Thank you to all the parents who joined us for Curriculum Night! We appreciate you taking the time from your busy schedule to learn more about the 4th Grade. For those families who were unable to join us, we sent home our information packet with your child as well as posting the link here.
Homework, classwork, and assessments are being graded and returned on a regular basis. Please ask your child to share his/her work with you. Grades are updated in Aspen regularly. Please log-in to Aspen's Parent Portal to monitor your child's progress. If you need an access code to set-up Parent Portal, please email Ms. Prinz for assistance.
4:30-6:00pm
Please come to this important evening to meet the teachers, preview what your child will be learning about in the coming year across the school, and connect with the PTO, PAC and other important Murray organizations.
iReady Testing - students will complete the Beginning of Year assessments in Reading and Math on Wednesday and Thursday.
HOMEWORK - Homework is assigned nightly and recorded in the Homework Planner. It is due the following day unless otherwise noted. Late assignments will not be accepted 3 days beyond the due date. Please help your child to create a homework routine that includes taking out their homework planner, checking-off completed assignments, and returning work to the folder, and folder and homework planner back to the book bag.
Student work is graded and returned on a regular basis. There are no surprises regarding grades as we return graded work and update gradebook regularly. Please log-in to Parent Portal or have your child log-in using his/her CPS username and password to review completed work and help monitor any missing assignments.
Thank you for all of the support you have provided your child to prepare for the new school year. We are very grateful for all you and are looking forward to a successful Week 2!
Please send in any remaining Forms or School Supplies by Monday. The Green Homework folder is vital to daily organization and a classsroom pencil case with pencils, erasers, scissors, etc helps your child to have what they need throughout the day. Colored pencils and crayons are stored in the locker and pulled out for projects.
Please visit Ms. Finke's and Ms. Ellis' tabs on this site for information about this week's learning.
August 11, 2025
Hello from the 4th Grade Team!
Teachers returned to school on Monday and are working away to prepare to welcome students on Monday, August 18th! We are excited to work with your child and family in the coming year. A few notes to help you prepare for the first day of school.
Back to School Bash! Thursday, Aug 14 1:00-3:00pm Murray Playground
First Day of School Monday, Aug 18 8:45am-3:45pm 4th Grade line-ups at Door 3
Curriculum Night Tuesday, Aug 26 5:00pm Murray - visit classrooms
Follow this link to the 4th Grade Supply List. We have also posted it on the 4th Grade Site where we will post weekly updates.
Have a wonderful day and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Ms. Ellis Math and Science, Room 204
Ms. Finke ELA and Social Studies, Room 203
June 2025
Dear Incoming 4th Graders and Families,
Happy Summer! We are almost there! On June 4th, we met with your child to introduce ourselves, discuss 4th grade expectations, as well as share the school supply list and summer learning activities. We gave them paper copies of the materials. If for some reason they are misplaced, please click below for a digital copy.
Welcome Letter, School Supply List, and Summer Reading
Have a wonderful summer and we look forward to seeing you on Monday, August 18th.
The 4th Grade Team,
Ms. Finke, 203
Ms. Ellis, 204
There are 2 more weeks of school and we know everyone is excited for summer break! We want to impress upon the students that we still have learning ahead of us. In Reading we are in the middle of a special novel that digs into social issues that surround us in life. In math students are at the end of the unit on decimals which includes many real life applications. We will make the most of every day and are depending on students to make good choices and continue to complete homework and classwork with effort
The 4th Grade Class Picnic will be on Tuesday, June 10th. See the flyer below ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
Happy Memorial Day! No school Monday, May 26th.
iReady Reading Test - begins Tuesday, May 27th
The 4th Grade Class Picnic will be on Tuesday, June 10th
We are in the last push of the school year and attendance matters. Please help your child to arrive to school on time and to avoid early dismissals.
End of Year Testing
Star 360 Testing for Reading and Math- Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Please help your child prepare by getting plenty of rest and arriving to school on time.
iReady Reading Test - begins Tuesday, May 27th
We are working hard to end the year on a positive note! As we have shared with the students, we are now approaching some of the most complex lessons of the year. It's important for students to put focus and effort into all that we do including: participating in class discussions, asking questions, working with partners, working in small groups, and using time wisely.
Homework is recorded in the homework planner and due the following day unless otherwise noted.
IAR Testing
Tuesday, March 18th
Wednesday, March 19th
Tuesday, April 1st - Parent Conferences
A link to sign-up for Parent Conferences was emailed. Please sign-up as soon as possible. The schedule will be finalized on Thursday, March 20th.
Thank you to all of the chaperones who joined us on our field trip to the Chicago History Museum. We are grateful for your time and engagement with the students as we visited this city gem.
IAR Testing testing continues.
Tuesday, March 11th
Wednesday, March 12th
Thursday, March 13th
Tuesday, March 18th
Wednesday, March 19th
Field Trip! Students will be visiting the Chicago History Museum on Friday, March 7th. Students will visit various exhibits in the museum to discover why Chicago is known as the Crossroads of America. Students will complete a few activities to help build background knowledge for the upcoming social studies units.
Please send lunch with your child on Friday. Students are not permitted to bring electronics (including phones) on the field trip. There is no need for money as we will not be visiting the cafe or gift shops. No gum, pop, or candy is permitted.
We are out of tissues!
If everyone brings one box, we will have enough for the remainder of the school year.
We are out of tissues!
If everyone brings one box, we will have enough for the remainder of the school year.
✅ Social Studies Southeast Landform Projects are due Wednesday, February 12th. See Ms. Finke's page for additional details.
❤️ Valentine's Day Celebration ❤️
There was a typo on the note sent home. The celebration will be on Friday, February 14th
On Friday, February 14th we will have a small Valentine’s Day celebration. Your child is welcome to bring cards to share with classmates. If he/she chooses to do this, please make sure there is a Valentine for each member of the class – a class list was sent home. If your child wishes to share a small treat, please make sure it is individually wrapped and nut free. We will not be able to pass out any items containing nuts.
Please help your child to open and organize their Valentine’s prior to coming to school.
Thank you!
🚌 Field Trip Slips!
We are heading to the Chicago History Museum on March 7th. Trip slips will go home next week and are due Thursday, February 20th. No late slips will be accepted.
✅ Social Studies Southeast Landform Projects are due Wednesday, February 12th. See Ms. Finke's page for additional details.
⭐️ Last call for Report Card envelopes signed and returned.
Friday, January 31st is our field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry! A few reminders about this day:
Please help your child to pack a lunch.
Students have to carry their coats with them throughout the museum. Please pay attention to the weather to see if your child might be able to get by with a lighter coat. Please help your child to strategize how they will manage their coat and accessories as they explore the museum.
Please do not send money - we will not be visiting the gift shop nor cafes.
Please review museum etiquette, remind your child that s/he is to stay with chaperones at all times, and follow directions from chaperones and museum staff.
No School
Monday - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tuesday - Teacher In-Service Day
⏰ On Time Arrival - we understand winter weather conditions impact drive times. We ask that families keep this in mind and leave a little earlier to ensure on time arrival to school.
Report Cards will be sent home on Friday, January 24th. Please review with your child and help your child to identify successes and area for improvement in the coming quarter. Please sign and return the envelope and keep all of the contents.
Happy New Year! We hope you and your family had a wonderful and relaxing Winter Break!
Field Trip to MSI
Friday, January 31, 2025
Field trip slips are going home on Monday January 6th and are due Wednesday, January 15th. No late slips will be accepted as we have to pay the museum in advance. We will need 4 chaperones per class. Only parents on the ✅ CPS Volunteer Process are able to go on the trip.
Please help your child to replenish his/her pencil case: students need 3 sharpened pencils, pencil sharpener, scissors, red pen, blue pen, and dry erase marker daily. It not only impacts your child, but others when supplies are missing.
Winter Showcase Assembly
Friday, December 13th
9:30-10:30 Kindergarten - 4th Grade
10:45-11:45 5th - 8th
A note from Ms. Perry: Attire can include the following (none of this is required): 50 Nifty can be shirts or things related to the 50 states. For Samba Santa, they can have vacation wear and gear. Please wear the 50 Nifty stuff on top of their Samba Santa stuff, that would make it a little easier. Yes, the gym will be cold so don’t get too "vacationy".
Holiday Party
Thursday, December 19th
12pm
A note went home on Thursday, December 5th. Please fill out and send back by Thursday, December 12th.
