Info on the Final Weeks of School!

Here are a few reminders of things that are coming up:

Kirk Park Field Trip
Tomorrow the fourth grade classes will be traveling to Kirk Park for the majority of the day. We recommend students wear tennis shoes as there is a lot of walking, sunscreen to prevent burning, and bug spray as ticks have been a serious problem this season. Students also need to be bring a sack lunch.  If you are following the bus, please be in the bus loop at 9:55. If you are meeting us there, please meet us in the parking lot at 10:20. We will be leaving the park at 1:15, getting us back to school by 1:45. If we cancel due to weather we will make the call by 9:00 and send an e-mail. Please check your e-mail for information. We will not be able to have a rain make up day due to a lack of time. 

Field Day and School Picnic
On Thursday, June 8 we will be having our end of the year school wide picnic and field day. If your child does not like hotdogs, please be sure to send in a sack lunch on the 8th. Students are also encouraged to wear their “Color the Park” t-shirt. 

Report Cards
Report cards will be mailed out on June 16. June 16 is also the day that next year’s class lists will be posted. However, rather than posting them on the door as it has been in the past, it will be posted on Park’s Blog. The blog can be found at http://parkelementary.weebly.com/.

Last day of School
Our last day of school will be June 9th.  It is a early release day, so students will be dismissed at 12:15.  

Summer Reading At Park (New this year)
The Park Elementary Summer Reading Program is here to help you on your way to learn and grow as a reader! Park Elementary Library (enter by Upper Elementary basketball court) will be open on Tuesdays this summer-9:30-10:30am.  Here is a list of dates:

June 13
June 20
June 27
July 11
July 18
July 25
August 1
August 8

Check out books, meet with teachers, see classmates, enjoy a snack and best
of all...pick out A FREE BOOK!

Lots of Things on the Horizon...Here is a breakdown

With the end of the school year approaching, there are lots of things coming our way.  Below you will find a run-down on things with some reminders and due dates.  

4th Grade Field Trip to Kirk Park

Park 4th graders will be heading to Kirk Park on Thursday, June 1st.  

-10:00 - 1:45, parents may come but will have to drive separately or meet us there

-Students will need a sack lunch that can be disposed of completely 

-Sack lunches can be order through our school food service by completing the pink sheet that went home with your student and returning it by Wednesday, May 24th.

**If you are interested in going please let me know and I will begin a list 

HPS 4th and 5th Field Day

Our class will participate in teams of boys and girls in field day events on Tuesday, June 6th.

-9:15 - 2:30 at Eagle Stadium.  Parents are welcome to come and watch.

-Boys are asked to wear blue

-Girls are asked to wear yellow or Gold

-If you'd like to order a shirt for your student, orders are due on Friday, May 19th (a purple sheet should have come home)

-Students will need a sack lunch that can be disposed of completely 

-Sack lunches can be order through our school food service by completing the white sheet that went home with your student and returning it by Friday, May 19th

-We are pumped!

4th Grade Health Video

On Friday, May 26, the fourth grade classes will be dividing into two groups (boys and girls) to watch the health video.   Please see the handout that is coming home Friday (the 19th) for details and a website address for previewing.  If you chose to opt-out, be sure to sign and send back the form.

-The video will take place at 3:10

-This is also a great time to discuss the use of deodorant and showering regularly with your child (if you have not done so already).

Park Picnic and Field Day

Thursday, June 8

Last Day of School

Friday, June 9

-early release day, dismissal will be at 12:15

Spring Smarts

We had a fantastic week of learning and fun in 4th grade.  Once again, your student has astounded me with the progress he or she is making!  This week was filled with talk about government, customary conversions, researching Native Americans, point of view, and perspective (among many other things!).  

Reminders:

Math Test for Unit 5: Our math test is on Monday.  A review and extra (optional) practice page of word problems should have gone home on Friday.  Students are encouraged to review at home for the test on Monday.

MStep is Next week!:  The dates are: 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/16, and 5/18.  Remember to try not to schedule vacations or appointments on these days.  Our breakfast will take place on Monday to kick things off.

Hudsonville Public Schools Field Day:  The date for this is on June 6th.  Students need to order a sack lunch from school ahead of time (forms went home and should be returned by May 19th) or can bring a sack lunch from home.

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:
Writing: 
I can use boxes and bullets to gather research about my topic.

