Dear parents,

We hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather today! Though this last week of the quarter may be short, we are excited to jump into some exciting projects!  

Let's start thinking about our 4th quarter project-the Wax Museum!

The Wax Museum is a fun project that allows students to have a chance to research a person they are interested in, prepare a trifold board about the person, write their person's biography, dress up as that person, and give a short speech about their life. There will be many more specific details and a timeline of the project coming soon, but for now, the only preparation that we would suggest is to begin talking about the lives of people who have changed our world.  There are so many amazing inventors, leaders, artists, athletes, scientists, and peacemakers in our world, narrowing it down to just one can be difficult for students! Now is the time to start watching PBS' Who Was... and Xavier Riddle shows for inspiration! Our goal by the end of this week is for each student to choose 2 people that they are interested in representing at the Wax Museum in May. Students will receive a handout tomorrow with this task and a place for them to describe what they like about their choices. We ask for students to choose their top 2 choices as we are hoping to create a diverse Wax Museum with lots of different people represented.  We will confirm choices on Thursday so that we have plenty of time to make a plan to find books at your child's reading level about the person your child has chosen.  

March is National Reading Month!

To celebrate, all students in grades 3-8 will have the chance to participate in a reading challenge!  Tomorrow afternoon, students in grades 3-8 will meet together for an assembly to kick off our reading challenge and receive a reading log to record the minutes that they read each day outside of school between tomorrow-April 2nd.  Then on April 2nd all students grades 3-8 will meet together to participate in a fun Read-a-thon where prizes will be given to students who have recorded the most minutes and students will participate in many fun reading activities!  We are excited for this new opportunity for students, but as always, we are depending on your support.  Please help your child take books and their reading log with them wherever your adventures may take you over spring break and help them make time to read each day.  If your child needs help choosing books, please let us know, we would be happy to help!  

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will continue to improve our skills on elapsed time problems.  This was a difficult concept for us last week and we still need a couple more days to practice.  On Wednesday we will put our measuring skills to the test to try to trap a leprechaun. Then on Thursday we will use our math skills to work through a St. Patrick's Day escape room. We are excited for students to have some fun applying the math skills they have been working so hard on! Homework packets will be due on Thursday.

Reading and Writing: This week students will meet with a partner to revise and then publishing their stories.  We will also explore the genre of biography.  Together we will read a biography of Harry Truman and learn how to take notes.  Students will then have time to partner read various biographies in class. Then on Thursday we will finish our 3rd module of our reading program about the experience of immigration with a virtual tour of Ellis Island and a simulation of what a new immigrant may have faced.  We are excited for students to think about immigration from a new perspective.

Spelling: No spelling due to the short week.

Social Studies: This week students will learn about the Missouri Compromise and how Missouri became a state.

Religion: This week we will learn about the Beatitudes.

Important things to note:  

-Wednesday: Dress uniform for mass, Chat n Chew, 6pm Keeping Kids Safe Online

-Thursday: Last day of 3rd quarter

-Friday: No School-Diocesan Meetings for Teachers

Looking Ahead:

-March 13-22: Spring Break

-March 25: Dad's Mass 

-April 1: Class Picture Day

-April 2: Spirit Day, Grades 3-8 Readathon!, Holy Thursday-12pm Dismissal

-April 3-6: No School-Easter

-April 10: Field trip to Missouri Town (more details coming soon!)

-April 22: Mrs. Walsh's class leads mass at 8:30am

-April 24: 12pm Dismissal, STE Auction!

-May 1: Dress uniform for May Crowning

-May 8: 3rd Grade Wax Museum in Seton Hall (Parents and VIPs welcome between 8:30-9:15)

Enjoy a wonderful break with your child!  Rest up for an exciting 4th quarter!!

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 all of your support in helping your child to prepare for Stations of the Cross last week.  I was so proud of their leadership on Friday.  They calmly and reverently led us all in prayer. A huge thank you to all of you that were able to join us-they were absolutely thrilled to see so much support.

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will learn to tell time to the nearest minute as well as begin to solve word problems involving elapsed time. We will also be taking our quarterly 5 minute fact fluency quizzes in addition, subtraction, and multiplication.  Although division fact fluency is a 4th grade goal, we will try a 5 minute division test just to give students a baseline to make a plan to study.  This is a great time to talk with your child about the importance of grit.  So many times when we take these tests, students see a problem that they don't know, and they give up on the test altogether.  In school we are working on applying our "bubble gum brain" or growth mindset-if it seems hard, that's ok!  There will be many hard things in all of our lives, but the most important thing is that we don't give up!  In math, try a strategy: skip it and move on to the next problem, try skip counting, or draw a picture.  

Reading and Writing: This week we will begin writing our own story about a character's immigration to America.  

Vocabulary: Students will bring home a study guide on Monday to help prepare for the Vocabulary quiz on Friday. 

Spelling: Students will study their differentiated spelling lists for their test on Friday.

Social Studies: This week we will continue our study of our Missouri's history.  We will focus on the Louisiana Purchase and learn about Lewis and Clark's expedition with Sacagawea.  We are so lucky to live in one of the areas they explored! The Anita Gorman Discovery Center located near the Plaza has a replica of the keel boat that Lewis and Clark travelled on. It is fascinating to imagine their adventure!

Religion: This week we will continue learning about Jesus' miracles by focusing on his miracles of healing.  We will also continue to learn about saints each day.  You'll have to ask your child who they "voted" for in our Saints March Madness Bracket. We are spending the season of Lent learning about 2 new saints each day and then will have our grade's favorite before Easter.  I am curious to see which saints will really resonate with students.  Last week St. Carlo Acutis was definitely a favorite!

Important things to note:  

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Mass at 8:30am

-Friday: Stations of the Cross in church at 2:45pm led by 1st grade

Looking Ahead:

-March 13-22: Spring Break

-March 25: Dad's Mass 

-April 1: Class Picture Day

-April 2: Holy Thursday-12pm Dismissal

-April 3-6: No School-Easter

-April 10: Field trip to Missouri Town (more details coming soon!)

-April 22: Mrs. Walsh's class leads mass at 8:30am

-April 24: 12pm Dismissal, STE Auction!

-May 1: Dress uniform for May Crowning

-May 8: 3rd Grade Wax Museum in Seton Hall (Parents and VIPs welcome between 8:30-9:15)

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 your Lent is off to a great start. Students shared great ideas last week of how we can pray, fast, and give more during this Lenten season.  I am so inspired by their loving hearts!

This week in 3rd grade:

Math: This week we will apply what we have learned about fractions on a number line to measurement.  We will practice measuring to the nearest 1/2 and 1/4 inch.  We will then use our measurements to make a line plot graph. Here is a link to a video that explains how to make and understand the information on a line plot graph: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHCBtKFhV8M 

Reading and Writing: This week we will finish reading Immigrant Kids on Monday by learning about how children during this time period played in America.  On Tuesday we will read and begin discussing The Keeping Quilt by: Patricia Polacco.  This book shares the immigration story of an author we have already read together and how her family has combined some of their family traditions from Russia into their new lives in America. Fluency will be given out on Tuesday and due Friday.

Spelling: Students will study words on their differentiated list. Test on Friday.

Social Studies: This week we will begin learning about Missouri's history.  We will start by learning about moundbuilders and the Osage Indians, then we will learn about the exploration of Marquette and Joliet down the Mississippi River and the French settlers.

Religion: This week we will continue to prepare to lead the Stations of the Cross on Friday afternoon.  We hope you can join us in prayer at 2:45pm in the church!

Important things to note:

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Mass at 8:30am, Chat n Chew

-Friday: 3rd grade leads the Stations of the Cross in church at 2:45pm

Looking Ahead:

-March 13-22: Spring Break

-March 25: Dad's Mass 

-April 1: Class Picture Day

-April 2: Holy Thursday-12pm Dismissal

-April 3-6: No School-Easter

-April 22: Mrs. Walsh's class leads mass at 8:30am

-April 24: 12pm Dismissal, STE Auction!

-May 1: Dress uniform for May Crowning

-May 8: 3rd Grade Wax Museum in Seton Hall (Parents and VIPs welcome between 8:30-9:15)

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 to all the parents who brought in supplies or volunteered their time for our Valentine's parties last week.  It was a great day filled with friendship and lots of games and laughter!  We hope that you have enjoyed the rest of your long weekend together!

