Friday, May 17, 2019

Fifth Grade, Here We Come!



Dear Parents,

It has truly been my pleasure to be your child’s fourth grade teacher.  I have enjoyed watching my class grow in many areas, especially writing.  Thank you for your support. A BIG thanks to Mrs. Blackley and Mrs. Stankes for being our awesome homeroom parents.  I have had a fantastic school year!

Texas Day and Chili Cook-Off
Next Wednesday, May 22nd, is our annual Texas Day -- a day full of celebrating all things Texan!  On Monday, all non-perishable food items and utensils need to be brought in for the chili cook-off.  All meats (and any veggies that must be cooked) need to be cooked and brought in on Wednesday. I’m looking forward to tasting all of the chilis!

UPCOMING DATES
May 20th - Robolab
May 21st - Field Day
May 22nd - Texas Day and Chili Cook-Off
May 23rd - Last Day of School

UNITS OF STUDY
Reading - Complete Hatchet Unit
Writing - Memory Books
Spelling - no spelling
Math - Review of 4th grade content
TX History - Texas Day/Chili Cook off

Have a fabulous weekend!

Kelly

Friday, May 10, 2019

The End is in Sight


Examples of the Famous Texan Project

Dear Parents,

The days are flying by as we head into summer.  Thank you for all the cards, notes, and gifts during Teacher Appreciation Week.  I feel blessed to work in this community.


Thank you for the amazing Friday Feast that was provided to teachers today!!


Our last two testing days are next Monday and Tuesday.  We will celebrate a year of hard work on May 16th with and End of Year Showcase from 7:20 to 7:40am.  I hope to see you all there.


STAAR Snacks
The 4th grade Homeroom moms will have snacks for each student on the STAAR days next week.  Your child is welcome to bring additional snacks. We do ask that all snacks are dry and nutritious.  We also ask that you do not send snacks like Cheetos, Doritos, etc. due to the coating that can transfer to the STAAR bubble sheets.


Chili Cook-Off
Your child is bringing home a chili recipe and a BLUE Chili Responsibility form home this weekend.  Each group met and picked a chili recipe, and they then decided who would be bringing what supplies and ingredients for their chili.  The blue sheet of paper needs to be signed by you and brought back to school on Monday, May 13th. It will come back home on Monday.


All non perishable items (canned goods, plates, bowls, table decor, etc.) need to be brought to school on Monday, May 20th.  All other items that require refrigeration (desserts, meat…) need to be brought to school on Wednesday, May 22nd.


UPCOMING DATES
May 13th - Chili Responsibility signed form due
May 13th - Math STAAR
May 14th - Reading STAAR
May 15th - Famous Texan Project Due
May 16th - Fourth Grade Showcase
May 20th - Robolab
May 21st - Field Day
May 22nd - Texas Day and Chili Cook-Off
May 23rd - Last Day of School


UNITS OF STUDY
Reading - Continue Hatchet Unit
Writing - Bad Kitty story
Spelling - Non-negotiable Word List
Math - Review of 4th grade content
TX History - Cowboy Life and prepare for  Texas Day/Chili Cook off


Have a fabulous weekend!

Kelly

Friday, May 3, 2019

Three Weeks Left...Where Has the Time Gone?!


Dear Parents,

Wow!  What a week!  We had an amazing time at the Performing Arts Center listening to the history of music as played and presented by the Round Rock Symphony on Monday.  And a HUGE “thank you” to all of the amazing parents who were able to join us on our field trip. I was so proud of our students. As always, our Comets represented us well!

Please join us in the library on Tuesday, May 7th for a Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast.  Even if it’s just a quick pop in. This is the staff’s way of saying “thank you” for all of the many hours our families put in all year to support our school family.

Performance Week (Music Class)
This is Mrs. Martin’s last year with us.  Let’s give her a nice send off with some awesome talent from our class! Tuesday, May 7th is our class' Performance Day in music.  They can bring in a piece they have practiced to perform for Mrs. Martin and the class. Previous years students have brought in a piano piece, violin piece, a song (with music she is able to play), guitar, flute.... students can work together from our class or go solo!

