Dear parents,

We are hoping you are enjoying this beautiful weekend! Last week was such a fun week.  Thank you so much for all of your donations on Pink Day!  Students' wild outfits were so much fun and our school raised a great amount of money to support Kansas University's Cancer Research. 

• Tomorrow we are so excited for our field trip to the Kansas City Zoo!  A couple of reminders: students should wear their regular uniform.  It looks to be a beautiful day but a bit hot.  PLEASE be sure your child has a water bottle and a cold lunch.  Students will need to carry these as the zoo doesn't have any storage, so lunch bags with handles that are easy to carry would be helpful. We will board the bus at 9:15am and plan to be back to school by 1pm.  We are looking forward to a great day!!

• On Thursday students have an opportunity to enjoy Chick Fil A lunch during our regular lunch time.  Please note:  The last day to order this is Tuesday, 10/13!!  How to order: Click on this jotform link: https://form.jotform.com/262803373536156, Once you complete your order in jotform, you will be redirected to Vanco for payment. Please ensure your order is placed and payment is made via Vanco by the Tuesday 10/13 deadline.

• Finally, looking ahead we will have the chance to meet for Parent Teacher Conferences at the end of the month.  Click on this link to see teacher sign ups! If you are unable to meet at these times, please contact us.  We will find a time that works!

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will learn to multiply by 4, 6, and 7.  One way to practice these facts at home is to encourage your child to skip count to familiar tunes. This week we will learn to sing our 4's to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat, 6's to If You're Happy and You Know It and 7's to London Bridges.   Happy singing!

Reading and Writing: We have really been enjoying learning more about nonfiction text features and using those features such as captions and diagrams to learn more about ocean creatures.  This week we will finish reading Giant Squid. 

Spelling: No test this week!

Science: We will learn about the inherited traits of plants and observe how traits affect a plant's ability to survive in its habitat. We will explore the leaves, flowers, and dissect fruits to help us explore these inherited traits!  

Religion: This week we will continue to practice saying the rosary.  Students will illustrate rosary vocabulary and practice praying the rosary with a partner. *If possible, please send a rosary for your child to use in class.  Thank you!!

Important things to note:

-Monday: Field trip to Kansas City Zoo!!!  Wear regular uniform, bring water bottle, and lunch

-Tuesday: Last day to sign up for Chick Fil A lunch, How to order: Click on this jotform link: https://form.jotform.com/262803373536156, Once you complete your order in jotform, you will be redirected to Vanco for payment. Please ensure your order is placed and payment is made via Vanco by the Tuesday 10/13 deadline.

-Wednesday: Choir at 7:15am, Dress uniform, Small group from Mrs. Walsh's class to help stock the food pantry shelves (any food donations for our food pantry are greatly welcomed!)  

-Thursday: Chick Fil A Lunch

-Friday: No School-Teacher Professional Development

*Got extra shoeboxes at home?  We would love to use them for a STEAM project soon!  Thank you!!

Looking Ahead:

-October 18-23: FIRE week!

-October 27: 1-2pm 3rd Grade Halloween Parties!  Check out these links to see what is still needed:
Droege 3rd Gr Halloween Class Party: Tues 10/27/26 @ 1:00 CST 

Ms. Walshs Class Halloween Party 

-October 28-29: Parent Teacher Conferences Click on this link to see teacher sign ups! 

-October 30: No School-Teacher Professional Development with the Diocese

-November 2: No School-Fall Break

-November 6: Grandparent/VIP Day!  12pm Dismissal

Have a great week! 

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org   

3rd Grade Website: https://sites.google.com/stekcschool.org/3rdgrade/home

Dear parents,

Last week was a fun week as we started Shark Week, had an exciting first science investigation working as a team just like an ant colony, prayed over pictures of our pets, and had some math fun by creating Haunted Mansions with windows made of arrays.  This week our fun continues with more sharks, more multiplication facts, Mom's Mass, and then on Friday--Pink Day! Whew! The month of October is so exciting! 