Field Trip to MSI
Friday, January 31, 2025
Mark your calendar for our field trip is scheduled for to MSI. We will be sending home slips on January 6th. Slips must be submitted by Wednesday, January 15th as we have to pay the museum in advance. We will need 4 chaperones per class. You must complete ✅ CPS Volunteer Process to join us on field trips.
Winter Showcase Assembly
Friday, December 13th
9:30-10:30 Kindergarten - 4th Grade
10:45-11:45 5th - 8th
Be on the lookout for an email from Ms. Perry, our music teacher, with details about suggested clothing for the 4th grade performance.
Holiday Party
Thursday, December 19th
12pm
We will be collecting $10 to purchase pizza, drinks, snacks, and sweets. Be on the lookout for a letter the first week of December.
Field Trip to MSI
Friday, January, 31 2025
Mark your calendar for our field trip is scheduled for to MSI. We will be sending home slips on January 6th. Slips must be submitted by Wednesday, January 15th as we have to pay the museum in advance. We will need 4 chaperones per class. You must complete ✅ CPS Volunteer Process to join us on field trips.
The Northeast Travel Brochures look amazing! Thank you for all the support you provided your child. They were so excited to share them in class and they will be displayed on the bulletin board for all to see!
Progress Reports go home on Friday, November 22nd.
✅ CPS Volunteer Process Please follow this link to complete all steps of the process.
Happy Thanksgiving! A reminder that Chicago Public Schools are closed for the week of November 25th. We hope you have a wonderful break and have time with family and friends.
Northeast Travel Brochures are due Thursday, November 14th!
We have field trips planned in the new year. Please complete the ✅ CPS Volunteer Process to join the chaperone list.
🇺🇸Veterans Day - Pausing to remember and thank all the troops who have served our country.
The 2nd Quarter is underway! Student work is graded and returned on a regular basis. There are no surprises regarding grades as we return graded work and update gradebook regularly. Please log-in to Parent Portal or have your child log-in using his/her CPS username and password to review completed work and help monitor any missing assignments. Reminder, late homework is not accepted after three days.
Monday - Parent Conferences, we look forward to seeing you at your scheduled time! No school for students
Tuesday - Election Day, No school
New Quarter, Fresh Start!
🎃Halloween - The 4th Graders will have a small Halloween celebration on Thursday, October 31st.
Please remember, students do not dress up at Murray. However, we will have a treat exchange that afternoon. Students may bring in a small treat to exchange with their homeroom class.
Treat Ideas
· 1 fun size candy treat
· Pencils
· Erasers
· Stickers
We are a peanut free classroom so please check labels before sending in the treats.
Friday, October 25th is the last day of the first quarter.
Parent Conferences are scheduled for Monday, November 4th. Please be on the lookout for an email from your child's homeroom teacher to sign-up.
🎃Halloween - The 4th Graders will have a small Halloween celebration on Thursday, October 31st.
Please remember, students do not dress up at Murray. However, we will have a treat exchange that afternoon. Students may bring in a small treat to exchange with their homeroom class.
Treat Ideas
· 1 fun size candy treat
· Pencils
· Erasers
· Stickers
We are a peanut free classroom so please check labels before sending in the treats.
✅ No School Monday - Indigenous People's Day
📸 Picture Day is scheduled for Monday, October 21st.
The 1st Quarter is coming to an end on October 25. Student work is graded and returned on a regular basis. There are no surprises regarding grades as we return graded work and update gradebook regularly. Please log-in to Parent Portal or have your child log-in using his/her CPS username and password to review completed work and help monitor any missing assignments. Reminder, late homework is not accepted after three days.
📸 Picture Day is scheduled for Monday, October 21st.
Student work is graded and returned on a regular basis. There are no surprises regarding grades as we return graded work and update gradebook regularly. Please log-in to Parent Portal or have your child log-in using his/her CPS username and password to review completed work and help monitor any missing assignments.
📈 Progress Reports were sent home on Thursday, September 26. If you haven't seen it yes, please ask your child.
✅ Reminder: Friday, September 27 is a Professional Development Day for teachers. There is no school for students.
📈 Progress Reports were sent home on Thursday, September 26.
📚 Scholastic Book Fair (September 30th - October 3rd)
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Murray! This is a fantastic opportunity for students to explore new books and nurture their love of reading.
Browse the catalog at s-bf.com/es1 and set up an e-Wallet for a cash-free purchasing experience. You can also donate books to your child’s classroom or the school library through the e-Wallet.
📸 Picture Day is scheduled for Monday, October 21st.
📈We are starting the 5th week of school and Progress Reports will be sent home on Thursday, September 26.
STAR 360 reports will be attached to Progress Reports.
✅ Reminder: Friday, September 27 is a Professional Development Day for teachers. There is no school for students.
We are getting into the swing of things! We appreciate all of your efforts to support your child's learning in and out of the classroom. A reminder that school begins at 8:45 am and it's so important for all children to be in the building with their materials on time to help make for a successful day.
Student work is graded and returned on a regular basis. There are no surprises regarding grades as we return graded work and update gradebook regularly. Please log-in to Parent Portal or have your child log-in using his/her CPS username and password to review completed work and help monitor any missing assignments.
Thank you to all the parents who joined us for Curriculum Night! We appreciate you taking the time from your busy schedule to learn more about the 4th Grade. For those families who were unable to join us, we sent home our information packet with your child as well posting the link link here.
HOMEWORK - Homework is assigned nightly and recorded in the Homework Planner. It is due the following day unless otherwise noted. Late assignments will not be accepted 3 days beyond the due date. Please help your child to create a homework routine that includes taking out their homework planner, checking-off completed assignments, and returning work to the folder, and folder and homework planner back to the book bag.
Please turn in the important CPS and Murray forms that were sent home on the first week of school. Please submit by Monday, September 9th. Thank you!
As we plan the school year and prepare for field trips, we need all parents to complete the CPS Volunteer Process. Please follow this link to complete all steps of the process by end of September so we can plan our trips.
Student work is graded and returned on a regular basis. There are no surprises regarding grades as we return graded work and update gradebook regularly. Please log-in to Parent Portal or have your child log-in using his/her CPS username and password to review completed work and help monitor any missing assignments.
Thank you for all of the support you have provided your child to prepare for the new school year. We are very grateful for all you and are looking forward to a successful Week 2!
Forms - There was a delay in some forms being sent home. A packet went home on Thursday and includes priority forms. Please complete and return by Tuesday, September 3. Thank you!
Open House Logistics - Thursday, September 5th
Open House is a wonderful opportunity to share your curriculum, syllabus, classroom expectations, grading scale, and more with families. It's also a great chance to share a bit about yourself, as building strong relationships is key to our success. Here are the logistics for the evening:
4:15 PM: Welcome families into the multipurpose room
4:30 PM - 4:40 PM: Baker will present data to all families in the multipurpose room
4:40 PM - 5:15 PM: World Language/Essential team members will speak to families in the multi-purpose room.
5:15 PM - 6:00 PM: Parents will go to their classrooms to meet with teachers and hear presentations
Please visit Ms. Finke's and Ms. Ellis' tabs on this site for information about this week's learning.
June 2024
Dear Incoming 4th Graders and Families,
Happy Summer! We are almost there! On May 30th, we met with your children to introduce ourselves, share 4th grade expectations, as well as share the school supply list and summer learning packets. We gave them paper copies of those materials. If for some reason they are misplaced, please click below for the 4th Grade Welcome Letter and summer learning activities for Reading and Math. All work is due the first day of school.
Have a wonderful summer and we will see you on Monday, August 26th.
The 4th Grade Team,
Ms. Finke, 203
Ms. Ellis, 204
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
We are in the last push to end of school! We need each and every student to come in each day, ready to learn, ready to listen to directions, ready to make good choices in the classroom and on the playground. This will help us to celebrate our hard work!
Thursday, June 6th - Last Day of School!
As some families have graduations and out of town trips planned, please communicate with the homeroom teacher if your child will be leaving before the last day of school. We want to make sure all of their personal materials are sent home. We are not able to store anything over the summer due to cleaning.
iReady Reading Test - Begins Monday, May 20th
4th Grade Class Picnic is scheduled for Tuesday, June 4. Details will be coming home soon.
End of Year -As we wrap up the school year, please keep us informed of planned absences or if your child will be departing before the last day of school.
Star 360 Testing for Reading and Math- Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Please help your child prepare by getting plenty of rest and arriving to school on time.
iReady Reading Test - begins Monday, May 20th
🤧 We are out of tissues and would appreciate donations to help us get to the end of the year.
