursday we will celebrate Holy Thursday by having our annual Last Supper meal. Friday is Good Friday. Please join us at 9:00 in the church for the Living Way of The Cross presented by the sixth grade class. We will have a 1:00 dismissal. There will be no NYO. Please make arrangements to pick up your child at 1:00. We will be in school on Monday, April 5, 2010. I wish you and your family a blessed Easter.

Ms. Klee and I were extremely impressed with your child’s Dinosaur projects. The projects were fantastic. Thank you for your constant support in your child’s education. Your child is so successful because of you!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T06:28:00.001-07:00

Green is everywhere! Happy St. Patrick's Day! The students enjoyed learning about the history of St. Patrick's Day today in class!

Please join us on Friday, March 19, at 2:45 for the praying of the Stations of the Cross! We will be in the gymnasium.

Spring Break begins on Friday, March 19, at 3:15. School will resume on Monday, March 29, 2010. I wish you and your family a restful relaxing Spring Break!

UPCOMING TESTS
• Friday, March 19, 2010 Unit 14 Vocabulary Test
• Friday, March 19, 2010 Adjective Quiz

Yearbooks are being ordered. Please send in your order forms with a $15 check made payable to Lifetouch if you would like your child to have a yearbook!

News! 3/10/10

2010-03-10T06:13:00.001-08:00

On Monday, Father Guy will hold a penance service for our students at 9:00 in the church. Students will be able to receive Reconciliation at that time. Students continue to work on their Stations of The Cross Powerpoints. I can’t wait to see them.

There will be no FSF lunch provided to the fourth graders on St. Patrick’s Day. Students need to bring a sack lunch or participate in the Deli program here at school. Sorry for all the confusion.

This year the fourth graders will not be marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade. The school has chosen to take the 3rd-8th grades on a special field trip in May. More details to follow.

Students are working very hard on their Dinosaur Research Project. They will have time in class to work on this, but they may need to work on it at home. Please look over the material. Their project will be due Monday, March 29.

Students will begin reading, Maniac Magee tomorrow. Yesterday in class, students made predictions about what the novel may be about. They seem very enthusiastic about this novel.

In math, students continue working on rounding decimals. Students will begin to add and subtract decimals for the rest of the week. Students will have a decimal test on Wednesday, March 17. Students will complete a review sheet on Monday in class.

Students began discussing and identifying descriptive adjectives. Students will have a quiz on adjectives, Friday, March 19.

The third quarter ends on Friday, March 19. Report cards will be sent home on Wednesday, March 31.

Spring Break will begin after school on Friday, March 19. School will resume on Monday. March 29.

Enjoy this warm weather!

News!

2010-03-03T06:48:00.001-08:00

The first round of ISTEP testing will be completed on Thursday! Thank you for making sure your child had a healthy breakfast and plenty of rest. This makes a huge difference. A BIG THANKS to Mrs. Bartone for providing healthy snacks for the students each day!

Please join us on Fridays at 2:45 in the gymnasium to pray the Stations of The Cross. Your child has been learning about the Stations of the Cross and will create their own PowerPoint presentations in class on Friday!

Several of our fourth grade students have been registered for the Math Pentathlon tournament on April 17 at Ben Davis High School. If your child has been registered you will receive a reminder with some tips closer to tournament.

We will pick up with decimals on Monday. Students will be rounding decimals to the nearest whole number and tenth. They will also learn how to add and subtract decimals.

We began our unit on Adjectives. Students have been learning about limiting adjectives and will learn about descriptive adjectives next week! Students will have a test on identifying adjectives when the unit is complete.

Students wrapped up the unit on The Underground Railroad by taking an open note test on Friday! Tests will come home in Thursday Folders. Students will begin discussing Indiana and the Civil War next week!

Students finished the novel, Watsons Go To Birmingham this week! Our next novel will be Maniac Magee.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

News!

2010-02-24T06:30:00.001-08:00

Every Friday, the fourth graders will read to the preschool from 10:30-11:00. Students are paired up with a preschooler and read 2 books. We began our book buddies last Friday. I am truly impressed by the fourth graders and preschoolers. This will continue to the end of the year!

Yesterday, Sister Mary Ann came and talked to the students about Kateri Tekakwitha. Kateri was beatified on June 22, 1980, by Pope John Paul II. Students learned about her journey to saint hood. We are so lucky to have Sister Mary Ann once a month.

ISTEP begins on Tuesday, March 2. Students are well prepared. Please make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast and gets plenty of sleep. There will be no homework next week, but I would like the students to continue reading on a nightly basis.

Students began a unit on decimals. The unit will continue for the next couple of weeks.

Students will complete the unit on the Underground Railroad Friday with an open note test. Students have all the notes they need. I hope to finish the novel, Watsons Go to Birmingham next week. The next novel will be Maniac Magee.

Unit 12 vocabulary test will be on Friday!

Please join us every Friday in the gym for the Stations of the Cross. We will begin at 2:50.

Progress Reports will be sent home this evening. Please sign and return as soon as possible.

News!

2010-02-17T09:01:00.001-08:00

Today we attended mass for Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday begins our 40 day journey of Lent. During this time, we remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

Students will have a math quiz on adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators on Friday! Students have been working on this concept for 2 weeks. They will begin decimals next week.

Students will have a unit 11 vocabulary test on Friday! Three times each will be due Friday!

The Underground Railroad Salt Water Map is due Friday! Students have been bringing in their projects and they are phenomenal.

ISTEP will begin on March 2^nd. Students in the fourth grade will be assessed in English, math, and science. Please make sure your child sleeps well and eats a healthy breakfast! Your cooperation with this is appreciated.

Please remember to look through the papers that come home in the Thursday folder. The papers are to stay at home. Several papers are being returned. Please sign and return on Friday!

Progress Reports will come home on Wednesday, February 24.

Have a great week!

Valentine's Day and News!

2010-02-10T06:59:00.001-08:00

Wow! Congratulations to all the students who were involved in the play “OZ.” I was totally blown away with the talent in our school.

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching. Students may bring in Valentine’s on Friday, February 12. Please make sure your child brings in a treat for all 26 students. Thank you!

There will be no school on Monday, February 15 in observance of President’s Day!

ISTEP begins in three weeks! The first part of ISTEP will be the writing and open ended response questions. Students will have to explain in complete sentences how they solved a math problem. The multiple choice assessment will be in April. Please make sure your child is getting plenty of rest, drinking lots of water, and eating a healthy breakfast. Students have been reviewing math and English standards in class while learning new material.

