4-27-17

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

4-27-17

Science

Students identified physical and chemical changes with matter. Students also took a test over this topic today. The next unit will focus on force.

Math

Third grade continues to work on time. Students have calculated the time to the minute, A.M. or P.M, and elapsed time. Any additional help at home covering time would be greatly appreciated.

Reading/Language Arts

This week third grade read a nonfiction selection called "The Power of Magnets."  The comprehension skill covered cause/effect and summarizing.  Students reviewed homographs and homophones as a vocabulary strategy.  The grammar skill covered contractions. Students worked on double consonants in phonics.

The results of the lesson 26 weekly assessment have been included in the take home folder. Also in the take home folder are the results of the Unit 5 Benchmark Test.

Biorgraphy Book Report Projects

Biography book report projects are due by Friday, April 28th.  Students will be presenting during the day. Please have your child practice his/her presentation at home beforehand. The "Biography Bash" will held on Wednesday, May 3rd from 2:00-3:00 PM in the gym for parents, grandparents, and special guests to view all the students' projects.

Book Order

The last book order of the year is in your child's take home folder. This is a great opportunity to purchase books for summer reading. Books may be returned to school with cash or check (payable to Scholastic Book Club) or submitted online at www.scholastic.com by using a credit card.  Orders are due by Friday, May 5th.

Important Dates

Friday, April 28th-Biography Book Report Project Due

Friday, April 28th-Ties and Tutus Father/ Daughter Dance

Wednesday, May 3rd-Mass at 9:15 AM
Wednesday, May 3rd-Biography Bash (2:00-3:00 PM)

Thursday, May 4th-Lap-A-Thon
Thursday, May 4th-PTO Meeting

Wednesday, May 10th-Mass at 9:15 AM

Friday, May 12th-Spirit Day ($1)
Wednesday, May 17th-4th and 3rd Grade Mass at 9:15 AM

Thursday, April 20th

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

4-20-17

Here are a few reminders about what is upcoming at St. Malachy School.

• Friday, April 21st is spring cleaning day. Third graders need to bring work gloves for for picking up sticks and trash. Students may wear sweats since they may get dirty. Since it is a Spirit Day, students may bring a $1 to wear a hat.
• The third grade class will also be going to the food pantry to volunteer on Friday, April 28th.
• Biography Book Report Projects are due on Friday, April 28th. Students will present to their classmates on this day. Please have your child practice his/her presentation at home so they are prepared on the information they want to share. The Biography Bash is scheduled for Wednesday, May 3rd from 2:00-3:00 PM in the gymnasium.  Parents, grandparents, special guests, St. Malachy students and staff are invited to come check out the students projects and hear what information the students have learned.
• Ties and Tutus Father/Daughter Dance is scheduled for Friday, April 28th.
• Lap-A-Thon is scheduled for Thursday, May 4th.
• Third and fourth grade will share the responsibilities of the mass on Wednesday, May 17th. Please look for more information as the date gets closer.

There are 28 more days of school until the end of the year. There is still lots of learning and fun to take place. The next few weeks will be busy. Students need to make sure they are focused and paying attention to everything that needs done.

Thursday, April 13th

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonsmalachy.org

4-13-17

Science

Third grade has learned about physical changes. Students separated mixtures using different methods.

Math

Third grade is learning about measurement. Students will learn how to measure time and length. The class will be covering time to the nearest minute and elapsed time.

Students are bringing home the chapter 8 test that covered fractions to be signed. Please return when classes resume next Thursday.

Reading/Language Arts

This week's selection is a narrative nonfiction selection entitled "The Foot Race Across America." In this story, Andy Payne's determination allows him to win a race from California to New York despite facing many adversities. The comprehension skill covered main idea and supporting details. Students also analyzed and evaluated the text to form opinions. The vocabulary skill strategy focused on -ion. The grammar skill covered abbreviations. Students worked on the final syllable of -ture, -tiom, and -sion in phonics.

