Thursday, 9/18 News

Books For Sale
If you've been hearing about $3.00 books for sale, you've heard correctly. I have two boxes full of books from past years that I've been saving "just in case." Apparently, "just in case" means just in case I fill a box, then I'll fill another. They've been gathering dust, so I wanted to make them available to readers. (What an idea!) So I've got a bunch of books, and all are $3.00. All money will go directly into buying more books for the classroom.

School Magazine Sales Results
Not bad for a bunch of nine-year-olds! Our class took second in the school! Nice work. As a school we met our goal of $15,000 in sales. Thank you to all that participated in this year's sale. All your hard work goes directly to benefit our school.

Friday 9/12 News

Our Newest Read Aloud - On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
We started out latest read aloud on Monday, and, WOW!, has it grabbed the attention of these fourth graders. It is titled On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, and it is by Andrew Peterson. It is "high fantasy," very similar to the Chronicles of Narnia or The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. A whole new world has been created with its own countries, geography, history...everything. The story follows the Igiby family - Janner, Tink and Leeli and their mother Nia and grandfather Podo - as they deal with the evil rule of Gnag the Nameless. I'm sorry, but I left off with poor Janner, Tink and Leeli in jail for simply protecting one another. The students weren't happy.

The author, Andrew Peterson is a Christian musician, and I've long been a fan of his music. When I heard he was writing a book I was surprised, but excited, hoping I would like it as much as his music. I was not disappointed. For more information on the book, click here. For more information about Andrew Peterson, click right here.

The Upcoming Week
Memory - At Home: Quarter 1 Week 3 Slips At School: 1. Asking a Blessing, first part 2. Asking a Blessing, second part. These are two separate assignments, but may be said on the same day.

Religion - Apology and Forgiveness, the fall into sin, the family of Adam, the family of God.

Reading - My Name is Maria Isabel, characters' feelings and actions, predicting, different genres.

English - Imperative and exclamatory sentences, subjects and predicates, personal narratives.

Math - Odd and even numbers, number lines, addition stories with missing addends, missing numbers in subtraction.

Science - Physical and chemical changes, test late in the week.

Social Studies - Continue looking at the geography of the United States.

Spelling - Lesson 3 - mine, tie, wild, type, smile, drive, size, blind, visit, thick, die, prize Extra words: fifty, picnic, decide, tiny

Thursday is a Big Day!

Lot's of stuff happening tomorrow at school. Here's what's going on:

1. Anyone interested in band must turn in their band notes tomorrow. Payments do not need to be turned in yet, but sign-up notes should be returned tomorrow.
2. Magazine sales turn in day #2 is tomorrow. Remember to bring all orders in and put them in the big yellow envelope.
3. The September book order is due tomorrow. There's a ton of great ones in there, and if you want a reminder of some I recommended, click here.
4. Tomorrow is Patriot Day in honor of September 11. I didn't know this, but a few years ago, President Bush signed legislation declaring September 11 to be Patriot Day. It's purpose is to remember those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. Everyone is encouraged to remember the day by wearing red, white, and blue. At chapel today, Mr. Betts encouraged us to do so, and now I'm repeating his encouragement. Let's all wear red, white, and blue tomorrow.
5. It's another day of school. And that's a BIG part of our day too, right?

Friday Newsletter Updates

Band and Choir Notes

On Wednesday you should have received an informational note about band. This is an optional program offered at Immanuel. On Thursday, students were allowed to try instruments just to see what would happen, and note came home saying what they tried. Please know that, while band is a unique opportunity for Immanuel students, it is optional.

General Book Order Information
1. You may send cash or a check, but if possible, I'd appreciate a check made out to the book order company. That makes the order easiest for me.
2. I try to include a list of books I know and can recommend with each order.
3. Keep an eye on the book order's due date, and watch the assignment book as well.


And Now, The September Book Order
Here are the books I know and can recommend. I told the class about some of these today:
Swindle by Gordon Korman
Planet Earth: Animals and Their Prey
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Schooled by Gordon Korman
Dive Trilogy by Gordon Korman
Knights of the Lunch Table by Frank Cammuso - Actually, I read another by this author and it was great!
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
Baseball Card Adventures Set by Dan Gutman - Another set that I have't read, but his other books have been great with fourth graders.
Falling Up by Shel Silverstein
The Chronicles of Narnia Box Set by C.S. Lewis - My favorite series of all time.

