Week 40: Last Week :(

The final days of Fourth Grade are coming! It's been year of tremendous growth and challenges, with all of us deserving a well earned rest afterwards. The year seems to have flown by!

I want to thank you all for the great class gifts. It is always touching to be acknowledged in such a generous way. My best wishes to you all for the future!

Here's what is happening next week:

• On Monday, we will have a parent volunteer visiting us to encourage enrollment in the public library. If your child is not a member, please consider joining. Summer reading is a great way to counteract the September delays that children experience when they fall out of academic routines. 
• On Tuesday, we will have an end of the year celebration. Your child a drink and a treat to share with others in the class.
• Wednesday is the last day of school and dismissal will be at noon. Report cards will be given out that day. If your child is not able to attend, please pick up the report card from the main office after 12 noon. You may also send a stamped self addressed envelop so the report card can be forwarded to you.

Have a beautiful weekend!

Week 39

The Shakespeare play was a wonderful success! Given that we were still adjusting to the new venue, it was amazing how the kids just acted their roles brilliantly and improvised when things did not go the way we had rehearsed it. Bravo to our students for their amazing work and the families who support them!

This week will be the last full week of school and as the year winds down, you'll notice that there is less homework. There will be no reading response for next week, for example.  While the work load is decreasing, please check your child's book bag daily for supplies that are being sent back. Starting monday, we will begin bringing back unused supplies, then old work books, etc. In return, please check your homes for any classroom library books that need to be returned.

Here's what's happening next week:

• Field Day will take place on Tuesday. Please make sure you follow the guidelines from the permission slip on what to bring. I also recommend that children do not bring anything they cannot bear to part with as property is often left unattended at the park. 
• I will be out of the classroom on Wednesday for meetings. There will be a substitute teacher with the class.
• The Staff versus Fifth Graders Kickball game will be on Thursday at 1:00pm. Snacks and refreshments will be sold. Please send your child to school with sunscreen or hat and a towel to sit on. 
• We will visit the Community Garden on Friday for some harvesting. Please dress your child for working in the with clothing you don't mind getting dirty.

Have a lovely weekend!

Week 38

The Shakespeare play is here! After some off stage drama with the MMR, we are set for our performance. Please join us on June 13th, at 9:30 am Thursday for our version of Twelfth Night!!

Here's what to expect for next week:

• There is a clerical half day this Monday. Students will be dismissed at 12.
• Wednesday will be a dress rehearsal for our show. Students will need to be dressed as they would be for the actual performance. They will receive a tunic to wear over the t-shirts, etc.
•  Thursday is the big day!!! Our play is at 9:30am and we will begin seating at 9:25am. Please also make sure your child is dressed for the performance. The performance will be about 40 minutes long. 
• There will be a substitute teacher on Friday as I meet with the other fourth grade teachers for planning. 

Have a cozy weekend!

Week 37

We are closing fast on the final days of school but before we bid farewell to the fourth grade, there are some big events coming! We will take our final State exam on Monday. The Science test will have multiple choice and short answers. It will not count towards promotional criteria but is included in your child's testing history. We are also heading into the home stretch for our Shakespeare program. We will perform the comedy, Twelfth Night, on Thursday June 13.

As we begin the process of ending the school year, please look through your home to make sure any books borrowed from our class is returned within the next weeks.

Here's what's happening next week:

• We will take the written portion of the NYS Science test. This exam will be administered in the classroom. Please make sure your child arrives on time. The test will start at 9:00am. 
• Wednesday will be the last day of Extended Day morning class. If your child participates in this, they will not have to report to class at 8 am after Wednesday.
• June 6th is Brooklyn Queens Day. Students will not report to school that day. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Week 36

Music Concert, May 22

The concert on Wednesday was delightful! In my unbiased opinion, our kids were fantastic and easily my favorite performance of the night!

Here's what to expect for next week: 

• Schools are closed on Monday for Memorial Day.
• Please continue to send in any shirts and items of clothing we can use for the Shakespeare play.
• The Science fair starts on Thursday. Your child's project is due in the MMr on Thursday morning.

Have a great long weekend!