1/9/25

 Burg's Buzz
1/9/25
nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

Reading/Language Arts

This week the third graders read the play "Two Bear Cubs" by Robert D. San Souci. The play is based upon a Native American myth. In this drama, two bear cubs do not follow the advice their mother gives them about not going downriver. When the cubs come up missing, Mother Grizzly is terribly worried and asks the rest of the forest animals for help in finding them. An unlikely animal proves to be the hero in rescuing the bear cubs. The comprehension skills included discussing elements of drama, literary elements, and theme. Students also learned about the  Latin roots aud- and vis- as the vocabulary skills. The grammar skill focused on using quotation marks. The decoding skill covered words with vowel sounds of au, aw, al, and o.

Science

The class continues to learn about plant and animal adaptations. Students read about how an organism needs to react to its environment in order to survive. Students also looked at the cause and effect relationship between human activity on plants' and animals' environments.

Math

The third grade class has returned to school by working on fractions.  To introduce the topic, students used Hershey chocolate bars to familiarize them with vocabulary terms such as numerator, denominator, halves, thirds, fourths, equal parts, and unit fraction. Students have worked on partitioning regions and finding the whole when given a unit fraction. 

Please continue to have your child practice the multiplication and division facts at home. We will continue to review those basic facts here at school, but any additional practice your child will be greatly beneficial.

Hearts Around the World

The third grade class is participating in Hearts Around the World. The goal is to get a valentine card from each of the fifty states and possibly other countries throughout the world. Please share the school address with all of your family and friends. We will have a map to keep track of all of the locations that we receive valentines from. There is also a note in your child's take home folder about this project.

December Reading Incentive Program Results

For the month of December, ten students met the reading goal of at least 400 total minutes read. The class read for a total of 7, 186 minutes in all. Maddox received the award for the most minutes read in the month.

The goal for January, February, and March increases to 500 total minutes.n

Music Class

There is a note in the take home folder from Mrs. Warner. The note is about purchasing a recorder. If you already have a recorder from a previous child, your third grade can use it. Just have him/her bring to school.

Items Needed

The third grade class is in need of more paper towels and Kleenex. Any donations would be greatly appreciated.

 FAST Testing

The winter screening for FAST Testing will begin on Monday, January 13th. Students will take two reading and two math assessments.

St. Malachy Foundation Gala

Each year the STM Foundation hosts their annual gala. This is a fundraiser that directly benefits St. Malachy School. This year the event is planned for Saturday, March 1st.

The STM Foundation has decided to change up the baskets. In the past, each grade or grade band (3rd, 4th, and 5th) donated a basket for the live auction. This year it has been decided to have one whole school basket instead. Each student at STM is asked to donate $1.00 towards the basket. Please have your child bring a dollar to school by January 31st.

Each class will also be responsible for a silent auction project as well. More information will be sent out about this at a later date.

Important Dates

Friday, January 10th-Spirit Day $1

Wednesday, January 15th-PTO Meeting

Wednesday, January 22nd-3rd Grade Leads the Mass

Wednesday, January 22nd-Ben Tracy Presentation-6PM

Friday, January 24th-Spirit Day $1

Sunday, January 26th-Friday, January 31st-Catholic Schools Week