Final Blog Post of the Year

 

Hello Families, 

This week's blog post will serve as our final blog post for the 2020-21 school year. We appreciate all of you for sticking by us through this rollercoaster of a year. It has been a pleasure walking alongside you and your child during their academic and spiritual development. We wish you all a very restful, fun, and safe summer! 

Looking Ahead.....

• Thursday, May 27th - 4th Grade End of the Year Party in the afternoon 
• Friday, May 28th - End of the Year Mass - 4th grade will be attending in person. Mass begins at 9:00 AM. Dismissal is at 10:30 AM for ALL students in grades 4th to 7th. 

English Language Arts

Spelling - This week, to end our year, we have a list made up of our peers first or last names. Students are expected to write a story using each one of their friend's names. All homework must be in cursive. There will be one last spelling test on Thursday, May 20th. 

Grammar - We will finish commas and practice all ending punctuation. 

Reading - We are on our last story of the year, Lesson 25. Our skill is author's purpose. 

Writing - We are going to reflect on our best memories from the year and create a little booklet to remember them by. 

Social Studies 

We are so excited to welcome Mr. Barraza into our classroom, virtually, via Zoom as a guest speaker this week. He will be talking to the entire fourth grade about the job responsibilities of a lobbyist and an overview of how a bill becomes a law. We will use this as a way to wrap up our Government unit. 

Students will have a government vocabulary quiz on WEDNESDAY (this is being pushed back by one day) and will need to select one branch of government to describe in a short answer. We will review in class the expectations. 

Math

We will continue to power through our fraction module. This week, we will do addition and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers. We will do word problems that involve fractions and mixed numbers. We will also play games. 

Science

This is the chapter final activity. The students will write questions and answers as if they were the teacher. This will be a 50 point activity. 

Religion 

We are studying for a final vocabulary quiz. The students are having fun quizzing each other with memory games. 

3 Weeks to go!

 

Happy Monday to all!

Three more school weeks until summer vacation! We will be taking our final STAR tests for both Reading and Math this week. Shortly after, the reports will go home. 

Looking Ahead...

• Tuesday, May 11th - STAR Reading and Math Tests 
• Wednesday, May 12th - We will attend Mass virtually @ 9:30 AM. This Mass is being said for Colin Kennedy's Grandfather, Dr. Joseph Kennedy. Please keep them in your prayers. 
• Wednesday, May 12th - Book Tasting Book Project is due - We will have a mini celebration in class to wrap up our last project of the year. 
• Thursday, May 27th - 4th Grade End of the Year Party 
• Friday, May 28th - End of the Year Mass @ 9:00 AM and Last Day of School

Help us celebrate Ms. Nemeth 

In summary of the 1992 US Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Christian Stewardship, the question was asked:  “What identifies a steward?”  It is someone who is generous in their giving of time, treasure and talent.  “But being a Christian steward means more.  As Christian stewards we receive God’s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord.”

As we end our 2020-2021 year at St. Francis Xavier, we also bid farewell to one of our most beloved teachers, Ms.Nancy Nemeth.  She, more than anyone we know at St. Francis, has generously given of her time, treasure and talent for many years.

 We would love for her to hear from as many of you as possible.  Below you will find a link for you to write a letter of affirmation and thanks to be shared with Ms. Nemeth.  Please include any fun memories you may have.  There is  a link for you to include a video message of yourself sharing your love and laughter. 

Mind-boggling facts:

• 33 years of teaching 

• Taught 1-8 grades for many years, then taught  Pre-K-5th

• Introduced countless students to the mathematical language that is music

• Prepared for 60+ concerts

• Adapted many songs for children’s choral performances

• Composed and wrote original songs, many of which have a Jesuit them ie Ad Majorem

• Played music for the annual living Stations of the Cross 

• Played for all the school masses for 20+ years

• Played background music for First Reconciliation, First Communions, and  Confirmations

• Played Pomp and Circumstance at Graduations

• Helped to write and earn  a grant for the school earning thousands of dollars

 Click here to submit a video clip and/or picture:

https://share.vidday.com/t-ma46cr

Fond memories to share? Click here to go to the Google form: 

https://forms.gle/tfTG2kXrxWoKinnv7

English Language Arts

Spelling - We will have a spelling test on Thursday, May 13th. 

