Memorable Week

Dear Grade 4 Famlies:

It was a short and busy week in Grade 4! Thank you for promptly returning the museum permission forms and paying the fee online. A second letter went home regarding our upcoming bowling trip on June 7th. Kindly return the permission form and make your online payment by May 31st. Thank you so much!

Weekly Highlights:

Students~

• started a new unit in math on multiplying and dividing larger numbers. The class worked on estimating products and was introduced to 2-digit by 1-digit multiplication by using models. We used grids to model the numbers and then multiplied the tens, the ones, and then added to find the final product. Next week we will work on other multiplication strategies that are different from the traditional methods you may know. For a preview, please click here: Three Strategies for Multiplying
• completed their Friends of the Blue Planet speaking presentations. The students continue to improve their oral speaking and presentation skills.
• started their final writing project. The students are writing personal narratives, following a step-by-step process. Ask your child to tell you about the work they have done thus far.
• learned about the properties of minerals, specifically transparency in science this week.
• responded to fiction and non-fiction reading passages in print and in Google Classroom. They read about a Canadian doctor and a mischievous fictional character, too.
• spent some time in the sun using the sidewalk as an earned reward. The class enjoyed writing positive and inspirational messages to wrap up our school week.

Coming Up:

• Monday, May 27 - Library books due
• Tuesday, May 28 - Sp. Test; Fire Safety Presentation 
• Thursday, May 30 - EYES Magnetic Motors workshop
• Friday, May 31 - Bowling trip permission/fee due

Please let me know if your child is going to be away from school. Several assessments will be taking place over the next month in preparation for report cards and the end of the school year. Thank you for your help and cooperation.

Have a nice weekend.

Maria Aiginitis

Election Day

It was a close tie for third place but the Blue Berry Party won the class elections! Their vision and policies for a better tomorrow were supported by voters! Be sure to ask your child for more information about our half-day workshop with Diefenbaker Canada on governance and elections in Saskatchewan!

We are starting a new math unit on Multiplying and Dividing Larger Numbers next week. The unit will move rather quickly so it is important for students to return homework promptly and to review their lessons at home. Also, the children should be practicing their multiplication facts for automatic recall. It will benefit their skills and learning immensely. The final two units before the end of the year will be on Geometry and Data Management. Your help with our future mathematicians has been greatly appreciated! 

Weekly Highlights:

Students ~

• learned about fossilization and magnetism in rocks and minerals in science.
• participated in a half-day workshop on government in Saskatchewan, and learned about elections, party platforms, and policy-making.
• completed our math unit on fractions and decimals and wrote the final test.
• learned about waste management through literacy activities and inquiry learning.
• responded to reading about Earth conservation by writing letters and presenting their work to the class. We will continue with the speaking presentations on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
• attended Arts Education and Phys. Education classes with their corresponding teachers.

Coming Up:

• Monday, May 20 - Victoria Day (School Holiday)
• Tuesday, May 21 - Sp. Test; Letter for upcoming trip to the museum sent home
• Friday, May 24 - Trip permission and online fee due

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Aiginitis

Blue Berry Party Wins the Election!

Sweet Week

Students had a busy week at school. Although the weather started out a bit rainy, we wrapped up the week by enjoying a sweet treat in front of our amazing school!

Next week, the class is scheduled for a special program sponsored by Diefenbaker Canada through the University of Saskatchewan. During this program, the students will learn more about the government system in Saskatchewan. This important workshop will take place on May 14th in the afternoon and students need to be present to benefit from the learning that will take place (ie. mock election). 

Weekly Highlights:

Students~

• completed their fractions quiz in math and continued learning about tenths and hundredths as decimals, as well as equivalent decimals. On Friday, the class focused on adding tenths to decimals. We will work on adding and subtracting decimals to hundredths next week and finish the unit before the test on Friday, May 17th. The Show What You Know that was sent home is a great way to help your child review for the test. It can also be found in the Pearson etext online at the end of Unit 5. 
• continued learning about ways to protect the earth and conservation efforts such as limiting water and light use, as well as limiting the use of plastic in our everyday lives (ie. reusable bags).
• planted little seeds and created special drawings.
• completed their Healthy Meal Plates (they will be presenting them to the class next week).
• are learning more about effective speaking and larger group presentation skills. The areas of speaking we will be working on include volume and expression, eye contact, non-verbal gestures and facial expression, and lastly vocabulary and pronunciation. Feel free to provide opportunities for practice at home for your child.
• are almost finished with their reading and response activities about four different kinds of fossils in science including trace fossils, mould fossils, cast fossils, and petrified fossils. We will take up this work next week.
• learned more about the importance of Elders and Band Councils as they relate to the elected forms of government of Indigenous Nations in Canada.

Coming Up:

May 10 - PD (no school day for students)

May 13 - Sp. Test

May 14 - Diefenbaker Canada Government Workshop (PM)

May 17 - Fractions and Decimals Final Quiz

Have a wonderful weekend.

Mrs. Aiginitis

April Showers Bring May...Fraction Flowers!

It is hard to believe it is already May. The class wrapped up the first part of fractions, participated in a first-aid workshop and enjoyed working with their Buddies. Keep reading to find out more.

Math Quizzes

Next week, the class will be having a math quiz on the first part of Unit 5. The "Show What You Know" was sent home to help students study (along with the answer key for parents). Please note that the second half of the SWYK review assignment pertains to the last portion of our math unit on fractions with decimals. Students do not need to return the review back to school. The quiz dates are May 8 (fractions) and May 17 (fractions with decimals). 

Also, it is not too early for students to start reviewing their multiplication and division facts in preparation for our next unit on Multiplying and Dividing Larger Numbers!

First Aid - AED

Weekly Highlights:

Students~

• worked on relating fractional parts to different wholes/sets, compared and ordered unit fractions, and explored tenths as decimals in math.
• participated in an Introduction to First Aid workshop. Thank you for your donations!
• are just about finished with their healthy meals/plates and written descriptions.
• started learning about Elders and leadership qualities in social studies.
• learned about ways to make a difference for a healthier planet through literacy activities.
• completed activities to learn more about fossils in science.
• developed their reading fluency through 'read-to-self' and 'read-to-someone' activities.
• worked in a leadership role to help their Kindergarten Buddies learn more about dinosaurs.
• participated in Phys. Ed., Arts Ed., and French classes with their corresponding teachers.

Coming Up:

• Sat., May 4 - Wok Box Special Lunch Orders due
• May 6 - Return Unit 4 math test (if you haven't already)
• May 8 - Fractions Quiz
• May 9 - Special Lunch
• May 10 - PD (no school day for students)

Have a nice weekend.

Mrs. Aiginitis