May 21, 2012

Dear Parents,

Last week, your children asked such insightful and mature questions about the human body and how babies develop in the uterus. I was very impressed with their thoughtful, curious and respectful attitudes.  If you haven’t already, please talk to them about what they learned last week.  You are truly your child’s best teacher.

This week we will conclude our unit in Family Life by learning that God has blessed all of us with different gifts and talents which are meant to be shared and that living in a community means including everyone. By sharing these gifts and talents we are serving others and living out our Christian faith.  As Christians, this is what God calls us to do. The attached pages will help you to discuss these topics with your child.

In Math last week we continued our unit on geometry.  Your children have created concentration cards that are in their homework folders.  Thursday we will have our chapter 25 test.  Please use the practice test and page 576 in the textbook to help your child study.   This week your children will learn about symmetry.

In Social Studies last week your children learned about the technologies of 150 years ago that enabled California to communicate with the rest of our country:  the Butterfield Overland Mail Service, the Pony Express, the Transcontinental Telegraph, and the Transcontinental Railroad. What a contrast they are to the technologies that we are surrounded by today.   This week they will learn about the immigrants that came to California from all over the world.  This Thursday the Cupertino Historical Museum’s “Traveling Trunk” will be coming to the fourth grade.  Two women from the historical museum will be sharing antiques and stories from Cupertino’s earliest days.  Below is a link to an article about this wonderful program: http://mytown.mercurynews.com/archives/cupertinocourier/03.24.99/cover-9912.html

Last week your children received May and June’s Scholastic Book orders.  This will be the last book order of the year and is a great opportunity to stock up on summer reading at an affordable price.  All orders will be due by this Wednesday. You can use the form and send a check made out to Scholastic Books to school, or you can set up an account using the following information. If you have already set up an account, log on using your user name and password.  If you use the form, please do not pay with cash.

Web address: scholastic.com/bookclubs
Class Activation Code: GJYZG

Thanks again for all of your support.  If you have any questions or concerns, please drop by or e-mail me at triciaheis@sjcschool.org.

Sincerely,  Tricia Heissenbuttel

May 14, 2012

Dear Parents,

This week in Religion we will read and discuss Unit 4 in Family Life, specifically how a fetus begins with one cell and develops into a baby.  This can be a wonderful opportunity for you to have open discussions about sexuality with your children. Last week we discussed the stages of life and how their child bodies will soon develop and change to become adult bodies that will be capable of having children of their own one day.  Your children’s uncomfortable feeling quickly morphed into wonderful, thoughtful, mature questions. I really was impressed with their maturity.

The May Crowning is this Thursday, May 17. Remember all children are expected to attend this event to honor Mary. We will spend much time in church practicing this week so please don’t forget to send a note by tomorrow if your child is unable to attend. Practices will run much more smoothly if only the children who are attending partake in them. To honor Mary, we will collect layette items to help mothers who have less than we do.  If you would like to donate items, you can send them to school with your child for the remainder of this week.

In Math last week we began our unit on geometry.  Your children have created flash cards that are in their homework folders.  Early next week we will have our chapter 25 test.  Please use the practice test, the flash cards, and page 576 in the textbook to help your child study. The chapter 24 test is in this packet; please review it with your child.

In Reading last week your children read How Night Came from the Sea, a Brazilian myth that explains why we have day and night.  They practiced how to make generalizations and how to use this skill to improve their comprehension.

Last Wednesday each mining company decided whether or not to gamble their earnings, a very real event that took place in the gold fields.  It was quite exciting and made or broke many teams. We all had a lot of fun.  In today’s packet is also your child’s Gold Rush test.  Stapled to the back is the yellow pretest that your child took before we began our Gold Rush simulation. When comparing the two, it is quite impressive how much your children have learned.

In Science we are beginning to learn about magnetism.  The children discovered that all magnets have two poles, a north and a south like our Earth.  They also learned how magnets help us find direction when we use a compass.

Today your children received May’s Scholastic Book orders.  This will be the last book order of the year and is a great opportunity to stock up on summer reading at an affordable price.  All orders will be due by next Wednesday. You can use the form and send a check made out to Scholastic Books to school, or you can set up an account using the following information. If you have already set up an account, log on using your user name and password.  If you use the form, please do not pay with cash.

