What's in the Envelope?
This newsletter is available on the class website and via email, but everything else is in the envelope. Here's what you'll find:
- This Newsletter
- Your child's report card
- Iowa Test of Basic Skills results
- Star Reading and Star Math parent letters
- Any physical fitness awards your child earned
- A certificate from Junior Achievement
- End-of-the-Year Cougar Kids statements
- Volleyball camp note (girls)
Wow. I'm reminded of a line from Jaws. "You're gonna need a bigger envelope."
Star Math and Star Reading and Iowa Tests of Basic Skills ReportsThe reports do a good job of explaining the statistics shown, but it is important to remember that these are simply "snapshots" of a child's standing at the end of the year. There's plenty of things that can makes the camera go out of focus, so to speak: classroom distractions, wandering minds, a good book sitting on the table next to you while you take the test. Use the reports as a piece of the achievement puzzle, but not as perfect illustrations of your child's ability.
Thank You!
This has certainly been a school year like no other for me. Obviously, having Megan in the class was a part of that by itself, but because I have a child in the class, I've been watching them all grow for years, and in several cases, since preschool at St. Luke's. Remember those days? Remember these guys as kindergartners singing "A B C D E..." and "Je-sus loves me, this I know..."? Some have come (welcome, James and Kaitlyn!) and some have left, but now look at them! They are multiplying and dividing and reading 200+ page novels and playing instruments and are on competitive sports teams and know what words like photosynthesis mean...
In three short months they'll be - gulp! - upper graders!
But besides all the personal reasons, I would still say thank you for a great school year. I say this every year, but honestly, I don't know where the year went. Off the top of my head I can't think of any major problems we dealt with. Sure, there were little ones (it's still never appropriate to continue your conversation when the teacher is speaking), but I'd rather remind a class to be quiet in the hall every day than break up fights on the playground. This is a great bunch of kids, and they have been a blessing to me. Thank you, parents, for entrusting them to me this year.
I hope that the students leave fourth grade with more of a lot of things: More knowledge, more desire to read, more success in school, and more reassurance of the love of Jesus in their lives. I also hope they always remember to "See Jesus." Remember, "Whatever you do for the least of these brothers of mine, that you did unto me." See Jesus in others. Treat him/them appropriately. And follow Jesus' example of servanthood. That way, when others look at you, they'll see Jesus too.
Missing Items
If there are any accounts to be settled like hot lunch or Cougar Kids, please take care of them as soon as possible. If anyone finds any of Mr. Wilhorn's books over the summer, please bring them to the school office. (I won't even ask any questions. No late fees, no speeches on responsibility, no revocation of library privileges, nothing.)
The Upcoming Week...I mean...The Upcoming SUMMER!
Memory – Remember, Jesus loves you.
Religion – Take time to worship Jesus this summer. After all, he loves you.
Reading – Read the Bible and find 5 places where it says Jesus loves you. Find some good books over the summer and READ.
English – Write 10 sentences, all stating that Jesus loves someone.
Math – Calculate how many months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds in a year Jesus loves you.
Science – Read books on ecosystems. List 10 ecosystems you could go where Jesus would love you.
Social Studies – Geography: List 10 landforms upon which Jesus loves you. History: For how long has Jesus loved you? Civics: Can any government make any law that would restrict the love of Jesus? (Trick question!)
Spelling – Word list: 1. Jesus 2. Loves 3. You *4. Unconditionally (bonus word)
In Case You Missed It
Here are the statistics for our reading this year, according to the chain links completed (that's one chain link for each book read.)
Total Links - 649 links
Total Length - 170 feet
Biggest Reading Month - March (137 links, 36 feet)
Lowest Reading Month - February (37 links, 9 feet)
Average Links per Month - 72
Average Length per Month - 19 feet
And now, the totally amazing statistics:
Average Books Read per Student - 36 books
Average Books per Week per Student - 1 book
On average, the students in fourth grade read a book a week! A book a week! This doesn't count Hatchet or Frindle or Riding Freedom, the books we read for class. So that's 39 books per student. We also read something like 20 books aloud during the year. AND we didn't count reading stories or science lessons or social studies lessons or computer screens and printouts.
Now THAT'S something to be proud of!
And finally...
It doesn't say it on the report card, but everyone passed, despite all my threats to make people repeat fourth grade. Have a great fifth grade year!