I can search my resource one subtopic at time and gather research on that subtopic.

Social Studies:  

I can explain the principles of popular sovereignty, rule of law, individual rights, representative government and limited government.
I can tell characteristics of a republic and constitutional government.

Math: 
I can understand and use customary units of length, weight and liquid volume.
I can explore methods for finding perimeter and area.

Reading:

I can recognize first and third person point of view in a text.

I can think about the perspective of the characters in my book.

I can write from the perspective of the characters in my book.

Important Dates:

May 8th: MStep breakfast

May 9, 10, 11, 16, 18: MStep 

May 12th: Early Release, students are dismissed at 12:15

May 19th: Popcorn Friday

May 19th: School sack lunch form for HPS Field day is due
May 29th: No School - Memorial Day

June 1st: Field Trip to Kirk Park

June 6th: Hudsonville 4th and 5th Field Day

Working Hard and Learning Lots

This week we started new units in math, social studies, and writing.  In math, we started our measurement unit.  Metric conversions have been tricky, but students seem to be progressing nicely.  Time, customary conversions, and area and perimeter are coming our way next week.  In social studies we are studying Government.  This is a big topic and we are hoping to lay the foundation so that we can answer the question, "why is government needed?" and "on what principles should our government be based?"  Lastly, in writing, we started a new unit on research.  This unit puts together the ability for students to read for information, and write down key understandings.  Our goal is to research and create a brochure based on a Native American region.  

Here is a link to a video we watched about the Preamble to the Constitution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHp7sMqPL0g
Here is a link to a video students sang to in music: http://viewpure.com/o8pAIO3CPBY?start=0&end=0

Reminders:

MStep:  The dates are: 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/16, and 5/18.  Please try to not to schedule vacations or appointments on these days.  

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:
Writing: 
I can use sketching to help me record what I am learning about Native Americans.

I can observe while I read to help me record what I am learning about Native Americans using inferencing, comparison, and cause and effect.

Social Studies:  

I can explain the possible consequences of having no government, rules, or laws.
I can describe the purpose of government as shown in the Preamble of the Constitution.
I can give negative and positive consequences to land modification in the United States.

Math: 
I can recognize and measure metric units of length, liquid volume, and mass.
I can solve problems using different measures of time.

Reading:

I can show deep comprehension by writing an essay about my character's traits with evidence from the text.

Important Dates:

May 8th: MStep breakfast

May 9, 10, 11, 16, 18: MStep 

May 12th: Early Release, students are dismissed at 12:15

May 19th: Popcorn Friday
May 29th: No School - Memorial Day

Raining Outside, Learning Inside

This week we worked hard to complete Unit 8 in math.  Tests will come home next week for signature and return.  Students only need to return the test with a signature if they received a 1 or 2 in any of the standards.    We will be starting unit 5, which is all about measurement.  

Our Social Studies unit on geography came to a close this week, and we had a quiz on Friday.  We will be starting our unit on Government on Monday.

We had a wonderful time expressing ourselves in our Poetry writing unit!  Students created their own poetry collection.  Eventually these will make their way home, and you'll have to check out your student's creativity.

Reminders:

MStep:  The dates are: 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/16, and 5/18.  Please try to not to schedule vacations or appointments on these days.  

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:
Writing: 
I can use repetition for emphasis in my poetry.

I can use a mentor poem to inspire my own poem.

I can use simile and metaphor to create a mental image in my poem.
I can use rhythm to give my poem structure.
I can edit, revise, and publish my poetry into a collection.

Social Studies:  

I can give examples of how people in the United States Adapt to their environments.
I can identify land uses based on a location's climate and landforms.
I can give negative and positive consequences to land modification in the United States.

Math: 
I can use geometry in real world situations.
I can review our geometry unit.
I can assess my understanding of our geometry unit.

Reading:

I can use research to write an opinion essay.

I can tell character traits and give text evidence to support those traits.

Important Dates:

May 8th: MStep breakfast

May 9, 10, 11, 16, 18: MStep 

May 12th: Early Release, students are dismissed at 12:15

May 19th: Popcorn Friday

Wonderful First Week Back!

We had a great week back!  Students seemed to love our experience at the Symphony!  They participated by listening and responding to the program, but also got to play their recorders with the entire symphony.   McDonalds' was a fun time, but also a great learning experience on how to manage money, count change, and order food in public.  I am proud of our students!  They did a wonderful job.