In math, we began adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. We will spend this week and next on this concept. Students will be assessed on adding and subtracting fractions on Friday, February 19. Our next unit will be decimals.

In social studies, students created power point presentations on leaders of the Underground Railroad. Students will share their presentations on Thursday and Friday. I was truly amazed at how well the students worked together to create such amazing slide shows. I can’t wait to hear their presentations. Next week, students will complete a Web quest on Levi Coffin and discuss primary and secondary sources. The Salt Map of Indiana is due on Friday, February 19.

We are reading The Watson’s Go to Birmingham. I love hearing the kids laugh out loud while reading. They seem to be enjoying the novel.

In English, students wrote about a favorite holiday. Their writing is improving daily. We will begin to discuss subject/verb agreement.

Lent begins next Wednesday! On this day, Ash Wednesday, we are reminded of our vulnerability and need for Redemption. This 40 day season of Lent prepares us for Easter. We will discuss Ash Wednesday and Lent over the next several weeks.

Although we have a short week next week, we will have a vocabulary unit!

Stay warm!

News!

2010-02-03T07:47:00.001-08:00

Catholic School’s Week has been a blast. Today, students watched the teachers play volleyball against the eighth graders. This afternoon we will have our annual Carnival. All money raised will benefit Tatum’s bags and an orphanage in Kenya! Tatum is a third grader in central Indiana who makes “fun” bags for children who are going through Chemo treatment at Riley and Payton Manning’s Children’s hospital. She has suffered through Chemo herself and was inspired to create these bags when someone gave her one. The students met with her last Friday.

On Friday, students will have a math test over Fraction Concepts. A review sheet will come home tomorrow!

There will be no vocabulary this week!

I hope to see all of you at “OZ” this weekend!

No school on Monday in celebration of the Colts going to the super bowl! A make up day will be announced soon!

GO COLTS!

Catholic School's Week!

2010-01-28T05:17:00.000-08:00

We have great activities planned for this year’s Catholic Schools Week. We are going to raise money for 2 different causes. One is local and one is in Kenya. We are going to have piggy banks for each teacher in the main hall starting on Sunday at the Open House. The class that has the most money in their bank will have a class party at Pin Heads Bowling Alley.

To have the fun of being out of uniform for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday the students must pay $1.00 on Monday, January, 26^th.

The Fun Wednesday Lunch Form and the Wrist Band Form will be going out on Thursday, January 28, 2010. Please let your students know that these forms need to be back in the office by Monday, February 1^st.

“Catholic Schools: Dividends for Life; Faith, Knowledge, Discipline and Morals”

St. Joan of Arc Trivia each morning during the Announcements

Monday:

PAJAMA DAY: Students may come dressed in their favorite pajamas.
Spell Bowl practice immediately following 4-8 lunch in the gym. Grades K-3 may join to watch.(1:00)
All School Rosary in the Gym at 2:15

Tuesday:

MIX-MATCH DAY: students may wear mix-matching clothing to school.
Bake Sale at lunch
1^st -8^th Grade Jeopardy in the Gym at 2:00

Wednesday:

Student Appreciation Day.

SPIRIT DAY: Students may wear jeans along with spirit clothing (red and white).

5^th Grade Mass at St. Lawerence
8^th grade vs. teachers Volleyball game at 9:45 in the Gym.
Special Lunch in the cafeteria. Pre-K through 3^rd Grade at 11:00-11:30 and 4^th Grade through 8^th Grade at 11:35-12:05
All School Carnival is going to be from 12:30-2:30. This year we will start the carnival with Pre-K- 1 coming in from 12:30-1:00(please have a parent set up your game and manage it until you are able to come. At that time, the parent can continue to manage it or you can take over) they will then be joined by the rest of the school at 1:00(Each teacher needs to have a game and their own prizes).

Thursday:

Catholic School Appreciation Day.

ST. JOAN OF ARC DAY: Students must be in school uniform.

All School Mass
Open House with tours running throughout the day.
North Deanery Spell Bowl at Chatard at 6:00pm
Have your students write a letter to their parents thanking them for sending them to St. Joan of Arc.

Friday:

Staff Appreciation Day.

COLTS BLUE DAY: Students may show their spirit for the Superbowl bound Colts by wearing blue.

Lunch will be provided for the teachers and staff between during your normal lunch time.
Teacher Trivia will be played throughout the day over the PA. Each class will have an answer sheet and the winning class will receive a class
Dress Rehearsal for “Oz” in the Gym at 1:30. Concessions will be available for purchase prior to the show.

All money raised will be split between Tatum’s Bags of Fun and an orphanage in Kenya.

News!

2010-01-27T06:31:00.000-08:00

St. Joan of Arc School has decided to make health kits for children over in Haiti. The fourth graders have been asked to donate toothbrushes. Please send in a toothbrush with your child by Tuesday, February 2.

Next week is Catholic School’s Week! This is a week full of fun activities that celebrate why students love going to a Catholic School. More information to come!

On Friday, I will be taking the fourth graders to the Fort Benjamin Harrison Home. The students will explore pioneer life and build a city. At the end of our session, the students will take a tour of the building. Thank you to Kelly Mosley for paying for the trip.

Students continue to study the concepts of fractions. Students will have a test on Friday, February 5 over equivalent fractions, comparing fractions, improper fractions, and mixed numbers.

Students will have a Chapter 4 social studies test on Thursday, January 28. Please study lessons 1 and 3 outlines and vocabulary.

Unit 10 vocabulary test will be Friday, January 29.

Students received pen pal letters back from students in Kenya. They wrote responses. The students are eager to hear back from their pen pals. We will continue to work on personal narratives.

A note from Ms. Klee:

Fourth grade will be having a test over Electricity and Magnetism (Chapter 16 of their book) on Friday. They received a study guide today, which is due Wednesday before class. We will review all the answers together, then play a review game. I will not see the 4th graders on Thursday, so if they have any questions, please encourage your child to ask me during school or after school on Thursday. I will be here until at least 3:45.

Most students brought their textbooks home. The study guide comes directly from their textbooks. However, the students have various sets of notes in their notebooks, worksheets, and mini-book on Electricity and Magnetism. Please refer to these references when trying to complete the study guide.

Thanks

News!