Luckily we have some amazing room parents to help keep us organized and ready for all the fun.  A HUGE shout out to Lauren Ebberts, Rory Akers, and Libby Shafer for volunteering!  Please see the links below to sign up to help with our Halloween parties. 3rd grade will have their Halloween parties a little earlier than the rest of the school (1-2pm) as we have specials classes at the end of the day.  The good news is that if you have children in different grades, you could have the chance to party with both classes!  Thank you so much for your support!

Droege 3rd Gr Halloween Class Party: Tues 10/27/26 @ 1:00 CST 

Ms. Walshs Class Halloween Party 

 **Please check your child's Friday folder! In it you will find:

• Our Field Trip permission form for our trip to the Zoo next Monday 10/12. Thank you for all those who have e-mailed us to let us know that you are available to chaperone.  The smaller the groups the better for the zoo so if any other parent is able to join us, please e-mail your child's teacher by Tuesday!

• A Scholastic Book order was sent home.  If you are interested in purchasing books, please have your order in by Friday, 10/9.  We want to submit these orders Friday so we can get them back with plenty of time to read before Halloween!

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will learn to multiply by 2, 5, 0, and 1.  On Thursday we will also start to learn strategies to multiply by bigger numbers. The first strategy we will learn is the distributive property, also known as the break apart strategy.  This strategy asks students to break apart (or decompose) larger multiplication facts into smaller known facts in order to solve.  While this strategy is new for many parents, it can be especially helpful to students as we multiply by larger numbers. This week we will also take our timed fact tests for 1st Quarter.  Students will be given 100 addition problems one day and 100 subtraction problems another day.  Students will be challenged to see how many of these facts they can complete in 5 minutes.  The goal is to be able to complete 85 problems correctly within 5 minutes. 

Reading and Writing: Shark Week has been exciting and we are happy to continue our study this week!  This week we will learn about how scientists tag sharks to continue learning more about this fascinating species. We will also be exploring the Shark Tracker website: https://www.ocearch.org/tracker/   Then on Thursday we will move on to study the elusive giant squid by reading Giant Squid by: Mary Cerullo and Clyde Roper.  This will take us to the depths of the ocean!  *Fluency due Friday!

Spelling: Students will write the words from their differentiated list into their planner on Monday. Spelling test on Friday.

Science: We will learn about inherited traits of animals.  A fun connection to students' learning that you can make at dinner would be to discuss what traits students have inherited from their own parents.  Where does your child get their hair color from?  Who did they inherit their eye color from?  Can anyone in your family roll their tongue?  What other traits do you share as a family?

Religion: This week we will learn about Our Lady of Fatima and then begin to learn how to pray the Rosary.  If students could bring a rosary from home to use to pray in school, that would be helpful.  They can keep them in their desks to use throughout October, the month of the Holy Rosary. 

Important things to note:

-Monday: Field trip permission slips due

-Tuesday: Vision Screening (if your child wears glasses please be sure they bring them to school)

-Wednesday: Choir at 7:15am, Dress uniform, Mom's Mass!  We hope you will join us in the classroom to play some games together and then we will celebrate mass in the church at 8:30am., Chat and Chew begins!  Small group from Mrs. Droege's class to help stock the food pantry shelves (any food donations for our food pantry are greatly welcomed!)  

-Friday: Pink Day!  Bring a donation and wear as much pink as you can find :), Scholastic Book orders due online

*Got extra shoeboxes at home?  We would love to use them for a STEAM project soon!  Thank you!!

Looking Ahead:

-October 12: Field trip to Kansas City Zoo!

-October 16: No School-Teacher Professional Development

-October 27: 1-2pm 3rd Grade Halloween Parties!

-October 28-29: Parent Teacher Conferences (more information coming soon)

Have a great week! 

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org   

3rd Grade Website: https://sites.google.com/stekcschool.org/3rdgrade/home

Dear parents,

Happy Fall!  The cooler weather last week was such a welcome start to all things fall.  On Friday we celebrated Johnny Appleseed and all things apples throughout the day.  We enjoyed read alouds, poems, a Johnny Appleseed prayer sung at lunch, and got to end the day with our little buddies using oil pastels to create apples inspired by the artist Kandinsky.  It was so neat to see students' creativity and kindness shine as they helped their little buddies make circles and work with oil pastels for the first time. Hopefully you and your family can squeeze in some apple treats in the weeks to come!

