9/18/25

Burg's Buzz

 9/18/25

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

Math

The third grade class has learned the processes of multiplication and division. The Topic 1 Assessment 1 will be on Friday, September 19th. A practice assessment was completed in class and is coming home in the red folder today. It shows examples of problems that students will be solving. Students do not have to have any of the facts memorized at this time. They just need to know how to use the strategies learned in class to solve the problems.

Science

Students are learning about types of forces. The class has explored the differences between balanced and unbalaced forces.

Reading/Language Arts

This week the third grade students are reading the fantasy story Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt. The students read about another unique character who fears the unknown world beyond his home. The comprehension skills the class is working on include making inferences, identifying text and graphic features, point of view, and theme. The class covered using the suffixes of -ful and -less as the vocabulary skill. The phonics skill focused on the long a (ai, ay, ea) and long e (ea, ee, ie, and e) sounds. The grammar skill was distinguishing between simple and compound sentences. Students were introduced to using coordinating conjunctions, such as "and," "but," "or," and "so," to join two simple sentences and create a compound sentence.

Testing for this story will be on Monday, September 22nd.

Important Dates

Friday, September 19th-Spirit Day $1

Tuesday, September 23rd-Homecoming Pep Rally

Wednesday, September 24th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, September 26th-Spirit Day $1

Friday, September 26th-3 Hour Early Dismissal (Homecoming)

 

9/11/25

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

9/11/25

Reading/Language Arts

This week, the class is reading a story by Megan McDonald, Judy Moody-The Mood Martian. Students learn about another unique character. Comprehension skills covered included monitoring and clarifying, figurative language, and literary elements. Students identified the four types of sentences: statements, questions, commands, and exclamations. The phonics skill focused on long vowel words. As a vocabulary skill, students worked with the prefix non-.

The spelling post test and assessments for this story will be on Friday, September 12th.

Science

The third grade class continues their conversation about force.

Math

This week, the 3rd grade students learned about the process of division. Students practiced dividing a total number of objects into equal groups. They also divided to find out how many equal groups there were when given the number of people in each group. Students practiced the strategy of repeated subtraction to solve division problems.

Green Valley Field Trip

Kindergarten through fourth grade students will visit Green Valley State Park on Monday, September 15th. The bus will be leaving STM around 9:30 AM. Students should make sure they are dressed for the weather. As of right now the expected high on Monday is eighty-six degrees. Students do need to wear tennis shoes. Please no sandals or crocs. Activities planned included a nature hike, gaga ball, using the playground, playing on the beach, using a parachute, and sidewalk chalk. Your child will need to bring a sack lunch with a drink for the field trip. Students may also bring their water bottles if they wish. The bus will return to STM around 2:15 PM.

FAST Testing

Three times throughout the school year, students will be given the statewide math and reading screeners. Students take these assessments on their chromebooks. One of these reading assessments involves students reading aloud to the teacher. Words per minute and accuracy are recorded. This test will be administered on Thursday, September 18th. There will be a substitute in the classroom on this day as I pull students to be tested.

Extra Curricular Activities

One of my goals as a teacher each year is to attend one outside of school event for each student in my class. I enjoy seeing the students participate in activities. Being an empty nester, this is one of the things I miss. I have attended flag football, volleyball games, dance recitals, basketball games, wrestling matches, soccer games, and running races. If your child has an event that he/she would like me to attend, please let me know the date and time. I will see how it fits into my schedule.

Music at Mass

If your child is interested in playing the piano or an instrument at Mass, there is a link to a Google form on the school's website that needs to be filled out. You will be contacted by the school once your request has been approved. The third grade class will lead the mass on October 15th, January 21st, and April 22nd.

Important Dates

Monday, September 15th-Green Valley Field Trip (K-4th)

Wednesday, September 17th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Thursday, September 18th-Substitute for FAST Testing

Friday, September 19th-Spirit Day $1

Wednesday, September 24th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

9/4/25

 Burg's Buzz 

9/4/25

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

Science

The first topic the third grade class is learning about is force. Students have identified pushes and pulls that cause forces to happen. The class also discussed strong and weak forces.