In the take home folders in the results of the lesson 25 weekly assessment.

During the two days of school next week (April 20th and April 21st), students will be completing the Unit 5 Benchmark test.

Iowa Assessments

Your child's Iowa Assessments are being sent home in the take home folder. These results are yours to keep. If you have any questions about your child's assessment, please let me know.

No School

There is no school scheduled at St. Malachy on Friday, April 14th due to Good Friday. There is no school at St. Malachy on Monday, April 17th through Wednesday, April 19th. Teachers are attending the National Catholic Education Association Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

Biography Book Report Projects

I hope all students have a good start to their biography book report projects. The report and project is due on Friday, April 28th.  Please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing the students' work.

Spring Cleaning Day

On Friday, April 21st, St. Malachy will have a spring clean up day. Younger students (kindergarten through third grade), will be picking up trash and sticks. Students should wear clothing that is ok to get dirty and should be work gloves. Older students (fourth grade through eighth grade), should bring a rake. Students are asked to donate $1 to fund the purchase of flower pots, soil, and flowers for the front entrance of the school.

This is also a Spirit day. Since students may already dress down this day, they may bring $1 to wear a hat.

Important Dates

Friday, April 14th-NO SCHOOL (Good Friday)

Monday, April 17th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

Tuesday, April 18th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

Wednesday, April 19th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

Thursday, April 20th-PTO Meeting at 6 PM

Friday, April 21st-Spirit Hat Day ($1)

Wednesday, April 26th-Mass at 9:15 AM

Friday, April 28th-Biography Book Report Project Due

Friday, April 28th-Ties and Tutus Father/ Daughter Dance

Wednesday, May 3rd-Mass at 9:15 AM

Thursday, May 4th-Lap-A-Thon

Wednesday, May 10th-Mass at 9:15 AM

Friday, May 12th-Spirit Day ($1)

4-6-17

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

4-6-17

Math

Third grade continues to study fractions. Students have identified fractions of the whole and fractions on a number line. The terms numerator and denominator have been introduced to the class.

Reading/Language Arts

This week the class read the informational text "Mountains-Surviving on Mt. Everest." The comprehension skill review text and graphic features. The students reviewed adjectives and adverbs that compare in grammar. In phonics, the students worked with the suffixes of -less, -ness, and -able. The class learned about analogies as a vocabulary strategy.

The lesson 24 weekly assessment results have been included in the take home folder.

Next week third grade will be moving ahead with lesson 26 in the reading series. The lesson will be completed Monday, April 10th-Thursday, April 13th. The spelling post test and weekly assessment will be taken on Thursday, April 13th. There is no school on Friday, April 14th.

The Benchmark 5 test will be taken on Thursday, April 20th and Friday, April 21st. There is no school on Monday, April 17th through Wednesday, April 19th since teachers will be in St. Louis at the National Catholic Association meetings.

Science

There will be a test covering the properties of matter on Friday, April 7th. The class then will continue to learn about matter in science. Students will be studying physical and chemical changes.

Reading Incentive Program

For the month of March three third grade students met the reading goal. They read for a total of 1,700 minutes. Ayden Purdum read the most minutes with 659 total minutes. Congrats to Gavin M. and Ayden P. for meeting the goal in all six months of the reading incentive program. 

Biography Book Report Projects

Information was sent home last week pertaining to the biography book report projects. All students have a book and the directions for completing the projects. The biography book report projects are due on Friday, April 28th. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Holy Week

Next week is Holy Week.  St. Malachy will have several activities for the students to participate in. On Thursday, April 13th, students will have the Sedar Meal for lunch. Afterwards will be the Crosswalk. We will walk to the church. At the church, a whole school picture is planned. Students are asked to wear white shirts on this day.