2010-01-20T05:48:00.000-08:00

On Friday, we had a wonderful birthday celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. The students participated in a peace march and heard Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream Speech.” Thank you to Mrs. Jamait and Mrs. Breen for putting together this celebration.

Next Friday, I will be taking the fourth graders to the Fort Benjamin Harrison Home. A permission slip will come home in tomorrow’s Thursday Folder. I do not need any volunteers. Students will have a Chapter 4 Social Studies test on Friday, January 29.

In Math, we continue our study of fractions. We are currently working on equivalent fractions.

The students are enjoying The Watsons Go to Birmingham. We will be reading this novel through the month of February.

Students wrote letters back to their pen pals this week. Our pen pals are from an orphanage in Kenya. The students were extremely impressed with their written language expression and have enjoyed learning about Kenya.

In English, we are continuing our study of verbs. We will begin discussing the present tense, past tense, and future tense of verbs.

Please sign and return Report Cards. Awards will be given at mass tomorrow, January 21.

News!

2010-01-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Aisha and Matthew for competing in the National Geographic Geography Bee. They were the representatives for the fourth grade and represented us well.

On Friday, we will celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King by having a big birthday party at 2:30 in the afternoon. The seventh and eight graders will put on a play about his wonderful life. What a great way to celebrate a magnificent man. There will be no school on Monday, January 18.

There will be a test on area, perimeter, and volume on Friday, January 15. Students should be bringing home a review sheet tonight. We will go over the review sheet in class tomorrow. Please make sure your child brings his/her review sheet back to school tomorrow.

There will be a Unit 9 vocabulary test on Friday, January 15. Please help your child prepare for this test by reviewing note cards that were made in class.

The second quarter will end on Friday, January 15. Report cards will be sent home on Wednesday, January 20. Please email me if you have any questions or concerns. Awards will be presented at mass on Thursday, January 21.

Please return all Spirit Wear forms to the office by Friday. The order will be place Friday morning.

We will continue to go outside if it is above 20 degrees. Please make sure your child brings hats, gloves, scarves, and winter coats.

On Friday, January 29, we will be taking a Field trip to the Fort Benjamin Harrison Home. I do not need any volunteers at this time.

Enjoy the warmer weather! GO COLTS!

Math Pentathlon and News!

2010-01-06T06:31:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow we will have a prayer service to pray for those who are sick. Students in all grades have written their special intentions on note cards and we will place them in front of the alter tomorrow. We invite you to attend. We will begin at 8:45 in the church.

On April 17, 2010 students have an opportunity to participate in a National Mathematics Pentathlon Tournament at Ben Davis High School. We have been preparing for this tournament each week by learning the five required games.

The tournament runs from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. I will register your child on line when I receive the permission slip. The permission slip with a brochure about Math Pentathlon will come home in tomorrow’s Thursday folder. This is a great opportunity for your child. Please consider allowing your child to participate if he/she wants to attend the tournament.

I invite any parents who are interested in learning the math pentathlon games to join us every other Friday from 8:30-9:30. We will have math pentathlon practice this Friday, January 8.

Scholastic book order forms will come home in tomorrow’s Thursday folder. They need to be returned by Friday, January 22.

In math, students are learning how to find the perimeter and area of shapes. Students have been working together in groups to complete certain tasks. We will study volume next week and students will have a test on Thursday, January 14.

There will be a spelling test on Friday. Please review with your child. We will pick up with Unit 9 vocabulary next week.

In social studies, we began our study of pioneers in Indiana. On January 29, I will be taking the students to the Fort Benjamin Harrison home where students will cooperatively work together to build a town in Indiana during the pioneer time.

We will begin our next novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham on Friday. We will listen to the novel on tape and read a loud. Over the next several weeks, students will be answering comprehension questions and doing activities related to the novel. Please know that there are a few curse words that I will change while I am reading. Students will not see the words. Thank you!

In English, we continue to study verbs. We will be concentrating on irregular verbs for the next couple weeks. We will finish our personal narrative by next week. We will begin preparing for the writing assessment part of ISTEP after we finish our narratives.

Again, Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-15T11:54:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents,

We will have our Christmas Program on Friday, December 18, at 8:45 in the church. All are welcome. Students may leave right after the program or they may stay until 1:00 p.m. Please make arrangements to pick up your child by 1:00.

Students watched The Nativity on Monday afternoon. It was a great movie to watch as we prepare for the birth of Jesus. Thank you to all who donated mittens and canned goods. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

Students will have a geometry test on Thursday. Students will need to know all of the helping verbs for Thursday. There will be no vocabulary test or spelling test this week.

Thank you so much for all of my Christmas presents. I will cherish each and every one. I wish you and your family and very Merry Christmas. I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year!

News from the 4th Grade!

2009-12-09T06:18:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much to Mr. Smythe and Mrs. Panyard for covering my class this afternoon. FSF gave the teachers the “gift of time” by giving us the afternoon off to do some Christmas shopping. This special gift was greatly appreciated.

Students will be very busy this week and next. Please encourage your child to stay focused and continue to do his/her very best on every assignment.

Students have been studying geometry in math. Students will have a test on geometry concepts, Thursday, December 17. When we return from Christmas Break we will begin area, perimeter, and volume. Please continue to study math facts over the break!

We will finish the novel, Because of Winn Dixie, on Thursday. We will discuss the figurative language in the novel including similes, metaphors, and idioms. Students will have a quiz over the novel on Thursday.

We began writing our personal narratives on a memorable story. This paper will be a three paragraph paper. It will take us several weeks to complete this assignment.

In English, students need to memorize the list of helping verbs that was sent home last week. They will have to have the entire list memorized by Friday, December 18. We will begin identifying verb phrases in sentences.

We wrapped up our study of Indiana becoming a state. Students will have a Chapter 3 test on Tuesday, December 15. A review sheet came home today!

Students will have a science test on the solar system this Friday!

There will be no vocabulary test on Friday. Students will have a spelling test this Friday on geometry words.

On Monday afternoon, students will watch The Nativity with the middle school.

On Friday, December 18 we will have our Christmas Program at Church beginning at 8:45. I hope to see all of you there. Students may leave after the program. If your child stays, we will have a 1:00 dismissal.

I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

Fourth Grade News!

2009-12-02T06:43:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, the students went to go see A Christmas Carol at the Indiana Repertory Theater. A BIG thanks to Mrs. Patterson, Mr. Hollis, and Mrs. Graves for assisting on the field trip. The students enjoyed the play and they were great!

