Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

It may be New Years Eve, but I love Christmas. I hope that all of you had a blessed Christmas spent with all of your loved ones. My husband and myself had a nice Christmas and spent it a little differently and with a different view on life. I would like to take the opportunity to thank you all of you for your kind words in your Christmas cards and for all of the thoughtful gifts.

As the New Years festivities are quickly approaching, I have much to be thankful for this year and one of them is being your child's Grade 4 teacher. To help celebrate, here are some of the pictures we have taken the past four months. Enjoy!

  September 2013 ~ Habitat Field Study

October 2013 ~ Cross Country

 November 2013 ~ Working Collaboratively during Math

December 2013 ~ Putting Together their Human Bodies and the Associated Organs

Christmas Craft Fun

Our Christmas Potluck ~ Yummy!

Not sure how I forgot to take a picture of the dessert table. 

Thank you again, for signing up for our Christmas Potluck.

 Merry Christmas and wishing all of your families good health, love and happiness for 2014! From Mrs. Dwyer's Fourth Grade Friends

A Fabulous Four Update

Assessment folders
Assessment folders went home on Friday. Please review them and have them signed and returned by today, Tuesday, December 16, 2013. I would love to send home a couple more assessment pieces before the Christmas holidays and can only do so, if folders are returned.

Canned Food
I know it is the last week of school and you are all busy wrapping, shopping and maybe even baking. Things I am doing myself. I am currently counting down to Christmas and one of the things on my list is to make a trip to the Food Bank, with donations I have from home. I wanted to extend this to our class. Only if you have a minute to look in your pantry, it would be very much appreciated if you could spare a can of soup or box of cereal to add to my Food Bank gift box. Many thanks in advance.

Week of Joy

I can't believe it is already Christmas week at St. Catherine of Siena. We have a busy and fun week ahead of us.

Advent
We are in the third week of Advent, the week of joy.  We will continue to learn about the Holy Family and the preparation for Christ's birth.

Reconciliation
We have reconciliation tomorrow, Monday December 16th. We have discussed what to pray for and possible confessions in class.  However, some of the kids seem a little nervous. I have reassured them, that the Lord doesn't judge us and we just need to be honest with Him and ourselves. Please talk and reassure your children that this is a step for us to achieve in Advent and the Lord is all loving.

Tests, Assessments, Projects...Oh My.
Math Test ~ We have a short math test on Tuesday December 17th. The Measurement review went home on Thursday and we will be working on the Chapter review in class on Monday. 

Science ~ Last week we began our Human Body Organs, project and boy, do they ever look great! The kids are well on their way to completion. I can't wait to post a few pictures.

Assessment folders went home on Friday. Please review them and have them signed and returned by Monday.

Scholastic Book Orders 
Let's all make a wish, that the books orders are here before Thursday.


Secret Santa Christmas Potluck Celebration ~ Wednesday December 18, 2013
The students have been spreading Christmas cheer this past week, giving notes and little treats.  To hear their remarks and see their expressions on their faces are priceless.  This Wednesday is the day the students get to reveal themselves and exchange their little gifts.  Since the students have been working so hard, we should make it a celebration. A pot luck celebration. Please see the list below and sign up by leaving a comment. Please keep in mind of allergies (specifically dairy and keeping it peanut free).

Christmas themed items:
Christmas table cloth
Christmas cups (48 cups)
Christmas plates (26 students)
Christmas napkins
A friendly request that the above items are in the class by Tuesday. That way I can set up before hand. ;)

Christmas Finger Foods & Treats
Red & Green fruit (1 tray)
Red, White & Green Veggies (1 tray)
Cheese & Crackers (1 tray)
Pinwheels
Shortbread Cookies (1 dozen)
Christmas treats (1 dozen)



Christmas Punch Items:
     Cranberry Juice (1 bottle)
     PC cranberry soda (1- 2 liter bottle)
     Sprite (1- 2 liter bottle)  



Christmas Pajama Day!!
On Thursday December 19th, we are inviting the students in our class, to wear their Christmas themed pajamas to school. We will also be sipping on some hot cocoa and watching a festive movie. We will be spending the day together enjoying Christmas stories and other activities.

  

 I just had to post this picture.One of my favourite movies.

