Mythology Plays

           The talented students of 4A will be performing three Reader’s Theater plays on Thursday, May 24, and we would love to have you join our audience. These performances will begin at 2:30pm in the Community Room (next to District Office). Students will share information they learned about Greek mythology before performing Theseus and the Minotaur, Medusa and Athena, and King Midas.

Students are encouraged to bring sheets or long pieces of cloth to wear as costume togas.

South Park City

Our classroom has been transformed into a small city to allow students to explore economy and civics in a meaningful way. Check out our 4A Student Updates for more information.

Mythology Performances

To wrap up our Greek mythology studies, students will be performing three classic myths: Theseus and the Minotaur, Athena and Medusa, and King Midas. Any parents who are available would be welcome audience members on Thursday, May 24 at 2:30 in the Community Room (by the district office and the bus loop).

Book Reviews

For the next month, we will be working on an author study of Chris Van Allsburg and writing book reviews. Check out some of the reviews written by students on this site.

http://www.spaghettibookclub.org/

Reading Challenge

We did it! Students at West Grand met their goal for the Spring Reading Challenge. To celebrate, the elementary school will have a pajama day on Tuesday, May 8. As students choose their pajamas, please keep in mind we will still participate in recess and specials.

Students have also been invited to a special karaoke performance by Mrs. Kelly Martin. Mrs. Martin will sing a song recommended by students (we're hoping for a Justin Bieber song) at an assembly on pajama Tuesday at 3:00.

Denver Field Trip

A brilliant pink permission slip was sent home on Thursday. This slip has information about our plans for the day and dress and food requirements. Please read over the information, and send a signed permission slip back to school on Monday or Tuesday.
Thanks!

Music & Free Dress Day- Tuesday, April 24

We’ve done it again! Students have earned a whole jar of marbles for their positive behavior. To celebrate, students have chosen to have a music day when they can bring in their own music to listen to and a free dress day where they can wear whatever they want as long as the outfit is not distracting to them or others. Please keep in mind that music and clothing must be appropriate for school (and weather).

Planet Research

Click on the Science Resources page to find links to useful websites for your planet research. Don't forget to cite your source!

Reading & Rec Center

Thank you for encouraging your kids to read as we participate in our Reading Challenge. Reading slips will be available in the classroom or at the office. To celebrate reading, West Grand Elementary School will be hosting a Family Literacy Night on Tuesday, April 17. We will begin at 5:00pm in the library and end at 7:00pm. Any student who participates will receive double minutes for the reading challenge. The Scholastic Book Fair will also be open on that night. Come and celebrate reading with us!

Students who earned 22 or more CSAP/TCAP tickets will be going to the Fraser Rec Center on April 18. Please watch the Buckaroo News for additional information.

April Newsletter & Homework Calendar

Book Talk: Ancient Pompeii

Check out more information about Pompeii and the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius: Ancient Pompeii

Book Talk: Titanic

Here are some links to explore and learn about the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

National Geographic Explorer: Titanic
RMS Titanic Photos
Titanic Timeline
KidsKonnect: Titanic

Grammaropolis

Here is a link for Grammaropolis. There is also a link on our Word Study page.

Louisiana Purchase

Explore the Louisiana Territory with Lewis and Clark!

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/west/

Natural Phenomena

Click on the links below to help you research for your myth.

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~hmwkhelp/hwh_natdis.htm
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/

March Parent Letter & HW Calendar

Book Talk Extensions

Today, Maya gave two book talks that sparked some conversation and interest in more background information. The books she read were Live Free or Die which was a biography of Harriet Tubman and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas which was a story of a young German boy and a Jewish boy who lived in a Nazi prison camp. Below are several links to explore these topics a bit further. I will try to add more as I find them.

