Upcoming Events
Monday, Feb. 11th NAEP Testing for 4th graders
Monday, Feb. 11th Puffins to Forest Grove Public Library 2pm-3pm
Students should bring their library books to return, library card and a tote bag.
Chaperones always needed:)
Thursday, February 14th: Valentine’s Day Friendship Celebration
2:30-3:00 See details below!
Monday, Feb 18th NO SCHOOL President's Day
Thursday, Feb. 21st Celebrations of Learning!
Our School-wide Open House from 5-6:30pm
Level 2 students will be presenting their class business and their Mini-Golf course will be open for business!
Remember that our kiddos will be running their business, and are asking for donations to play through the mini-golf course. (If you are able to support their business, please bring your cash donation to play!)
RETURNING STUDENTS Reminder:
Parents of current FGCS students in 1st-7th grades are asked to fill out the online Returning Student Form to confirm that their students will return to FGCS
for the 2019-2020 school year.
Forms are due by 4 p.m. Friday, March 22, but we encourage you to fill out the form as soon as possible.
If you cannot submit the form online, please call the office at 503-359-4600
to provide this information.
Community School Calendar 2018-2019
Forest Grove Public Library November Calendar of Events
A little note about comfort: Winter is here! Please make sure that your kiddo is properly outfitted with warm (waterproof) layers and appropriate footwear on Monday and Wednesdays when they will be outside for at least part of their day.
4th Grade NAEP Testing
FGCS 4th grade students have been selected to participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The NAEP assessment will be given on February 11, 2019. For more information, click here. If you have questions, please contact school test coordinator Karen Torry at [email protected] or 503-359-4600.
What's Happening in the Puffin Nest...
This week, Puffins worked diligently on their class business and prepared to present these big ideas at All School Meeting:
- We have been learning about how local businesses solve problems & appeal to customers
- For our own class business, we wanted to create something fun that was missing in Forest Grove, use resources wisely, and showcase our learning
- We are busy creating our mini golf course business with only repurposed materials and the theme of our Puffin Putt-putt course is: Favorite Books
- We will use the profits from our business to solve a problem at our school, and help make our O&A’s more sustainable
Valentine’s Day Friendship Celebration
The Puffins will show appreciation for our classroom community and friendships with a Friendship Celebration at the end of the day on Thursday, February 14th.
If your Puffin would like to bring in cards for their classmates, they MUST bring one for every student. Please help our classroom flow… for passing out cards with 26 kids:
It works best if they do NOT write out individual names on cards
(when they gift a similar card to each child, it makes it much easier to pass around).
Students can make cards or buy them. It could be fun to focus on creative re-use this year! Check out these links:
https://austincreativereuse.org/2019/01/creative-alternative-valentines/
https://trashmagination.com/valentines-and-business-cards-from-recycled-maps/
Also-please be modest with candy contributions; Puffins will not be allowed to eat treats at school. We have 26 students in our classroom.
Reading Workshop: Literature Circles
These small group "Book Clubs" engage students in rich conversations about shared readings. Students can express their opinions, predictions, and questions about a text in a productive, structured way. Students take on specific group roles which are designed to develop reading, speaking, and thinking abilities. Ask your kiddo to tell you about the book they are reading!
Our Book Club Books:
- Flora & Ulysses
- No Talking
- Shiloh
- Because of Winn Dixie
- Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
- Sideways Stories from Wayside School
- Charlie Bumper vs the Teacher of the Year
- Sasquatch Escape
- Clementine
- How to Train Your Dragon
- One and Only Ivan
- Time Cat
- The People of Sparks
How's your homework routine going?
Suggested Weekly Homework:
Reading Homework
Spend at least 20 minutes reading (outside of school) every day.
Reading is on the "honor system" and we ask that you help your kiddo to develop a daily reading routine with good-fit books and a well-lit, comfy reading spot away from distractions. At fall conferences, your kiddo brought home the Tower of Books wall poster, which is a fun (and optional) reading genre challenge.
Typing Homework
Level 2 students have typing homework to develop and support important keyboarding skills. Please practice at least 20 minutes per week on: Typing.com
Passwords were sent home at family visits. Please email Ginny if you need help getting into your child's account.
Math homework
It is strongly recommended that your student practice math skills at least 30 minutes (or more) per week.
Our Dreambox math program for homework has started. Passwords and account information were sent home with your kiddo this week.
If you are interested in exploring other ways to practice math at home, take a look at these ideas:
Ideas for math practice:
- 4th graders can get valuable math practice with Khan Academy. Current 4th grade math topics are listed below.
- Online Math Game Sites: ZapZap Math or Prodigy- create your own account!
- Multiplication Facts Practice with a simple dice game. How to Play: Each player takes turns rolling 3 dice. First to break 200 (or 500, etc.) wins. On your turn, you get to choose two dice to add together, then you multiply the sum by the final die. That’s your score for that turn.
- Facts Practice with Free Math Apps: Sushi Monster & Math Hero
- Facts Practice with Purchased Math Apps: Operation Math & Math Vs. Zombies
- Place Value and Rounding
- Multi-digit Adding and Subtracting
- Factors & Multiples
- Prime and Composite Numbers
- Multi-digit Multiplication
- Division with Remainder
- Fractions
Prefer a worksheet for math homework? You can download here, or your student can pick up a paper copy in class.
Here are the practice pages for the previous weeks:
- Homework #1: Introduction to Fractions
- Homework #2: Unit Fractions/ Finding Fractions on a Number line
- Homework #3: Comparing Fractions
- Homework #4: Adding & Subtracting Fractions
- Homework #5: Adding & Subtract Fractions with UNLIKE denominators AND Multiplying a Fraction by a Whole Number
All 4th grade math students should be practicing their multiples DAILY.
4th graders have set goals and made plans for daily practice and have identified the numbers they needs to work on (ie. 6’s, 7’s, 8’s, etc.). Check in with your kiddo about this!