Field trip updates:  

• Great news!  We were able to confirm with the Kansas City Zoo that we will be able to visit on Monday, October 12th.  We are looking forward to being able to explore the aquarium and learn more about the ocean and of course visit our other favorite animals too.  A field trip form will be sent out in Friday folders this week.  If you are wanting to chaperone, please let us know.  We plan to arrive to the zoo by 9:45am and will need to leave at 12:45pm.  Please note that chaperones will need to buy their own ticket and drive (or carpool with each other!) to meet us there.

• Planetarium trip date change:  Due to bus conflicts, our planetarium visit has been moved to Tuesday, December 1st.  This is a quick 30 minute private show starting at 9:30am.  Please note that chaperones will need to buy their own ticket and drive (or carpool with each other) to meet us at Union Station.

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will introduce the concept of multiplication-students are so excited!  We will be modeling multiplication using equal groups and arrays.  On Thursday we will learn the trick of multiplying by 10.  Then on Friday we will have some fun by using arrays to create Multiplication Haunted Houses! Homework packet due Friday.

Reading and Writing: This week students will work on writing a 2 paragraph essay to describe how scientists study the sea.  Then on Thursday we will begin Shark Week!!  Students will practice using nonfiction text features to better understand the text they are reading using the book Shark Attack! By: Cathy East Dubowski.  No fluency this week, however, in order to encourage students to enjoy free reading at home, we will be placing a Fall Reading Challenge in the page protector in their Take Home Folder.  This is not required, but we are hoping the ideas on the challenge will inspire students to find a new book or read in a new place.  

Grammar: Students will learn to identify adverbs in a sentence and describe how they make our writing more exciting.  Quiz Friday.

Spelling: Students will write the words from their differentiated list into their planner on Monday. Spelling test on Friday.

Science:  This week we will begin our first Science unit!!  We will learn about how living in groups helps animals to survive.  We get to do our first science experiment this week to see how living in a colony helps ants.

Religion: This week we will finish our study of the life of Moses by learning about God giving him the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai. Then, on Friday we will learn about the life of St. Francis just in time for his feast day on Sunday! In honor of St. Francis who showed love to all of creation, students are invited to bring a picture of their pet to leave at school during the month of October.  Students will have a chance to share their pictures during a prayer service on Friday.  They are also able to bring in a SMALL stuffed animal (no larger than a notebook) on Friday.

Important things to note:

-Wednesday: Choir at 7:15am, Dress uniform, Picture Day (Picture Day ID: EVTK432NC at mylifetouch.com), Mrs. Droege's class leads Mass in church at 8:30am

-Thursday: Trash bag pick up afterschool

-Friday: Blue and White Dress Down Day (Bring a donation for our El Salvadoran ministry and wear blue shirts with uniform or spirit bottoms. We will take classroom pictures to send to our El Salvador student ambassadors prior to their visit on October 22!) Students may bring a SMALL stuffed animal and a picture of their pet to share during a class prayer service in honor of St. Francis, Pet blessing in the parking lot at 4pm, Trash bag pickup afterschool

-Saturday: Last morning to pick up trash bags

*Got extra shoeboxes at home?  We would love to use them for a STEAM project in October!  Thank you!!

Looking Ahead:

-October 6: Vision screening 

-October 7: Mom's Mass

-October 9: Pink Day!

-October 12: Field trip to Kansas City Zoo!

-October 16: No School-Teacher Professional Development

-October 27: 1-2pm 3rd Grade Halloween Parties!

-October 28-29: Parent Teacher Conferences (more information coming soon)

Have a great week! 

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org   

3rd Grade Website: https://sites.google.com/stekcschool.org/3rdgrade/home

Dear Parents,

We hope that you enjoyed a wonderful weekend filled with community and fellowship and were able to find ways to beat the heat! We are looking forward to a great week-cooler temperatures, a full week of learning, and some Johnny Appleseed fun with Little Buddies on Friday!

