December 18, 2014

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

12-18-14

Math

Third grade is approaching the end of Chapter 4 about multiplication facts.  There will be a test upon returning to school in January.  Please practice the basic facts at home over the break.

Reading/Language Arts

The third grade story this week is "The Extra Good Sunday" taken from Ramona Quimby-Age 8 by Beverly Cleary.  In this humorous selection Ramona and her older sister Beezus have to cook supper for the family after they complained about the dinner the evening before.  The girls learn the difficulties of preparing the meal with limited resources in a given amount of time.  The comprehension skill covered character traits.  The vocabulary skill focused on using the thesaurus. Students worked on words with -er, -ir, -or, and -ur in phonics.  The grammar lessons focused on verb tense (present, past, and future).

Please check the take home folder for the Unit 14 weekly assessment.  We will not be moving ahead in the reading series next week due to only two days of school due to Christmas vacation.

The Unit 3 Benchmark Test will be given upon returning to school after Christmas break.

Science     

The next chapter in science will focus on how living things depend on one another.  Students will be learning about producer, consumers, decomposers, and food chains.

                                         Christmas Party
On Tuesday, December 23rd, third grade will have a classroom Christmas party in the morning after the moring recess.  Treats will be provided by the homeroom parent.  Students will watch a Christmas video.  Students also need to bring a sack lunch this day.  No drink, as milk will be provided. Students will be eating with their Advent Angel.  Afterwards, there we will be singing Christmas carols in the gym.  Dismissal is scheduled for 1:10 PM on this day.

Volunteers are Needed

Third grade is needing parent volunteers to help coordinate the basket and silent auction item for the St. Malachy Foundation Auction that will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015.  Please let me know if you would be able to help out with this project.

Dress Code Reminders

Just a reminder to parents as we wind down the year for Christmas break and return to school in January.  Here is the dress code at St. Malachy School.  Parents of girls please refer to the dress code that pertains to leggings.  This seems to be the biggest issue at this time.  

Everyday, all-year-long expectations:
A. Clothing should be clean and free of holes, rips, or tears.
B. Clothing should be modest and allow students to maintain modesty while sitting, standing, and
moving. Necklines should be high enough to provide complete coverage. The bottom of the garment
must extend to at least mid-thigh.
C. Undergarments are to be covered at all times.
D. Leggings may be worn as long as the bottom of the dress, skirt or short extends to at least mid-thigh.  
E. Sleeves are required for all.
F. Winter clothing (including boots, hats, mittens/gloves, and coats) is to be worn as needed. If there is snow on the ground, boots are needed. Students not wearing snow boots will stand in a cleared area
during recess. All snow gear must be taken home at the end of each week.
G. Shoes must be able to stay securely fastened to the student’s feet during activities and throughout
the entire school day.
H. PE attire includes tennis shoes/athletic shoes that stay securely fastened to the feet during exercise
and activity. Girls who wear dresses or skirts should also wear shorts.
I. White t-shirts/undershirts may not be worn as outer wear.

Mass Day/Holy Day - all day attire
A. Students are expected to dress up on Mass days.
B. Dress shirts, polo shirts, sweaters, turtlenecks, and dress slacks for boys.
C. Dresses, skirts, slacks, sweaters, turtlenecks, and blouses for girls.
D. Leggings may be worn as long as the bottom of the dress or skirt extends to at least mid-thigh.
E. No denim of any kind or color (includes skirts, shirts, pants, dresses, and jumpers) on Mass days.
F. No dress shorts, gauchos, Capri, crop pants, or split skirts on Mass days.
G. No t-shirts, sweatshirts or athletic gear on Mass days.

Important Dates

Friday, December 19th-Dress Rehearsal for Christmas program in the afternoon

Sunday, December 21st-St. Malachy Christmas program at 2 PM
Tuesday, December 23rd-Bring Sack Lunch (Milk Provided for Drink)

Tuesday, December 23rd-2 Hour Early Dismissal (1:10 PM) for Christmas Break

Christmas vacation goes from Wednesday, December 24, 2014-Sunday, January 4, 2015.  Classes resume on Monday, January 5, 2015.

Merry Christmas to all 3rd grade families!