Some Math Assignment Information
Some of the daily "practice" assignments have been very small - only six questions. This will be changing today when I assign "exercise" assignments. Once we complete "test" assignments, review questions from previously mastered objectives will begin to be added to "practice" assignments.

The Change in Our Class List
We learned this week that, after beginning the year with us, Matthew wasn't going to return to Immanuel. Now that Matthew and Tyler are living in Nekoosa, their mom decided that it would be best for them to attend school in Nekoosa. There have been issues with bussing from Nekoosa, and their family's schedule made getting the boys to and from school very difficult. We prayed with Matthew and asked God to bless him at his new school, and we wish him and his brother all the best.

Yellow Notes
Also known as "late slips," some of these are coming home today. Anytime an assignment is not turned in when it is supposed to be, students receive a bright yellow note. This note lists the assignment and whether it has been turned in. These notes will always come home, even if the work has been turned in before day's end, to keep parents informed. Please sign the note and be sure it is returned with the missing work (if necessary) the next day.

The Upcoming Week

Memory - At School: Evening Prayer At Home: Quarter 1 Week 2 Slips

Religion - Creation

Reading - Donovan's Word Jar, Characters' feelings and actions, interesting vocabulary.

English - Declarative and interrogative sentences, describing.

Math - Subtraction, fact families, numbers through 999, adding money, regrouping.

Science - Matter.

Social Studies - Regions.

Spelling - UNIT 2 asleep, empty, queen, deal, needed, spelling, east, feelings, tea, keeping, beneath, agree Extra words: easy, method Bonus Words: elevator, suggested

Reminders For This Week

Wednesday Evening - Ice Cream and Book Covers
Tomorrow night from 6:00-7:30 the Immanuel PTC is sponsoring an ice cream social / book covering night here at school. Families can come, kids can bring their textbooks, and all the materials needed will be there for textbook covering. Oh, and there will be ice cream as well. All textbooks need to be covered by Friday anyway, so this is a great opportunity to get it done.

Did I mention there will be ice cream?

Magazine Turn In Day #1
The first turn in day is on Thursday. Is everything making sense? Are there any questions? We'll talk about it today in class. Remember, all orders count double on the first turn-in day.

Questions on Memory?
At-Home: These are the Bible verses (#1-24) handed out on Friday. Memory slips come home on Friday and are due by the next Friday. They may be turned in when they are complete. The numbers on the Memory slips match the numbered verses.

At-School: These may be said any morning the student is ready. This week, students may say the first half once, then say all of it when they know it. We practiced this in class together this morning and will continue to do so most weeks.

The Weekly Fourth Gradian

The First Newsletter!
This is the first edition, so to speak, of the Weekly Fourth Gradian, our class newsletter. It will come home on Friday, but there will occasionally be other updates during the week. Everyone will receive a print copy today (and a print copy of the school newsletter), so check your child's Take Home Folder. There are other things in there too. Any attachments or handouts that I mention in the newsletter will be in the folder. I have't quite made it to the level of sending everything home digitally yet. If anyone realizes that you didn't receive the emailed newsletter at an address you gave me or if you want to add another address, let me know.

Memory Assignments
Coming home today is a list of all the memory assignments for the year and all of the memory for the first quarter - three sheets total. Also coming home is a slip of paper listing verses #1-3 as the Quarter 1 Week 1 At Home memory assignment. Those verses are on the sheets. Have your fourth grader practice them at home and say them to you. When you are satisfied they know it, sign and date the form. Each verse may be done separately. These sheets are due by the next Friday. At the bottom of this newsletter is a list of next week's At School assignments as well. These may be said any morning next week. These also are included in today's handout. Keep these sheets in safe places - homework folders, on the fridge, a bulletin board, etc.

Magazine Sales Fund Raiser
Today is the kickoff of our annual magazine sales fund raiser. This is a BIG fund raiser for the school. Here are some key points.

