May 28, 2018
Dear parents and students,
This week is an important test week. So please continue to prepare for tests and get ample sleep. Please sign below and I will return this letter tomorrow.
To study for Wednesday’s English Test, review:
To study for Thursday’s Science Test, review:
To study for Friday’s Social Studies Test, review:
Each day students will take one part of an End of Year Math Test. Therefore, material from all parts of the year will be covered. This test will be scored in mid-June and will not count on the report card. However, it will help assess the success of this year’s change to the Everyday Mathcurriculum. In fact, we have already seen greater mathematical understanding from looking at the Aspire interim and MAP scores.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
This week is an important test week. So please continue to prepare for tests and get ample sleep. Please sign below and I will return this letter tomorrow.
To study for Wednesday’s English Test, review:
- Irregular Verbs p. 104
- Contractions with “not” p. 112
- Identifying Adjectives p. 120
- A, an, the p. 124
- Comparing with adjectives p. 128
To study for Thursday’s Science Test, review:
- Chapter 6 pp. 171-183 (You will be able to use your book during the test)
- How to read a weather website’s data (Example: see wunderground.com)
- How to compare and contrast weather data and draw a conclusion from data
- Measuring in cm, m, ml, l, g and kg
To study for Friday’s Social Studies Test, review:
- SS textbook pp. 242-255 (You will be able to use the book during the test.)
- Comparing differences between transportation and communication long ago and today
- Comparing Abe Lincoln’s school with yours (See Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln)
- How to read a time line
Each day students will take one part of an End of Year Math Test. Therefore, material from all parts of the year will be covered. This test will be scored in mid-June and will not count on the report card. However, it will help assess the success of this year’s change to the Everyday Mathcurriculum. In fact, we have already seen greater mathematical understanding from looking at the Aspire interim and MAP scores.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
April 30, 2018
Dear parents and third graders,
Congratulations to Angel A. and Kamila on making their First Communion! They read petitions in the Mass and gathered close around the Eucharistic table. Fr. Jose talked about being close to God and the community by praying at Mass each Sunday, reading God's word in the Bible, and knowing God through the actions of each member.
We will have a reading comprehension test this week on Wednesday and a spelling test on Unit 32 on Thursday. There is no school Friday. It is a teacher work day.
Have a good week, and enjoy the warmth of spring!
Ms. Sullivan
Congratulations to Angel A. and Kamila on making their First Communion! They read petitions in the Mass and gathered close around the Eucharistic table. Fr. Jose talked about being close to God and the community by praying at Mass each Sunday, reading God's word in the Bible, and knowing God through the actions of each member.
We will have a reading comprehension test this week on Wednesday and a spelling test on Unit 32 on Thursday. There is no school Friday. It is a teacher work day.
Have a good week, and enjoy the warmth of spring!
Ms. Sullivan
April 23, 2018
Dear third graders and parents,
Thank you for your good attendance and effort during the ACT Aspire testing. You really proved how you can concentrate and use your skills across the subject areas. I have seen such growth since the beginning of the year. We still have almost two months to keep up our curiosity and engage in the learning process. Let's continue to do our best.
Our Unit 8 in math will challenge us to solidify multiplication, measure by 1/4 inch, and work with time.
Today we are celebrating Earth Day at our school assembly. Are you using less plastic and reducing your carbon footprint? In Social Studies we will read about our use of natural resources. Plan for a test on Friday.
Wednesday please prepare for the Religion Test on the resurrection stories. Please study the terms resurrection and paschal mystery especially.
Our skills in reading will concentrate on author's point of view, cause and effect, and sequencing events. We will begin reading the historical novel Sarah, Plain, and Tall. We will also be reading and discussing If You Lived When Women Won the Right to Vote in preparation for leading an assembly in May.
Please also study for the Unit 30 Spelling Test for Friday.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Thank you for your good attendance and effort during the ACT Aspire testing. You really proved how you can concentrate and use your skills across the subject areas. I have seen such growth since the beginning of the year. We still have almost two months to keep up our curiosity and engage in the learning process. Let's continue to do our best.
Our Unit 8 in math will challenge us to solidify multiplication, measure by 1/4 inch, and work with time.
Today we are celebrating Earth Day at our school assembly. Are you using less plastic and reducing your carbon footprint? In Social Studies we will read about our use of natural resources. Plan for a test on Friday.
Wednesday please prepare for the Religion Test on the resurrection stories. Please study the terms resurrection and paschal mystery especially.
Our skills in reading will concentrate on author's point of view, cause and effect, and sequencing events. We will begin reading the historical novel Sarah, Plain, and Tall. We will also be reading and discussing If You Lived When Women Won the Right to Vote in preparation for leading an assembly in May.
Please also study for the Unit 30 Spelling Test for Friday.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
April 16, 2018
Dear parents and third graders,
This is our standardized test week. It is important that each child demonstrate how much she or he has learned. So please get lots of sleep each night, and be to school on time. Homework will be reading mostly. Talk to each other about test strategies like eliminating choices that don't make sense, reading all parts of the question several times, looking for proof in the text, and writing in full sentences. For math children are encouraged to draw pictures, try multiple strategies, and write out problems on the scratch paper.
We are collecting plastic bottles for an Earth Day project. Feel free to donate yours from your recycling pile!
There are no tests this week except for the very important ActAspire tests.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
This is our standardized test week. It is important that each child demonstrate how much she or he has learned. So please get lots of sleep each night, and be to school on time. Homework will be reading mostly. Talk to each other about test strategies like eliminating choices that don't make sense, reading all parts of the question several times, looking for proof in the text, and writing in full sentences. For math children are encouraged to draw pictures, try multiple strategies, and write out problems on the scratch paper.
We are collecting plastic bottles for an Earth Day project. Feel free to donate yours from your recycling pile!
There are no tests this week except for the very important ActAspire tests.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
April 9, 2018
Dear third graders and parents,
It is good to see you again! I hope you had a very happy Easter! As the Easter season continues for 50 days we will be focusing on the resurrection stories and encounters of Christ this week. We will also share in Easter treats.
This is our final week to prepare for the ACT Aspire Test. Please remember that the faculty will meet this Friday, and the students will not have class, though. Then we begin testing next week. We will build our confidence in our skills this week.
There will be a number of grammar skills we will practice besides our writing of the personal reflective narrative. Please look over the narratives from other weeks that I passed back for parents and students to discuss. You will find your strengths and can correct mistakes in future essays. I chose contractions, commas in a series, a/an , and writing quotations as concepts to work on as a group for our grammar this week.
Tuesday and Wednesday we will take a science test on our investigating of moving objects. The science practices of explaining observations, making predictions, testing variables, and noticing patterns are particularly important. Know the vocabulary "variable, standard, balanced force, and unbalanced force".
The Spelling Unit 27 test is Thursday since we have a short week.
This week we are focusing on comprehending nonfiction passages and using text evidence to prove a statement. We will compare energy resources and find out how to conserve natural resources, too.
Please sign the math tests. We will review fractions on a number line, and then begin Unit 8 (which focuses on multiplication and division patterns and solid geometrical figures.)
It will be a full week! Get good sleep each night and eat your fruits and veggies!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
It is good to see you again! I hope you had a very happy Easter! As the Easter season continues for 50 days we will be focusing on the resurrection stories and encounters of Christ this week. We will also share in Easter treats.
This is our final week to prepare for the ACT Aspire Test. Please remember that the faculty will meet this Friday, and the students will not have class, though. Then we begin testing next week. We will build our confidence in our skills this week.
There will be a number of grammar skills we will practice besides our writing of the personal reflective narrative. Please look over the narratives from other weeks that I passed back for parents and students to discuss. You will find your strengths and can correct mistakes in future essays. I chose contractions, commas in a series, a/an , and writing quotations as concepts to work on as a group for our grammar this week.
Tuesday and Wednesday we will take a science test on our investigating of moving objects. The science practices of explaining observations, making predictions, testing variables, and noticing patterns are particularly important. Know the vocabulary "variable, standard, balanced force, and unbalanced force".
The Spelling Unit 27 test is Thursday since we have a short week.
This week we are focusing on comprehending nonfiction passages and using text evidence to prove a statement. We will compare energy resources and find out how to conserve natural resources, too.
Please sign the math tests. We will review fractions on a number line, and then begin Unit 8 (which focuses on multiplication and division patterns and solid geometrical figures.)
It will be a full week! Get good sleep each night and eat your fruits and veggies!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
March 19, 2018
Dear students and parents,
This week we will be taking the Math Aspire interim test at 8:30 AM Tuesday. Please be to school on time and rested!
In science we are talking about a design standard and then testing variables on the design.
Please keep practicing using liquid measurements and making comparisons with liters and millimeters. Also, look for fractions in everyday life.
Wednesday the school will celebrate its Sacrament of Reconciliation in the church at 9:30 AM. We'll have a religion test Friday day on Chapters 14 and 15. Be familiar with the parables, names of the sacraments of healing, and vocabulary terms on pp. 175-195.
I'm missing two library books, The Great Chicago Fire and What was the Great Chicago Fire? from the public library. Please take a look to see if you might still have one of them. Thanks!
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
This week we will be taking the Math Aspire interim test at 8:30 AM Tuesday. Please be to school on time and rested!
In science we are talking about a design standard and then testing variables on the design.
Please keep practicing using liquid measurements and making comparisons with liters and millimeters. Also, look for fractions in everyday life.
Wednesday the school will celebrate its Sacrament of Reconciliation in the church at 9:30 AM. We'll have a religion test Friday day on Chapters 14 and 15. Be familiar with the parables, names of the sacraments of healing, and vocabulary terms on pp. 175-195.
I'm missing two library books, The Great Chicago Fire and What was the Great Chicago Fire? from the public library. Please take a look to see if you might still have one of them. Thanks!
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
March 12,2018
Dear parents and third graders,
We have another full week ahead. As Lent continues, we will look to themes of making peace with God and peace with our neighbor. On Wednesday at 10:00 we will join all Archdiocesan schools to pray for an end to gun violence. The eighth graders will lead this prayer over the PA system. Next week we will join in a Reconciliation service in the church.
In Math Unit 7 our students will be focusing on more applications with fractions. Please help your child see practical uses of fractions in everyday situations. Also, keep practicing math games with multiplication and division like Salute! or Multiplication Top It. Using dice or a deck of cards, you can even invent your own games.
In Science we are studying patterns of motion. We are improving our reasoning skills as we test out models. Soon we'll even be designing little carts.
In reading we are working on drawing conclusions as we read for clues to understand. While we will have an Aspire interim test Tuesday, we will have a reading test Wednesday with vocabulary from the Garden of Gasazi (in the textbook) and mixed reading comprehension skills from new narratives. Please also study the terms: characters, setting, plot, conclusion.
Thursday we will have an English test on using the correct verb tenses. Check your planner for page references to study.
As usual, we will have a Spelling Test on Friday (unit 26) and our Stations of the Cross at 1:30 PM.
May you feel the love of God as you walk through this week!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
We have another full week ahead. As Lent continues, we will look to themes of making peace with God and peace with our neighbor. On Wednesday at 10:00 we will join all Archdiocesan schools to pray for an end to gun violence. The eighth graders will lead this prayer over the PA system. Next week we will join in a Reconciliation service in the church.
In Math Unit 7 our students will be focusing on more applications with fractions. Please help your child see practical uses of fractions in everyday situations. Also, keep practicing math games with multiplication and division like Salute! or Multiplication Top It. Using dice or a deck of cards, you can even invent your own games.
In Science we are studying patterns of motion. We are improving our reasoning skills as we test out models. Soon we'll even be designing little carts.
In reading we are working on drawing conclusions as we read for clues to understand. While we will have an Aspire interim test Tuesday, we will have a reading test Wednesday with vocabulary from the Garden of Gasazi (in the textbook) and mixed reading comprehension skills from new narratives. Please also study the terms: characters, setting, plot, conclusion.
Thursday we will have an English test on using the correct verb tenses. Check your planner for page references to study.
As usual, we will have a Spelling Test on Friday (unit 26) and our Stations of the Cross at 1:30 PM.
May you feel the love of God as you walk through this week!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
March 5, 2018
Dear parents and third graders,
We were happy to see and hear so much history and trivia about Chicago last week! Good job on the projects! Our study guide for Thursday's test includes:
Most children were very successful at Unit 6 Math. Congratulations! The students had more difficulty on the Cumulative Assessment, so please review the problems with your children.
We will have our Spelling test Friday as usual.
March is Women's History month, so we will be focusing on women's struggle for their rights and recognition. Second and third graders will begin to plan a school assembly with some scenes from women in STEM (Science, technology, Engineering, and Math) careers.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
We were happy to see and hear so much history and trivia about Chicago last week! Good job on the projects! Our study guide for Thursday's test includes:
- a packet of information about Jean Baptiste Pointe duSable, Chicago's first settler who came to live among the Potawatomi people.
- a sheet on the great Chicago fire of 1871
- a sheet of the symbols of the Chicago flag
- descriptions of the World's Exposition of 1893, life in Chicago during World War 2
Most children were very successful at Unit 6 Math. Congratulations! The students had more difficulty on the Cumulative Assessment, so please review the problems with your children.
We will have our Spelling test Friday as usual.
March is Women's History month, so we will be focusing on women's struggle for their rights and recognition. Second and third graders will begin to plan a school assembly with some scenes from women in STEM (Science, technology, Engineering, and Math) careers.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Feb. 27, 2018
Dear parents and third graders,
Thank you for supporting your children's academic and spiritual growth. Your love for your children is so obvious to me at conferences.
This week we have two school events. We will attend the African American Heritage celebration in the church Wednesday at 9:30 AM. Our Stations of the Cross will be Friday at 1 PM instead of 1:30 PM.
Our tests for the week:
Peace and blessings,
Ms. Sullivan
Thank you for supporting your children's academic and spiritual growth. Your love for your children is so obvious to me at conferences.
This week we have two school events. We will attend the African American Heritage celebration in the church Wednesday at 9:30 AM. Our Stations of the Cross will be Friday at 1 PM instead of 1:30 PM.
Our tests for the week:
- Wednesday: Unit 6 Assessment in Math
- Thursday: Cumulative Assessment in Math
- Friday: Spelling Unit 23
Peace and blessings,
Ms. Sullivan
Dear parents and third graders,
This is the last week of our trimester. We are also celebrating Ash Wednesday with the community Mass at 12 noon and a Saint Valentine's party on Friday. Students who attended the Family Math Games nights were given a pass to be out of uniform on Friday.
The teachers will be discussing your child's interim reading and math tests that prepare them for the Aspire. In general our students showed their progress in math, but really need to work harder in reading. Please give whatever attention you are able to read with your child, and to ask them to explain what they are reading. Try to read a variety of kinds of fiction and nonfiction.
This week we are having tests in Reading comprehension Wednesday, Science forces of magnetism and gravity on Thursday, and Spelling Unit 21 on Friday. Children will have a quiz to write their addresses on Friday, too. Children who were absent last week will be given their English test on Thursday.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
This is the last week of our trimester. We are also celebrating Ash Wednesday with the community Mass at 12 noon and a Saint Valentine's party on Friday. Students who attended the Family Math Games nights were given a pass to be out of uniform on Friday.
The teachers will be discussing your child's interim reading and math tests that prepare them for the Aspire. In general our students showed their progress in math, but really need to work harder in reading. Please give whatever attention you are able to read with your child, and to ask them to explain what they are reading. Try to read a variety of kinds of fiction and nonfiction.
This week we are having tests in Reading comprehension Wednesday, Science forces of magnetism and gravity on Thursday, and Spelling Unit 21 on Friday. Children will have a quiz to write their addresses on Friday, too. Children who were absent last week will be given their English test on Thursday.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Feb. 5, 2018
Samantha is playing Multiplication Baseball.
Dear parents and third graders,
Thank you for sending your children to a Catholic School. Your dedication and love were so evident during Catholic Schools week. Our class had a two thirds turn out at our first Family Math Games night. Your engagement in their learning is so vital to keeping the students' motivation and curiosity alive. Thank you for also playing math games at home. You will find the instructions at the end of the math reference book. This week we are playing multiplication baseball. I also found a Youtube video if you want to see how it is played.
Here's a heads up. We will celebrate Saint Valentine on Friday, Feb. 16 since Feb. 14 is Ash Wednesday. We have 15 students. Children may bring cards. Abigail, Angel A and Angel P, Rogelio, and Samantha have the turn on class treats.
This week will do not have school on Thursday. The teachers will have a meeting day.
Our tests for this week are:
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Thank you for sending your children to a Catholic School. Your dedication and love were so evident during Catholic Schools week. Our class had a two thirds turn out at our first Family Math Games night. Your engagement in their learning is so vital to keeping the students' motivation and curiosity alive. Thank you for also playing math games at home. You will find the instructions at the end of the math reference book. This week we are playing multiplication baseball. I also found a Youtube video if you want to see how it is played.
Here's a heads up. We will celebrate Saint Valentine on Friday, Feb. 16 since Feb. 14 is Ash Wednesday. We have 15 students. Children may bring cards. Abigail, Angel A and Angel P, Rogelio, and Samantha have the turn on class treats.
This week will do not have school on Thursday. The teachers will have a meeting day.
Our tests for this week are:
- Wednesday: Religion Ch 21 pp. 265-275
- Thursday: Spelling Unit 20
- Thursday: Present tense regular and irregular verbs --Study pp 72-83
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
January 22, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
We will have a Social Studies and Spelling Test Unit 18 on Friday. Please learn the vocabulary for the Martin Luther King book and use the study sheet to study for Social Studies. This week we are taking the Aspire Interim test in Reading. I'm noticing a need for increased comprehension of what the children are reading. Please remember to read both fiction and nonfiction materials at home. Ask questions and discuss connections as you read. Have a good week! Ms. Sullivan |
Jan. 16, 2018
Dear parents and students,
I hope the holiday for Martin Luther King was an opportunity to share about civil rights and ways to participate in government. We find ourselves in an era in which participating as a citizen is very important. In class and in our neighborhoods it is important to care for one another as a community and children of God. On Friday the school celebrates peacemakers at 9:30 a.m. in the church. Congratulations to Milani and Alex for being third grade peacemakers.