Grammar - We will finish learning about the rules of commas this week. 

Reading - We will look at the skill of compare and contrast. The students will have a quiz on this skill on Friday, May 14th. 

Social Studies

We will continue to learn about the three Branches of Governments. 

Math 

We are comparing fractions and adding and subtracting fractions. We are also converting fractions from mixed fractions to improper fractions. The students are learning and playing games including fractions. 

Science

We are doing an open book packet for Lesson 4. We are also going to the STEM lab to continue practicing working with the microscope. 

Religion 

We will be doing a culminating activity with Religious vocabulary. 

Hello May

 

Hello Families, 

May is here! The countdown to the end of the school year is officially on! We have four more weeks until summer break begins! 

Looking Ahead...

• Wednesday, May 5th - May Crowning Mass - We will attend Mass virtually @ 9:30 AM
• Wednesday, May 12th - Book Tasting Project due 
• Thursday, May 27th - 4th Grade End of the Year Party 
• Friday, May 28th - End of the Year Mass @ 8:30 AM and Last Day of School 

English Language Arts

Spelling - Students will have a spelling test on Thursday, May 6th. Please remember that all spelling homework and tests will be in cursive for the remainder of the school year to prepare for fifth grade. 

Grammar - We will be talking about the rules to using commas correctly. 

Reading - Our focus this week is on Text and Graphic Features. We will be reading an Informational Text piece, and we will have a quiz on this skill on Friday, May 7th. 

Social Studies

We will begin to learn about the Three Branches of Governments: Judicial, Legislative, and Executive. 

Math 

We are continuing with converting mixed numbers to fractions greater than one and fractions greater than one into mixed numbers. The students are using many strategies to find the one that they find most helpful. 

Science

We are finishing the Living Things unit this week with Lesson 4: How Seed Plants Reproduce. 

Religion 

May Crowning Mass is Wednesday. We are going to make vocabulary cards and play a memory game with them. This will review Parts of the Mass and Sacraments. 

End of April

 

Hello Families, 

The end of April is here! Crazy how fast time is flying by! Let's us continue to encourage our students to put forth their best effort in all they do and finish out the year on a strong note. 

Looking Ahead....

• Wednesday, April 28th - All School Mass - We will attend Mass virtually at 9:30 AM. 
• Wednesday, May 12th - Book Tasting Project due for students - **See notes below on this project.**

English Language Arts

Spelling - The students will have a spelling test on Thursday, April 29th. This week and moving forward all spelling homework and tests will need to be completed in cursive to prepare for fifth grades. The students were given these directions on Friday and they are also noted on the front of the spelling homework. 

Reading - We will be look at Lesson 22's story, which is a Biography. The skill this week focuses on cause and effect. 

Writing - We will finish our poetry book this week. Then, students will choose four of their favorite types they learned about and publish those for a "Poetry in a Pocket." 

Book Tasting Project  - This book project will be the final one of the school year. It will be due on Wednesday, May 12th. Two weeks ago, students were asked to select a Fiction book to read. This past week, after IOWA testing, students had that book to read and then had to write a 3 to 5 sentence summary about what they had read so far. Today, directions for the Book Tasting Project were presented in class. Students will be coming home with the black construction paper and templates to use to create their placemat. Students will be "tasting" a variety of books as they prepare for summer and hopefully walk away with several new titles they are eager to read. 

Social Studies

We will pause on Social Studies this week as we try to wrap our Poetry Unit. We will begin our final S.S. unit next week, Government. 