• Don't go door to door.
• Talk to friends, relatives, neighbors, coworkers, etc.
• Encourage renewing subscriptions before purchasing new subscriptions.
• Yes, we have prizes. They are meant as part motivation and part thank you.
• There is a mail and email option as well.
• Check the packet. Most everything should be explained in there.

The packet is coming home with your child today with a catalog and order forms. The first turn-in day is next week on Thursday. Keep your orders and money until that turn-in day.

New Immanuel Church Worship Schedule
Remember, this weekend Immanuel starts their new worship schedule. Worship times are at 8:00 and 10:30. At 9:00 is our education hour with Sunday School and numerous Bible study opportunities.

School Computer Acceptable Use Policy
Another (yeah, there's a lot today) handout coming home today is the computer Acceptable Use Policy. This is a document of rules for our computer system. These rules not only protect our school's computer system, but they are meant to protect the students as well. Please return as soon as possible. New students also have a password handout for their personal login information.

The Upcoming Week

Memory - At Home: Quarter 1 Week 1 slips At School: 1. Morning Prayer, 1st half 2. Morning Prayer, All (Students may say one half first before saying the whole thing or may do it all in one shot.)

Religion - Continue S.T.E.P.S. and apology and forgiveness.

Reading - The Gardener, narrative elements, continue working in our reading notebooks.

English - Diamante Poems

Math - Addition, missing addends, sequences, digits, place value, ordinal numbers.

Science - Begin Unit B on matter.

Social Studies - Why social studies matters, parts of social studies.

Spelling - UNIT 1 played, escape, steak, subway, gray, safely, mistake, greatest, break, after, planting, scratch Extra Words: holiday, paragraph Bonus Words: Wilhorn, Immanuel

And One More Thing...
This week has been such a good one I've decided to give the students Monday off! Congratulations, Fourth Graders! See you Tuesday!

Message Number One

Welcome to fourth grade! Day one is in the books, and it was a great day. I wanted to send out a message to see if the email system is working correctly. I sent out message earlier to the fifth grade families, then deleted the email addresses from last year and added yours.

If you want to see the website, it's located at http://loudestclass.blogspot.com/. The address is from last year's class theme, The Loudest Class in the World, based on "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth; make a LOUD noise." It was easier to just leave the address the same, even though our class theme - See Jesus - is different.

God's blessings!

Happy First Day of School, FIFTH Grade Parents

I was about to delete all of last year's email addresses and replace them with this year's, but then thought it would be great for this old fourth grade teacher to fill your inbox with some final words of wisdom.

But I couldn't think of any.

So I'll just say I hope your fifth grade year goes wonderfully and don't be scared to say, "Hi," even though your not in my class anymore.

God's blessings on the second half of your Immanuel career, and remember, always, always, always, "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: Make a LOUD noise." (And no, that doesn't mean disrupt my class!)

Mr. Wilhorn

Oops! I forgot something!

Okay, actually I forgot more than one thing.

I forgot #1 - I was supposed to write on everyone's report card whether or not students are promoted to fifth grade. So to eliminate all your fears, YES, you all passed fourth grade!

I forgot #2 - I had a letter from Mr. Betts that was supposed to get handed out yesterday with report cards, but they mysteriously remained in my bag. I did catch some of you before you left, but for everyone else, here's the informtion. There's the letter, information on a new student referral program, and a reminder of an upcoming volunteer opportunity. It won't look the same below, but all the text is the same.


6-5-2008

Dear Parents,

What a blessing it has been to have your family part of Immanuel Lutheran School this year. I hope that you have seen how your child and family has been transformed through the year. God has been at work in many areas at Immanuel and my prayer is that Jesus will continue to be the center of your family.

Next year Immanuel will celebrate 125 years of education with the theme “He is the Vine We are the Branches” which is from John 15. Here is where you become a very important part of this theme for next year. I am sure that you are all aware of the closing of Biron Christian Academy. I have talked to the principal Cheryl Ver Hulst about the situation and she has shared with the families at Biron Christian Academy that Immanuel Lutheran School is one option for their families to receive a Christian education.

