Hello 4B Families,

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Can you believe it is the last week of school?! I am sad as I write this knowing that this is the last newsletter of the year and my last week with your fourth graders. I am so proud of the students and all of the gains they’ve made. I’m also extremely grateful to all of the parents for all of the hard work and dedication you’ve put into the remote learning experience. This isn’t the way we wanted to end the year, but I’m so grateful to be a part of this wonderful HRS family.

Report cards will be sent to you by mail next week. Along with the report card you will also be receiving information about math placement for 5^th grade.

Summer packets: If you have requested paper copies of the summer math and reading packets they will be placed inside your child’s portfolio. Be sure to take out the packets and put them in a safe place.

If you have opted not to receive paper packets you will be able to access the math and reading packets in PDF form both on Google Classroom and on the 4B Webpage.

• I know this is probably not when anyone wants to think about more school work, but I do want to take this moment to reinforce the importance of regular reading and math review over the summer.  Research is clear that students lose a significant amount of growth during the summer months if they do not include regular reading and math into their summer plans. As mentioned, it is more about quality and quantity—short but highly focused reviews a few times a week make a real difference and reduce the “summer slide.”

I will update the top tabs of the 4B webpage this week where you will find newly added “Summer Math”, “Summer Reading” and “Summer Writing” tabs. In each section you will find links to great websites, resources and ideas to help with summer review. . The links on the right side of the webpage that the students have used all year will remain as well. If you are looking for some fun summer work ideas, be sure to check out these tabs.

Those students that can bring in evidence of their summer work in math (worksheets, website online program results, or completed workbooks) should bring them in to me the first week of school for some fun little prizes/goodies to reward a job well done.  Added bonus for me–I get to see my students!

I also encourage students to continue practicing math and reading via the various programs that they’ve created logins for: Epic, Happy Numbers, Xtra Math, etc.

Portfolios: When you come to school for pick up/drop off, your package of items will include each student’s 4^th grade portfolio. In the portfolios you will find many of the bigger/special projects of the year. This is a nice compilation of fourth grade work neatly stored.

Zoom Meetings this week: The Zoom schedule for the week is as follows:

Monday (6/8): 11:00 (Social Studies with Ms. Simpson–Please see Google Classroom for the Meeting ID and Password)

Tuesday (6/9): 11:00 (Missed Birthday Celebrations)

Wednesday (6/10):

**10:00 Seattle Public Library (Please see Google Classroom for the Meeting ID and Password)

11:00 (Slideshow and Last meeting of the year!)

**Seattle Public Library’s 2020 Summer Reading Program: Join Mrs. Weythman and Ms. Sumida, the Children’s Librarian for the West Seattle Branch of the Seattle Public Library, on Wednesday, June 10th at 10am for an optional Zoom presentation of this year’s SPL’s Summer Reading Program.  Ms. Sumida will explain how this challenge will look remotely and when libraries reopen.  She is a wonderful resource and encouragement for summer reading and resources, so don’t miss out on this chance to meet with her.  See you there!

Math: Students will work on their review packet this week. Please use the PDF on Google Classroom to find out when to post the pages to Seesaw.

Language Arts-Letters to Next Year’s Teacher!: This week, students will write letters to next year’s teacher. These letters will have 4 paragraphs, and the specific directions can be found on the PDF. These letters should be turned into Seesaw no later than Wednesday, June 10th, and they should also be dropped off during the pick up/drop off days at school.

Student Materials Drop Off And Pick Up

On Thursday, June 11^th and Friday, June 12^th, we will be collecting school materials that the students have taken home and giving out their personal items. This will be an involved process as parents and students are not able to come into the school at this time. To assist everyone in social distancing, a staff member will come to your car to collect textbooks, electronics, CYO uniforms and anything else your child’s teacher has requested. You will then be given a bag with any items that your child had left in the building. Below, you will find your assigned time listed by the first two letters of your last name. We ask that you arrive during your 30 minute window and park in front of the school.  Please have your child’s school items in a bag labeled with their name.  If you have more than one child, please put their items in separate bags labeled with each of their names. You will receive more detailed instructions from your child’s homeroom teacher. Thank you for your patience during this process.

Please return the following items to school:

• iPad (Please carefully clean the device.)
• iPad charger
• Recorder book (Keep recorder at home)
• Hardcover Blue reading anthology (“Journeys Common Core” book)
• Paperback Blue Religion Text Book (“Alive in Christ”)
• From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler novel
• Any classroom library books or school library books
• Letter to next year’s teacher (please place in a folder of some type to keep it neat)

Note: You will receive a portfolio with student work from the first ⅔ of the year. You can add any of your child’s work from remote learning to the portfolio or discard it.

I want to say again how wonderful it was to be the teacher in 4B this year. You all made my first year at HRS memorable (and not just because of the circumstances!) Thank you, and have a great summer!

Ms. Benson