Web address: scholastic.com/bookclubs
Class Activation Code: GJYZG

Has your child posted his or her 4^th quarter goal in a prominent place in your home?  If not, please do so in order to help your child finish fourth grade successfully. Thanks again for all of your support.  If you have any questions or concerns, please drop by or e-mail me at triciaheis@sjcschool.org.

Sincerely, Tricia Heissenbuttel

April 30, 2012

Dear Parents,

In Family Life this week your children will practice listening, naming and understanding their feelings.  They will discover that feelings are not good or bad and right or wrong.  What is important is how they decide to act on their feelings.  This is a skill that they will continue to develop and learn throughout their childhood through their own experiences, through good advice from trusted friends and adults, and through the good examples of others.  Please see the attached packet behind this letter.

In Math this week, your children will explore probability by learning how to express it using words and numbers, and by conducting probability experiments. The chapter 24 test will be in the early part of next week.  Your child’s chapter 23 test is in this packet; please review it with him or her.

Your children worked very hard last week to complete their PowerPoint presentations.  They individually researched their Gold Rush topics for the two slides that they will be responsible for sharing with the class, and they worked cooperatively in groups of three to create their PowerPoints.   This week each group will present their PowerPoints to the class.  Your children have a blue rubric, a copy of the two slides for which they are responsible, and speech cards with their talking points in their homework folders.  Use these if you would like to help them prepare for their speech.

Last week in Science we learned about the uses of electricity and have now finished our unit on this topic.  This week we will review chapter 6 in class.  On Thursday, your children will have their test on this chapter.  You can use your child’s study packet and chapter 6 of the textbook to help him/her prepare for this test.

On Wednesday we will be going to Intel to partake in a wonderful lesson in which your children will build series and parallel circuits.  We will be leaving school at 9:00 and returning at 12:00.  Your children should wear their uniforms, and we will return in time for them to have hot lunch.  Today, I will be sending home information with your child if you are a driver or chaperone.  Thanks yet again for all the support that you extend to fourth grade and me.  If you have not already, please return your child’s permission slip tomorrow.

Today your child has his or her 4^th quarter goal card.  Please post it in a prominent place in your home so that you can give your child the guidance he or she needs to finish fourth grade successfully.  If you have any questions or concerns, please drop by, or e-mail me at triciahies@sjcschool.org.

Sincerely, Tricia Heissenbuttel

April 23, 2012

Dear Parents,

Your children were wonderful in Geology Rocks!  They really were so dramatic and confident, and I was incredibly proud of them. Thanks to the hard work of a small group of moms, Mrs. Calvetti, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Puentes, Mrs. Serafini and Mrs. O’Boyle, who volunteered their time, we had a gorgeous backdrop! Thank you ladies for making our musical even more special. Thanks also to Mrs. Semaan and Mrs. Tsang who volunteered to take down the backdrop this morning. I would again like to extend a huge thank you to Mrs. Kama Belloni.  How lucky we are to have such a talented and dedicated music teacher who helps provide so much fun and learning.  It was wonderful to see so many of your faces in the audience.  Both your children and I greatly appreciate your constant support.  If any of you digitally recorded it, I would love a copy for school so I can show the kids how wonderful they were.  Thanks!

This week, we begin Family Life and today, you will receive the first Family Life packet.  It is stapled into this work packet behind this letter.  Our first theme is “Created and Loved by God.”  We will be learning that each of us is unique and irreplaceable, but we all share a common human nature and that our gifts and talents are meant to be shared.  I am sending home our books tonight so that you can take a look at all of the themes that we will be covering.  Take a close look at unit three so that you have a clear idea of the human sexuality concepts that we cover.

I believe that Family Life provides a wonderful opportunity to begin dialogue with your children about God’s miracle of life and human sexuality, subjects that sometimes can be embarrassing and tough to talk about.  Dialogue that you begin now will build trust and openness that will be so positive as your children grow older and are facing these issues in a very real way.  These packets will help you begin talking about what we are learning in class.

In Math we will learn about statistics and probability. We will move through chapter 23 quickly since much of this was covered when we made graphs and charts for our Science Fair projects.  The test will be on Friday.  You can use the practice test and pages 526 to 528 to help your child study.  Your child’s last decimal test is in this packet.  Please review it with him or her.