As parents of the school you are a great resource to the school by being an advocate to promote to families in our community the benefits of attending Immanuel. Please encourage them to consider sending their child to our school this fall. You are all branches in this community and have the ability to inform families first hand of how they can benefit academically, physically, and spiritually through attending Immanuel. One challenge that has limited families from considering attending Immanuel has been the cost. Please encourage them to talk to me about how they can receive a scholarship to attend Immanuel.

I would also encourage you to refer any names of prospective families to the school in which I can contact to provide more information about the benefits of attending Immanuel Lutheran School. There is also an incentive program for you that is on the back of this letter.

Thanks again for a wonderful year and may God bless you this summer as you continue to transform lives around you.

In His Service,

Brian Betts


Immanuel Lutheran School Referral Program

Get FREE SCRIP for referring NEW Families to Immanuel Lutheran School

Did you know that talking about products and services that you have benefited from is the MOST EFFECTIVE form of advertising?

By talking with area families convincingly and positively about Immanuel, You can earn FREE MONEY!

Here’s what you could talk about . . .
A.) The High Academic Achievements of the Students
B.) The freedom to talk about Jesus, All Day, Every Day
C.) The Extra-curricular Activities
D.) The Teachers

After attending Immanuel Lutheran School for six months, the “New Family” will be given a $25 SCRIP Gift Certificate! The “Referring Family” will also be given a $25 SCRIP Gift Certificate!

What REALLY happens?
1.) A new family is blessed (eternally!) by Immanuel
2.) Existing Immanuel families are blessed by the talents and the gifts of the new family
3.) FREE money goes to the Families PLUS the School!


SPECIAL PROJECT: We are looking for painters to do some inside and outside paint jobs at our school. The plan is to work on this the week of June 23 – 27th. Please contact Greg Johnson or the school office if you are able to help with this project.

Thursday, 6/5 Picnic Newsletter Updates

It's 2:00 on Thursday Afternoon. That means the 2007-2008 school year is officially over...

What's in an Envelope?
All sorts of things, but what's in this envelope? You can get the newsletter digitally, but the rest is in the envelope.

1. This Newsletter
2. Report Card
3. Iowa Test of Basic Skills Results
4. A letter from Pastor Grohs (for most people)
5. Next year's (next year!) school supply list
6. Recommended books for summer reading
7. A little card that goes with the recommended books list

Thank You!
On Monday I was surprised with a new carrying case for my computer as a birthday gift from the class. Thanks! (And I’ll be discussing all this secrecy with Mrs. Wilhorn, to be sure!) It was exactly what I wanted and I already have put it to use. I can carry the computer and a lot of books, let me tell you. Again, thank you!

Thank You! Part Two
Thanks as well for a wonderful school year. Another year has gone by and I don’t know where it went honestly. It’s more amazing when I look back at this class as first graders – Mrs. Wilhorn’s last class here at Immanuel. Didn’t fourth grade look a long way off back then? Don’t look now, but…there it goes...

Fourth grade…

As I look back I hope that the students leave 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 know I am taking with me many lessons too, ways I can improve as a teacher, and another 20 students (and their families) that have impacted my life. (As I look at the class list, however, I see over half of the class has younger siblings, and some coming next year!) Thank you.

Missing Items
If you have lunch money that is owed or Mr. Wilhorn's books to turn in or any other items that need to be squared away now that the year is done, please do so as soon as possible. If your report card has been withheld because of these items, it is available in the office. Thanks for your promt attention.

Needtobreathe in Concert FOR FREE in Wausau!
On Friday, June 21 at 8:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wausau the band Needtobreathe will be in concert. (Trinity has a Lutheran School about the same size as ours.) This is the band that sings "Shine On," a song on the Loudest Class in the World CD from the beginning of the year. The cost is free. They'll be loud. It'll be crazy. But it will all be in the name of the Lord! It is a part of the Rainbow Valley Music Festival. For more information check here: http://www.yat.org/Index.asp.

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.

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)

Nicholas

Today we did a character activity with a book called Nicholas. It's the first in a series originally written in France in the 1960s that are now being translated and published in English. They're pretty funny. We looked at the official Nicholas website today, and I thought the kids might like to have the address.