Homework continues to be given each night. Please help your child to find a quiet spot to complete their work and review routines for packing up bookbags to ensure everything comes back to school.
Studying - students are given notice of upcoming tests and study guides to help them prepare for tests and quizzes. It's important for students to take take to work on developing study skills as it will help them in the years to come.
Progress Reports will be sent home on Friday, May 3rd
Homework continues to be given each night. Please help your child to find a quiet spot to complete their work and review routines for packing up bookbags to ensure everything comes back to school.
🤧 We are out of tissues and would appreciate donations to help us get to the end of the year.
Spring Picture Day is on Monday, April 15th. For this round of school photos, only students who have paid online or bring in money/order form on Monday will take pictures.
We are working hard to end the year on a positive note! As we have shared with the students, we are now approaching some of the most complex lessons of the year. It's important for students to put focus and effort into all that we do including: participating in class discussions, asking questions, working with partners, working in small groups, and using time wisely.
Homework is recorded in the homework planner and due the following day unless otherwise noted.
The Solar Eclipse!
IAR Testing Continues this Week
Thank you for getting your child to school on time! It makes a huge difference!
Tuesday, April 9th
Thursday, April 11th
Friday, April 12th
Midwest Timeline Projects are due Tuesday, April 9th. Materials and directions were reviewed in class andsent home with your child. There are also directions below. There are no extra materials to send home, so if they were lost, students will have to create their own.
Wednesday, April 10th - Parent Conferences
Thank you for signing up and we look forward to seeing you at your appointed time.
Spring Break! Enjoy the break from school to rest and rejuvenate. When we return, we will take on Illinois State Testing and the 4th Quarter. Students return to school on Tuesday, April 2nd.
IAR Testing Schedule
Wednesday, April 3rd
Thursday, April 4th
Tuesday, April 9th
Thursday, April 11th
Friday, April 12th
Parent Conferences
A link to sign-up for Parent Conferences was emailed on Wednesday, March 20th. Please sign-up as the schedule will be finalized on April 1st. I will email to confirm your time.
Midwest Timeline Projects are due Tuesday, April 9th. Materials and directions were reviewed in class andsent home with your child. There are also directions below. There are no extra materials to send home, so if they were lost, students will have to create their own.
Last week of school before Spring Break! Let's make it a good one!
See below for directions for the next Social Studies Project. It's due Tuesday, April 9th!
Wear Green on Friday!
There has been an increase of students using body sprays and perfumes at school. Please remind your child that sprays and perfumes are not to be used before or during school as the scents can be overwhelming and trigger asthma symptoms. As children grow, they undergo various physical changes, and it becomes increasingly important to instill good personal hygiene habits. Habits like using deodorant will help your child to feel good about him/herself and not feel the need for the sprays.
Thank you to all of the chaperones who joined us on our field trip to the Chicago History Museum. We are grateful for your time and engagement with the students as we visited this city gem.
Murray Literacy Week is March 4th - 8th! Please see the flyer below for details.
The 3rd Quarter ends on March 22nd. Please continue to review homework and Aspen to monitor your child's progress.
Murray Black History Fair -
Thursday, February 29th from 5-8pm. A flyer went home with details on how to preorder a meal. Last day to order is February 24th. The 4th Graders' projects on the trailblazer artist Jacob Lawrence will be on display in the hallway. Students have recreated "The Great Migration" series to show how Lawrence documented the African American experience. Come to see the projects and enjoy time with our school community.
Field Trip! Students will be visiting the Chicago History Museum on Friday, March 1st. Students will visit various exhibits in the museum to discover why Chicago is known as the Crossroads of America. Students will complete a few activities to help build background knowledge for the upcoming social studies units.
Please send lunch with your child on Friday. Students are not permitted to bring electronics (including phones) on the field trip. There is no need for money as we will not be visiting the cafe or gift shops. No gum, pop, or candy is permitted.
We are out of tissues!
If everyone brings one box, we will have enough for the remainder of the school year.
🚌 Field Trip Slips!
We are heading to the Chicago History Museum on March 1st. Field Trip They are due Friday, February 16th. No late slips will be accepted.
Progress Reports
Went home on Thursday, February 8th. Please review, sign, and return to school.
Essentials Schedule Change beginning 2-12
Room 203 M-PE, T-World Language, W-Music, TH-World Language, F-PE
Room 204 M-Music, T-World Language, W-PE, TH-World Language, F-Music
❤️ Valentine's Day
Please ask your child for the note that was sent home detailing the small Valentine's celebration on Tuesday. Students can see the names of classmates in Google Classroom by clicking on the "People" tab.
Social Studies Southeast Landform Projects are due Monday, February 5th.
Progress Reports go home Thursday, February 8th.
Friday, February 9th - School Improvement Day, no school for students.
The children's librarian from the Blackstone Library reached out to share information about an upcoming program. The flyer was sent home this week and is attached below.
🚌 Thank you to all the chaperones who joined us on the field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry this past Friday. We greatly appreciate the time you shared with our students to make the day a success. We have another field trip planned for early March. If you are interested in chaperoning, please complete the CPS volunteer background check so that you can join us. ✅ CPS Volunteer Process Please follow this link to complete all steps of the process.
📓 Due to last week's weather, Middle of Year Testing will continue this week. Students will complete the STAR 360 tests on Tuesday of this week and will begin iReady Reading on Wednesday. Please encourage your child to try his or her best.
⏰ On Time Arrival - we understand winter weather conditions impact drive times. We ask that families keep this in mind and leave a little earlier to ensure on time arrival to school.
2nd Quarter Report Cards go home Friday, January 12th. Please review successes and help your child to set personal goals for the coming quarter. A break down of grades is visible in the Parent Portal on Aspen. Please sign and return the envelope so we can use it next quarter.
Middle of Year testing begins this week. Students take the STAR 360 Reading and Math tests on Wednesday and Thursday morning. iReady Reading will begin the following week. Please encourage your child to try his or her best.
Friday, January 19th is our field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry! A few reminders about this day:
Please help your child to pack a lunch.
Students have to carry their coats with them throughout the museum. Initially we had said to wear a lighter coat, but next week's temperatures are looking quite chilly. Please help your child to strategize how they will manage their coat and accessories as they explore the museum.
Please do not send money - we will not be visiting the gift shop nor cafes.
Please review museum etiquette, remind your child that s/he is to stay with chaperones at all times, and follow directions from chaperones and museum staff.
Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful Winter Break and are rested for the start of the new year and 3rd Quarter. Upcoming Dates and Reminders:
Friday, January 12th - 2nd Quarter Report Cards will be sent home. Please review report cards and then sign and return the envelope. You are to keep all of the contents.
Friday, January 19th -Field Trip to the Museum of Science and Industry.
Students need to pack a lunch (no pop or candy)
Please do not send money with your child as students are not permitted to go to the shops or to purchase food.
Outerwear/Jackets - there is no place to store coats at the museum so we encourage students to wear lighter jackets/vests to the museum as they will have to wear or carry them throughout the visit. We are going from the school to the bus and bus to the museum, so outside time will be limited.
Just a few more days before Winter Break! Let's make these last days count with hard work and focus!
Holiday Luncheon is on Wednesday, December 20th.
The 2nd Quarter ends on Thursday, December 21st.
If your child plans to be absent this week, please let us know so we can plan accordingly.
Have a wonderful holiday, Happy New Year, and see you on Monday, January 8th!
❄️Week of December 11th ❄️
2nd Quarter end December 21st
We are nearing the end of the 2nd Quarter and though there are many fun things planned these next two weeks, we will also continue learning, classwork, tests, and homework. It's imperative for each child continue to work hard, maintain focus, and treat others with respect in the classroom, at recess, and in the lunchroom.
Murray Winter Assembly
Friday, December 15th
K-4 Assembly 9:30 am
4th Graders will be singing "Let it Snow". Please help your child to dress in white tops, dark pants, winter hat, and scarf.
Holiday Party
Wednesday, December 20th at 12pm
We will be collecting $10 to purchase pizza, drinks, snacks, and sweets.
Last day to submit fees for party is Thursday, December 14th.
Week of December 4th
Field Trip Slips
Please sign and return field trip slips. No slips/fees will be accepted after December 7th. The cost of the field trip is $16.
Murray Winter Assembly
Friday, December 15th
K-4 Assembly 9:30 am
4th Graders will be singing "Let it Snow". Please help your child to dress in white tops, dark pants, winter hat, and scarf.
