Hat Day

Catholic Schools Week 2015

Hat Day

January 22, 2015

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

1-22-15

Catholic Schools Week

St. Malachy will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week from Sunday, January 25th-Friday, January 30th.  There are many fun filled activities planned.  There is a kick off mass on Sunday, January 25th at Holy Spirit Church followed by brunch in the basement of the church sponsored by the PTO.  On Monday, January 26th, students need to bring a sack lunch (milk provided) and will eat with their Advent Angel.  Faculty and staff will be eating lunch at Pizza Ranch.  This is also Hat Day.  Tuesday, January 27th, is Come as You Are Day. Students can wear pajamas, robes, slippers, sweats, etc.  Please make sure that students do have proper shoes for going outside. Class Theme Day is on Wednesday, January 28th.  Third grade has chosen "Sports" as their theme.  Students can bring an accessory (ball glove, football, shin guards, etc.) as long as it doesn't become a distraction.  Please NO cleats for safety reasons.  I don't want toes to get stepped on. The Chamber of Commerce Coffee will take place at 10:00 AM in the gym.  There is NO mass on this day. Thursday, January 29th, is Blue and Gold Day.  Please wear your St. Malachy gear.  Please contact the PTO if you are in need of new clothing.  The talent show will begin at 9:30 AM in the gym.  Dress up Day is on Friday, January 30th.  The grandparents/special guest Mass will begin at 1:30 PM at Holy Spirit Church.  Students will be bused to the church.  A reception follows mass.  Students may leave the church with their guest.  

St.Malachy Foundation Dinner and Auction

The St. Malachy Foundation will be holding their annual dinner and auction on Saturday, February 28th.  A note was sent home last week about the live auction basket and silent auction item that 3rd grade is going to donate.  The basket is a Bed and Breakfast Getaway to Weston, Missouri.  Donations are being accepted for the basket.  The silent auction item is a picture collage.  Each family is asked to contribute five photographs of your child.  Pictures need brought to school by Friday, February 6th.  Please contact Wendy Hayes if you have any questions.

Assignment Books and Homework

One of the goals of third grade is to increase responsibilty.  One way to do this is through homework. Students are responsible for writing down the assignments that are written on the board.  Since returning from Christmas break, some students are struggling to complete homework on time.  Another issue students are having is getting assignment books signed on a daily basis.  With the start of the third trimester on February 23, third graders will begin receiving late slips for not having homework complete or the assignment book not signed over a number of days.  Too many late slips, result in dententions. A note will come home further explaining late slips closer to the date.  Please talk with your child about the homework and assignment book expectations.

Reading/Language Arts

In the take home folder this week are the results of the Unit 3 Benchmark test and lesson 17 weekly assessment.  These are yours to keep.

Students learned about information about trees in this week's story "A Tree is Growing." The selection focused on text and graphic features as the comprehension skill to help the students better understand what they read.  Students looked at diagrams, captions, labels, timelines, etc. The vocabulary strategy

Math

Students continue to learn strategies for multiplying by multiples of ten.  Students have learned how to use the Distributive Property (4 X 30 = 4 X 10=40, 4 X 10=40, 4 X 10=40, so 40+40+40=120). Students have also used a number line to skip count and used place value (4 X 30=4 X 3 tens=12 tens=120).  Next week there will be the Chapter 5 test.

Science

Third grade is now learning about the solar system in science. First the class is learning about the planets.  We will study the inner and outer planets.  In Library, students will be researching a planet using the Internet. 

Important Dates

Wednesday, January 28th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, January 30th-Mass at Holy Spirit Church at 1:30 PM

Wednesday, February 4th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Wednesday, February 11th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Thursday, February 12th-Valentine's Day Party in PM

Friday, February 13th-NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, February 18th-3rd Grade Mass

Wednesday, February 18th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

January 15, 2015

3rd Grade News

1-15-15

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

Finally the weather has warmed up and students are able to be outside at recess.  Please make sure if there is snow on the ground, students come to school with boots, snowpants, hats, and gloves.  

Catholic Schools Week is Sunday, January 25th-Friday, January 30th.  Exciting activities and dress up days are planned.  Volunteers are still needed for the mass on Sunday, January 25th at Holy Spirit Church.  Please let Miss Surma or Mrs. Root know if your child would like to participate.  The talent show is looking for entertaining acts to be in the show. Tryouts for the talent show begin at the end of this week and will continue into the next week.  There is a sign up sheet in the hallway for students to sign up.  All students are welcomed and encouraged to be in the talent show.  The talent show is scheduled for Thursday, January 29th.