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will continue to work on comparing fractions.  We will be learning how fractions with the same numerator or the same denominator compare.  Students still have a fraction bookmark in their Take Home folders that they can use if they need a further visual when completing their homework. Homework packet due Friday.

Reading and Writing: This week we will try to better understand the challenges faced by immigrants, particularly those 23 million people who came to our country between 1880-1920.  Together we will read the book Immigrant Kids By: Russell Freedman.  Then students will compare the similarities and differences between their own lives and those of kids whose families had just immigrated to America. 

Spelling: Students will study words on their differentiated list.  Test on Friday.

Science: This week we will finish our weather unit by learning about how natural disasters caused by weather such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods change a habitat.  On Wednesday we will have some fun using sand to model what happens in a landslide. 

Religion: On Tuesday we will celebrate Mardi Gras by making a mask!  Then on Wednesday we will embark on our Lenten journey together.  

Important things to note:

-Monday: No School, President's Day

-Tuesday: Happy Mardi Gras!  Heritage Potluck at 6pm

-Wednesday: Mrs. Droege's class leads mass at 8:30am, Ash Wednesday

Looking Ahead:

-February 27: 3rd grade leads the Stations of the Cross in church at 2:45pm

-March 13-22: Spring Break

-March 25: Dad's Mass 

-April 1: Class Picture Day

-April 2: Holy Thursday-12pm Dismissal

-April 3-6: No School-Easter

-April 22: Mrs. Walsh's class leads mass at 8:30am

-April 24: 12pm Dismissal, STE Auction!

-May 1: Dress uniform for May Crowning

-May 8: 3rd Grade Wax Museum in Seton Hall (Parents and VIPs welcome between 8:30-9:15)

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 lot of fun celebrating our 100th day of learning and the start of the Winter Olympics.  Students worked hard to complete each of the 100 second challenges and many were still feeling the effects of the toe touches and jumping jacks the next day.  That gave us even more respect for the athletes competing in amazing ways in the Olympics! We hope you and your family will be able to watch some of the games together this week.  Such amazing examples of grit and growth mindset!

This week is a short week but filled with fun and friendship!  On Wednesday we will celebrate Valentine's Day with fun activities throughout the day and our class parties at 2:30pm. Please send in a decorated Valentine's Day box or bag so that your child has a place to collect the valentines from their classmates.  If students plan to pass out Valentines please be sure they are NUT FREE and that there are enough for all students in your child's class. Mrs. Walsh's class has 16 students.  Mrs. Droege's class has 19 students.

Thank you to our fabulous room parents for planning our party and all those who are volunteering and donating items.  It should be a wonderful afternoon!

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will work on comparing fractions.  We will be learning how fractions with the same numerator or the same denominator compare.  Students still have a fraction bookmark in their Take Home folders that they can use if they need a further visual when completing their homework. Homework packet due Wednesday.

Reading and Writing: This week we will learn more about Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.  This is the perfect time to start discussing your own family's immigration story.  Did anyone in your family come through Ellis Island? 

Spelling: No spelling due to the short week.

Science: This week we will learn about different climates in our world.  

Religion: We will continue learning about Jesus' miracle stories.  

Important things to note:

-Tuesday: Mrs. Walsh's class helps to shelve food at the food pantry

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Mass at 8:30am, Valentine's Parties at 2:30pm

-Thursday: No School, Spring Conferences  8am-4pm (Let your child's teacher know if you need the link to sign up!)

-Friday: No School, Teacher Professional Development

Looking Ahead:

-February 16: No School, President's Day

-February 18: Mrs. Droege's class leads mass at 8:30am, Ash Wednesday

-February 27: 3rd grade leads the Stations of the Cross in church at 2:45pm

-March 13-22: Spring Break

-March 25: Dad's Mass 

-April 1: Class Picture Day

-April 2: Holy Thursday-12pm Dismissal

-April 3-6: No School-Easter

-April 22: Mrs. Walsh's class leads mass at 8:30am

-April 24: 12pm Dismissal, STE Auction!

-May 1: Dress uniform for May Crowning

-May 8: 3rd Grade Wax Museum in Seton Hall (Parents and VIPs welcome between 8:30-9:15)

Hope your week is filled with love!

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 for all of your support-what a wonderful Catholic Schools Week last week!  From catching Chris Cakes in our cozy pajamas, to having fun with penguin art and games with our Little Buddies, and then cheering on our classmates as they performed in our Talent Show-we enjoyed a wonderful celebration of the opportunities offered by our Catholic school community!  

Looking ahead to this week, our fun continues!  On Monday we will celebrate Groundhog's Day and hope that Phil tells us that spring is on its way so we can get back outside to outdoor recess again soon! Then, on Tuesday we will celebrate our 100th Day of 3rd grade together by completing lots of fun challenges throughout the day.  On Thursday morning we will gather for the Pep Rally that we missed on our snow day last week. Finally, on Friday we will celebrate the start of the Winter Olympics! Lots to look forward to!

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will continue to learn about fractions by identifying and creating equivalent fractions.  This is the perfect opportunity to involve your child in the kitchen.  Hands on practice measuring ingredients will allow students to better conceptualize that 2 halves equal one whole, etc.  Students will also bring home a Fraction Bookmark in their Take Home Folder which is another visual that may be helpful to students as they work on their homework.  

Reading and Writing: This week we will read selections from Family Pictures By: Carmen Lomas Garza about moments in her Mexican American culture. We will also begin reading the book Coming to America By: Betsy Maestro.  This book describes the journey of many new immigrants to America and their experience seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time and going through Ellis Island.

Grammar: Students will learn about comparatives and superlatives.  Quiz on Friday.

Spelling: Students will copy their new words into the planners on Monday.  Test Friday.

Science: This week we will compare weather patterns in different areas of the world.

Religion: This week we will learn about Jesus miracles.  We will create murals of Jesus' miracles, read Bible stories, and listen to music inspired by his miracles.

Important things to note:

-Tuesday: Mrs. Droege's class shelves food at the food pantry (Any donations are greatly appreciated!)

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Mass at 8:30am

-Thursday: Pep Rally at 8:45am (This is to make up for the Catholic Schools Week Pep Rally we missed last week on our snow day)

-Friday: Spirit Day

Looking Ahead:

-February 11: Valentine's Parties at 2:30pm (Students are welcome to decorate a box or bag at home and bring it in to collect their Valentine's in.  We love to see student's creativity shine!)

-February 12: Spring Conferences  8am-4pm 

-February 12-16: No School (Spring Conferences, Teacher PD, and President's Day)

-February 18: Mrs. Droege's class leads mass at 8:30am

-February 27: 3rd grade leads the Stations of the Cross in church at 2:45pm

-March 13-22: Spring Break

-March 25: Dad's Mass 

-April 1: Class Picture Day

-April 2: Holy Thursday-12pm Dismissal

-April 3-6: No School-Easter

-April 22: Mrs. Walsh's class leads mass at 8:30am

-April 24: 12pm Dismissal, STE Auction!

-May 1: Dress uniform for May Crowning

-May 8: 3rd Grade Wax Museum in Seton Hall (Parents and VIPs welcome between 8:30-9:15)

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 Catholic Schools Week!! We realize that you have many choices in the education of your child, and we are so honored that you have chosen St. Elizabeth's. Throughout our school we work daily to ensure that your child receives an education of mind, body, and spirit.  We are so blessed to be a part of your child's education journey.  So, this week, let's celebrate!  Each day, we will wear something fun and enjoy special activities together, and then on Friday we will offer students a chance to share their God given talents with their grade. Time to celebrate!

**Quarter 2 Read Bowl logs are due tomorrow morning!  Hopefully your child has been finding cozy places to read or listen to an auido book during this snowy, cold weekend!  Please help your child to add up all of the minutes that they have read this week, sign their reading log, and make sure it is in their folder ready to turn in tomorrow morning.  Thank you for your support!  

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will learn how to write fractions on a number line. (Many 3rd graders are unsure how to find the denominator when looking at a numberline.  One mantra we will repeat over and over in class to help students remember this skill is to "Count the SPACES between 0 and 1, then STOP.  That is our denominator!") This skill is essential not only for our current work but will help students as we move on to find equivalent fractions at the end of the week.