Important Dates
Friday, March 7th-Spirit Day ($1)/Optional Sack Lunch

Wednesday, April 12th-Mass at 9:15 AM

Thursday, April 13th-Sedar Meal and Cross Walk

Friday, April 14th-NO SCHOOL (Good Friday)

Monday, April 17th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

Tuesday, April 18th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

Wednesday, April 19th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

Thursday, April 20th-PTO Meeting at 6 PM

Friday, April 21st-Spirit Day ($1)
Wednesday, April 26th-Mass at 9:15 AM

Teachers will be attending the National Catholic Association Conference on Monday, April 17th through Wednesday, April 19th. School will not be in session those days at St. Malachy School.

3-30-17

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

3-30-17

Science

Third grade has been learning about measuring matter. Students have studies mass and volume. There will be a test covering the properties of matter next week.

.Reading/Language Arts

This week the class is reading a realistic fiction selection entitled "Dog-Of-The-Sea-Waves." This selection tells a story about a relationship between a seal and a boy on the Hawaiian Islands. The comprehension skill focused on the author's purpose. The vocabulary skill taught students about shades of meaning in words. Students learned about complex sentences in grammar. Terms such as dependent clauses and subordinating conjunctions were introduced to the students. The class also examined the prefixes of bi-, re-, pre- and un-.  

The lesson 23 weekly assessment scores have been included in the take home folder. This test was taken before going on spring break. Third grade will be moving ahead in the reading series next week. The spelling pretest will be on Tuesday, April 4th, since there is no school on Monday.

Math

Third grade is learning about fractions. Student have learned about equal parts of a whole, diving into equal shares. and unit fractions.

Weather Presentation

This past Wednesday, channel 5 meteorologist Brad Edwards gave a presentation on weather to the third, fourth, and fifth graders. The 5th grade class is studying about weather in science.

Reading Calendars

Reading calendars for the month of March are due back to school by Wednesday, April 5th. Pizza reward certificates will be sent home on that day.

Biography Book Report Projects

On Friday, students will be bringing home information about a biography book report project. Students will be bringing home a book and the report form. Projects are due back to school on Friday, April 28th. Students will present their projects this day to their classmates. Third grade will host a "Biography Bash" the first week of May for parents, students, and staff to come and view the projects. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Important Dates

Thursday, March 30th-PTO Meeting at 6 PM

Friday, March 31st-Spirit Day ($1)

Monday, April 3rd-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional  Development)

Wednesday, April 5th-Mass at 9:15 AM

Thursday, April 6th-Literacy Night (6:30-7:30 PM)

Friday, March 7th-Spirit Day ($1)/Optional Sack Lunch

Wednesday, April 12th-Mass at 9:15 AM

Thursday, April 13th-Sedar Meal and Cross Walk

Friday, April 14th-NO SCHOOL (Good Friday)

Monday, April 17th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

Tuesday, April 18th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

Wednesday, April 19th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

Thursday, April 20th-PTO Meeting at 6 PM

Friday, April 21st-Spirit Day ($1)

Teachers will be attending the National Catholic Association Conference on Monday, April 17th through Wednesday, April 19th. School will not be in session those days at St. Malachy School.

3-16-17

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

3-16-17

Science

Third grade students examined how the atoms in a solid, liquid, and a gas were arranged. Students used Cheerios to make models of each state of matter. The class is now learning about mass and volume of matter.

Math

The next chapter that third grade will focus on is fractions. Students will identify, read, and write fractions as part of a whole and as part of a group. 

Please continue to practice the basic facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) at home. This will help students as they move into more difficult problems in fourth grade.

Reading/Language Arts

This week third grade is reading a fantasy story called "The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman." Students read letters written between a niece, her uncle, and those who take Oliver on his journey from South Carolina to California. The comprehension skill focused on sequence. Students learned to look for clue words such as first, next, then, and last. The vocabulary strategy covered the suffixes of -er and -est. In grammar students worked on possessive nouns and pronouns. The phonics skill focused on the suffixes of -ful, -y, -ous, -er, and 

-ly.

