2/26/26

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

2/26/26

Science

There will be a test on Friday, February 27th, that covers living things and their environment.

Math

The next concept the 3rd grade class will be working on is addition and subtraction.  This will include using math properties, mental math strategies, and estimation.

Reading/Language Arts

This week, the third grade is reading the narrative nonfiction selection Octopus Escapes Again by Laurie Ellen Angus. The reader follows Octopus spending her day trying to find something to eat. Meanwhile, she also has to escape predators trying to eat her. The comprehension skills reviewed the central idea, text/graphic features, and figurative language. The grammar skill continued to focus on adjectives. Students worked on adding -er and    -est as well as more and most to adjectives when comparing. The class covered the prefix of un- as the vocabulary skill. The decoding skill focused on words with -er, -or, -ir, and -ur.

Reading Incentive Program Calendars

February calendars are due back to school on Monday, March 2nd. Please make sure a parent totals the amount of minutes read and signs the calendar. A calendar for March has been included in the take home folder. March is the last month for tracking minutes at home.

National Reading Month

March is National Reading Month. Last week a calendar went home with the dress up days planned for the month. This week, a Bingo card is being sent home. If your child completes a square on the sheet, have your child X it out, and an adult should sign the square. When your child has a BINGO (up and down, across, or diagonal), he/she can return the sheet and get a prize. The Bingo sheet will then be sent back home. Each time your child gets another BINGO, he/she can return to get a prize. The goal is to complete all of the reading tasks by the end of March.

Late Slips

As a reminder, with the start of the 3rd trimester on Monday, March 2nd, the third grade students start late slips.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Monday, March 9th, through Thursday, March 12th. Please sign up for a time on JMC if you have not already done so.

Important Dates

Saturday, February 28th-STM Foundation Gala

Monday, March 6-3rd Trimester Begins

Wednesday, March 4th-1 Hour Dismissal

Friday, March 6th-Spirit Day $1

Monday, March 9th-Thursday, March 12th-Conferences

Friday, March 13th-NO SCHOOL

Monday, March 16th-Friday, March 20th-Spring Break

2/19/26

 Burg's Buzz

2/19/26

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

Reading/Language Arts

Module 6 focuses on animal behaviors. This week, the students are reading This is Your Life Cycle by Heather Lynn Miller. In this multi-genre text (narrative nonfiction and fantasy), the students learn about the life cycle of a dragonfly through a talking insect who hosts a game show. The comprehension skills covered text and graphic features, the author's purpose, and the author's craft. Students worked on identifying adjectives as the grammar skill. The vocabulary skill focused on the prefixes of uni-, bi-, and tri-. The decoding skill worked on vowels + r words.

Science

The class has been learning about how an environment can affect the living things living in it. Some changes to the environment include wildfires, mudslides, hurricanes, drought, significant changes in temperature, and humans cutting down trees for building homes, highways, and businesses.

Math

The third graders continue to work on measurement. Students have been measuring length to the nearest 1/4. The class also continues to work on fractions.

Reading FAST Testing

Results for reading of the winter screening of FAST testing have been included in the take-home folder. The results are yours to keep.

Late Slips

Late slips will start in third grade, starting with the third trimester on Monday, March 2nd. A late slip is what a student receives when he/she does not complete his/her homework on time. This is what is followed in fourth through eighth grades at STM. This is started at this point in 3rd grade, so students understand the expectations. A note has been included in the take-home folder outlining how the late slip policy works. Please reach out if you have any questions.

National Reading Month

In March, the third-grade classroom will be celebrating National Reading Month. Included in the take-home folder is a list of dress-up days planned throughout the month. At the end of March, there is also a trip planned to The Latest Edition Bookstore. More information will be sent home about that at a later date.

Important Dates

Friday, February 20th-Spirit Day $1

Tuesday, February 24th-Mrs. Burg Absent From School

Tuesday, February 25th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, February 27th-End of the 2nd Trimester

Saturday, February 28th-STM Foundation Gala 5 PM

Monday, March 2nd-Late Slips Start

2/12/2626

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

2/12/26

Math

Students worked with fractions that were greater than 1 on a number line. The class has also been covering measurement. Students have measured to the nearest 1/4, 1/2, and 1 inch.

Science

The students are learning about traits that help living things survive. The class has also learned about the advantages of animals living in groups. These advantages include obtaining food, defending themselves, and coping with changes.

Reading/Language Arts

Students read the narrative nonfiction selection Brothers at Bat by Audrey Vernick. This story focuses on a family of sixteen, with twelve of those being boys who all play baseball. The boys formed a semi-pro baseball team that was coached by their father. Due to World War II, the team disbanded because six of the brothers went off to war. Eventually, all the brothers return home and continue playing baseball. In 1997, the family was honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame. The comprehension skills focused on text structure, figurative language, and point of view. Students worked on using the suffix -ment as the vocabulary skill. The decoding skill covered contractions. Students also worked on verb tense as the grammar skill.

The results of Module 5 testing have been included in the take home folder. These are yours to keep.

Valentine's Day Party

There will be a Valentine's Day party in the afternoon on Friday, February 13th, at school. Students can bring valentines for their classmates.

K-3rd Grade Mass

Kindergarten through third grade will lead the Mass on Wednesday, February 18th. This is Ash Wednesday. If your child has a part, it has been included in their take home folder.

St. Malachy Foundation Gala

The St. Malachy Foundation Gala is scheduled for Saturday, February 28th. Here is the finished product for the silent auction item.

Important Dates

Wednesday, February 18th-Kindergarten-3rd Grade Lead Mass

Wednesday, February 18th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, February 20th-Spirit Day $1

 

2/5/26

 Burg's Buzz
nburg@crestonstmalachy.org
2/5/26

Science

Research on plant and animal adaptations has been completed. Now each student is busy writing their informational essay. These will be available for parents to view at conferences.

Math

The class continues to work with fractions. Students have identified the number of parts in the whole. The class is also working on putting fractions on a number line.

Math FAST Testing

The results of the math winter screening have been included in the take home folder.

February Book Order

A February Scholastic book order has been included in the take home folder. Please take a few minutes to review the flyer. All orders are placed online at Scholastic Book Clubs.

Dictionary

Each 3rd grade student received a dictionary as a gift from the Creston Elk's Lodge. Also, included in the take home folder is a drug awareness coloring book from the Elk's.

Valentine's Day Party

Valentine's Day will be celebrated at St. Malachy School on Friday, February 13th. Students may bring valentines for their classmates to the party. If bringing valentines, please have your child bring one for each student in the class. A class list was sent home last week. The students will be decorating bags next week.

Important Dates

Friday, February 6th-Spirit Day $1

Wednesday, February 11th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, February 13th-Class Valentine's Day Party

Wednesday, February 18th-Ash Wednesday Mass (K-3 Leads)

Wednesday, February 18th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, February 20th-Spirit Day $1