Advent means “the coming” and refers to the four week preparation for the coming of Jesus on Christmas Day and anticipation of His coming again. Advent began on Sunday and continues until December 24^th. The students have created an advent wreath for the classroom. We will light a candle each week as we anticipate the coming of Jesus. We will also watch The Nativity with the 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th graders.

During the weeks of Advent, students will be collecting mittens and can goods for the needy. Students can drop the mittens and canned goods in the main hallway under the Christmas tree. The posts below explain in greater detail. Let’s all get involved and remember the true spirit of Christmas by giving to those in need.

Students have begun a three week unit on Geometry, the study of shapes. Today in class we did geometric stretching. Ask your child to show you how to stretch geometry style. Students will have a test over the concepts learned on Thursday, December 18.

We will finish Because of Winn Dixie next week. Students will have a written test on Friday December 11. We will wrap up the novel by watching the movie on December 17.

Students will begin a personal narrative on Thursday. Students will be asked to prewrite about a memorable experience.

We continue to study verbs in English. Please make sure you child is memorizing the helping verbs that were sent home. Students will be asked to recite the whole list on Friday, December 18 before we leave for Christmas Break. This will help students identify verb phrases in sentences.

We will have our fifth and final states quiz on Wednesday, December 9. Look for a reminder in the Thursday Folder. Students will have a Chapter 3 social studies test on Tuesday, December 15. Students will be given a review sheet next week.

Week 8 vocabulary unit will be on Friday. There will be no vocabulary unit next week. It is a review unit!

Please remind your child to wear a winter coat. We will continue to go outside for recess!

Please sign and return progress reports by Friday, December 4.

Santa’s Bookshop will be open tomorrow from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Can Food Drive for Holy Family Ministry!

2009-11-30T11:05:00.000-08:00

Students, teachers, and parents have been asked to collect can goods to the Holy Family Ministy here at St. Joan of Arc that provides physical, spiritual,and educational support for the SJOA parish and the surrounding community. Food will be distributed to families in need right here in our own neighboodhood and surrounding community. A container will be located at the front entrance of the school where food items can be dropped off daily. I would like all fourth graders to bring in a minumum of two cans.

Mitten Tree!

2009-11-30T10:22:00.000-08:00

Mittens will be collected and given to the Refugee Resettlement Ministry. This ministry is housed in the basement of the church. Mittens will be distributed to refugees that have resettled right here in the Indianpolis area. A Christmas tree will be located in the main hallway of the school. Please drop donated mittens in the baskets under the tree. The mittens need to be new. I would like all fourth graders to bring in one pair of mittens.

SPECIAL PERSON'S DAY!

2009-11-18T06:17:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, November 25 is Special Person’s Day at St. Joan of Arc. We invite each child to bring someone who is special in his/her life. We will join for mass at 8:45 and will have refreshments back at school. If you would like to donate juice or donuts, please let me know. All students may leave after mass. If your child stays, we will have a 1:00 dismissal. There will be no school on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 for Thanksgiving. I hope you and your family have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. I know I am truly grateful to teach at St. Joan of Arc with a wonderful staff, parents, and children.

We will have a division quiz on Tuesday, November 24. The quiz will be over estimating quotients, dividing quotients mentally, 2 digit by 1 digit division, and 3 digit by 1 digit division. We will have Math Pentathlon this Friday from 8:30-9:30.

We will have our weekly vocabulary test on Friday, November 20. There will be no vocabulary test next week.

We are editing our personal narratives and will begin writing I Am Thankful poems on Friday.

Students need to recite the Act of Contrition on Friday, November 20.

Students in the third, fourth, and fifth grade will go to the IRT to see the play A Christmas Carol on Tuesday, December 1. Please return all permission slips by Monday.

I sent home scholastic book order forms last week. Please return by Wednesday, November 25 if you or your child would like to order books.

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Happy Veteran's Day!

2009-11-11T08:44:00.000-08:00

I hope all of you are able to attend Family Math Night tonight. Dinner will begin at 5:30 and the math games will begin at 6:30. It is a great night to spend some time with your child/children.

Students were excited to write letters to veterans in honor of Veteran’s Day. Students continue to write a personal narrative on a funny event that happened in their lives.

This week in math, students began division. Students will discover how to divide mentally by multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000. Students will estimate quotients, divide two digit numbers by one digit numbers, and interpret remainders. Students need to continue to practice math facts. A quiz on division will be given on November 24.

In English, students began an intensive study of verbs. Students need to memorize the State of Being verbs by Friday, November 12. The State of Being verbs are: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been.

Students finished their Sacrament books today in religion class. They did a nice job! Students need to memorize the Act of Contrition by Friday, November 20.

We will have a Unit 6 vocabulary test on Friday. Students need to spell the word correctly, write the definition, and part of speech.

We will continue to read Because of Winn Dixie as a class. Students always answer comprehension questions or discuss questions in table groups.

We began Chapter 3 in social studies on Indiana becoming a state. Over the next several weeks, we will explain key documents in Indiana’s development from a United States territory to statehood.

Please remind your child of the importance of washing his/her hands frequently. Thank you!

Math Pentathlon!

2009-11-08T07:03:00.000-08:00

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Weekly News!

2009-11-04T06:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents,

It was so great meeting with all of you last week! I really appreciate your time and your dedication. Thank you for sharing your child with me. You can always email me or call me if you have any questions or concerns. Please return report cards!

Your child graduated from the G.R.E.A.T. program on Monday. They received a t-shirt and a diploma from Officer Gurnell. She was very complimentary of the students’ behavior and involvement.

Congratulations to all the students who made the honor roll for the first quarter. Students will receive their awards at mass on Thursday, November 5. Students will also be honored for perfect attendance. Please join us at mass on Thursday.

Students will have a vocabulary test on Unit 5, Friday, November 6. Please begin reviewing vocabulary words. Students will have a quiz on Indirect and Direct Objects, and Predicate Nominatives on Friday, November 5.

Students will have a math test on multiplication on Tuesday, November 10. They will complete a review sheet in class on Monday.

Please sign planners every night!

News for the week of October 19-23!

2009-10-21T09:54:00.000-07:00

Money Bus was a hit. Thank you to Mr. Panyard, Mrs. Graves, and Mrs. Collier for spending Friday with the class. I heard nothing but rave reviews about our students’ attitudes. They were very respectful and polite.

I can’t believe that the first quarter ends on Friday. I have enjoyed getting to know each child. I anticipate a great rest of the year.

