Third Week of School 

(September 8-12, 2025)

Hello Fourth & Fifth Grade Families!

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend Back to School Night on Thursday night!  I hope the information that I shared with you helped to better understand what your children will be learning in my classes this year and my expectations.  If you were unable to attend and have not received the presentation shared, please email me to let me know to send a copy home with your child this week.  Once you review the presentation, please feel free to email me if you have any questions.

We had a great week of learning last week as we dove into our math and science curriculums.  The students did well continuing to follow my classroom rules and procedures.  We have another exciting week of learning ahead of us along with our first quiz in math and science.  Please read the information below carefully as it will assist in helping your child prepare for the quizzes this week.

I wanted to remind everyone that students should be bringing their planners home with them everyday with their homework assignments written in them along with any school event reminders.  Please be sure to check your child's planner daily to make sure the homework assignments are completed and turned in on time.  Completing homework assignments on-time is a part of students grades in math and science.  Another reminder for all that this Thursday, September 11th is our SJA Freedom Ceremony on campus at 10 am.  On Thursday students are to wear their PE shorts, patriotic shirt and tennis shoes.  If your child does not wear a patriotic shirt they should wear their PE shirts.  Students may also add red, white, and blue accessories for the event.  

Here are topics we will be focusing on in class this week:

5th Grade Math- We will begin this week working with decimals.  We will review how to read and write decimals before learning how to write decimals in expanded form.  Students will take their first math quiz on Wednesday (9/10).  This quiz will be on the first 5 lessons in Chapter 1-working numbers through the billions, writing numbers and decimals in multiple forms, and powers of ten.  Students have completed assignments in their HW workbook on these lessons and will be able to bring home their math notebook to review vocabulary learned thus far.  The back section of students math notebook is the vocabulary section.   The later part of our week, students will compare and order numbers and round whole numbers, decimals, and money.

5th Grade Science- Students were able to complete their first investigation in their Microscopic Exploration Unit.  In Investigation 1, students will learned about the effects of convex and concave lenses and learned/reviewed the parts of the compound microscope.  Students will take a quiz on Investigation 1-Learning About Lenses on Tuesday (9/9).  In preparation for the quiz, students were encouraged to highlight or note the important information from their LabLearner notes to study.

5th Grade Religion- This week we will continue working on our first unit is titled "The Sacraments: God's Gifts of Life".  On Monday (9/8) students will review what they learned in Ch. 1-God's Wonderful Creation.  Students will take their Ch. 1 Test on Tuesday (9/9).  Students will be able to use their notes and highlights that were made while completing lessons in Chapter 1 to complete the test.  On Friday (9/12), we will begin Chapter 2-The Seven Sacraments.  In this chapter we will review and discuss the seven sacraments, their purpose, and the order in which they are made.  In completing the lessons, students will understand that through the seven sacraments of the Church we celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ and receive sanctifying grace.  When time allows, students will also continue to work on their Saint of the Month project.  This is a monthly project that will be completed in their Religion Google Classroom and submitted for grading by the end of every month.

4th Grade Math-  This week we will continue our Chapter 1- Place Value.  We will start the week on a lesson on estimation of multi-digit numbers and review topics from lessons 1-5 in Chapter 1.  Students will take their first math quiz on Wednesday (9/10).  Students have completed assignments in their HW workbook on these lessons and will be able to bring home their math notebook to review vocabulary learned thus far.  The back section of students math notebook is the vocabulary section.  Later in the week, students will work on comparing and ordering multi-digit numbers and working on number sense using a number line.

4th Grade Science-  We have completed our lab work in our first investigation in our first unit in Lab Learners-Human Body.   In Investigation 1, students will learned about the nervous system.  Through their investigation they learned that the three main parts of the nervous system is the brain, nerves, and spinal cord.  Students will take their Investigation 1 Quiz on Tuesday (9/9).  In preparation for the quiz, we will review as a class and students will be encouraged to highlight or note the important information from their LabLearner notes to study.  Later in the week, we will begin Investigation 2- Skeletal & Muscular System.  In this investigation, students will learn how the bones and muscles on our body work together to help our bodies move.

Notes: 

• Please send a reusable, refillable water bottle to school with your child.

• Please send in a morning snack in your child's lunchbox daily.

• Please make sure that your child's Summer Work has been turned in for credit.

• Please make sure that your child has brought in a "travel bag" to carry their supplies to ELA/SS or Math/Science.

• Please be certain you are adhering to the uniform policy. With Dress Uniforms, students should be wearing the tan buck shoes and white or navy blue socks that cover their ankles.

SJA Late Work Policy

Students are responsible for all assignments, projects, and homework according to the standards and due dates assigned by the teacher. Any late work turned in after the assigned date will result in a five percent (5%) grade reduction for each day not turned into the teacher. The grade will be five percent (5%) off of what the student earned. A student has a total of six (6) maximum class periods to turn in late assignments. After day six a student will receive an automatic 50%.

If a student is absent from school, they will have the number of days absent to make up the work. This means if a student is out for four (4) days they will have four (4) days to make up and turn in all work to their teacher.