Reading/Language Arts

The class finished Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match. Thursday will be spent taking the spelling post test, the weekly assessment (questions over the story), and the module test (a cold read that assesses students on the skills and strategies worked on).

On Friday, the class will have a pretest and read a different story.

Math

The class continues to learn about the process of multiplication. This week, students used a number line to skip count and solve problems. Students also made arrays to model multiplication problems. The Commutative (Order) Property of Multiplication was also introduced to the class. An example of this is 4x5=5x4.

Class Meeting

The third grade class is scheduled to have weekly class meetings on Wednesday afternoons. The discussions and activities that the class does will focus on social-emotional learning. Enclosed in the take home folder is an interview form for your child to complete. Your child needs to interview a parent about he/she got their name, The child should be the one writing down the answers. During our class meeting on Wednesday, September 10th, the children will be sharing information that was learned from the interview.

School Picture Day

School picture day at St. Malachy is scheduled for Thursday, September 11th. Order forms were sent home in last week's take home folder. I have received a few order forms back. Please let me know if you need a new one sent home.

September Book Order

Included in your child's take home folder this week is a Scholastic Book order.  Scholastic offers books at affordable prices for parents to purchase for their children's reading interests. All ordering is done online. The closing date for ordering from the September catalog is Friday, September 19th.

Green Valley Field Trip

A field trip to Green Valley State Park has been planned for the students at St. Malachy School. The students in grades kindergarten, first, second, third, and fourth will have their trip on Monday, September 15th. There is paperwork in the take home folder that needs to be completed and returned to school. Students will need to bring a sack lunch on this day. Also, please have students wear tennis shoes. There will be some walking on the trails.

Parents are more than welcome to meet us at the park. Please note that if you plan on joining, please make sure your background screening is completed. This is required by the Diocese for all adults who attend field trips. Please contact Mrs. Simmons with any questions pertaining to this.

Important Dates

Friday, September 5th-Spirit Day $1 (Iowa Hawkeyes/Iowa State Cyclones)

Wednesday, September 10th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Thursday, September 11th-Picture Day

Monday, September 15th-Green Valley Field Trip

8/28/25

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

8/28/25

Welcome to 3rd Grade

It has been a GREAT first week of school in third grade! The students are learning the daily routines. I will post a blog each Thursday morning. I also make announcements and post pictures on my school Facebook page (Burg's Buzz at St. Malachy School). This is a private page that only parents/grandparents of students in third, fourth, and fifth grade are a part of. 

Social Contract

This week, the third, fourth, and fifth grade students created a social contract. The guidelines that were established are expected to be followed throughout the school day. This includes when students are in the classroom, at specials, and at recess. A copy of the social contract will be sent home next week in the take-home folder. Please place this in a location where your child can read it regularly as a reminder.

Math

The first topic that the third-grade class will cover is multiplication. This week, students have worked on relating multiplication to repeated addition.

Reading/Language Arts

Module 1 focuses on characters. The stories within the module will focus on the traits of characters. The first story that the class will be reading is Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match by Monica Brown. This realistic fiction story is about a lively girl who explores how individuality makes us different.

The class also started spelling this week. An email explaining how spelling works in 3rd grade was sent out yesterday. A hard copy of the note is being sent home in the take home folder.

Dress Code

Here are some reminders about the school's dress code. Students in third grade must wear shoes that stay securely fastened to their feet. This means shoes must have a back on them. The other expectation is that when a student wears leggings, the bottom of the shirt, skirt, or dress must extend to the mid-thigh. I have had discussions with the students about the dress code.

Classroom Fridge

A note was sent home with parents at Meet the Teacher about the "fridge" in our classroom. Students are asked to bring in a fridge worthy picture of themselves to put up. Below is a photograph of what the fridge looks like now. There is still plenty of room for photographs from students who have not brought one in. 