I look forward to meeting with you and your student next week! Please be prompt. I have a tight conference schedule. I will be discussing your child’s first quarter progress and goals for second quarter. Conferences will be held in my room. If you have any questions, please call the school office or email. A reminder of the conference time and date will come home in your child’s Thursday Folder. There will be a 1:00 dismissal on Tuesday, October 27 and Wednesday, October 28. There will be no school on Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30 for Fall Break!

Students may bring in Halloween treats on Wednesday, October 28. There are 26 students in the fourth grade. Please make sure your child brings in a treat for all 26 students.

The students continue typing their scary stories. I hope to finish the stories by next week.

Math Pentathlon will begin on Friday! Every other Friday, students will learn and play five problem solving games. A Math Pentathlon Tournament will be held in April at Ben Davis High School for any 4^th/5^th grader who wants to participate.

We will continue to study multiplication! Students will learn how to solve 2 digit by 1 digit numbers mentally and with paper and pencil. Please continue to study math facts.

We began our novel, Because of Winn Dixie. Because of Winn Dixie is a story about friendship. The story begins when 10 year old, Opal, moves to Naomi, Florida. She has no friends, and is still grieving the loss of her mother, who left when she was three years old. Her father works constantly, and Opal is very lonely. When she stops thinking about herself and gives time, care, and attention to others, she finds happiness.

In English, students are identifying direct objects, indirect objects, and predicate nominatives. We will wrap up this unit next week.

In religion, students are creating a Sacrament book!

Please continue to place your dismissal number in your windshield when picking up your child. Thanks for your cooperation.

Have a great week!

2009-10-18T10:12:00.002-07:00

Money Bus!

2009-10-18T10:12:00.001-07:00

On Friday, students experienced the Money Bus! The Money Bus is a Financial Literacy Program that teaches the students how to handle their finances. We discussed needs vs. wants, how to write a check, how to deposit money into a checking and savings account, and the importance of donating money to charities.

Fantastic Fourth Grade News!

2009-10-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

Students enjoyed listening to Sister Mary Ann yesterday for Religion. She will meet with the students once a month on Tuesday to discuss the Saints. We are so lucky to have her! The fourth grade students have been asked to lead the entire school praying the Rosary. This will take place at the Rosary Garden on Tuesday,October 20.
Please join us on Tuesday Morning if you are available.

Upcoming Events:
• Science Test on Thursday, October 15.
• Spelling Test on Friday, October16
• Money Bus trip on Friday, October16
• Rosary Tuesday, October 20
• States Quiz #2 Wednesday, October 23
• Math Test on multiplication/division on Thursday, October 22.
• Social Studies Test on the early people of Indiana, October 28.
• 1:00 dismissal on Tuesday, October 27 and Wednesday, October 28
• Parent Conferences Monday, October 26, 27, and 28.
• Fall Break October 29 and 30.

Students continue writing scary stories for the month of October. I have enjoyed reading their papers. Students should complete the papers by Fall Break!

Please remember to sign your child’s planner on a nightly basis. Please remove all papers from your child’s Thursday Folder. Folder should be signed and returned Friday.

4th Graders in Cooperative Learning Groups!

2009-10-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

Students in the fourth grade are placed in cooperative learning groups to enhance problem solving. Here are students using manipulatives to better understand division.

4th Grade News!

2009-10-08T06:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

Please continue to sign your child’s planner on a nightly basis. When picking up your child at dismissal, please make sure you are placing your number in the window. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter. Thank you to all who have returned conference slips. If you have not returned your slip, please do as soon as possible. I will send home reminders as time gets closer. The first quarter will end on October 23.

On Friday, October 23, we will begin learning the games for Math Pentathlon. Math Pentathlon is a series of five games that enhance problem solving. Students will have the option to participate in a tournament at Ben Davis in April.

We continue to study multiplication and division in math! We will have our math test on Thursday, October 22. Keep practicing math facts!

We finished our novel Number the Stars. Students will take an AR quiz on Friday and will complete a group activity to finish the novel. We will begin our next novel, Because of Winn Dixie next week.

Students took their first states quiz on Wednesday! Overall, students did a nice job. The next states quiz will be Wednesday, October 21. Start studying now! We continue our study of the early people of Indiana. Our next Chapter test will be Wednesday, October 28.

This year, we have been asked to be Pen Pals with orphans in Kenya. We will write three letters to our friends and hopefully we will receive letters from them. The students wrote their first letters on Tuesday. Students are very excited about the opportunity to be friends with students from another country.

Vocabulary will return the first week in November. Students will be given a spelling list on Monday each week. Tests will be on Friday!

In English, we will continue to study the uses of nouns as Direct Objects, Indirect Objects, and Predicate Nominatives. Students will have a quiz on Common, Proper, Singular, Plural, Singular Possessive, and Plural Possessive nouns on Friday!

Have a great weekend!

Heartland Film Festival Ticket Raffle

2009-10-07T10:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

We wanted to inform you about a wonderful opportunity for 25 lucky 4th through 8th grade students. Heartland Truly Moving Pictures, Duke Energy, and B-Side Entertainment have donated tickets for our students and their parents to attend movies showcased at the Heartland Film Festival.

Fourteen students will be awarded vouchers that may be redeemed for general film screenings during the Festival at AMC Greenwood and AMC Castleton.

October 16th -- AMC Castleton ONLY
October 17th - 24th -- AMC Castleton and AMC Greenwood Park Mall.

Eight students will be awarded Opening Night Event Screening Tickets for Thursday, October 15th at the Murat Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The screening is at 7:30 p.m. and they film showing is Hachi, A Dog's Tale.

Finally, three students will be awarded tickets to the Family Movie Event on Sunday, October 18th at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center. The doors open at 1:00 p.m. and the screening begins at 2:00 p.m. The film is The Perfect Game.

This Friday, October 9th, during morning prayer, we will draw names of students in grades 4 through 8 who have met their quarter AR goal or who are within 5 points of reaching their AR goal AND have a 90% or above average on AR tests. This is a wonderful opportunity presented to us by Michael O'Brien and Grace Crowell to reward our good readers here at St. Joan of Arc. We thank them, as well as the ticket sponsors, for their generosity.

Thank you!