Reading and Writing: This week we will continue to learn about Japanese cultural traditions.  We will also write an essay comparing the books we have read: Grandfather's Journey and Tea with Milk.

Spelling: Students will copy their new words from their differentiated lists into their planner on Monday.  Test on Friday.

Science: This week we will learn about the tools used to measure and predict our weather.  We will even watch how a meteorologist prepares to give us the forecast on the news.

Religion: This week we will celebrate Catholic Schools week!  We will pray together, share what we love most about our Catholic school, and even take a "Stroll with the Saints" around the school.

Important things to note:

-Monday: Neon shirt day with uniform bottoms or joggers

-Tuesday: Pajama Day and Chris Cakes! 

-Wednesday: Dress UP Day (or Dress Uniform for Mass)

-Thursday: Buddy Day-Our theme is penguins: Wear black and white or your favorite penguin shirt

-Friday: Spirit Day!, Talent Show at 8:30am in the Cafeteria

Looking Ahead:

-February 11: Valentine's Parties at 2:30pm (Students are welcome to decorate a box or bag at home and bring it in to collect their Valentine's in.  We love to see student's creativity shine!)

-February 12: Spring Conferences  8am-4pm

-February 12-16: No School (Spring Conferences, Teacher PD, and President's Day)

-February 18: Mrs. Droege's class leads mass at 8:30am

-February 27: 3rd grade leads the Stations of the Cross in church at 2:45pm

-March 13-22: Spring Break

-March 25: Dad's Mass 

-April 1: Class Picture Day

-April 2: Holy Thursday-12pm Dismissal

-April 3-6: No School-Easter

-April 22: Mrs. Walsh's class leads mass at 8:30am

-April 24: 12pm Dismissal, STE Auction!

-May 1: Dress uniform for May Crowning

-May 8: 3rd Grade Wax Museum in Seton Hall (Parents and VIPs welcome between 8:30-9:15)

Stay warm and safe!

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 Martin Luther King Day!  We hope that you have enjoyed a wonderful long weekend together-and stayed warm! Martin Luther King Jr. once wrote, "Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of a true education."  These wise words are what we certainly strive for at STE-to guide students to learn not only the academic standards but also the Christskills that will help our students to become future leaders in our community and our world!

*ReadBowl Quarter 1 logs are due tomorrow morning!!  Please be sure to help your child add up all of the minutes that they have read this week (both at home AND at school) to calculate their total.  Then be sure to sign the log and make sure your child places it in their backpacks.  You will notice that the reading log only goes through Sunday.  Please keep reading today!  We have Quarter 2 Reading Logs ready to send home tomorrow and you can record today's reading on it tomorrow night.  We so appreciate your support.  It has been so fun to watch students motivate and celebrate each other's reading this week!  Let's keep the momentum going 3rd grade!

**Catholic Schools Week is coming soon! Here are a few important deadlines this week:

• Chris Cakes order are due by Friday, 1/23.  Please use this link to order and then pay on Vanco: https://forms.gle/WJWKUNLmRjssEQPN7 

• Talent Show sign ups are this week. We will have our own 3rd grade Talent Show at 8:30am in the Cafeteria on Friday, January 30th. Students can sign up this week so we can ensure that all music and anything else needed is prepared. Please let us know if you have any questions.

• Catholic Schools Week Kick Off Mass is this coming Sunday, 1/25 at 10am.  Students should wear their uniforms to mass to proudly represent our school community!  See you there!

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will start a new unit, learning all about fractions!  Students will use play dough and models to name equal parts of a whole.  On Thursday and Friday during math class students will complete their Winter IReady Diagnostic Test.  We are excited for students to be able to apply all that they have learned so far this year!

Reading and Writing: We will start our week on Tuesday and Wednesday by taking our Winter I-Ready Reading Diagnostic Test on the computer during reading class time.  Then on Thursday we will jump back into our study of the book Tea With Milk by having a tea ceremony and trying green tea with and without milk to see if we agree or disagree with the main character of the book.  We will also spend time each day reviewing the vocabulary words we have studied.  Students will bring home a study guide with the words on Tuesday.  We will continue to review the 10 words each day through games and activities.  Students will complete a vocabulary quiz on Friday.  

Spelling: No new list of words due to the short week.  

Science: This week we will learn about weather and practice tracking weather patterns.  We will also learn how a thermometer works and practice reading measurements on a thermometer.

Religion: We will learn about Jesus' 12 apostles.

Important things to note:

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Mass at 8:30am

-Sunday: Catholic Schools Week Kick Off Mass at 10am, Students should wear their school uniform

Looking Ahead:

-January 26: Neon Shirt Day with uniform or spirit bottoms

-January 27: Pajama Day, Chris Cakes at lunch in Seton Hall!

-January 28: Dress UP Day!  No leggings or jeans please.

-January 29: Buddy Day!  (Stay tuned for more information about our fun theme together!)

-January 30: Spirit Day

-February 11: Valentine's Parties at 2:30pm (Students are welcome to decorate a box or bag at home and bring it in to collect their Valentine's in.  We love to see student's creativity shine!)

-February 12: Spring Conferences  8am-4pm

-February 12-16: No School (Spring Conferences, Teacher PD, and President's Day)

-February 18: Mrs. Droege's class leads mass at 8:30am

-February 27: 3rd grade leads the Stations of the Cross in church at 2:45pm

-March 13-22: Spring Break

-March 25: Dad's Mass 

-April 1: Class Picture Day

-April 2: Holy Thursday-12pm Dismissal

-April 3-6: No School-Easter

-April 22: Mrs. Walsh's class leads mass at 8:30am

-April 24: 12pm Dismissal, STE Auction!

-May 1: Dress uniform for May Crowning

-May 8: 3rd Grade Wax Museum in Seton Hall (Parents and VIPs welcome between 8:30-9:15)

Stay warm!!

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org

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

Dear parents,

It was wonderful to see students again last week and get caught up on some of their winter break adventures.  We appreciate the way that they were ready to jump right back into our school routine-we were very busy learning last week!  2 highlights of our time together were definitely being able to share our baptism photos with each other (and marvel about how many students still have the same smile :) as well as observing the live cam of the Polar Bear exhibit at the Kansas City Zoo.  We learned that the polar bear was not very impressed with the rain (he would take a peek and then go right back inside) but he loves to dig and sleep in the sand pit.  This week we will learn about more polar animals-such fascinating creatures!  Before the week begins be sure to check your child's Friday folder-lots of information inside!

Students made great progress in their reading first semester and now that the excitement of the holidays are over, we want to work with students to help increase their reading stamina. In order to try to help motivate students as readers, we have entered our classes into a national reading competition called Read Bowl.  Starting tomorrow (Monday), students will log the minutes they read each night on a Reading Log in their Take Home folder.  Each week teachers will log in the minutes our class has read into the competition website.  We hope to beat other 3rd grade classes across the nation by logging the most minutes read!  As parents, we are asking your help in 2 ways:  1.Please make reading a priority in your nightly routine.  You can log minutes your student reads independently or minutes that you read/listen to a book together.  2. Please help your child total their minutes and sign their reading log each week. Minutes without a parent signature don't count and we need every minute to be able to compete against other 3rd graders across the country! 

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will learn to solve problems based on data found on picture graphs and bar graphs.  We will also learn how to draw scaled graphs.  

Reading and Writing:  This week we will read Tea With Milk also by Allen Say.  As it is the sequel to last week's book: Grandfather's Journey, we are excited for students to be able to recognize characters and compare their points of view. 

Grammar: This week students will learn about Possessive Nouns. Quiz Friday.

Spelling: This week students will study the months of the year for our spelling test.  Students will copy the list of words into their planner on Monday.  Test Friday.

Science: We will learn about the adaptations that arctic animals have to survive in their frigid habitats.  We will also test how blubber helps animals by placing our hands in a blubber simulation and ice water to see which hand is colder!

Religion: This week we will finish Chapter 11, covering the Christmas story and Jesus' presentation in the temple.  After reviewing using the Chapter 11 Interactive Review, students will take the Chapter 11 quiz on Friday.