Important Dates

Monday, September 1st-NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)

Wednesday, September 3rd-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Wednesday, September 10th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Thursday, September 11th-Picture Day

5/29/25

 Burg's Buzz
nburg@crestonstmalachy.org 
5/29/25

Math

The third grade class finished the year doing a review of math concepts.

Reading/Language Arts

The class finished reading Poppy by Avi this week.  It is an enchanting story that uses the themes of bravery, friendship, and the triumph of good over evil. There are other books in this series as well for students to read.

School Year

It's hard to believe that the 2024-2025 school year is complete. My heart is full of gratitude and joy as I reflect on the learning and growth that the students and I have experienced together. Each third grade student has grown academically, socially, and spiritually. I have enjoyed getting to know each student through the school year. I hope your child has learned to take chances, know that it is ok to make mistakes, and not give up when things get hard. Thank you, parents, for your unwavering support that you have provided to me as your child's third grade teacher. Throughout the summer, I hope you can build upon the wonderful progress that your child has made throughout third grade.

I hope that all families have a wonderful summer. I will be keeping each third grade family in my prayers. May your summer be filled with God's abundant blessings.

Last Day of School Schedule

9:00 Field Day Activities

10:45-Silly String by PTO

11:00-Lunch Served by PTO

12:00-8th Grade Clap Out

12:10-Dismissal

Important Dates

June 23rd-27th-Vacation Bible School at STM

VBS Registration

  

5/22/25

 Burg's Buzz
nburg@crestonstmalachy.org
5/22/25

Math

This week, the students have been working on subtraction. Students solved problems by using the partial differences strategy using a number line. The class also used the regrouping strategy.

If your child has not passed all of their basic facts on XtraMath, please continue to have them practice at home this summer. I have sent information to students who are not enrolled online in the take home folder.

Reading/Language Arts

The class continues to read the novel Poppy. We are about halfway through the book. The students are really enjoying it.

FAST Testing

The results for the spring FAST screening have been included in your child's take home folder. Every student made growth throughout the school year. Please continue to have your child work on their reading and math fluency during the summer. Five to ten minutes a day will help keep students on track.

Bringing Home Supplies

Students will bring home the supplies in their desks on Thursday, May 29th. Please make sure your child comes to school with an empty book bag. I have talked with the third graders about taking things home in their lockers ahead of time. I plan on sending home your child's writing portfolio with them this Thursday.

Last Day of School

Field day will take place on Friday, May 30th, beginning at 9:00 AM. Students should wear tennis shoes for running around outside. Lunch will also be served by the PTO, grilling hamburgers. School dismisses at 12:10 PM.

Important Dates

Monday, May 26th-Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)

Thursday, May 29th-Take Home Supplies

Friday, May 30th-Field Day 9:00 AM

Friday, May 30th-12:10 PM Dismissal

5/15/25

Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

5/15/25

Reading/Language Arts

The third-grade class is reading the book Poppy by Avi. The story follows Poppy, a deer mouse, navigating life in Dimwood Forest. Poppy has to deal with a fierce owl, Mr. Ocax, and she faces challenges. Throughout the story, the class will work on vocabulary and comprehension skills that we covered throughout the year.

The results of Module 8 have been included in the take home folder.

Science

This week has been spent learning all about corn for the upcoming field trip. Students have learned about the process of planting and harvesting corn. They have also learned about the many uses of corn.

Math

The third grade class is working on addition with regrouping. Students started by solving addition problems by finding partial sums. This involves the students adding the sums using place value (hundreds, tens, ones). From using that strategy, students then moved on to using the standard algorithm.

Important Dates

Friday, May 16th-Spirit Day $1

Wednesday, May 21st-Spring Music Concert 6 PM

Monday, May 26th-Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)

Friday, May 30th-Field Day 9 AM

The last day of school is Friday, May 30th. 

School will dismiss at 12:10 PM.