We will be getting right back to work this week. Children are investigating animal adaptations, exploring fractions, discussing human rights and civil rights, and writing personal narratives. Here are our tests for the week:
Tuesday or Wednesday: Aspire Test
Wednesday: Practice X3 test
Thursday: Science test
Friday: Spelling Unit 17
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Merry Christmas everyone! |
Dec. 11, 2017
Dear parents and students,
Happy feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe tomorrow! We are preparing for Christmas with Advent activities, but also we are continuing to work and finish units. For a pizza party treat, how about "liking" our class door decorations on the Saint Pius V School facebook page? Sharing the post will bring us more votes, too! Thanks!
www.facebook.com/SaintPiusV/?hc_ref=ARQ9yLdwqViGIXY6Hru-2ebiE4KVLSqJNPyQfHJmUH34J-yu8u5G5121rY7WPkh0T8Y&fref=nf
Please study for these tests:
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Happy feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe tomorrow! We are preparing for Christmas with Advent activities, but also we are continuing to work and finish units. For a pizza party treat, how about "liking" our class door decorations on the Saint Pius V School facebook page? Sharing the post will bring us more votes, too! Thanks!
www.facebook.com/SaintPiusV/?hc_ref=ARQ9yLdwqViGIXY6Hru-2ebiE4KVLSqJNPyQfHJmUH34J-yu8u5G5121rY7WPkh0T8Y&fref=nf
Please study for these tests:
- Tuesday: Open book Science test--Study pp. 39-43 and your vertebrate and invertebrate worksheets
- Thursday: English test on Nouns--Study identifying nouns in a sentence and in the subject of a sentence; study identifying and forming singular and common nouns with regular and irregular endings
- Friday: Unit 15 Spelling Test
- Next Tuesday, Dec. 19 Math Unit 4 test Geometry and Measuring Parents: Make sure your child knows each shape and vocabulary word. Use the Parent Letter sent home with this.
- Next Wednesday, Dec. 20 Religion Test: Advent and Christmas: Know the Advent wreath sequence and colors, Mary's role as Mother of God and appearance as Our Lady of Guadalupe, John the Baptist, and the Nativity
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Dec. 6, 2017
Happy St. Nicholas day! For a treat, see our Native American projects in the "Pictures" menu.
Nov. 27, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
I was very grateful for the break and the chance to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends. I hope this long weekend also brought you refreshment.
Tomorrow is our Unit 3 math test.
Thursday is our field trip to the Field Museum of Natural History.
Friday is a Spelling test unit 12.
We will be working on our Native American reports each day. Copying the edited paragraphs will be homework. Since this may take time, it may replace reading 20 min. if your child needs it.
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
I was very grateful for the break and the chance to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends. I hope this long weekend also brought you refreshment.
Tomorrow is our Unit 3 math test.
Thursday is our field trip to the Field Museum of Natural History.
Friday is a Spelling test unit 12.
We will be working on our Native American reports each day. Copying the edited paragraphs will be homework. Since this may take time, it may replace reading 20 min. if your child needs it.
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
Nov. 13, 2017
Dear parents and students,
Thank you for dressing warmly. We will be going out to recess whenever possible.
This week we aim to write the first 3 paragraphs of our Native American tribal report. Please bring your books each day to school. We will also use iPads to support our information.
Friday--Spelling Unit 11
We will see both children and parents at the report card conference Sunday. Your time was given in your brown envelope Friday.
The third graders will help lead the Thanksgiving Mass next Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 1:30. All are welcome!
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Thank you for dressing warmly. We will be going out to recess whenever possible.
This week we aim to write the first 3 paragraphs of our Native American tribal report. Please bring your books each day to school. We will also use iPads to support our information.
- Tests this week:
- Wednesday--Reading Skills and Dancing Rainbows vocabulary: tradition, ancestors, imitating, honor, respect, elders
Friday--Spelling Unit 11
We will see both children and parents at the report card conference Sunday. Your time was given in your brown envelope Friday.
The third graders will help lead the Thanksgiving Mass next Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 1:30. All are welcome!
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Nov. 6, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
As Thanksgiving approaches we will be studying Native Americans and working on a new project. Today students will take home their Native American tribe book and begin reading for information. We will work on note taking in class for the report. By Thursday you will have the instructions for the project. On Nov. 30 we will visit the Field Museum of Natural History and have a tour of the Pawnee earth lodge. Stay tuned!
In November we will continue studying the lives of the saints and what it means to have a thankful heart. God deserves our praise for all he has given us, and we should also thank others. Our faith is a gift from God.
Please be persevering in Math. I can see the engagement is really building new concepts. Terrific! Also, do not forget to practice multiplication facts with your fact triangles or other flash cards or games.
We will only have a spelling test this week (Friday).
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
As Thanksgiving approaches we will be studying Native Americans and working on a new project. Today students will take home their Native American tribe book and begin reading for information. We will work on note taking in class for the report. By Thursday you will have the instructions for the project. On Nov. 30 we will visit the Field Museum of Natural History and have a tour of the Pawnee earth lodge. Stay tuned!
In November we will continue studying the lives of the saints and what it means to have a thankful heart. God deserves our praise for all he has given us, and we should also thank others. Our faith is a gift from God.
Please be persevering in Math. I can see the engagement is really building new concepts. Terrific! Also, do not forget to practice multiplication facts with your fact triangles or other flash cards or games.
We will only have a spelling test this week (Friday).
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Oct. 30, 2017
We have exciting days ahead. Today is the field trip to the Rudy Lozano Library. Tomorrow is Halloween. Children may not wear costumes, but we will have an hour for sharing treats (from the children assigned) and having games. On Wednesday, we will participate in the All Saints Day Mass at 9:30 AM. All are welcome. Thursday we will celebrate All Souls/Day of the Dead. Please bring pictures of loved ones anytime this week. Friday the teachers will be meeting about the curriculum, so the children do not have class.
Therefore, the Spelling test Unit 9 is Thursday. We will also have a test on the subject and predicate of the sentence. Use your Grammar text to study.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Therefore, the Spelling test Unit 9 is Thursday. We will also have a test on the subject and predicate of the sentence. Use your Grammar text to study.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
October 24, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
Yesterday was very exciting because we had a demonstration of Aztec dancing by Henry Cervantes, a school parent, and two other members of the group. They taught us the history of the dance and the instruments with their Mexica origin. Rogelio and Emilio even got to learn a few steps! We look forward to seeing the dancers again at the novena of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December.
This week we will only have a spelling test. The Unit 8 test is on Friday. Meanwhile, please sign each test from the test folder tonight and return them.
Please read about the Math Unit 3 skills in the family letter. Practice the skills and the vocabulary at home. Please continue to play games and practice fact triangles to build fact fluency.
We will be learning about the traditions of the Day of the Dead (Nov. 2--All Souls Day) and making our own ofrenda in the classroom. Please send pictures or photocopies of loved ones who have passed away. Also in Religion we will be learning about various saints as we head into All Saints' Day (Nov. 1). All Hallow's Eve (Halloween) is the vigil of All Saints, and "hallow" comes from the word "holy" like when we say "Hail Mary" meaning "Holy Mary".
Next Monday is our field trip to the Rudy Lozano library. If you already have a card and will not use it over the weekend, it would be great for me to keep Thursday or Friday so that we don't forget them! Those who sent in applications will receive cards when we arrive. Our first half hour at the library will be a lesson on using the library for research. Then we will look for books for our Native American projects that we will work on in November. A second book for pleasure may also be checked out if your child is using his or her card.
Thank you for all the work you do at home!
Ms. Sullivan
Yesterday was very exciting because we had a demonstration of Aztec dancing by Henry Cervantes, a school parent, and two other members of the group. They taught us the history of the dance and the instruments with their Mexica origin. Rogelio and Emilio even got to learn a few steps! We look forward to seeing the dancers again at the novena of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December.
This week we will only have a spelling test. The Unit 8 test is on Friday. Meanwhile, please sign each test from the test folder tonight and return them.
Please read about the Math Unit 3 skills in the family letter. Practice the skills and the vocabulary at home. Please continue to play games and practice fact triangles to build fact fluency.
We will be learning about the traditions of the Day of the Dead (Nov. 2--All Souls Day) and making our own ofrenda in the classroom. Please send pictures or photocopies of loved ones who have passed away. Also in Religion we will be learning about various saints as we head into All Saints' Day (Nov. 1). All Hallow's Eve (Halloween) is the vigil of All Saints, and "hallow" comes from the word "holy" like when we say "Hail Mary" meaning "Holy Mary".
Next Monday is our field trip to the Rudy Lozano library. If you already have a card and will not use it over the weekend, it would be great for me to keep Thursday or Friday so that we don't forget them! Those who sent in applications will receive cards when we arrive. Our first half hour at the library will be a lesson on using the library for research. Then we will look for books for our Native American projects that we will work on in November. A second book for pleasure may also be checked out if your child is using his or her card.
Thank you for all the work you do at home!
Ms. Sullivan
October 16, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
Friday we examined fossils and debated if a fossil was from a plant or animal. The students are growing in their ability to express their reasoning in math and science. in both subjects explaining their reasoning requires examining evidence. This is also true to read a text and comprehend it. When your child reads any kind of text, please ask them questions about it.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) is our Spelling Unit 7 test since most students needed more time to study those difficult patterns.
We will be taking Math tests for Unit 2 of Everyday Math and the online Aspire interim tests Tuesady through Thursday.
Friday we will have the Science test on Ch. 1 lessons 3-5. Please use the book to study vocabulary and content. We will also have a test Friday on what we have studied about Saint Francis. Saint Francis' basic history and prayer will be given on a study sheet.
As the weather changes, please bundle up. Be aware that the school sweater is plain red or navy blue. Girls may wear the jumper or pants. Sweatshirts and hoodies are not allowed in the classroom, so having the proper sweater on music days and the SCHOOL sweatshirt on gym days is required.
If you are baseball fans, please assure that children go to bed at their regular time--getting 9-10 hours of sleep. Their concentration requires this.
I'm proud of all the good learning that is taking place! Your children are very capable, so keep up the good work!
Ms. Sullivan
Friday we examined fossils and debated if a fossil was from a plant or animal. The students are growing in their ability to express their reasoning in math and science. in both subjects explaining their reasoning requires examining evidence. This is also true to read a text and comprehend it. When your child reads any kind of text, please ask them questions about it.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) is our Spelling Unit 7 test since most students needed more time to study those difficult patterns.
We will be taking Math tests for Unit 2 of Everyday Math and the online Aspire interim tests Tuesady through Thursday.
Friday we will have the Science test on Ch. 1 lessons 3-5. Please use the book to study vocabulary and content. We will also have a test Friday on what we have studied about Saint Francis. Saint Francis' basic history and prayer will be given on a study sheet.
As the weather changes, please bundle up. Be aware that the school sweater is plain red or navy blue. Girls may wear the jumper or pants. Sweatshirts and hoodies are not allowed in the classroom, so having the proper sweater on music days and the SCHOOL sweatshirt on gym days is required.
If you are baseball fans, please assure that children go to bed at their regular time--getting 9-10 hours of sleep. Their concentration requires this.
I'm proud of all the good learning that is taking place! Your children are very capable, so keep up the good work!
Ms. Sullivan
October 2, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
Thank you for all the work you have been doing. Please sign tests tonight. Progress reports will be sent on Thursday.
Wednesday is our Social Studies test. Study the history of Mexican Independence sheet, the cardinal and intermediate directions on a compass rose, the location of Mexico, USA, and Canada on the North American map.
Friday is the Spelling test as usual.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Thank you for all the work you have been doing. Please sign tests tonight. Progress reports will be sent on Thursday.
Wednesday is our Social Studies test. Study the history of Mexican Independence sheet, the cardinal and intermediate directions on a compass rose, the location of Mexico, USA, and Canada on the North American map.
Friday is the Spelling test as usual.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Sept. 25, 2017
Sept. 18, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
I hope you celebrated your heritage well this weekend. We were blessed with a fun time Friday with mariachis to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. One of my former third graders from St. Pius was in the group!
Thursday is a big day. We will celebrate International Peace day by having a rally at 10:30. Thursday evening is the Back to School night. Parents should come first to the basement of the church at 6 PM for Ms. Nasko's presentation. Then you can come up to see our room. This is a night for parents only.
Friday there is no school. It was already planned as a professional development day for the teachers. Also, the electricity will be effected for work that is being done.
We got slightly behind schedule last week, so the Religion and Math tests will be Wednesday of this week. Study Unit 1 in the Religion book. Look over problem types from the Math homework that was returned to you. Thursday is the Spelling Test of Unit 4.
In Life Science we are studying the life cycles of plants and animals. For this reason your children are caring for a mealworm larva. They need to keep them alive to observe their changes. Please keep it away from children and pets over the weekend. Keep it dry. They can live off of water that is in the air, but need dry, unsugared oatmeal or cereal for food and shelter.
Have a great week!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
I hope you celebrated your heritage well this weekend. We were blessed with a fun time Friday with mariachis to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. One of my former third graders from St. Pius was in the group!
Thursday is a big day. We will celebrate International Peace day by having a rally at 10:30. Thursday evening is the Back to School night. Parents should come first to the basement of the church at 6 PM for Ms. Nasko's presentation. Then you can come up to see our room. This is a night for parents only.
Friday there is no school. It was already planned as a professional development day for the teachers. Also, the electricity will be effected for work that is being done.
We got slightly behind schedule last week, so the Religion and Math tests will be Wednesday of this week. Study Unit 1 in the Religion book. Look over problem types from the Math homework that was returned to you. Thursday is the Spelling Test of Unit 4.
In Life Science we are studying the life cycles of plants and animals. For this reason your children are caring for a mealworm larva. They need to keep them alive to observe their changes. Please keep it away from children and pets over the weekend. Keep it dry. They can live off of water that is in the air, but need dry, unsugared oatmeal or cereal for food and shelter.
Have a great week!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
Sept. 11, 2017
Congratulations to Angel P. and all the third grade artists. We have some great talent in our room!
Dear parents and third graders,
Please join us in praying for those effected by the hurricanes. Please join us to fill Soldier Field with food for Chicago's food banks, too. Each class in all the schools of the archdiocese is collecting cans and boxes of food that will not spoil. This starts today. We'll be collecting until Oct. 15.
Unit 1 Religion Test is Thursday.
Unit 3 Spelling Test is Friday.
On Friday we will also have a school Mass to celebrate the beginning of the school year.
Our big math test will be Tuesday, Sept. 19. In this test children will need to solve problems, but they will also need to explain in sentences how they would solve a problem. So please practice this at home with your homework. Don't forget to make math problems out of everyday situations. For example, "How much time is there between when we eat dinner and go to bed?
Any time children write, they should write in sentences with end marks and proper capitals. Please support your child with this. Also, have them answer questions you ask in complete sentences. For example, an answer to "Would you like an apple or a banana?" shouldn't be "an apple". It should be, "I would like an apple, please."
In Science we are studying plants' parts, functions, and their life cycles. In Social Studies we are learning how to use directions on a map and label and read bar graphs.
Thank you for all your work!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
PS We have fantastic artists in our class. See our shoe drawings on the wall near third grade next Thursday, Sept. 21 at the Open House.
Please join us in praying for those effected by the hurricanes. Please join us to fill Soldier Field with food for Chicago's food banks, too. Each class in all the schools of the archdiocese is collecting cans and boxes of food that will not spoil. This starts today. We'll be collecting until Oct. 15.
Unit 1 Religion Test is Thursday.
Unit 3 Spelling Test is Friday.
On Friday we will also have a school Mass to celebrate the beginning of the school year.
Our big math test will be Tuesday, Sept. 19. In this test children will need to solve problems, but they will also need to explain in sentences how they would solve a problem. So please practice this at home with your homework. Don't forget to make math problems out of everyday situations. For example, "How much time is there between when we eat dinner and go to bed?
Any time children write, they should write in sentences with end marks and proper capitals. Please support your child with this. Also, have them answer questions you ask in complete sentences. For example, an answer to "Would you like an apple or a banana?" shouldn't be "an apple". It should be, "I would like an apple, please."
In Science we are studying plants' parts, functions, and their life cycles. In Social Studies we are learning how to use directions on a map and label and read bar graphs.
Thank you for all your work!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
PS We have fantastic artists in our class. See our shoe drawings on the wall near third grade next Thursday, Sept. 21 at the Open House.
Sept.5, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
I hope you had a nice Labor Day!
Reading is so essential to your child's success. Please read EVERY night. Talk about what you read. Notice patterns as you sound out words. Soon you will be getting an update from me about your child's level of reading. This week we are doing comprehension tests on passages we read.
Our only other test will be Spelling unit 2.
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
I hope you had a nice Labor Day!
Reading is so essential to your child's success. Please read EVERY night. Talk about what you read. Notice patterns as you sound out words. Soon you will be getting an update from me about your child's level of reading. This week we are doing comprehension tests on passages we read.
Our only other test will be Spelling unit 2.
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
Aug. 21, 2017
Dear third graders and families,
Happy beginnings! I hope you had a relaxing summer. I am so happy to see all the new smiling faces. We will start work steadily. This first week is important for setting routines, beginning basic work and doing pretests. I would love to meet the parents as you drop your child off for school or pick them up, so please introduce yourselves. Here are some things you should know:
Today is a special day since the solar eclipse is happening across the continental USA. Therefore I have given students certified safety glasses for viewing the solar eclipse. They have homework to view the eclipse and record images either by observing personally or by internet. See the attached papers.
Students are allowed to bring water bottles (if they have water only in them) to our room since our classroom is on the 4th floor. We are so blessed to have air conditioning at our school.
Full days of school start tomorrow (Tuesday). Students will be dismissed at 2:45 p.m. The meal program also starts Tuesday. I would like to meet the people who will be picking up your children, so please come introduce yourselves to me before or after school.
Most Mondays or Tuesdays you will receive a letter from me. It will say which tests we are having, what vocabulary words to study, and other news. The newsletter will also be posted on our class website www.stpius3.weebly.com.
Please bring in the school supplies as soon as possible and wear the correct uniforms. Gym uniforms are worn on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also please bring in an old t-shirt that can stay at school for covering up your child when we might get messy during art or science. Soon each child will need a small plastic container for a science project. See-through used containers (like for cole slaw or margarine) are perfect.
Thanks for sending me your wonderful children,
Ms. Dana Sullivan
PS Hablo espanol. Si prefiera comunicar en espanol puedo escribir, leer, y hablar en espanol. No lo hablo perfecto, pero estoy contenta comunicar en cualquier idioma.
May 30, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
This week we will only have make-up tests. But the learning continues. We are reading Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln. We continue with division and reinforcing learnings about measurements of all kinds. We are making goals for the summer, and readying for Pentecost, the feast of the Holy Spirit. In science we continue investigations on magnetism, forces that make objects move, and engineering practices.
Please be aware that next week we will have no school Monday, a full day Tuesday, and a half day on Wednesday. Tuesday will be the day to celebrate with class awards.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
This week we will only have make-up tests. But the learning continues. We are reading Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln. We continue with division and reinforcing learnings about measurements of all kinds. We are making goals for the summer, and readying for Pentecost, the feast of the Holy Spirit. In science we continue investigations on magnetism, forces that make objects move, and engineering practices.
Please be aware that next week we will have no school Monday, a full day Tuesday, and a half day on Wednesday. Tuesday will be the day to celebrate with class awards.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
May 15, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
I hope you had a happy Mother's Day. My appreciation goes to all the mothers who love and give so much attention to their children, as well as supporting their education.