Holiday Party
Wednesday, December 20th at 12pm
We will be collecting $10 to purchase pizza, drinks, snacks, and sweets.
Week of November 27th
We hope everyone had a restful break. We have 4 important weeks of learning and some fun planned. It is important for every child to get enough sleep, come in with a good attitude, put forth effort, and work to get along with others. This will make the next 4 weeks awesome!
Progress Reports were sent home on Friday, November 17th. Please review, sign, and return with your child.
Field Trip - field trip slips are going home Monday, November 28th. Please sign and return with fees as soon as possible. No fees/slips will be accepted after December 7th. The trip is January 19th, but we must pay the museum in advance.
We are able to take 5 chaperones per class on this trip. Chaperones MUST be on the CPS approved Volunteer List. Remember, applications need to be updated each year.
✅ CPS Volunteer Process Please follow this link to complete all steps of the process.
🦃 Week of November 13th
Thanksgiving! A reminder that Chicago Public Schools are closed for the week of November 20th.
👀 Looking Ahead: Field Trip - we will be sending home field trip slips on Monday, November 28th for a January trip to the Museum of Science and Industry. The cost of the trip will be $16 per student. We need to collect all funds and slips by Friday, December 7th as we have to pay the museum in advance.
We are able to take 5 chaperones per class on this trip. Chaperones MUST be on the CPS approved Volunteer List. Remember, applications need to be updated each year.
✅ CPS Volunteer Process Please follow this link to complete all steps of the process.
🎃Week of October 30th
Thank you for joining us for Parent Conferences this past week! Please sign and return the envelopes by Monday, October 30th. You are to keep all the contents.
🎃Halloween - The 4th Graders will have a small Halloween celebration on Tuesday, October 31st. Please see below for details.
🍎 Week of October 23rd
Parent Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, October 26th. This is a non-attendance day for children. Please check your email for your confirmed time.
Friday, October 27th is a professional development day for teachers. No school for students.
🎃Halloween - The 4th Graders will have a small Halloween celebration on Tuesday, October 31st.
Please remember, students do not dress up at Murray. However, we will have a treat exchange that afternoon. Students may bring in a small treat to exchange with their homeroom class.
Treat Ideas
· 1 fun size candy treat
· Pencils
· Erasers
· Stickers
We are a peanut free classroom so please check labels before sending in the treats.
🍁Week of October 16th
Friday, October 20th is the last day of the first quarter.
Parent Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, October 26th. Please be on the lookout for an email from your child's homeroom teacher to sign-up.
🍏Week of October 9th
No School Monday - Indigenous People's Day
✅ Reminder: Field Trip to the Logan Center for Jason and the Argonauts Lyric Opera performance
📸 Picture Day is scheduled for Monday, October 16th.
🗂️ Graded Work and Aspen – graded work is sent home regularly and grades are updated in Aspen. As we dig further into the quarter and 4th grade learning, it’s important to help review graded work with your child to help them recognize what they did well and learn from their mistakes. When graded work and grades in Aspen are monitored, there are no surprises at the end of the quarter.
It's hard to believe it's already the month of October!
Tuesday, October 3rd @ 5:30 - Data Night
This virtual event led by Mr. Baker and Ms. Berry will help you interpret your child's iReady (Reading) and Star 360 (Reading and Math) results from the beginning of year test. They will explain how the data is used in school and how you can help support your child at home. Please plan to attend!
We sent home your child's data with their progress reports.
Murray Book Fair is the week of October 2nd.
Save the date! Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, October 26th. Sign-up information will be coming out soon.
Murray Book Fair is the week of October 2nd.
Please sign and return Progress Reports by Monday, September 25th.
📈We are starting the 5th week of school and Progress Reports will be sent home on Thursday, September 21.
Star 360 and iReady Reading reports will be attached to Progress Reports.
✅ Reminder: Friday, September 22 is a Professional Development Day for teachers. There is no school for students.
We are getting into the swing of things! We appreciate all of your efforts to support your child's learning in and out of the classroom. A reminder that school begins at 8:45 am and it's so important for all children to be in the building with their materials on time to help make for a successful day.
As we plan the school year and prepare for field trips, we need all parents to complete the CPS Volunteer Process. Please follow this link to complete all steps of the process by end of September so we can plan our trips.
Student work is graded and returned on a regular basis. There are no surprises regarding grades as we return graded work and update gradebook regularly. Please log-in to Parent Portal or have your child log-in using his/her CPS username and password to review completed work and help monitor any missing assignments. Reminder: Late homework assignments are not accepted 3 days beyond the due date.
Monday is Labor Day - No School
Thank you to all the parents who joined us for Curriculum Night! We appreciate you taking the time from your busy schedule to learn more about the 4th Grade. For those families who were unable to join us, please follow the link to the important handout.
HOMEWORK - Homework is assigned nightly and recorded in the Homework Planner. It is due the following day unless otherwise noted. Late assignments will not be accepted 3 days beyond the due date. Please help your child to create a homework routine that includes taking out their homework planner, checking-off completed assignments, and returning work to the folder, and folder and homework planner back to the book bag.
Please turn in the important CPS and Murray forms that were sent home on the first day of school. We are missing many, many of these important forms. Please submit by Wednesday, September 15th. Thank you!
Thank you for all of the support you have provided your child to prepare for the new school year. We are very grateful for all you and are looking forward to a successful Week 2!
Curriculum Night is Tuesday, August 29th @ 5pm
Please come to this important evening to meet the teachers, preview what your child will be learning about in the coming year across the school, and connect with the PTO, PAC and other important Murray organizations.
5:00
Families will start in the Multipurpose room with our resource fair. Parents will engage with members of the LSC, PAC, PTO, and have an opportunity to fill out school forms and receive help with Aspen Parent Portal. Receive information you need to support you child.
5:30
Homeroom Visit
6:00
2nd Homeroom Visit - For those with multiple kids, you can explore another classroom.
Essentials teachers will present together
6:30
World Language – Teachers from our World Language Department will discuss with families the importance of developing student’s language proficiency skills and important information about their classrooms.
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
Creating a Classroom Mission Statement
This week we will work to develop our class mission statements in homerooms. This co-created statement will guide and drive our classroom culture and articulate the values, goals, and norms we hold closely. This important statement helps hold us all accountable for our common goals.
June 2023
Dear Incoming 4th Graders and Families,
Happy Summer! We are almost there! On June 1st, we met with your children to introduce 4th Grade Expectations as well as share the school supply list and summer learning packets. We gave them paper copies of those materials. If for some reason they are misplaced, please click below for the 4th Grade Welcome Letter and summer learning activities for Reading and Math. All work is due the first day of school.
Have a wonderful summer and we will see you on Monday, August 21st!
The 4th Grade Team,
Ms. Finke, 203
Ms. Ellis, 204
⭐️Week of May 29th
Friday, June 2nd - Skating Party
The Culture and Climate Team has organized an amazing experience by bringing a skating party to Murray Language Academy. Please, please, please! Please encourage your child to practice quickly tying and untying shoes as we will have limited available hands to help with the skates.
Monday, June 5th - Class Picnic
See below for details
Wednesday, June 7th - Last Day of School!
As some families have graduations and out of town trips planned, please communicate with the homeroom teacher if your child will be leaving before the last day of school. We want to make sure all of their personal materials are sent home. We are not able to store anything over the summer due to cleaning.
⭐️Week of May 22nd
The end of the school year is quickly approaching! Here are a few important dates:
Monday, May 30th - Memorial Day, no school
Friday, June 2nd - Skating Party
The Culture and Climate Team has organized an amazing experience by bringing a skating party to Murray Language Academy. This past week we collected shoe sizes or if your child will be bringing personal skates that day. Please, please, please! Please encourage your child to practice quickly tying and untying shoes as we will have limited available hands to help with the skates.
Monday, June 5th - Class Picnic
See below for details
Wednesday, June 7th - Last Day of School!
As some families have graduations and out of town trips planned, please communicate with the homeroom teacher if your child will be leaving before the last day of school. We want to make sure all of their personal materials are sent home. We are not able to store anything over the summer due to cleaning.
🌷May 15th
Happy Mother's Day to all our mothers, grandmothers, and mother-like figures! We are grateful for all the love and encouragement you provide your 4th grader. We hope your children give you a small break on this special day!
We will be working hard right up to the end of the school year. Please continue to push your child to make good choices and work hard each day.