Mrs. Jeatran and Mrs. Funk, Middle School Language Arts Teachers

Fourth Grade News 9/30/09

2009-09-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

The first quarter will end on Friday, October 23, 2009. The following week I will hold parent conferences to review your child’s progress and set goals for the remainder of the year. Conferences will last approximately 15 minutes, and I ask that the student attend with the parent. Please look in your child’s Thursday folder for a date and time that was assigned to you. If you cannot make the assigned time or date, please let me know as soon as possible. I still need one parent volunteer for Money Bus on October 16. Please let me know if you can help.

Math-Students began a new chapter this week on multiplication and division. We will be discussing the meanings of multiplication and division and how the two are related. Please continue to practice math facts.

Reading-We have reached the climax in our novel, Number the Stars. We will finish the novel next week. Our next novel will be Because of Winn Dixie.

Social Studies- Students will have their first states quiz on Wednesday, October 7. A reminder will be sent home in the Thursday Folder. We continue studying the Early people of Indiana.

Writing-We began writing rough drafts on a scary story. We will continue to work on this story throughout the month of October.

Language Arts-We continue to study nouns. We will begin discussing how to make singular and plural nouns possessive. Students will have a quiz on common, proper, concrete, abstract, singular and plural possessives on Friday, October 9.

Vocabulary-Students will have a spelling test every Friday until the end of the quarter. Vocabulary will resume after Fall Break!

Religion-Students are studying how to look up passages in the bible and discussing Sacred Scripture.

Please sign and return Thursday Folders and Progress Reports!

Outside Adventures!

2009-09-29T19:13:00.000-07:00

Here are some fourth grade students enjoying a beautiful fall day!

INDIANA FEVER! DO YOU HAVE FEVER!

2009-09-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

IT’S OUR TIME NOW! IT’S OUR TIME NOW! IT’S OUR TIME NOW!

Today was Indiana Fever Day at SJOA. The mascot, Freddy Fever, made a special appearance. We celebrated by making Indiana Fever signs, having a pep rally and doing lots of cheers. We wish the Fever all the luck as they begin their journey to wining the national title. GO FEVER!!!!!!!!!

Students in the fourth and fifth grade will participate in a Math Pentathlon Competition in April. Math Pentathlon is a series of 5 games that increase problem solving. We will practice the games in class and those who want to go to the tournament in April will have an opportunity to compete against other students in Indiana and Ohio. I will need parent volunteers to help out with the tournament in April. If you are interested in volunteering or you simply want to learn more about the games, St. Joan of Arc is holding a training session this Saturday from 8:30-2:30. It is free to SJOA parents. Thank you in advance for supporting your child in this great experience.

Money Bus will be here on October 16^th. Thank you parents for volunteering to help!

Students will have a math test on adding and subtracting whole numbers and money on Wednesday, September 30. Students will be given a review sheet on Monday! Please continue to practice math facts on a nightly basis.

The G.R.E.A.T. program will begin Monday, September 28. Officer Gurnell will be here to teach kids about gangs and bullying. Please watch for letters to come home each week in the Thursday Folders.

Students will not have a vocabulary unit next week. Instead students will be given a list of 12 commonly misspelled words in the fourth grade. Students will be assessed over the spelling of these words on Friday.

REMINDERS:

Please return all progress reports!

September 30, will be a 1:00 dismissal! NYO will be open.

Return lunch forms ASAP!

Get Aboard the Money Bus!

2009-09-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

The Money Bus is coming October 16^th to St. Joan of Arc. Students in the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grades have been preparing for the arrival of the bus! This program helps students understand concepts related to personal finances and realize the value of money! Students will create a budget in class, earn money based on a job, save money, and spend money aboard the bus. I need volunteers to help on October 16^th. This is a great opportunity to earn service hours for the FSF. Thank you in advance for your help!

Progress Reports will be sent home on Wednesday, September 23. Please look over the report and email me if you have any questions or concerns.

Students will have a Ten Commandment quiz on Friday, September 18. Students will need to write all Ten Commandments in order on a separate sheet of paper.

Students will have a Unit 3 Vocabulary Test on Friday, September 18.

Please remember to sign your child’s planner every night. This is a great time to ask your child about his/her day and to make sure he/she has completed all assignments.

Looking Ahead

Progress Reports Wednesday, September 23
1:00 dismissal on Wednesday, September 30
Chapter 2 Math Test on Wednesday, September 30
States Quiz on October 7.
Money Bus October 16
End of 1^st quarter October 23

News 9/9/09

2009-09-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

If you are interested in working the French Market Children’s area, please email me at kditsch@sjoa and let me know. The French Market is Saturday. Please have your child continue to sell Raffle tickets. The money is due on Thursday, September 10. There will be no school on Friday, September 11.

In religion, the students are creating Ten Commandment books. Students will have to write all Ten Commandments on a sheet of paper next Friday, September 18. Students may use their books to review. We are preparing mass next week!

Tomorrow, students will be assessed over The Shape and Land of Indiana. Students will make Indiana cookies tomorrow afternoon to reinforce the three different regions in Indiana. Look for pictures on the blog of our cookie making experience. Next week we will focus on longitude and latitude, map scales, and directions.

In math, students will be adding and subtracting whole numbers and money amounts. Students will use rounding to estimate the sums and differences. Money Bus is back again this year and every Friday, we are doing lessons to help us prepare to get on the bus. The Money Bus will be here in mid October. Please continue to practice math facts at home on a nightly basis.

We wrapped up our unit on prepositions. We will begin nouns next week. Vocabulary will resume next week. We will be working on unit 3.

Ask your child to tell you about Number the Stars?

I hope to see you all at the French Market on Saturday!

French Market Volunteers!

2009-09-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

We are in need of parent volunteers to work the Children’s area at the French Market on September, 12, 2009 beginning at 1:00. Please email Jennifer Schaefer at jschaefer@sjoa.org if you are available! Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Please remember to post you number in your front window when you pick up your child/children. This will make dismissal a lot quicker and safer! Thank you!

News! 9/2/09

2009-09-02T08:11:00.000-07:00

It was great seeing and meeting all of you at Back To School Night! Please let me know if you ever have any questions or concerns.

Fall is upon us and the students are adjusting nicely to the fourth grade. Thank you for your continued support and for signing planners on a nightly basis. I appreciate the support. There will be no school on Monday, September 7, because of the Labor Day Holiday. There will be no school on Friday, September 11, because of the French Market set up. Please continue to sell French Market Raffle Tickets. The French Market will be Saturday, September 12, starting at noon. I hope all of you can make it. It is a great time and a great way to support the school.