• Seeking Room Parents: 3rd grade needs YOU! Halloween Parties are coming up next month and we don't have any room parents yet in 3rd grade.  Click the link and sign up today! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!   2026-2027 STE Room Parent - Leads 

• Last day to sign up for Chat and Chew is TODAY!  Chat and Chew is a great opportunity for students to read a book that they might not choose for themselves and build their friendships with peers as they discuss the book together.  The fun starts in October so be sure to sign up! https://forms.gle/ifeNXgtMLo1cWd2y6

• STEAM Lab request:  We are hoping to create dioramas with students next month. Do you (or your neighbors) have any extra shoeboxes at home?  Please send them in!  Thank you!

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will finish our study of place value, rounding, and adding and subtracting 3 digit numbers. Most of our week we will spend working on 3 digit subtraction, especially when there are 0's in the top number. (Examples such as: 700-248= are VERY tricky!) We will review for our Unit 1 Math test on Thursday during class.  Homework on Thursday night will be the exact same format as our math test, so reviewing this together (especially those pesky word problems) will help your child feel prepared for their test. On Friday, we will take the Unit 1 test during class.  

Reading and Writing: This week students will read The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau.  Students will also have a chance to view a video of Jacques Cousteau exploring the ocean and learn more about the tools that helped Cousteau in his exploration.  On Friday students will participate in a Socratic Seminar to share their ideas about why the ocean is important.  Students will bring home a fluency passage for homework this week.  Please make time to allow them to read to you each night.  Fluency due (with parent signature) on Friday!

Grammar: This week students will learn about adjectives and how they help to make our writing more interesting.  Quiz on Friday.

Spelling: Students will write the words from their differentiated list into their planner on Monday. Spelling test on Friday.  (We have a full 5 day week to prepare-yeah!!!)

Social Studies:  This week we will finish our Missouri Geography unit by taking a "road trip" to many important cities and state parks in our state. Students will then use the information they learn to create a billboard convincing others to visit that place.  Can't wait to see their creations!

Religion: This week we will move on to the book of Exodus.  We will learn about the life of Moses from his start as a baby in a basket in the Nile River, listening to God speak to him from a burning bush, and after the plagues finally leading the Israelites through the Red Sea to freedom.

Important things to note:

-Sunday: Last day to sign up for Chat n' Chew! https://forms.gle/ifeNXgtMLo1cWd2y6

-Monday: Trash bag orders due (This is a very important fundraiser for our school, and the white bags now have drawstrings!  Thank you so much for your support!)

-Wednesday: Dress uniform for Mass, Children's Choir at 7:15am in Seton Hall

-Saturday: FUEL FOR FIRE: Support STE Inclusive Ed by simplifying your Saturday morning with a drive-through breakfast. Learn more by checking out our flyer here

Looking Ahead:

-September 30: Picture Day (Picture Day ID: EVTK432NC at mylifetouch.com) Mrs. Droege's class leads Mass

-October 1-3: Trash bag pick up after school

-October 2: Blue and White Dress Down Day to support our sister parish in El Salvador

-October 6: Vision screening 

-October 7: Mom's Mass

Hope you enjoy the cooler weather this week!

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org   

3rd Grade Website: https://sites.google.com/stekcschool.org/3rdgrade/home

Dear parents,

Last week was a great week together-a definite highlight was students' silent reading with their stuffed animals on National Teddy Bear Day. This week will also be packed with fun. From using our computers to explore creatures living in each zone of the ocean, to painting our Missouri maps, we will be busy in 3rd grade!  Here are a few quick notes:

• Chat and Chew sign up is live!  Chat and Chew is a great opportunity for students to read a book that they might not choose for themselves and build their friendships with peers as they discuss the book together.  The fun starts in October so be sure to sign up soon! https://forms.gle/ifeNXgtMLo1cWd2y6

• Children's Choir meets this Wednesday morning at 7:15am in Seton Hall!  Email stephswitz1@gmail.com a picture of the filled out document linked here to register! Join the Choir

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will work to improve our confidence adding and subtracting 3 digit numbers.  We will also learn how we can use number lines to model our subtraction thinking.  *Math homework packets due Thursday due to no school Friday.