We have fallen behind in researching and creating our PowerPoint presentations because of our intense focus on perfecting “Geology Rocks” last week.  Therefore this week your children will spend a lot of time individually doing research so that they can work cooperatively with a small group to create their Gold Rush PowerPoint presentation.  In Science, we learned about series and parallel circuits.

Next Wednesday, May 2, we will be going to Intel for a tour of their museum and to do an experiment about circuits and switches.   This fits in perfectly with everything that we have learned about electricity and electric currents. We will need drivers and chaperones and would love to have many of you join us.  We will be leaving school at 9:00 and returning by 12:00.  Your children will be able to buy hot lunch on this day and will wear their uniforms to school.   Your children have the permission slip for this fieldtrip in their homework folders.  Please return them to school with your child by this Friday.

Last Monday your children received April’s Scholastic Book orders.  All orders will be due by this Wednesday. Remember, you can use the form and send a check made out to Scholastic Books to school, or you can set up an account using the following information. It really is very simple to order online, and our class receives a free book each time one of you orders in this way.  You can also find a link to the Scholastic website by going to my website:(http://sjcschool.org/blogs/grade4/). If you have already set up an account, log on using your user name and password.  If you use the form, please do not pay with cash.

Web address: scholastic.com/bookclubs
Class Activation Code: GJYZG

Lastly, I would like to thank all of you who completed the homework survey.  Most of you marked that there is just the right amount of homework.  Out of the 28 surveys that were returned, 22 of you marked “just right,” four parents marked on the “too much” side of the continuum, and two on the “too little “ side.  One parent wrote a note stating that she or he believes that there are too many tests in one week.  If you have an opinion about this comment, please drop by to chat or send me an email.  After reviewing your surveys, I feel that the amount of homework should remain about the same after reviewing all your comments and Xs.  Please remember, it is ALWAYS ok for you to write a note on those nights that are just too busy and complete work the next night or over the weekend.  If you have any questions or comments about your child’s specific needs, don’t hesitate to stop by.

If you have any questions or concerns please drop by, or e-mail me at triciaheis@sjcschool.org.

Sincerely,  Tricia Heissenbuttel

April 16, 2012

Dear Parents,

Welcome Back! I hope you enjoyed a joyous and restful Easter break. As our secular world recovers from Easter celebrations, we Catholics are just beginning the Easter season in our Church. This week in Religion we will learn that throughout the Easter Season during the next eight weeks, we give praise and thanks to God, the Father, for the greatest gift that His Son, Jesus, has gained for us.  This week your children will also explore God’s divine justice.  Most of us want to be treated fairly and want to receive what we think we deserve, but sometimes God’s justice is different from our own.  God forgives those that we don’t necessarily want to forgive and those that we don’t think deserve a second chance.  God gives EVERYONE His love and mercy freely and generously no matter how grievous their choices. As God is generous with us, so should we help God’s Kingdom become a reality by being compassionate and generous with others.  Before Easter we began learning how to use sign language to say the Our Father.  This week, as we learn how to sign “Thy will be done,” your children will be acknowledging that they accept God’s divine justice.  Ask your child to share what they have learned.

This week in Math we will learn about rounding, estimating, adding and subtracting decimals.  On Friday we will have our test on chapter 20.  You can use pages 454 to 456 in the textbook and the practice test to help your child study. The chapter 19 test is in this packet.  Please review it with your child.

Your children are continuing to learn about the Gold Rush as their ”mining company” (their table) works together to earn gold nuggets. This week they will begin to use the bank of 12 laptops for the upper grade courtyard to create a powerpoint presentation in a group of three about the Gold Rush.  Each child in a group will be responsible for gathering research for two slides, choosing key facts and photos for his or her slides, and sharing details that are not on the slide with the class.  Understanding how to use powerpoint will be an invaluable tool for them as they move through the grades.

Today your children have a Scholastic Book order form in their homework folders.  All orders will be due by next Wednesday.  Remember, you can use the form and send a check made out to Scholastic Books to school, or you can set up an account using the following information. I encourage you to order your child’s books online because for each online order, our class receives a free book.  If you have already set up an account, log on using your user name and password.  If you use the form, please do not pay with cash.