Students will have a math test on Wednesday, September 9, 2009. A review sheet will be given tomorrow in class. Please look over the review sheet with your child. Place value, comparing and ordering numbers, making change, rounding, and decimals will be evaluated.

Students will have a social studies quiz on Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Students will be given a review sheet on Friday! The test will be fill-in-the-blank and multiple choice. Please study and review with your child.

We continue our study of prepositions! Students are able to identify prepositional phrases in a sentence and label the object of the preposition. Eliminating prepositional phrases makes identifying the subject and verb of a sentence easier.

Number the Stars is a historical fiction book about the German invasion of Denmark during World War II. Students are enjoying the book. All novels will be read in class and comprehension questions will be completed after each chapter.

Our Vocabulary, Unit 2, Test will be on Friday! Students need to be able to spell the word correctly, write the definition or synonym, and part of speech.

Please sign and return Thursday Folders on Friday!

Please sign and return picture release forms. I would love to get some pictures up on the blog.

Have a terrific weekend!

A note from Ms. Klee!

2009-08-30T07:21:00.000-07:00

Hello! This year in science we will be following the 4th grade Indiana Science standards. The 4th graders will also have an ISTEP science prep book to help prepare them for the ISTEP in March. So far, we have been discussing steps of the Scientific Method and Scientific Inquiry. On Tuesday, the 4th grade planted some bean and pea plants. We have also been talking about scientists, what they did as well as where they live around the world.

Also--
Help Sessions:
I sent home a letter in your Thursday folders explaining information regarding my help sessions on Thursdays. I got a bunch back that were signed; however, the permission slip is the blue sheet of paper your child should have in his/her science folder. I need a permission slip every time your child attends my help session. This is for everyone's safety, so that I know that you as parents/guardians know where your child is. If your child has signed up to attend my help session, but will no longer be attending it, I need an email, phone call, or written letter stating so.
I need to know that you know that your child will not be at SJOA attending the help session.

On that note, my help sessions end at 4:30 PM. I will be bringing students down at 4:25 to NYO, to walk, or to be picked up. If your child is being picked up late, please call/email me and let me know. If your child is picked up late more than twice, I will have to ask that he/she no longer attends the help sessions. (For me, late constitutes after 4:35 PM.) If your child is a hindrance or disruptive to the help session, I will have to ask that he/she no longer attends the help sessions.

As a reminder: There is no help session on Sept. 3rd b/c Middle School and MS teachers will be down at camp.

News!

2009-08-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

We are off to a great start of the 2009-2010 school year! Students have been practicing procedures daily and are becoming more familiar with the fourth grade routine. In math, students are working on place value and rounding. I am piloting a new math program, Simple Solutions, which research shows will increase student’s achievement on Standardized Testing. Students are enjoying the lessons and I can already see their confidence building. Please continue to practice math facts on a nightly basis.

Students began to study prepositions and prepositional phrases in English class. Students will learn how to eliminate prepositional phrases to help identify the subject and verb of a sentence.

We will begin our first novel, Number the Stars, on Friday! Number the Stars is a historical fiction novel about the Holocaust. We will discuss theme and setting with all of our novels. Students will answer comprehension questions and complete activities that go along with the novel. Our next novel will be Because of Winn Dixie.

In fourth grade, students will study Indiana History. We continue to study the three different regions of Indiana and the many lakes and rivers. Students will be required to label all fifty states on a blank map. Details on this will come home in the next couple of weeks.

Students are working on Listening, the first Discipline with Purpose Skill. Please continue to encourage your child listen by clearing away distractions and using eye contact when being spoken to.

Our theme for this year is Europe. Every morning, students will learn a new phrase in French, Spanish, Italian, or German. Our phrase for this week is Good Morning! Have your child share with you the different ways to say good morning. The fourth graders will learn more about Denmark while reading Number the Stars.

This is going to be a great year! Please feel free to email me with any questions!

Back To School Night!

2009-08-20T08:35:00.001-07:00

Back to School Night will be Thursday, August 27 at 6:30. Please meet in the gym for introductions before coming to the classroom. I hope everyone can make it! I will be going over classroom procedures, rules, etc.

Daily Schedule!

2009-08-16T17:42:00.001-07:00

Time	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
8:15-8:45	Math	Math	Math	Math	Math
8:45-9:15	Math	Science	Math	Math	Math
9:15-9:25	Handwriting	Science	Handwriting	Handwriting	Handwriting
9:25-10:05	Science	Science	Science	Science	AR
10:05-10:45	Social Studies	Math	Social Studies	Math	Social Studies
10:45-11:25	Spanish	Music	Spanish	Art	PE
11:25-12:05	Technology	Writing	Technology	Art	Writing
12:05-12:45	Lunch/TT	Lunch/TT	Lunch/TT	Lunch/TT	Lunch/TT
12:45-1:30	Vocab/ Grammar	Vocab/ Grammar	Music	Vocab/ Grammar	Vocab/ Grammar
1:30-2:15	Reading/ Writing	Reading	Vocab/ Grammar	Reading/ Writing	Reading
2:15-2:35	PE	AR	AR	AR	Religion
2:35-3:05	PE	Religion	Religion	Religion	Religion
3:05-3:15	Clean Up	Clean Up	Clean Up	Clean Up	Clean Up

Welcome!

2009-08-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

Greetings, and welcome to the Fourth Grade Blog!
I am Mrs. Ditsch, and I am thrilled to embark on my 5th school year teaching here at St. Joan of Arc. I received my teaching degree at Indiana University and completed my Mentoring and Assessment program in 2007. My husband and I were married in 2006 and currently reside in Fishers, Indiana. We are parents to one year old Cameron.

I am very passionate about my profession and put my heart and a little bit of humor into each day. I am hopeful that your child will enjoy fourth grade as a confident individual who believes that she/he is capable, needed, and cared for. Thank you for sharing your child with me. Please feel free to contact me at anytime throughout the year. Just click on the link to email me. My email is kditsch@sjoa.org.

The blog will be updated every Thursday and will include the weekly newsletter. Homework will be announced through Homework Watcher on a nightly basis.This is going to be a wonderful year. Teaching involves great parents like you just as much as it does me and the kids. We can’t make it without you!

