4/28/22

Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

4/28/22

Science

The third graders are finishing up learning about matter. Students will have a test on Friday, April 29th.

Math

Third grade continues to learn about fractions. Students have been identifying fractions on a number line. The students have also been measuring to nearest inch and 1/2 inch to record information on a line plot.

Reading/Language Arts

This week the third grade class is reading the fantasy story "The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman" by Darcy Pattison. In this story written through letters, Tameka, who lives in CA, wants her Uncle Ray, who lives in SC, to come visit her. When Uncle Ray says he can't come due to work, he builds a wooden figure in hopes that travelers will pick up it and take him along, and then write letters back to Uncle Ray telling them where each took the figure on his destination to hopefully make it to California. The reader follows Oliver's journey through each letter that was written by who picked him up. The comprehension skill focused on sequencing. The phonics skill covered the suffixes of -ful,  -y, -ous, -ly, and -er. Students worked on singular and possessive nouns as the grammar skill. The vocabulary skill focused on the suffixes of -er and -est.

The lesson 22 weekly assessment results have been included in the take home folder.

Lap-A-Thon

The annual lap-a-thon will take place on Thursday, May 5th. The third graders will be lapping from 8:30-9:15 AM. A link was sent to parents about volunteering to help with the event. Students should wear comfortable clothing for running/walking, and they should also wear tennis shoes. Students will take their water bottles outside with them. Students may bring devices for playing music, but need headphones for listening.  For every $50 raised, students get a can of silly string to spray Mr. McCabe. The class with the most laps gets a dilly bar party, and the class with the second most lasts gets a cookie party. The top   fundraising class will earn a pizza party. Donation forms were sent home in last week's take home folder. Please return back to school next week.

Biography Books Report Projects/Presentation

The biography projects are one week away from the deadline of Thursday, May 5th. Please return the biography book, the form, and project to school. I have talked to the students about their presentations. Students should practice their presentation at home a few times before May 5th. I suggested practicing with their stuffed animals as the audience, or in front of a mirror so they can see how much eye contact they are giving. Students can use the report forms to deliver their presentation. The Biography Bash will be held on Wednesday, May 11th following mass in the gym.

Important Dates

Monday, May 2nd-Mrs. Burg Absent (Colby's Wisdom Teeth Out)

Thursday, May 5th-Biography Projects Due

Thursday, May 5th-Lap-a-thon

Friday, May 6th-Spirit Day $1

Wednesday, May 11th-Kindergarten/Third Grade Mass

Wednesday, May 11th-Biography Bash

Wednesday, May 11th-Creston Arts Center Field Trip

Friday, May 13th-On The Trail of Iowa Corn Field Trip

Wednesday, May 18th-Mrs. Burg Absent (Payton Wisdom Teeth Out)

Friday, May 20th-Spirit Day $1

Friday, May 25th-Spring Music Concert 6 PM

Thursday, May 26th-Last Day of School

4-20-22

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

4/20/22

Science

The third graders are learning about physical and chemical changes.

Math

The third grade class is learning about fractions. Students have read and wrote unit fractions and have determined and drew the whole when given one part.

Reading/Language Arts

This week the third grade class is reading the informational text The Journey-Stories of Migration by Cynthia Rylant. The students learned about the migration journeys of the locusts and grey whales. The comprehension skill focused on compare and contrast. Students worked on the spelling changes of adding -s, -es, -ed, and -ing as the phonics skill. Students also worked on the plural of words that end with the letter f. The class also worked on word roots as the comprehension skill. The grammar skill reviewed using adjectives and adverbs to compare.

The lesson 21 weekly assessment results have been included in the take home folder.

Spring Clean Up Day

The St. Malachy Clean Up Day will be held on Friday, April 22nd. 3rd though 8th grade students need to bring a labeled rake to school. Also, students need to bring a $1 donation to cover costs of sprucing up the entrance of the school.

