Be Kind    -    Be Safe     -     Be Brave    -    Be a Student

Third Grade Newsletter

To find out what your student has been learning this week, ask them about...

• Multiplication strategies (equal groups, arrays)

• Multiplying by 0, 1, 2, 5, and 10

• Writing a great summary

• Ocean Sunlight

• Phytoplankton and Marine Snow

• Botany Scavenger Hunt and Nature Bracelets

• Bird True and False

• The 7 types of feathers and their purposes

Botany Celebration

Our Botany Unit is complete and it's time to celebrate!  On Monday afternoon, we'll make hot chocolate for students (we've been learning about Theobroma Cacao, the tree that chocolate comes from throughout the unit) and students will participate in a special activity in the courtyard.  We'll have hot drink cups for students, but if you have a small-ish travel mug (with lid) that your student could use for their hot chocolate, please label it and send it in on Monday.  We'll make sure the mugs are returned at the end of the day.  

If hot chocolate doesn't work for your child, could you send a quick email or text so we can plan an alternative.  Thanks!

Candy and Toys

We have noticed that toys and candy have been coming to school lately, particularly this last week.  Please make sure your student keep candy and toys at home. Some items have gone missing this week and it can be devastating for a student to lose beloved items. 

Project FeederWatch

This year third grade will be participating in Project FeederWatch. This is an opportunity for students to participate in Citizen Science! Students will observe and count the species of birds that visit our courtyard during the months of November through April. 

Interested in learning more about Project FeederWatch?  Check out this link:

 Project FeederWatch 

Interested in supporting our participation?  Make a donation to our Donor's Choose project to provide bird seed and suet for our classrooms this year.

Parent Teacher Conferences

See Windy's Parent Teacher Conference Schedule below.  If your scheduled time needs to be changed, please email or text.  

Mandy's schedule will be posted soon!

Please note, students are an important part of the conference and should attend so they can guide us through their work and their goals for this year.  

Scholastic Book Orders

If you order through our class page, orders can be placed anytime.  Scholastic sends us an email and we can submit the same day.  Books usually arrive about a week after we submit the order.  Each order adds "points" to our class points total which can be used to purchase new books and keep our classroom library filled with the latest books. 

Mandy's Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/PK2W3

Windy's Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/HF27Y

Third Grade Donor's Choose Project:

Our whiteboard and watercolor projects have been funded and materials are on their way - thanks for donating!  

If you didn't get a chance to give, here's another project for your consideration: Courtyard Birdwatching

Hoyt Arboretum Field Trip

Our first field trip will take place on Thursday, October 16th.  We'll visit the Hoyt Arboretum to take a nature walk and learn about plant life in the park (this trip complements our Botany Unit).  We're hoping for 4-5 parent volunteers to support each class.  If you'd like to join us, please make sure you have a current PPS Volunteer Application on file.  Send us a message via email or ParentSquare to let us know of your interest.   Thanks in advance for your support!  

• Windy's Volunteers: Kourtney, Aubrey, Martin - We're hoping for 1-2 more

• Mandy's Volunteers: John, Andre - We're hoping for 2-3 more

Lights Out!

Migration for birds is almost upon us!  Last week we talked about what we can do to help birds safely migrate to their wintering grounds.  Curious?  Take a look at this info from Bird Alliance to find out how you can participate:

The peak of birds' fall migration is expected to get underway Sept. 19 and run through Oct. 19, according to current projections. To help the birds navigate at night, you can do your part by turning off outside lights, drawing your curtains so light doesn't leave your house, and using warmer color (less blue) light bulbs outside.

• Some birds use the stars to navigate.

• Learn more from Oregon Bird Alliance and their Lights Out campaign.

• Keep track of the birds' migration here.

Snack at School

Thank you to all who have donated to our community snacks!  The students couldn't be happier to have that morning snack to fuel their brains before lunch! If you are looking for opportunities to donate snack, our classroom caretakers will reach out when we are getting low on snacks. 

Calendar of Events

September 19 - October 19: Lights Out! 

Tuesday, October 7: Picture Day

Friday, October 10: No School

Thursday, October 16: Field Trip to Hoyt Arboretum - Volunteers Needed! 

Wednesday, October 22: Early Release at 11:50

Monday, October 27- Wednesday, October 29: Spirit Week - See flyer

Wednesday, October 29: Fall Festival

Thursday, October 30: No School, Grading Day

Friday, October 31: No School, Planning Day

Tuesday, November 11: No School, Veteran's Day

Monday, November 24: Student led Parent Teacher Conferences (students need to attend)

Tuesday, November 25: Student led Parent Teacher Conferences (students need to attend)

November 26 - 28: No School, Thanksgiving Break

December 22 - January 2: No School, Winter Break

3rd Grade Photo Album

Mandy's Class

This week we explored the parts of a Cacao tree by creating a Magnified Painting using watercolors. 

Indoor and Rainy day recess.  The kids loved exploring the game cupboard.  The rotary phones were a big hit!

In writing, we learned how to revise using the painted paragraph technique and utilizing a checklist for self and peer revision. 

Our students loved checking on their bean seedlings daily and were over the moon to take them home! 

Windy's Class

Don't see any pictures of your student here?  If you would like to see occasional pictures of your student in the 3rd Grade Photo Album, take this quick survey and let us know!