FOOD ALLERGIES
We have two students with severe food allergies in our classroom. The allergies are to peanuts, tree nuts, and fish.
No nuts or fish should be brought into the classroom.
We will have classroom parties with food brought from homes to celebrate Halloween, Winter Holidays, Valentines Day, and the end-of-the-year all-fourth grade swimming party. Also, food from home will be served on our overnight field trip to Columbia, CA, in March, 2015.
BIRTHDAYS
Ms. Heyse follows the Westlake Wellness Policy for celebrating birthdays.
We DO NOT share birthday treats at school.
We DO sing "Happy Birthday." Then all the birthday students for the month meet with Ms. Heyse to choose a
25 minute whole-class activity of their choice. That's the celebration. It's fun!
HOMEWORK
•Homework will go home on Mondays at 2:45 p.m., and will be due on Fridays at 8:20 a.m.
•Blue and white Westlake folders will be used for homework. Notes, announcements, and corrected classwork should be found in the left-hand pocket. Homework assignments should be in the right-hand pocket.
•Homework can be turned in early -- Tuesday through Friday. Please, turn in the COMPLETED FOLDER, not one assignment at a time.
•If there is difficulty with any assignment, students with or without their parents should talk to me either before or after school. It is best to get help or clarification BEFORE FRIDAYS!
•Spelling tests will be on Thursdays. Students are expected to study the words as part of their homework assignments.
Corrected tests from the previous week will be in the homework folder.
•If special circumstances arise so that the homework folder will not be completed and turned in on time, PARENTS NEED TO WRITE A NOTE, EMAIL, CALL, OR STOP BY ROOM 15 to arrange for a new schedule. Timely homework completion is considered both the students' and the parents' responsibility.
READING
Fourth grade students are expected to read chapter books, fiction and non-fiction, from cover to cover. We will have silent independent reading time at least four mornings a week, plus students can continue reading in class whenever they finish other assignments.
At home, students should have space to read silently, without interruption, for at least 30 minutes a day. In order to finish chapter books, other extended times should be set aside. Students will be expected to take comprehension tests on the books they complete. These Reading Counts tests are taken in class on computers. The teacher will monitor those results, twice a trimester.
Students and their families should be aware of the student's lexile rating, which indicates a successful reading comprehension level. Students are assessed to get this lexile score four times a year.
P.E.
We will usually have Physical Education three times a week, plus occasional short stretching sessions in class.
Students must have closed-toed sports shoes for P.E. The students will always start with a stretching circle, and will frequently run laps to develop endurance and heart strength. There will be a focus on grade-level skills and cooperative sportsmanship. Grades will be based on effort, cooperation, and skill levels.
P.E. is currently scheduled for Tuesdays, 10:30 - 11; Wednesdays, 10:30 - 11:10; and Fridays, 11:25-11:55.
When we have dance, it will be every other Wednesday, from 9:20 - 10:10, and will take the place of Wednesday P.E.
WATER
Water is always encouraged in the classroom. However, other drinks in the water bottles are not allowed, without the teacher's approval.
We have two students with severe food allergies in our classroom. The allergies are to peanuts, tree nuts, and fish.
No nuts or fish should be brought into the classroom.
We will have classroom parties with food brought from homes to celebrate Halloween, Winter Holidays, Valentines Day, and the end-of-the-year all-fourth grade swimming party. Also, food from home will be served on our overnight field trip to Columbia, CA, in March, 2015.
BIRTHDAYS
Ms. Heyse follows the Westlake Wellness Policy for celebrating birthdays.
We DO NOT share birthday treats at school.
We DO sing "Happy Birthday." Then all the birthday students for the month meet with Ms. Heyse to choose a
25 minute whole-class activity of their choice. That's the celebration. It's fun!
HOMEWORK
•Homework will go home on Mondays at 2:45 p.m., and will be due on Fridays at 8:20 a.m.
•Blue and white Westlake folders will be used for homework. Notes, announcements, and corrected classwork should be found in the left-hand pocket. Homework assignments should be in the right-hand pocket.
•Homework can be turned in early -- Tuesday through Friday. Please, turn in the COMPLETED FOLDER, not one assignment at a time.
•If there is difficulty with any assignment, students with or without their parents should talk to me either before or after school. It is best to get help or clarification BEFORE FRIDAYS!
•Spelling tests will be on Thursdays. Students are expected to study the words as part of their homework assignments.
Corrected tests from the previous week will be in the homework folder.
•If special circumstances arise so that the homework folder will not be completed and turned in on time, PARENTS NEED TO WRITE A NOTE, EMAIL, CALL, OR STOP BY ROOM 15 to arrange for a new schedule. Timely homework completion is considered both the students' and the parents' responsibility.
READING
Fourth grade students are expected to read chapter books, fiction and non-fiction, from cover to cover. We will have silent independent reading time at least four mornings a week, plus students can continue reading in class whenever they finish other assignments.
At home, students should have space to read silently, without interruption, for at least 30 minutes a day. In order to finish chapter books, other extended times should be set aside. Students will be expected to take comprehension tests on the books they complete. These Reading Counts tests are taken in class on computers. The teacher will monitor those results, twice a trimester.
Students and their families should be aware of the student's lexile rating, which indicates a successful reading comprehension level. Students are assessed to get this lexile score four times a year.
P.E.
We will usually have Physical Education three times a week, plus occasional short stretching sessions in class.
Students must have closed-toed sports shoes for P.E. The students will always start with a stretching circle, and will frequently run laps to develop endurance and heart strength. There will be a focus on grade-level skills and cooperative sportsmanship. Grades will be based on effort, cooperation, and skill levels.
P.E. is currently scheduled for Tuesdays, 10:30 - 11; Wednesdays, 10:30 - 11:10; and Fridays, 11:25-11:55.
When we have dance, it will be every other Wednesday, from 9:20 - 10:10, and will take the place of Wednesday P.E.
WATER
Water is always encouraged in the classroom. However, other drinks in the water bottles are not allowed, without the teacher's approval.