Creston Arts Visit

The third grade class will be visiting the Creston Arts Center on Wednesday, April 27th.  The class will walk to uptown around 1:30 PM, complete the art activity, and return to school by 2:45 PM. Please complete the permission slip and return back to school.

On the Trail of Iowa Corn Field Trip

The third grade class at STM, along with students from other schools, have been invited to partake in an agricultural field trip to Neely-Kinyon Research Farm that is located south of Greenfield. The field trip is scheduled is Friday, May 17th. Students will attend sessions about soil growth, corn growth, planter technology, corn for fuel, and other agricultural related topics. Lunch is provided by the Adair County Pork Producers. The STM third grade students will be using the trolley for transportation. Please complete the permission slip and return to school with the $5 fee.

Important Dates

Thursday, April 21st-PTO Meeting 6 PM

Friday, April 22nd-Spirit Day $1

Wednesday, April 27th-Creston Arts Center Field Trip

Thursday, May 5th-Biography Projects Due

Thursday, May 5th-Lap-a-thon

Friday, May 6th-Spirit Day $1

Wednesday, May 11th-Kindergarten/Third Grade Mass

Wednesday, May 11th-Biography Bash

Friday, May 13th-On The Trail of Iowa Corn Field Trip

Friday, May 20th-Spirit Day $1

Thursday, May 26th-Last Day of School

4/14/22

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

4/14/22

Reading/Language Arts

This week the class is reading the historical fiction selection "Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan. In this story, Papa, who lives on a prairie farm, puts an ad in the newspaper looking for a wife. Sarah, who is from Maine, answers the advertisement. She comes to visit the family. Anna and Caleb worry about Sarah missing the sea. The comprehension skill focused on story structure. Students worked on the word endings -ing and-ed as the phonics skill. The vocabulary focused on the prefix of non-. The class continued to work on adverbs as the grammar skill. Students used adverbs to compare.

Science

The third grade class is learning about matter. Students have learned about solids, liquids, and gases.

Math

Students took the topic 9 assessment over addition and subtraction with regrouping on Wednesday. The next topic the third graders will cover is fractions.

Spring Clean Up Day

This year's spring clean up day is planned for Friday, April 22nd. This is a day of service for students at St. Malachy. Students in grades third through eighth are asked to bring a lawn rake (please label it). Students are also asked to donate $1 to the cleaning day. These funds will be used to purchase soil and flowers for the entrances of the school.

Biography Book Report Projects

Just a reminder that the biography book report projects are due on Thursday, May 5th. Hopefully students are done or almost done with their biography books. Please let me know if you have any questions about the report, project, or presentation.  There are 20 more days to work on this until it is due.

Happy Easter

We remember Jesus' sacrifice and give thanks. May God shower you with blessings, love, and peace this Easter.

Important Dates

Thursday, April 14th-Seder Meal/Crosswalk

Friday, April 15th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

Thursday, April 21st-PTO Meeting

Friday, April 22nd-Spirit Day $1

Friday, April 22nd-Clean Up Day

Thursday, May 5th-Lap-A-Thon

Thursday, May 5th-Biography Book Report Projects Due

Friday, May 6th-Spirit Day $1

Wednesday, May 11th-Kindergarten/3rd Grade Mass

Wednesday, May 11th-Biography Bash

4/7/22

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

4/7/22

Reading/Language Arts

The results of the Unit 4 Benchmark test have been included in the take home folder. The scores of all four benchmark tests that have been taken this year are on the form, so you can see how your child has done on each test.

Next week the class will resume the reading series. There is no school on Friday, April 15th due to professional development, so the spelling post test and weekly assessment will be done on Thursday, April 14th.

Science

The third graders will have a test over the integumentary system (skin, hair, and nails) and healthy habits on Thursday, April 7th.

The next unit of study will be about matter. Students will learn about physical and chemical changes.

Math

This week has been spent reviewing the process of regrouping when subtracting. We also worked on math skills such as telling time, identifying fractions, and measurement to prepare for ISASP testing.

