Ms. Kreul’s Class Blog

A wonderful holiday project for your family – Holiday Mail for Heroes sponsored by the Red Cross

Holiday Mail For Heroes is here again! This year, we are teaming up with our friends at Pitney Bowes for the third time to send holiday cards to service members, veterans, and their families. This is a great way to give back this holiday season – by sharing your kind words and thanks with those who have given a great deal to their country. All cards must be received no later than Monday, December 7th.

4K, remember to write these dates on your calendar…

Nov. 23 Guidance Lesson
Nov. 23 Art for Youth
Nov. 26 Thanksgiving
Nov. 25-20 Vacation
Nov. 30 School Resumes
Dec. 2 Imagination Station Publishing Day 1
Dec. 3 Fun Lunch
Dec. 9 Late Start 9:05
Dec. 16 Imagination Station Publishing Day 2
Dec. 18 Festival of Lights
Dec. 18 Trimester 1 Report Cards Sent Home
Dec. 21 Guidance Lesson
Dec. 22 Winter Party
Dec. 23-Jan. 3 Winter Break
Jan. 3 School Resumes

*Parents and students should check Assignment Notebooks together every evening
*Students are responsible for completing schoolwork any time they are absent
*Dress appropriately for our Wisconsin weather
*Water bottles help keep you hydrated and healthy
*Healthy, easy to eat morning snacks help your brain work better

Nov. 9 Veterans’ Day School Meeting 2:20
Nov. 10 Friday Schedule
Nov.10 and12 Evening Conferences
Nov. 13 Morning Conferences
Nov. 13 No School
Nov. 19 Fun Lunch
Nov. 23 Guidance Lesson
Nov. 23 Art for Youth
Nov. 26 Thanksgiving
Nov. 25-20 Vacation
Nov. 30 School Resumes

*School begins at 8:05 sharp!
*Parents and students should check Assignment Notebooks together every evening
*Students are responsible for completing schoolwork any time they are absent
*Dress appropriately for our Wisconsin weather
*Water bottles help keep you hydrated and healthy
*Healthy, easy to eat morning snacks help your brain work better

Room 201 is usually quite comfortable in terms of temperature.  However, I have suggested to students that they bring an extra sweatshirt or sweater to hang in lockers in case the classroom temperature cools down.  As the snow falls, extra mittens/gloves and socks are also helpful.

Fourth graders worked hard this week on their WKCE tests. They had a lot of tests to take this year – Reading, Writing, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science – but each student did his or her best to “show what you know.” 

Coming up…

Oct. 19 Guidance Lesson

Oct. 23 Test for Electronic Friday Folders

Oct. 27 Friday Schedule

Oct. 28 Fall Party PM

Oct. 29-30 No School

Nov. 2-6 WKCE Testing

Nov. 5 Fun Lunch

Nov. 9 Veterans’ Day School Meeting

Nov. 10 Friday Schedule

Nov.10 and12 Evening Conferences

Nov. 13 Morning Conferences/No Classes Today

Fall parent teacher conferences are scheduled for Nov. 10 and Nov. 12 from 4:00-8:00 and the morning of Nov. 13 from 8:00-11:40. Please call the office at 963-4951 to schedule a conference if you did not reserve a time on Open House night. Thank you.

Fourth graders will participate in WKCE testing this year during the week of Nov. 2 to Nov. 6. Students should eat healthy foods and get enough sleep during this week so they are able to do their personal best on these standardized tests. Please do not schedule any appointments that will take students out of school during this week.

Richards School will be testing electronic Friday Folders on Friday, Oct. 23. Classroom teachers will send families a link to the online Friday folders but families will still receive a paper copy in Friday folders as usual on that date.

If all goes well, Friday, Nov. 6 will be the first date that Richards Friday Folders will be sent home as links only. There will still be paper copies of information sent home that cannot be linked online, but the majority of the information will be online for the rest of the year.

If you do not have access to email at home at this time, your family will receive Friday folders as usual.

Please ask your fourth grader to show you his or her Assignment Notebook each evening. It is a good way to start the “What did you do in school today?” conversation – – as well as provide an opportunity for families to provide any assistance that fourth graders may need.

Remember that Reading Log pages can be downloaded from the class blog so students can type their reading log entries each week. A great way to practice keyboarding skills!

The Richards Fourth Grade team has chosen to work on the theme of Respect with students this year. Students will work on a variety of activities, including guidance classes, as they focus in on this important life skill. Specials teachers fill out a short report each time fourth graders have art, music, phy ed, choir, library, and French class, so students understand that respect is an important part of the entire school day.

All student work that is assessed and graded is sent home on Fridays in Take Home folders for families to view and discuss.

If a paper is marked “Correct and Return,” that paper should be corrected at home and is due back to school on Monday morning.

If a student is absent from school due to illness or other reason, you can call the Clinic by 9:00 and request that work is sent down to the office for pickup after 3:05. Otherwise, students will complete the work when they return. Both Mrs. Ade and I fill out an assignment notebook sheet with the missed assignments.

We both expect the work to be completed and handed in within 2-3 days after the student returns to school. We recommend that students keep this sheet, along with the attached work, in Take Home folders at all times.

According to school policy, when students go on vacation on scheduled school days, they will need to complete their school work when they return to school. Some work must be done in school, while other work that was missed will be sent home to complete. The work that is sent home should be completed and brought back to school within 2-3 days.

Due to the hands-on collaborative work that is done in class, it may not be possible to make up all activities and project that are missed.

A reminder about Friday’s field trip to Riveredge -

We leave the traditional classroom at 8:15 this Friday to let nature be
our teacher.  The field trip’s focus is Pond Interactions.  Students will
learn about the interdependence of all living things in an ecosystem by
observing and gathering samples in a pond.

Play clothes and old shoes are appropriate because the field trip is
outdoors and by a pond.

Please pack a disposable lunch, a snack and two drinks.  The children
will be eating lunch at the Nature Center.

The trip goes on rain or shine!!

• Sept. 22 Picture Day
• Sept. 24 Open House with 4KR Orientation at 5:30 and Open House from 6:00-7:15
• Sept. 25 Riveredge Trip
• Sept. 28 Guidance Class
• Oct. 1 Fun Lunch
• Oct. 14 Late Start
• Oct. 14-15 Book Fair
• Oct. 15 Fun Lunch
• Oct. 6 Grade 4 Fire Prevention Program

4K’s Class Contract was written together so school is a positive experience for all.

• Respect everyone
• Cooperate with others
• Play fair everywhere
• Use put-ups and compliments
• Be responsible for yourself
• Be kind and use good manners
• Include others in games and activities
• Treat others the way you want to be treated
• Always have a smile!

September 2, 2009