December 12, 2013

Upcoming:

Social Studies chapter 3 test next Tuesday, 12/17.

Social Studies project due next Thursday, 12/19.

Math chapter 5 test next Friday, 12/20.

Christmas party next Friday, 12/20.  We will decorate cookies and have a special pizza lunch.  There is a sign-up on the door if you can donate

Tomorrow is our field trip to the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits.  Don't forget to bring a sack lunch.

Third grade tied with Second grade in the Westside Thanksgiving drive for the most donations.

 Here's another chance to help the needy in our community.  It's a great way for third graders to live their faith. 

Veteran Christmas Stocking Service Project--Help bring the spirit of Christmas to Veterans in need. 
When you are out and about and shopping for Christmas, please keep in mind our Veteran's Christmas Stocking Project. From December 2-12 the eighth grade students will lead a collection of items to include in stockings for hospital-bound veterans. Talk to your child about how veterans have served our country and the importance of bringing a bit of Christmas to those veterans in need of extra care at Christmas. Please consider contributing any of the following items:

• candy canes
• small bottles of hand sanitizer
• small bottles of hand lotion
• pens/pencils
• crossword puzzle books
• sudoku books
• madlibs books
• notebooks
• recent magazines
• playing cards
• Christmas stockings
• gloves/hats/scarves
• ornaments
• hot chocolate packets  

Happy Thanksgiving!

We will be having a small class celebration on Wednesday, November 27th.  

Don't forget--we have half days on November 25, 26, and 27th.  

11-18-13

Third Grade had a great time at the Chumash Indian Museum last Thursday. We sang, played games, and listened to stories told by our tour guide Gray Wolf as he taught us about life in a Chumash Village.  Here is a video of some 3rd and 4th graders singing a traditional Chumash song.

 Pictures from the field trip to the Chumash Indian Museum are posted in the class' shutterfly account.  Parents, if you have photographs of school events from this year (Halloween, Mass, family picnics, etc.,) please post them to the shutterfly account.  The username and password are the same as last year.  If you don't have the username and password, please email me or see me.  Carol O'Day would also love digital copies of any pictures so that she can post them on the school photo site. 

A big thanks to Mrs. Ochoa who was our guest art teacher and led us in making totem poles as an extension of our Native American study.  Please enjoy the art and the writing that is posted on our board outside of the classroom.

 
This Week:

Achieve champions and iReady champions have free dress on Wednesday!

Danger Icebergs test on Wednesday.

Math chapter 4 test on Tuesday.

Native American tribe projects have been assigned.  Students received directions and explanations in class.  There are examples of finished products in the classroom.  Please see me if you have any questions!

11-13-13

Tomorrow is our field trip to the Chumash Museum!

Wear PE or school uniform.  NO free dress passes!
Bring a sack lunch.

Chapter 4 test is next Tuesday.
Multiplication fact tests will be starting next week.  We will start with a practice test this Friday.

Friday will be our Spelling test, but our Danger Icebergs reading story test will be next Wednesday. 

Week of 11-4-13

This Wednesday is College Dollar dress day. For $1, students may wear college gear. 

Our field trip to the Chumash Indian museum is next Thursday, 11-14. Please return the permission slip and $8.00 fee as soon as possible. The fee includes admission, a guided tour, and a craft. The bus cost is being generously paid for by a grant. We will not be visiting the gift shop, so no extra money is needed.  Students need to bring a sack lunch that day. 

Our next field trip will be 12-5 if any parents want to commit to be a chaperone. 

This Friday is an I service, and next Monday is Veterans' Day. Enjoy your long weekend!

10-22-13

Dear Parents,

If your student paid $1.00 for free dress last Friday, you have already paid for free dress this Thursday; your child may wear free dress this Thursday.  If your student did not bring $1.00 last week, he/she needs to bring $1.00 if he/she wants to participate in this Thursday’s dollar dress.  Please remember that this is a charitable fundraiser.  The money raised goes to support an orphanage in Tijuana.  Extra donations are always welcome. Donating to those in need is a good way to help students live their faith.

We are starting multiplication.  Please practice the multiplication facts with your student a little each night, starting with the 2’s.  We will learn the facts through the tens.   We will learn strategies for multiplying, such as: repeated addition, drawing an array, doubling a smaller fact.  However, these facts will eventually need to be memorized for future math success.  Thank you for your help in this.