Important things to note:

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Mass at 8:30am, Chat and Chew, Mrs. Walsh's class will help shelve food at the food pantry

-Thursday: National Hat Day!  Let's celebrate by wearing your favorite hat!

Looking Ahead:

-January 19: No School, MLK Day

-January 20-23: I Ready Winter Diagnostic Testing during regular reading and math classes

-January 26-30: Catholic Schools Week!!   Click here to view the flyer

-February 12: Spring Conferences  8am-4pm

-February 12-16: No School (Spring Conferences, Teacher PD, and President's Day)

-February 18: Mrs. Droege's class leads mass at 8:30am

-February 27: 3rd grade leads the Stations of the Cross in church at 2:45pm

-March 13-22: Spring Break

-March 25: Dad's Mass 

-April 1: Class Picture Day

-April 2: Holy Thursday-12pm Dismissal

-April 3-6: No School-Easter

-April 22: Mrs. Walsh's class leads mass at 8:30am

-April 24: 12pm Dismissal, STE Auction!

-May 1: Dress uniform for May Crowning

-May 8: 3rd Grade Wax Museum in Seton Hall (Parents and VIPs welcome between 8:30-9:15)

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 New Year!  We hope you enjoyed a nice vacation as a family and your child is rested and ready to begin the 2nd half of the school year together.  This week we will be easing back into our routines and have planned plenty of activities to allow students to catch up with each other.  We are excited to see them tomorrow! 

Jumping back into the school routine after a fun vacation can be tough.  One idea is to prepare as much as you can tonight to make the morning as easy as possible.  Have students set out the uniform they want to wear in the morning, help them go through their backpack and set it by the door, then discuss what they would like to have for breakfast in the morning.  Sometimes the idea of a favorite breakfast food helps students to be able to get up out of bed and out the door more easily-a win for both you and your child! 

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will continue to find the area of rectangles.  We will also divide irregular shapes into rectangles and add the areas together in order to find the shapes' area.

Reading and Writing: This week we will begin our 3rd module of Wit and Wisdom.  This module focuses on immigration and the journey that has brought many of our families to the United States. We will read the book, Grandfather's Journey By: Allen Say. We will also examine a steamer trunk that many families used to pack their belongings for the long to journey to America.  This might make for an interesting dinner conversation: what objects are most valuable to your family?  What do you think the people in your family who immigrated to the United States would have brought with them? 

Spelling: No words or test to study for this week.  Students will complete a Spelling Inventory during class to find out what words their brain is ready to learn 2nd semester.  We are excited to see student's spelling growth!

Science:  We will be learning all about polar animals and the adaptations that they have developed to help them survive in frigid temperatures.  We will learn specifically about the polar bear in the arctic and various species of penguins in the Antarctic.  

Religion: This week we have a lot to celebrate as a family of faith!  On Tuesday we will celebrate the Epiphany with stories and songs.  On Thursday we will learn about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (her feast day was January 4th). Then on Friday we will prepare for the feast of Jesus' Baptism this coming Sunday by comparing Jesus' baptism story to our own baptism.  **It would be fun for students to have a chance to share their baptism photos.  Feel free to e-mail me a copy or let your child bring a picture of their baptism to class on Friday.  Thank you!!!

Important things to note:

-Tuesday: Mrs. Droege's class will help shelve food at the food pantry

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Mass at 8:30am

-Friday: Spirit Day!

Looking Ahead:

**I realize that this is a LOT of information, however I thought it might be helpful to save a few dates on your calendar as I know the spring goes by so quickly!

-January 14: Chat and Chew, Mrs. Walsh's class will help shelve food at the food pantry

-January 19: No School, MLK Day

-January 20-23: I Ready Winter Diagnostic Testing during regular reading and math classes

-January 26-30: Catholic Schools Week!!

-February 12: Spring Conferences  8am-4pm

-February 12-16: No School (Spring Conferences, Teacher PD, and President's Day)

-February 18: Mrs. Droege's class leads mass at 8:30am

-February 27: 3rd grade leads the Stations of the Cross in church at 2:45pm

-March 13-22: Spring Break

-March 25: Dad's Mass 

-April 1: Class Picture Day

-April 2: Holy Thursday-12pm Dismissal

-April 3-6: No School-Easter

-April 22: Mrs. Walsh's class leads mass at 8:30am

-May 1: Dress uniform for May Crowning

-May 8: 3rd Grade Wax Museum in Seton Hall (Parents and VIPs welcome between 8:30-9:15)

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,

It is hard to believe, but it is already the 3rd week of Advent!  Fittingly for this fun time of year, this week is all about JOY.  We look forward to celebrating the excitement of the Advent season together this week!

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will start by practicing strategies to solve word problems about area.  Then the rest of the week we will have some Christmas math fun. We will complete some fun graphing activities together as a class and also practice adding and subtracting as we play a game based on the book Christmas Farm. 

Reading and Writing: This week we will read Postcards From Pluto By: Loreen Leedy.  Students will then choose a planet to research and write their own "postcard" about the planet they have chosen.  This is a great time to be sure that your child knows their address! On Friday we will read about Christmas traditions around the world and try to complete an escape room challenge as we "visit" various countries!

Spelling: No spelling this week! 

Social Studies:  This week we will learn about the legislative branch and how a bill becomes a law.  Time to introduce students to the classic Schoolhouse Rock video: I'm Just a Bill :) 

Religion: This week we will celebrate JOY!  We will have a lot of fun with Gospel relay races, crafts, and singing as we will celebrate our Savior's birth soon!

Important things to note:

**Mr. Riley is collecting new/used books for Catholic Charities this week.  Now is a great time to look through your bookshelves and make room for any new books your child may be receiving for Christmas!

-Monday: Advent Prayer Service in church at 8:20am

-Wednesday: Dress uniform

-Thursday: Christmas shirt/Ugly Sweater day, FIRE popsicle day at lunch, Christmas movie in the afternoon (our reward for earning a blackout on our Food Pantry Box BINGO-thank you for your donations!!)

-Friday: Noon dismissal

Looking Ahead:

-12/20-1/5: Christmas break

-1/6: School resumes!

May your week be filled with joy!

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org

Dear parents,

Happy 2nd week of Advent!  We hope you are enjoying this extra day together at home as a family! This week we focus on peace.  While world peace is certainly important, this week we will be discussing ways that we can be an example of peace to our classmates and in our families.  Often, in 3rd grade, this looks like simply stopping and taking a breath before saying the first thing that comes to mind during differences of opinion at recess or in group work. We will also be challenging students to think about how they can help bring about more moments of peace at home.  The Christmas season can quickly fill with busyness and stress.  We pray that this week peace may fill our school and your home! 

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will start Unit 3, all about area.  We will start by understanding the concept of area and then learn how to use multiplication to determine the area of a figure. We will also take our 5 minute fluency tests in addition, subtraction, and multiplication.  Students have been working hard on their facts and we are excited to see how their fluency has grown this quarter!

Reading and Writing: This week we will read several myths explaining constellations in our night sky.  We are excited to introduce this fascinating genre to students as many students are already interested in famous figures in greek mythology.  A great home connection would be to try to spot constellations in the sky at night.  There are so many great phone apps that now help to identify the constellation as you hold it up to the sky. 

Vocabulary: This week we will review the vocabulary we have learned throughout our reading module this past quarter.  Students will bring home a study guide on Tuesday.  We will review each day in class and then take the quiz on Friday.  The format for the quiz will be matching the word with the definition as well as filling in the missing vocabulary word that makes sense in a sentence.  One way to support your child's study habits at home would be to make cards together with the words and definitions and ask your child to match them. 

Spelling: Students will copy their new words from their differentiated lists into their planner on Tuesday.  Test on Friday.

Social Studies: Students will learn about the 3 branches of Missouri's government.

Religion: This week we will learn about the message of peace proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah.  We will also celebrate the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe on Friday.

Important things to note:

-Monday: No School, Feast of the Immaculate Conception

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Mrs. Walsh's class shelves food at the food pantry

Looking Ahead:

-12/15: Advent Prayer Service in church at 8:20am

-12/18: FIRE popsicle day at lunch, Christmas shirt/Ugly Sweater day

-12/19: Noon dismissal

-12/20-1/5: Christmas break

Wishing you a peace-filled week!