We're very proud of our two spelling bee contestants: Natalie and Sarahi. They competed against third graders of 8 other Catholic Schools last Thursday at Saint Malachi School. Both girls stayed in many rounds and spelled with poise and confidence. ("Poise. . . May I have a definition and a sentence for that, please? Poise, P-O-I-S-E, poise")
Here are the list of tests for the week:
Tuesday: Timed Math Test: 100 multiplication in 5 min.(all factors 0 to 9)
Wednesday: Retest Math Cumulative 16
Thursday: Spelling Dictation of sentences of past words.
Friday: Spelling Unit 37
Friday: Social Studies: Natural Resources pp. 160-166 SS text and Water and Climate pp. 68-71
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
I hope you had a happy Mother's Day. My appreciation goes to all the mothers who love and give so much attention to their children, as well as supporting their education.
We're very proud of our two spelling bee contestants: Natalie and Sarahi. They competed against third graders of 8 other Catholic Schools last Thursday at Saint Malachi School. Both girls stayed in many rounds and spelled with poise and confidence. ("Poise. . . May I have a definition and a sentence for that, please? Poise, P-O-I-S-E, poise")
Here are the list of tests for the week:
Tuesday: Timed Math Test: 100 multiplication in 5 min.(all factors 0 to 9)
Wednesday: Retest Math Cumulative 16
Thursday: Spelling Dictation of sentences of past words.
Friday: Spelling Unit 37
Friday: Social Studies: Natural Resources pp. 160-166 SS text and Water and Climate pp. 68-71
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
May 8, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
Are your family members in love with nature? Are you fascinated with the greening and growing of this spring? Then probably you are making connections between math, science, and social studies in your home. Keep it up! Our planet appreciates your love and care. Spending time together as a family to experience nature and talk about it will benefit your body, soul and mind. It will have long-term influences for the community, too. For the next few weeks our spelling words will be students' names and commonly misspelled words we use in writing. Spelling Unit 36 test is Friday. We will have our Religion Test on Friday. Students should study pp. 373-379 and the worksheets with the Resurrection stories. The Math Cumulative test is Wednesday. Our X9 test of 25 problems to complete in one minute is Friday. We are practicing 90-100 mixed multiplication problems in 5 minutes each day. Most students are improving each day. This is great. Thanks for practicing at home, too! |
May 1, 2017
Dear Parents and third graders,
Happy May Day and Did del Trabajador (and Saint Joseph the Worker)! Thank you for all your work! Yesterday was the happy occasion of the school's First Communion. Congratulations to Elizabeth Cave!
This Thursday evening is the school's Noche Mexicana, the main fundraiser of the year. Don't forget we do not have classes Friday.So our spelling test on Unit 35 contractions will be Thursday. Other tests are as follows:
English: Irregular verbs and contractions pp. 104-115 and 180 from the Grammar text. We will also identify adjectives of kind and number pp.120. This test is also Thursday.
Science test on weather and climate will be Wednesday. Mostly this is based on investigations, but knowing the water cycle and the difference between weather (short term conditions) and climate (usual weather patterns from year to year and season to season) is important. Please know the terms evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
Have a great week! Be sure to watch your weather reports for changing weather conditions!
Ms. Sullivan
Happy May Day and Did del Trabajador (and Saint Joseph the Worker)! Thank you for all your work! Yesterday was the happy occasion of the school's First Communion. Congratulations to Elizabeth Cave!
This Thursday evening is the school's Noche Mexicana, the main fundraiser of the year. Don't forget we do not have classes Friday.So our spelling test on Unit 35 contractions will be Thursday. Other tests are as follows:
English: Irregular verbs and contractions pp. 104-115 and 180 from the Grammar text. We will also identify adjectives of kind and number pp.120. This test is also Thursday.
Science test on weather and climate will be Wednesday. Mostly this is based on investigations, but knowing the water cycle and the difference between weather (short term conditions) and climate (usual weather patterns from year to year and season to season) is important. Please know the terms evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
Have a great week! Be sure to watch your weather reports for changing weather conditions!
Ms. Sullivan
April 24, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
Standardized testing is over, hurray!
Standardized testing is over, hurray!
Apr. 2, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
During this season of Lent we are learning the values of Jesus through prayer, discipline, and giving. Please remember to keep contributing to the mission bank by Friday. This week we will have a Reconciliation service on Wednesday in the church to ask forgiveness for our sins. On Thursday we will have a Religion test on prayer and Lenten practices. Friday is the Stations of the Cross.
Congratulations on your studies of the multiplication tables. They are showing good results now--with a class average of 96% on the X 6 one minute test! I'm so proud of you. This week we test X7 on Friday. We will also review + and - problems (100 in 5 min.) The next Cumulative Test on a variety of problems is tomorrow, Tuesday.
As usual we will have a Spelling Test on Friday. This is unit 33.
We are also reviewing test strategies and doing practice tests in reading, math, and writing a personal narrative. Our standardized testing begins the day we get back from Easter, Apr. 18!!!! Please make sure the children get plenty of rest over break, particularly Easter night and Monday.
As you are cooking, driving, etc notice the cycle of evaporation and condensation and precipitation. We are noting weather predictions and actual weather and doing more experiments in class.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
During this season of Lent we are learning the values of Jesus through prayer, discipline, and giving. Please remember to keep contributing to the mission bank by Friday. This week we will have a Reconciliation service on Wednesday in the church to ask forgiveness for our sins. On Thursday we will have a Religion test on prayer and Lenten practices. Friday is the Stations of the Cross.
Congratulations on your studies of the multiplication tables. They are showing good results now--with a class average of 96% on the X 6 one minute test! I'm so proud of you. This week we test X7 on Friday. We will also review + and - problems (100 in 5 min.) The next Cumulative Test on a variety of problems is tomorrow, Tuesday.
As usual we will have a Spelling Test on Friday. This is unit 33.
We are also reviewing test strategies and doing practice tests in reading, math, and writing a personal narrative. Our standardized testing begins the day we get back from Easter, Apr. 18!!!! Please make sure the children get plenty of rest over break, particularly Easter night and Monday.
As you are cooking, driving, etc notice the cycle of evaporation and condensation and precipitation. We are noting weather predictions and actual weather and doing more experiments in class.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
March 28, 2017
Dear parents and students,
Please keep studying for your multiplication tests. This week on Friday we will have the X 6 test. We will have our spelling Unit 32 test, too. All those augh and ough words can be tough, be we can do it!
Wednesday will be the Science Investigation Test for our 2nd unit on the states of water as liquid and ice. Study the relationship between temperature, density, and volume, Study your notebook and book please tonight.
It's a short note because I'm short on time.
Happy spring!
Ms. Sullivan
Please keep studying for your multiplication tests. This week on Friday we will have the X 6 test. We will have our spelling Unit 32 test, too. All those augh and ough words can be tough, be we can do it!
Wednesday will be the Science Investigation Test for our 2nd unit on the states of water as liquid and ice. Study the relationship between temperature, density, and volume, Study your notebook and book please tonight.
It's a short note because I'm short on time.
Happy spring!
Ms. Sullivan
March 20, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
I hope you had a restful and fun vacation. Hopefully everyone is eager to learn again. It is the time of year that some children need reinforcement in their learning. Please check your child's homework planner. If there is homework of something to read or study without a worksheet, it is not to be ignored.
Is your child interested in being on the St. Pius V soccer team? There is still room for a few more players. Let Ms. Nasko or Ms. Abby know.
Tests for the week:
- Thursday: Social Studies--Map skills and a timeline, main ideas of the Women's Rights book
- Thursday: Math Cumulative Review
- Friday: Spelling Unit 31
- Friday: Math Facts X5 (25/min) and makeup X 4 (25/min)
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
March 6, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
Today was our field trip. Thank you for sending the bus money to make it possible. We are such good explorers and want to keep learning in all modes!
We will have a test each day this week (before next week's vacation).
Tuesday: Math
Wednesday: English --use of verbs in past, present and future
Thursday: Science--properties of water
Friday: Unit 29 Spelling and X 4 (25/min)
Have a good week!
Today was our field trip. Thank you for sending the bus money to make it possible. We are such good explorers and want to keep learning in all modes!
We will have a test each day this week (before next week's vacation).
Tuesday: Math
Wednesday: English --use of verbs in past, present and future
Thursday: Science--properties of water
Friday: Unit 29 Spelling and X 4 (25/min)
Have a good week!
Feb. 28, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
Thank you for coming to conferences. Let's make goals to keep learning with a positive attitude! Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. We will attend the 12 noon parish Mass. You are welcome, of course. Wednesday will be our X 3 timed test. Friday we will take our Unit 28 Spelling test. Get ready to learn about how women won the right to vote! Each day we will be reading from the text If You Lived When Women Won the Right to Vote. In Science we are learning about water patterns and weather patterns. You may wish to perform more investigations at home. Learn to read a weather site on the internet. Have a good week! Ms. Sullivan |
Feb. 13, 2017
Feb. 6, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
We had a lot of fun for Catholic Schools Week. Thank you to our chaperones for coming with us to Disney on Ice, and to all the parents for paying the bus fee.
This week the teachers are working together on Friday and doing science and religion professional development. The children will not have classes Friday.
That means our Spelling test will be moved up to Thursday. We will have our math test on Tuesday, so please look over the practice test tonight and know how to solve each problem. Wednesday we will have a Reading Test. The children should study the vocabulary from reading Follow the Drinking Gourd, a book about the underground railroad. We will have Phonics work in the test on adding suffixes (endings to words) and prefixes (word parts to change the meaning at the beginning) to a base word. Finally, there will be reading comprehension passages.
Our new science unit is on Water and Climate. You may find the children eager to repeat their investigations in your house! Talking about weather and climate and watching weather reports or using a weather app may be helpful.
In Math we are concentrating on multiplication now. Please do a lot of skip counting (3, 6, 9, . . .), memorize facts, and find practical applications to reinforce the concepts and ease with facts. We will introduce division as well, so noticing when we multiply and when we divide are really important.
Next week I will be having surgery on my nose, so Ms. Khamo will be substituting for me.
Peace,
Ms. Sullivan
PS Don't forget to bring canned food goods or used winter clothing tomorrow. Our drive ends tomorrow.
We had a lot of fun for Catholic Schools Week. Thank you to our chaperones for coming with us to Disney on Ice, and to all the parents for paying the bus fee.
This week the teachers are working together on Friday and doing science and religion professional development. The children will not have classes Friday.
That means our Spelling test will be moved up to Thursday. We will have our math test on Tuesday, so please look over the practice test tonight and know how to solve each problem. Wednesday we will have a Reading Test. The children should study the vocabulary from reading Follow the Drinking Gourd, a book about the underground railroad. We will have Phonics work in the test on adding suffixes (endings to words) and prefixes (word parts to change the meaning at the beginning) to a base word. Finally, there will be reading comprehension passages.
Our new science unit is on Water and Climate. You may find the children eager to repeat their investigations in your house! Talking about weather and climate and watching weather reports or using a weather app may be helpful.
In Math we are concentrating on multiplication now. Please do a lot of skip counting (3, 6, 9, . . .), memorize facts, and find practical applications to reinforce the concepts and ease with facts. We will introduce division as well, so noticing when we multiply and when we divide are really important.
Next week I will be having surgery on my nose, so Ms. Khamo will be substituting for me.
Peace,
Ms. Sullivan
PS Don't forget to bring canned food goods or used winter clothing tomorrow. Our drive ends tomorrow.
Jan. 30, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
This is a special week because it is Catholic Schools Week. Thank you for sending your children to a Catholic School. Special activities are planned each day.
Monday: Catholic Schools trivia and puzzles
Tuesday: Service Day—Our class will sponsor a Winter Clothes and Food Drive!
Wednesday: a surprise
Thursday: Spirit Day—Classes face off in games in the gym
Friday: Field Trip to see Disney on Ice
And we’ll also work. Here are our tests:
Tuesday: Science Ch. 4 Lessons 1-4 (not 5)
Wednesday: Religion—Review the scripture of the Flight of the Holy Family from Egypt, definitions of immigrant and refugee, difference between respectful and peaceful actions and those that are not for “welcoming the stranger”. SWBAT match descriptions of human rights with pictures.
Thursday: Spelling Unit 23
Enjoy the week! Clean out some closets for winter coats, hats, mittens, scarves and blankets to keep other Chicagoans warm this winter! Find a box or can of food to donate, too! Thanks so much!
Ms. Sullivan
This is a special week because it is Catholic Schools Week. Thank you for sending your children to a Catholic School. Special activities are planned each day.
Monday: Catholic Schools trivia and puzzles
Tuesday: Service Day—Our class will sponsor a Winter Clothes and Food Drive!
Wednesday: a surprise
Thursday: Spirit Day—Classes face off in games in the gym
Friday: Field Trip to see Disney on Ice
And we’ll also work. Here are our tests:
Tuesday: Science Ch. 4 Lessons 1-4 (not 5)
Wednesday: Religion—Review the scripture of the Flight of the Holy Family from Egypt, definitions of immigrant and refugee, difference between respectful and peaceful actions and those that are not for “welcoming the stranger”. SWBAT match descriptions of human rights with pictures.
Thursday: Spelling Unit 23
Enjoy the week! Clean out some closets for winter coats, hats, mittens, scarves and blankets to keep other Chicagoans warm this winter! Find a box or can of food to donate, too! Thanks so much!
Ms. Sullivan
Welcoming the Stranger
I imagine you are watching the news and are concerned about the current government dynamics, particularly for migrants and refugees. If you wish to do further reading on what the Catholic Church teaches, here is a webpage you can read and then read related sources, like the document from the bishops Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity. Go to http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/migrants-refugees-and-travelers/quotes-rights-migrants-refugees.cfm
Here are a few quotes from the Catholic Church on “The Rights of Migrants”
I imagine you are watching the news and are concerned about the current government dynamics, particularly for migrants and refugees. If you wish to do further reading on what the Catholic Church teaches, here is a webpage you can read and then read related sources, like the document from the bishops Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity. Go to http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/migrants-refugees-and-travelers/quotes-rights-migrants-refugees.cfm
Here are a few quotes from the Catholic Church on “The Rights of Migrants”
- Every human being has the right to freedom of movement and of residence within the confines of his own state. When there are just reasons in favor for it, he must be permitted to migrate to other countries and to take up residence there. The fact that he is a citizen of a particular state does not deprive him of membership to the human family, nor of citizenship in the universal society, the common, world-wide fellowship of men. John Paul II, Address to the New World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Immigrants (October 17, 1985)
- The local people, moreover, especially public authorities, should all treat [immigrants] not as mere tools of production but as persons, and must help them to arrange for their families to live with them and to provide themselves with decent living quarters. Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes: Pastoral Constitution on the Church (December 7, 1965), no. 66 ( The Documents of Vatican II, ed. Walter M. Abbott, SJ [Chicago: Follett Publishing Co., 1966])
Jan. 17, 2017
Dear parents and third graders,
What can we do to build our community? How will we learn to respect others while we stand firm for the rights we profess? These are questions we are exploring in third grade. As we study the history of civil rights and the United Nation's declaration on human rights we will examine how we care for each other.
Tests this week:
Wednesday: Math Cumulative Test
Thursday: Social Studies: Martin Luther King, Jr. and reading a timeline
Friday: Spelling and Math Facts -7, -8, -9
Have a good week!
Ms Sullivan
Dear third graders and parents,
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man of courage and deep faith. His faith led him to action for oppressed people because of his belief in a God who created all people in beauty, diversity, and love. In third grade we are learning about the present and past history of our country. We are learning about how it is a place where people emigrate with hopes for a future, and how we have a responsibility to build a country of respect and justice for all.
This Friday we will celebrate peacemakers as a school. Our class will honor Elizabeth and Lexi as class representatives who embody peacemaking in the day to day. Come celebrate with us, Friday at 9:30 in the church.
Friday will also be a day for us to be tested on common and proper nouns in English. We will have Unit 20 Spelling words tested that day, too.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man of courage and deep faith. His faith led him to action for oppressed people because of his belief in a God who created all people in beauty, diversity, and love. In third grade we are learning about the present and past history of our country. We are learning about how it is a place where people emigrate with hopes for a future, and how we have a responsibility to build a country of respect and justice for all.
This Friday we will celebrate peacemakers as a school. Our class will honor Elizabeth and Lexi as class representatives who embody peacemaking in the day to day. Come celebrate with us, Friday at 9:30 in the church.
Friday will also be a day for us to be tested on common and proper nouns in English. We will have Unit 20 Spelling words tested that day, too.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Jan. 9, 2017
Dear third graders and parents,
Happy New Year! Welcome back! I hope you had a relaxing and fun time with your family. I hope all are ready to get interested in our studies together.
As we approach Martin Luther King’s birthday the third graders will be studying what it means to be a citizen and to have civil rights and responsibilities. Since our Church has just celebrated the Epiphany (God shows himself in the person of Jesus) we will learn more about the early life of Jesus. He and his parents became refugees in their exile to Egypt. We will also research what it means to be a refugee, migrant, or immigrant in our world today.
In science we will continue studying animal adaptations and interactions.
Our reading will focus on reading for understanding vocabulary and making inferences using the text and what we know from our background (schema).
We are becoming pen pals with another third grade class in Rhode Island. As we write we will learn the verb tenses and plural spellings of common nouns and capitalizing proper nouns. This Friday we will have a test on the plural spellings of nouns. We will also have our regular Spelling test Unit 19.
Let’s not forget math! Please drill those addition and subtraction flash cards. Thursday we will have the test on subtracting 5 and 6 and solving for a difference of 5 and 6. This will be timed (25/min.)
Thanks for your enthusiasm!
Ms. Sullivan
Happy New Year! Welcome back! I hope you had a relaxing and fun time with your family. I hope all are ready to get interested in our studies together.
As we approach Martin Luther King’s birthday the third graders will be studying what it means to be a citizen and to have civil rights and responsibilities. Since our Church has just celebrated the Epiphany (God shows himself in the person of Jesus) we will learn more about the early life of Jesus. He and his parents became refugees in their exile to Egypt. We will also research what it means to be a refugee, migrant, or immigrant in our world today.
In science we will continue studying animal adaptations and interactions.
Our reading will focus on reading for understanding vocabulary and making inferences using the text and what we know from our background (schema).
We are becoming pen pals with another third grade class in Rhode Island. As we write we will learn the verb tenses and plural spellings of common nouns and capitalizing proper nouns. This Friday we will have a test on the plural spellings of nouns. We will also have our regular Spelling test Unit 19.
Let’s not forget math! Please drill those addition and subtraction flash cards. Thursday we will have the test on subtracting 5 and 6 and solving for a difference of 5 and 6. This will be timed (25/min.)
Thanks for your enthusiasm!
Ms. Sullivan
Dec. 19, 2016
Dear parents and third graders,
I wish you a very merry Christmas. May you have safe, fun and meaningful times with family and friends. May you be blessed with the light of the Prince of Peace in the coming year.
This week we will be retesting finding differences of 3 and 4 on Wednesday and adding 100 problems in a minute. Please find time over the break to keep practicing flash cards to add and subtract quickly. Also please keep reading each day. Practice makes perfect!