Today, students practiced being "better together" by going outside and cleaning up the school grounds.  With Earth Day coming up, it was a good reminder to take care of our earth!

MSTEP Breakfast:  Is May 8th.  I am still looking for a volunteer who would be available to help cook that morning (from 9:20 until 10:30ish).  If you are able to donate or volunteer, please e-mail me.  Thanks!

Reminders:

MStep:  The dates are: 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/16, and 5/18.  Please try to not to schedule vacations or appointments on these days.  

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:
Writing: 
I can choose strong themes for my poems.

I can use line breaks and stanzas to enhance my poems.

I can use specific words to emphasize emotions.

Social Studies:  

I can explain push and pull factors.
I can tell push and pull factors for the Underground Railroad, the Westward Movement, and the Trail of Tears. 

I can define immigration.

Math: 
I can name and classify polygons based on sides and angles.
I can decompose quadrilaterals and triangles.

I can recognize and draw lines of symmetry, and determine when figures have line symmetry.

Reading:

I can read and construct a response to questions about a text.

I can read for research to form an argumentative essay.

Important Dates:

April 18th: Parent club meeting at 9:00am

April 20th: Art Show Reception at City Hall 5:30-7:00

April 21st: Popcorn Friday

May 8th: MStep breakfast

May 9, 10, 11, 16, 18: MStep 

May 12th: Early Release, students are dismissed at 12:15

Last Week Before Spring Break!

We had a fun day celebrating our month of reading!  Students read around the classroom and snacked on their beach towels.  We also watched the movie Moana to go with our Tropical theme.  It was a very fun day!

Have a great Spring Break!

Coming up:  

On April 12th (the Wednesday after Spring Break), the fourth grade will be going on a field trip to the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra Link Up Concert.  We will be heading to McDonald's afterward for lunch.  Students will have the opportunity to bring money to purchase their own lunch (if you would like your student to bring a sack lunch instead, you are welcome to send one).   It might be beneficial to have a conversation about:

- storing and handling money

-planning out what to buy before it is your turn to order

-making sure you order food with prices that fit into your budget (don't forget about tax!)

4th grade will be having an M-STEP kick-off breakfast on May, 8th at 9:50am.  Thanks to all who signed up to donate items.  I am still looking for volunteers to donate the following items: 

-cut up melon

-berries 

-granola

-punch cups

I am still looking for a volunteer who would be available to help cook that morning (from 9:20 until 10:30ish).  If you are able to donate or volunteer, please e-mail me.  Thanks!

Reminders:Early Release:  is Friday, April 14th

MSTEP:  The dates are: 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/16, and 5/18.  Please try to not to schedule vacations or appointments on these days.  

Important Dates:

March 31st - April 9: Spring Break.  School resumes on Monday, April 10.

April 12th: Field trip to the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra and McDonald's

April 14th: Early release day; school ends at 12:15
April 18th: Parent club meeting at 9:00am

Spring Is Here!

Spring is here, and we've got lots going on!

This week we celebrated the completion of our informational books by having a bookworm celebration. Our celebration included dirt dessert with gummi worms, and the sharing of our published informational books.  Check out the pictures below.

Next Week

March is Reading Month comes to a close on Thursday, March 30th.  Our theme for this last day is Tropical Day.  Students are encouraged to wear Hawaiian-style clothing to celebrate.  We are going to have a read-in during class.  To make things extra cozy (and in keeping with the theme), students should bring in a beach towel to lay on as they read.

Coming Up  

On April 12th (the Wednesday after Spring Break), the fourth grade will be going on a field trip to the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra Link Up Concert.  We will be heading to McDonald's afterward for lunch.  Students will have the opportunity to bring money to purchase their own lunch (if you would like your student to bring a sack lunch instead, you are welcome to send one).  More details will come on this next week.

4th grade will be having an M-STEP kick-off breakfast on May, 8th at 9:50am.  Thanks to all who signed up to donate items.  I am still looking for volunteers to donate the following items: 

-a half gallon of orange juice

-cut up melon

-berries 

-granola

-punch cups

-mini water bottles

I am also looking for a volunteer who would be available to help cook that morning (from 9:20 until 10:30ish).  If you are able to donate or volunteer, please e-mail me.  Thanks!

