Third Grade Newsletter

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

• Multiplying by 3, 4, 6 and 7

• Shark Attack

• Botany Jeopardy & Botany Test

• 1-1-1 Words (Windy's Class)

• Suffixes (Mandy's Class)

• Writing 2 paragraphs about why and how scientists explore the sea

• Empathy and Active Listening

• Cursive k, i and connectives (connecting cursive letters and making words)

• Bravo Visit

• Cacao Art

• Buddies

• Curiosity Assesmbly

• Name Monsters

New This Week:

Classroom Donations: 

Looking for a way to support your student's classroom?  Here are some supplies both classes could use: 

• Suet blocks (Mandy's class has enough for now!)

• Lysol wipes

Parent Teacher Conferences

Conferences are scheduled for Monday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 24.  If you haven't already signed up, please send a text or email letting us know the best day and time and we'll do our best to accommodate you.  This year’s parent-teacher conferences will be student-led and in person. Your child should attend so they can tell you about the work they are completing at school.  We look forward to a collaborative discussion of your child’s work and their goals for this year. 

Windy's conference schedule is posted below. 

Mandy's conference schedule will be posted early this week.

Math & Phonics Assessments

We like to provide students with opportunities to learn from their mistakes and move towards mastery. If your child's score is below proficiency on a test, we'll include a blank test or answer key with correct answers to reference.  Please feel free to look over the test with your child and talk about your mistakes.  If time allows, use the blank test to redo problems and send it back our way.  In class, we'll do a quick reassessment and are more than happy to adjust scores if students can demonstrate mastery of the skills assessed on this test.  

Volunteer Opportunity

The Classroom Caretaker is a PTA-sourced position that provides support to their student's classroom teacher and rallies help from other parents and caregivers. Responsibilities include: 

• Act as a go-between for the teacher, parents, and PTA.

• Help coordinate supplies, snacks, volunteers, or anything the teacher needs.

• Ask families to contribute to optional holiday and end of year teacher gifts, and manage funds to source the gifts.

• Facilitate communication with parents (outside of newsletters), suggest class park play dates to connect families outside of school hours.

You’re not responsible for doing it all, just helping connect parents to meet classroom needs. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact the Peninsula PTA's Volunteer Coordinator Kourtney Krumbein at volunteer@peninsulapta.org

Previously Posted Items:

Water Bottles

Thank you for sending your child to school everyday with a full water bottle.  It makes a huge difference and prevents your child from needing to leave the classroom during lessons.  

If your child still needs a water bottle and you'd like some help providing one for your child, please reach out.  We are happy to help!

Start of the Day Reminder

Please have your kids at school by 7:53 when the building opens.  Our goal is to have all our students in the classroom at 8am so we can immediately get started with morning circle.  When kids enter the building at 8am, they don't have the time they need to put away their things, settle in and eat breakfast before we get our day started.  Just think of our school start time as 7:53 (instead of 8)!

Our school has a daily goal of having 93% or more of our students at school.  When this goal is meet, third graders earn 5 extra minutes of recess.  

Grading

You will begin to find student work in Friday Folders this week.  You may see a circled number at the top that shows their score.  See below to see what each mark represents: 

• •  4 = Exceeds, everything or nearly everything correct

  •  3 = meets current grade level expectations, a few mistakes but close to mastery

  •  2 = close to meeting grade level standards, mistakes are present, but making progress toward mastery

  •  1 = unfinished, little effort or many mistakes, not meeting expectations yet.

If you see a ✔ next to a problem, that problem has a mistake and needs to be checked.  

If you notice a grading mistake, feel free to let us know.  We always try to do our best, but teachers make mistakes too.  

At times we may score using point values.  You'll see the number correct/total points.  

Third Grade Supplies

Please send a sturdy pair of headphones, water bottle (metal or plastic please) and a backpack with your student.  

We are asking for a $45 donation to purchase all the additional supplies for the year.  Please use School Pay, send a check on cash in a label envelope.   

If you are able to donate extra for students in need, that is truly appreciated.  

Calendar of Events

10/26-10/28: Spirit Week 

10/28: Fall Festival 5:30-7:00

10/29 & 10/30: No School

11/10: Picture Retake Day

11/11: No School - Veterans Day

11/22 & 11/23: No School - Parent Teacher Conferences

11/24 - 11/27: No School - Thanksgiving Break

12/16: Early Release

12/21 - 1/1: No School - Winter Break

3rd Grade Photo Album

Mandy's Class

Learning how to write compound sentences usuing semicolons and conjunctions.

Cacao Art

Writing an essay about why and how scientists explore the sea

Exploring symmetry with name monsters

Buddies

Leaf Anatomy

September Calendar Markers: Sunflowers

We saw lots of new bird species this week!  Check out our class life list above!

Windy's Class

Practice calming strategies with Ms. Carranza

Lego Creations from Choice Time

Recess fun!

Writing a Summary of The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau

Cacao Watercolor

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!