April 24th
Tuesday, April 25th @ 10:00am
OSP Protecting Chicago's Children and Transforming Bias-based Harm Student Training - Annual Training
On Tuesday, April 25th, students will participate in an annual training from CPS. A letter was sent home last week explaining the training and giving parents the opportunity to opt-out if so desired.
Progress Reports go home Friday, April 28th
April 17th
We are working hard to end the year on a positive note! As we have shared with the students, we are now approaching some of the most complex lessons of the year. It's important for students to put focus and effort into all that we do including: participating in class discussions, asking questions, working with partners, working in small groups, and using time wisely.
Homework is recorded in the homework planner and due the following day unless otherwise noted.
April 3rd-7th
☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️SPRING BREAK! ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️
See you all on Monday, April 10th!
IAR Testing Schedule
This past week the 4th Graders put a great deal of effort into arriving to school on time ready to go. We saw great focus and effort throughout testing. We know they are encountering some challenging texts, questions, and math problems but are proud of the the effort they have put forth. Keep it up for these last two tests!
Room 203 Testing Schedule
Monday, March 27 ELA III
Tuesday, March 28 Math III
Room 204 Testing Schedule
Monday, March 27 Math III
Tuesday, March 28 ELA III
Parent Conferences on Wednesday, March 29th
Thank you for signing up for your parent conference scheduled for this Wednesday. We have sent out emails confirming your appointment time. It's a VERY tight schedule so please be on time so that we can maximize our time together.
☀️☀️☀️Spring Break! ☀️☀️☀️
Week of April 3rd is Spring Break! We hope you and your children are able to rest and relax in order to renew energy as we work our way through the 4th Quarter!
🌷🌷🌷🌷 Spring Picture Day is Monday, March 20th 🌷🌷🌷🌷
IAR Testing Schedule
Room 203 Testing Schedule
Tuesday, March 21 ELA I
Wednesday, March 22 Math I
Thursday, March 23 ELA II
Friday, March 24 Math II
Monday, March 27 ELA III
Tuesday, March 28 Math III
Room 204 Testing Schedule
Tuesday, March 21 Math I
Wednesday, March 22 ELA I
Thursday, March 23 Math II
Friday, March 24 ELA II
Monday, March 27 Math III
Tuesday, March 28 ELA III
It's very important for children to arrive to school on time and avoid early dismissals during the testing window. Please help your child to be on the playground at 8:40 so they enter with the class, have time at their lockers, eat breakfast if desired, use the washroom, and settle into the day. The classroom door will close at 9:00am to begin testing. If students arrive late, they will no be permitted to go to their rooms and will have to make-up the test at a later time.
Murray Literacy Week is March 13th-16th! Please see the flyer below for details.
The 3rd Quarter ends on March 16th.
No School for students on Friday, March 17th
Picture Day - Monday, March 20th
Illinois Assessment of Readiness is scheduled for March 21st-28th. Please be on the lookout for the complete testing schedule. It's very important for children to arrive to school on time and avoid early dismissals during the testing window. If students arrive late, they will no be permitted to go to their rooms and will have to make-up the test at a later time.
Wednesday, March 28th - Parent Conferences
Thank you to all of the chaperones who joined us on our field trip to the Chicago History Museum. We are grateful for your time and engagement with the students as we visited this city gem.
Murray Literacy Week is March 13th-16th! Please see the flyer below for details.
The 3rd Quarter ends on March 16th.
Illinois Assessment of Readiness is scheduled for March 20th-March 28th. Please be on the lookout for the complete testing schedule. It's very important for children to arrive to school on time and avoid early dismissals during the testing window. If students arrive late, they will no be permitted to go to their rooms and will have to make-up the test at a later time.
Students will be visiting the Chicago History Museum on Wednesday, March 1st. Students will visit various exhibits in the museum to discover why Chicago is known as the Crossroads of America. Students will complete a few activities to help build background knowledge for upcoming social studies units.
Please send lunch with your child on Wednesday. Students are not permitted to bring electronics (including phones) on the field trip. There is no need for money as we will not be visiting the cafe or gift shops.
Uniting Voices Chicago - the choir is going on a field trip to Symphony Hall on Tuesday, October 28th. Please contact Ms. Perry if you have questions.
Monday is President's Day - No School
Essentials Schedule Change beginning 2-13
Room 203 M-PE, T-World Language, W-Art, TH-World Language, F-PE
Room 204 M-Art, T-World Language, W-PE, TH-World Language, F-Art
🚌 LAST CALL for Field Trip Slips!
They are due Wednesday, February 15th. No late slips will be accepted.
✏️ Supplies
We are noticing students are running out of pencils and other school supplies. Please check-in with your child to help them replace and items that have been used up or lost.
❤️ Valentine's Day
Please ask your child for the note that was sent home detailing the small Valentine's celebration on Tuesday.
Field Trip slips were sent home this week and are due Wednesday, February 15th. No late slips will be accepted.
Progress Reports go home on Friday, February 10th. Please review, sign, and have your child return on Monday, February 13th. Your child's progress can be monitored in Parent Portal throughout the quarter.
Field Trip slips for a visit to the Chicago History Museum will go home this week. All chaperones must be on the CPS Volunteer List. For questions about the volunteer opportunities and your application, please email volunteer@cps.edu or call 773-553-1544. Chicago Public Schools Volunteer Process
No School Friday, February 3rd
Thank you for the parent volunteers who joined us on the field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry. The students had a great time exploring the museum and working as forensic scientists to analyze evidence in a pseudo crime lab.
Last call for report card envelopes!
Friday is our field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry! A few reminders about this day:
Please pack a lunch.
Students have to carry their coats with them throughout the museum. We encourage students to wear lighter jackets or heavy sweatshirts on the field trip as we will have limited time outside and this will help to avoid misplacing outerwear.
Please do not send money - we will not be visiting the gift shop nor cafes.
Please review museum etiquette, remind your child that s/he is to stay with chaperones at all times, and follow directions from chaperones and museum staff.
Welcome back to school! We hope you had a wonderful Winter Break and are rested for the start of the new year and 3rd Quarter. Upcoming Dates and Reminders:
Friday, January 13th - 2nd Quarter Report Cards will be sent home. Please review report cards and then sign and return the envelope. You are to keep all of the envelope contents.
Friday, January 20th -Field Trip to the Museum of Science and Industry.
Students need to pack a lunch (no pop or candy)
Please do not send money with your child as students are not permitted to go to the shops or to purchase food.
Outerwear/Jackets - there is no place to store coats at the museum so we encourage students to wear lighter jackets/vests to the museum as they will have to wear or carry them throughout the visit. We are going from the school to the bus and bus to the museum, so outside time will be limited.
Just a few more days before Winter Break! Let's make these last days count with hard work and focus!
Holiday Luncheon is on Wednesday, December 21st.
The 2nd Quarter ends on Thursday, December 22nd.
If your child plans to be absent this week, please let us know so we can plan accordingly.
Field Trip Slips and Holiday Luncheon sign-up were sent home on Thursday, December 1st. Slips and fees are due by December 15th. We are unable to accept any late fees or slips.
❄️ Friday, December 16th @ 10:45am - Winter Showcase
4th Graders participating in the United Voices Chicago choir program will perform in the upper grades Winter Showcase led by our music teacher Ms. Perry.
A message from our music teacher, Ms. Perry
--------------------
Calling All 4th-8th Grade Instrumentalists for the Winter Showcase!!!
Ms. Perry is looking for 4th-8th grader instrumentalists who have a prepared a piece to perform for the Winter Showcase on Fri, Dec 16. Here are the details:
Auditions: Mon, Dec 12
Time: 4:00-5:00pm Afterschool
Bring: Instrument in the morning to music room (pianists, I am working on having a keyboard for you)
Perform: One solo song that is already complete and performance ready
I will let you know during your audition if you are ready to be on the program. If you have any questions or need anything, please email me at cajackson2@cps.edu.
Break a leg!!
Ms. Perry
❄️ ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Update: We did not receive Progress Reports on Friday. We will send home once they are printed by administration.
-----------
Field Trip Slips and Holiday Luncheon sign-up were sent home on Thursday, December 1st. Slips and fees are due by December 15th. We are unable to accept any late fees or slips.
We need chaperones for the field trip. Please complete the CPS Volunteer application and follow up with Ms. Alcantar if you run into problems.