December 11, 2014

Third Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

12-11-14

The third graders had a busy past Monday.  Students who had parts in the mass did a great job!  The students had a wonderful performance at Holy Spirit Church for the CCW.  Here is a picture of the class performing.

Reading/Language Arts

This week's story "Aero and Officer Mike-Patrol Partners" was a informational text about a day in the life of a police officer and his K-9 dog.  The comprehension skill focused on author's purpose.  The vocabulary skill covered the prefixes of in- and im-.   Students worked on pronoun-verb agreement in grammar.  The phonics skill focused on vowel plus r sounds.

The lesson 13 weekly assessment results are in the take home folder for you to review.  These are yours to keep.

Math

More and more multiplication is what third graders continue to work on. Students have learned the factors of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10. Students also learned about the associative property of multiplication. This property states when the grouping of the factors is changed, the product is the same, so (2 X 3) X 5 = 2 x (3 X 5).  Please work on basic multiplication facts at home with your child.

SCIENCE

Students are preparing for an upcoming test covering ecosystems.  The test will be on Friday, December 12th.  

VOLUNTEERS

Third grade is needing parent volunteers to help coordinate the basket and silent auction item for the St. Malachy Foundation Auction that will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015.  Please let me know if you would be able to help out with this project.

Upcoming Dates

Friday, December 12th-Mass at 9:15 AM

Wednesday, December 17th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Sunday, December 21st-Christmas Program at 2 PM at PAC

Tuesday, December 23rd-2 Hour Early Dismissal for Christmas Break

Christmas vacation goes from Wednesday, December 24th-Sunday, January 4th.  Classes resume on Monday, January 5, 2015.

December 4, 2014

Third Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

12-4-14

PROGRESS REPORTS

1st trimester progress reports are available for viewing on Power School.  You can access the website through the St. Malachy School website.

MATH

Third grade continues to learn the multiplication facts.  The class has learned the factors of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10.  Please practice the basic facts at home.  Students have learned strategies for getting the product.  Students have also learned about the distributive property of multiplication.  The property states that multiplying a sum by a number is the same as multiplying each addend by the number and then adding the products.  An example of this is 
6 X 7=(6 X 5) + (6 X 2) so 30 + 12 =42 so 6 X 7=42

READING/LANGUAGUE ARTS

This week third grade read "Yonder Mountain-A Cherokee Legend." In this legend, students learn about three young Native Americans are given a command by the chief to see who possess the skills to be the next leader of the tribe.  The comprehension skill focused on compare and contrast.  The vocabulary strategy worked on homographs (words that are spelled alike and have different meanings, and some may also be pronounced differently for example tie a bow and take a bow) and homophones (words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings for example bare feet and bear cub).  The phonics skill covered contractions.  The students worked on subject verb agreement in grammar.

In the take home folder this week are the results of the lesson 12 weekly assessment.  This was taken the week before Thanksgiving.

SCIENCE

Third grade continues to learn about ecosystems.  Students have learned about forests, deserts, grasslands, and water ecosystems. Third grade will have a test covering this topic next week.  The test is tentatively planned for Thursday, December 11th.

MASS SCHEDULE CHANGE

Please note the change in the mass schedule for the week of December 8th through December 12th.  Third grade will lead the mass on Monday, December 8th.  This is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Mass parts went home with the students this past Tuesday.  Please practice speaking parts at home.  There is no mass on Wednesday, December 10th.  There will be mass on Friday, December 12th. This is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Students are required to dress up and follow mass dress code on these two days.

MUSIC

Third grade has been invited to perform for a noon meeting of the Holy Spirit chapter of Catholic Council of Women.  The class will leave the school at 11:45 AM.  The students will perform then eat lunch at the church.  The class will return to school between 12:45-1:00 PM. Please direct any questions you may have to Mrs. Mullin.

IMPORTANT DATES

Monday, December 8th-3rd Grade Leads Mass @ 9:15 AM

Monday, December 8th-3rd Grade Performs at Holy Spirit Church for CCW

Wednesday, December 10th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, December 12th-Mass @ 9:15 AM

Wednesday, December 17th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Sunday, December 21st-Christmas Program @ 2 PM at Performing Arts Center

Tuesday, December 23rd-1 Hour Early Dismissal