Web address: scholastic.com/bookclubs
Class Activation Code: GJYZG

Please make time this week to sit with your child so that together, you can talk about his or her progress and complete the “At Home Conference” sheet.  Try to focus on their strengths and on only one thing to improve.  Maybe you can choose a skill that they may need in fifth grade.  Please return the report cards and pink conference sheets to school by next Tuesday, April 24.

Now that we have ended the 3^rd quarter, I would again like your feedback regarding the amount of homework.  Your child should be spending about an hour of concentrated study each night on homework.  Please be candid and honest.  This feedback is very helpful to me in gauging how much time your children spend doing their homework.  Please fill out the survey below and return it to school with your child by Thursday.  Thank you for your feedback.

Both your children and I are so excited about our upcoming performance of “Geology Rocks.”  If at all possible, try to arrange your schedule to attend the performance this Friday at 2:00 in the Parish Hall.  I can promise you that you won’t be disappointed.  I would like to thank you again for all your support.  If you have any questions or concerns, please drop by, or e-mail me at triciaheis@sjcschool.org.

Sincerely,   Tricia Heissenbuttel

Please place and X on the line across the continuum indicating how you feel regarding the amount of homework that your child receives in fourth grade.

TOO LITTLE                       JUST RIGHT                             TOO MUCH

If you have any comments, please write them below.

Optional:                                                               

April 1, 2012

Dear Parents,

What a fabulous day we had in Sacramento. Luckily, the rain held off, the sites were spectacular, and your children were really wonderful.  Many thanks to all of our volunteers: Mr. Bazurto, Mrs. Fujii, Mr. Lin, Mr. Mai, Mr. Miller, Mr. O’Boyle, Mrs. Puentes, Mr. Serafini, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Tsang, Mrs. West, Mr. Wirnowski, Mrs. Alamban-Castro, Mrs. Caballero, Mr. Cardenas, Mr. Calvetti and Mr. Ereno. A very, very special thank you to Mr. Puentes, Matthew’s dad, who was our superb bus driver and to the Gonzalezes (graduates Eric and Jennifer’s mom and dad) who made this trip possible.  We never could have afforded to rent a bus, and we are very lucky to have such generous members of our school community.  Thanks also the Zuo, the Kim, the Garlepp, the Miller and the Puentes families who provided juice, water and snacks for our long drive.  A very special thanks to our room moms, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Bazurto who organized this wonderful day.

Holy Week began yesterday with Passion (Palm) Sunday and will end next Sunday, Easter.  This week in Religion your children will learn about Holy Week so that they can accompany Jesus through the events that lead to his Passion and death on the cross. Your children continue to share kind acts with others in their quest during Lent to grow closer to God and to be prepared for Jesus’ resurrection.  The crucified Jesus in our classroom is beginning to become a beautiful rainbow of color that represents all of their good deeds.  Your children (and you) can also continue to make donations to the Heifer Project.  Tuesday will be the last day to send in donations.

Last week in Math your children began learning about decimals and their relationship to fractions. Our test on this chapter will be on Thursday.  You can use the practice test and pages 434 to 436 in the textbook to help your child study. Your child’s chapter 18 test is in this packet; please review it with him or her.

In Social Studies, your children will begin to earn “gold nuggets” as they “mine for gold” in our Gold Rush simulation by answering questions correctly. This week each of your children will choose a research topic, and after Easter, they will work in a team to create a PowerPoint presentation on a Gold Rush topic that they will present to the class. In Science we will begin our unit on electricity. Your children will learn about static electricity this week.

Our class musical, “Geology Rocks,” is quickly approaching (Friday, April 20 at 2:00), and your children are working very hard in class to learn their lines and the many songs. I know this is right in the middle of the workday, but if possible, try to attend. The children are so enthusiastic and excited, and their acting is truly impressive.  I can guarantee that you will be proud of them.

Many thanks to Mrs. Calvetti, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. O’Boyle and Mrs. Alamban Castro for volunteering to design and put up our backdrop.  If you would like to help, just let one of them know.  I am sure that they would love the extra hands.  We will need a few volunteers that can take down the backdrop that these ladies create.  If you are able to give about an hour during the week of April 23^rd to remove our backdrop from the stage, please fill out the survey below.  Thank you in advance for your help.