Library Books:
Start looking for library books.  All books must be checked in May 10th for the district inventory.

UPCOMING DATES
May 7th - Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast 7:15 - 8:00
May 9th - Chili Recipes due (no exceptions)
May 13th - Math STAAR
May 14th - Reading STAAR
May 16th - Fourth Grade Showcase
May 20th - Robolab

UNITS OF STUDY
Reading - Begin Hatchet Unit
Writing - Bad Kitty story
Spelling - Week 24, homework due Thursday - Test Friday
Math - Review of 4th grade content
TX History - Texas Now and prepare for Texas Day/Chili Cook off
** Crock-Pot recipes for chili due on Thursday - no late submissions - ALL students must bring one in to receive credit.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Kelly

Monday, April 29, 2019

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Dear Parents,

Hold on to your hats!  The next four weeks are going to be fast and furious.  Monday is our field trip to the PAC to listen to the Round Rock Symphony.  Wednesday is the Bob Bullock Museum field trip. STAAR tests are May 13th and 14th.  Fourth Grade Showcase is May 16th from 7:20 - 7:45am. Robo Lab is May 20th. Tuesday the 21st is Field Day.  The very next day is Texas Day. AND, we wrap up the year with a pancake breakfast on the last day of school, May 23rd.

Library Books
Start looking for library books.  All book must be checked in on May 10th to be inventoried.

Book Fair is T-Rexcellent!
The CCE book fair will be held Monday April 29th through Friday, May 3rd.

NEW eWallet payment option!  Parents can load money onto an account for students to use at the book fair so they don’t have to worry about cash or checks.  All unused funds will be refunded to the card used. Sign up or shop online at our Book Fair Website.  

Book Fair hours are:
M, W, Th - 7:20am to 3:30pm
T - 7:20am to 6:00pm
F - 7:20am to 12:00pm

Your purchases will benefit the CCE library!  Tax in not included in the book price, so please be sure to add 8.25% if you are sending money with y our students.

UPCOMING DATES
April 29 - Symphony field trip - lunch from home needed
May 1 - Bob Bullock Museum field trip - lunch from home needed

UNITS OF STUDY
Reading - Complete Newbery Book Study
Writing - Bad Kitty story
Spelling - Week 22, homework due Thursday, test on Friday
Math - Graphing Data and Financial Literacy

TX History - Cowboy Life

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

We Have a Spring in Our Step!

Dear Parents,

Another week in the books!  Our class has mastered area and perimeter, and we are truly enjoying our Newbery books.  The students have also been inspired by authors Amy Rosenthal and Tim Lichtenheld to write their own version of The OK Book.  Lastly, we have learned about life cycles of plants and animals.


Please make sure to turn in both the Symphony field trip and the Bob Bullock Museum field trip permission forms by Monday, April 22nd.  Please send in $11 with the museum field trip form (exact cash or check). The purple enrollment forms are due Wednesday, April 24th.


4th Grade Showcase
Please mark you calendars for May 16th.  Our Showcase will begin at 7:20am and end at 7:45am.  Students will lead this activity. Please purchase a stiff, white 22 x 28 poster board (not foam board) by April 24th for one of our Showcase projects.  Thank you!!


Volunteer Breakfast
Mark your calendars for the CCE Volunteer Breakfast on May 7th from 7:10am to 8:00am in the library.  If you have volunteered at CCE this school year, please join the fourth grade teachers for breakfast on us!


UPCOMING DATES
April 22 - Walk to school in honor of Earth Day
April 29 - Symphony field trip - lunch from home needed
May 1 - Bob Bullock Museum field trip - lunch from home needed


UNITS OF STUDY
Reading - Newbery Book Study
Writing - OK Book
Spelling - Week 19, homework due Thursday, test on Friday
Math - Elapsed Time and Place Value
TX History - Texas After the Civil War


Thank you for reading the newsletter each week.  Enjoy the beautiful spring weather and the long weekend!


Kelly

Friday, April 12, 2019

Writing STAAR ... check!

Riding along on the glass bottom boat!