Reminders:

Frandale Sub Order Forms are due on Monday, March 27th.

Color the Park T-Shirt Contest forms are due Wednesday, March 29th.

Social Studies Unit 2 Test:  is on Monday.

MSTEP:  The dates are: 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/16, and 5/18.  Please try to not to schedule vacations or appointments on these days.  

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:
Writing: 
I can identify and practice poetic devices.

I can tell what onomatopoeia is.

I can tell what alliteration is.

Social Studies:  

I can define human characteristics.
I can understand that human characteristics are often near physical characteristics.

I can give examples of reasons why geographers divide land into regions.

I can review the spatial geography of the United States.

Math: 
I can draw and describe points, rays, angles, and other simple geometric figures.
I can can draw and measure angles.

I can identify, measure, and draw angles in a circle.

Reading:

I can try to see the story through the eyes of a character who is not the main character.

I can notice how thinking about power can change my thinking about historical fiction.

Important Dates:

March 27th: Frandale Sub order forms are due

March 29th:  Color the Park T-shirt forms are due

March 31st - April 9: Spring Break.  School resumes on Monday, April 10.

April 12th: Field trip to the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra and McDonald's

April 14th: Early release day; school ends at 12:15
April 18th: Parent club meeting at 9:00am

                           

 

Report Cards and Conferences

Hopefully you received your student's report card on Friday.  I am looking forward to talking with you about your student's progress this trimester.  

March is reading month continues this week with "Read America" theme on Friday.  Students are invited to wear red, white, and blue to get fired up for reading.

4th grade will be having an M-STEP kick-off breakfast on May, 8th at 9:50am.  There will be a sign up at conferences to donate items.  I am also looking for volunteers to donate the use of their griddles, and to cook breakfast in our classroom.    

Reminders:

Parent Teacher Conferences: Are Monday 3/20, and Wednesday 3/22. 

Book Fair: Is Monday 3/20 and Wednesday 3/22 during conference time from 4:00 - 7:30.

MSTEP:  The dates are: 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/16, and 5/18.  Please try to not to schedule vacations or appointments on these days.  

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:
Writing: 
I can publish my informational book.

Social Studies:  

I can compare absolute and relative location.
I can define physical characteristics.
I can give examples of physical characteristics in the United States.

Math: 
I can use fractions to help me understand decimals.
I can compare decimals to the tenths and hundredths place value.

I can review the concepts for unit 7.

Reading:

I can question my big idea.
I can allow my big idea to change as I read.

Important Dates:

March 20th & 22nd: Parent-Teacher conferences

March 31st - April 9: Spring Break.  School resumes on Monday, April 10.

April 14th: Early release day; school ends at 12:15
April 18th: Parent club meeting at 9:00am

Team Up With Reading

Don't forget that we are celebrating March is Reading Month!  This week's Friday activity will be "Team Up with Reading" - students should wear their favorite sports team shirt.  

Calling all volunteers!  Parent Club is looking for volunteers to help with order pick-up from the upcoming Frandale Sub Sale.  Pick-up will be on Thursday,  April 13 from 3:45 to 6:30. Please let me or the office know if you are willing and able to volunteer.

Reminders:

Math Unit 6 Retest: Different for each student, but will be in the next 2 weeks.

Math Unit 7 Post test: Will be Monday, 3/20.

MSTEP:  The dates are: 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/16, and 5/18.  Please try to not to schedule vacations or appointments on these days.  

Parent Teacher Conferences: Are Monday 3/20, and Wednesday 3/22.  I look forward to talking with you about your student's progress. 
Book Fair: Is Monday, 3/20 and Wednesday 3/22 during conference time from 4:00 - 7:30.

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: 

I can edit/revise my informational book.

Social Studies:  
I can tell about absolute and relative location.

I can tell about hemispheres, the equator, the prime meridian, longitude, and latitude.

Math: I can compare fractions with unlike denominators.

I can find common denominators.

I can relate decimals to money and fractions.

Reading:
I can learn important things about my historical fiction in the detailed paragraphs.
I can form thoughts on what the big idea of my book is.

Important Dates:

March 16th: Skating party, 6:30pm
March 17th: Popcorn Friday

March 20th & 22nd: Parent-Teacher conferences

April 14th: Early release day; school ends at 12:15