Progress Reports go home Friday, December 2nd
🦃 Thanksgiving Holiday
Reminder: The week of November 21st is a non attendance week for students. Parent Conferences are scheduled for November 21st and the remainder of the week there is no school for students or staff.
As of today, we only have two fourth grade parents on the approved chaperone/volunteer list. We are unable to complete the application for an upcoming field trip because we do not have enough parents on the approved chaperone list.
We need all parents to complete the CPS Volunteer Process. Please follow this link to complete all steps of the process ASAP so we can plan our trips.
Tuesday is Election Day, No School
As of today, we only have a few fourth grade parents on the approved volunteer list. As we plan the school year and prepare for field trips, we need all parents to complete the CPS Volunteer Process. Please follow this link to complete all steps of the process ASAP so we can plan our trips.
Thank you for signing and returning Report Card Envelopes as well as signing up for Parent Conferences. If you haven't done so, please do so by Monday, October 31st.
Fourth Graders will have a small Halloween celebration on Monday afternoon. Students may bring in a treat to share with their homeroom class. Treat Ideas:· 1 fun size candy treat (please, do not bring in candy with nuts)· Pencils· Erasers· Stickers Please help your child to organize the treats at home for easy distribution. Please remember, no costumes.We have reached the end of the 1st Quarter! Report Cards will be sent home on October 25th. Please review with your child and take time to set some goals for the 2nd quarter.
If you have questions about a grade, please look first in the Parent Portal as grades are broken down into categories showing Assessment, Classwork, Independent (Homework), and Participation. This will help you to understand areas that your child is doing well and areas of need. We also encourage you to review graded work that has been sent home as well as work that is posted in Google Classroom.
CPS has scheduled Parent Conferences for Monday, November 21st. We will be sending sign-up information to our homeroom families in the coming week.
Indigenous Peoples' Day, No School
October 3-7th
Student work is graded and returned regularly as well as grades are updated in Aspen. The first quarter ends October 20th which is just around the corner.
Parent Portal Student Portal (CPS username and password)
As we plan the school year and prepare for field trips, we need all parents to complete the CPS Volunteer Process. Please follow this link to complete all steps of the process by end of September so we can plan our trips
Indigenous Peoples' Day, No School
📸 Picture Day is Monday, September 26th. Click on the link for more information.
Please sign and return Progress Reports by Monday, September 26th.
📈We are starting the 5th week of school and Progress Reports will be sent home on Thursday, September 22.
✅ Reminder: Friday, September 23 is a Professional Development Day for teachers. There is no school for students.
📸 Picture Day is Monday, September 26th. Click on the link for more information.
Student work is graded and returned on a regular basis. There are no surprises regarding grades as we return graded work and update gradebook regularly. Please log-in to Parent Portal or have your child log-in using his/her CPS username and password to review completed work and help monitor any missing assignments. Reminder: Missing homework assignments are noted in the homework planner. Late work is not accepted 3 days beyond the due date.
As we plan the school year and prepare for field trips, we need all parents to complete the CPS Volunteer Process. Please follow this link to complete all steps of the process by end of September so we can plan our trips.
Monday is Labor Day - No School
Thank you to all the parents who joined us for Curriculum Night! We appreciate you taking the time from your busy schedule to learn more about the 4th Grade. The handout and video are attached below if we missed you.
HOMEWORK - Homework is assigned nightly and recorded in the Homework Planner. It is due the following day unless otherwise noted. Late assignments will not be accepted 3 days beyond the due date. Please help your child to create a homework routine that includes taking out their homework planner, checking-off completed assignments, and returning work to the folder, and folder and homework planner back to the book bag.
Please turn in the important CPS and Murray forms that were sent home on the first day of school. We are missing many, many of these important forms. Please submit by Wednesday, September 15th. Thank you!
See below for information shared during Curriculum Night
We made it through the first week of school! Hip Hip Hooray! Thank you for all of the support you have provided your child to prepare for the new school year. We are very grateful for all you and are looking forward to a successful Week 2!
Curriculum Night is Tuesday, August 30th @ 5pm
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
Creating a Classroom Mission Statement
This week we will work to develop our class mission statements in homerooms. This co-created statement will guide and drive our classroom culture and articulate the values, goals, and norms we hold closely. This important statement helps hold us all accountable for our common goals.
Welcome to the 2022-2023 School Year!
Our classrooms are ready, the lessons are planned, and we are ready to welcome our 4th Graders on Monday, August 22nd! The playground is under construction and will affect morning entry and dismissal. Please be on the lookout for an email from Mr. Mason this weekend that where children are to enter/dismiss until the construction has been completed.
Please see below for the 4th Grade School supply list. Please help your child organize the materials before bringing them to school.
We are looking forward to a wonderful year!
✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️
June 2022
Dear Incoming 4th Graders and Families,
Happy Summer! We are almost there! On June 8th, we met with your children to introduce 4th Grade Expectations as well as share the school supply list and summer learning packets. We gave them paper copies of those materials. If for some reason they are misplaced, please click below for the 4th Grade Welcome Letter and summer learning activities for Reading and Math. All work is due the first day of school. In addition, we have posted the materials from our parent meeting.
Have a wonderful summer and we will see you on August 22nd!
The 4th Grade Team,
Ms. Finke, 203
Ms. Ellis, 204
Thursday, June 9th at 10:15 am
4th Grade Choir Performance in the Gymnasium
Students wear choir uniform: red choir shirt, black pants, black shoes
Students wear choir uniforms to school on June 9th
Parents are welcome! Performance will begin promptly at 10:15 am so please plan to arrive no later than 10:10
Friday, June 10th
4th Grade Class Picnic
Pack your favorite lunch!
Pack your favorite beverage!
Pack a towel or blanket!
Bring your favorite ball, jumprope, etc (no electronics or skates)
Have fun!
Tuesday, June 14th - Last Day of School
We are nearing the end of the school year, but please remember we will be working hard up to the last days. Homework is still assigned and to be completed, classwork and tests will be given, and the expectations to work together and be respectful are still in place. We want to end the year on a positive note.
Important Upcoming Dates
Thursday, June 9th at 10:15 am
4th Grade Choir Performance in the Gymnasium
Students wear choir uniform: red choir shirt, black pants, black shoes
Students wear choir uniforms to school on June 9th
Parents are welcome! Performance will begin promptly at 10:15 am so please plan to arrive no later than 10:10
Friday, June 10th
4th Grade Class Picnic
Pack your favorite lunch!
Pack your favorite beverage!
Pack a towel or blanket!
Bring your favorite ball, jumprope, etc (no electronics or skates)
Have fun!
Tuesday, June 14th - Last Day of School
Important Upcoming Dates
Tuesday, May 24th at 10:00am
Sexual Misconduct and Title IX Student Training
Please review the letter and opt-out form sent home on Wednesday, May 18th and the email from Mr. Mason.
Monday, May 30th - Memorial Day, No School
Thursday, June 9th at 10:15 am
4th Grade Choir Performance in the Gymnasium
Students wear choir uniform: red choir shirt, black pants, black shoes
Choir shirts are in students lockers and will be sent home for washing
Students wear choir uniforms to school on June 9th
Parents are welcome! Performance will begin promptly at 10:15 am so please plan to arrive no later than 10:10
Friday, June 10th
4th Grade Class Picnic
Pack your favorite lunch!
Pack your favorite beverage!
Pack a towel or blanket!
Bring your favorite ball, jumprope, etc (no electronics or skates)
Have fun!
Tuesday, June 14th - Last Day of School
End of Year Testing Star 360 Test
Wednesday, May 18th at 9:00am.
It's imperative your child get a good night sleep and arrive on time (this is imperative every day!). When children give this type of assessment their best effort, it helps us to monitor their understanding and see their growth over the course of the year.
Thank you to the PTO for sponsoring a wonderful Pizza Party this past Friday!
End of Year Testing Star 360 Test
Wednesday May, 11th at 9:00am.
Wednesday, May 18th at 9:00am.
It's imperative your child get a good night sleep and arrive on time (this is imperative every day!). When children give this type of assessment their best effort, it helps us to monitor their understanding and see their growth over the course of the year.
Progress Reports go home on Friday, May 13th
Penny Wars Pizza Party
The PTO will be hosting a pizza party for the students in Room 203 and 204 on Friday, May 13th during the lunch period. If your child does not like pizza, please send in a lunch.
🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕
We can hardly believe it's the month of May! We are entering the 3rd week of the quarter. Progress Reports will be sent home on Friday, May 13th which is just around the corner. Please continue to monitor your child's progress in Aspen.