10 WAYS TO HELP BUILD YOUR CHILD’S STUDY SKILLS

2008-08-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

Set up a regular study time in a quiet, comfortable place where your child won’t have distractions.
Encourage daily study, even if there’s no homework. Reading and reviewing lessons will get your child in the habit of studying every day.
Make sure your child keeps track of assignments and has all the study tools needed for homework.
Allow study breaks every 20 minutes, and offer nutritious snacks.
Help your child break large tasks into several smaller ones to study more efficiently.
Have your child set goals before each assignment and organize study priorities to reach them.
Teach your child the value of being organized and keeping homework together.
Use study aids, such as quizzes, flash cards, and reading out loud to you.
Let your child know its OK to ask teachers for help and that you’re available, too.
Consider having your child study with a partner if it helps both of them do better.

Helpful Hints!

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Helpful Hints for Successful Fourth Grade Students!

Follow directions the first time they are given.
Raise your hand and be recognized before speaking.
Follow procedures presented by the teacher.
Do not get out of your seat without permission.
Have 2 sharpened pencils and a working pen to start each day.
Use your time wisely.
No crying, arguing, fighting, or fabricating.

Behavior

Each student will begin the quarter with 100 points. For every conduct cut, the student will have one point deducted from his/her conduct grade. Each Thursday, the students’ conduct grade will be recorded in his/her Thursday folder. The folder needs to be signed and returned on Friday. The conduct grade will carry over to the next week and so on. At the end of the nine weeks, students will be given a grade in conduct. Conduct cuts will be given for any disturbances in class, disrespect, or dishonesty. If a student receives three or more conduct cuts in a day, a parent will be notified.

We all know that on occasion we come unprepared, we forget something at home, get out of our seat without permission, or forget a procedure, etc. At the beginning of each day, students will receive two tickets. These tickets will be tangible warnings for the students. If a student comes unprepared to class, forgets something at home, gets out of his/her seats, etc. he/she will be asked to turn in a ticket. The student will be asked to write in the given notebook why he/she lost his/her ticket. After a student has lost all of his/her tickets, a conduct cut will be given on the clip board. At the end of the week, each student may turn in his/her remaining tickets for a prize drawing.

Homework

All homework assignments should be written each day in the Assignment Notebook that is kept throughout the week. Please sign the notebook daily. Homework is given each day Monday through Thursday as an extension of our learning day to provide reinforcement for the concepts learned and to provide extra practice for the students, as well as build the important skill of responsibility. Students should practice math facts and read every night.

Homework will be given on a nightly basis, and it is the students’ responsibility to complete it.
Late homework will only receive 50% of the credit. If it is not submitted prior to the next class of the subject, it becomes a zero.
Extra credit will not be given to students who have failed to complete homework.
Complete in full your assignment notebook and have a parent sign it every night.
Students who are ill will have an assigned study buddy.
Students who are ill have the number of days they are out of school to complete the missing work.

Test Policy

Students will receive a review sheet prior to any test.
Students should not wait until the night before to study. They should be studying the material each night for a complete understanding of the material.
If students are not ready for a test, it is the teacher’s prerogative to move the date of the test.

An Assignment for Parents!

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An Assignment for Parents: Students Will Perform Better with Your Help!!

The bottom line is parental involvement is essential to student achievement!

I would like you to be as involved as possible during your child's 2009-2010 school year. Some ways I would like you to help include the following:

I will make sure that your child's assignment notebook is completed; would you please make sure that your child completes the homework and sign the notebook on a nightly basis. The assignment notebook is one way I can communicate how your child is doing .
Homework Watcher will continue in 4^th grade. Individual teacher blogs are on the school website. I will update my blog every Thursday. Please check the site for classroom newsletter, upcoming school events, resources, and pictures.
Your child will have approximately forty-five to fifty minutes worth of homework Monday through Thursday. Please provide your child a designated place to complete this homework with no distractions. Please check over his/her homework. Every night your child should practice math facts and read his/her AR book.
Folders will come home weekly. In addition to student work; weekly conduct grades will be given every Thursday. Please sign the appropriate date to indicate that you have seen your child’s papers and conduct grade. If you have any questions about a particular paper, return it in the Thursday folder with a note. Thursday folders should be returned on Friday.
If your child is ill or misses school for any reason, study buddies will prepare missed work. Please make arrangements to pick up assignments.
It is very helpful if you keep us informed about any medical conditions or problems your student is experiencing. This lets me work more effectively with your student.

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Please read and enjoy! I truly believe it takes both the parents and the teacher to help make a child be the best he/she can be inside and outside the classroom! Thank you for your constant support!

PARTNERS

I dreamed I stood in a studio

And watched two sculptors there.

The clay they used was a child's mind

And they fashioned it with care.
One was a teacher; the tools used

Were books and music and art

One, a parent with guiding hands,

A gentle and loving heart.
Day after day the teacher toiled,

With a touch both deft and skilled.

The parent labored side by side

And all the values filled.
And when at last their task was done

They looked at what they'd wrought

The beautiful shape of the precious child

Could neither be sold nor bought.
And each agreed it would have failed

If one had worked alone.

For behind the parent stood the school,

And behind the teacher, the home.

Welcome to your SJA eClassroom

2008-08-07T07:55:00.001-07:00

Your eClassroom is a new tool to enhance the educational experience for you, your students and their families

An eClassroom is Essentially a Blog
Perhaps one of the most fascinating tools that has emerged from the Internet cloud in recent years is the Blog. A shortening of the term Web log, the Blog is an online publishing tool that enables people to easily publish their loves, passions, dislikes, peeves, discoveries, and insights.

Blogging is also showing up in schools, where teachers have known for a long time that students develop better communication skills when they are authentically communicating. A number of educators are helping their students developing their writing skills by having them publish their work as blogs, and then invite comments from people in the outside.

There are many freely available tools that facilitate blogging, but none seem especially suited for the classroom. That is the reason for developing the eClassroom for SJA. This online blogging tool is explicitly designed with teachers and students in mind, where the teacher can evaluate, comment on, and finally publish students' blog articles in a controlled environment. It is and will be constantly in development. We need your input to refine the look, content, layout of the eClassroom.

There are many options available to teachers who utilize web journals (blogs) to enhance the learning experience. Teaching in a participatory culture can be challenging, but rewarding. Today, teachers have to learn to communicate in the language and style of their students—who some call digital natives (inhabitants of the Web 2.0 world).

Assignments, etc.
For students in grades 4—8, the eClassroom will be the source point for classroom activites, supplemental learning resources, assignments, long-tern projects, links to relevant sites, field trips, etc. How you integrate your eClassroom may vary from other teachers, but understand that with regular use, this tool will become a vital part of your curriculum and teaching style.