Tomorrow we will have an open book test on Ecosystems in Science.
Wednesday night is our Christmas pageant. Children should arrive in the church between 6-6:15. This is always a fun night!
Thursday is the Christmas party sponsored by the 8th graders. Children will need money for games and food. However, a boxed lunch will also be served on this day through the regular food program.
May I suggest some items for Santa's list? Many students are in need of a new supply of pencils, colored pencils, and crayons.
Christmas vacation begins Friday. We will return Jan. 9. Have a wonderful holiday season!
Ms. Sullivan
I wish you a very merry Christmas. May you have safe, fun and meaningful times with family and friends. May you be blessed with the light of the Prince of Peace in the coming year.
This week we will be retesting finding differences of 3 and 4 on Wednesday and adding 100 problems in a minute. Please find time over the break to keep practicing flash cards to add and subtract quickly. Also please keep reading each day. Practice makes perfect!
Tomorrow we will have an open book test on Ecosystems in Science.
Wednesday night is our Christmas pageant. Children should arrive in the church between 6-6:15. This is always a fun night!
Thursday is the Christmas party sponsored by the 8th graders. Children will need money for games and food. However, a boxed lunch will also be served on this day through the regular food program.
May I suggest some items for Santa's list? Many students are in need of a new supply of pencils, colored pencils, and crayons.
Christmas vacation begins Friday. We will return Jan. 9. Have a wonderful holiday season!
Ms. Sullivan
Dec. 5, 2016
Dear parents and third graders,
Our reports and diaramas or posters on the Native American tribe are due Thursday. Points will be taken off if they are turned in late. Diaramas and posters that arrive early will be placed out of view until the 8th. I can't wait to see them!
Please be prepared for a Math retest on Wednesday. Studying each type of question on the Cumulative Test 7A will help. Anyone who scored higher on the 7B Test will have their score replaced.
The school's night for hosting the novena is Tuesday. We will have a Mass for Our Lady on Friday at 1:30 p.m. Feel free to join us.
We had a fun field trip. The kids were great learners and observed the exhibits closely for details! Our tour guide complimented me on how good their questions were. He also commented on how soft-spoken they were. Some of the kids need to learn to project their voices when speaking in a group or in a setting with background noises.
In Science now we will be studying animal adaptations.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
PS. See some photos of our field trip on www.stpius3.weebly.com in the pictures menu.
Our reports and diaramas or posters on the Native American tribe are due Thursday. Points will be taken off if they are turned in late. Diaramas and posters that arrive early will be placed out of view until the 8th. I can't wait to see them!
Please be prepared for a Math retest on Wednesday. Studying each type of question on the Cumulative Test 7A will help. Anyone who scored higher on the 7B Test will have their score replaced.
The school's night for hosting the novena is Tuesday. We will have a Mass for Our Lady on Friday at 1:30 p.m. Feel free to join us.
We had a fun field trip. The kids were great learners and observed the exhibits closely for details! Our tour guide complimented me on how good their questions were. He also commented on how soft-spoken they were. Some of the kids need to learn to project their voices when speaking in a group or in a setting with background noises.
In Science now we will be studying animal adaptations.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
PS. See some photos of our field trip on www.stpius3.weebly.com in the pictures menu.
Nov. 28, 2016
Dear parents and third graders,
I hope you had fun family time over Thanksgiving break! We are going on our field trip to the Field Museum of Natural History on Thursday. We will spend our time in the fossil exhibits and the Pawnee Earth Lodge Tour. The permission slip and $5 was due today, so please have them in by tomorrow if it is not in yet. Thank you!
This week we will add two more paragraphs to our rough drafts of our report on the Native American tribes. Please remember that the final drafts are due with the poster or diorama on Dec. 8.
On Wednesday we will have our adding test of one minute for 25 problems of +7 and +8. Friday will be our Spelling test and Math test.
As we begin the season of Advent we will prepare Advent themes, study Our Lady of Guadalupe, and engage in many rituals and symbols of Advent. O come, o come Emmanuel (God-with-us).
Have a good week!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
I hope you had fun family time over Thanksgiving break! We are going on our field trip to the Field Museum of Natural History on Thursday. We will spend our time in the fossil exhibits and the Pawnee Earth Lodge Tour. The permission slip and $5 was due today, so please have them in by tomorrow if it is not in yet. Thank you!
This week we will add two more paragraphs to our rough drafts of our report on the Native American tribes. Please remember that the final drafts are due with the poster or diorama on Dec. 8.
On Wednesday we will have our adding test of one minute for 25 problems of +7 and +8. Friday will be our Spelling test and Math test.
As we begin the season of Advent we will prepare Advent themes, study Our Lady of Guadalupe, and engage in many rituals and symbols of Advent. O come, o come Emmanuel (God-with-us).
Have a good week!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
Nov. 21, 2016
Dear parents and third graders,
This will be just a quick note to say "Happy Thanksgiving" to all your families. I'm grateful for all your support and enthusiasm for learning. I'm grateful for the gentle nature of the children. I'm grateful for your faith that nurtures mine. I'm grateful for all your sacrifices to send your children to Saint Pius.
Vacation starts Wednesday. I hope you will have great family time. If you wish to start on your projects, you may get some ideas by looking at the pictures on our website www.stpius3.weebly.com and looking under "Pictures" and then "Native American Project".
Tomorrow we will have our Thanksgiving Mass at 1:30 in the church. All are welcome to come.
Over the break practice adding 7 and 8 fast. There is no spelling test this week.
Gratefully,
Ms. Sullivan
This will be just a quick note to say "Happy Thanksgiving" to all your families. I'm grateful for all your support and enthusiasm for learning. I'm grateful for the gentle nature of the children. I'm grateful for your faith that nurtures mine. I'm grateful for all your sacrifices to send your children to Saint Pius.
Vacation starts Wednesday. I hope you will have great family time. If you wish to start on your projects, you may get some ideas by looking at the pictures on our website www.stpius3.weebly.com and looking under "Pictures" and then "Native American Project".
Tomorrow we will have our Thanksgiving Mass at 1:30 in the church. All are welcome to come.
Over the break practice adding 7 and 8 fast. There is no spelling test this week.
Gratefully,
Ms. Sullivan
Nov. 15, 2016
Dear parents and third graders,
We are preparing to lead the school in our Thanksgiving Mass next Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 1:30 p.m. Please join us if you are able.
This week we are reading and writing our first three paragraphs about a Native American tribe. In class we use the internet site www.bigorrin.org for a resource, as well as a book from our library. Feel free to consult other kid-friendly sources at home.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, we will have 2 tests. We will test math 25 facts adding 5 and 6 in one minute. We will test Science chapter 2, lessons 1 and 2 on the groupings of animals and their life cycles.
Friday we will have our regular Spelling test on Unit 14.
Please come to your conference on Sunday with plenty of time to spare for parking. If you know you can not make the conference and need to arrange for another time, please call the office before Sunday.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
We are preparing to lead the school in our Thanksgiving Mass next Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 1:30 p.m. Please join us if you are able.
This week we are reading and writing our first three paragraphs about a Native American tribe. In class we use the internet site www.bigorrin.org for a resource, as well as a book from our library. Feel free to consult other kid-friendly sources at home.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, we will have 2 tests. We will test math 25 facts adding 5 and 6 in one minute. We will test Science chapter 2, lessons 1 and 2 on the groupings of animals and their life cycles.
Friday we will have our regular Spelling test on Unit 14.
Please come to your conference on Sunday with plenty of time to spare for parking. If you know you can not make the conference and need to arrange for another time, please call the office before Sunday.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Nov. 7, 2016
Dear parents and third graders,
This we are back to normal days with no night Cubs’ games. Hallelujah! It is also the last week of this trimester, and we will have a few tests:
Social Studies: Wednesday This will cover the lessons from the Red Ribbon Week(s) on using I-messages, making choices against drug and alcohol abuse, and the Junior Achievement economics lessons on balancing a checkbook and using various forms of money: cash, checks, debit and credit cards. Children will need to know their definitions and practical uses.
Math Facts +3, +4 One-minute test with 25 problems: Wednesday
Math Cumulative Test: Thursday
Spelling Unit 12 Friday
English Subject-Predicate Retest Friday This test is for those who had a C or lower on the past test.
In Science we are studying classifying animals by body features and uses. Comparing and contrasting is an important skill we will use.
This is Native American month. Soon you will receive a packet explaining the research project each child will do on a tribe. We are scheduled for a field trip to the Field Museum to have a Pawnee Earth Lodge tour on Dec. 1.
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
This we are back to normal days with no night Cubs’ games. Hallelujah! It is also the last week of this trimester, and we will have a few tests:
Social Studies: Wednesday This will cover the lessons from the Red Ribbon Week(s) on using I-messages, making choices against drug and alcohol abuse, and the Junior Achievement economics lessons on balancing a checkbook and using various forms of money: cash, checks, debit and credit cards. Children will need to know their definitions and practical uses.
Math Facts +3, +4 One-minute test with 25 problems: Wednesday
Math Cumulative Test: Thursday
Spelling Unit 12 Friday
English Subject-Predicate Retest Friday This test is for those who had a C or lower on the past test.
In Science we are studying classifying animals by body features and uses. Comparing and contrasting is an important skill we will use.
This is Native American month. Soon you will receive a packet explaining the research project each child will do on a tribe. We are scheduled for a field trip to the Field Museum to have a Pawnee Earth Lodge tour on Dec. 1.
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
Oct. 24, 2016
Dear parents and third graders,
Our reading and writing on main ideas and supporting details is coming to use as we describe the houses we designed. The houses were very creative! I think we have future architects in this class.
This week we will have practice standardized tests we take on the iPads. We will take them Tuesday and Wednesday in Math and Reading. On Friday we will take Spelling and English tests. Please study subjects and predicates in a sentence. Please work on subtraction facts from 10 (like 10-7) for the next timed math facts test.
On Thursday, volunteers from businesses will be teaching us the Junior Achievement course on "Our City" . We will learn new terms about city planning, planning a business, and how money is used. This is always a great opportunity for practical use.
On top of this, there will be special lessons over the next two weeks for avoiding drugs, alcohol and gangs.
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
Our reading and writing on main ideas and supporting details is coming to use as we describe the houses we designed. The houses were very creative! I think we have future architects in this class.
This week we will have practice standardized tests we take on the iPads. We will take them Tuesday and Wednesday in Math and Reading. On Friday we will take Spelling and English tests. Please study subjects and predicates in a sentence. Please work on subtraction facts from 10 (like 10-7) for the next timed math facts test.
On Thursday, volunteers from businesses will be teaching us the Junior Achievement course on "Our City" . We will learn new terms about city planning, planning a business, and how money is used. This is always a great opportunity for practical use.
On top of this, there will be special lessons over the next two weeks for avoiding drugs, alcohol and gangs.
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
Oct. 2, 2016
Dear parents and third graders,
Tomorrow is the feast day of Saint Francis, and we will be learning about his prayers, love for God's creation, and stories of his life. Friday is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. We will have an all school Mass. You are invited, too. We will need to memorize the prayers on our Religion sheet "Liturgy of the Eucharist" for a test on Friday.
Tomorrow is the English test. We will cover the difference between fragments and sentences, the four kinds of sentences, and the end marks for each kind.
On Wednesday we will have our Math Tests. Students should be able to add and subtract with regrouping, order numbers to 999, write numbers in expanded form (879=800+70+9) and write word problems for addition. Students should be able to add to 10 with 25 problems in a minute.
On Thursday we will have a Science Test on Lessons 3 and 4 of Ch. 1. Please study the ways seeds travel, how they are pollinated, and the differences in coniferous and deciduous trees and plants.
It will be a busy week! Please be aware that we will have no school next Monday on Indigenous People's Day, Oct. 10.
Peace, Ms. Sullivan
Tomorrow is the feast day of Saint Francis, and we will be learning about his prayers, love for God's creation, and stories of his life. Friday is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. We will have an all school Mass. You are invited, too. We will need to memorize the prayers on our Religion sheet "Liturgy of the Eucharist" for a test on Friday.
Tomorrow is the English test. We will cover the difference between fragments and sentences, the four kinds of sentences, and the end marks for each kind.
On Wednesday we will have our Math Tests. Students should be able to add and subtract with regrouping, order numbers to 999, write numbers in expanded form (879=800+70+9) and write word problems for addition. Students should be able to add to 10 with 25 problems in a minute.
On Thursday we will have a Science Test on Lessons 3 and 4 of Ch. 1. Please study the ways seeds travel, how they are pollinated, and the differences in coniferous and deciduous trees and plants.
It will be a busy week! Please be aware that we will have no school next Monday on Indigenous People's Day, Oct. 10.
Peace, Ms. Sullivan
Sept 26, 2016
Dear third graders and parents,
I’m sorry I missed a day of school. I know Ms. Khamo took good care of the class.
We had a successful International Day of Peace celebration last Wednesday. The children were so enthusiastic and learned some peace songs very quickly. They are true leaders!
This week we will have our Spelling and Math Tests on Friday. On Thursday there will be a Social Studies test. The students will need to label the continents and the oceans. Please study their locations. There will also be some questions on Mexican Independence. We will bring those sheets home to study.
Hopefully it will be easier to study with cooler weather. Please remember to wear red or blue school sweaters on Mon, Wed, and Fridays. Students who wear other sweatshirts or colors will be asked to take them off in class.
Thank you for signing the information sheets so that I know how to get in contact with you. It’s also great to hear about your family’s history.
Did you know that signing and returning the reading logs is required and counts on the reading grade of the report card? It’s true! Reading is SO important and I need to know you know what and that your child is reading each day.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
I’m sorry I missed a day of school. I know Ms. Khamo took good care of the class.
We had a successful International Day of Peace celebration last Wednesday. The children were so enthusiastic and learned some peace songs very quickly. They are true leaders!
This week we will have our Spelling and Math Tests on Friday. On Thursday there will be a Social Studies test. The students will need to label the continents and the oceans. Please study their locations. There will also be some questions on Mexican Independence. We will bring those sheets home to study.
Hopefully it will be easier to study with cooler weather. Please remember to wear red or blue school sweaters on Mon, Wed, and Fridays. Students who wear other sweatshirts or colors will be asked to take them off in class.
Thank you for signing the information sheets so that I know how to get in contact with you. It’s also great to hear about your family’s history.
Did you know that signing and returning the reading logs is required and counts on the reading grade of the report card? It’s true! Reading is SO important and I need to know you know what and that your child is reading each day.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Sept. 19, 2016
Dear students and parents,
Many thanks to the parents who attended the Back to School Night. For those who did not, I am sending a packet home. Please sign that you have received and read it. All parents should return the green information sheet so that I can contact you if needed. Thank you!
This week we will have several tests:
- Tuesday: Religion Please study the sheet on parables. Most questions will be from comprehension of the parables we talked about in class and on how to participate in class prayer and be a peaceful community member.
- Wednesday: Math Lessons 6-10 You can review from the book and past lesson practices
- Thursday: Science Review worksheets passed back and Lessons 1-2 in the textbook.
- Friday: No School: The teachers will be taking workshops
- Next Monday: Math Facts Adding 2 and 3 (25 per minute) and Spelling Unit 5
Wednesday is International Peace Day. Join the whole school for a peace march alongside the school on the Ashland sidewalk at 10:30 a.m. Prayer and songs will follow at 10:45 a.m. in the school quad. Third Graders will lead a peace song in Hebrew.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Sept. 12, 2016
Dear parents and third graders,
This week we welcome you (the parents) to our Back to School night. Please arrive in the church basement by 6 p.m. I hope to tell you about what we will study and how we can best provide growth for your children's studies. I welcome your questions. Please find child care for your children since this is a "parents only" night.
Please inform me if you do not want your child's picture or work published. At times we might take your child's picture or videotape a class discussion. We will not use last names. For example, last year's class was videotaped during a science lesson for the sake of coaching.
Happy Central American and Mexican Independence days at the end of the week! This week we will start celebrating Hispanic Heritage month. Please share with us all your cultural ties (Hispanic and others). In the Back to School night you will hear about a Stunning Student project that highlights each child and family, including one’s heritage.
Math tests come back today. Please note that every little detail counts, and for that we need to be able to pay good attention. Please keep viewing areas of difficulty at home.
This week we will have two routine tests to study for: Thursday will be on subtracting 0 and 1 (25 in a min). Friday will be the spelling test. During the week we will also test reading comprehension skills from new passages and from the book The Stories Julian Tells.
See you Thursday!
Ms. Sullivan
This week we welcome you (the parents) to our Back to School night. Please arrive in the church basement by 6 p.m. I hope to tell you about what we will study and how we can best provide growth for your children's studies. I welcome your questions. Please find child care for your children since this is a "parents only" night.
Please inform me if you do not want your child's picture or work published. At times we might take your child's picture or videotape a class discussion. We will not use last names. For example, last year's class was videotaped during a science lesson for the sake of coaching.
Happy Central American and Mexican Independence days at the end of the week! This week we will start celebrating Hispanic Heritage month. Please share with us all your cultural ties (Hispanic and others). In the Back to School night you will hear about a Stunning Student project that highlights each child and family, including one’s heritage.
Math tests come back today. Please note that every little detail counts, and for that we need to be able to pay good attention. Please keep viewing areas of difficulty at home.
This week we will have two routine tests to study for: Thursday will be on subtracting 0 and 1 (25 in a min). Friday will be the spelling test. During the week we will also test reading comprehension skills from new passages and from the book The Stories Julian Tells.
See you Thursday!
Ms. Sullivan
Sept. 6, 2016
Dear parents and third graders,
I hope you had a fun Labor Day weekend. I am anxious to hear about the work you do from your children's interview. Catholic Social Teaching advocates for the rights of the worker.
This Thursday we will have a math test on Lessons 1-5 of the math book. Please study dates and the calendar and time to the nearest quarter hour especially.
Friday we will have our Unit 3 Spelling test.
Here's what else we are studying:
Have a blessed week! See you for Back to School Night on Sept. 15 at 6 pm in the church basement (and then our classroom).
Ms. Sullivan
I hope you had a fun Labor Day weekend. I am anxious to hear about the work you do from your children's interview. Catholic Social Teaching advocates for the rights of the worker.
This Thursday we will have a math test on Lessons 1-5 of the math book. Please study dates and the calendar and time to the nearest quarter hour especially.
Friday we will have our Unit 3 Spelling test.
Here's what else we are studying:
- the structures and life cycles of plants
- parables of Jesus
- reading for main ideas and details
- identifying problems and solutions
- writing a descriptive paragraph (and writing in complete sentences)
- locating continents on a map
Have a blessed week! See you for Back to School Night on Sept. 15 at 6 pm in the church basement (and then our classroom).
Ms. Sullivan
Aug. 29, 2016
Dear third graders and parents,
You are invited to our first all school Mass this Friday at 9:30 am. As we studied in Religion last week, Jesus said, "You are like the light of the whole world." Mt 5:14 Our faith is meant to be seen and lived. God gives us life and we share it with others. Thank you for sharing your love with your children. Your children are very good-natured! Thank you also for all the school supplies.
