le 6 au 10 février 2023   

Upcoming Dates

  • Tuesday, February 14:  Valentine’s Day – Please do not send individual cards to school with your children. We have a tradition in 4th grade. Each student makes his/her own large, glittery card prior to Valentine’s Day in Mme Jana’s soon-to-be very glittery room. (We’ll do that on February 9 or 10.) At the end of Valentine’s Day, we take about half an hour, we open up the doors between the two rooms, and everyone signs everyone else’s cards. It’s always a good time.
  • Monday, February 20:  NO SCHOOL, Presidents Day

What’s up! Quoi de neuf?

Please send your child to school in proper footwear and a water-repellent jacket when the weather is threatening. Students will go out to recess unless the principal decides the weather prevents it. If your child is ill, or has had a fever or vomited within the previous 24 hours, please keep your child home. Please continue to follow current Covid rules as well. If your child will be absent, please email both teachers (kincaid_j@4j.lane.edu and hopper_s@4j.lane.edu) and please call in and leave a message on the school line (541) 790-7080 or for our new secretary, Eliza Drummond, at drummond_e@4j.lane.edu.

Le français:

Mme Jana, French & Science kincaid_j@4j.lane.edu

•We speak exclusively in French during French class.

•We write in complete sentences and can identify many parts of speech.

•We are learning world geography.

We continue to study world geography, including naming continents and oceans in French, identifying the cardinal directions, putting together world puzzles, learning new vocabulary, etc. 

This past week, we finished up our winter French evaluations with writing, comprehension, and listening evaluations. Report cards will come home on February 13.

I showed the kids a cool National Geographic site where you can add layers to world maps. They liked it and may want to explore it a bit more. Try it here.

This week’s French homework is expressions using avoir (to have). As I often tell the kids, French is not a translation of English. Some things are expressed in completely different ways. In French, we don’t say, “I’m hungry,” we say, “I have hunger.” (J’ai faim.) So, for some of the expressions that we use “to be” for in English, we use the verb “to have” instead. Here is the homework if needed:  le vocab expressions avec avoir fév 2023

Les sciences:

Nothing much to report until we begin the Énergie unit!

Mme Shelli, English & Math
hopper_s@4j.lane.edu

Math

Unit 6: Understanding Decimal Fractions and Notation

•We can relate understanding of base-ten place value to numbers written with decimals.

•We can write fractions with denominators of ten or one hundred as decimals.

Most students finished their assessment on comparing and ordering fractions last week. On Monday, we will give a bit more time for some students to finish and will also play some fun games before starting our new unit on Tuesday.

We will start by modeling decimals with base-10 place value blocks and money. In fourth grade, students should be able to identify place value from hundredths to millions. A key concept students should come to understand is that a place value is ten times the value of the place to its right. Here’s a quick video showing how decimals can be modeled visually.

There is no math review homework this week.

 

English 

Literature & Writing: Unit 2 Extreme Settings

Grammar/ Wordstudy: What is a sentence? Many students are struggling with where to end one sentence and start another in their writing. This week’s “Word Study” time will focus on complete sentences.

Reading/ Writing: After reading Mountains by Seymour Simon and portions of the SAS Survival Handbook, student groups selected a mountain range to research. Their group task is to design an informational sign that highlights the mountain range’s location, climate, animals, terrain, and dangers. Since the task involves quite a bit of reading and writing, we are emphasizing quality teamwork which is when all students can be counted on to cooperate, support each other, and contribute their best. 

The production of the sign will take a few days, then students will present their sign to the class, practicing speaking clearly in front of an audience.

Information about this ELA unit can be found here.

After School CLUBS

Plays in French

As in the fall, IHS French Immersion high school students are running a French Play group for fourth and fifth graders to write and produce their own plays. These small group sessions last about an hour on zoom and meet once a week. During this time, a group of two high school students will help students write scripts in French and record short plays on zoom. This is an excellent opportunity for the different generations of French Immersion students to engage, and for all parties to practice French outside of school. (This program is through Rotary Interact, meaning that the high schoolers get volunteer hours.)
 
They already have a selection of students from SEHS who are eager to start mentoring. Finding students from Charlemagne is the next step. The following link is the parent sign-up sheet for the next three months. Please sign your student up for a French Play group here:  https://tinyurl.com/2023frenchplays
 

Mardi Gras Celebration (a note from the organizing parents)

The Charlemagne Mardi Gras planning committee is in full swing, and excited for the February 24th festivities.  One of the many traditions we have is for each class to put together a basket for a raffle.  Your teachers will be receiving a basket from the Committee on February 15.  Some of the past years’ themes have been sports, “Pamper Me”, Baking Fun, Garden Lovers, and many more.  These baskets get raffled off the night of Mardi Gras.  You don’t need to be present to win a basket and can bid on any basket you like.  
 
We are looking for two volunteers from each grade level to spearhead this effort to make sure your grade’s baskets are fabulous.  Please feel free to contact either of us at the emails listed below to volunteer.  
 
There will be additional opportunities to get involved.  We will soon be sending out a “Sign Up Genius” or similar poll to help with selling of beads, masks, hats, and other Mardi Gras store items beginning after school on Friday February 17.
 
Last—if you have any hidden talents that you think would be fun for the kids to experience—magician, amazing hair braider, artist, etc…—feel free to contact the Committee.  
 
We can’t wait for this year’s Mardi Gras Celebration.  Thanks to all of the teachers, parents, volunteers,  PTO, and Principal Joe for your support!
 
Michelle and Lorelei
Mardi Gras Co-Chairs
 
Emails:
Michelle Niesley:  docmrogers@gmail.com
Lorelei Craig:  loreleicraig@gmail.com