Here it is: www.phaidon.com/nicholas

Friday, 5/30 Newsletter Updates

Last Friday's Field Trip
Coming home with today's newsletter are copies of the old photographs we used on our Wisconsin Rapids field trip last Friday with the new photographs we took along the way. Also coming home is your child's original assignment with his/her observations. Can you notice things your child didn't? Some photographs are very different! The key is trying to find a landmark that is the same in both pictures. Then compare all the differences around that one landmark. Also, a digital copy of all the photographs is availabe in a Word document. I can email it to anyone who requests it.

This Monday's Field Trip
Monday is the walking trip to the library and Dairy Queen. Today we requested books to be placed on hold at the library, so hopefully some will be available on Monday. You can check what your child placed on hold by visiting www.mcmillanlibrary.org and entering the barcode and pin number of the library card that was used.

The Upcoming Week
Next week is a week of tying up loose ends. We will do some wrap-up activities in all the subjects, collect textbooks, pick up and clean up, and do the largest alphabetizing assignment ever known to man, woman, or beast! Bwaah-ha-ha-haaaaa! (Scared?)

The Picnic and THE Kickball Game
The end of the year picnic is on Thursday at Robinson Park. The picnic starts at 11:00. When you arrive, head to the baseball diamond in the back of the park. The kickball game will start at 11:30. (Any parents who are able to attend the picnic are encouraged to come. Of course everyone can't make it, but the parents will need all the he... Well, maybe we'll see you there.) We'll eat around 12:00. Chapel will start around 1:00. And home we go at 2:00. Report cards will be handed out after chapel.

Have a great weekend! It looks like the rain will be past for Saturday and Sunday!

Library Clarification

Sorry if the newsletter was confusing concerning the Thursday/Monday Library field trip. Here's a (hopefully) better version:

Thursday - We will do a lesson in the computer lab about reserving books (placing a hold) at the public library. Library cards are needed for this lesson.

Monday - We will go to the library and pick up the books that we reserved. Library cards will be needed this day as well.

Sorry for any confusion!

Tuesday, 5/27 Newsletter Updates

Final Branch Observation and Final Branch Assignment
Yesterday was the day of the last branch observation, but if you forgot, make that last observation today. Students also received their final assignment for the branch observations today. These are due on Thursday. At that time this 2-page assignment will be turned in with all 9 branch observations.

Library Cards
Next week on Monday we are taking a short field trip to the McMillan Library. Part of the trip is teaching students how to place books on hold using the Internet and then pick them up at the library. This lesson will be on Thursday.

1. If your child has a library card, please send it on Thursday.
2. If your child does not have their own, consider sending yours if you have one.
3. If students don't have a card, is it okay for me to help them get one? As soon as I talk to the library, I'll let you know more details on this.
4. I think we'll also include a side-stop at Dairy Queen for a small goodie. Just so you're aware.

Last Friday's Field Trip - Photos Available
Friday's field trip was a great success. Many students threw themselves right into comparing the past to what they saw before them in the present. If you would like to see all the original photographs compared to the pictures we took on Friday, I can send them to you as a Word document. Email me and I'll send it right back to you.

Old Books for Mrs. Wilhorn
The following is from Mrs. Wilhorn: "I'm collecting gently used books to distribute to students at Mead Elementary School for summer reading. It is so important that kids continue to read over the summer and many students do not have easy access to books to read. If you have any books that are collecting dust at your house I'd be glad to get them into the hands of kids. We are looking for books for ages 4-12. Please let me know by Friday, May 30 if you have books and we can find a way to get them from you."

You can contact her via email at our home address or her school address. At school her address is Jennifer [dot] Wilhorn [at] wrps [dot] org. (Hope that makes sense. I'm just trying to keep the computers out there from adding her address to their spam email lists.)

School Picnic - THE Kickball Game
Apparently there is a tradition with this class that the students take on the parents in a kickball game at the school picnic. I'm told it's "GAME ON" for this year. I'm also told that a number of parents are worried that this may be the last year where the grown-ups have an advantage. The kids are getting older/stronger/faster/smarter and the parents are getting older...well, we'll just let that sentence dangle there. Anyway, Parents, if you haven't started your training regiment yet, get after it! There's a trophy on the line!