If you have not already paid the $10 school supply fee, please do so as soon as you are able. This covers materials like construction paper, tape, copy paper, art materials, etc.
We will continue to set routines this week and get into our various subjects. I know getting back to work and having long days and homework is quite a shock for some. Please sign the homework assignment notebook and check to see that it is well done. Mondays is when we turn in the reading log with a parent signature. It should be all filled in (5 days of reading a week.)
Tests for the week:
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
You are invited to our first all school Mass this Friday at 9:30 am. As we studied in Religion last week, Jesus said, "You are like the light of the whole world." Mt 5:14 Our faith is meant to be seen and lived. God gives us life and we share it with others. Thank you for sharing your love with your children. Your children are very good-natured! Thank you also for all the school supplies.
If you have not already paid the $10 school supply fee, please do so as soon as you are able. This covers materials like construction paper, tape, copy paper, art materials, etc.
We will continue to set routines this week and get into our various subjects. I know getting back to work and having long days and homework is quite a shock for some. Please sign the homework assignment notebook and check to see that it is well done. Mondays is when we turn in the reading log with a parent signature. It should be all filled in (5 days of reading a week.)
Tests for the week:
- Thursday: On Thursday we will have a timed test on math facts +0, +1, and adding doubles (like 9+9). Students need to do 25 problems in a minute.
- Friday: Spelling Unit 2
- Go to www.spellingcity.com on the internet
- Find the tab "Search" and click on "Teachers/_______"
- In the new search box type Dana Sullivan
- You should be on my page. Scroll down to the bottom to see our current list "Unit 2"
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
Aug. 22, 2016
WELCOME TO THIRD GRADE!
Dear third graders and families,
Happy beginnings! I hope you had a relaxing summer. I am so happy to see all the new smiling faces. We will start work steadily. This first week is important for setting routines, beginning basic work and doing pretests. I would love to meet the parents as you drop your child off for school or pick them up, so please introduce yourselves. Here are some things you should know:
Students are allowed to bring water bottles (if they have water only in them) to our room since our classroom is on the 4th floor. We are so blessed to have air conditioning at our school.
Full days of school start tomorrow (Tuesday). Students will be dismissed at 2:45 p.m. The meal program also starts Tuesday. I would like to meet the people who will be picking up your children, so please come introduce yourselves to me before or after school.
Most Mondays or Tuesdays you will receive a letter from me. It will say which tests we are having, what vocabulary words to study, and other news. The newsletter will also be posted on our class website www.stpius3.weebly.com.
Since we have a full week of school, we will have our first spelling test this Friday. Please study the Unit 1 words. You can also study all year for spelling on www.spellingcity.com. After going to the site, enter my name, Dana Sullivan, to search by teacher. I do not have the premium membership on the site. However, the site is great for doing pretests, studying this week’s words or bonus words, and trying other games.
Please bring in the school supplies as soon as possible and wear the correct uniforms. Gym uniforms are worn on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also please bring in an old t-shirt that can stay at school for covering up your child when we might get messy during art or science. Soon each child will need a small plastic container for a science project. See-through used containers (like for cole slaw or margarine) are perfect.
Thanks for sending me your wonderful children,
Ms. Dana Sullivan
PS Hablo espanol. Si prefiera comunicar en espanol puedo escribir, leer, y hablar en espanol. No lo hablo perfecto, pero estoy contenta comunicar en cualquier idioma.
Happy beginnings! I hope you had a relaxing summer. I am so happy to see all the new smiling faces. We will start work steadily. This first week is important for setting routines, beginning basic work and doing pretests. I would love to meet the parents as you drop your child off for school or pick them up, so please introduce yourselves. Here are some things you should know:
Students are allowed to bring water bottles (if they have water only in them) to our room since our classroom is on the 4th floor. We are so blessed to have air conditioning at our school.
Full days of school start tomorrow (Tuesday). Students will be dismissed at 2:45 p.m. The meal program also starts Tuesday. I would like to meet the people who will be picking up your children, so please come introduce yourselves to me before or after school.
Most Mondays or Tuesdays you will receive a letter from me. It will say which tests we are having, what vocabulary words to study, and other news. The newsletter will also be posted on our class website www.stpius3.weebly.com.
Since we have a full week of school, we will have our first spelling test this Friday. Please study the Unit 1 words. You can also study all year for spelling on www.spellingcity.com. After going to the site, enter my name, Dana Sullivan, to search by teacher. I do not have the premium membership on the site. However, the site is great for doing pretests, studying this week’s words or bonus words, and trying other games.
Please bring in the school supplies as soon as possible and wear the correct uniforms. Gym uniforms are worn on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also please bring in an old t-shirt that can stay at school for covering up your child when we might get messy during art or science. Soon each child will need a small plastic container for a science project. See-through used containers (like for cole slaw or margarine) are perfect.
Thanks for sending me your wonderful children,
Ms. Dana Sullivan
PS Hablo espanol. Si prefiera comunicar en espanol puedo escribir, leer, y hablar en espanol. No lo hablo perfecto, pero estoy contenta comunicar en cualquier idioma.
March 21, 2016
Dear Parents and Third Graders,
Blessed Holy Week! Please remember we have a prayer service in the church on Holy Thursday, and then we dismiss at 11:30. The children will bring home a boxed lunch. There is no after school program that day, so please be on time.
We will have an English test tomorrow (Tuesday). Please study the rules for verbs pp. 72-108 in the Grammar Workshop book.
Wednesday we will have a Religion test. Please study the pages for Lent and Holy Week in the Religion book and the worksheets. Bring the worksheets back to school for a grade. We will also have a Reading test on using inferences and matching prefix and suffix meanings. Please study the meanings of the prefixes and suffixes from the worksheets.
Wednesday will also be our Easter party. People who may bring treats are Yaretzi,Camila, Adrian, Elizabeth,Mikaela, America
Have a terrific Easter full of joy and rest!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
Blessed Holy Week! Please remember we have a prayer service in the church on Holy Thursday, and then we dismiss at 11:30. The children will bring home a boxed lunch. There is no after school program that day, so please be on time.
We will have an English test tomorrow (Tuesday). Please study the rules for verbs pp. 72-108 in the Grammar Workshop book.
Wednesday we will have a Religion test. Please study the pages for Lent and Holy Week in the Religion book and the worksheets. Bring the worksheets back to school for a grade. We will also have a Reading test on using inferences and matching prefix and suffix meanings. Please study the meanings of the prefixes and suffixes from the worksheets.
Wednesday will also be our Easter party. People who may bring treats are Yaretzi,Camila, Adrian, Elizabeth,Mikaela, America
Have a terrific Easter full of joy and rest!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
Feb. 23, 2016
Dear parents and third graders,
The third graders loved reusing recyclable materials to make new creations of instruments, dog beds, a sculpture of their teacher, puppets, sun catchers, and much more. Their imagination is incredible! We will be writing our alderman next to ask for the blue bins at Saint Pius V School, so we can continue to practice conservation of "our common home", planet Earth.
Speaking of writing, I'm seeing improvement in their writing skills, too. Since that will be very important on the standardized testing, I'd ask you to check the quality of their writing on all assignments. Our DePaul interns are also helping with writing conferences (since they are journalism majors). Please help your child build in the habit of rereading what s/he writes and proofreading it.
All reading logs to earn a free ticket to Six Flags must be turned in by Wednesday. Nine children already turned them in.
Did you hear about free museum days in February? Here is the link for a free child admission with an adult ticket at the Museum of Science and Industry: https://msi.wufoo.com/forms/free-kids-february/?utm_source=Museum+of+Science+and+Industry&utm_campaign=68e641f525-MC_Gen_2016_0212&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1130a46acf-68e641f525-88547621
Tests for the week:
Let's have a good week!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
The third graders loved reusing recyclable materials to make new creations of instruments, dog beds, a sculpture of their teacher, puppets, sun catchers, and much more. Their imagination is incredible! We will be writing our alderman next to ask for the blue bins at Saint Pius V School, so we can continue to practice conservation of "our common home", planet Earth.
Speaking of writing, I'm seeing improvement in their writing skills, too. Since that will be very important on the standardized testing, I'd ask you to check the quality of their writing on all assignments. Our DePaul interns are also helping with writing conferences (since they are journalism majors). Please help your child build in the habit of rereading what s/he writes and proofreading it.
All reading logs to earn a free ticket to Six Flags must be turned in by Wednesday. Nine children already turned them in.
Did you hear about free museum days in February? Here is the link for a free child admission with an adult ticket at the Museum of Science and Industry: https://msi.wufoo.com/forms/free-kids-february/?utm_source=Museum+of+Science+and+Industry&utm_campaign=68e641f525-MC_Gen_2016_0212&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1130a46acf-68e641f525-88547621
Tests for the week:
- Tuesday: Religion (Pope Francis' Laudato Si Letter in notes and Lent notes)
- Wednesday: Math Written Assessment and 5 min. subtraction test
- Thursday: Social Studies Ch. 3
- Friday: X3 Timed Fact Test and Unit 27 Spelling Test
Let's have a good week!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
Feb. 16, 2016Dear parents and third graders,
We had a successful food and winter clothes drive for the Midwest Workers Association. Thank you for your donations! The children were enthusiastic collectors! Please study for the division test on /2, /5, /7 this Friday. I sent home a duplicate copy of the fact test schedule. Please keep it in a place for easy reference and reminder. We will be having our Science Test on Ch. 4 Friday, too! |
The students carry the food bags
downstairs for delivery. |
Feb. 1, 2016
Dear parents and third graders,
Happy Catholic Schools week! Each day will have a special focus. Our class is sponsoring a canned food drive and winter clothes drive. Please donate food items and used warm jackets, hats, blankets, etc for the Midwest Workers Association. We will collect this week and next week until Wednesday Feb. 10. On Thursday we will have school games for Spirit Day in the afternoon. There will be no homework that night except for studying for the spelling test. Friday we will have a Mass at 9:30 am.
I will pass out a class list for those who may wish to bring Valentine cards on Thursday, Feb. 11. The teachers have a professional development day Feb. 12, so there is no school. So Feb 11 is the nearest date to Valentine's Day.
As I was correcting Science tests I saw that many children did not do so well. So today they are bringing home their tests to correct with the science book. I will recorrect the tests with the work you do at home. Please make the corrections with a colored pencil for multiple choice questions, and by attaching a binder paper for questions with sentences. This is a good opportunity for children to learn about how to read a question well and understand the key words in the question.
Also, on the English tests and in the student work, some students are not writing carefully. We will be having a writing test and proofreading test each week, since good writing is essential to communication in life and in all the school subjects.
If you are interested in reviewing math concepts, look for Khan Academy videos on the internet. These lessons are free.
Tests for this week:
Ms. Sullivan
Happy Catholic Schools week! Each day will have a special focus. Our class is sponsoring a canned food drive and winter clothes drive. Please donate food items and used warm jackets, hats, blankets, etc for the Midwest Workers Association. We will collect this week and next week until Wednesday Feb. 10. On Thursday we will have school games for Spirit Day in the afternoon. There will be no homework that night except for studying for the spelling test. Friday we will have a Mass at 9:30 am.
I will pass out a class list for those who may wish to bring Valentine cards on Thursday, Feb. 11. The teachers have a professional development day Feb. 12, so there is no school. So Feb 11 is the nearest date to Valentine's Day.
As I was correcting Science tests I saw that many children did not do so well. So today they are bringing home their tests to correct with the science book. I will recorrect the tests with the work you do at home. Please make the corrections with a colored pencil for multiple choice questions, and by attaching a binder paper for questions with sentences. This is a good opportunity for children to learn about how to read a question well and understand the key words in the question.
Also, on the English tests and in the student work, some students are not writing carefully. We will be having a writing test and proofreading test each week, since good writing is essential to communication in life and in all the school subjects.
If you are interested in reviewing math concepts, look for Khan Academy videos on the internet. These lessons are free.
Tests for this week:
- Tuesday: -7, -8, -9 Facts (25 in 1 1/2 min.)
- English and Math Written Assessment: Wednesday
- Friday: Spelling Unit 25 and written dictation
Ms. Sullivan
January 25, 2016
Dear parents and third graders,
In the church year and the school year we are back to ordinary time. For religion you may see worksheets that look like science or social studies. That's because we are studying aspects of Pope Francis' encyclical (letter) on the Care of the Environment. Officially it is called Laudato Si because it starts with praising God for creation, using the words of Saint Francis.
Tuesday we have the -5 and -6 test. The students need to be able to write the answers to 25 problems in 1 and a half minutes.
Wednesday will be our science test on Ch. 3. and building a food chain (from Ch. 4) The students need to identify producers and consumers as part of the food chain. You can study the worksheets we did.
Thursday we will have an English test on writing nouns as possessives. Study pp. 95-96 in the English book. The other part of the test will include writing correct sentences and nouns in a paragraph and editing a paragraph for correct capitals, punctuation, and spelling.
Friday we have our Unit 23 Spelling Test.
Please try to get to school on time. Only about 1/3 of the class is coming on time, so that means a shortened breakfast for a lot of students. Breakfast ends at 8:15.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
In the church year and the school year we are back to ordinary time. For religion you may see worksheets that look like science or social studies. That's because we are studying aspects of Pope Francis' encyclical (letter) on the Care of the Environment. Officially it is called Laudato Si because it starts with praising God for creation, using the words of Saint Francis.
Tuesday we have the -5 and -6 test. The students need to be able to write the answers to 25 problems in 1 and a half minutes.
Wednesday will be our science test on Ch. 3. and building a food chain (from Ch. 4) The students need to identify producers and consumers as part of the food chain. You can study the worksheets we did.
Thursday we will have an English test on writing nouns as possessives. Study pp. 95-96 in the English book. The other part of the test will include writing correct sentences and nouns in a paragraph and editing a paragraph for correct capitals, punctuation, and spelling.
Friday we have our Unit 23 Spelling Test.
Please try to get to school on time. Only about 1/3 of the class is coming on time, so that means a shortened breakfast for a lot of students. Breakfast ends at 8:15.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
January 11, 2016
Dear parents and third graders,
We are really in the thick of studying again. Please be sure to keep ahead of studying the math facts. Refer to the schedule of math tests. This week we are learning X2 and the test is Friday.
We are taking reading tests today and tomorrow. Our test on Martin Luther King, Jr. will be Friday, on the same day as the Peacemaker's Assembly. This test will include reading a timeline.
Our new peacemakers are Alyssa Aspera and Mikaela Portalatin. We will honor them at the school assembly Friday morning. We will also all be singing "Let There Be Peace On Earth".
Our Math Written Assessment is Thursday, and the regular spelling test is Friday.
Please remember there is no school next Monday for the Martin Luther King holiday.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
We are really in the thick of studying again. Please be sure to keep ahead of studying the math facts. Refer to the schedule of math tests. This week we are learning X2 and the test is Friday.
We are taking reading tests today and tomorrow. Our test on Martin Luther King, Jr. will be Friday, on the same day as the Peacemaker's Assembly. This test will include reading a timeline.
Our new peacemakers are Alyssa Aspera and Mikaela Portalatin. We will honor them at the school assembly Friday morning. We will also all be singing "Let There Be Peace On Earth".
Our Math Written Assessment is Thursday, and the regular spelling test is Friday.
Please remember there is no school next Monday for the Martin Luther King holiday.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
January 5, 2016
Welcome back! Happy Epiphany!
Here's what we are studying:
Religion: Epiphany, faith dimensions of peacemakers, the Pope's encyclical on the environment
Reading: Problem-Solution relationships, short stories The Stories Julian Tells, summarizing, comparing biographies
Math: -2, -3, -4 (Fact Tests Tuesday and Thursday); X2 and X3
squares and square roots, liquid measurements, symmetry, perimeter, etc.
English: possessive nouns, writing summaries, journal responses
Science: Animal and Plant communities and relationships
Social Studies: timelines, graphs, Martin Luther King's development as a peacemaker, civil rights and Rosa Parks and us!
Cursive: capital letters
Art: dark/light contrast, shading, portraits
Please bring water bottles as the drinking fountains are not working. Please bring and label all school sweaters and sweatshirts. Please remember to check lost and found in the office for missing items.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Here's what we are studying:
Religion: Epiphany, faith dimensions of peacemakers, the Pope's encyclical on the environment
Reading: Problem-Solution relationships, short stories The Stories Julian Tells, summarizing, comparing biographies
Math: -2, -3, -4 (Fact Tests Tuesday and Thursday); X2 and X3
squares and square roots, liquid measurements, symmetry, perimeter, etc.
English: possessive nouns, writing summaries, journal responses
Science: Animal and Plant communities and relationships
Social Studies: timelines, graphs, Martin Luther King's development as a peacemaker, civil rights and Rosa Parks and us!
Cursive: capital letters
Art: dark/light contrast, shading, portraits
Please bring water bottles as the drinking fountains are not working. Please bring and label all school sweaters and sweatshirts. Please remember to check lost and found in the office for missing items.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Dec. 7, 2015
Dear parents and third graders,
In the readings for the second Sunday of Advent we hear, "Prepare the way of the Lord!" Pope Francis calls us to begin a Year of Mercy starting tomorrow, on the feast of The Immaculate Conception.
Since the school is hosting the novena and Las Posadas, I am giving us another night to bring in our projects and reports. Please make sure all reports are 5 well-written and handwritten paragraphs according to the guidelines. Don't forget to label the tribe's name on the box or poster!
We will have a X 7 test tomorrow and a written math assessment Thursday. Friday is our spelling test on Unit 17. We are practicing plural nouns in English so a quiz is around the corner.
In the readings for the second Sunday of Advent we hear, "Prepare the way of the Lord!" Pope Francis calls us to begin a Year of Mercy starting tomorrow, on the feast of The Immaculate Conception.
Since the school is hosting the novena and Las Posadas, I am giving us another night to bring in our projects and reports. Please make sure all reports are 5 well-written and handwritten paragraphs according to the guidelines. Don't forget to label the tribe's name on the box or poster!
We will have a X 7 test tomorrow and a written math assessment Thursday. Friday is our spelling test on Unit 17. We are practicing plural nouns in English so a quiz is around the corner.
Dec. 1, 2015
Dear parents and third graders,
We wait for the coming of Christ in this Advent season. For what do you await? This week as we light our first candle we meditate on hope. What are you hoping for in your family? In your community? In our world?
On a mundane note, please make sure your child has a school sweater (navy or red) to wear in the classroom. Children often prefer sweatshirts with their favorite logo or picture, and they will be asked to take it off.
Please check your child's supplies. Are they running out of crayons, pencils, or markers? These make nice Christmas gifts, hint, hint.
Our Native American project paragraphs are coming along nicely. Thank you for all your reading and constructing to make this project a success!! Even Ms. Sullivan was researching over Thanksgiving break. She found a book on the native peoples of Wisconsin. At this point we still need chaperones for next Monday's field trip. If you haven't sent in the permission slip with $4.50 please do so immediately. They were due today.