Please have your child bring to school his or her green goal card tomorrow if he or she hasn’t already.  Your children will review their report cards in class this week in order to reflect on their grades and to prepare to talk to you about their progress.  Your children will bring them home on Thursday.  Please make time over Easter vacation to sit with your child who will conduct a “mini-conference.”  Please return the report card and new goal sheet by Friday, April 20^th . If you have any questions or concerns please drop by, or e-mail me at triciaheis@sjcschool.org.  May your Easter be filled with joy, love, hope and warmth.

Sincerely, Tricia Heissenbuttel

________________________________________________________________________

______  I would like to help take down the backdrop during the week of April 23^rd.

Name:____________________

Email ___________________________

March 12, 2012

Dear Parents,

In Religion last week, we began learning about the Beatitudes, a prayer that Jesus gave to us at The Sermon on the Mount.  The Beatitudes are Jesus’ teachings about how to live in order to achieve real happiness in the Kingdom of God.  Over the next two weeks, your children will pray and study each Beatitude in depth, and then make paper quilt squares with symbols of each. These squares will form a beautiful prayer that will grow outside our classroom in the coming weeks. In their homework folders, your children have a copy of the Beatitudes that you can use to help them memorize it. The test on this prayer will not be until next week.  Your children are also continuing on their Lenten journey by sharing kind acts with their classmates, by fasting from their snacks on Friday, by praying often, and by generously giving alms to the Heifer Project.

In Math last week we learned about equivalent fractions and how to find fractional parts of a whole number.  The chapter 17 Math test will be on Thursday. Please use pages 386 to 388 and the practice test to help your child study.

In Science, we are continuing our geology unit learning about fast changes to the Earth’s surface, specifically earthquakes and volcanoes.  Your children are doing a GREAT job of memorizing their lines and songs for Geology Rocks.  It promises to be a wonderful performance and is quickly approaching (April 20 at 2:00).  I know this is right in the middle of the workday, but if possible, try to attend. If you would like to help construct our backdrop, your help would be greatly appreciated.  I always keep backdrops simple and usually use paper stapled to the wall to create a picture although you will have the freedom to create whatever you like.  Mrs. Belloni and I were given simple ideas with the script that we will share with you.  If you are able to help, please fill out the survey below and return it to school with your child.  Thanks so much!

Our Sacramento field trip will be on Wednesday, March 28.  I want to extend a big thank you to the Gonzalezes, who are the parents of SJC alumni, for volunteering to drive us on their bus at a much-reduced price.  This is a fieldtrip that we would not have if they were not so very generous.  Thanks also goes to our room moms, Mrs. Mikki Bazurto and Mrs. Jennifer Smith, who organized this very special day.

We will be visiting the Railroad Museum, Sacramento’s Old Town, and the State Capitol.  We will be leaving school promptly at 8:30 and returning about 5:30. Upon returning we will meet you at approximately 5:30 in front of school.

Your children should wear their uniforms and bring their lunches.  In order to manage garbage on the bus, snacks will be provided on our drive up and back.  If anyone would like to volunteer to provide a snack (juice boxes, chips, fruit, cookies, small water bottles, ect.), please contact me.  It would be greatly appreciated.  Your children and I are looking forward to a very memorable day.  Your children have their permission slips in their homework folders.  Please return them to school by Friday.  Your child’s Social Studies tests is in this packet.  Please review it with your child.

Thanks again for all of your support and help, especially with the Science Fair projects.  If you were able to drop in last week and see your child’s and their classmates’ presentations, I am certain you could see the pride that each of them took in their work.  The work that you do at home to support their learning really makes a huge difference.  I am very grateful to all of you.  If you have any questions or concerns, drop by or email me at triciaheis@sjcschool.org.