This Week's Memory and Spelling
Memory - At Home: Q4W7 Slips. At School: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God verse 1 and The Doxology.
Spelling - UNIT 33 practice, members, dinner, suppose, except, problem, shallow, stubborn, silver, cotton, object, shelter Extra Words: distance, pattern, captive, publish, tractor, narrow Bonus Words: brilliant, suddenly

Last Minute Field Trip Request

It's looking like tomorrow is going to be a bee-youtiful day for our field trip. I am bringing some bottles of water to have on the walk, and I'm hoping our local businesses might let us use restrooms as we make our way through town. Remember those walking shoes! Also, anyone who gets this message tonight, if you have some sunscreen, maybe leftover from last summer sitting in the back of the closet, please consider sending it along with your child. After less than an hour at the mini-golf course today, my face feels like it spent the day at the beach. Better safe than fried to a crisp.

Thanks! And have a great night.

Field Trip Updates

THURSDAY - We do not need parent chaperones to go with us on this field trip. Mrs. Dykstra and I have everything covered.

FRIDAY - Parents who volunteered to drive, thank you. We have enough so that we'll be able to take the class downtown in vans and save some walking time. All parents are invited to come with us. Personally, I'm excited to see the changes in Wisconsin Rapids over time, and I thought that some of you might want to see them as well.

We are leaving school at noon. Any parents who wish to attend, but especially drivers, be here by noon so we can leave. If you can't make it by noon but still wish to see what we're doing, head downtown and join up with us anytime in the afternoon. It shouldn't be too hard to find us!

And everyone - parents, students, the teacher - wear your walking shoes.

Friday, 5/16 Newsletter Updates

The Upcoming Week: Part 1

Monday, 5/19 - The last Speed Stacks after school meeting and branch observation #8. Other than that, a pretty normal day.

Tuesday, 5/20 - A normally scheduled day. (As of now!)

Wednesday, 5/21 - I will be gone at Camp LuWiSoMo with the fifth grade helping teach outdoor education classes. I will be there all day and overnight and will leave early Thursday morning to be back in time for school...bright eyed and bushy tailed, I'm sure.

Thursday, 5/22 - We will take a field trip with the third graders to the planetarium at UW-Stevens Point for a presentation about the changing skies, both daily and yearly. Then we will go mini-golfing as our reward from magazine sales. This will be followed up with pizza, our reward for winning a Domino's night! Wow! Final details are still being ironed out.

Friday, 5/23 - We will take another field trip, but this one closer to home. We are headed to beautiful, downtown Wisconsin Rapids for a look at our past. In Social Studies we are looking at Wisconsin history, and in Reading we read a story called House, House. In the story the author found old photos of her hometown and compared them to new photos of the same items today to show changes over time. We are going to do the same thing with old photos of places in Wisconsin Rapids, but we are going to visit the actual places and take the new photos ourselves! This will take the whole afternoon. Any parents that would like to join us are welcome, and if we have enough drivers we will ride from here to there and back to save some time. We'll be walking most of downtown, from the post office to the river, south of the Grand Ave. bridge and north of the Jackson St. Bridge to the corner of West Grand Ave. and Third Ave.

The Weekend
Have a great weekend, whether it be soccer games or baseball games or dance recitals or relaxing or working around the house. Hopefully the weather holds out and we all have a wonderful weekend.

A Reminder...A Warning?...Or Simply Some Friendly Advice
Try as we might, sometimes it's hard to remember that the school year isn't over yet. Fourth graders, don't relax too much. There's still work to be done, work that will be graded, work that will count on your fourth quarter report cards. Stay responsible.

The Upcoming Week: Part 2

Memory - At Home: Q4W6 Slips At School: God of Grace and God of Glory, 3 verses, +1 for Extra Credit

Religion - Continue in the book of Acts.

Reading - Author's purpose and perspective, skimming and scanning to find information, generalizations.

English - Contractions and negatives, adverbs.

Math - Lessons 100-103

Science - Food chains and food webs

Social Studies - Wisconsin History projects. We are making posters highlighting many different places and areas of Wisconsin. Then we will try to persuade others to visit our place - sort of an English writing tie-in. We will present our information to other classes.