We will have tests this week:
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
We wait for the coming of Christ in this Advent season. For what do you await? This week as we light our first candle we meditate on hope. What are you hoping for in your family? In your community? In our world?
On a mundane note, please make sure your child has a school sweater (navy or red) to wear in the classroom. Children often prefer sweatshirts with their favorite logo or picture, and they will be asked to take it off.
Please check your child's supplies. Are they running out of crayons, pencils, or markers? These make nice Christmas gifts, hint, hint.
Our Native American project paragraphs are coming along nicely. Thank you for all your reading and constructing to make this project a success!! Even Ms. Sullivan was researching over Thanksgiving break. She found a book on the native peoples of Wisconsin. At this point we still need chaperones for next Monday's field trip. If you haven't sent in the permission slip with $4.50 please do so immediately. They were due today.
We will have tests this week:
- Wednesday: Science Ch. 2 Animal groupings, life cycles, and adaptations.
- Thursday: Reading --Cause-effect relationships, the pilgrim's journey, and vocabulary (study worksheet words).
- Friday: Spelling Unit 16
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
Nov. 9, 2015
Dear parents and third graders,
Tonight Mr. Mundy is giving a technology workshop for the parents (only). He will teach about how to keep your kids protected while on the internet. It promises to be practical and informative. I hope you can make it.
This is the last week of the trimester. Don't forget to reserve Sunday, Nov. 22 for the conference between the parents, the third grader and me:)
We are having some tests this week:
Ms. Sullivan
Tonight Mr. Mundy is giving a technology workshop for the parents (only). He will teach about how to keep your kids protected while on the internet. It promises to be practical and informative. I hope you can make it.
This is the last week of the trimester. Don't forget to reserve Sunday, Nov. 22 for the conference between the parents, the third grader and me:)
We are having some tests this week:
- Math (+7 +8 facts) and Written Assessment (variety of problems) on Tuesday
- Religion: All Saints Day, Dia de los Muertos, and Saint Martin on Wednesday
- Social Studies: Too Good for Drugs booklet and reading a chart skill on Thursday
- Spelling Unit 13 and English (identifying nouns and proper nouns and using capitals on proper nouns) on Friday
Ms. Sullivan
Nov. 2, 2015 Dia de los Muertos
Dear parents and third graders,
As we celebrate Dia de los Muertos we remember your loved ones. We will learn about the lives of the Saints and also prepare to lead the school Mass on Nov. 13.
We will not have school on Friday because the teachers have meetings, so our Spelling Test will be Thursday. I will delay the next Math tests until Tuesday, Nov. 10. We only have the next two weeks for grades for this trimester. Please do your best work and don't eat too much candy so you can sleep, concentrate in class, and grow strong!
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
As we celebrate Dia de los Muertos we remember your loved ones. We will learn about the lives of the Saints and also prepare to lead the school Mass on Nov. 13.
We will not have school on Friday because the teachers have meetings, so our Spelling Test will be Thursday. I will delay the next Math tests until Tuesday, Nov. 10. We only have the next two weeks for grades for this trimester. Please do your best work and don't eat too much candy so you can sleep, concentrate in class, and grow strong!
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
October 26, 2015
Dear parents and third graders,
I am still concerned that the children who need breakfast at school aren't arriving in time. I try to pick up the children from downstairs a few minutes before 8 so that they have the full 15 minutes to eat their breakfasts. School starts at 8:15, at which time breakfasts are packed up--ready or not. So please try to leave your house a little earlier if you are not arriving before 8 a.m. Please sign this note below, because I'm not sure that parents saw this same message a month ago.
We will have a busy week, although I know the children will be excited for Halloween events. Tuesday we will have our test on the book Amber Brown. We will take a reading test on Reading Comprehension and Responses using main ideas and details on Wednesday. Thursday will be our Math fact test on +5 and +6 and the Written Assessment. Friday is the spelling test Unit 11, our Mass for All Saints, and a passing of treats.
Please sign tests tonight. Make-up math fact tests are Friday.
This week is Red Ribbon Week. We are studying ways to stay out of gangs, and to stand up against taking drugs or participating in violence. These will be our Social Studies and Religion lessons, along with learning about various Day of the Dead traditions. You are invited to send photos of your deceased loved ones to form a Day of the Day ofrenda table in our room.
Peace, salaam, shalom,
Ms. Sullivan
I am still concerned that the children who need breakfast at school aren't arriving in time. I try to pick up the children from downstairs a few minutes before 8 so that they have the full 15 minutes to eat their breakfasts. School starts at 8:15, at which time breakfasts are packed up--ready or not. So please try to leave your house a little earlier if you are not arriving before 8 a.m. Please sign this note below, because I'm not sure that parents saw this same message a month ago.
We will have a busy week, although I know the children will be excited for Halloween events. Tuesday we will have our test on the book Amber Brown. We will take a reading test on Reading Comprehension and Responses using main ideas and details on Wednesday. Thursday will be our Math fact test on +5 and +6 and the Written Assessment. Friday is the spelling test Unit 11, our Mass for All Saints, and a passing of treats.
Please sign tests tonight. Make-up math fact tests are Friday.
This week is Red Ribbon Week. We are studying ways to stay out of gangs, and to stand up against taking drugs or participating in violence. These will be our Social Studies and Religion lessons, along with learning about various Day of the Dead traditions. You are invited to send photos of your deceased loved ones to form a Day of the Day ofrenda table in our room.
Peace, salaam, shalom,
Ms. Sullivan
October 20, 2015
Dear parents and third graders,
This week and next we are focusing on making and keeping friends, anti bullying and violence and staying away from drugs, alcohol and gangs. In short, we want to build good habits, values, and friendships. The children are learning to stand up for themselves and share their thoughts and feelings in "I statements". We are created by God and deserve respect. We each have our unique talents and abilities to develop.
As Halloween (the vigil of "all hallows" or saints) draws near we will study more saints and the customs of Day of the Dead. Be aware there is a Mass on Friday Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. for the children to celebrate All Saints. On that day we are not to wear costumes. We will have a sharing of treats for the class at 2 p.m. Please remember the holidays are split up for bringing treats. Those for Halloween are Victoria, Alyssa, Carlo, Alexandra, Haylee, Emily Flores, Joel Flores, Evelyn, and Isaiah. Please only bring individually wrapped treats (not cupcakes).
We will have a vocabulary test tomorrow on the words from The Mysterious Giant of Barletta story and Anthony Reynoso. The children already have their worksheet to study and flash cards. Tomorrow will also be the +3, +4 fact one minute fact test. Thursday will be the regular math test, and Friday will be the Spelling test.
Let's have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
This week and next we are focusing on making and keeping friends, anti bullying and violence and staying away from drugs, alcohol and gangs. In short, we want to build good habits, values, and friendships. The children are learning to stand up for themselves and share their thoughts and feelings in "I statements". We are created by God and deserve respect. We each have our unique talents and abilities to develop.
As Halloween (the vigil of "all hallows" or saints) draws near we will study more saints and the customs of Day of the Dead. Be aware there is a Mass on Friday Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. for the children to celebrate All Saints. On that day we are not to wear costumes. We will have a sharing of treats for the class at 2 p.m. Please remember the holidays are split up for bringing treats. Those for Halloween are Victoria, Alyssa, Carlo, Alexandra, Haylee, Emily Flores, Joel Flores, Evelyn, and Isaiah. Please only bring individually wrapped treats (not cupcakes).
We will have a vocabulary test tomorrow on the words from The Mysterious Giant of Barletta story and Anthony Reynoso. The children already have their worksheet to study and flash cards. Tomorrow will also be the +3, +4 fact one minute fact test. Thursday will be the regular math test, and Friday will be the Spelling test.
Let's have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
October 13, 2015
Dear parents and third graders,
I hope you had a nice break yesterdya and got to do something fun.
We will have these tests this week:
Wednesday: Science Ch. 3, pp. 14-31. There are also the worksheets to study.
Thursday: English: identify subjects and predicates
Social Studies: Study sheets and Scholastic News on the topic of a new nation (the USA) and the writing of the Constitution
Friday: Spelling Unit 9 and Religion test on Saint Francis.
The weather will be cooler. Please only wear school sweaters (blue and red) with your music day uniforms. Hoodies and sweatshirts are only worn over the school uniform outside. Leggings are not part of the girls uniform.
Did you know that Ms. Sullivan is getting special training in the Next Generation Science Standards? That is why I had to miss class last Wednesday. Ms. Juliie Jacobi comes to coach me for our labs. The children are using their science notebooks well. Also, since we have seen the mealworm larvas turn into pupas and adult beetles, the mealworms/pupas/beetles get to stay home now.
Have a blessed week!
Ms. Sullivan
I hope you had a nice break yesterdya and got to do something fun.
We will have these tests this week:
Wednesday: Science Ch. 3, pp. 14-31. There are also the worksheets to study.
Thursday: English: identify subjects and predicates
Social Studies: Study sheets and Scholastic News on the topic of a new nation (the USA) and the writing of the Constitution
Friday: Spelling Unit 9 and Religion test on Saint Francis.
The weather will be cooler. Please only wear school sweaters (blue and red) with your music day uniforms. Hoodies and sweatshirts are only worn over the school uniform outside. Leggings are not part of the girls uniform.
Did you know that Ms. Sullivan is getting special training in the Next Generation Science Standards? That is why I had to miss class last Wednesday. Ms. Juliie Jacobi comes to coach me for our labs. The children are using their science notebooks well. Also, since we have seen the mealworm larvas turn into pupas and adult beetles, the mealworms/pupas/beetles get to stay home now.
Have a blessed week!
Ms. Sullivan
Oct. 5, 2015
Dear parents and third graders,
Did you know that we studied Mayan numerals for enrichment? The Mayans used a base 20 while our numeric system uses base 10. Very tricky!
Our tests are all falling on Friday this week. We will have Spelling Unit 8, Math Facts +9 (25 in a minute), and Science test for Lessons 3-5 of Ch. 1. Please study for these all week rather than wait until Thursday.
In religion we are learning about the life and prayers of Saint Francis. Then we will study the rosary and its mysteries associated with the Bible.
Progress reports are in your child's folder today. Signing them tonight is required.
Please don't forget that there is no school next Monday.
Have a peaceful week!
Ms. Sullivan
Did you know that we studied Mayan numerals for enrichment? The Mayans used a base 20 while our numeric system uses base 10. Very tricky!
Our tests are all falling on Friday this week. We will have Spelling Unit 8, Math Facts +9 (25 in a minute), and Science test for Lessons 3-5 of Ch. 1. Please study for these all week rather than wait until Thursday.
In religion we are learning about the life and prayers of Saint Francis. Then we will study the rosary and its mysteries associated with the Bible.
Progress reports are in your child's folder today. Signing them tonight is required.
Please don't forget that there is no school next Monday.
Have a peaceful week!
Ms. Sullivan
Sept. 28, 2015
Dear parents and third graders,
Happy fall days! I hope you the example, listening, and speeches of by our Holy Father Pope Francis have inspired you.
I am a bit concerned that the children who need breakfast at school aren't arriving in time. I try to pick up the children from downstairs a few minutes before 8 so that they have the full 15 minutes to eat their breakfasts. School starts at 8:15, at which time breakfasts are packed up--ready or not. So please try to leave your house a little earlier if you are not arriving before 8 a.m.
Last week the copy machine was broken for a few days, so I did not get to give the reading test. We took that today. Finished tests will go home to sign Wednesday. Here are the upcoming tests for this week:
Wednesday: Adding (25 problems a min.)
Thursday: Math test
Friday: Reading vocabulary (See today's worksheet)
and Spelling Unit 7
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
Sept. 20, 2015
Dear third graders and parents,
Today we celebrated International Peace Day with a rally and displaying signs on Ashland Ave. in front of the school. Everyday we practice peace by being kind and learning to communicate about our feelings or conflicts.
Friday is a faculty inservice day. The children will not come to school.
Briefly, our tests are:
Ms. Sullivan
Today we celebrated International Peace Day with a rally and displaying signs on Ashland Ave. in front of the school. Everyday we practice peace by being kind and learning to communicate about our feelings or conflicts.
Friday is a faculty inservice day. The children will not come to school.
Briefly, our tests are:
- Tuesday--Reading Comprehension (of new passages) Children will need to look for main ideas and details in the text. They will also look for titles, subtitles, maps, and sidebars.
- Tuesday--Math Written Assessment (Study your old papers..
- Wednesday--Religion: Study the chapter starting on p. 277
- Thursday--Science: Study Lessons 1 and 2 of Chapter 1 in the text
- Thursday--Spelling Unit 5
Ms. Sullivan
Hispanic Heritage Photos are here! Look in "Pictures" to see more.
Dear third graders and parents,
On Wednesday at 2:30 pm our school will listen to Mariachis on the playground to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. Children have a notice about wearing Mexican dresses or colors that day. We are celebrating Hispanic Heritage now, and will be integrating this into language arts, Social Studies, math and art.
Thursday we will have a test on writing complete sentences. Friday we will have the spelling test unit 4. We will also have a Social Studies test on Friday. Children will need to label the country maps and flags of North American, label the locations of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, recall major details of the Mexican Independence, and find text features of titles, subtitles, side bars, and maps on a magazine.
Friday we also have a Mass at 1:15.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
On Wednesday at 2:30 pm our school will listen to Mariachis on the playground to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. Children have a notice about wearing Mexican dresses or colors that day. We are celebrating Hispanic Heritage now, and will be integrating this into language arts, Social Studies, math and art.
Thursday we will have a test on writing complete sentences. Friday we will have the spelling test unit 4. We will also have a Social Studies test on Friday. Children will need to label the country maps and flags of North American, label the locations of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, recall major details of the Mexican Independence, and find text features of titles, subtitles, side bars, and maps on a magazine.
Friday we also have a Mass at 1:15.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
September 9, 2015
Dear parents and third graders,
Thank you for coming to the back to school night. The children are getting into our routines and content materials.
Highlight of the week: We are starting our plants and life cycles unit in science. Children received their mealworms today. They will bring them home on the weekend. Just keep them dry and out of heat. They can be kept on top of a refrigerator or even in the refrigerator. Be careful no child or animal is tempted to eat the cheerios.
Ms Khamo's baby, Anna Surmeh, was born yesterday All are well.
We only have a spelling test this week on Friday. Monday will be the next Math test. Please sign the test packet that we pass out on Friday over the weekend.
Many thanks for your vigilance on homework!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
Thank you for coming to the back to school night. The children are getting into our routines and content materials.
Highlight of the week: We are starting our plants and life cycles unit in science. Children received their mealworms today. They will bring them home on the weekend. Just keep them dry and out of heat. They can be kept on top of a refrigerator or even in the refrigerator. Be careful no child or animal is tempted to eat the cheerios.
Ms Khamo's baby, Anna Surmeh, was born yesterday All are well.
We only have a spelling test this week on Friday. Monday will be the next Math test. Please sign the test packet that we pass out on Friday over the weekend.
Many thanks for your vigilance on homework!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
Aug. 31, 2015
Dear third graders and families,
I will be happy to see the parents on Thursday for our Back to School Night. Please meet first in the basement of the church. After the general meeting you will proceed to the classrooms.
This week we start nightly homework in Math, Reading and Spelling each night. The Spelling homework should be done in the notebook. Please fill in the reading log each night and sign it over the weekend.
Thursday we will have our first Math test. Reading and writing the details fully will be important. Please study past homework papers to be able to express dates, days of the week, time to the hour and half hour, measuring inches and more.
Your children are delightful. I would like to put their pictures and work on the website if you give me permission. I will only use first names. If you prefer not to give permission, please give me a note saying so.
We will be getting into more in-depth work when I'm able to complete some individual reading inventories, and also when my voice has returned!
Have a great week!
Ms. Dana Sullivan
I will be happy to see the parents on Thursday for our Back to School Night. Please meet first in the basement of the church. After the general meeting you will proceed to the classrooms.
This week we start nightly homework in Math, Reading and Spelling each night. The Spelling homework should be done in the notebook. Please fill in the reading log each night and sign it over the weekend.
Thursday we will have our first Math test. Reading and writing the details fully will be important. Please study past homework papers to be able to express dates, days of the week, time to the hour and half hour, measuring inches and more.
Your children are delightful. I would like to put their pictures and work on the website if you give me permission. I will only use first names. If you prefer not to give permission, please give me a note saying so.
We will be getting into more in-depth work when I'm able to complete some individual reading inventories, and also when my voice has returned!
Have a great week!
Ms. Dana Sullivan
August 24, 2015
WELCOME TO THIRD GRADE!
Dear third graders and families,
Happy beginnings! I hope you had a relaxing summer. I am so happy to see all the new smiling faces. We will start work steadily. This first week is important for setting routines, beginning basic work and doing pretests. I would love to meet the parents as you drop your child off for school or pick them up, so please introduce yourselves. Here are some things you should know:
Students are allowed to bring water bottles (if they have water only in them) to our room since our classroom is on the 4th floor. We are so blessed to have air conditioning at our school.
Full days of school start tomorrow (Tuesday). Students will be dismissed at 2:45 p.m. The meal program also starts Tuesday. I would like to meet the people who will be picking up your children, so please come introduce yourselves to me before or after school.
Most Mondays or Tuesdays you will receive a letter from me. It will say which tests we are having, what vocabulary words to study, and other news. The newsletter will also be posted on our class website www.stpius3.weebly.com.
Since we have a full week of school, we will have our first spelling test this Friday. Please study the Unit 1 words. You can also study all year for spelling on www.spellingcity.com. After going to the site, enter my name, Dana Sullivan, to search by teacher. I do not have the premium membership on the site. However, the site is great for doing pretests, studying this week’s words or bonus words, and trying other games.
Please bring in the school supplies as soon as possible and wear the correct uniforms. Gym uniforms are worn on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also please bring in an old t-shirt that can stay at school for covering up your child when we might get messy during art or science. Soon each child will need a small plastic container for a science project. See-through used containers (like for cole slaw or margarine) are perfect.
Thanks for sending me your wonderful children,
Ms. Dana Sullivan
PS Hablo espanol. Si prefiera comunicar en espanol puedo escribir, leer, y hablar en espanol. No lo hablo perfecto, pero estoy contenta comunicar en cualquier idioma.
Dear parents and third graders,
Happy late Mother's Day! Thank you for all the love and sacrifice and affection you give your children.
I am extending the project due date. The new due date is Thursday, May 14. Please note that the report must be hand written (not typed) and the game should show the handiwork of the child. Grades for English and Art will be given so the work should be the work of a third grader.
This week we will have an English quiz on Friday for apostrophes with possessive nouns. You may study pp. 64-67 of the Grammar Workshop book and the practice papers.
In Math we will have a subtraction quiz of 100 problems in 5 minutes on Thursday. There will also be a X 6 test (for the second time) on Thursday.
In Spelling our test is on our first names. Oh boy!
