News

Science Camp is such a fabulous experience for our students.  The enthusiastic staff and knowledgable naturalists impart a great appreciation for nature and our place in it.  The program builds self-confidence and respect.  It is creative and great fun.  JFS students attend camp as part of their fifth grade education.  I enjoyed being able to join them this year.

Our field trip to San Juan Bautista Mission is scheduled for February 15.  The information in last week’s bulletin about the trip was in error.

This week, in Language Arts, we’re learning about fact and opinion.  There are a lot of facts in this week’s selection Writing on the Wall. This article is about teens who are restoring a huge mural called The Great Wall of Los Angeles.  Judy Baca began painting mural in 1974. We will evaluate the article.  The companion piece is Food for Thought.  The vocabulary words for the main selection are:  community, linked, restore, calculates, and donors.  This week’s spelling words focus on words with the sound of u.  The spelling test and the weekly assessment and selection assessments will be given on Friday.

In Math, we will continue with a study of coordinate geometry with Chapter 21.  There will be a test on this chapter on Friday.  Should students need extra graph paper, they can print it out from these sites - Waterproofpaper.com or Teaching Tools

We will continue with Chapter 3 in Social Studies.  This week we will learn about missions, presidios, and settlements.

We will finish up Chapter 6 in Science.  The test is planned for Wednesday.  Please refer to the study guide for this chapter.

Science Fair packets will be sent home soon on Monday.  All fourth grade students will participate.  Projects must be related to the fourth grade curriculum and approved before students begin.  The science book is a great resource for ideas.  Please refer to the Science Fair Guidelines for important information, dates, and resources.  There is a form in the Science Fair packet that students should use for their proposals.  They may use additional paper if needed to clearly explain what they plan to do.  Proposals are due next week on Monday.

I have also put up a list of students’ names for Valentine’s Day.  We will have a little treat that day and the children will be able to pass out Valentines.  Please do not send candy though.  I’ve put up a treat blog if you’d like to volunteer to provide something for the treat.  You may leave a comment on the blog or email me and I’ll add it.