FIRST WEEK

Families of Room 31 ~

I hope you all enjoy the extended weekend.  We were certainly tired after our first days back to school.  What an exciting and HOT  first week we had!

 

HIGHLIGHTS

            •  We unpacked and labeled all our notebooks and folders

• We enjoyed some “get to know you” activities

            •  We began reviewing / discussing class and homework expectations

            •  We began to utilize our planners and homework folders.

            •  We took two of our math 100 fact quizzes and one spelling assessment

            •  We completed a scavenger hunt of the room 
 
WRITER’S NOTEBOOK ~ Wednesday I sent the students home wit their Writer’s Notebook, as well as a blue handout with directions.  The students are to decorate the FRONT of the notebooks with pictures / photographs / drawings / lists / memories / quotes that you can use as inspiration for writing their own stories.  This is optional There is a picture on the back of the blue paper to assist you in what it should look like.  Please have your child return their notebook by Thursday, September 6^th.
ALL ABOUT ME BAGS – Don’t forget to have your child complete / return their ALL ABOUT ME bag by Wednesday, September 5^th.  We need these for our getting to know you activities.
Please remember to send your child to school everyday with a SNACK and WATER BOTTLE.  Our lunch is at 1:05 and they need a snack to hold them.  Also, our room is HOT and a water bottle is suggested to keep them hydrated all year long.  Remember – NO NUTS/ TREENUTS!
 
PLANNERS - Don’t forget to check and SIGN your child’s planner every night.   They have homework Monday – Thursday and their planner and homework folder should be coming home and back to school EVERYDAY!
 
SUMMER READING / SUMMER MATH – All summer reading / math calendars were due this week.  I am still tracking down a few.    If your child has not, please make sure the works comes in next Tuesday.
 
Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have ANY QUESTIONS.   Email is the best way to reach me, yet you may send in a note / write a note in the planner if you would like.
 
I look forward to meeting all of you at Curriculum Night on September 13^th.

Great First Day

Families of Room 31!!

What a wonderful first day we all experienced!!!   I was so excited to have my room filled with eager and excited students! 

We spent some time unpacking and labeling our supplies.   Some supplies  -  the extras we did not ask for, were sent home (or to be kept in their backpacks) as we don’t have room to store them in our small buckets.

Today the children will come home with their planners and homework folders. The homework folder and planner are to travel between home and school on a daily basis.  Tonight, students and parents are to read / review the opening day letter that was sent home in the communication folder.  Please make sure your child brings back their planner / homework folder and an empty communication folder tomorrow.

I also ask that you:
            •  send your child to school each day with a WATER BOTTLE and SNACK.  Remember to be allergy aware!
            •  sign / initial your child’s planner EVERY NIGHT!!
 
Tomorrow the students will have PE and CHORUS.   Don’t forget sneakers!

Just a reminder - Friday is a day off for students as teachers attend a professional development training.  Also, Monday is Labor day so there will be no school!

I look forward to a GREAT YEAR!   Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

Welcome to Room 31

Welcome to Room 31 ~
I am so excited for the first day of school tomorrow! My classroom is located on the third floor - Room 31. Here are just a few reminders regarding the first day.

1.  TRANSPORTATION FORM - Thanks to those of you whom have already sent this in.  If you have not, please send  your child's transportation plan with them to school tomorrow morning. You can also email it directly to me if you'd like.    Also, please make sure your child knows how he or she is getting home!

2. WATER BOTTLE / SNACK -  As you know, this week is going to be very hot. Please send your child to school each day with a water bottle or two to bring into the classroom. This water bottle can be refilled throughout the day as needed.   I know some students have frozen them in the past to keep them cooler.    Also, lunch is at 1:05.  Please make sure your child has a snack each day as 1:05 is a long time to wait without any "fuel!" 

3. SUMMER MATH / READING CALENDARS - Summer math and reading calendars will be collected tomorrow upon arrival. Please make sure your child them completed with their name on them. 

4.  COMMUNICATION FOLDERS - A blue communication folder will be sent home a the beginning of each week.  Please take out the notices / corrected papers and send the folder back with your child the following day.

5.  PLANNERS / HOMEWORK FOLDERS - Your child will come home with a planner and homework folder every day.  I (or another adult in the room) will initial the planner every day to make sure they have copied the assignment correctly.  Please make sure your child completed their assignment each night.   Once you know they have, please sign / initial your child's planner EVERY NIGHT and have them pack it in their backpack for the next day!

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to get in touch.  I'm looking forward to working with you to support your child in having a successful fourth grade!

Warm wishes ~

Completion Ceremony Reminder

Families of Room 31 -

First, Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s out there.  I always stop to remember my dad on this special day.  There is a quote that I always use when referencing him that goes out to all of you -  "A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try again.”  Thanks for always being there to “brush” us of and letting us try again!

Tomorrow, Monday June 18th, is an exciting day for fourth grade.  Our fourth grade Completion Ceremony begins at 9:30 tomorrow.  I’d like to highlight a few important pieces of the invitation:

• Family and friends are welcome to enter the gym no sooner than 9:00am. Please do not arrive any earlier than 9:00am as traffic will interfere with morning student drop-off. 
  
• Students are asked to dress appropriately for this special occasion. Please refrain from jeans, t-shirts, and tank tops. If your child would like to change after the ceremony he/she is welcome to bring a change of clothes.

The change of clothes is IMPORTANT for our class as we will have our final PE class at 12:00 today so they will need to change in play clothes and have sneakers!!!