Take Home Folder

Take home folders will not be sent home this week due to spring break. Folders will resume coming home on Thursday, March 30th.

Spring Break

St. Malachy school has no school on Friday, March 17th. School is not in session from Monday, March 20th-Friday, March 24th due to spring beak. I hope your family has a fun and relaxing break from school. My daughter has dance competition in Ames over the weekend that my family will be attending. Then my family and I will be traveling to Cozumel, Mexico for spring break.

Important Dates

Friday, March 17th-NO SCHOOL

Monday, March 20th-Friday, March 24th-Spring Break (NO SCHOOL)

Wednesday, March 29th-Mass at 9:15 AM
Thursday, March 30th-PTO Meeting at 6 PM
Friday, March 31st-Spirit Day ($1)
Monday, April 3rd-NO SCHOOL (Professional Development)
Wednesday, April 5th-Mass at 9:15 AM
Thursday, April 6th-Literacy Night (6:30-7:30 PM)
Friday, March 7th-Spirit Day ($1) and Optional Sack Lunch

March 9, 2017

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

3-9-17

Science

Third grade continues to learn about matter in science. Students are studying about solids, liquids, and gases. Students learned how atoms are arranged in each state of matter.

Math

The class continues to work on division in math class. Students have covered division facts with divisor of zero through ten. Please practice the basic facts at home. Students should be able to quickly solve basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts. Students also worked on solving multiple step word problems. The class also learned the order of operations (multiply and divide, then add and subtract) when solving problems. A chapter 7 review has been included in the take home folder to help the student prepare for an upcoming division test next week.

Reading/Language Arts

Because students are completing Iowa Assessments this week, the class did not move ahead in the reading series of our textbooks. Third grade will be moving moving forward with lesson 23 on Monday, March 13th-Thursday, March 16th. The spelling post test and weekly assessment will be taken on Thursday of next week due to no school on Friday.

The results of the lesson 22 weekly assessment  and the Unit Benchmark 4 test have been included in your child's take home folder. These results are yours to keep.

Reading Incentive Program

For the month of February, the third grade class read 3,168 minutes total. Six students turned in calendars and five students met the goal. Ayden Purdum read the most minutes with 707 total. March calendars were sent home last week with the students. Please continue reading and recording minutes for this month. March is the last month of the reading incentive program.

Auction

The St. Malachy Foundation Gala was a success. The third grade "Rest and Pamper Yourself" basket was purchased for $400 by Leslie Wurster. The framed picture for the silent auction went for $500 by Tom Frey.  Again thank you to all third grade parents who made a donation and helped organize the items.

Friday, March 10th

St. Malachy is in session on Friday, March 10th. The public school is not in session. There will not be buses on this day. Please plan accordingly if your child uses the public school buses to get to and from school. This is a Spirit Day for the St. Malachy students and an optional sack lunch day well.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled on Tuesday, March 14th from 3:30-5:00 PM and Thursday, March 16th from 1:00-4:40 and 6:00-9:30 PM. I look forward to discussing your child's progress with you at conferences. School dismisses on this day at 11:50 AM and not school hot lunch will be served. There is no school on Friday, March 17th.

Spring Break

Spring Break is scheduled for Monday, March 20th through Friday, March 24th. There is no school during these days. School resumes on Monday, March 27th.

Important Dates

Friday, March 10th-Spirit Day ($1) and Optional Sack Lunch

Tuesday, March 14th-Parent/Teacher Conferences

Wednesday, March 15th-Mass at 9:15 AM

Thursday, March 16th-11:50 AM Dismissal (No School Lunch)

Thursday, March 16th-Parent/Teacher Conferences from 1:00-4:40 and 6:00-9:30 

Friday, March 17th-NO SCHOOL

Monday, March 20th-Friday, March 24th-Spring Break (NO SCHOOL)