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org

Dear parents,

We hope that you enjoyed a wonderful long weekend filled with delicious food and time with family!  Happy 1st week of Advent!  This week we focus on Hope.  We listen to the words of the prophets in the Old Testament and look with hope to the birth of the Messiah.  Each Monday during the season of Advent we will begin the week with a prayer service in church then in religion class each day we will gather around our class Advent wreath together.  We look forward to celebrating this season of waiting together as a class community. 

Please note that if your child would like to enjoy Chick Fil A for lunch on Friday, the deadline for ordering is Tuesday, 12/2!

Place your order through jotform link: 

https://form.jotform.com/253274926000148

Once you complete your order in jotform, you will be redirected to Vanco for payment. 

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will finish Unit 2 and take our Unit 2 test on Friday.  Most of the week we will spend reviewing strategies we have learned to multiply and divide.  On Tuesday we will notice patterns in the products of multiplication facts.  Homework this week is a review of the concepts we have learned in this unit.  On Thursday night students' homework will be the Unit Review.  These questions are in the same format as the questions on the Unit 2 test. Please take the time to sit down with your child to review their work.  If they are unsure of any problems, we can review them before we take our test on Friday.  Thank you for your support!

Reading and Writing: This week we will take a virtual tour of the International Space Station.  We will also read the book One Giant Leap.  We will listen to Neil Armstrong's famous words as he stepped on the moon and discuss the meaning of this figurative language.  Fluency due Friday!

Spelling: Students will copy their new words from their differentiated lists into their planner on Monday.  Test on Friday.

Social Studies: Students will learn about Missouri's constitution and the freedoms it protects.  Then we will try our hand at writing our own class constitution!

Religion: This week we will learn about the season of Advent.  We will light the Advent wreath each day and make a craft for students to be able to have their own Advent wreath in their prayer corners at home!

Important things to note:

-Monday: Advent Prayer Service in church at 8:20am

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Mrs. Walsh's class leads mass

-Friday: Chick Fil A Lunch, Spirit Day

Looking Ahead:

-12/8: No School, Feast of the Immaculate Conception

-12/15: Advent Prayer Service in church at 8:20am

-12/18: FIRE popsicle day at lunch, Christmas shirt/Ugly Sweater day

-12/19: Noon dismissal

-12/20-1/5: Christmas break

May you be filled with hope this week!

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org

Dear parents,

This week we are thankful for you!  Thank you for your generous support of our many fundraisers to make our school a better place for learning each year. Thank you for taking the time to sit and review your child's homework with them each night, even when you have so many of your own tasks to complete. But most of all, thank you for choosing STE and allowing us to share in the education of your child.  Our classes have brought so much joy to our lives and we hope that this will be a year of learning your child will never forget!  

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will be having some Thanksgiving math fun!  We will review our multiplication facts in a fast paced race around the classroom as well as practice our graphing skills after we take a class survey of our favorite Thanksgiving foods.  No math homework this week!

Reading and Writing: This week we will read a fictional story about space travel, Zathura By: Chris VanAllsburg (the same author as Jumanji!).  We are excited to see how students connect their knowledge about space with this story of fantasy.  

Spelling: No test this week!

Social Studies:  This week students will apply what they have learned about Missouri to create a new license plate that represents our great state.

Religion: This week we review the liturgical calendar and discuss what we celebrate in each season of our church year. 

Important things to note:

-Wednesday-Friday: No School due to Thanksgiving Break

-Sunday, 11/30: Advent begins! *Now is a great time to begin making sure that you have the 4 candles for your Advent wreath or if you don't have one, maybe think about adding this tradition to your Advent season. Lighting the Advent candle each day and praying together around it in religion class is one of my favorite parts of Advent!

Looking Ahead:

-12/1: Advent Prayer Service in church at 8:20am

-12/3: Dress uniform, Mrs. Walsh's class leads mass

-12/5: Chick Fil A Lunch, Spirit Day

-12/8: No School, Feast of the Immaculate Conception

-12/15: Advent Prayer Service in church at 8:20am

-12/18: FIRE popsicle day at lunch, Christmas shirt/Ugly Sweater day

-12/19: Noon dismissal

-12/20-1/5: Christmas break

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org  

Dear parents,

We hope you have enjoyed the beautiful weather this past weekend.  Last week we had so much fun starting to learn about the moon and enjoying a delicious Oreo moon phase treat.  We also celebrated World Kindness Day on Thursday.  From talks with Mr. Riley, read alouds, and discussions together we were reminded about how important it is to try to spread kindness through simple,small acts each day.  I have been so inspired by students actions-from decorating sidewalks at home with messages of kindness, helping to bring out the trash, and greeting adults at our school students have truly been thinking of others.  We hope that this spirit of kindness continues EVERY day, much beyond World Kindness Day!

This week in 3rd grade:

Math: This week we will be learning how to make fact families with multiplication and division facts. This will be the last week of math homework until after Thanksgiving break!

Reading and Writing: This week we will read the book, Moonshot By: Brian Floca.  This book will challenge us to think about the Apollo 11 mission from various points of view: the scientists in mission control, the astronauts, and the public.  We are grateful to all the grandparents we were able to interview about their memories of the 1st moon landing! We will also learn about the Space Race and sequence some of the important events. Finally, we will be busy this week writing essays about what we are most thankful for.  Fluency due Friday.

**Students will receive a new reading challenge on Monday. This is NOT for a grade and DOES NOT have a due date.  Instead, our goal is to motivate students to continue to try new types of books (and FINISH these books!) This quarter we hope students will try to read a variety of different genres or types of books.  Students did a great job of trying to read a mystery, a joke book, and a fairy tale last quarter.  A combination of picture books and chapter books may be read.  Audio books are also great opportunities to share reading as a family.  

Grammar: Students will review plural nouns.  Quiz Friday.

Spelling: Students will put new differentiated lists of spelling words in their Take Home folders on Monday.  Test on Friday.

Social Studies: This week we will learn all about the symbols that represent our state of Missouri.

Religion: This week we will start by celebrating St. Elizabeth of Hungary's feast day tomorrow (Monday).  Then we will make cards to support the 2nd graders receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday night.  We will also begin learning about the next sections of books in the Old Testament, written by prophets.  We will start by learning what a prophet is and then learn about the story of Jonah.

Important things to note:

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Mass, Chat and Chew

-Friday and Saturday: Merry Market

Looking Ahead:

-November 26-30: Thanksgiving Break

-Sunday, 11/30: Advent begins!

-12/5: Chick Fil A Lunch, Spirit Day

-12/19: Noon dismissal

-12/20-1/5: Christmas break

Have a great week!

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org  

Dear parents,

Last week was a short week but filled with so much joy. Students loved all of their new purchases at the book fair-thank you to all the parents who volunteered and helped us pick out books!  This past week we also were grateful for all of the grandparents and special guests who were able to join us. From moon painting to interviewing them about their memories of the first moon landing, we enjoyed a fun morning together! While these past weeks have been so much fun, this week we are looking forward to a full week and a more normal routine together!

This week students will be working hard with Mr. Debose to finish preparing for the 1st-3rd grade fall choir concert. The concert will be Thursday, November 13th at 6:30pm in the church.  All students are asked to arrive to Seton Hall at 6:15pm.  Students should come dressed in the Sunday best (no jeans, please). We are excited to see students' light shine through their songs!

Thursday is also World Kindness Day!  We will be celebrating by reading books, learning about how kindness helps our bodies, and challenging each other to acts of kindness in the lunchroom, at recess, and with each other.  What acts of kindness can you model at home?  Since Thursday night is busy with the choir concert, maybe you can make a kindness plan for the weekend.  Could you help a neighbor rake leaves?  Bake cookies to give to someone who may need comfort and love? Any act of kindness, no matter how small, makes a difference!

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will learn the concept of division.  Students will practice making equal groups and arrays to show how to divide.  We will use tiles and playdough at school to model this concept. At home, leftover Halloween candy such as Skittles or M&Ms can be used to model division problems.  (Example: How many skittles were in the package?  If we have to divide them equally between you and a sibling, how many does each person get?  How can we write that as an equation?)

