Here's hoping you are all enjoying a beautiful, long spring weekend! I want to keep you updated on upcoming events. On Tuesday, April 22nd, West Middleton begins a BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION and food donation drive (for Middleton Outreach Ministry) which will last until mid-May. If our entire school collects 12,000 Box Tops and food items, we will get to see our Mr. Macklem walk through our halls with PINK hair! There will be containers for Box Tops and nonperishable food in the school entry way, so send everything you can with your students in the coming weeks. Thank you! We are also looking forward to a delicious fundraiser through our PTO, thanks to Novanta, located on Old Sauk Road. On two Sundays (April 27th and May 4th) from 11am to 8pm, they will donate a portion of sales to West Middleton! I will forward a flier to you all.
Also beginning on April 22 and during the following 2 to 3 weeks, all of our classes will be scheduled for the third round of MAPS testing in the computer lab - one session for reading skills, and one session for math skills. Our own class will do one session on April 23rd, and the second session on April 29th. I highly recommend a good night's sleep and good breakfast for those days! On the morning of May 2nd, our 4th graders get their tour of the new 5th grade wing of Glacier Creek - that will be so exciting! On May 14th, our 4th and 5th graders will take part in the annual elementary track meet at the high school. Mrs. Odgren will be sending you more info about that day very soon.
I would like to remind everyone that our biggest field trip of the school year will be on Tuesday, May 27th, when we go to the Cave of the Mounds. Our PTO is covering the cost for every student. If you would like to chaperone (and we can take every parent who volunteers!), the cost for the day is $15 (cash, or checks made out to the Cave of the Mounds - thank you!). We do need your commitment and check or cash by May 9th because they require us to send everything in two weeks earlier than our visit date. I do hope you can come spend the day with us - it is so much fun! In addition to a 45 minute tour of the caves below ground, we get a guided tour above ground for signs of the caverns below, we 'pan' for precious rocks and minerals, there is a 'class' in a big old barn, and we picnic on a large, tree covered lawn. You can carpool and follow the buses - we will leave by 8:30 and be back around 2:30 that day. So let me know soon if you can join us!
In class, we are still being held spellbound by the drama and suspense of our class read aloud book, Number the Stars. This is the mentor text to our Historical Fiction reading unit, and our 4th graders have been reading dozens of their own books as well - everyone is keeping a growing list! History has come alive for our kids, and our reading discussions and journaling reflect some very bright and deep thinking! We are all learning together, and I am very proud of our students! In May, we will transition to Book Clubs using books that center on a variety of social issues, and write some literary essays in Writer's Workshop, which will pair together very nicely.
Many of you have probably noticed increased interest in creating Google Presentations on the part of your student. This was introduced in Technology class when I told Mrs. Tofte of my plan to give everyone a chance to focus on one United States Region in Social Studies and teach the rest of us through a presentation. Thank you for your willingness to share your home computers, because so many of our kids have just taken off with this method of presentation, and after even one Tech class, they have been motivated to create special reports for the rest of us on all variety of topics! It has been so wonderful to have fellow 'teachers' in class, and they all get extra credit, with their names on our 'Gold Star Researchers' wall.
Thank you for sending an extra pair of shoes to school now that we are truly in 'mud' season. I will keep you up to date on information and reminders as we get to each event that is filling our calendars during these last two busy months of 4th grade! Sincerely, Melanie Hannam
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