As Halloween approaches, please remember that students may wear costumes to school.  Costumes may be scary, but no weapons are allowed (pirate swords, cowboy guns, etc.)  Students will come to school dressed in costume and we will have a Halloween parade in the shrine area at 8:30.  If you signed up to contribute to our party, please have items dropped off by 9:00 as we will have our party before recess.  There is no no need to send a snack on Halloween.  If your student does not want to wear a costume, then he/she needs to wear their uniform.

Since this week is a short week, Spelling and Reading story tests are on Thursday instead of Friday.

Lastly, the third grade will be attending a field trip to the Chumash Museum on November 14th.  The cost per student is unknown as we are awaiting news if we will receive a grant for the bus.  However, I need 5 parent chaperones to attend.  If you can attend, please email me at adanforth@saintanneschool.com or send a note.  Please be aware that we will be gone from 8:30-2:30 and parent chaperones will have to pay a small fee, about $6.00.  Please also know that I can only take 5, so if all spots are full, I will rotate parents for the next field trip.   

Thanks,

Ms. Danforth

Math test chapter 2 next Monday, October 21

This Wednesday--Fall color dress day--free.  $1 face painting.

Halloween is quickly approaching.  Students are encouraged to wear costumes and celebrate with their classmates.  However, if a student does not want to wear a costume, he/she must wear his/her uniform; it's not just a free dress day.  Please remember that costumes can be scary but weapons of any kind are not allowed.  Students need to come dressed in costume, not change into their costume at school.  There is a costume parade and contest in the shrine area at 8:30.  Parents are welcome to join us.  We will have a classroom party that morning before recess.  No need to pack a snack that day.

10-9-13

Dear Parents,

As the weather gets colder, please take this time to review the uniform policy, found on pages 83-87 of the online handbook.  Specifically, school sweaters and sweatshirts may NOT have hoods. ( It is our school policy that only 8^th graders are allowed hoods on their graduation sweatshirts.)  Sweaters need to be plain navy blue.  Sweatshirts need to have the school logo.  Jackets need to be navy blue or the school jacket.  Boots are allowed on rainy days only. 

Thanks for your cooperation with this,

Ms. Danforth

10-2-13

Religion chapter 3 test next Tuesday

Social Studies chapter 1 test next Friday 

This Friday is "think pink, wear pink" day. For $1 students can wear as much pink as possible to support breast cancer research. Tattoos will be sold at recess for $0.50. 

Week of 9-17-13

This week and next, we are taking the ITBS tests, our annual standardized tests. We should be done by next Thursday , September 26th. 

Here is a picture of our blended learning class. Two tables are working on computers while the other two are working on an assignment with the teacher. 

Arts Matters, a 6 week art history program has started with our guest teachers Ms. Lissette and Ms. Azita. We learned about Joseph Pickett.

Joseph was a self taught folk painter who captured the battle at Coryell’s Ferry in New Hope Pennsylvania. This was an historic battle because it was the site for Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware on December 25, 1776. The American troops were losing the war to Independence but that night because of Washington’s cunning he was able to defeat the enemy in less than 45 minutes and cross into New Jersey. It was a huge win and gave the country new hope and determination. The children followed Joseph Pickett's style by using vibrant colors and abandoning the rules of perspective. The class did a fantastic job collaborating  as a team to create this wonderful collage of a neighborhood. 

Week of 9/9

This week we are taking the NWEA, a computer based test that we will take 3 times each year. There will be two sections: reading and math. Each section will take about an hour.   It will show us what students know.

Religion chapter two test on Thursday.

Math chapter one test on Friday.

Week of 9-3-13

This week's Spelling test and Reading story test will be next Tuesday due to the short week.

SMILE!  Picture day is September 5th.  Look sharp!

See you at the carnival this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!

Looking for ideas to encourage your child to write at home?  Check this site out.

This site looks like an interesting online news magazine for kids.

Parents, want to earn service hours from home?  Please see me or email me.  I have some projects that can be done at home.  

Week of 8/26

This Friday is our first Reading story test and Spelling test.

These will always be on the last day of the week. 


All paperwork from the office is now due!

Friday 8/30 is wear blue and gold day. 

Back to School Night is Tuesday 8/27 at 7pm. 

Week of 8/19

 

Here comes the first whole week of school!  Don't forget to pack a snack and lunch.  Homework will be assigned this week. 

This week we will be diving into third grade work with placement tests and subject matter.  We will also be discussing our new motto, Achieving Excellence: Modeling Christ and our school values, Faith, Respect, Responsibility, and Excellence.  This weekend might be a good time to discuss the motto and values with your family and see how these ideas can apply at home and at school.  

