Hello parents!

The first blog post of the year is finally up! I’m excited and looking forward to meeting your children on Thursday! It is my great pleasure to be a part of their growth and my prayer that we all would model the theme verse for this year: “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

There is lots to know about grade three and four! Please take some time to read the following information about the teachers, the agenda, homework, the behavior system, and the schedule, so that you are familiar with the ins and outs of classroom expectations. It’s long, but I promise it’s worth the read. Please take note that there is some information at the end about our first big event: The GCS Carnival.

The Teachers

As the lead grade 3/4 teacher, I will be responsible for teaching your child Math, Language, Reading, Spelling, Social Studies, and Art.  Mrs. Arthurs is our fabulous classroom EA. Your child will be blessed to have multiple teachers throughout the week for various content areas:

  • Bible: Mrs. McGonnell
  • Music: Mrs. Wilting
  • French & Gym: Mrs. Laird
  • Science: Mrs. MacNeill

The Agenda

The agenda is an important tool we use to communicate between home and school. Forms that need to go home can be found in the agenda pocket. Forms and envelopes with money that need to come in to school should likewise be kept in the agenda pocket. Each day, students will write their homework on the day’s date with a box for placing a check in once they have completed each homework task. Students will also write their behavior level (see below) on the bottom line of the agenda every day. Each day, parents (not the caretakers in the afterschool program) need to sign the agenda.

Homework

As mentioned before, most homework tasks will be written in the agenda. Students can check off the items in their agenda once they have completed them.

Math is often completed in school. However, the students will write down the assigned pages in their agenda and, if they are not completed during class time, then they will have to be done at home. Any math corrections should be completed as well. Those are the questions that have been circled. The teachers will try to have everyone’s math book corrected by the end of the day.

Language is done in class. Grade three students should be able to completely finish their Language page in the time allotted. Grade four will likely have Language work to be completed at home.

Reading homework should be done every night. Students are expected to read at least fifteen minutes a night, once to themselves and once to a parent. It is important that they read out loud to someone to aid fluency and comprehension.

Both grade three and four students have nightly spelling homework, which they do not write down in the agenda. Students are expected to study/write out the spelling list at home every evening. I have included different ways to study with every list if you wish to vary this task. In addition, students will have a sentence writing activity on Wednesday which they will complete at home if they do not do so in class. This, however, will be recorded in the agenda as it is not a nightly occurrence.

Writing assignments are sometimes given. Often these will be started in class, but need to be completed at home. It is especially important that rough copies of writing are passed in on the due date as we take time to edit them in class.

**Please sign your child’s agenda each night when homework is complete.**

Missing Homework

It is important that homework is complete so that students do not fall behind. If a student does not have homework complete, he or she will have to stay in at recess time to complete the work. Even if the work gets done earlier in the day, the student will still stay in and have to sit silently at his or her desk for the whole duration of recess. The next time homework is not complete, I will make a phone call or send an email to parents. If the problem persists, a meeting with parents will be arranged.

If there is a legitimate excuse for homework not being completed, then please write a note in the agenda or write an email and let me know. Students will not, of course, be held accountable for missing work due to factors beyond their control.

Behavior Levels and System of Consequences

This year, we have a very firm behavior system that we will be following to that will make our classroom run smoothly and fairly. Below is how the system works.

Time Chart

  • This chart is used for transitions from one activity to another.
  • Students gain time for recess when they calmly and correctly complete a transition within the posted amount of time.
  • Students lose time off of recess when they do not complete a transition within the posted amount of time.
  • If students complete the transition within the time limit, but do not do it calmly and correctly, they will lose one minute.
  • Extra time for recess will take place when the teacher decides.

