September 1, 2015
Welcome to Fourth Grade in Mrs. Heinz-Betts’s Class!
It is a privilege and pleasure to begin a new school year with your children. I look forward to an exciting year filled with challenging and fun teaching and learning. Together, I know that we will work to ensure a successful fourth grade experience for your child. Please look forward to an online newsletter every week detailing the events of the upcoming week. The newsletter will generally follow the format below. Please pay special attention to the Announcements and “Nuts and Bolts” section below.
Announcements: We are a NO PEANUTS Classroom.
Nuts and Bolts
Specialist Schedule: Monday: Art
Tuesday: Library
Wednesday: Music
Thursday: PE
Friday: Technology
“Flexible” Daily Schedule (tentative):
Monday-Thursday Schedule
Time
Activity
8:30
Welcome/Attendance/Lunch Count/Turn it in Time
8:45
Math
10:00
Bathroom + Transition Time + Nibble (healthy Snack)
10:10
Science and/or Social Studies
11:15
Specialist
12:00
Lunch/Recess
12:35
Literacy
2:00
Recess
2:15
Literacy
2:45
Homework Reminder
2:55
Dismissal
Friday Schedule: Dismissal at 12:55 pm
School begins with the entrance bell ringing at 8:30. Please have your students prepared and here on time as we start learning and working right away!
Communication from Room 4:
If you do not have internet access please let me know as most of our classroom correspondence is electronic (Go Green!!). We also have a fourth grade classroom website. I add to it daily including homework assignments, samples of student work, long term assignments, newsletters, events and other announcements. If possible, please check it at least once a week.
4th Grade Website: http://cves4.weebly.com/
Newsletter: At the beginning of every week, you will receive an electronic newsletter. This letter will keep you up-to-date on what has been going on in our classroom and any important information that I need to communicate to you. Please try to take a minute or two to read this important classroom communication. If you do not have internet access, please be sure to let me know so I can send home a paper copy with your student.
Home/ School Folder:
During the first week of school, each child will label their Monday folder with their name and labeled on the inside, “Bring Back to School” and “Review and Stays at Home.” Please make sure that this folder comes back to school every Tuesday. The use of the Home/School folder will provide each child with an organizational tool, helping to reinforce responsibility and good study habits.
Homework:
Forty minutes to an hour of homework is expected to be completed every day (this includes 20 minutes of reading and 5 minutes of math facts). Some days there may be less, some days a wee bit more. If there is a reason a student was unable to complete an assignment (due to illness, family complications) please either email or write me a note. If I do not receive a note and the homework is not completed, it is considered late and will result in missed recess time. Incomplete homework is still expected to be completed. Homework is a valuable tool to practice what we have learned in class and to instill good work and study habits, organization, responsibility, and accountability.
Reading Calendar: Each night your child will keep track of their reading minutes.
Early Release Days:
Fridays are early release days. This means that teachers use the afternoon to plan how to teach curriculum and children more effectively. It is time used for professional development, meetings, training and collaboration. Our fourth grade team at CVES and SVSD works very closely to align all our classrooms with consistent instruction and expectations.
Volunteers:
Your assistance in the classroom is welcome and greatly appreciated! Fourth grade is a very exciting and energetic place! I would love for you to be a part of this wonderful experience! Please let me know if you are unable to come in 24 hours prior to your scheduled time.
I appreciate any time you are able to give at home or in school.
Counseling:
Amy Lee and Heather Kern are our counselors at CVES. If you would like your child to meet with the school counselor, or if you would like to meet with her, you may call 831-4075.
Field Trips:
We are considering one in-school field trip and one field trip outside of school. I will need five or six chaperones for each field trip. I realize that many parents want to attend our field trips. It is my hope that each willing parent has an opportunity to attend a special 4th grade event at CVES or to be a field trip chaperone. Thank you for your understanding. I will also suggest “family field trips” in our weekly newsletters.
Please label all jackets, coats, backpacks, hats, lunch containers, and other personal items. Our school lost and found fills much too quickly.
Snacks:
Every morning, the students will have an opportunity to have a quick nibble. Please send a small, healthy snack to school. Suggestions for a healthy snack include fruit, veggies, cheese sticks, and raisins. Think: quick, neat, and nutritious! Also, please have your student bring a labeled water bottle with a sport/pull-up top to school to place on his/her desk.
Birthdays:
We do not share treats in 4th grade. We will celebrate your child with the birthday song; kind words and compliments; and a classroom game.
I hope you find this information helpful. Please hold on to this to reference in the future. I will discuss these items and many more at Curriculum Night. I look forward to spending time with you and your child this year. Please contact me with any questions. Welcome to Fourth Grade! It’s my favorite place to be!