Room 204 Update February 10, 2013 Spring Street School Mrs.

Liportos class

General Information Happy early Valentines Day to you all! I am lucky to be able to spend a portion of each day with your little Valentines. Our party will be on Thursday from 1:45-3:00. Students that are bringing in valentines for the class should be sure to bring in one for each student. They can included treats (such as prepackaged candy, stickers, pencils, etc.) but no candy can be eaten at school or on the bus. Please be sure that any candy does not contain any nuts or nut products. The fourth graders across the district will be having their mock MCAS Long Composition in the next two weeks. Spring Streets will be taking place this Wednesday. It will be a very long day, so the kids should plan on getting a good nights sleep on Tuesday! Also, due to the Mock Long Composition on Wednesday, our PE class will be on TUESDAY this week (the secret number this week is 1000). Please help me in reminding the students to wear their sneakers for Tuesday. Tennis ball cans went home last week to each student. The PTO is asking for families to fill their can with treats that would be appropriate for either a boy or a girl (more detailed information can be found on the paper that came inside the

Monday folder). If your family chooses not to participate, please return the empty can to class so it can be reused. All students should return their can, whether empty or full, by March 1st. On Monday afternoon the SHS Robotics Club will be visiting our school to show us some of what they are working on and how simple machines can be put to good use! IMPORTANT DATES *Media Dates- 2/12, 2/27, 3/13, 3/27, 4/10, 4/24, 5/8, 5/22 *Mock Long Composition- Wednesday, 2/13 *February vacation- 2/18-2/22 *Invention Convention- Thursday, February 28 *Early Release Day- 3/5 *Mock ELA MCAS 3/6 *MCAS Long Composition Tuesday, Mar. 19 *SSS Fun Fair- 3/24 12:00-4:00 *MCAS English Language Arts Wednesday, Mar. 27 -Thursday, Mar. 28 *Early Release Day- 4/9 *Mock Math MCAS 4/10 *MCAS Math Tuesday, May 14Wednesday, May 15 *Fourth Grade Celebration- Friday, June 7th, 9:45-11:00am (raindate, 6/10) Homework The Safety Plan assignment that Mrs. McDonald sent home on Thursday will

be due THIS Thursday. Your student will need some time to sit down and discuss this with you and then both you and your fourth grader need to sign the back of the paper once it is filled out. There will not be progress reports going home this Friday. Please contact me by email with any questions or concerns. Writing We will continue to brainstorm for our stories about a fun time we had outside. Language Arts Our schedule is going to be busy this week due to visits from SHS students, All School Meeting, parties, mock long composition, etc. It is because of this that we will spend the time this week just reviewing what weve learned about open response writing. The students will practice this skill in groups and then critique each others work. Math Fractions are still our focus. Due to the snow day on Friday, we were not able to begin looking at adding and subtracting fractions with different denominators so that will be the focus during the first part of the week. Math Club this Wednesday will be all about fractions! All are welcome at 8am. EVERYDAY MATH FAMILY LETTERS on-line address:
http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/parents/4 th-grade/view-family-letters/

If your student forgets to bring home the Study Link for homework, they can be printed from the following site: http://www.mrnale.com/StudyLinks_Grade _4.htm They can also print the Study Links from the Everyday Math Online site.: www.everydaymathonline.com Social Studies- from Mrs. Luby We will continue to look at the physical features, natural resources, climate and economy of the South Region as the children begin their state project. The states and capitals quiz is on Tuesday. Science This is going to be a very fun and exciting week in science. The kids will be participating in the fourth grades annual Egg Drop! Their task will be to build something to put around a raw egg so that it will survive a drop to the floor. We will be working on this project in class this week and then performing a class drop on Thursday. Those eggs that survive the initial round will be dropped from a higher height on Friday afternoon. Be sure to check in with your inventor on Friday afternoon to see if they cracked under pressure! Thank you so much to everyone that sent in supplies to help us out with our task, they are very much appreciated. UPCOMING INVENTION CONVENTION ASSIGNMENT DATES: Invention Convention 2/28 (Inventions and posters due) Happy Birthday!!! February Birthdays:

If you cannot access them, please let me know.

Jackson 2/13

Amar 2/26
*Specials*
ART: Monday, 10:45-11:25 AM MUSIC: Tuesday 10:00-10:40 AM PHYSICAL EDUCATION: Wednesday 10:4511:20 AM Health: Thursday 9:15-9:55 AM CHORUS: Friday 10:00-10:40 AM MEDIA: Every Other Wednesday, 2:45-3:00 PM

As always, your questions/comments are welcome. Please send me an email or a note to school. Kristen Liporto