Sincerely, Tricia Heissenbuttel

_______ I would like to help with the “Geology Rocks” backdrop.

Name                                                      Email Address

March 5, 2012

Dear Parents,

In Religion last week, your children continued to move on their path growing closer to God by performing simple acts of kindness every day and by writing reflections in their Lenten booklets. This is their Religion homework each night.  In our classroom we have a big image of Jesus on the crucifix. Each time your children reach out to someone in a special way, they cut out a “Body of Christ” which is added to this image of Jesus.  This Jesus is becoming a beautiful rainbow of color and shows us how together, we all make up the “Body of Christ” and how together, we can let God use our hands to do his good work.

Your children are giving alms by making donations to the Heifer Project. Last week your children decided to set a goal of collecting $250 to provide a water buffalo for a family, which will not only supply nourishment through milk, but also the power to plow a field much more efficiently.  Many of your children have already been so generous giving “alms” toward our water buffalo.  Please encourage your child to earn and/or share their own money so that they can learn that giving “alms” is a sacrifice and a gift of their own time and money.

In Math this week we will learn about positive and negative integers and temperature. The chapter 16 Math test will be tomorrow.  Please use the practice test and pages 358 to 359 to help your child study. Your child’s chapter 15 math test is in this packet.  Please review it with her or him.

You and your children did amazing work on the display boards.  Your children “WOWED” me!  Last week and today, your children presented their speeches about their Science Fair Projects. What confident, strong communicators they are!  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 items are valuable, your child should bring them to the classroom tomorrow, and we 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.

Tuesday, March 6- 10:50 to 11:10, 2:05 to 2:45

Thursday, March 8- 9:00 to 9:20, 10:45 to 11:35 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.

Last week in Social Studies, we learned a lot about local governments in California.  We will be having a test on this unit about California’s government on Thursday.  Please use Unit 5, pages 133 to 154 from our Social Studies book, to help your child study.

Wednesday we will be going to Ano Nuevo, and I want to remind you of a few things.

1. We will go on a three-mile hike so your children should wear warm clothes in a lot of layers and comfortable shoes.
2. Your children will need to bring a bag lunch, a good snack and a bottle of water.
3. Make sure your child is on time for school.  We will be leaving school promptly at 8:20 so that you children have time to eat a snack before the hike.

This will be a very special day.  More information will be sent home to drivers and chaperones today.

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@sjcschool.org.

Sincerely, Tricia Heissenbuttel

February 27, 2012

Dear Parents,

In Religion last week we talked a lot about how Lent is a time for growing closer to God through prayer, fasting from our favorite foods or from our bad habits, and almsgiving to those who are in need. During Lent, your children will use their Lenten Calendar to focus on kind actions and words, almsgiving, and prayer that will strengthen their relationship with God and with others.  Please make sure that your child’s Lenten Calendar is posted in a prominent place in your home and that his or her Lenten journal always remains in your child’s homework folder.

Also during Lent we will be giving alms by donating to “The Heifer Project.”  This is a project in which we can make donations to buy a farm animal for a poor family in a developing country.  These animals in turn provide milk, eggs, or wool that allow the family to earn a living. Your children can give Lenten alms by making small donations of their own money.  Possibly they can forgo a treat for lunch and donate the dollar or do a special chore at home to earn money.  The important part is that their donations come from them.  Of course, if you would like to donate to this project, separate of what your children are working towards, that would be wonderful also.

In Math last week we learned a lot about converting units of customary and metric measurement. Wednesday will be our Chapter 15 Math test.  You can use pages 342 to 344 of the textbook and the practice test to help your child study.  In Reading your children read a humorous, informative story called So You Want To Be President, and explored more deeply how identifying main ideas and supporting details can improve their comprehension.

Display boards are due this Wednesday. Please remember, this week DO NOT bring in the props that your child might like to exhibit in front of their board to enhance their display.  Those should be brought directly to the Parish Hall on Tuesday, March 6, unless they are valuable, in which case they should be brought to the classroom on the same day. Last week your children prepared a short speech that they will give as students from other grades stop by their display.  Your children have signed up to deliver these speeches in class on this Wednesday, this Thursday or next Monday.  In their homework folder is a paper describing the speaking skills on which I will be grading them.  Please review this paper and practice this speech with your child.  I am including the scheduled times that your children will be in the Parish Hall presenting to the students from the other grades because we would love to have you drop by if you are able.