Spelling - UNIT 32: some, sum, tale, plains, close, blew, piece, clothes, tail, planes, blue, peace Extra Words: night, knight, petal, pedal, wait, threw Bonus Words: weight, through

Thursday, 5/8 Newsletter Updates

Some Reminders

• Mr. Wilhorn is gone tomorrow, but turn in any journals or memory slips and I'll get them.
• Mini-courses are tomorrow. Fourth graders will not leave school.
• For those interested in Hatchet sequels, they are: Brian's Winter, Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt. Another Brian story that doesn't follow the order of those four is The River.

Thank You
Wow! What a great Teacher Appreciation week. There were cards and chocolates and lunches and kind words and goodies and, well, more that I forgot probably. Thank you.

Planning Ahead - The Year End Picnic
Just a little something we discussed at our last teacher meetings. For the end of the year picnic, please keep water toys (balloons, guns, squirty things, etc.), hair dye, and silly string at home. Last year these items ended up causing frustration, disagreement, and mess. A big mess. One that needed to be cleaned by people who didn't create the mess. Thanks for understanding.

The Upcoming Week
Memory - At Home: Q4W5 At School: "Oh For a Thousand Tongues to Sing" verses 1-4 (5 & 6 Extra Credit)

Religion - Stories from the book of Acts.

Reading - Reading nonfiction, theme, author's purpose.

English - Finish various types of verbs.

Math - Lessons 95-100.

Science - Ecosystems

Social Studies - Wisconsin

Spelling - UNIT 31: hasn’t, I’ve, I’d, we’ve, wouldn’t, you’d, haven’t, wasn’t, they’ve, you’ve, she’d, didn’t Extra Words: won’t, shouldn’t, couldn’t, weren’t

Some Monday News

Midterms Tuesday
Midterms are coming home on Tuesday. There are two copies. Please sign and return one with any comments or questions and keep one. Please send these back on Wednesday.

2 Things About Friday
First of all, Friday is mini-course day! It promises to be a very fun day for all involved, fourth through eighth grade.

Second of all, I will be in Madison attending the spring meeting of the Cooperative Children's Book Center advisory board. I attended one of these meetings back in November as well. I am serving a three-year term. The Book Center is run by the education department of the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Since I'll be gone, all memory should be said by Thursday. I told students this last week, but the majority of students chose not to say memory today, which leaves 3 verses in 3 days. Our spelling test will also be on Thursday.

Band Update
Mrs. Chips has sent a note home today with all band students. Here's what I know: There will be lessons this Thursday. The band tour (which I believe does NOT involved 4th graders) is on May 15. The band concert is scheduled for May 22.

Thursday, 5/1 Newsletter Updates

Just a Reminder: No School Tomorrow

Mini Courses
An Immanuel tradition, Mini-Courses, will be held next week on Friday. Fourth graders will have the opportunity to participate in several activities and learn skills they normally don't at school. Some upper grade classes leave school, but the fourth graders will be in the building all day.

Battle of the Books is Tonight
Kids have been working hard and reading like crazy to prepare for tonight's competition. We begin right after school, testing your recall of the funny, sad, and exciting events of the books we've read as well as the characters and settings. Everyone is invited to come and watch. The first battles start at 4:00.

Physical Fitness Testing
Next week we do our physical fitness testing. Students should be dressed to participate or at least have their gym clothes here on Monday even though it's not a gym day.

The Upcoming Week
Memory - At Home: Q4W4 At School: Rock of Ages (Verses 1-3 for an A, add verse 4 for extra credit.
Religion - Acts of the Apostles
Reading - Finish Hatchet activities. Kids will want to remember this for their library and bookstore trips. The sequels are: The River, Brian's Winter, Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt.
English - Writing
Math - Continue Lessons 92-95.
Science - Ecosystems. (Are students making their branch observations every Monday?)
Social Studies - Finish chapter 14. Start Wisconsin History.
Spelling - UNIT 29 lamb, often, castle, listen, comb, climbed, fasten, crumbs, soften, thumb, doubt, whistle Extra Words: honest, rhyme, answer, column