Reading and Writing: This week we will begin to learn about how scientists explore the sea.  We will read the book Ocean Sunlight By: Molly Bang.  Then we will spend time diving into learning about the layers of the ocean and ocean food chains. No fluency homework this week. 

Vocabulary: This week we will prepare for our first vocabulary test. We will spend the week playing review games to prepare for our test on Thursday.  Students will bring home a list of the vocabulary words and definitions in their Take Home folder to use for review.  The test format will be matching, fill in the blank, as well as writing a sentence using a vocabulary word. 

Spelling: Spelling test on Thursday this week due to the short week. (Students have the words in their Take Home folder so you can get a head start by reading through the words and talking about the tricky ones today!)

Social Studies: This week we will learn how to locate places on a grid map.  A fun way to practice this skill at home is to play the game Battleship.  Happy coordinate finding!

Religion: This week we will learn about the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. Students will have a chance to create their own colorful coat design and we will listen to lots of clips from the musical "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat" while we work on our art.  Then we will play Jeopardy to review the stories we have learned from the book of Genesis and take a quick quiz on Thursday.

Important things to note:

-Monday: Chiefs Spirit Day!

-Wednesday: Dress uniform for Mass, Children's Choir at 7:15am in Seton Hall

-Friday: No School-Teacher Professional Development

-Friday-Saturday: Smoking N Waldo!

Looking Ahead:

-September 20: Last day to sign up for Chat n' Chew! https://forms.gle/ifeNXgtMLo1cWd2y6

-September 21: Trash bag orders due

-September 30: Picture Day (Picture Day ID: EVTK432NC at mylifetouch.com) Mrs. Droege's class leads Mass

-October 1-3: Trash bag pick up after school

-October 6: Vision screening 

-October 7: Mom's Mass

Have a great week! 

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org   

3rd Grade Website: https://sites.google.com/stekcschool.org/3rdgrade/home

Dear parents,

We hope you have enjoyed weekend and found plenty of ways to stay cool! Last week, despite the heat, was packed with excitement.  We finished our I-Ready testing and got to start a little work on our personalized learning path, we explored the regions of Missouri, and we got to meet our Little Buddies for the first time in the ECC on Friday. Our Little Buddy meeting was definitely a favorite-seeing 3rd graders being such kind leaders was such a sweet moment. It was a full week and so much fun to share all this joy together!

This week, though short, is also quite full!  We will celebrate National Teddy Bear Day on Wednesday and invite students to bring their favorite teddy bear or stuffy to read with during Silent Reading time. Then, on Friday, we will join the nation in remembering the 25th anniversary of 9/11.  We will read books and watch a video of an STE mom visiting the One World Trade Center site.

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will review rounding to the nearest 10 and 100.  We will also learn strategies to efficiently add and subtract 3 digit numbers.  Students will use an online program called Reflex to practice their addition and subtraction facts consistently.  We will introduce how to log into the program on Tuesday during math class and students are welcome to log in at home as well.  All log in information is taped inside the front cover of students' planners.

Reading and Writing: This week we will work on creating story maps and understanding the story elements in Amos and Boris By: William Steig.  This fictional text about the friendship between a mouse and a whale carries an important message, however, there are several challenging vocabulary words.  Students will work this week to improve their reading fluency by participating in a class Reader's Theatre as well as completing Fluency homework.  **Please make time this week to listen to your child read the passage at least 3x each night and sign the checklist.

Spelling: This week we will begin our differentiated spelling groups.  Students will place their spelling lists in the sheet protector on Tuesday.  Test on Friday.

Social Studies: We will learn about Missouri's landforms.  Then we will create a topographical map of Missouri using clay.  This will be a fun, hands-on way to better understand our state's features!

Religion: This week we will learn about the faith of Abraham.  We will read from the Bible, do some art, and even sing a fun song about "Father Abraham".

Social Emotional Learning: This week we will read the book "The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes" and play a game in small groups to discuss how to use a growth mindset in real situations.