Math 

Fractions....still! We are doing addition and subtraction of Mixed Numbers. We are also converting fractions to mixed numbers and mixed numbers to fractions greater than one. We will also be comparing mixed numbers. 

Science

We are moving along in Unit A: Living Things. This week, Lesson 3's focus is The Plant Kingdom. We also will be going to the STEM Lab this week. We will learn the parts of a microscope and use it appropriately. 

Religion 

Tuesday we will be having our quiz covering the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Last week, the students made a foldable that will be graded and used as a study guide. 

IOWA Testing

 

Happy Monday to All!

This week we will spend majority of our time completing IOWA Testing. It is important that your child get a good night's rest, a healthy breakfast, and please send in a good snack each day. 

English Language Arts

There is no spelling homework this week. We will resume next week. 

Reading - We will continue with our read aloud, Holes. 

Grammar and Writing - We will continue to look at different types of Poetry. 

Social Studies

We will finish our Family Vacation Project. 

Math 

We will continue adding and subtracting mixed numbers and fractions. We are beginning to put our answers in simplest form. 

Science

We are continuing our unit on Life Science and lesson 2 focuses on Classifying Living Things. 

Religion 

We are reviewing the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. We are making a foldable and will have a quiz soon. 

Fun Fest Week

 

Here Comes the Sun!!!!

The best and most fun week of the year is here! Fun Fest this year looks a little different, but it surely will not disappoint! Please read below, so that you are aware of the upcoming events. 

Looking Ahead...

• Wednesday, April 14th - 3rd to 5th Mass in the church @ 9:30 AM 
• Thursday, April 15th - 4th Graders will attend their Fun Fest party in the afternoon from 12:30 to 2:30. Students are allowed to wear their Fun Fest shirts on this day. 
• Friday, April 16th - Students may wear their Fun Fest shirt, a tie dye shirt, or a Beatles shirt. 
• Week of April 19th to April 23rd - IOWA Testing - Please do your best to not schedule any appointments this week. 

English Language Arts

Spelling - Students will receive homework TODAY, Monday, and it will be due on Friday. We will have a spelling test on Friday of this week. 

Grammar - We will begin to look at Figurative Language: similes, metaphor, and personification. 

Writing - We will look at key poetry terms and our first type of poetry; a haiku. 

Reading - We will begin a new read aloud book this week: Holes. 

Social Studies

This week, students will work in groups on a Family Vacation Project. 

Math 

We are working on addition and subtraction of Fractions. They will also be solving word problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions. They will also use tape diagrams and number lines to model the skill. 

Science

We are going back to using the Science textbook. We are beginning our unit on Life Science. The focus of Lesson 1 is Cells. The students will be using the textbook to find answers in a packet. The students will also be doing a fun Mystery Science activity. 

Religion 

We will be finishing up our Totally Lent this week. We will spend some time daily with the practice of Contemplative Prayer. 

Happy Spring !

 

Good Afternoon!

Spring weather is here! Please remember to pack your child a water bottle daily. The temps are creeping up. We also recommending putting on sunscreen in the morning. 

Looking Ahead...

• Wednesday, March 24th - Adoration in the courtyard @ 9:30 AM

English Language Arts

There will be a spelling test on Thursday, March 25th. 

Grammar - We will begin to look at Abbreviations. 

Reading - This week we will be reading a Biography of Sacagawea and focus on the skill of Main Idea and Details. The students will have a test on this skill on Friday, March 26th. 

Social Studies

We will continue to discuss key vocabulary in our beginning lessons on Economics. Then, we will get our directions for our first project, Creating a Family Budget. 

Math

The focus this week is addition and subtraction of fractions. 

Geometry 

We are finishing our Geometry module this week. The final concept is quadrilaterals. 

The End of Module test will be Wednesday. 

Religion 

We will be attending Adoration on Wednesday. 

We are also preparing for Stations of the Cross, and the students are working in their Totally Lent booklet. 

The Stations will be available by link to view on Thursday, April 1st.