The family envelopes came home with a lot of papers to be filled out, signed, and returned.  Thank you to those families who have returned them already.  If they are still at home, it is really important that you fill out and return all of them as soon as possible!   

Welcome!

Welcome to 3rd grade!

Don't forget:

Noon dismissal Thursday 8/15 and Friday 8/16
Monday is PE day. Wear the PE uniform. 
Hot lunch won't start yet so send a home-lunch. 
Back to School Night is August 27th at 7pm. 

Summer 2013

Summer Reading Assignment for Incoming 3^rd Graders

Dear Second Graders,

Happy Summer!  I am sure you have lots of fun plans for vacation.  During summer, I want you to read!  Reading is extremely important and should be done every day. 

I am attaching a reading log to keep track of all the books you read over the summer.  You don’t need to fill it in every day, just write down the names of the books you read and number of pages.  I encourage you to visit your local library and participate in their summer reading program.

Keep track of the books you read on the reading log.  I will collect the log on the first day of school.

Have a wonderful summer vacation!  See you in August!

Ms. Danforth

 

Third Grade Supply List

 

***Please bring all supplies on the first day of school***

Personal items, will be kept at desk—Please label all personal items

1                                    Large sturdy backpack

1                                    Composition notebook (Not spiral)

2                                     Regular size glue stick

1                                    Box of crayons, 24 count only

24                                    #2 pencils with erasers

3                                    Folders with pockets

2                                    Soft, large erasers

2                                    Red ball point pens

1                                    Sturdy zippered pencil pouch (no boxes)

Community items, will be shared—Please do not label community items

1                                    Package of loose leaf WIDE ruled notebook paper

2                                     Large boxes Kleenex

2                                     Large boxes of hand or surface wipes

1                                    Elmer’s Glue All, 4 oz bottle

1                                      Bottle hand sanitizer with pump, 10 oz or large

Optional supplies

Personal pencil sharpener with a lid

Colored pencils

Reusable water bottle

Reusable lunch box

·      Space is limited.  PLEASE do not send extra supplies.  They will be sent home.

·      Supplies will need to be replenished when they run out.

6-19-13

Awards assembly 6/20 at 8:30 in the church.

Lunch is being generously provided for students tomorrow. 

Coming Soon:

Math chapter 11 test this Friday.  We are skipping lessons 11-12 and 11-13.

Activity Day next Wednesday.  Teams are posted in the main hallway.  The colors of the paper on each team list is the color for each team member to wear. 

Last Spelling test this week!

No reading logs for June.  Students still must read daily. 

5-31-13

To the Friends & Families of the 3rd and 4th Grades of Saint Anne ~

Please join us at our public poetry reading as we celebrate the completion of the St. Anne/California Poets in the Schools anthology, “Let the Rain Wash Over You.”

The reading is taking place at:
Saint Anne School

June 3rd at 11:00am

Every student receives an anthology and there will also be copies for purchase.

Refreshments will be served.


Social Studies chapter 8 test on Friday

Happy Mother's Day! Art Projects

The students agreed that all of their moms love to receive flowers.  We learned about Vincent Van Gogh and created our own versions of Van Gogh's Sunflowers for a Mother's Day gift.  Enjoy the beautiful work from the 3rd grade artists!

5/6/13

Religion chapter 22 test this Tuesday.

Social Studies chapter 7 test this Friday.

3rd graders are invited to bring in a flower for our Mary altar this week. 

Third Grade at the Getty Center Museum

Math chapter 8 test on Wednesday, March 27th. 

Please return the Missionary Childhood Association Lenten boxes by Tuesday.  

Easter vacation starts Thursday at noon.  We return Tuesday, April 9th.

3/11/13

Our annual Science fair is coming up on April 18th.  Every 3rd grade student needs to bring in a Science project for the fair.  Students may do either an experiment following the Scientific method, bringing in a tri-fold display board explaining the experiment OR make a model and do a 1-2 page report explaining the model.  I have Science books with lots of ideas that I will have out in the classroom for students to get ideas.  Please don't wait until the last minute!  Please see me if you have any questions or concerns. 

Keep collecting spare change for our Lenten almsgiving.  Please return the boxes during Holy Week, starting March 25th.