Reading and Writing: This week we will learn more about the moon.  Students will listen to read alouds, watch videos, read informational text from National Geographic, and even use Oreos to make models of the moon's phases. Fluency due Friday.

Spelling: Students will write their differentiated lists into their planners on Monday.  Test on Friday.

Science:  This week we will finish our study of fossils.  

Religion: This week we will learn the story of David.  From his battle against Goliath to becoming King, David's example teaches us that we should use the gifts that God has given us.

Friendzy: This month our focus is on how God knows us and loves us.  We must show that love to others by getting to know others and their story.  

Important things to note:

*All week: Girl Scout Food Drive

-Wednesday: Children's Choir before school, Dress uniform, Mass, "When Timeouts Don't Work" Parent Workshop at 6pm

-Thursday: 6:30pm Choir Concert in the Church, Please arrive at 6:15pm to Seton Hall wearing "Sunday best" (no jeans, please)

-Friday: Spirit Day

Looking Ahead:

-November 26-30: Thanksgiving Break

-Sunday, 11/30: Advent begins!

-12/5: Chick Fil A Lunch, Spirit Day

-12/19: Noon dismissal

-12/20-1/6: Christmas break

Have a great week!

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org  

Dear parents,

Thank you so much for coming to meet with us at Parent Teacher Conferences last week. It was great to be able to take the time to share students' growth and plan together to ensure our students' learning success in the months to come.  If you have any questions or concerns as the year continues, please reach out to us.  We are a team!!

We hope you enjoyed a few days off from the school routine.  This week is short and filled with fun! The Book Fair is open all week.  All 3rd graders will have a chance to visit it as a class on Thursday.  We are hoping that students will find books they are excited to read! On Friday we will welcome grandparents and VIPS to our class.  We would love to make a slide show of pictures of students with the special guests who will be joining them. *If you could please e-mail a photo of your student with their guest to your child's teacher it would be greatly appreciated!!

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will learn strategies to multiply multiples of 10.  Example: 4x60.  This is an exciting lesson for students as they realize they already know how to multiply bigger numbers!

Reading and Writing: This week we will begin our 2nd module, all about the moon and space. We will begin by learning about one of the early astronomers, Galileo, in the book Starry Messenger By: Peter Sis.  

Spelling: Though a short week, we will still take a spelling test on Friday. Thank you for your support in studying!

Science:  This week students will pretend that we are paleontologists and piece together paper fossils to try to form a dinosaur. We can't wait to see what they discover! 

Religion: This week we will learn about the 12 apostles.

Important Things to Note:

-Monday: No School

-Wednesday: Regular uniform, no mass, 7:15am Children's Choir, Chat and Chew, Mrs. Walsh' class helps shelve food at the food pantry (all donations greatly appreciated!), 6:30pm Screen Sanity presentation for parents

-Thursday: 3rd graders visit the Book Fair (Droege at 8:20am, Walsh at 1:15pm), Picture retakes

-Friday: Grandparents Mass (9:30am classrooms open, 10:30am Mass, 12:00 Dismissal)

Looking Ahead:

-November 13: Grades 1-3 Music Concert at 6:30pm

-November 14: Spirit Day

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 your support of FIRE week last week.  We had a great week together and learned so much from books we read, videos about different abilities we watched, and hearing the stories of different people presented by the Shamrock Crew.  On Friday we ended our day with a student favorite-the Pie a Teacher assembly. It was a great week!  

We hope that you have found ways to stay warm and dry this weekend.  This week is a short week filled with fun-our Halloween party and Little Buddy visit are just a couple of the fun things to look forward to!  On Wednesday and Thursday we look forward to meeting with you at Parent Teacher Conferences.  In 3rd grade, conferences are not student led.  Students are not required to attend but are welcome to participate if you would like.  See you soon!

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will continue to practice strategies to multiply 3 numbers.  On Wednesday we will have some Halloween math fun by completing challenges to escape a Haunted House!

Reading and Writing: This week we will finish reading our A-Z mystery together.  It has been so fun to discuss clues and suspects together after each chapter!  We are hoping that this will inspire students to keep reading this exciting genre during fall break.  Ron Roy is an author that has great mysteries (one for each letter of the alphabet as well as each month of the year).  Ballpark mysteries are another favorite and there is even one set at the K!   

Spelling: No spelling due to the short week!

Science:  This week we will continue to learn about the types of fossils and the ways that fossils layer over time.

Religion: This week we will learn about the celebration of Dia de los Muertos and make a calavera mask.

Important Things to Note:

-Tuesday: Class Halloween Parties at 2:30pm

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Parent Conferences After School  

-Thursday: No School-Parent Conferences

-Friday: No School-Teacher PD with the Diocese

Looking Ahead:

-November 3: No School

-November 6: 3rd graders visit the Book Fair (Droege at 8:20am, Walsh at 1:15pm)

-November 7: Grandparents Mass (9:30am classrooms open, 10:30am Mass, 12:00 Dismissal)

-November 13: Grades 1-3 Music Concert at 6:30pm

Looking forward to meeting with you!

Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Droege

gwalsh@stekcschool.org           cdroege@stekcschool.org   

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

Dear parents,

It's hard to believe that our 1st quarter of 3rd grade is already over.  Our time together seems to be flying by!  Last week we enjoyed a wonderful Mass together with our Mom's.  We then ended the week by praying a rosary outside by the grotto together with 4th grade.  Each student led us in a prayer or announced a mystery-it was a beautiful way to start our morning together!

This next week is exciting-it is FIRE week! We look forward to celebrating inclusion in many ways this week.  In addition to enjoying donuts on Monday and the excitement of Pie A Teacher on Friday, we will also be reading lots of books, learning about various disabilities, visit a "Wax Museum" celebrating the diverse abilities of famous people, and we will even end our week by watching a movie and discussing how it relates to the theme of inclusion.  It will be another fun week!

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will learn to multiply by 9.  We will use the "hand trick" to help us with these facts.  Here is a video to explain the "hand trick" so you can better understand what your 3rd grader might be trying to ask you about as they work on their homework: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEIeFV4oMp4  We appreciate your support!

Reading and Writing: Last week students chose a shark or whale that they would like to research for our 3rd grade Aquarium.  This was really exciting as students were so eager to learn more about their chosen animal!  This week students will use what they have learned to write a 2 paragraph essay about their animal. They will also have a chance to go down to the STEAM Lab to work on transforming their shoe box into a diorama of their animal. The STEAM Lab has sand and many recyclables for students to use in their creations, however, if students have favorite art materials that they would like to bring to help make their animal come to life they may bring those in. Also, if you have any more shoeboxes, we would greatly appreciate them.  We are SO close to having enough for each 3rd grader! **NO fluency this week :)

Vocabulary: As we near the end of our study of the sea, we will review the vocabulary we have learned and take a Vocabulary test on Friday.  Students will bring home a study guide on Monday and you can use this to help quiz them on their words.  We will play games and review these words each day, however, we appreciate your help in developing good study skill habits by practicing at home as well.

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

Science: This week we will learn about fossils and what fossils can tell us about animals and ecosystems long ago.  Students will even do a gallery walk through real fossils and take field notes observing a fossil in the same manner as a paleontologist!

Religion:This week we will review the concept of the Circle of Grace and make a plan about what students can do if a boundary is passed.  Please help your child to identify 3 adults they can talk to if they feel unsafe.

Important Things to Note:

-Monday: Donuts in morning carpool for FIRE week (Free with FIRE pass or donations welcomed :)

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Mrs. Droege's class will visit the food pantry

-Thursday: 3rd grade will visit Shamrock Crew's Wax Museum at 2:30pm

-Friday: Wear your FIRE shirt!, Pie a Teacher, Trunk or Treat

Looking Ahead:

-October 28: Class Halloween Parties at 2:30pm

-October 29: Parent Conferences After School  

-October 30: No School-Parent Conferences

-October 31: No School-Teacher PD with the Diocese

-November 3: No School

-November 6: 3rd graders visit the Book Fair (Droege at 8:20am, Walsh at 1:15pm)

-November 7: Grandparents Mass (9:30am classrooms open, 10:30am Mass, 12:00 Dismissal)

-November 13: Grades 1-3 Music Concert at 6:30pm

Happy FIRE 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 all of your support at our first 3rd grade led mass of the year.  The students did a beautiful job of leading our school community so confidently and calmly in prayer! We are looking forward to a great week of learning ahead.  Students learned so much about sharks and it has been fun to listen to their discussions change from their initial wariness about the species to their frustration about how sharks are often misunderstood.  We look forward to diving deeper into the ocean and trying to find more about the giant squid this week!

