March 8, 2010

Dear Parents,
You and your children did amazing work on the display boards. Your children “WOWED” me! Last week, we practiced and presented our speeches about our Science Fair Projects. I will be setting up the projects in the Parish Hall tomorrow morning. Your children can bring the pieces that will be displayed on the table in front of their display board directly to the Parish Hall when they arrive tomorrow. If these are valuable, your child should bring them to the classroom and can set them up in front of his or her display board shortly before we present. When we are done, your child will return them to the classroom for storage. I hope that you are able to come to see our presentations. Below are the times that we will be in the Parish Hall presenting.
Wednesday, March 10- 9:45 to 10:10, 10:50 to 11:35 and 1:15 to 1:35
Thursday, March 11- 9:00 to 10:10 and 1:15 to 1:35
****PLEASE MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO PICK UP YOUR CHILD’S DISPLAY BOARD AFTER SCHOOL ON THURSDAY. If this is impossible for your family, please send a note to school tomorrow explaining when you can pick it up, and I will store it in the classroom until then.
Your children have also been working hard to grow closer to God during Lent by completing their Lenten calendar and reflections. In class each day we discuss what we have done to strengthen our relationship with God. One way in which your children have been growing closer to God during Lent has been by giving alms on Snackless Fridays to reach out to the victims of the Haitian earthquake. They have been incredibly generous, humble and quiet about their almsgiving. Truly they have been following in Jesus’ footsteps.
Last week you children began learning how to compare and order fractions. This week they will learn the same with mixed numbers and improper fractions. Friday we will have our chapter 18 Math test. You can use pages 406 to 409 in the textbook and the practice test to help your child study.
In Social Studies this week, we will join mining companies to travel to California to search for gold. During this Gold Rush simulation your children will practice:
• listening for main ideas and supporting details from a lecture
• outlining information
• cooperating in small groups to make decisions
• researching a Gold Rush related topic
• presenting their project to the class
They will practice all these skills while learning what life was like in California during this period by answering questions so they can mine for gold and jump claims.
Saturday, March 20 is our second Fourth Grade BINGO Night. Attached is a form from our room moms. Please fill it out and return it to school by Friday. We hope to see many more of you there. Thanks for supporting our 4th grade class!
Thanks again for all of your support and help. Your children are learning so much more with all the help that you give them and I am extremely grateful to be working with all of you. If you have any questions or concerns, drop by or email me at triciaheis@aol.com.
Sincerely,
Tricia Heissenbuttel