Just a reminder--each 3rd grader who attended the Autry Museum field trip on 2/15 recieved a certificate for a free family membership to the Autry.  As we finished up chapter 5 in Social Studies, many students are interested in the Gold Rush.  The Autry has an exhibit where students can pan for gold on the weekends.  If you haven't yet taken advantage of this free family membership, please do!  It is a great museum here in Los Angeles.  The students really enjoyed it and would love a trip back!

biography project

Biography report directions are below.  

Biography Report—Due __February  25, 26, 27________________ 

You will report on a famous person from American history.  You will read a biography (a book about his/her life) and make a presentation about this famous American.  As you read, you will need to take notes about the person.  You may also want to use the internet to help you find out more information, but most of your information will come from the book.  This will be a Social Studies and Language grade.

You need to have chosen your person by_____Tuesday, February 5^th ____.  You may choose a book from my collection or get one from the library or bookstore. 

PRESENTATION:  Your presentation will have two parts: a speech and a poem.

Part One—Your Speech

        You will become your famous person!  You will pretend that you are that person and give a 3-5 minute speech about yourself to the class.  You will need to rehearse your speech at home.  You may have index cards with important notes to help you remember your important ideals for your speech.  (Do not read your entire speech, just write down important notes.  I will demonstrate this in class.) You may also memorize your speech. 

Include the following in your speech:

·        Where was this person born?  When?

·        Where did this person grow up?

·        What did this person do for a living?  What were this person’s jobs?

·        Why is this person famous?  What did he/she do to become famous?

·        Interesting information about this person.

·        You need to dress up as the person.  You can bring props to show the class, too.

Your speech should sound like a story about your life, not a bunch of dates.  It should be interesting to listen to!

Part Two—Poem

Your “The Important Thing” poem needs to follow this pattern.  Rewrite the poem on another sheet of paper and fill in the blanks with your famous American’s information.  Write in CURSIVE!!!

The important thing about ________________________ is that he / she _________________________.  (tell what s/he is famous for)

S/He _________________________.  (tell one thing s/he did)

S/He ________________________. (tell another thing s/he did)

S/He _________________________. (tell a third thing s/he did)

But the important thing about ______________________________ is that s/he was ____________________________________________________.  (tell the most important thing about your person—what he/she did or was).

Here is an example poem:

The Important Thing

The important thing about Saint Nicholas is that he was the bishop of Myra.  He gave money to three poor girls so they could get married.  He sold his horse to rescue a boy who was about to be a slave.  He calmed a storm at sea when he was on a boat.  But the important thing about Saint Nicholas is that he was the reason we have Santa Claus today. 

Here are some famous Americans you can choose from.  You don’t have to choose only these, though, as long as your person is a famous American from history.  Questions?  See Ms. Danforth.

 Ben Franklin                Martin Luther King, Jr.            Babe Ruth

Jackie Robinson           Albert Einstein                         Mark Twain

Lewis & Clark                Louis Armstrong                       Charles Lindberg

Edith Wharton             Betsy Ross                                Emily Dickinson

Helen Keller                 Pocahontus                               Alexander Graham Bell

George Washington Carver                                           Amelia Earhart

Thomas Edison             Andrew Jackson                       Neil Armstrong

Sitting Bull                   Aaron Burr                               Rosa Parks

Davy Crockett              Squanto                                    Sacagawea

Beverly Cleary              Fred Astaire                            Hank Aaron

Daniel Bone                  Maya Angelou                           Eva Adams

Louisa May Alcot          Mary McLeod Bethune              George Washington

Abraham Lincoln          Jesse Owens                       

Your presentation will be graded for:

Content—important ideas are included

Organization—your speech has a beginning, middle, and end

Language—you use appropriate and interesting words.  You explain any words that the audience might not know.  You can pronounce correctly the words in your speech, too!

Delivery—you speak clearly with appropriate eye contact, body posture, and volume.  3—5 minutes long.

Visuals—you are dressed as this person.  You are wearing specific things to look like this person.  You may have a prop.

You will receive a grade in Language (speaking) and in Social Studies for this project. 

Don’t procrastinate.  Do a little bit each day.  We will sign up for presentations in class.  Presentations will be on Feb. 25, 26, 27.  Poems are due on the day of your presentation. 

------------------------------cut and return by February 5^th ---------------

I understand my project is due on ______________________.

Name___________________________________________

The famous American I will be reporting on is __________________.

Parent signature________________________________________

**Parents—students will need your help and guidance with this project.  Please make sure, however, that the work is your child’s.  Thanks!