Homework is assigned nightly. Children record their homework in their homework planner and it should be pulled out each night to review and make sure all work is finished.
Star 360 Testing - We will be completing the end of year assessment for Star 360 on Wednesday May, 11th and 18th at 9:00am. It's imperative your child get a good night sleep and arrive on time (this is imperative every day!). When children give this type of assessment their best effort, it helps us to monitor their understanding and see their growth over the course of the year.
Thank you to all of the families who participated in Parent Conferences this past week. It was wonderful having the opportunity to talk with you about your child's progress in 4th grade.
Penny War Results - the 4th Graders did some amazing fundraising with the recent Penny Wars! The results are in and both 4th Grade classrooms have won Pizza parties!
First Place went to 2nd Grade Room 103 - $662.11
Second Place went to 4th Grade Room 204 - $514.88
3rd Place went to 4th Grade Room 203 - $505.98
We will let you know when the Pizza Party has been scheduled!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
New Quarter, New Start! We are in the homestretch! As we begin the 4th Quarter, it's an excellent time to revisit goals and homework routines to ensure a strong finish to the school year. Also, please check in with your child to see if they need to replenish supplies like: pencils, pens, scissors, etc.
Wednesday, April 20th - No School for Report Card Pick-up Day
3rd Quarter Ends this week - We are in the process of wrapping up grades in order to prepare report cards. Please remember, we do not accept late work beyond 3 days of the due date and your child's progress can always be viewed on the Parent Portal to Aspen.
LSC Meeting
Tuesday, April 5, 2022 @ 6:00PM
Multipurpose Room or - meet.google.com/bdd-efip-xde
Friday, April 8th - No School as it's a Teacher Inservice Day
Spring Break - April 11th-April 15th
The Penny Wars end on Friday, April 1st! The 4th Graders and their families have done an awesome donating to our class buckets. Keep it up and Friday is the day!
PTO Scholastic Book Fair - week of March 28th. Students will have the opportunity to purchase books from book fair.
Room 203 will visit on Tuesday, March 29th
Room 204 will visit on Wednesday, March 30th
End of Quarter - Thursday, April 7th is the last day of the 2nd Quarter. We will begin wrapping up grades in order to prepare report cards. Please remember, we do not accept late work beyond 3 days of the due date and your child's progress can always be viewed on the Parent Portal to Aspen.
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Spring Picture Day is on Monday, March 21
The Penny Wars have begun! Each classroom is collecting coins and bills to help support Murray Language Academy. K-4 Classroom with the most money will earn a pizza party. There are also other prices for finding the oldest coin... Your child is to talk with you to make a plan for his/her contribution to our class Penny War bucket. Friday, April 1st is the last day.
PTO Scholastic Book Fair - week of March 28th. Students will have the opportunity to purchase books from book fair.
Room 203 will visit on Tuesday, March 29th
Room 204 will visit on Wednesday, March 30th
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IAR - Illinois Assessment of Readiness
Monday, March 14th - ELA I and Math I
Tuesday, March 15th - ELA II and Math II
Wednesday, March 16th - Math III
Attendance and on time arrival is very important on testing days. If your child is late, he or she will not be able to enter the classroom and will have to retake the test at a later time.
CPS Adopts Mask Optional Model
Beginning Monday, March 14th, CPS will transition to the Mask Optional Model. Please have a conversation with your child to help him/her know what you expect during the school day. With the following exceptions, teachers will no longer enforce mask wearing:
There are several instances where masking will still be required in schools:
When performing clinical procedures that require the clinician to be within three feet of a student, both the staff member and student must wear a mask (unless made impossible by the specific procedure).
For example, this situation may apply to school nurses, Care Room attendants, and providers of dental exams, eye exams, medical exams, immunizations, and hearing/vision screening.
Note: Contracted, licensed medical providers are governed by their hospital and/or health system’s policies, and as such, providers and patients are required to be masked for healthcare services.
Anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, including students who are sent to the Care Room, must wear a mask while waiting to be picked up.
Individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 and/or identified as close contacts must wear masks while indoors for 10 days following the date of exposure, regardless of their vaccination status.
Individuals returning from a five-day period of working or learning from home due to a positive COVID test or exposure will be required to wear a mask on days 6-10 in indoor settings. Those who are unable to wear a mask or have an existing mask exemption will be instructed to remain home through day 10.
At the direction of CDPH, groups of individuals may be required to wear masks.
Progress Reports go home Friday, March 4th.
IAR - Illinois Assessment of Readiness
Monday, March 14th - ELA I and Math I
Tuesday, March 15th - ELA II and Math II
Wednesday, March 16th - Math III
Attendance and on time arrival is very important on testing days. If your child is late, he or she will not be able to enter the classroom and will have to retake the test at a later time.
African American History Fair - The Great Migration
The 4th Graders focused on why people left the Southeast region and how they moved to urban cities, including Chicago along the Illinois Central Railroad. The students created artwork inspired by Jacob Lawrence's series about the Great Migration, focusing on the travel paintings. Through our weekly Chicago Children's Choir rehearsals, the students have been practicing songs to share with the Murray community as well as participate in the city-wide Chicago Children's Choir Black History Month Virtual Concert.
Progress Reports will be sent home on Friday, March 4th. Please remember you can view your child's grades in Aspen. Graded work is sent home regularly and many assignments are visible on Google Classroom.
Reminders: School begins at 8:45. Please help your child to arrive to school each and every day on time. Repeated late arrivals not only impact your child but the whole class.
Homework is assigned daily, recorded in the Homework Planner. and is due the following day. Missing homework pulls down grades and does not allow us to monitor independent practice.
Chicago Children's Choir - students will be recording once again this week. Please help remind your child to wear black pants and black shoes on their rehearsal day. The red choir shirts are stored in their locker at school. 203 is on Thursday and 204 on Friday.
On Monday, February 14th we will have a small Valentine’s Day celebration. Your child is welcome to bring cards to share with classmates. If he/she chooses to do this, please make sure there is a Valentine for each member of the class. If your child wishes to share a small treat, please make sure it is individually wrapped and nut free. We will not be able to pass out any items containing nuts.
Please help your child to open and organize their Valentine’s prior to coming to school.
Thank you!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
New Quarter, Fresh Start! As we begin the 3rd Quarter, it's an excellent time to revisit goals and homework routines. Also, please check in with your child to see if they need to replenish supplies like: pencils, pens, scissors, etc.
We have reached the half way mark of the school year. The 2nd Quarter has come to an end and we are preparing to finalize grades. As always, there are no surprises as lessons are posted on the 4th Grade site, homework is recorded in the homework planner, and grades are updated regularly in Aspen.
Reminder: No School on Friday, January 28th for Teacher Inservice.
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Monday, January 17th we honor and remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There is no school.
The 2nd Quarter is quickly coming to an end.
Homework is assigned regularly and is recorded in the homework planner. Assignments are due the following day unless otherwise noted.
Late assignments are not accepted beyond 3 days after the due date.
Test and quiz dates are posted in the homework planner as well as on Ms. Finke's and Ms. Ellis' pages. We are working to build good classwork, homework, and study habits so students can show mastery on their tests/quizzes. Please help your child set aside time to study.
A reminder when your child is absent, assignments do need to be made-up. Many assignments are posted in Google Classroom.
Reminders
Weekly COVID 19 Screening is conducted at Murray. We strongly encourage all parents to register their children. This is a preventative tool to help avert the spread of COVID 19 Please visit: https://www.color.com/readycheckgo-cps to register.
Monitor symptoms and stay home if your child is exhibiting symptoms: fever, cough, loss of taste/smell, fatigue, sore throat, headache, etc. Please visit the CDC website for a complete list of symptoms.
If your child has tested positive for COVID 19, please complete the CPS Self-Reporting Form as soon as possible so that Contact Tracing can be completed. This information remains confidential.
Students must wear masks at all times that cover both the nose and mouth. This is important to keep all members of our learning community safe. Masks can only be removed when eating or drinking.
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Happy New Year! We hope you and your families had a wonderful and healthy Winter Break. We look forward to returning on Monday, January 3rd and working together to rebuild routines and make each day count.
As we prepare to return to school please remember:
Students are to wear masks at all times that cover both the nose and mouth. This is important to keep all members of our learning community safe.
Monitor symptoms and stay home if your child is exhibiting symptoms.
If your child has tested positive for COVID 19, please complete the CPS Self-Reporting Form.