Also, with the given HEAT, please  send your child to school with a water bottle or TWO.  Freezing them has helped to keep them cooler throughout the day.

I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.

Kelly Finneran

Field Trip Reminder / Upcoming Dates

Families of Room 31 ~
Just a reminder that our field trip to Lowell Mills in Tuesday, June 5th.  Students need to be dropped off at the school at 7:45 AM with their bagged / disposable lunch.  The bus will leave at 8:00 AM.  We will return back to Coolidge for the usual dismissal time.  Please see the attached reminder that was sent home last week for more information.  We are going rain or shine.  Most of our day will be indoor, yet need to walk a distance to and from the bus.
LOWELL REMINDER.doc 

Upcoming Important Dates
Tuesday June 5^th – LOWELL MILLS FIELD TRIP – students need to arrive at Coolidge at 7:45 AM.  Buses leave at 8:00 AM.  We return for usual dismissal.  Look for more information in today’s communication folder.
 
Thursday June 7^th – PICTURES of students due for completion poster
 
Friday June 8^th  –  Tracks for Technology Fundraiser due.... Thanks to those who have already submitted their child's pledge sheet  ( a new pledge sheet is going home in the Monday Communication Folders for those who may need it.
 
Thursday June 14^th – Sherwood Ambassadors visit 4^th grade classes
 
Monday June 18^th – Completion Ceremony for 4^th grade   (9:30  AM- 11:00 AM)
 
Wednesday June 20^th – Ice Cream Social for 4^th grade (2:00 PM – students only)
 
Thursday June 21^st – Last day of school – Wear 4^th grade T-shirt!   Dismissal at 12:15
 
Just a shout out to the PTO for some recent activities.  Last Thursday we had the please of listening to and learning from non-fiction author Loree Griffin Burns.  She is a dynamic presenter and truly strikes a chord with the students about the importance of researching, writing and revising.   Also, Friday June 1st was our Field Day and Tracks for Technology.   A lot of hard work and planning happens behind the scenes to make events like this happen!  We are fortunate to have such an a group of hard working parents here at Coolidge working to provide the students with such wonderful experiences.  Speaking of great experiences, the PTO is sponsoring a school wide visit from character actress Cheryl Faye who will be visiting the school this Wednesday as Sally Ride!   Ask your child about her visit Wednesday evening.

As always, please reach out if you have any questions.

END OF YEAR REMINDERS / DATES

Families of Room 31 ~

I hope everyone enjoyed the “official” start to summer.  The year is quickly coming to an end and there is A LOT happening.  Below is a summary of some upcoming events / important dates for fourth grade.

SPIRIT WEEK  / IMPORTANT DATES

SPIRIT WEEK is this week May 29^th – June 1^st

Tuesday May 29^th – Sports Day – wear your favorite article of clothing (no hat) to represent your favorite sport team

Wednesday May 30^th – Crazy Hair Day

Wednesday May 30^th – SELCO is coming to 4^th grade to film a commercial.  Please have your child either WEAR or BRING their SELCO shirt that they received when we visited SELCO earlier this month

Thursday May 31^st – School Spirit Day – wear your Coolidge T-shirt or red and black

Thursday May 31^st – Author Loree Burns visiting 3^rd and 4^th grade

Friday June 1^st – Field Day / Color Day – 4^th grade color is blue!

Friday June 1^st – Tracks for Technology (after field day)

Tuesday June 5^th – LOWELL MILLS FIELD TRIP – students need to arrive at Coolidge at 7:45 AM.  Busses leave at 8:00 AM.  We return for usual dismissal.  Look for more information in today’s communication folder.

Thursday June 7^th – PICTURES of students due for completion poster

Friday June 8^th – RAINDATE - Field Day / Color Day – 4^th grade color is blue!

Friday June 8^th  – RAINDATE - Tracks for Technology (after field day)

Friday June 8th - TRACKS for TECHNOLOGY FUNDRAISER DUE!

Thursday June 14^th – Sherwood Ambassadors visit 4^th grade classes

Monday June 18^th – Completion Ceremony for 4^th grade

Wednesday June 20^th – Ice Cream Social for 4^th grade

                                      (2:00 PM – students only)

Thursday June 21^st – Last day of school – Wear 4^th grade T-shirt!  

                                     Dismissal at 12:15

MCAS Reminder - May 10th & 11th

MCAS REMINDER

Our fourth grade students will be taking the MATH portion of MCAS performance based 
assessments.  The students will be using the iPads for this test.  The students are well prepared and have certainly progressed in their math skills this year.    It is time for their talents to shine!

Finneran / Weagle – May 10^th & 11^th   (Thursday / Friday)

Cloyes / Rice – May 14^th & 15^th  (Monday / Tuesday)

Here are a few reminders that we’ve discussed with the students:

1.  ARRIVE TO SCHOOL ON TIME!

     This is key for those students that do not take the bus.   MCAS testing is scheduled to begin at 9:15. It is important that we have some time to talk with the students prior to the beginning of the given day’s assessment.   

2.  Get a good night’s sleep!

3.  Eat a filling, healthy breakfast.

4.  Bring TWO SNACKS and a WATER BOTTLE to school!

      * First snack will be eaten prior to testing and the second snack needs to be able to be eaten quickly (3 to 5 minutes).

5.  Wear comfortable, appropriate layered clothing.

6.  Any ELECTRONIC devices such as smart watches / cell phones, etc. should either be kept at home or will be kept on the teacher’s desk.

     7.  Remember to use all the strategies that they have learned and practiced.