Important things to note:

-Tuesday: Last day to order Be His Heart t-shirt! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdB37Xkaz3Nka2on3ARaldyzg0MgQgsruPO-gYkLb2Mv99Ofw/viewform

-Wednesday: National Teddy Bear Day!  In order to have a little fun this week, students may bring a teddy bear or favorite stuffed animal to read with during Silent Reading time (Wednesday only, please). Dress uniform for Mass.

Looking Ahead:

-September 14: Chiefs Spirit Day!

-September 18: No School-Teacher Professional Development

-September 18-19: Smoking N Waldo!

-September 21: Trash bag orders due

-September 30: Picture Day, Mrs. Droege's class leads Mass

-October 1-3: Trash bag pick up afterschool

-October 6: Vision screening 

-October 7: Mom's Mass

Have a great week! 

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org   

3rd Grade Website: https://sites.google.com/stekcschool.org/3rdgrade/home

Dear Parents,

Thank you so much for coming to Back to School Night last week.  The students were so excited to read the notes from you in their desks and we appreciated having a chance to be together to discuss your child's learning in 3rd grade. We have attached a link to the presentation in the Newsletter tab of our 3rd grade Website if you would like to reference it at any time.

When you have a chance, we would love your "parent homework"-your children were so excited about the idea that we were also giving you homework :)  Whether it is easiest to send an e-mail or write us a note and send it in your child's backpack, we welcome any information you can share with us about your child, their learning experience so far, and your hopes for the year.  We are a team and the more information we have, the easier it is for us to support your child.  We realize that this is a crazy time of year, so thank you for your time in completing this.  We truly appreciate it!! Finally, be sure to read the Important Notes for this week-Friday is our first Spirit Day!

This week in 3rd grade...

I-Ready Diagnostic Testing: This week we will take the I-Ready Beginning of the Year Diagnostic Tests in both Reading and Math.  Students will work to answer questions on the computer for about 30 minutes each day of testing.  The data we receive from this testing will allow us to better meet student learning needs. All tests will be taken in the morning during the regular reading or math class time.

Math: This week we will explore our new math books and learn how to round numbers to the nearest 10 and 100. Rounding tends to be a tricky skill for 3rd graders, so any support that you can offer with homework would be greatly appreciated!!  On Thursday and Friday we will take the I-Ready Diagnostic Test for Math.

Reading and Writing: On Monday and Tuesday we will take the I-Ready Diagnostic Test for Reading. Then we get to begin our first module of our reading curriculum, Wit and Wisdom by thinking about how poets and artists help us to explore the ocean.  We will be reading the poem The Sea Wind by Sara Teasdale and observing the painting Under the Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai.  

Grammar: This week students will learn to identify verbs in a sentence.

Spelling: This week we are studying words with long vowel sounds.   Students already have the words in their Take Home Folder and will copy their words into their planner on Monday.  Test on Friday.  (We will begin our differentiated spelling lists next week)

Social Studies: We will continue our study of the geography of Missouri.  This week we will learn about the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.  We will also map out the 5 regions of Missouri.  Be sure to ask your child what region we live in!

Religion: This week we will continue to learn about the parts of the Bible and how it is organized.  We will have some fun playing a Bible version of Chutes and Ladders with a partner.  We will also review the stories of creation, Adam and Eve, and Noah's Ark.

Important things to note:

-Wednesday: Dress uniform.

-Friday: Spirit Day!  (Students may wear any STE t-shirt with STE skorts or shorts.  Regular uniform is always welcome as well.) Today we also get to meet our Little Buddies for the 1st time!!

Looking Ahead:

-September 7: No School-Labor Day

-September 18: No School-Teacher Professional Development

-September 18-19: Smoking N Waldo!

-September 30: Picture Day!  Mrs. Droege's class leads Mass

Stay cool this week! 

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org    

3rd Grade Website: https://sites.google.com/stekcschool.org/3rdgrade/home

Dear Parents,

Thank you so much for your support in making our 1st week in 3rd grade a wonderful start to our year together.  Students were so eager to be together again and we managed to learn the routine of 3rd grade while squeezing in time for some fun teamwork challenges too. It was great to see the students' joy as they worked together to save Fred, build cup pyramids, and create a new room for our school out of straws!

