Parents,  
Our annual SMV Golf Outing takes place on Saturday, September 30th at Briarwood Golf Club.  There are still spots available.  We hope to see you out on the course!
Your child's planner should  be coming home daily.  Please be sure to initial the planner each night.  Your child should be the one who is asking for your signature.  This sometimes takes some getting used to, so it is fine if you have to ask for the planner for the first month or so.  You should see assignments written in.  If they are crossed off, then that means that your child has completed that assignment.  If it is not crossed off, then your child should be bringing that assignment home.  It should be completed that day and returned the next!  If your child has a late assignment, I will make note of it in the planner.  This will keep an open communication between parents and myself.  Sometimes it is wise to look ahead in the planner for Practical/Spiritual Life Bingo and Book Project due dates, as well as spelling tests, and any other upcoming tests students may need to study for.
Just a reminder that every Friday, your child should be bringing home their Friday Folder/Homework Folder. In the Friday folder you may see graded assignments, completed work, notes, office communications, etc. Please be sure to look through the stack of papers for important information.
Every Thursday students will be taking a State Quiz.  3rd graders should know all 50 states by the end of the year and 4th graders should know all 50 states and capitals.  The 50 states/capitlas will be broken into the 5 regions of the U.S.  All students will start with the Midwest states.  The first State Quiz will take place on Thursday, September 21st.  Students must know the location of each state/capital, as well as spell it correctly.  As an incentive to learn the 50 states/capitals, I have told the students that if they complete this task, that they will earn a pizza lunch at the end of the year.  Again, 3rd graders must know all 50 states and 4th graders must know all 50 states and capitals.

There should have been a couple of Scholastic Book Orders sent home with the Friday Folder items this week.  Just a reminder that book orders are strictly online and should be placed no later than Wednesday, October 11th!
Please check out our classroom photos located at the bottom of my web page.  We had our first week of reading buddies.  The students had an amazing time reading with the preschoolers!

Classroom News:
We will conclude our Fall MAP Testing this week.  We will finish up with the Reading and Math tests.
There is a half day of school on Wednesday, September 20th.  Dismissal will be at 11:15 a.m.
We will be attending Mass on Wednesday, September 20th, at 8:00 a.m.  Please feel free to join us in celebrating the Eucharist!
Clare will be our next Star Student for the month of October.  Please have pictures and the question sheet filled out by Friday, September 29th please.
I have discussed the September Practical/Spiritual Life Bingo assignment with students.  There is a copy of the September Practical/Spiritual Life Bingo Sheet in your parent informational packet.  I have also sent one home and attached a copy to my documents section of my web page.  The September bingo sheet will be due by Friday, October 6th.
I have discussed the September Book Project last week.  Students should pick out a book and have it approved by me no later than Monday, September 11th.  Students may choose any genre to read, but it must be grade level appropriate or appropriate to your child's reading level.  Book report books are almost always chapter books.  Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the September book project.  The September Book Project will be due on Monday, October 2nd.

What We Are Learning:

Mathematics:
3rd Grade: Chapter 1: Understand Multiplication and Division
4th Grade: Chapter 1: Place Value Concepts/Chapter 2: Add and Subtract Multi-digit Numbers
Chapter 1 Test will take place on Tuesday, September 19th.

ELA:
Unit 1 - Classic Tales: The Wind in the Willows

Spelling:  
List 1 Spelling Test will take place on Friday, September 22nd.

Science:
Unit 1 - Lesson 2: How Does Living in a Group Help Some Animals Survive?

Social Studies:
Issue 1: Michigan History for Kids: Headed for Home/Issue 2: Michigan History for Kids: Underground Treasures

Religion:
Chapter 2: God Created the World
Mass