Dear Families - Energy levels rose noticeably as this past week drew to a close! Even though just about every one of us seems to have so much to comment on throughout our days, and there are SO many stories to tell, happily we are still getting plenty of work done. That is a good thing, since we still have so much to do, even as our days together are rapidly dwindling -yikes! In Math, we completed Unit 11, and you should find your student's final test in the take home folder, waiting for you to look it over and sign. These tests should come back to school on Tuesday, so we may add them to our math folders. This yellow folder will come home to you the last week of school, and will contain an excellent summary of math skills covered in 4th grade (great for review over the summer :) ). We have just enough math periods left to cover the final few lessons in Unit 12 during our last days.
In Social Studies, our kids have not lost their enthusiam for their State research project. We do our best to make time each day to work on them, but for those who are not yet done, it will be important to put in some extra time at home to complete notes, pictures, and maps for the poster presentation. Everyone has signed up for a particular day over the next week or so in which to present their project to the rest of the class. Notes on the poster do not have to be typed - they may be handwritten. Also, on Tuesday, May 29th, when we return to school, we will take time to celebrate the anniversary of Wisconsin achieving statehood in 1848. (We will enjoy some of our state's favorite treats!) We are also squeezing in all the time we can find to explore the different regions of our country. Today we watched a breathtakingly beautiful National Geographic video presentation on the Appalachian Trail! Sorry, parents, if your student came home begging to go hiking there! Ha! It's only 2,175 miles stretching from Georgia to Maine!
Today we also shared with each other a story we had all written over the past week about our ideal way to spend a carefree Saturday if we could choose our favorite things to do. It was really fun to hear the variety of choices everyone came up with for their day! All the writing projects we have done in 4th grade will come home (including their writing journal) in a special Language Binder. This should be a fun keepsake to enjoy years from now for you and your student.
Other news includes the fact that we have one more week to collect Box Tops For Education. We aren't breaking any records this time, but we are up to 245 - and our entire school has collected enough for new swings and bars on the playground, which will get installed this summer. Also, would you remind your student that all school library books are expected to be returned during the coming week? Thank you! In addition, I learned today that school yearbooks will be distributed on June 1st. One more item is that there will be a West Middleton Family (bring your own) Picnic at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, June 5th, so that everyone may have a chance to wish our principal Mr. Rykal a most happy retirement.
Remember that next week on Thursday we will be taking our field trip to Little Norway and Cave of the Mounds. Watch the weather report, so that students can dress appropriately. Even if it is a hot day, the temperature in the Cave will only be in the 50's. We plan to board the bus and be on our way by 9:20 the morning of May 31st, and will get back in time to catch the usual buses (or rides) for home. For the parents who have planned to join us and chaperone, feel free to come on down to Room 117 soon after 9:00 am, and you can meet and decide how to carpool together. We have 4 students who have decided to buy the school sack lunch, and they will be ready for us that morning, and all other students (and parents!) should remember to bring a completely disposable lunch and drink, in a bag marked with their name. We will put them all together when we get to school that day. There are gift shops at both destinations, and students will get a brief time to make purchases at each place (completely optional!). Students are responsible for keeping their own money safe. If you have any other questions about that day, feel free to email me.
May you enjoy the longer holiday weekend! I will stay in touch as we approach our final week of 4th grade! Melanie
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