Per CPS: Students who are unvaccinated and who traveled during winter break need to follow the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) travel advisory guidance. Specifically, unvaccinated students who have traveled to an "orange" state should get tested and stay home for 7 days after return, regardless of test status. As of last week, every state except for Guam and Montana are listed in orange status, as noted on this CDPH travel advisory.
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This is the last week of school before our Winter Break. We are all excited about the upcoming holiday and break from work and school. Please know we will continue to work hard these last five days to make our days in school count. In recent days we have been spending a great deal of time repeating directions and expectations that have been taught and practiced all year long. Please speak with your child about the importance of coming in each day, ready to learn, ready to be respectful to classmates and teachers. We want to end the year on a positive note!
Friday Celebration - We will complete various winter and holiday themed activities throughout the day and on Friday afternoon we will host a small celebration including a movie and special snack.
Have a Wonderful break and please review and follow CPS Covid protocols below
CPS Covid Protocols
We hope that you all are staying safe and remain in good health at this time. This is just a quick note reminding parents of the importance of reporting any positive Covid cases with their child/children. We all know that by reporting, this will keep the spread of the CoronaVirus at a minimum in our classrooms as well as at Murray as a whole. If your child is feeling ill, a precautionary Covid Test is recommended. If your child has traveled to another state or country, CPS Guidelines state that students should quarantine for 10 days before returning to school.
*Full vaccination requires having both doses and includes a two week period after receiving the second dose.*
If your child has tested positive for the CoronaVirus, please report it at: https://chicagopsprod.service-now.com/health?id=cps_self_report The information reported is completely confidential.
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Homework Reminder is recorded in the Homework Planner and due the next day unless otherwise noted. Please help your child develop the habit of taking out their planner each evening to review what needs to be done. Please also help your child to get into the habit of packing up their backpacks the night before so books and folders are not accidentally left behind. Thank you!
As always, you can monitor your child's progress on Aspen and some assignments are visible on Google Classroom.
Covid Self-Reporting
We hope that you all are staying safe and remain in good health at this time. This is just a quick note reminding parents of the importance of reporting any positive Covid cases with their child/children. We all know that by reporting, this will keep the spread of the CoronaVirus at a minimum in our classrooms as well as at Murray as a whole. If your child is feeling ill, a precautionary Covid Test is recommended. If your child has traveled to another state or country, CPS Guidelines state that students should quarantine for 10 days before returning to school.
*Full vaccination requires having both doses and includes a two week period after receiving the second dose.*
If your child has tested positive for the CoronaVirus, please report it at: https://chicagopsprod.service-now.com/health?id=cps_self_report The information reported is completely confidential.
Happy Thanksgiving!
We wish you and your families a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving holiday! Please remember school will be closed November 24th - November 26th. School resumes on Monday, November 29th.
Report Card Envelopes
It was wonderful having the time to talk with you this past week during Parent Conferences. Please sign and return report card envelopes. You are to keep all of the contents.
Report Card Pick-up - Thank you for signing up for Report Card Conferences. An email was sent to confirm our meeting time. Please remember it is a very full day with back-to-back conferences and we will do our very best to talk with you at the arranged time.
Upcoming Dates:
Thursday, November 11th - Veteran's Day, No School
Friday, November 12th - Vaccination Awareness Day, No School
Wednesday, November 17th - Parent Conferences, No School
November 24th-November 26th - Thanksgiving Break, No School
Monday is the start of the 2nd quarter and a fresh start for all students. We look forward to building upon our learning from the 1st quarter and growing each day as students and active members of the Murray community.
Upcoming Dates:
Thursday, November 11th - Veteran's Day, No School
Wednesday, November 17th - Parent Conferences
November 24th-November 26th - Thanksgiving Break
With the start of the new quarter, our essentials schedule will be shifting. This schedule will remain the same for the entire second quarter.
It's hard to believe it's the first of November already!
Friday, November 5th is a non-attendance day for students.
Thank you to all of the parents who have signed up for Parent Teacher Conferences which are scheduled for Wednesday, November 17th. We will be in touch soon to confirm your time. If you haven't done so, please look in your inbox for an email from your child's homeroom teacher and sign-up.
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End of 1st Quarter - the end of the first quarter is around the corner. As always, student work is graded regularly and progress is visible in Aspen. Graded work is sent home and some assignments are visible in Google Classroom. Reminder: Late work is not accepted beyond three days after the due date. Since learning is posted on this site and grades are updated in Aspen, there are no surprises. Scrambling to "catch-up" at the end of the quarter is not conducive to children developing learning strategies and skills.
Toys Stay Home - We have seen an abundance of toys including: poppers, pop tubes, beyblades, and the like. All toys are to stay at home.
Picture Day is Monday, October 18th. The informational envelope was sent home first of the month.
No School on Monday, October 11th
Last call for Choir Contracts! Students met our choir conductor Ms. Delgado and had their first official rehearsal as members of the Chicago Children's Choir! Please be sure to complete the Choir Contract ASAP. We sent home a printed copy as well as an email from homeroom teachers with a QR code if you prefer to complete online.
Homework is recorded in the Homework Planner and due the next day unless otherwise noted. Please help your child develop the habit of taking out their planner each evening to review what needs to be done. Please also help your child to get into the habit of packing up their backpacks the night before so books and folders are not accidentally left behind. Thank you!
As always, you can monitor your child's progress on Aspen and some assignments are visible on Google Classroom.
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As we begin the 6th week of school, the Essentials schedule will have a slight shift. Please see below.
Progress Reports are being sent home on Friday, October 1st. Please review with your child. As always, your child's individual progress can be monitored in Aspen and some assignments are visible in Google Classroom.
Tardies and Early Dismissals - we are noticing an increase in tardies and early dismissals. We value every minute of the school day with your child and plan for maximizing learning from 8:45-3:45.
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We are entering the 5th week of school and Progress Reports will be sent home on Friday, October 1st. Please remember you can view your child's grades in Aspen. Graded work is sent home regularly as well as some assignments are visible on Google Classroom.
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As we begin the fourth week of school, our rhythms and routines are becoming more secure each day. A few reminders:
Please send in ALL forms ASAP. We must update the school files. Please let us know if you have questions and we will do our best to help.
School Supplies - we are noticing that students are depending on our classroom pencils and supplies. Please help to make sure your child has a steady supply of pencils as we use them throughout the day and the notebooks and folders we requested.
Morning Arrival - please have your child to school so she/he can line-up at 8:40 for prompt entry into school. Tardiness not only affects your child, but interrupts the whole class.
Have a wonderful week!
Thank you to all the parents who joined us for Curriculum Night! We appreciate your taking the time from your busy schedule to learn more about the 4th Grade. The handout and video are attached below if we missed you.
Please turn in the important CPS and Murray forms that were sent home on the first day of school. We are missing many, many of these important forms. Please submit by Wednesday, September 15th. Thank you!
For Monday and Tuesday, Room 203 students will continue to follow the remote schedule that was sent home last week. Based on the information in Aspen, Room 203 students will be returning to school on Wednesday, September 15th.
Have a wonderful week!
We made it through the first week of school! Hip Hip Hooray! Thank you for all of the support you have provided your child to prepare for the new school year. Your guidance to help students gather and organize materials, mentally prepare for the return after a long time away, and for students in 203, a quick transition to temporary remote learning. We are very grateful for all you do! We are looking forward to a successful Week 2!
Virtual Back to School Night is Wednesday, September 8th @ 6pm
Click here for the Link to the Live Meeting
The meeting will be Recorded and posted here.
Creating a Classroom Mission Statement
This week we will work to develop our class mission statements in homerooms. This co-created statement will guide and drive our classroom culture and articulate the values, goals, and norms we hold closely. This important statement helps hold us all accountable for our common goals.
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⭐️ Welcome Incoming 4th Graders ⭐️
June 2021,
Dear Incoming 4th Graders and Families,
Happy Summer! We are almost there! Click below for the 4th Grade Welcome Letter and summer learning activities for Reading and Math.
If you haven't already, please complete the Contact Information form below to help us make sure we have the most current information to reach you. We will be in touch closer to the start of school with announcements and any Murray updates you might need.
Have a wonderful computer-free summer and we will see you on August 30th!
The 4th Grade Team,
Ms. Finke
Ms. Ellis
Welcome Letter and Summer Reading Activities
🍦 ☀️ 🏖 🌭 😀 🍦 ☀️ 🏖 🌭 😀 🍦 ☀️ 🏖 🌭 😀
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