Dear Parents,

Wow!  What a week!  I am so proud of the diligent working I witnessed on Tuesday for the STAAR writing test.  Of course I have no idea how they did, but if their hard work is any indication, they ACED it!!  All STAAR scores will be available in June.

Earth Day
In honor of Earth Day, fourth grade will walk together as a group to CCE on the morning of April 22nd.  If you would like to join us, we will all meet at 7:10 at the corner of Bramblecrest and Chestnut Ridge (the intersections closest to the Park and Ember Glen).  Feel free to come along and walk with us! Siblings, parents, and neighbors are welcome!

Enrollment Form
Please return your child’s enrollment form (printed on purple paper)  if you haven’t already done so. I need to account for all of the forms before I return them to the office.

Bob Bullock Museum Field Trip
Our last field trip will be to the Bob Bullock Museum on May 1st.  Please let me know if you would like to chaperone. Please note that all chaperones must purchase an entrance ticket and a ticket to see the movie Shipwrecked at 10:30 (in the Texas Spirit Theater).  You can purchase tickets here.  I am hoping to get at least 5 chaperones.  Thank you in advance.

UPCOMING DATES
April 18 - Maturation
April 19 - Good Friday - no school
April 22 - Walk to school in honor of Earth Day
April 29 - Symphony field trip - lunch from home needed

UNITS OF STUDY
Reading - Newbery Book Study
Writing - OK Book
Spelling - no spelling
Math - Metric Measurement
Science - Life Cycles of Organisms

Have a restful weekend!

Kelly

Friday, April 5, 2019

Pulling Into Port!

Dear Parents,

How do Canyon Creek fourth graders prepare for Writing STAAR?  With a fun filled week of Cruise Write Along! Students have honed their writing and are ready to shine on the STAAR test.  A special thank you to the room moms for providing the daily snacks. Also this week our class began listening to the podcast “Six Minutes”.  We are hanging on the edge of our seats with this mystery! It has been fun watching/listening to them realize there is no video with a podcast!  They are required to use their imaginations to build the store in their mind...reminded me of the radio shows back in the day! Hahaha--everything comes full circle!  We will try to get through the first season, but they have already started releasing season 2 episodes. It would be a fun thing to listen to on a long car trip this summer!

Note from the Office: Testing Days
If you have a student in 4th or 5th grade, please refrain from scheduling doctor appointments that will require your student to be pulled out of class on a scheduled testing day.  Students who have not completed their testing at their scheduled lunch time will eat lunch in their classroom. We ask that all parents refrain from eating lunch with their children on these two days.  Our lunch schedule will be adjusted for testing so we cannot guarantee what time your children will be in the lunchroom.  Parents are welcome to visit during lunch on any other days.

STAAR Snacks:
The 4th grade room moms have provided snacks for test day.  Your child is welcome to bring additional snacks. We do ask that all snacks are dry and nutritious.  We also ask that you do not send snacks like Cheetos, Ranch Doritos, etc. due to the orange and greasy coating.  Messy fingers mean messy scan-trons. If food is transferred onto their answer document, there is A LOT of work that has to go into transcribing the whole document!  Ugh!!

Meadows Center Field Trip
Our field trip to the Meadows Center will be on Thursday, April 11th.  Students will need to bring a completely disposable sack lunch (including drinks).  Please pack snacks separately from lunch as we will have snack before we leave school at 9:30.

Escape Room Locks
A huge thank you to all who have donated locks for our escape room (coming in May!).  We are just in need of 4 more 5-letter word locks.  

UPCOMING DATES
April 9 - STAAR Writing
April 11 - Meadow’s Center Field Trip - sack lunch needed
April 18 - Maturation
April 19 - Good Friday - no school
April 29 - Symphony field trip - lunch from home needed

UNITS OF STUDY
Reading - Begin Newbery Study
Writing - STAAR, OK Book
Spelling - Week 17, homework due Thursday, test on Friday
Math - Customary and Metric Measurement
Science - Complete Traits; begin Life Cycles of Organisms

Have a restful weekend!

Kelly