Tis' the Season

 Secret Santa Week has Begun

Secret Santa is an easy way to spread the festive spirit. Anyone can participate and experience the joy of being a gift giver. 

There was cheer in the air in our Grade 4 class, as the students picked names this afternoon for our Secret Santa game. The days leading up to the exchange, your child can leave a note, poem, make a card, a candy cane...anything to resemble an act of kindness. As a class, we discussed to perform and act of kindness at least four times up until the reveal, next Wednesday. 

Please revel and share in the excitement of the Christmas spirit with your child. Help him/her come up with any creative ideas to make gift giving as enjoyable as receiving the gift. 

Just a friendly reminder, that the Secret Santa reveal is on Wednesday December 18th and please keep the gift between $5.00-$10.00. If you know your child will be away that day, please make arrangements with me before then. We wouldn't want to see any sad, little faces that day.

is an easy way to spread the festive spirit of Christmas. Anyone can participate and experience the joy of being a secret gift giver. - See more at: http://www.christmas-crafts-nook.com/secret-santa-poems.html#sthash.nFYeXRHG.dpufSe

Assessment/Feedback Folders

Folders will be sent home this week.  You will find your child’s Math test, Chapter Task, Science habitat feedback and Science test in his/her folder. Please sign and return to school. I am extremely proud of their efforts and accomplishments.

 Scholastic Orders
Scholastic orders have been ordered and hopefully will be in by the end of this week. Fingers crossed. :)

Social Studies  
 We will have our social studies test this Friday December 13th.  Review went home last Friday.

is an easy way to spread the festive spirit of Christmas. Anyone can participate and experience the joy of being a secret gift giver. - See more at: http://www.christmas-crafts-nook.com/secret-santa-poems.html#sthash.nFYeXRHG.dpuf

What's New in December?

It's unbelievable that December is already here! This month brings, happiness, joy and much excitement to the St. Catherine of Siena Community. Many festivities and fun things are planned leading up to that very special day of Jesus' birth.

 

A Season of Joy & Preparation

In class we will be discussing how we will prepare for the way of the Lord.  The students will create an Advent Faith folder including; how they will prepare for the coming of Christ, learn about Saints and their Feast Days, symbols of the Advent season and personal reflections based on Biblical scriptures.

Language: The Grade 4’s continue to work on spelling, summaries and personal narratives. This week’s spelling words are focused on contractions, why we use them and how they are properly used. Just a friendly reminder that Spelling duo-tangs are due every Friday before our weekly quiz.

Library Books: Please return Library books, weekly. :)

Math: For the next couple of weeks your child will be investigating linear and time measurement.

We will be choosing appropriate measurement units and relate measurement units to each other. The metric unit, decimeter, will be introduced. Students will explore the reasoning behind using more than one unit when measuring. They will also find the perimeter of rectangles and begin to explore the relationship between length, width and perimeter.

Social Studies: Oh the fun we have been having learning about Canada and its provinces. Canada and its Regions is well under way and we will be wrapping this unit up in the next week. Any unfinished work is sent home for homework nightly. Please encourage your child to tell you about Canada each night as review for the next test.

Science: Human Organ Systems. Does this unit really need an introduction?  Our fabulous fours are currently learning about the structures and functions of 7 major organ systems found in the human body:

1.      Skeletal System

2.      Muscular System

3.      Circulatory System

4.      Respiratory System

5.      Nervous System

6.      Digestive System

7.      Urinary System

The interest and excitement surrounding this unit is like a wondrous breath of fresh air. The students are enthusiastic and engaged in their learning. I am so proud of them. 

Shhh!!! It’s a Secret Santa Celebration. Please don’t tell, I haven’t told your children yet. 

I love Christmas simply because it reminds me of all the wonderful memories and traditions I had as a child. I still and will always cherish those moments with my family. However, because I have continuously told the Grade 4's we are a classroom family for the next year and I LOVE Christmas, why not do something special for one another? I would love to make some memories with your children. :)

Beginning next week (December 9^th) the Grade 4’s in our class, will participate in our class "Secret Santa" exchange. Students will be encouraged to perform acts of kindness to their chosen classmate. Secret Santas will be revealed on Wednesday, December 18^th.  I am asking that students bring in  a gift for their classmate of no more than $5.00 - $10.00. As we all know, Christmas is not about gifts, but the kindness that comes from the person who gives the gift.