Level Up, Level Down Chart

  • This chart is used for recording whether or not students are following procedures correctly and meeting expectations. Parents can know their child’s behavior as students record their behavior level in their agenda every day. This chart is also used as a reward system.
  • There are seven levels on the chart with different consequences:
    • Super Student (if this level is reached, students get one star on their name; five stars equals a prize from the prize box)
    • Great Job
    • Good Choices
    • Ready to Learn (every student starts here every day)
    • Think About It (this means that two rule cards have been earned and two minutes of recess were lost)
    • Teacher’s Choice (this means that four cards have been earned and four minutes of recess have been lost; if a student reaches this level, he/she must fill out a Think Sheet during recess or afterschool and have it signed by parents)
    • Parent Contact (this means that six rule cards have been earned and six minutes of recess have been lost; if a student reaches this level, he/she and the teacher make a phone call home immediately; the student must explain behavior and what he/she is going to do to change)
  • Students will level up once if they have NO CARDS in their name slot by first recess, again by lunch recess, and again at the end of the day.
  • At the end of the day students will write down what level they ended on in their agenda on the bottom line of that day’s date.
  • If a behavior is severe enough, parents will be contacted immediately.

Rule Cards

  • These are the everyday rules for the class:
    1. Raise your hand for permission to speak.
    2. Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat.
    3. Follow directions quickly.
    4. Make smart choices.
  • Each rule card has the number of the rule printed on it.
  • If a student breaks a rule, then the card with that number will go in the chart with his/her name. The student will stay in for one minute of the following recess for every card earned.
  • The cards go back in the card slot after the student has stayed in.
  • If a student has two cards at a time, then he/she also levels down on the behavior chart.
  • If a student earns another two cards, he/she levels down again.
  • “Make smart choices” includes following the procedures correctly.

Our Schedule

As you can see below, we have a very intense schedule in grade three and four! The main things you need to know are as follows:

  • Gym is on Tuesday and Friday. Students should be prepared with their running shoes and, if they wish, a change of clothes.
  • Music is on Monday and Wednesday. Students may be given a recorder later in the year and they must bring them to class on those days.
  • Library is on Tuesday morning and, as such, we ask that library books be returned on the Monday beforehand.
  • ESL is every day from 11:15-11:45.

Monday

TIME SUBJECT
9:00-9:05 Morning Routine
9:05-9:30 Math 3
9:30-10:00 Math 4
10:00-10:20 Language 3
10:20-10:45 Bathroom/Snack/Recess
10:45-10:50 Penmanship 3
10:50-11:15 Language 4/ESL
11:15-12:15 Reading/ESL (and Spelling)
12:15-12:55 Recess/Lunch/Bathroom
12:55-1:25 Bible
1:25-1:55 Music
2:00-2:30 Science
2:30-3:00 Social Studies
3:00 Dismissal

 

Tuesday

TIME SUBJECT
9:00-9:05 Morning Routine
9:05-9:30 Math 3/Library 4
9:30-10:00 Math 4/Library 3
10:00-10:20 Language 3
10:20-10:45 Bathroom/Snack/Recess
10:45-10:50 Penmanship 3
10:50-11:15 Language 4
11:15-11:45 Reading 3/ESL
11:45-12:15 French/ESL
12:15-12:55 Recess/Lunch/Bathroom
12:55-1:25 Reading 4
1:25-1:55 Gym
2:00-2:30 Bible
2:30-3:00 Computer/Spelling
3:00 Dismissal

 

Wednesday

TIME SUBJECT
9:00-9:05 Prepare for Chapel
9:05-9:45 Chapel
9:45-10:00 Spelling
10:00-10:20 Math 4
10:20-10:45 Bathroom/Snack/Recess
10:45-11:15 Math 3
11:15-11:45 Language 4/ESL
11:45-12:15 Language 3/ESL
12:15-12:55 Recess/Lunch/Bathroom
12:55-1:25 Bible
1:25-1:55 Music
2:00-2:30 Reading
2:30-3:00 Mandarin
3:00 Dismissal

 

