November 28th, 2016
Dear 4B Families, 
Happy first week of December and Advent! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was such a pleasure meeting with you all last week during conferences. I am inspired and excited for the new trimester to begin. The signs of the season are all around us. As we prepare for Christmas we are asked to look for ways we can serve others. As a school we are asked to participate in several outreach/service opportunities. I will send out information in the next few days detailing the 4th grade outreach focus for Advent. Thank you in advance for your support.
“At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.” ― Mother Teresa
Thursday the students will receive the name of their Faith Family Prayer Partners. Each student is asked to pray for his or her partner each day and make a special card for him or her. Directions for this project will be on the sheet of paper with the name of the prayer partner. Nice construction paper will also be provided to make the card. Our hope is that the cards will be “from the heart” showing some real thought and time. This not only includes a nicely decorated/illustrated card, but a personal note and prayer of some type. The cards should be brought to school on Wednesday the 14th to make sure we have them all for our card exchange. If students misplace the name of their prayer partner they should ask their Faith Family teacher. Thank you for helping remind your child to add their prayer partner to their Advent prayers!
Religion: Advent marks the beginning of the new Liturgical Year. Our Advent Wreaths will 
be blessed at this Friday’s prayer service. In our religion classes these next two weeks we will be learning about the Seasons of our Church, important feast days, and how to read a liturgical calendar. On Monday the students will fill out two study sheets for their Liturgical Year test that will take place Tuesday, December 13th. All students will have this study sheet in their filer by this Tuesday. Extra copies are available on the website. Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare! This is a two-part test in which the students will answer questions about the liturgical year as well as fill in and correctly color a liturgical calendar. We will review in class and use our texts to further our understanding of the Church Year. You should quiz your child at home on both the calendar and related questions. Thank you.
On the 17th Fr. Oakland came to visit the students to talk about reconciliation.
The students in 4B will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Advent Wednesday, December 7th. We will be reviewing this Sacrament in class and praying the Act of Contrition regularly. The students will be required to have this prayer memorized (most know it already) before the day of the reconciliation. Each student will have a copy in their filer and you can also access a copy on our website. Thank you for reviewing with your child at home.
Next Thursday the 8th we will celebrate the Mass of the Immaculate Conception at 8:45. Students need to come in perfect uniform.
Math: Thank you for your continued support in practicing the multiplication/division facts for speed recall and accuracy! We are wrapping up our chapter 3 with a test on Wednesday. Tuesday homework will be a practice test. Our next chapter will focus on multiplication of larger numbers and problem solving.
Reading/Language Arts: Before the Thanksgiving break the students brought home a large paper and directions for the Charlotte’s Web Quote Poster project. Perfect spelling and punctuation is expected, and of course neat penmanship! The posters are due on December 8th. Most students brought home their Charlotte’s Web folder with quotes. They should be sure to bring back this folder to school on Monday as we use it with our lessons.
Social Studies: Tuesday the students will be taking the Midwest State test. We will have a combination NE/SE/Midwest State test next Friday the 9th. This will 
be a review of all of the states we have covered so far. Our class work is focusing on Native People and the features of the regions of our state.
Science: This week we will discuss the different types of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, as well as the impact of energy consumption. Students will understand how they use energy and how it is transformed from one type to another. As engineers we will learn the innovative ways other engineers are conserving energy and how energy can be conserved in our own homes. The learning objective will be for the students to be able to list several ways to conserve energy.
- We are in need of small, empty jam jars (about 4-5 in. tall) for a little project we will be working on. Please make sure there are no labels on them. We would like the jars in by December 10th. If you have more than one to send, that would be great too. No baby food jars please. Thanks!
There are several homework tasks that require review and quizzing. Parents can help by using the study sheets with your child to ask questions/quiz them on the topics. This includes the Liturgical Year Test, map test, spelling and perhaps flash cards. Remember, short—but consistent practice is the best way to learn new information. We will be reviewing for these tests at school as well, but the home practice is important. Thank you!
Homework: Nightly review of math facts is expected if facts are not memorized.
- Lesson 10 spelling words.
- Math homework Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
- Review for Midwest state test on Tuesday the 29th and the combination NE/SE/Midwest test on the 9th.
- Quote Poster due by the 8th.
- Liturgical Year Test Review. Test is Tuesday, December 13th.
- Spanish Test
- Recorder practice
- Pray for Prayer Partner