A note from CPTA:

Book Fair is coming October 29th-November 7th.  Parent Volunteers are needed to help set up, help students during class visits, and clean up afterwards.  Click on this link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D44A9AA23A6F8C34-59355075-ste2025#/

**The Book Fair is open during both Parent Teacher Conference Days so that families can browse and shop together. 3rd graders will also have an opportunity to visit as a class.  Mrs. Droege's class will visit on Thursday, 11/6 from 8:20-8:50am.  Mrs. Walsh's class will visit on Thursday, 11/6 from 1:15-2:10pm.  

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will learn to multiply by 7 and 8.  One way to practice these facts at home is to encourage your child to skip count to familiar tunes.  Last week we learned to sing our 4's to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat and 6's to If You're Happy and You Know It.  This week we will learn to sing our 7's to London Bridges and 8's to Happy Birthday.  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.  Then, students will choose an ocean animal that they would like to research and write an informative essay about.  *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 the inherited traits of plants and observe how traits affect a plant's ability to survive in its habitat.   

Religion: This week we will continue to practice saying the rosary.  Students will illustrate rosary vocabulary, practice praying the rosary with a partner, make a book of the Joyful mysteries, and even pray the rosary together as a class in the Grotto! *If possible, please send a rosary for your child to use in class.  Thank you!!

Important Things to Note:

-Wednesday: Dress Uniform, Mom's Mass!, Children's Choir at 7:15am

-Saturday: 3rd Grade Gift Gathering Party

Looking Ahead:

-October 20: Donuts in morning carpool for FIRE week

-October 24: Wear your FIRE shirt!, 1st Quarter Assembly, Pie a Teacher, Trunk or Treat

-October 28: Class Halloween Parties at 2:30pm

-October 29: Parent Conferences After School  (More details coming soon!)

-October 30: No School-Parent Conferences

-October 31: No School-Teacher PD with the Diocese

-November 3: No School

-November 6: 3rd graders visit the Book Fair (Droege at 8:20am, Walsh at 1:15pm)

-November 7: Grandparents Mass (9:30am classrooms open, 10:30am Mass, 12:00 Dismissal)

-November 13: Grades 1-3 Music Concert at 6:30pm

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, 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, picture day, and then on Friday--Pink Day AND Chick Fil A Lunch!  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 Lisa Anderson and Gretchen Range for volunteering!  Please see a message below from them all about our Halloween parties coming soon!  Thank you so much for your support!

Hey 3rd grade parents! It’s time to plan the classroom Halloween Parties! This year's room parents are Lisa Anderson for Droege, and Gretchen Range for Walsh. Our class Halloween parties will be held on Tuesday, October 28th @ 2:30 until the end of the school day. Gretchen and I are excited to get these parties organized for the kids and teachers! We have some fun things planned but need your help. Please click the link below to sing up for items needed at the party.  Reminder all snacks must be nut free and in their original packaging. 

Thanks for your help and have a spooktacular day!

3rd Grade Halloween party!

signupgenius.com

Lisa Anderson

LAAnderson823@Gmail.com

Gretchen Range

gsrange@cmh.edu

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week starting Tuesday we will learn strategies to multiply by 3, 4, and 6.  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:

-Wednesday: Picture Day, Mrs. Droege's class leads Mass, Chat and Chew begins!, **Last day to order AND pay for Chick Fil A Lunch!! 1. Click on the link to order: https://form.jotform.com/252725563103149  2. Pay on Vanco

-Friday: Pink Day!!, Chick Fil A Lunch

Looking Ahead:

-October 15: Mom's Mass

-October 18: 3rd Grade Gift Gathering Party

-October 24: Trunk or Treat

-October 28: Class Halloween Party at 2:30pm

-October 29: Parent Conferences After School  (More details coming soon!)

-October 30: No School-Parent Conferences

-October 31: No School-Teacher PD with the Diocese

-November 3: No School

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 enjoyed such a great week together last week!  It started with a great field trip to Rockhurst University.  We prayed together in mass in their campus chapel, enjoyed so many choices in their cafeteria, and then students were able to work in small groups with a Rockhurst University student to create a project about God's gift of creation using technology in some way.  Students started on a "scavenger hunt" of God's creation in the beautiful quad of Rockhurst's campus and then moved inside to the STEAM Lab in their library to work on chromebooks to create a project together.  Some students created videos, some made posters on Canva, and others made a book online. It was so neat to witness the mentorship of the Rockhurst students sharing their faith and guide them on how to use these new programs.  We are grateful our students had this opportunity!  Then on Friday our fun continued as we spent the days celebrating Johnny Appleseed's birthday.  Students listened to read alouds, learned the Johnny Appleseed prayer, and even created apples inspired by the artist Kandinsky using oil pastels.  Such a fun week!

Before we begin another fun week together, here are a couple reminders from CPTA:

Mrs. Walsh's class is still in need of a room parent! Room parents help plan class holiday parties. Click here to sign up!

Chat and Chew Registration is due today!  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTLT4b3AucvWZrtN-w0adWlFf05QHbdn3AyVaGOqA0lQy3xg/viewform

Save the date for 3rd Grade's Oktoberfest Gift Gathering Party- Saturday, October 18- hosted by the Booth, Brooks, McLaughlin & Raya families! Contact the host families with any questions. 

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will begin learning the tricks to solve when we multiply by 0,1,2,5, and 10.  Then on Friday we will have some fun by using arrays to create Muliplication 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:  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 Saturday! 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.

Important things to note:

-Sunday (today!!): Chat and Chew Registration due!  

-Monday: Mrs. Walsh's class visits the STEAM lab during Spanish class to begin their house project

-Tuesday: Mrs. Droege's class visits the STEAM lab during Spanish class to begin their house project

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Mrs. Walsh's class helps stock the Food Pantry, Children's Choir at 7:15am, Coffee with Fr. Bob and Mr. Riley after school mass

-Friday: Spirit Day, Pet blessing in the parish garden at 3:45pm

Looking Ahead:

-October 8: Picture Day, Mrs. Droege's class leads Mass, Chat and Chew begins!

-October 10: Pink Day!!

-October 15: 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,

What a beautiful weekend! We hope that you enjoyed a wonderful weekend filled with community and fellowship! We are looking forward to a great week-starting with a field trip, filled with learning, and ending with some Johnny Appleseed Day fun!

Tomorrow's Field Trip!!  Students will wear their regular school uniform.  We will eat lunch at Rockhurst University so students do not need to bring a lunch.  However, our lunch time is quite late, so we would like to give students a snack time before we leave.  If you could please pack a healthy snack to tide your child over until lunch at 12:45pm we would greatly appreciate it.  Thank you!!!

STEAM Lab request:  Mrs. Layton is preparing a STEAM project with students to complete as a part of Spanish class. 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.  We will review for our Unit 1 Math test on Tuesday during class.  Homework on Tuesday 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 Wednesday, we will take the Unit 1 test during class.  No math homework Wednesday night :)  Starting on Thursday we will introduce multiplication by working on writing equations based on pictures of equal groups and arrays.

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.

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:

-Monday: Trash bag orders due, Field Trip to Rockhurst University! (11:40-2:45pm)  Regular school uniform, please bring a snack to eat before we leave.

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Children's choir 7:15-7:45am, Mrs. Droege's class helps deliver food to the food pantry, any donations are greatly appreciated!

-Thursday: Vision Screening 

-Friday: Happy Johnny Appleseed Day!!  (A great day to pack an apple as your child's snack :)

-Saturday: Fuel for FIRE Drive Thru Breakfast 8am-10am

-Sunday: Children's Choir sings at 10am mass

Looking Ahead:

-September 28: Chat and Chew Registration due!  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTLT4b3AucvWZrtN-w0adWlFf05QHbdn3AyVaGOqA0lQy3xg/viewform

-October 3: Spirit Day

-October 8: Picture Day, Mrs. Droege's class leads Mass, Chat and Chew begins!