Thank you for all your work to keep your children studying at home.
Love, Ms. Sullivan
Happy late Mother's Day! Thank you for all the love and sacrifice and affection you give your children.
I am extending the project due date. The new due date is Thursday, May 14. Please note that the report must be hand written (not typed) and the game should show the handiwork of the child. Grades for English and Art will be given so the work should be the work of a third grader.
This week we will have an English quiz on Friday for apostrophes with possessive nouns. You may study pp. 64-67 of the Grammar Workshop book and the practice papers.
In Math we will have a subtraction quiz of 100 problems in 5 minutes on Thursday. There will also be a X 6 test (for the second time) on Thursday.
In Spelling our test is on our first names. Oh boy!
Thank you for all your work to keep your children studying at home.
Love, Ms. Sullivan
April 28, 2015
Dear parents and third graders,
We had a wonderful trip to the Shedd Aquarium yesterday! There was so much to explore, and so many science concepts to integrate with our past learning. We will continue this learning in our next project. Stay tuned with the interaction sheet on the "Marine Ecosystems Game" project. The creation of the essay and game will be converted into an economics activity in Social Studies, too.
Thursday we will have an English test on the past tense of irregular verbs. Please study from the Grammar Workshop book, English text, and former worksheets. We have had lots of practice trying to learn the correct usage.
In Religion we have been reviewing the Catholic Mass. The test is Friday. Students need to know the responses to the Mass orally and be able to answer questions and sequence Mass parts on pp. _________.
Tests: Wednesday: Math Written exam
Thursday: English, Math 100 X (5 min.)
Friday: Spelling Unit 34, Religion
Many thanks to our chaperones for the Shedd Aquarium and for sending in your permission slips and bus fee promptly!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
We had a wonderful trip to the Shedd Aquarium yesterday! There was so much to explore, and so many science concepts to integrate with our past learning. We will continue this learning in our next project. Stay tuned with the interaction sheet on the "Marine Ecosystems Game" project. The creation of the essay and game will be converted into an economics activity in Social Studies, too.
Thursday we will have an English test on the past tense of irregular verbs. Please study from the Grammar Workshop book, English text, and former worksheets. We have had lots of practice trying to learn the correct usage.
In Religion we have been reviewing the Catholic Mass. The test is Friday. Students need to know the responses to the Mass orally and be able to answer questions and sequence Mass parts on pp. _________.
Tests: Wednesday: Math Written exam
Thursday: English, Math 100 X (5 min.)
Friday: Spelling Unit 34, Religion
Many thanks to our chaperones for the Shedd Aquarium and for sending in your permission slips and bus fee promptly!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
March 30, 2015
Dear third graders and parents,
May you have a blessed Holy Week. We will be learning the scriptures and symbols for the Triduum (Holy Thursday to Holy Saturday) and Easter Sunday. Please study the sheets and your textbook pages for Lent for a test Wednesday in Religion. On Wednesday afternoon we will anticipate Easter with treats. On Thursday the school has a prayer service with a last collection for the mission in Nsukka, Nigeria. The children will have breakfast at school and bring a boxed lunch home at the 11:30 dismissal.
Thank you to those who came to our Women's History Assembly. The children did great! Tomorrow at 9 a.m. you are invited to our class room to see the Lucy Stone play if you are able. We will perform it later for other classes, too.
I will be trying to find a time for make-up tests during class and recess. After Easter break I will send a new schedule for math fact tests. But please keep practicing all subtraction, multiplication and division facts over the break so that the children don't slide back. The X8 fact test (25 in a minute) and 100 subtraction facts in 5 min. are the next tests.
We are drilling the past tense of irregular verbs. These are difficult and many people mix them up. They are something to be memorized if they don't come naturally. For example, I ran to school. I have run races many times. We will be testing these soon after the break. Progress reports will come out in all subjects April 20.
Our class has a special list of spelling words for competing in a regional spelling bee. At the end of April we will pick two third graders to compete against 9 other schools' representatives. Study up!
I hope you have a holy and happy Easter and vacation!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
March 23, 2015
Dear parents and third graders,
This week we will be celebrating the sacrament of Reconciliation with a prayer service and individual confession on Wednesday morning. On Thursday at 1:45 pm we will be leading the Women's History assembly in the church at 1:45. Parents are invited to come. On Friday we will participate in the Stations of the Cross at 1:30.
Thank you to all who have donated to the Nsukka, Nigerian mission drive. Please continue to contribute what you are able to sacrifice.
On Wednesday we will have our regular math test with the variety of problems. Please review the math papers we have corrected in class. On Friday we will have the X6 math test and 100 multiplication problems.
On Friday we will also have our regular spelling test for Unit 31.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
This week we will be celebrating the sacrament of Reconciliation with a prayer service and individual confession on Wednesday morning. On Thursday at 1:45 pm we will be leading the Women's History assembly in the church at 1:45. Parents are invited to come. On Friday we will participate in the Stations of the Cross at 1:30.
Thank you to all who have donated to the Nsukka, Nigerian mission drive. Please continue to contribute what you are able to sacrifice.
On Wednesday we will have our regular math test with the variety of problems. Please review the math papers we have corrected in class. On Friday we will have the X6 math test and 100 multiplication problems.
On Friday we will also have our regular spelling test for Unit 31.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
March 16, 2015
Dear third graders and parents,
This picture is from a Women's History assembly from years past. The third and fourth graders will also be leading an assembly in the coming weeks. We are learning about how women won the right to vote and other successes they have won through hard work. Stay tuned, and keep reading!
Tomorrow is Saint Patrick's Day. We celebrate him as a missionary. In religion we are learning about missions around the world, and how we are also missionaries. Our class is behind others in brining in donations for the Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria. Please send in savings or sacrifices to help our Nigerian brothers and sisters. The collection will continue through Lent.
Math, math, math facts. I will send home X9 and 100 multiplication sheets each day. Be ready for the tests on Friday. If a child does better on 100 multiplication this week, I will replace the scores going home today. We will continue to have tests on 100 addition, subtraction, and multiplication each week (1 or 2a week). So keep those flash cards going! Keep looking over homework papers of the varied problems to be ready for the Written Assessments, too. Today we took one.
Science test on Water Ch. 5 is tomorrow. Study the work we have passed back, definitions, and examples from the charts.
We will have a Social Studies test Thursday on map and timeline skills. Some questions from our reading of Women's Rights and Human Rights will be covered. You will have a study sheet tomorrow.
Enjoy St. Patrick's Day!
Ms. Sullivan
This picture is from a Women's History assembly from years past. The third and fourth graders will also be leading an assembly in the coming weeks. We are learning about how women won the right to vote and other successes they have won through hard work. Stay tuned, and keep reading!
Tomorrow is Saint Patrick's Day. We celebrate him as a missionary. In religion we are learning about missions around the world, and how we are also missionaries. Our class is behind others in brining in donations for the Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria. Please send in savings or sacrifices to help our Nigerian brothers and sisters. The collection will continue through Lent.
Math, math, math facts. I will send home X9 and 100 multiplication sheets each day. Be ready for the tests on Friday. If a child does better on 100 multiplication this week, I will replace the scores going home today. We will continue to have tests on 100 addition, subtraction, and multiplication each week (1 or 2a week). So keep those flash cards going! Keep looking over homework papers of the varied problems to be ready for the Written Assessments, too. Today we took one.
Science test on Water Ch. 5 is tomorrow. Study the work we have passed back, definitions, and examples from the charts.
We will have a Social Studies test Thursday on map and timeline skills. Some questions from our reading of Women's Rights and Human Rights will be covered. You will have a study sheet tomorrow.
Enjoy St. Patrick's Day!
Ms. Sullivan
Feb. 9, 2015
Dear third graders and parents,
Since Valentine's Day is Saturday (and the children don't have school Friday and Monday), we will have a little celebration on Thursday. Children may bring cards IF they have one for all of the children in the class (therefore 20 cards). Treats are not necessary, as only some children were on the treat list for each holiday. Our focus will be on sharing friendship.
Please expect these tests for the week:
Wednesday: Math and English: Verbs--Present, past, and future (Study Grammar workshop pp. 72-91)
Thursday: Science Ch. 8 Weather, and Spelling
Please continue to check your child's homework so that it is neatly done and s/he is writing responses in complete sentences. The Terra Nova (standardized) tests begin in 3 weeks, and I would like the children to continue to do their best work.
Having a loving week!
Ms. Sullivan
Jan. 26, 2015
Happy Catholic Schools Week!
This week's special events:
Monday: Mass 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday: Vocations Presentation
Wednesday: "The Nation" theme
Thursday: Spirit Day (p.m. in gym)
Friday: Teacher Appreciation and extra recess time
This week's special events:
Monday: Mass 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday: Vocations Presentation
Wednesday: "The Nation" theme
Thursday: Spirit Day (p.m. in gym)
Friday: Teacher Appreciation and extra recess time
This week's tests:
Tuesday: Reading (Drawing Conclusions, Winn-Dixie Questions and vocabulary, Phonics: Synonyms and antonyms)
Wednesday: Religion: Baptism and Vocations
Thursday: Spelling
Friday: Math
I thank you for sending your children to St. Pius V School, a community where we learn academics with the values of our faith!
Pax et bene! (Peace and good will)
Ms. Sullivan
Tuesday: Reading (Drawing Conclusions, Winn-Dixie Questions and vocabulary, Phonics: Synonyms and antonyms)
Wednesday: Religion: Baptism and Vocations
Thursday: Spelling
Friday: Math
I thank you for sending your children to St. Pius V School, a community where we learn academics with the values of our faith!
Pax et bene! (Peace and good will)
Ms. Sullivan
Dear parents and third graders,
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! Here are a few photos from our Peacemakers Assembly and making our "happy hats".
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! Here are a few photos from our Peacemakers Assembly and making our "happy hats".
This week we will finish reading Because of Winn-Dixie as we work on reading comprehension, especially making inferences and drawing conclusions. In Social Studies we will read a discuss Martin Luther King's contributions and his nonviolent practices. In science we will focus on the ways animals and plants form food webs and chains. Pay attention to the vocabulary herbivore, ominvore, and carnivore.
Math tests are Thursday and Friday, along with the Unit 21 spelling test.
In religion we will plan our Winter Food Drive service project as we learn about serving as a response to our baptism and finding our vocations.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Math tests are Thursday and Friday, along with the Unit 21 spelling test.
In religion we will plan our Winter Food Drive service project as we learn about serving as a response to our baptism and finding our vocations.
Have a good week!
Ms. Sullivan
Jan. 13, 2015
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dear parents and third graders,
You can visit our photos of our projects and field trip finally in the "Pictures" menu of the class webpage. I got caught up during our emergency closing days. It seems we will be able to have a full week this week. So hopefully we are all motivated to keep studying and learning. You should have received a math fact test schedule so that you can anticipate what to study next--or even to get ahead and ready.
Tomorrow morning (Wednesday) we will have both our math tests. Be ready for -3, -4 differences (subtraction) and the types of problems on our homework papers. In the afternoon we will have the Ch. 3 Science tests on the ecosystems. Please look over the questions returned and know the main features of the ecosystems. Think about how plants and animals rely on each other, and also how they adapt to the climate and environment.
Thursday we will have a general spelling test to see if students can recognize common words and spelling patterns. There is no need for extra studying for this.
Friday we will have the regular Spelling test on Unit 20. At 9:30 a.m. we will celebrate our peacemaking month with the whole school in the church. This is a special time to remember we are all builders of peace. Plus we will recognize two particular peacemakers in our class: Joshua Aguilar and Luna Carballo.
We will continue to study famous peacemakers Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, and others in the next month. We will focus on Christian and nonviolent responses to conflict and injustice.
Enjoy your studies!
Ms. Sullivan
You can visit our photos of our projects and field trip finally in the "Pictures" menu of the class webpage. I got caught up during our emergency closing days. It seems we will be able to have a full week this week. So hopefully we are all motivated to keep studying and learning. You should have received a math fact test schedule so that you can anticipate what to study next--or even to get ahead and ready.
Tomorrow morning (Wednesday) we will have both our math tests. Be ready for -3, -4 differences (subtraction) and the types of problems on our homework papers. In the afternoon we will have the Ch. 3 Science tests on the ecosystems. Please look over the questions returned and know the main features of the ecosystems. Think about how plants and animals rely on each other, and also how they adapt to the climate and environment.
Thursday we will have a general spelling test to see if students can recognize common words and spelling patterns. There is no need for extra studying for this.
Friday we will have the regular Spelling test on Unit 20. At 9:30 a.m. we will celebrate our peacemaking month with the whole school in the church. This is a special time to remember we are all builders of peace. Plus we will recognize two particular peacemakers in our class: Joshua Aguilar and Luna Carballo.
We will continue to study famous peacemakers Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, and others in the next month. We will focus on Christian and nonviolent responses to conflict and injustice.
Enjoy your studies!
Ms. Sullivan
Dec. 15, 2014
Dear parents and third graders,
The projects were a success! The field trip to the Field Museum of Natural History was a success!
Thank you for all the help and attention! Thank you to the chaperones and for their pictures. Due to a family emergency it will take me a little longer to download them all. Please pray for my parents. Friday my father had a slight stroke and his brother died of cancer. We are praying for your families and friends in class, too.
With the tribe presentations, field trip, extra music practices, and visits to the church for Our Lady of Guadalupe we didn't have as much time to do classwork. So I am canceling the Science test, and we will do more research on the ecosystems this week.
There will also be no spelling test this week. But there will be lots of preparation for Christmas!
Here's our schedule:
Today: English test
Wednesday: Math tests (facts and written assessment)
Christmas Program in the church--Children should arrive at 6:15 pm in the Church
Thursday: 8th grade sponsored Christmas party 10:30-11:30 Children will need money for games and snacks.
Friday: Class Christmas party with a talent show. Children may share a musical piece, card trick, small Lego creation, art piece, martial arts routine, or any other reasonable demonstration.
I love you! Have a blessed, safe, fun Christmas vacation.
See you Jan. 5.
Ms. Sullivan
The projects were a success! The field trip to the Field Museum of Natural History was a success!
Thank you for all the help and attention! Thank you to the chaperones and for their pictures. Due to a family emergency it will take me a little longer to download them all. Please pray for my parents. Friday my father had a slight stroke and his brother died of cancer. We are praying for your families and friends in class, too.
With the tribe presentations, field trip, extra music practices, and visits to the church for Our Lady of Guadalupe we didn't have as much time to do classwork. So I am canceling the Science test, and we will do more research on the ecosystems this week.
There will also be no spelling test this week. But there will be lots of preparation for Christmas!
Here's our schedule:
Today: English test
Wednesday: Math tests (facts and written assessment)
Christmas Program in the church--Children should arrive at 6:15 pm in the Church
Thursday: 8th grade sponsored Christmas party 10:30-11:30 Children will need money for games and snacks.
Friday: Class Christmas party with a talent show. Children may share a musical piece, card trick, small Lego creation, art piece, martial arts routine, or any other reasonable demonstration.
I love you! Have a blessed, safe, fun Christmas vacation.
See you Jan. 5.
Ms. Sullivan
Happy feast of the Immaculate Concepttion today and of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Friday! We will celebrate Mary at our school Mass on Wednesday. In class we have also learned that the angel Gabriel's visit to Mary to announce that she will be the Mother of God is called the Annunciation. We will have a Religion test on Mary and Advent customs and symbols Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Thank you for the wonderful work on the Native American projects! I will be posting their pictures on this website within a week. We had the opportunity to share what we learned with other grades today. The projects will go home Thursday.
Tomorrow is our field trip. Thank you to the chaperones who are going with us. The children do not need to bring any money. I will not allow them to buy, since we are there to explore the many exhibits at the museum. We will focus first on the Native American cultures.
In math we are practicing -2 and differences of 2 for our next fact test. We are now into multiplication and division by 1, 7, and 10. Please make and study flash cards along with your regular papers.
Please study for the English test on Thursday. It will be on capitalization of proper nouns and forming regular and irregular plurals. Study the Grammar Workshop book pp. 46-54.
On Friday we will have a Spelling Test on Unit 17. We will also have a reading test. This test will focus on comprehension of reading for information and for reading for inferences. While reading Because of Winn-Dixie in class, we have been writing out examples of inferences each day. What the Text Says + What I Know = Inference. It is a type of "reading between the lines" or drawing a conclusion.
In Science we are studying Ecosystems. Next week we will have a test on Wednesday. The children will be able to use their books to research answers on their own. They will need to compare and contrast the ecosystems.
Thank you for all your work and love!
Ms. Sullivan
Thank you for the wonderful work on the Native American projects! I will be posting their pictures on this website within a week. We had the opportunity to share what we learned with other grades today. The projects will go home Thursday.
Tomorrow is our field trip. Thank you to the chaperones who are going with us. The children do not need to bring any money. I will not allow them to buy, since we are there to explore the many exhibits at the museum. We will focus first on the Native American cultures.
In math we are practicing -2 and differences of 2 for our next fact test. We are now into multiplication and division by 1, 7, and 10. Please make and study flash cards along with your regular papers.
Please study for the English test on Thursday. It will be on capitalization of proper nouns and forming regular and irregular plurals. Study the Grammar Workshop book pp. 46-54.
On Friday we will have a Spelling Test on Unit 17. We will also have a reading test. This test will focus on comprehension of reading for information and for reading for inferences. While reading Because of Winn-Dixie in class, we have been writing out examples of inferences each day. What the Text Says + What I Know = Inference. It is a type of "reading between the lines" or drawing a conclusion.
In Science we are studying Ecosystems. Next week we will have a test on Wednesday. The children will be able to use their books to research answers on their own. They will need to compare and contrast the ecosystems.
Thank you for all your work and love!
Ms. Sullivan
December 1, 2014
Dear parents and third graders,
I hope you had a fun and restful vacation and holiday. We are starting a new month, and there will be lots to be excited about. I hope this Advent will be a month of fun and prayerful preparation for Christ's birth. In class we will be studying the Old Testament ancestors of Jesus by preparing ornaments for the Jesse Tree and reading the stories. We will learn symbols and lessons they teach us. The parish Novena for Our Lady of Guadalupe begins this week, too.
In reading we will be focusing on inferences. This means we will put together clues that help us come to conclusions by making an educated guess. We will look for the meaning behind the clues. Today we looked at these pictures to find an inference. We are also starting a new book, Because of Winn-Dixie. I hope you love this story as much as I did.
As you are probably aware, our projects are due next Monday. I will be checking on the progress of the reports today through Wednesday. You should be able to copy them (by hand) after that. Please remember to indent each paragraph! Please do not bring the project in until next Monday.
Too many children are distracted by putting the leads in and out of the mechanical pencils. Therefore, I am requiring children only to bring pencils that can be sharpened in class. (No more mechanical pencils.) Asking Santa for a good quality hand sharpener might be a great idea.
We have many talents the children practice after school. I would like to have a talent show on our last day of class, Dec. 19. Let's get our instruments and other talents ready.