Thursday

TIME SUBJECT
9:00-9:05 Morning Routine
9:05-9:35 Bible
9:35-10:00 Math 3
10:00-10:20 Math 4
10:20-10:45 Bathroom/Snack/Recess
10:45-10:50 Penmanship 3
10:50-11:15 Language 4/ESL
11:15-12:15 Reading/ESL
12:15-12:55 Recess/Lunch/Bathroom
12:55-1:25 Language 3
1:25-1:55 Computer/Spelling
2:00-3:00 Science
3:00 Dismissal

 

Friday

TIME SUBJECT
9:00-9:05 Morning Routine
9:05-9:30 Math 3
9:30-10:00 Math 4
10:00-10:20 Language 3
10:20-10:45 Bathroom/Snack/Recess
10:45-10:50 Penmanship 3
10:50-11:15 Language 4
11:15-11:45 French/ESL
11:45-12:15 Spelling Test/ESL
12:15-12:55 Recess/Lunch/Bathroom
12:55-1:55 Gym
2:00-3:00 Art
3:00 Dismissal

 

Snack and Lunch

Nutrition is very important for growing minds! Please pack a healthy snack for your child to eat.

Also, due to our tight schedule, there is not very much time for lunch. We have a class microwave, but students may only heat items for 30 seconds at a time. As such, please do not send lunches that require multiple minutes of cooking in the microwave. If you do, there is no guarantee that your child will have time to heat it and eat it. You can always pre-heat a lunch at home and pack it in a Thermos to keep it warm.

Milk Orders & School Lunch Program

We are pleased to offer the milk program again this year! Beginning next week (Sept. 13th), students will have the option of ordering either white or chocolate milk.  Orders must be placed a week in advance, with white milk costing $.50 (NOTE THE CHANGE IN PRICE) and chocolate milk costing $.75. You may wish to pay for your child’s milk on a weekly basis or pay in advance, a month or two at a time.  Milk ordered on Sept. 13th will be delivered to the students the following week (Sept. 18-22).

Because of our excellent volunteers, we are extremely blessed to have a School Lunch Program. Students may order food selections from various restaurants (soon to be announced) for their lunches. Also, every second Friday, Mrs. Barrett will be selling hot dogs to raise funds for special service missions.

For both milk orders and school lunch orders, we ask that you send money in a sealed envelope. On the envelope, please write the following:

  • Name of the student
  • The amount in the envelope
  • The purpose of the money

Sending in money this way helps the teachers keep orders organized.  In an effort to keep our morning routine running smoothly, we will be collecting money for both milk and lunches only on Wednesday morning

GCS School Spirit T-shirt Orders

GCS students and families will have the opportunity to purchase GCS Spirit T-shirts on Thursday and Friday after school from 3:00-3:30 pm in Room 202. While purchasing these t-shirts is completely optional, students will be asked to wear GCS t-shirts when competing in Track & Field, Cross Country, and other school-wide events. T-shirts are $15.00 each.  Cash or cheque accepted.

More GCS Apparel & Online Store

Visit our online GCS Clothing store to get all of your school and athletic apparel. Show your school spirit with high quality shirts, jackets, hoodies, and more. Shipping is free and most clothing is custom designed by you! Check it out: http://gracecs.entripyshops.com/ 

GCS Family Carnival

All GCS students and their families are invited to the school grounds on Wednesday, September 13th, from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM, to kick off a new school year.  Grab a snack from our canteen area and try your hand a numerous carnival games. We can promise you that there will be fun for all ages- yes, even you too, Mom & Dad!

Admission to the carnival is free, however snacks can be purchased for $1.00 each (Hotdogs, Hamburgers, Cotton Candy, Snowcones Popcorn, Water).

Families are also encouraged to wear their GCS apparel to demonstrate their school spirit. Each family member wearing GCS apparel can enter their name into a draw for a fantastic prize!

This Here Blog

It is my full intention to update the classroom blog regularly on Friday. Additional information may be added throughout the week. If you have not yet done so, be sure to follow the blog so that you will receive email notifications when an update is made.

Contact

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. My email address is mbouter@gcspei.ca.

That is all!

Faith ~ Virtue ~ Knowledge

Mrs. Bouter