Welcome, Parents!

4th GradeMiss. Scarpelli

Class Goals

Independence

Responsibility

Self-confidence

Team Work

Problem Solving

This year students will work independently & develop critical thinking strategies so that the students will build

a deep understanding of the curriculum.

Our Class Website

• You can access information on our website!

• Please sign up to Flash News.

Go to: http://www.teacherweb.com/NY/StMartindePorres/MissScarpelli/apt6.aspx

News Flash

Communication

• If for any reason you have any questions or concerns or, just because, please feel free to contact me! You can send me a note or email me! I will get back to you as soon as I can!

• I am also available to meet before school or after school if needed. Just let me know and we can schedule a time!

Weekly Newsletter• Each week you will receive a newsletter to

let you know what we will be doing in fourth grade that week!

• In the newsletter you will find,Spelling WordsTest DatesSpecial & Important School and Class

Information

• You can also find the Newsletter on our class website!

Labeling• Please be sure to label everything that your

child brings to school!

• All of the school sweatshirts look alike and if they end up in lost & found, it will be easily identified if labeled.

• Please also label any payment sent into school with the child’s name and what it is for. (Please do not send in any loose money, it can be easily lost!)

Reading• Please encourage your child to read

nightly!

• Students should be reading at home for at least 20 minutes.

• The focus is to have the students reading more complex non-fiction and fiction books.

Reading Log• Students are expected to complete a reading log

each night, Monday-Thursday, for homework. The reading log will be checked each morning.

• Students will be expected to hold onto their reading log until I collect them all at the end of each month.

• There will be additional copies on my website if needed. The summary should be just a few sentences that quickly summarizes the pages they have read in that 20 minute time frame.

• A parent signature or initials is required each night.

Book Reports

• Students will complete a book report at home each month.

• Students will be given the book report information and the due date at the beginning of each month and the report will be due at the end of the month (exact dates will be announced).

• More details will be sent home.The first book report will be sent home the first

week of school and is due September 30th.

Choosing a Book That is Just Right!

Writing

• Opinion pieces

• Informative/Explanatory

• Narratives to develop a real or imagined experience

• Short research projects

Grammar• Sentences

• Nouns

• Pronouns

• Adjectives

• Verbs

• Adverbs and Conjunctions

• Punctuation and Capitalization

Spelling/Vocabulary• Spelling/Vocabulary words will be

introduced at the beginning of each week.

• Students will have a spelling/vocabulary assignment each night for homework.

• There will be a spelling test at the end of each week.20 words

• Students will be required to write dictated sentences.

Fluency With Mathematics Facts

• Students should have a strong grasp on their multiplication facts.

• We will continue to practice & master the facts through timed tests.

• It is important for students to demonstrate fluency with facts.

• Speed and accuracy count

Math Maintenance

Each day we will begin with a set of math problems. They may be review

problems or something we are currently covering in math. Math maintenance is

a great way to continue reviewing previously learned material so that

students can maintain these skills!

Math Curriculum• Place Value, Rounding, and Algorithms for

Addition and Subtraction

• Unit Conversions and Problem Solving with Metric Measurement

• Multi-Digit Multiplication and Division

• Angle Measures and Plane Figures

• Fraction Equivalence, Ordering, and Operations

• Decimal Fractions

• Exploring Measurement with Multiplication

Math Bonus Time

• I will be holding Math Bonus every Tuesday right after school until 3:45pm.Begins Tuesday, September 22nd.

• Please be sure to send in a written note if your child is planning on attending.

Religious Study• This year we will focus our thoughts and

reflections on the key concept that, As God’s people, we are called to live as Jesus did, choosing a life of love, characterized by obedience to God and service others.

• We will learn about the basis of Christian mortality as taught in the Old and New Testaments.

Science

• Students will understand the nature of science through the natural events that happen all around us.

• This year students will examine the air, water, and land systems of the earth.

• Students will learn about the properties of water, electricity and magnetism, and the interdependence animals and plants have on their surroundings.

Social Studies

• This year we will focus on learning about New York State and local communities.

• We will incorporate the study of geography, history, economics, and government.

• We will make local connections with present-day NY!