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will learn how to build, read, and write numbers all the way to 100,000!  Students will have 1 page of math homework each night. In Mrs. Droege's class she will pass out a packet of math homework for the week on Monday.  The packet can be completed at your own pace throughout the week and is due Friday morning.  In Mrs. Walsh's class, she will send home a new page of homework each night.  Your support to help them check over their work is greatly appreciated!

Reading and Writing: This week we will summarize, discuss, write about, and act out scenes from Patricia Polacco's book Thank You, Mr. Falker.  On Friday we will wonder and think about Pablo Picasso's painting Reading at a Table. Students reading homework will be to read each night for 20 minutes.

Grammar: We will review what a noun is and work to identify nouns in sentences.  Quiz on Friday.

Spelling: This week we will begin our spelling routine.  In 3rd grade students will be tested over 15 words.  Students will copy their words into their planner on Monday and also place a list of spelling words inside the sheet protector in the middle of their Take Home Folder. Test on Friday. This week we are studying words with short vowel sounds.    (For the first 2 weeks, we will all study the same words.  We will begin our differentiated spelling lists after this-we will explain this more at Back to School night!)  We will give students time to complete their spelling homework in class, however, please help students to study their list to be sure they are prepared for our first test on Friday.

Social Studies: This week we will begin our study of geography. We will review the parts of a map and even have a chance to draw our own maps of our favorite places!

Religion: This week we will review ways that we learn about God and begin to explore the Bibles in our classrooms.

Social Emotional Growth: This week we will work on developing growth mindset.  We will read the book, Bubblegum Brain By: Julia Cook and discuss how having a "bubblegum brain" (a growth mindset)  instead of a "brick brain" (a fixed mindset) allows us to use our mistakes to learn and find new solutions.

Important things to note:

-Wednesday:

• Dress uniform: Our 1st school mass of the year!  All are welcome to join us in prayer at 8:30am in the church!

• Back to School Night at 6pm in the Church.  After a presentation all together we will meet in our 3rd grade classrooms to discuss 3rd grade routines and have a chance to answer any questions you may have.  We hope to see you there!

Looking Ahead:

-August 31-September 4: I Ready Diagnostic testing in the morning

-September 7: No School-Labor Day!

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org    

Dear parents,

Thank you so much for coming to Open House last week! It was great to meet all of you and get our classroom set for the new year.  We are really looking forward to a great year of learning!

Each week we will send out a newsletter over the weekend to let you know what exciting things are planned for the week and anything that your child may need for our learning.  If you ever have any questions, please feel free to e-mail and ask.  We are a team, working together to ensure your child grows and flourishes this year! 

Looking ahead at this week in 3rd grade....

Monday, August 17: Last day of summer--enjoy!!

Tuesday, August 18th

Happy 1st Day of School!  We will enjoy a half day together.  Dismissal is at 12pm.  Please be sure your child brings a backpack with: a water bottle, a snack, and their favorite book.  If your child has not yet purchased their large STE pencil bag, you can send $6 cash or purchase it from Mrs. Hossle in the front office.  This size of pencil bag allows us to keep crayons and markers safe inside it and is the same size used in grades 2-8 so you can reuse it from year to year.

Popsicles for FIRE distributed right before dismissal (Free for students with FIRE Pass or donations to FIRE accepted)

Wednesday, August 19th

**Please dress in mass uniform.** Today we will gather in the church as a school in dress uniform to review what school mass is like before Fr. Bob returns from vacation and joins us for our first school mass next week. 

Thursday, August 20th

Normal uniform and schedule

Friday, August 21st

Normal uniform and schedule

*No homework this week except to try to get back into the routine of reading each night.  

**Students may bring a snack in their backpacks each day if they would like.  I find that students are often hungry by our 2nd recess at 1:45pm so students who wish to eat a snack can bring it with them to recess.  This is completely optional-some students don't like to waste any play time :)

Looking Ahead:

-August 26th: 6-8pm Back to School Night for Parents of all grades

-September 7: No School, Labor Day 

Happy 1st Week of School!

Cara Droege and Gretchen Walsh

cdroege@stekcschool.org, gwalsh@stekcschool.org