• Edmodo_Parent_Information_Note_2013.pdf
• sack_lunch_form.pdf

Good Afternoon,

I hope that you are all enjoying spring break!  Now we just need to get rid of the colder weather that keeps returning.  

I am looking forward to seeing the students back on Monday to start the fourth quarter of their fourth grade year.  I still can't believe how quickly this year has been flying by!

3rd quarter report cards will be coming home this Friday.

We have a learning excursion coming up on April 16th.  We will be traveling to district office to take part in a Main Street USA  Colonial Times  activity.  We are in need of volunteers who would be willing to go to district office prior to our arrival to help set up, lead and facilitate activities throughout our day, and help tear down after we depart.  Please let me know if you are interested in helping with this wonderful  activity.   

Be sure to check the Upcoming Events section below to see a full listing of activities.

Enjoy the rest of your spring break!

Worth Repeating...

We have our spring Kansas Assessment dates!  Mark these on your calendar. 

• Monday 3/31 @ 2:00pm - Reading #1
• Wednesday 4/2 @ 12:20pm - Reading #2
• Tuesday 4/8 @ 12:20pm - Math #1
• Wednesday 4/9 @ 12:20pm - Math #2
• Tuesday 4/15 @ 2:00pm - Science #1
• Friday 4/18 @ 2:00pm - Science #2 

A note from District Office...

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) asked Blue Valley as well as several other school districts to participate in a research study this spring involving student participation.  Students in grades 3-8 and 11 will take a short reading comprehension test. The test will contain short paragraphs followed by multiple-choice questions. The test will be administered after the Kansas Reading Test (within 2 weeks), and will take about 1 hour to complete. Students' responses will be shared with KSDE's partner in this study, MetaMetrics, so that a link can be established between The Lexile Framework for Reading and the Kansas Reading Test.  Student results will not be used for anything other than establishing the link and student data will not be shared or used for any other purpose.

The Lexile framework is a valuable tool for matching readers with books and monitoring growth in reading.  Having a reliable lexile on Kansas State Assessments will help Blue Valley teachers and parents see true reading growth levels for students. 

The Student will learn to:

Reading: Unit 5: America's Heartland

• determine the main idea and supporting key details of a text.  U5W1-2
• monitor comprehension while reading. U5W2
• use knowledge of Greek & Latin roots to understand the meaning of a word or phrases. U5W2&4
• consult and demonstrate understanding of a thesaurus when finding word meanings. U5W2

Grammar: 

• correctly use and understand descriptive adjectives and adjectives that compare in reading and writing. U5W2

Writing:   Informational Reports

• make connections to nonfiction topics through sharing facts and viewing photographs, books, magazine articles, and internet articles. 3.1
• understand elements of an informational report by listening to a mentor text. 3.2 & 3.3
• use personal interests guiding questions to brainstorm informational report topics. 3.4
• identify and analyze informational report features. 3.5 

Math: Topic 16 - Lines, Angles, and Shapes

• identify and describe points, lines, and planes. 16-1
• identify parts of lines and types of angles using geometric terms. 16-2
• use unit angles and fractions of a circle to find angle measures. 16-3
• use a smaller angle to measure a larget angle by repeating the unit. 16-4
• measure and draw angles. 16-5
• find unknown angle measures by adding and subtracting. 16-6
• identify, sort, and classify polygons. 16-7
• identify, sort, and classify triangles. 16-8
• identify, sort, and classify quadrilaterals. 16-9
• determine if a plane figure has line symmetry and, if so, how many lines of symmetry it has. 16-10
• solve problems by making and testing generalizations. 16-11

Science:  Sound

• understand that different objects make different sounds.
• explain the difference between high and low pitches.
• explain that the source of sound is vibrations. 

• Monday, 3/24 - School Resumes
• Thursday, 3/27 - BV West Orchestra Festival
• Monday 3/31 @ 2:00pm - Reading Kansas Assessment #1 
• Tuesday, 4/1 - Early Dismissal @ 2:00pm
• Wednesday 4/2 @ 12:20pm - Reading Kansas Assessment #2
• Friday, 4/4 - 10th Year Student Celebration
• Tuesday 4/8 @ 12:20pm - Math Kansas Assessment #1 
• Wednesday 4/9 @ 12:20pm - Math Kansas Assessment #2 
• Thursday, 4/10 - 10th Year Open House @ 6:30pm
• Friday, 4/11 - Future Cheetah Kindergarten Activity, 9am - 11am
• Monday, 4/14 - No School, Professional Development Day
• Tuesday 4/15 @ 2:00pm - Science Kansas Assessment #1 
• Wednesday, 4/16 - 4th Grade Learning Excursion, Main Street USA Colonial Days
• Thursday, 4/17 - 4th Grade Recorder Concert, 2:45pm & 6:30pm
• Friday 4/18 @ 2:00pm - Science Kansas Assessment #2 
• Tuesday, 4/22 - Early Dismissal @ 2:00pm
• Tuesday, 4/22 - Spring Pictures
• Thursday, 4/24 - ESOL Parent Night @ 5:30pm
• Tuesday, 4/29 - 4th Grade Learning Excursion to Symphony Recorder Concert
• Wednesday, 4/30 - Friday, 5/2 - Spring Book Fair

I will send Scholastic Book Club flyers home each month.  If you would like to order books, you can do so one of the following two ways: 

1. send the order form back in with a check
2. click the link below to order online with our class code - FZPKM 

I will close out each order on the 15th of each month and the books should arrive about a week later.  Thank you!