Reading Incentive Program

The reading incentive program ran from October through March.. The total number of minutes read by the class during the program was 37.421. Every student in the class participated in the reading program for 2 months or more. Five students completed all six months. Those students include Presley, Harper, Finn, Leo, and Natalie. Harper read the most minutes (5,340) throughout the six months, followed by Genevieve with the second (4,135) most minutes read.

Seder Meal/Crosswalk

The Seder Meal is scheduled for Thursday, April 14th. This annual meal commemorates the Passover. Following the meal, the Crosswalk (Stations of the Cross). The objective of the stations is to make a spiritual pilgrimage to pray about Christ's sacrifice for all. The last stop is at Holy Spirit Church. The annual all school picture will be taken. Students are asked to wear a white shirt to school on this day.

Biography Book Reports

I hope the students are enjoying reading the biography they picked out. In the explanation note sent home last week about the reports, I said there was a rubric in the packet. I realized I didn't include it (sorry). I have sent the rubric home in this week's take home folder.

Just a reminder that the projects are due on Thursday, May 5th.

Important Dates

Friday, April 8th-Spirit Day $1

Thursday, April-14th-Seder Meal/Crosswalk

Friday, April 15th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

Thursday, April 21st-PTO Meeting

Friday, April 22nd-Spirit Day $1

3/31/22

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

3/31/22

Science

The class has been learning about the integumentary system in science class. Students have learned about the skin, nails, and hair.

Math

Students have worked on addition with regrouping. The class has also worked on subtraction with borrowing. i will be doing some reviewing of skills to help with ISASP testing.

Reading/Language Arts

This past week students took the Unit 4 Benchmark assessment. Results will be sent home in next week's take home folder. Also, students took practice ISASP tests to prepare for next week's testing.

The results of the lesson 20 weekly assessment results have been included in the take home folder.

Food Shelf

This Lenten season STM will be helping Mark O'Riley by donating items to the Food Shelf. Home bags of supplemental food are sent home with kids to help them through the weekend. Items to donate include granola/fruit bars, fun pack cereal boxes, boxes of mac-n-cheese, juices boxes/pouches, small cans of tuna or chicken, cans of ravioli, spaghettioes, or soup, small fruit snack bags, and regular size peanut butter. The school will be accepting donations until April 8th.

Reading Incentive Program

March is the last month of the reading program. Please return calendars by Monday, April  4th. I will then tally results from all six months and hand out awards.

Mass

The third grade and kindergarten class will lead the mass on Wednesday, April 6th. Parts have been included in the take home folder. Please practice speaking parts at home. Parents may join us for the liturgy beginning at 9:15 AM.

Biography Book Report

The third grade students have been assigned to complete a biography book report/presentation. Students were able to choose their book this week. A packet has been included in the take home folder containing all of the necessary information needed. Students will read the book, fill out the report form, complete one of the projects, and then present to the class. The entire project is due on May 5th. I have talked with the students about what is expected. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Important Dates

Friday, April 1st-Third through Eighth Grade Field Trip

Monday, April 4th-ISASP Testing

Tuesday, April 5th-ISASP Testing

Wednesday, April 6th-3rd/Kindergarten Lead Mass

Thursday, April 7th-ISASP Testing

Friday, April 8th-Spirit Day $1

Thursday, April 14th-Sedar Meal/Crosswalk

Friday, April 15th-NO School (Teacher Professional Development)

Thursday, April 21st-PTO Meeting

Friday, April 22nd-Spirit Day $1

3/24/22

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

3/24/22

Reading/Language Arts

This week the third grade class is reading the nonfiction selection "Life on the Ice" by Susan Goodman. In this informational text, students learn about the ice covered areas of the North and South poles.  The class learned about the weather,  necessary clothing, housing, and how and why scientists travel to these extreme areas. The comprehension skill focused on main idea and support details.  The class learned about adverbs at the grammar skill. The phonics skill reviewed compound words.  Students also reviewed using a dictionary as the vocabulary skill.