The Underground Railroad
The Holocaust
Children of the Holocaust
KidsConnect: The Holocaust

Conference Schedule

Tuperware Fundraiser for Mrs. Nanda

I wanted to remind everyone about the fundraiser the elementary school is doing to help Mrs. Nanda and her family pay for medical expenses. We are selling Tuperware, and 40% of the item cost will be donated to Mrs. Nanda's. Anyone can order online; students/parents do not need to handle any money. They just need to spread the word and pass on the website link. The link is posted below. Please take a few minutes to support Mrs. Nanda.

http://order.tupperware.com/pls/htprod_www/home

February Newsletter & Homework Calendar

Ancient Greek Olympics

As we draw nearer to our Olympic Opening Ceremonies (both in Kremmling and in London), take a few minutes to learn about the history of the Olympic Games.

BBB Primary History: The Olympic Games
Ancient Olympic Athletes
The Ancient Olympic Games
Official Olympic Site

Spirit Day!

On Wednesday, the K-8 students and staff will have the opportunity to show off the colors of their favorite sports team. Students may wear jerseys or shirt representing a favorite team of any sport, or they may wear team's colors if, like me whose favorite sport is swimming, a jersey is not available. :)

Also, on Tuesday, February 6, the elementary school will be hosting the opening ceremonies for our 2012 Winter Olympics. Our class will be representing Greece whose flag is blue and white. Please encourage your child to wear a blue or white shirt that day to add to our unified appearance.

Study Hall

Remember that our Study Hall time has been switched to Mondays after school. See you there!

Fraction Fiesta!

After weeks of hard work, we are wrapping up our fraction unit in math. To celebrate (and do more fraction work), our class will be having a fraction fiesta. We have several hands-on activities to reinforce what we have learned about fractions. Because fourth graders love to eat, students asked if we could have food. My one requirement was that the food must be fraction friendly. If you would like to send some fruit snacks, M&Ms, or  a pan of breakfast bars (our fiesta will be at 8:10), please let me know by Monday or Tuesday so I can plan some food related fraction activities. Thanks!

Upcoming Event

West Grand is sponsoring a dinner and presentation on February 8 for parents of 4th and 5th grade students. Dinner is at 5:30 in the Community Room, and the presentation begins at 6:30. The presentation gives parents information on raising adolescent children and offers support as interactions between you and your child begin to change. Please contact our school counselor, Jantrey Miller, for more information.

Online Library

A fantastic new website has come across my computer screen. We Give Books provides an online library for students and also donates one book to different literacy foundations for every book that is read online. Click here for more information. I have created a class account so students can help give books to kids who need them. Our username is Ainslie4, and our password is buckaroo. Students may browse all books or check out some of the nonfiction books I've added to our library. Please continue to add your favorite books to our library so others can find them as well.

Happy reading!

Study Hall & Report Cards

Our Study Hall has been moved to Monday afternoons from 4:00-4:45. Fifth grade Study Hall has also been rescheduled for Monday afternoon so that siblings are staying after school on the same nights.

Report cards have been printed off and are ready to go home. I would like to wait to send them home until next week. Students are taking MAPs tests next week, and I would like to attach their updated scores to their report card. If you would like me to send a copy of your child's report card home this before next Thursday, please let me know, and I'll take care of it.

Technical Difficults, Study Hall, & Mrs. Nanda

Technology is wonderful...when it works. My computer was having a bad day, and I was not able to print off spelling and vocabulary homework while the kids were in school. However, both are now printed. We will be one day behind on vocabulary this week, and I told the students to choose their own way to practice their spelling tonight.

We will not have Study Hall tomorrow after school. I have a staff meeting. We typically have staff meetings on Wednesdays, but Mrs. Martin will be gone on Wednesdays helping to care for her sister, Mrs. Nanda, while she continues to recover. As soon as we have our staff meetings rescheduled, I will send out an announcement about Study Hall.

The kids did get an update about Mrs. Nanda from Mrs. Martin today. Kimberlee is continuing to make growth with her speech and physical therapies. She was able to leave the hospital for a couple hours on Christmas to open presents with her family. Music classes will be taught by Kathy Yost this semester.

January Newsletter & Homework Calendar