Tuesday, March 6- 10:50 to 11:10, 2:05 to 2:45

Thursday, March 8- 9:00 to 9:20, 10:45 to 11:35 and 1:15 to 1:35

We also had a fabulous time last Friday experiencing what it would have been like to live in California when we belonged to Mexico in the early 1800s.  Your children dipped candles, made tortillas, roped a “steer”, make adobe bricks, designed brands, created cornhusk dolls and carded wool.  They were wonderful participants, learned a lot and had a ton of fun. Many thanks to the Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Alamban Castro, Mrs. Bazurto, Mrs. Tsang, Mrs. Serafini, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Wirnowski, Mrs. Boyd, Mrs. O’Boyle, and Mrs. Horvath for teaching the different activities and leading us in a whole lot of fun!

Thanks to Mrs. Mikki Bazurto and Mrs. Jennifer Smith the fourth grade will be going to Ano Nuevo State Reserve near Pescadero to see the elephant seals on Wednesday, March 7. Every year during the winter these elephant seals migrate to this beach to give birth to their young and to mate.  In March, all have finished giving birth.  We will go on a 3-mile hike and will get to see many mothers nursing their pups and maybe even some pups that have already been weaned. Although Pescadero is about an hour and a half away, I feel that seeing this very special part of our state will be a once in a lifetime experience.  Your children will need to bring a bag lunch, a water bottle and a good snack.  They must wear warm clothes in a lot of layers and good, comfortable shoes for hiking. Our tours start early so it is vital that all of your children arrive at school by 8:30.  This will be a very special day.  Today, your children have their permission slips in their homework folders.  Please return them by this Friday.

It is a very busy time in fourth grade, and it would be impossible for your children to do everything we do without your constant support.  Thanks you very much.  If you have any questions or concerns, drop by or email me at triciaheis@sjcschool.org.

Sincerely,  Tricia Heissenbuttel

February 21, 2012

Dear Parents,

I know that I wrote in last week’s Monday letter that I was not going to send a letter home this week, but there are a few items to which I want to draw your attention. This week, Lent will begin and on Ash Wednesday we will discuss the fasting, prayer and almsgiving that we will conduct during the next six weeks of Lent.  On Ash Wednesday, each of your children will choose something from which to “fast” during the Lenten Season and will write it their “Lenten Journey” journal.  This may be something concrete, like TV or a type of food, or possibly might be unkind ways in which they may sometimes treat each other.  Your children also will receive a Lenten Calendar which they should post in their rooms that instructs them to complete an action each day that will bring them closer to God.  Their Lenten Journal should always stay in their homework folder so they can use it as a place to write reflections on their journey toward Easter and building their relationship with God.  Please discuss these two items with your children so that you can support them at home.

Today your children are bringing home all of the pieces that will be placed on their Science project display boards.  Please use the bright yellow paper that is in their folder and the information in last week’s letter to help your child create a creative, eye-catching, dazzling display.  Remember, on Tuesday, March 6 and Thursday, March 8, your children will be presenting their projects to small groups of kids from all the classes in the Parish Hall.  This week your children will prepare and practice the speech that they will give. Your children will give this speech to our class on Wednesday, February 29, Thursday, March 1, or Monday, March 5.  Below is the schedule of when your children will be in the Parish Hall presenting to the students from all the other grades. Your children, their classmates and I would love to see many of your there.

Tuesday, March 6- 10:50 to 11:10, 2:05 to 2:45

Thursday, March 8- 9:00 to 9:20, 10:45 to 11:35 and 1:15 to 1:35

In Math this week your children will continue learning about converting units of customary and metric measurement.  In Reading they will strengthen the skill of finding main ideas and details to deepen their comprehension.  The Reading and Spelling tests will be on Thursday because of our field trip on Friday.

Friday we will be going on our field trip to Peralta Adobe to partake in some of the activities that California’s Mexican settlers did in order to survive here in the early 1800s. I would like to remind you that all of your children should wear warm play clothes and bring their lunches to school on this day.  Today I am sending home information to drivers and chaperones regarding which stations they will be leading.

I would like to again extend a huge thank you to Robyn Calvetti, Michelle Miller, Kim Boyd and Lorraine Ereno for making Valentine’s Day so, so special for your children and me.  And thanks again to all of you for 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