St. Malachy Foundation Dinner/Auction

Please check your child's homework folder for a note pertaining to the third grade basket and silent auction for the St. Malachy Foundation Auction on Saturday, February 28th.  The committee has come up with some great ideas for the basket and silent auction item.  All donations for these projects are greatly appreciated. Please look for more information about the fun filled night in future blogs.

Science

The next unit that third grade will be covering will be the solar system.  Third graders seem to love this topic.

Math

Chapter 5 in the math series focuses on using the multiplication facts.  Students will describe a number pattern, find unknown factors using an array or multiplication table, use strategies to multiply a one digit number by multiples of 10,  Please continue to work on the basic facts at home.  Students also took a timed multiplication test to see how many problems they could solve in five minutes.

Reading/Language Arts

This week's informational text "The Albertosaurus Mystery" gave students information about paleontologist Phillip Currie discovering the fossils of dinosaurs.  Students worked on drawing conclusions for the comprehension skill.  The vocabulary strategy covered the suffix of -ly.  Students worked on words with the /j/ and /s/ sound and words with VCCCV in phonics.  The class continued to work on adjectives in grammar.  This week students used adjectives to compare.

The weekly assessment results from lesson 17 have been included in the take home folder.  A few students are still finishing up with the Unit 3 Benchmark testing.  Results will go home next week.

New Faces at St. Malachy School

Alyssa Ogburn has been hired for the aide position in grades third through fifth.  Alyssa lives in Corning and is a recent graduate of Central College with a degree in history.  Miss Ogburn will rotate amongst the classrooms helping students.

This semester the third grade classroom will have Jake Miller as an SOS (Student of Service) from the high school.  Jake will be here in the mornings every other day.  Jake is a graduate of St. Malachy School.

Important Dates

Wednesday, January 21st-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Sunday, January 25th-Catholic Schools Week Mass at Holy Spirit Church at 9 AM

Wednesday, January 27th-Chamber of Commerce Coffee at 10 AM

Wednesday, January 27th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, January 30th-Grandparent Day Mass at Holy Spirit  Church at 1:30 PM

Wednesday, February 4th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

January 8, 2014

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

1-8-15

Happy 2015!  I hope everyone had a good break and is ready to be back at school. Third grade has a lot to learn before the next break in March.  I am ready for warmer weather that spring has to offer.

Please check with your child about needing new school supplies such as crayons, markers, glue, etc.  We are halfway through the year and supplies are either broken, worn down, or completely gone.

Math

Third grade are taking the Chapter 4 test today and tomorrow.  Tests will come home at a later date for parents to view.  

Chapter 5 will focus on using the multiplication facts 0-10 that have been learned.  Please continue to work on the basic facts at home.

Science

Third grader are learning about how living things survive in ecosystems. Students have learned about food chains and food webs.  Important vocabulary introduced to the students include producer, consumer, and decomposer.  There will be a test next week over this topic.

Reading/Language Arts

This week the class is reading the humerous fiction selection "Judy Moody Saves the World." In this story Judy learns about was to help the environment at school.  She has difficulties convincing her family they need to give up products from the the rainforest, reduce, reuse, and recycle. The comprehension skill covered story structure (characters, setting, and plot).  The vocabulary strategy focused on using context clues to figure out the meaning of a word.  The phonics strategy focused on words with -air, -ear, and -are.  Students were introduced to adjectives in grammar.

In the take home folder this week are the results of the lesson 15 weekly assessment taken before break.  These are yours to keep.

This week third grade is also taking the Unit 3 Benchmark test.  The reading and analyzing test focused on comprehension and vocabulary strategies.  The comprehension skills covered included understanding characters, story structure, author's purpose, main idea and details, sequence of events, point of view, text and graphic features, drawing conclusions, cause and effect, and comparing texts.  Students were assessed on idioms, synonyms, homophones and homographs, using a thesaurus, suffixes, shades of meaning for the vocabulary strategies.  Students also completed the revisiong and editing section of the test.  Skills tested included subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, sentence fluency, contractions, pronouns and antecedents, plural nouns, and homophones.  Due to a no school day and a late start this week, third grade will finish the benchmark testing next week.

Important Dates

Wednesday, January 14th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Wednesday, January 21st-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Sunday, January 25th-Friday, January 30th-Catholic Schools Week

Wednesday, February 4th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

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