Grades• Archdiocese Guidelines for Grading

Children receive weighted number grades in the following subjects• Reading• Langugage Arts

– 40% Composition, 40% Grammar, 20% Spelling

• Math• Science• Social Studies • Religion

Grades• For Classwork & Participation assignments not

easily broken down into points, I often use “check grades”. These grades reflect the students effort, not necessarily their success. √++ = 100% √+ = 95% √ = 85% √- = 75%

Grades• Grades are viewable online. It is such a

great tool to be able to have continual access to your child’s grades. Please monitor them to stay aware of all grades.

• Letter Grades are given for:HandwritingPhysical EducationMusicArt

Grading Break Down

• Summative Assessments = 45%Includes tests and projects

• Quizzes = 25%

• Class Participation = 20%

• Homework = 10%

Total = 100%

Test Papers

• Test papers will be sent home each Friday with a coversheet.

• Please sign and return the coversheet and the tests.

Homework• Homework is a percentage of each child’s grade. Written

homework will be given Monday through Thursday.

• It is important that it is completely neatly and on time. Homework that is not neat will have to be redone.

• If a student does not have their completed homework the day it is due, it is the student’s responsibility to complete a “No Homework” slip that is signed by the student, teacher, and parents. These slips will identify the homework that was not completed and the reason why. The student will staple this into their agenda book. It must be returned back to school the following day attached to the completed homework.

• For partial credit, students can complete the missing homework and hand it in the following day.

• Each child is required to copy the homework each day from the board into their agenda book. The homework will be visible throughout the day.

Absent Folder/Make-up Work

• If a student is absent from school, they will receive an absent folder that will include any classwork or homework that we worked on while they were out.

• Absent folders can be picked up by a parent at 2:30pm in the office. The student can also take it home the day they return

• All work must be completed and returned within a timely fashion.

School Absences, Changes in Dismissal, 

 & Tardiness 

• It is required that you send a note into the office if your child is absent for any reason. If there are siblings in different grades, please be sure to send in a note for each child separately.  

• If for any reason there is a change in dismissal for your child the office must have a note. In order to make dismissal as smooth as possible, it is important for the children to know where they are going each day! 

• Please call the office if there are any changes throughout the day. I will not have time to check my e-mails during the day while I am teaching.

School Absences, Changes in Dismissal, 

 & Tardiness• It is important that children arrive to school on time. When a child is continually late, they miss out on our morning routine and possible instruction time.   

• Students must be in their seats by 8:20am. Students who are not in their seats by 8:20am will be marked late.

• Please remember it is extremely important that students are in school on the dates we will be taking the State Tests, Midterms, and Finals. Please check the school calendar for these dates. 

Important Dates

• Interim Assessments October 19-23, 2015 January 25-29, 2016

• Archdiocese of NY Religion Mid-Term Exam January 21, 2016

• NYS ELA Exam April 13-15, 2016

• NYS Math Exam April 5-7, 2016

• Archdiocese of NY Religion Final Exam June 2, 2016

Safe Environment Training

• In order to join us for Field Trips, you must have completed the Safe Environment Workshop.

• There will be one given on September 17th, 2015 at 7:00pm.

• Please contact the office if you have any questions.

Snacks

• Everyday we will have a designated time, in the morning, to have our

snack.

• Each child will need to bring a snack from home.

• I ask that you send in a healthy, easy to eat snack each day for your

child.

Birthdays• For you child’s birthday, you may send in a snack to

share with the class.

• Please bring any snacks to school in the morning.

• Please send in 32 of the exact same snack.

• Snacks should be simple and easy to distribute —no items that need to be cut or refrigerated. They will be served during and instead of snack that day.

• If your child has an allergy, please send a supply of “safe” snacks that I can store in the room for him or her to enjoy on these special occasions.

School Supplies

• We are collecting a $20.00 supply fee. Please send this to school in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s name and 

“Fourth Grade Supply Fee”.  

• Please check the website for the supply list.

Student Numbers

Each child has a number after their name.  This is simply to help me record grades.  

They are in alphabetical order.  

The children will be asked to write the number on the top right corner of each paper 

they hand in.

Parent Conferences

• Parent conferences will be held on Wednesday, November 18th and Thursday, November 19th. There will be no math bonus time November 18th.

• Please be sure to sign up for a time that works for you before you leave.

• If you are unavailable during the slotted times, please contact me and we can arrange for 

another time that works for you :)

Questions?

I look forward to a

Fabulous year!