-October 10: Pink Day!!

-October 15: 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 that you have found fun ways to stay cool this weekend!  Last week was such a fun week together-from adorable moments spent silent reading with their stuffed animals to creating a map of Missouri out of clay, it was great to see students' creativity shine!

This week, though short, looks to be filled with fun as well.  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:

• More Field Trip Forms:  Rockhurst University has a couple of permission forms that they sent us for you to fill out before our trip next week.  (Mrs. Walsh's class has these in their Friday folders, but since Mrs. Droege completely forgot to hand out Friday folders on Friday (yikes!) I will send them in Take Home Folders tomorrow-Monday.)  Thank you so much for your help in getting these completed and sent back to school!

• 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://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTLT4b3AucvWZrtN-w0adWlFf05QHbdn3AyVaGOqA0lQy3xg/viewform

• Children's Choir meets this Wednesday morning!  Even if you missed last week, if your child is interested in singing, they are welcome to join their friends at 7:15am in Seton Hall.

• We need you!:  Mrs. Walsh's class is in need of a room parent.  Please do not let the idea of coming up with a class gift deter you, we can figure all of those details out later.  We just want to make sure our students have some fun class parties this year and we need a parent from Mrs. Walsh's class to support this effort.  Halloween parties are next month, so don't delay-sign up and join us for the fun!

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will work to improve our confidence subtracting 3 digit numbers.  We will also learn how we can use number lines to model our subtraction thinking.  One way you can support your child this week is to ask them to subtract money. (Example: If I give you $5.00 for the concession stand and you buy a Twix for $1.42, how much change should you give back to me?)  Subtracting with zeros in the top number is really tricky because the regrouping can be confusing, but real life examples with money make students understand why learning this skill is so important. *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: No test this week due to the short week. :)

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: In honor of El Salvador's Independence day, students may bring a donation for the community in El Salvador that our parish supports and wear spirit clothes.  

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Children's choir 7:15-7:45am

-Friday: No School-Teacher Professional Development

-Friday-Saturday: See you at Smoking N Waldo! 

Looking Ahead:

-September 22: Trash bag orders due, Field trip to Rockhurst University (11:45-2:45pm)

-September 25: Vision Screening

-September 28: Chat and Chew Registration due!  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTLT4b3AucvWZrtN-w0adWlFf05QHbdn3AyVaGOqA0lQy3xg/viewform

-October 8: Picture Day, Mrs. Droege's class leads Mass, Chat and Chew begins!

-October 15: 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 the beautiful weather this weekend! Last week though short, was packed with excitement.  We finished our I-Ready testing and got to start a little work on our personalized learning path, we helped to raise $500 as a school for our Elizabethian newspaper, and we got to meet our Little Buddies for the first time in the ECC on Friday.  It was a full week and so much fun to share all this joy together!

This week also looks to be exciting!  We will celebrate National Teddy Bear Day on Tuesday and invite students to bring their favorite teddy bear or stuffy to read with during Silent Reading time.  Children's Choir also starts this week!  A flyer will go home on Monday will all of the dates and times.  The first practice is this Wednesday from 7:15-7:45am.  All 2nd-4th grade students are invited to participate.

Finally, please be sure to check your child's Friday folder. This week we sent home our first Scholastic Book Order form.  You are welcome to add your book order through Friday, 9/12.  We also sent home a field trip permission form.  This is an opportunity that Mr. Riley has coordinated for our grade to share mass, fellowship (with a free lunch!), and then work on a technology project alongside Rockhurst University students.  The theme for our time at Rockhurst will be: Seasons of Creation. We look forward to this opportunity!  

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will learn strategies to efficiently add and subtract 3 digit numbers.  On Tuesday we will start the week learning to "decompose" or break apart numbers to add the hundreds, tens, and ones separately and then write the answer as a combined sum.  While this strategy may be very different from the standard method of carrying that we learned in school, the idea is to try to teach students a couple different ways to add.  Then, after being introduced to different strategies, students can choose the strategy that makes the most sense to them.  If you have any questions about the math homework this week, please feel free to reach out!

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 Monday.  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".

Friendzy: This week we will jump into the first lesson of our social emotional curriculum, Friendzy.  Our first unit is all about the theme: Better Together. We will be using the Bible verse "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend" (Proverbs 27:17) to guide our activities and reflection.  

Important things to note:

-Tuesday: 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 (Tuesday only, please).

-Wednesday: Dress uniform, Children's choir 7:15-7:45am

Looking Ahead:

-September 19: No School-Teacher Professional Development

-September 19-20: Smoking N Waldo!

-September 22: Trash bag orders due, Field trip to Rockhurst University (11:45-2:45pm)

-September 25: Vision Screening

-October 8: Picture Day, Mrs. Droege's class leads 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,

Happy Labor Day! We hope that you have enjoyed relaxing as a family! 

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!!

This week in 3rd grade...

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 Tuesday students homework will be a rounding game to play with an adult.  We hope this is a fun introduction to the skill.

Reading and Writing: On Tuesday and Wednesday we will take the I-Ready Diagnostic Test for Reading.  Like the math test last week, this is an adaptive test taken on the computer. 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:  We will continue to work on our sentence editing skills and have some fun with creative writing.

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 Tuesday.  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 discuss how God has called each of us by name.  Talking with your child about why you chose that name for them would be a great connection to our class discussions.

Social Emotional Learning: This week we will continue to develop our growth mindset habits by reading the book The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes By: Gary Rubenstein and playing a game to practice ways to respond in frustrating situations.

Important things to note:

-Wednesday: Dress uniform. Mrs. Walsh's class will help to shelve food in our Parish Food Pantry. We will bring the parish donations as well as any food we can bring in as a class.  Thank you so much for your generosity!!! 

-Friday: Fundraiser for our school newspaper!!  Bring in any amount of donation to support the increased cost of our school newspaper and you can wear Spirit Wear or your favorite Chief's shirt. Popcorn for FIRE at dismissal. Today we also get to meet our Little Buddies for the 1st time!!

Looking Ahead:

-September 7: Farewell to Ms. Susie after the 10am mass

-September 19: No School-Teacher Professional Development

-September 19-20: Smoking N Waldo!

-September 25: Vision Screening

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 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 so great to see student's joy as they worked together to save Fred, pass a hula hoop, and build cup pyramids!   

This week in 3rd grade...

Math: This week we will review math facts and place value.  Students will begin working on a computer program called Reflex to gain more confidence on their math facts.  It is a game based program, so we think it will help to motivate students to keep practicing those facts!  On Wednesday we will have some fun by using what we know about place value to solve an Escape Room! On Thursday and Friday we will take the I-Ready Beginning of the Year Math Diagnostic Test.  Students will work to answer questions on the computer for about 30 minutes both days.  The data we receive from this testing will allow us to better meet student learning needs. Students will have 1 page of math 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

• Mrs. Droege's class volunteers at the STE food pantry. Please bring a reusable shopping bag as well as any food you wish to donate.  The food pantry could really use our help as many of it's shelves are empty.

• Back to School Night at 6pm in the Church.  After Mr. Riley's presentation in Seton Hall we will meet in our 3rd grade classroom to discuss 3rd grade routines and have a chance to answer any questions you may have.  We hope to see you there!

Looking Ahead:

-September 1: No School-Labor Day!

-September 5: Spirit Day with donation to help pay for our school newspaper, Popcorn for FIRE at dismissal

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 a new year of learning.  I am really looking forward to a great year of learning!

Each week I 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 me 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 18: Last day of summer--enjoy!!

Tuesday, August 19th

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 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 4-8 so you can reuse it from year to year.

Wednesday, August 20th

Mass Day!  **Please dress in mass uniform.** All our welcome to join us in prayer!  

Thursday, August 21st

Normal uniform and schedule

Friday, August 22nd

Legacy Hat Day!   Popsicles for FIRE distributed at dismissal (Free for students with FIRE Pass or donations to FIRE accepted)

*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 2:15pm 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 27th: 6-8pm Back to School Night for Parents of all grades (meet in church, then we will meet in our classroom)

-September 1: No School, Labor Day 

Happy 1st Week of School!

Cara Droege and Gretchen Walsh