Have a good week!
Ms Sullivan
Nov. 17, 2014
Dear parents and third graders,
We have a lot for which to be thankful. One of them is the installation of our new archbishop of Chicago. He will call us to live our Christian faith with openness and dialogue. Let's be mindful of the gifts we have been given and share them with others. The third graders will be preparing for our Thanksgiving liturgical celebration next Tuesday.
This week we continue the intensive study on the Native American tribes. Please keep doing in-depth reading on your tribe. On Friday we will have a quiz on vocabulary related to this study. Please study the study sheet (which will be given out Wednesday) Wednesday and Thursday to prepare.
We have our regular spelling test on Friday and conferences Sunday. Please let the office know if you will not be able to make the date or time. Monday we have class and the math fact test on subtracting from 10. Tuesday the 25th is the math test and our last day before vacation begins on Wednesday Nov. 26.
Thanks for all your hard work, loving support, and coming for conferences with your children!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
We have a lot for which to be thankful. One of them is the installation of our new archbishop of Chicago. He will call us to live our Christian faith with openness and dialogue. Let's be mindful of the gifts we have been given and share them with others. The third graders will be preparing for our Thanksgiving liturgical celebration next Tuesday.
This week we continue the intensive study on the Native American tribes. Please keep doing in-depth reading on your tribe. On Friday we will have a quiz on vocabulary related to this study. Please study the study sheet (which will be given out Wednesday) Wednesday and Thursday to prepare.
We have our regular spelling test on Friday and conferences Sunday. Please let the office know if you will not be able to make the date or time. Monday we have class and the math fact test on subtracting from 10. Tuesday the 25th is the math test and our last day before vacation begins on Wednesday Nov. 26.
Thanks for all your hard work, loving support, and coming for conferences with your children!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
Nov. 10, 2014
Dear parents and third graders,
What do all these images have in common? Research! The third graders are researching saints, animal defenses, and Native American tribes on computers and in books! Yes, there are lots of projects going on. We are learning the skills of understanding while reading, reading a table of contents and index, narrowing a topic, taking notes, summarizing text into our own words, writing paragraphs, and of course, learning new concepts of history and science! Please sign the Native American project papers Tuesday, and they will be returned to you. Meanwhile there is a reading assignment each night related to nonfiction reading.
Of course, there are tests to take, too! Tomorrow we will have an English test on sentences and sentence parts: subjects and predicates. The children should also be able to identify common nouns in a sentence (person, places, or things) and action verbs.
Thursday we will have a science test on Ch. 2 Lessons 3 and 4. The children should be able to give examples of the four kinds of animal defenses as well as explain what each one is. The should know the main ideas of how animal fossils are formed and what fossils tell us today.
Friday is the Spelling test Unit 14 and Math Fact Assessment of X1 and X10.
Thursday we walk to the National Museum of Mexican Art for our Day of the Dead exhibit tour. This should be really interesting. The children may buy a sugar skull under $3 if you permit it. Other than that they will not be allowed to buy. Of course if you wish, you can bring them back to the museum after school hours.
Thanks for all your work! I hope you get as excited about the projects as I do!
Ms. Sullivan
Nov. 3, 2014
Dear parents and third graders,
I hope you didn't miss Ms. Nasko's announcement that the teachers have to meet this Friday, November 7, so there is no school.
I hope you didn't miss Ms. Nasko's announcement that the teachers have to meet this Friday, November 7, so there is no school.
October 27, 2014
Dear parents and third graders,
Much thanks to Maria Carballo for teaching us about tango music through her delightful singing and playing. Ms. Carballo gave us a history of this genre from Argentina, her homeland. The students were able to trace how cultures blend and create new traditions.
This week we'll be studying the traditions of Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations. In the Catholic religion we prepare for All Saints and All Souls' Days. Halloween is the Eve before All Hallows/All Saints. The group of students assigned may bring treats Friday for a short party in the afternoon. We are not allowed to wear costumes to school on Halloween.
This week is also Red Ribbon Week. The national theme is "Love Yourself. Be Drug Free." Some of the week's activities will include discussion and writing about how to make good choices for our lives. For homework each day the children should record how much time they spend on various activities.
As for tests, please note the following:
Have a super week!
Ms. Sullivan
Much thanks to Maria Carballo for teaching us about tango music through her delightful singing and playing. Ms. Carballo gave us a history of this genre from Argentina, her homeland. The students were able to trace how cultures blend and create new traditions.
This week we'll be studying the traditions of Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations. In the Catholic religion we prepare for All Saints and All Souls' Days. Halloween is the Eve before All Hallows/All Saints. The group of students assigned may bring treats Friday for a short party in the afternoon. We are not allowed to wear costumes to school on Halloween.
This week is also Red Ribbon Week. The national theme is "Love Yourself. Be Drug Free." Some of the week's activities will include discussion and writing about how to make good choices for our lives. For homework each day the children should record how much time they spend on various activities.
As for tests, please note the following:
- Tuesday: Math Facts--25 problems in one minute + 5 and +6
- Wednesday: Math Written Assessment
- Thursday: Science: Ch 2, lessons 1 and 2 pp. 39-47 Students should be able to classify animals into subgroups and sequence their life cycles
- Friday: Spelling Unit 11
Have a super week!
Ms. Sullivan
October 20, 2014
Dear parents and students,
Thankfully we are still having beautiful days of fall. We will be using St. Francis' Canticle of the Creatures to write our own canticles this week. Our test on St. Francis is Thursday. In math we will have the fact test on +3 and +4 tomorrow. Our written assessment is Wednesday. Please note how important paying attention to reading the problem and writing labels are. During our math lessons we are now practicing counting by 7s and 12s because these skills are needed in upcoming lessons. Speaking of details, I expect the children to be putting written answers in sentences unless otherwise indicated. When papers are returned a NS means the answer was not written as a complete sentence. Either it doesn't have the parts, or it doesn't have a capital letter to begin, or it may be missing the end mark (. ? or !) It's important the children don't get into sloppy habits. |
In Social Studies we are working with maps. On Friday we will have a test to identify the names of the continents and the oceans. The children will also need to know how to find a place on a map given directions with N, S, E, W, NW, NE, SE, and SW.
I continue to marvel at what great kids you have! It's a joy to get to know them. Love, Ms. Sullivan |
October 12, 2014
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October 6, 2014
Dear parents and third graders,
This week we have a normal study week, but few tests! Friday is the Math fact test on adding 9s. Please study hard to be able to do 25 problems in one minute! We will also have the Spelling Unit 8 test.
Today I am handing out progress reports and stunning student project descriptions and dates. Please sign and return both.
We have seen a number of the mealworms turn into pupas and then beetles. So now the mealworms can stay home or go directly to a garden.
Please remember that next Monday is a holiday and there is no school.
Have a great week!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
This week we have a normal study week, but few tests! Friday is the Math fact test on adding 9s. Please study hard to be able to do 25 problems in one minute! We will also have the Spelling Unit 8 test.
Today I am handing out progress reports and stunning student project descriptions and dates. Please sign and return both.
We have seen a number of the mealworms turn into pupas and then beetles. So now the mealworms can stay home or go directly to a garden.
Please remember that next Monday is a holiday and there is no school.
Have a great week!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
Sept 29, 2014
Dear parents and third graders,
Thank you for coming to Back to School night. I know we will make this year successful working as partners in your children's education. One thing I forgot to make mention of is that this year your children will take the national test in March called the Terra Nova. An area in which we will be working harder than ever in all subjects is explaining our thinking--verbally, but also in writing. A good question to ask is, "How do you know that?" Check to see if your student is fully explaining their thinking and also using academic vocabulary well.
This week we have a few more tests coming up.
The weather is changing and tomorrow should be cool again. Please be prepared with school sweaters for each days' uniform. On music uniform days we do not wear sweatshirts. Children should have a navy blue or red sweater.
Have a great week!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
PS Again, the website is www.stpius3.weebly.com
My email is [email protected]
Thank you for coming to Back to School night. I know we will make this year successful working as partners in your children's education. One thing I forgot to make mention of is that this year your children will take the national test in March called the Terra Nova. An area in which we will be working harder than ever in all subjects is explaining our thinking--verbally, but also in writing. A good question to ask is, "How do you know that?" Check to see if your student is fully explaining their thinking and also using academic vocabulary well.
This week we have a few more tests coming up.
- Wednesday is the English test covering writing complete sentences with capital letters at the beginning and correct end marks. Students can study pp. 8-19 in the Grammar Workshop book. They should be able to know the difference between a fragment and a complete thought.
- Thursday we will have the Math Fact Test adding 2. There are 25 problems in a minute.
- Thursday we will also have a Religion Test Study Ch 1 pp. 13-23. Memorize the vocabulary definitions for "faith, Holy Trinity, disciples, New Testament, Old Testament, apostles." Know that the gospel writers were Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and that the gospels tell about Jesus' life in the New Testament.
- Friday is the Math Written Assessment. Study the homework papers.
- Friday is the Spelling Test Unit 7.
The weather is changing and tomorrow should be cool again. Please be prepared with school sweaters for each days' uniform. On music uniform days we do not wear sweatshirts. Children should have a navy blue or red sweater.
Have a great week!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
PS Again, the website is www.stpius3.weebly.com
My email is [email protected]
Sept. 22, 2014
Dear parents and third graders,
Welcome back to third grade! The Back to School night is this Thursday. The first part of the night starts in the church with Mrs. Nasko speaking. Then I'll see you in the classroom on the fourth floor. I look forward to it! Also, thank you for returning the student information forms so quickly.
This week the teachers will be working Friday, but the students don't have classes. Our spelling Unit 5 test will be Thursday instead. We will have a Science test Wednesday. We will be reviewing Ch. 1 Lessons 1-5 in class, but PLEASE review past worksheets and the lesson contents tonight AND tomorrow. Be sure to know the process of how a plant makes its food, sugar. Study the parts and their functions. Know the difference between coniferous and deciduous tress. Know how a plant becomes a fossil.
On Thursday we will have a Social Studies test. Study the summary of Mexican Independence sheet. Know the definitions of goods and services and examples of each. Other questions will come from our JA lessons on banking, You will get a study sheet tomorrow.
Today we celebrated UN International Peace day. Thursday we will rally for School Choice. We are learning to be good citizens! Thanks for all your efforts.
See you Thursday!
Ms. Sullivan
Welcome back to third grade! The Back to School night is this Thursday. The first part of the night starts in the church with Mrs. Nasko speaking. Then I'll see you in the classroom on the fourth floor. I look forward to it! Also, thank you for returning the student information forms so quickly.
This week the teachers will be working Friday, but the students don't have classes. Our spelling Unit 5 test will be Thursday instead. We will have a Science test Wednesday. We will be reviewing Ch. 1 Lessons 1-5 in class, but PLEASE review past worksheets and the lesson contents tonight AND tomorrow. Be sure to know the process of how a plant makes its food, sugar. Study the parts and their functions. Know the difference between coniferous and deciduous tress. Know how a plant becomes a fossil.
On Thursday we will have a Social Studies test. Study the summary of Mexican Independence sheet. Know the definitions of goods and services and examples of each. Other questions will come from our JA lessons on banking, You will get a study sheet tomorrow.
Today we celebrated UN International Peace day. Thursday we will rally for School Choice. We are learning to be good citizens! Thanks for all your efforts.
See you Thursday!
Ms. Sullivan
Sept. 15, 2014
Dear third graders and parents,
We will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage month starting today. Tomorrow we will have fun listening to mariachis as a school. Many of our Social Studies lessons will center around Hispanic heritage or geography in the coming weeks.
Tomorrow we will also have our first reading test. Students should be prepared to use the vocabulary from the story Lost and Found, read a new passage and answer questions, and match words with the same short vowel sounds and the hard and soft sounds of c and g.
Tomorrow is also the second Math Written Assessment. Review past homework papers. Be sure you know what each term means, too.
Friday will be our Unit 4 spelling test. Also this week we will be taking home the book Muggie Maggie to find out why writing cursive writing is important. We begin cursive writing at the end of the week.
Have a great week!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
We will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage month starting today. Tomorrow we will have fun listening to mariachis as a school. Many of our Social Studies lessons will center around Hispanic heritage or geography in the coming weeks.
Tomorrow we will also have our first reading test. Students should be prepared to use the vocabulary from the story Lost and Found, read a new passage and answer questions, and match words with the same short vowel sounds and the hard and soft sounds of c and g.
Tomorrow is also the second Math Written Assessment. Review past homework papers. Be sure you know what each term means, too.
Friday will be our Unit 4 spelling test. Also this week we will be taking home the book Muggie Maggie to find out why writing cursive writing is important. We begin cursive writing at the end of the week.
Have a great week!
Love, Ms. Sullivan
Sept 8, 2014
Dear third graders and parents,
We are studying the life cycles of plants and animals in science. Now the experiments and observations are underway. This kind of wonder is part of our appreciation for God's good creation and leads to appreciation of our environment and its care. Thank you for your enthusiasm! Our reading assignments this week will come from our Science book this week. Please bring it back to school each day.
On Wednesday you will receive a folder of the math and spelling tests we have taken. All tests need to be signed and returned. I insist on neat writing and may ask children to redo messy papers. Always look for capitalization and end marks, too!
Please be studying your reading vocabulary sheet for a test of comprehension, vocabulary, and phonics skills. We are aiming for "close reading" of materials, so we will need to read passages more than once to check for understanding. As you read, see if you can summarize what you have read.
Wednesday morning there is a school mass at 9:30. All are welcome in the church!
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
We are studying the life cycles of plants and animals in science. Now the experiments and observations are underway. This kind of wonder is part of our appreciation for God's good creation and leads to appreciation of our environment and its care. Thank you for your enthusiasm! Our reading assignments this week will come from our Science book this week. Please bring it back to school each day.
On Wednesday you will receive a folder of the math and spelling tests we have taken. All tests need to be signed and returned. I insist on neat writing and may ask children to redo messy papers. Always look for capitalization and end marks, too!
Please be studying your reading vocabulary sheet for a test of comprehension, vocabulary, and phonics skills. We are aiming for "close reading" of materials, so we will need to read passages more than once to check for understanding. As you read, see if you can summarize what you have read.
Wednesday morning there is a school mass at 9:30. All are welcome in the church!
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
September 3, 2014
Dear parents and students,
I hope you had a fun, long weekend. Thank you for all coming back, and for even completing the homework!
This week we will have a very special Friday. Besides the regular spelling test on Unit 2, there will be a one minute timed test on adding 0, adding 1, and adding doubles. These timed tests come every 6th school day. Please read the instructions on the back of the homework in order to practice in a helpful way. The most exciting activity of the day will be having our lessons on "The City" from a Junior Achievement team. The students will learn about city zoning, architectural plans and measuring, planning a business, and using a checkbook--all in one day! Of course we will reinforce the lessons throughout the year.
Since our Open House is not until September 25, I will be sending home informational forms for me to know some information about communicating with you and getting to know your children. Please fill these out in a timely manner.
The school handbook is clear that toys and other distracting materials are not to be brought to school. Although I made several announcements about not bring Pokemon cards, I am finding them in some children's hands or desks. When I do, I will be keeping them until you (the parents or guardians) come to pick them up.
Please know that the students will be bringing home a mealworm in a plastic container this weekend. It should be returned to class Monday for observation. Thank you!
I intend to post the children's pictures and first names only on this website (www.stpius3.weebly.com). If you do not want your child's name or picture published, please sign below.
This class is advancing nicely in reading. Congratulations!
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
I hope you had a fun, long weekend. Thank you for all coming back, and for even completing the homework!
This week we will have a very special Friday. Besides the regular spelling test on Unit 2, there will be a one minute timed test on adding 0, adding 1, and adding doubles. These timed tests come every 6th school day. Please read the instructions on the back of the homework in order to practice in a helpful way. The most exciting activity of the day will be having our lessons on "The City" from a Junior Achievement team. The students will learn about city zoning, architectural plans and measuring, planning a business, and using a checkbook--all in one day! Of course we will reinforce the lessons throughout the year.
Since our Open House is not until September 25, I will be sending home informational forms for me to know some information about communicating with you and getting to know your children. Please fill these out in a timely manner.
The school handbook is clear that toys and other distracting materials are not to be brought to school. Although I made several announcements about not bring Pokemon cards, I am finding them in some children's hands or desks. When I do, I will be keeping them until you (the parents or guardians) come to pick them up.
Please know that the students will be bringing home a mealworm in a plastic container this weekend. It should be returned to class Monday for observation. Thank you!
I intend to post the children's pictures and first names only on this website (www.stpius3.weebly.com). If you do not want your child's name or picture published, please sign below.
This class is advancing nicely in reading. Congratulations!
Have a great week!
Ms. Sullivan
August 25, 2014
Dear third graders and families,
Happy beginnings! I hope you had a relaxing summer. I am so happy to see all the new smiling faces. We will start work steadily. This first week is important for setting routines, beginning basic work and doing pretests. Here are some things you should know:
Students are allowed to bring water bottles (if they have water only in them) to our room since our classroom is on the 4th floor. We are so blessed to have air conditioning at our school.
Full days of school start tomorrow (Tuesday). Students will be dismissed at 2:45 p.m. The meal program also starts Tuesday. I would like to meet the people who will be picking up your children, so please come introduce yourselves to me before or after school.
Most Mondays or Tuesdays you will receive a letter from me. It will say which tests we are having, what vocabulary words to study, and other news. The newsletter will also be posted on our class website www.stpius3.weebly.com.
Since we have a full week of school, we will have our first spelling test this Friday. Please study the Unit 1 words. You can also study all year for spelling on www.spellingcity.com. After going to the site, enter my name, Dana Sullivan, to search by teacher. I do not have the premium membership on the site. However, the site is great for doing pretests, studying this week’s words or bonus words, and trying other games.
Thanks for sending me your wonderful children,
Ms. Dana Sullivan
Happy beginnings! I hope you had a relaxing summer. I am so happy to see all the new smiling faces. We will start work steadily. This first week is important for setting routines, beginning basic work and doing pretests. Here are some things you should know:
Students are allowed to bring water bottles (if they have water only in them) to our room since our classroom is on the 4th floor. We are so blessed to have air conditioning at our school.
Full days of school start tomorrow (Tuesday). Students will be dismissed at 2:45 p.m. The meal program also starts Tuesday. I would like to meet the people who will be picking up your children, so please come introduce yourselves to me before or after school.
Most Mondays or Tuesdays you will receive a letter from me. It will say which tests we are having, what vocabulary words to study, and other news. The newsletter will also be posted on our class website www.stpius3.weebly.com.
Since we have a full week of school, we will have our first spelling test this Friday. Please study the Unit 1 words. You can also study all year for spelling on www.spellingcity.com. After going to the site, enter my name, Dana Sullivan, to search by teacher. I do not have the premium membership on the site. However, the site is great for doing pretests, studying this week’s words or bonus words, and trying other games.
Thanks for sending me your wonderful children,
Ms. Dana Sullivan