Weekly Updates 2/28-3/4

           

Upcoming Dates

• 3/11 - No School (Professional Development)
• 3/14 - 3/18 - Spring Break
• 4/1 - Recite "Preamble to the Declaration of Independence" 
• 4/26 - Field Trip to Austin

NOTE: Please reach out to your child's teacher if you are interested in chaperoning for our field trip to Austin on Tuesday, April 26th. We will be placing names in a hat and drawing at random to determine chaperones.

Announcement:

We are asking that all parents review the dress code policy as we will begin a uniform reset procedure to help our students get to 100 percent uniform compliance. Our uniform policy will be sent home in scholar’s folder; it is also found on our website under the family handbook. Per our family handbook, “While students are responsible for their clothing and appearance, it is the parents who are responsible for providing the conditions required for meeting the standard, e.g. haircuts, proper shoes, shirts, skirts and pants that fit properly, are clean, etc. Parents are urged to understand the uniform requirements below, and to ensure that their children go to school each day in the right attire, from head to toe. It is an uncomfortable experience for a child to be corrected for a uniform violation, and repeated uniform issues can become an enormous distraction for students.” 

 

Uniform Reset Procedure: An email or phone call and a note/infraction will be sent home when your scholar is violating our dress code policy. The note will explain the violation. After the third violation the student will receive lunch detention with the Dean. If for any reason you are unable to purchase the proper uniform please reach out to Jennifer Cape, Jennifer.cape@greatheartswesternhill.org. Infractions will start being sent home on Monday February 28^th.

A Look Ahead 

ELA - 

• This week in Spalding, scholars will continue with their normal routine. They will learn 10 words on Monday-Wednesday and finish the week with a test over those 30 words. Please ensure your scholar follows all instructions for their homework. 
• In Literature, scholars have already read 5 chapters of their next classic to keep, The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald. Please click here to purchase the novel if your scholar does not have one yet. The students have already done a wonderful job of pointing out the rich language and literary devices that MacDonald uses. They have begun to catch on to the themes of courage, curiosity, and perseverance in the face of fear and struggle. I know scholars will enjoy the chapters to come! This week we will be reading 
• In Writing, our scholars will review what it means to have conflict in a story this week. As a class, fourth-graders will read a selection of stories that model a strong beginning, middle, and end. Scholars will have the opportunity to write a summary of their favorite story at the end of the week!
• In Poetry, scholars will shift away from the masters of rhythm and meter and turn their attention towards one of the most important documents in our nation's history: the Declaration of Independence. Scholars will begin memorizing the Preamble to the Declaration on Monday. The recitation date will be Friday, 4/1.

Math -

Last week, we wrapped up our unit on area and perimeter, and scholars completed their Units 1-5 Cumulative test. Way to go, scholars! This week, we will begin learning about decimals and how they relate to fractions. We look forward to seeing the scholars discover this new concept.

History - 

This week we will meet George Washington and learn about the French and Indian War. We will also see the first unrest leading to the American Revolution.

Science - 

This week we will be learning all about volcanoes! Scholars will discover how they form, where they are most likely to be, and even what benefit volcanoes have in the environment