Next week the class will be taking the Unit 4 Benchmark assessment. Students will also continue reading and writing poetry.

Next week the third grade students will also be taking practice ISASP tests in preparation for the actual tests.

Math

The next topic the third grade class will be covering adding and subtracting fluently through 1,000. The class has worked on partial sums.

Science

The third grade class is learning about healthy living habits. Students have identified way to stay healthy such as eating a balanced meal, exercising, and sleeping.  Students  created their own healthy meals using with each of the food groups.

Field Trip

Mrs. Stoner has a field trip for the third through eighth grade classes planned for Friday, April 1st. Students will be going to the Civic Center to watch "San Jose Taiko." Inspired by the traditional Japanese drumming, the performers express the beauty and the harmony of the human spirit through the voice of the takio as they create new dimensions in Asian American movement and music. A permission slip has been included in the take home folder.  Please fill out out and return along with $5 to cover the cost of transportation fees. Students will need a sack lunch with a drink on this day.

ISASP Testing

Students in grades third through eighth will be taking the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) tests during the week of April 4th-April 8th. These tests are taken to assess student growth. Students take each test on their chromebooks. I want this assessment to be positive and successful for each student. In the take home folder, I have included a note card for parents to write an encouraging note to their child. Please feel free to decorate the note card and envelope. Put the note card in the envelope and return to school. I will give the student their note before testing begins. Next week the students will do some practice tests to prepare for the actual tests.

Important Dates

Thursday,  March 24th-PTO Meeting

Friday, March 25th-Spirit Day $1

Week of April 4th-8th-ISASP Testing

Wednesday,  April 6th-3rd Grade/Kindergarten Mass

Friday, April 8th-Spirit Day $1  

Thursday, April 14th-Sedar Meal/Crosswalk

Friday, April 15th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

I will be absent from school on Tuesday, March 29th and Thursday, March 31st. My mom is having knee replacement surgery.  She has to spend the night in the hospital on the 29th, so my plan is to come to school on Wednesday. 

3/3/22

Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

3/3/22

Science

The third grade class is finishing up a unit of the solar system.  There will be a test on Monday, March 7th.

Math

The class continues to work on addition and subtraction using properties and strategies. Students have been working on estimating sums and differences.

Reading/Language Arts

This week the third grade class is reading a play called "Two Bear Cubs" adapted by Robert D. San Souci. In this play, Mother Grizzly's two bear cubs don't follow her directions and wander off.  The bear cubs fall asleep on a rock. The rock grows and eventually it becomes a mountain. In the end, an unlikely creature is able to save the bear cubs. Students reviewed story structure (characters, setting, and plot) for the comprehension skill. The vocabulary skill covered the prefixes of pre-, re-, and bi-. The phonics skill focused on the /oo/ sound in spoon and wood.  Students reviewed the present and past tense of irregular verbs such as eat, come, and run .

Reading Incentive Program

The results for the month of February are in. The class read for a total of 5,348 minutes. Students who met the goal include Quentin, Braden, Rebecca, Harper, Leo, Natalie, Finn, Presley, and Londyn. Harper read the most with 751 minutes. 

Dress Code

The month of March brings changes to the dress code. Student can return to wearing shorts. The bottom of the shorts must extend to at least mid-thigh. The month of March the temperatures fluctuate. One day it might be in the 70s and the next day in the 40s.  We will be going outside for recess, so we need students to be dressed appropriately for the day.

A reminder that if wearing leggings, the dress, skirt, or shirt MUST extend to at least mid-thigh.

Important Dates

Friday, March 4th-Spirit Day $1

Saturday, March 5th-Foundation Dinner/Auction

Thursday, March 10th-NO SCHOOL

Thursday, March 10th-Parent/Teacher Conferences 10 AM-6 PM

Friday, March 12th-NO SCHOOL

Monday, March 14th-Friday, March 18th-Spring Break

The lesson 18 weekly assessment results have been included in the take home folder.