We are Peeps and Diamond Miners

Dear Parents,

It has been an incredible week, and it is going to be an incredible year. It’s hard to believe we have been in school for 8 days already.  We have been really getting to know each other and have come up with class names. Mr. Huntsbarger's class name is  Diamond Miners and Mrs. Martin's class name is Peeps.

Each student has already written two entries in his/her journal. They are a pleasure to read. Students have worked diligently this week to fill a time capsule. All the children's time capsules include samples of their writing, a personal letter to themselves about their hopes for the year, a photo, and more. Students will open their time capsules on the last day of fourth grade.

Our first unit in math focuses on place value. Soon you will see some math papers in your child’s Friday folder with grades and some without grades. The ungraded ones were practice pages we did in class, and the graded pages were homework assignments. This week there are no graded papers in the Friday folder. The students are also keeping a math journal in class. The students  are enjoying math time each day.

Soon students will choose a novel with the genre of survival. Next week the students will receive guidelines for the report which is due September 28. The main components of the report are the setting, plot summary, and description of the main character. In class students will have time to read and/or work on the report, but they will need to work on the report at home as well. In class we will also discuss in detail the sections of the report and take notes in lit logs. We are using our read-aloud book, There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom, as an example. The final report, which will be completed at home, will be mounted on a box and decorated.

If your child is going home with another child or there is any change in his/her dismissal routine, please send a note to school or an email letting us know. It is also very helpful if you communicate any major family happenings as they may arise so that we can better understand your child. Again, you are encouraged to drop your child off by 7:45 in order for him/her to feel ready and relaxed when our day starts at 8:00.

Please help you child remember to dress nicely on Friday for Convocation. He/she may bring a change of clothes for the remainder of the day.

We hope your child is enjoying his/her time at school. We are enjoying getting to know this curious and intelligent class. Have a great weekend!