The ABCs of Fourth Grade

A: All Aboard

• We are ALL in this together! 

B: Birthdays

• We love to celebrate your child’s birthday following the district-wide policy of no edible treats. If you would like to send something in, it must be a non-food item. The office staff will be announcing student birthdays during morning announcements and calling students down to receive a pencil for their special day.  

• As a reminder, invitations for birthday parties should NOT be passed out at school in order to avoid hurt feelings. Thank you for your support and understanding with this.

C: Communication

The following are the various forms of communication we will be using:

•  Email

The best way to reach us is through email. We will respond within 24 hours. However, if there is a message regarding a change in the end-of-day plan for your student, please call the office and let them know. Our days are full, and many times we may not check our email until after school. 

• ClassDojo:

This year we will use ClassDojo to share photos of our activities and more. Please make sure you are connected. 

•  Monthly Newsletters:

At the beginning of each month, we will send out a newsletter to the emails you provided in Infinite Campus. These will inform you of what we will be studying in the upcoming weeks, important dates to remember, and reminders. We promise to keep it to the point and brief if you promise to read it! We truly appreciate you reading through this monthly communication. 

•  Google Classroom:

Google Classroom is a tool we will use frequently for managing and completing student work online. 

• Website:

This website will continue to be added to with resources as the year progresses.

D: Daily Schedule

E: Expected Behaviors

• As a class family, and as a school, we follow Runyon's Ram Thrive Statement. We strive each day to be Trusting, Helpful, Resilient, Inclusive, Valued, and Encouraging. 

• We utilize Class Dojo as a positive reward system. Should any concerning or repeated unexpected behaviors occur, we will communicate with you via email and/or phone call, depending on its severity. Together, we will work together to support your child.

F: Flexible Seating

• Students learn differently and have different bodily-spatial and kinesthetic needs. Students are given many choices of where they learn and work each day. 

•  Alternative seating allows movement while helping individuals to collaborate and think critically. We believe that when students have a choice, they are able to focus, keep themselves motivated, and feel more comfortable while they work

• Click on the article if you would like more information and research supporting flexible seating. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/flexible-seating-student-centered-classroom-kayla-delzer

G: Grading

•  Students should strive for a score of “three” on their assignments, illustrating their mastery of fourth-grade standards. Scored assignments will include discussions, group/ partner work, specific content assignments (math, reading, writing, science, social studies), and summative assessments. You will be informed regarding your child’s progress with rubrics, conferences, and report cards every trimester. 

4 – Exceeds Grade-Level Expectations

3 – Meets Grade-Level Expectations

2 – Approaching Grade-Level Expectations

1 – Does Not Meet Grade-Level Expectations

H: Health and Wellness

• Please keep your child at home if they are ill  

• If symptoms all resolve within 48 hours, they may return to school. If your child had a fever of 100.4 or above, they will need to be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. 

Your child will need to remain home for 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea.

I: Independence

Increasing independence is a goal for all students in 4th grade because it builds self-esteem and self-confidence, as well as prepares them for the upper grades. 

Students will work to: 

• Make more decisions and engage in group decision-making 

• Think independently and critically

• Show a strong sense of responsibility 

J: Journey

• Learning is a journey! Without mistakes, there is no room for growth. We teach our students the importance of a growth mindset, believing in themselves, and being brave in their learning.

K: Keep Updated

• Keep updated by reading Newsletters and Runyon Communications. 

L: Library

• Our hope is for all students to develop a LOVE for reading. We have a classroom library full of many options for their unique reading preferences. In addition, students will have the opportunity to check out books weekly from our Runyon Library. This helps students learn responsibility for treating the school's books with respect, and returning them in a timely manner so they can be enjoyed by others. 

• Library Checkout Schedule:     12:35-1:05 = Mack       9:00-9:30 am = Vaccaro       1:35-2:05 pm = Blosser

 M: Mindset

•  We foster a positive, supportive learning environment where we encourage students to try their best, be their unique selves, take risks as learners, and to realize there is learning that takes place through challenges.  

• Students who practice and work to have a growth mindset believe that even if they struggle with certain skills, their abilities aren't set in stone. They realize that with work and effort their skills can improve and grow over time.  

N: National Park Pass

• Did you know all 4th Graders can get a free National Parks Pass? 

Get it here!  https://everykidoutdoors.gov/pass.htm

 O: Outdoor Time

•  We have a daily recess, and provide opportunities to earn more time outside by meeting classroom goals. 

• If it is above 20 degrees, we will go outside for recess. Please be sure to check the everchanging Colorado weather so your child is prepared for their time outside each day. You could have them take responsibility and check the weather!

P: Parties

• Students have the opportunity to earn class parties by demonstrating expected behaviors throughout the day. Please remember to fill out the Google form that was sent at the beginning of the year which gives permission for food items and PG rated movies we might show.

Q: Questions

• We encourage curiosity in our classrooms!

• Know we are here to answer any and all questions you may have. 

R: Runyon Rams

• We strive to be Responsible, Respectful, Safe, and Kind members of our school community and beyond.

 S: Snack

•  Every morning, our class will take a break for a healthy snack. The snack should be something that can be finished in about 10 minutes, and is nutritious to fuel your child's hard work and learning.

T: Technology

•  Here is a link to Runyon's Tech Pledge. Each student is assigned a Chromebook to use for the year.

• Communication devices (Smart watches and cell phones) are NOT allowed to be used during the school day. They may be turned off and left in their backpack during the day, but students are only allowed to use their devices outside of school hours. If they are used, we will ask students to turn them off immediately. After a warning the next step is to send the communication device to the office for parents to pick up.

• If you need to communicate something to your child during the day, please call the office.

U: Unique

• We love to build relationships with our students and get to know them in all the ways they are unique as individuals. We want them to feel safe and comfortable to be themselves as  members of our classroom community.

V: Volunteers

•  Please be on the lookout for opportunities to volunteer, whether it is assisting at parties, or chaperoning on field trips! Additional opportunities can be found on the PTO website.

• Let us know if you would like to be a room parent this year. 

W: Water Bottles

• PLEASE send a “spill-proof” water bottle (labeled with you child’s name) for your child to use throughout the day. Students will have access to water fountains. Hydration is very important to focus!

X: X-Citing Field Trips

• 4th Graders visit the Plains Conservation Center, History Colorado Center, and the Golden History Museum comes to us each year.

• We are in the process of getting all dates scheduled, so stay tuned!

Y: You

• Yes, you! You play the most important role in your child’s success. Thank you for all of your support, hard work at home, and positive mindset. 

Z: ZZZ’s

• It is imperative that your child gets plenty of rest every night. Setting and keeping an appropriate bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give to your child. It will help them to be alert and ready to learn each day. Thank you!

We look forward to partnering with you to make this a successful year full of learning, fun and growth for your child!

 -Mrs. Blosser, Ms. Mack, and Ms. Vaccaro