Weekly Updates
Hello Fourth Grade Families,
Hi All,
Egg Hunt
The whole 4th grade is going to celebrate Easter with an egg hunt on Friday. I would like to request donations of filled, plastic eggs. If you are able, please send them in by Thursday. Thanks so much!
4th Grade Gold Rush Day, Wednesday April 17, 9:00 - 1:00
4th grade has been learning all about the gold rush and the impact this had on California in the 1850s and today. We will culminate this unit of study with a "Gold Rush Day" on the playground and blacktop on Wednesday, April 17. The Julian Mining Company will bring dozens of activities including: Gold Panning, Sluice Boxes, Laundry washing, and Ax Throwing. We will have our mining buildings all set up and do a photo booth and a hot dog grilling. Information on the activities planned and sign up links are here. Permission form is here.
Spring Break
Spring Break is next week, April 1-5. School resumes Monday, April 8.
Open House
Empresa's annual Open House is Thursday, April 25. Come out and see the amazing work your student has been doing.
Trimester 3 has begun
Trimester 2 is in the books with report cards coming home last Friday, March 15. Consider any 2s as an area to enhance with extra help / reinforcement at home. Please check the levels below and make sure that your child is keeping up.
As we make our way towards grade 5, there are some goals the students must meet:
Lexia Level 18
XTRAMath Mastery of Multiplication
3 paragraph essay with generally correct spelling, capitals, periods, proper sentence structure
We have quite a few students that are not on track to meet these goals with just classwork, even with 5 months remaining. Please ask your student where they are with each of these and raise up the daily time spent on each at home.
Homework
Homework for March 25 is here.
Class Donations Needed
We continue almost out of dry erase markers, clorox wipes, kleenex. If you are at Costco or Staples and willing to donate, we really appreciate it!
Currently Studying
We are shifting our studies in Science to Geology including volcanoes, earthquakes, gems, precious metals, gold, etc. This will culminate with a field trip in March to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Carlsbad.
In Social Studies we will be shifting our studies to Spain's Mission System, Ranchos, Westward expansion in America, and obviously, the Gold Rush.
Ukuleles
We will be rehearsing for our upcoming fourth-grade performance during music. Students do not need to bring their ukuleles for the remainder of January and February.
Multiplication/Division Facts
In Math, we will continue to work on long multiplication and division skills, so please continue to show / reinforce the methods to solve these with accuracy. Examples: 43 X 23, and 546 / 3.
More time is going to be needed for most spent on memorizing their addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts on XTramath.org. This is only going to become more crucial to have these facts memorized as the years wears on, so please encourage your students to get on the website and practice daily. If they think they have nothing to do for school, they probably do - get on the XTRAmath.org!
Sicknesses / Absences
We are headlong into flu / cold season, and absences are going to be inevitable. If your child is going to miss, it is pretty important to try to keep up and make up any lessons. Use this link to access Zearn, Lexia core, and Renaissance to complete online Math and Reading lessons. Students will use their regular login credentials. Thanks!
Class Donations
If you are willing to donate needed supplies to the class, thank you so much! I have put a wish list on Amazon. Here is the QR Code:
Have a great week!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Congratulations to our March Students of the Month and Empresa Rockstars. You are doing a brilliant job!
Aedan Coyne - Student of the Month for March 2024
Alitzel Quiroz Torres - Student of the Month for March 2024
Zoe Lee - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for March 2024
Rommel Valdez Hernandez - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for March 2024
Congratulations to our February Students of the Month and Empresa Rockstars. You are doing a brilliant job!
Lotus Sinnerton - Student of the Month for February 2024
Aiden Yanez - Student of the Month for February 2024
Nicole Garcia- Empresa Rockstar of the Month for February 2024
Curren Wirdeman- Empresa Rockstar of the Month for February 2024
Congratulations to our January Students of the Month and Empresa Rockstars. You are doing a brilliant job!
Natalie Lim - Student of the Month for January 2024
Ailey Camarena - Student of the Month for January 2024
Cayden Bayer - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for January 2024
Noah Rojas - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for January 2024
Congratulations to our December Students of the Month and Empresa Rockstars. You are doing a brilliant job!
Luke Meeuwsen - Student of the Month for December 2023
Leah Naranjo - Student of the Month for December 2023
Kaylani Best - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for December 2023
Colton Stangl - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for December 2023
Congratulations to our November Students of the Month and Empresa Rockstars. You are doing a brilliant job!
Kiara Cirolia - Student of the Month for November 2023
Camden Nichols - Student of the Month for November 2023
Riley Korn - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for November 2023
Evie Hardamon - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for November 2023
Congratulations to our October Students of the Month and Empresa Rockstars. You are doing a brilliant job!
Alicia Antonio - Student of the Month for October 2023
Aaliyah Smothers- Student of the Month for October 2023
Damian Guerrero - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for October 2023
Hailey Long - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for October 2023
Congratulations to our September Students of the Month and Empresa Rockstars. You are doing a brilliant job!
Khalil Sarwan - Student of the Month for September 2023
Sydney Walker - Student of the Month for September 2023
Adrian Cuellar - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for September 2023
Alicia Antonio - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for September 2023
- - - - - - - - - -
Using our computer programs at Home
Students needing to access the programs on Class Link at home should follow these instructions.
If you need to get onto Google Classroom, go to Google and sign in using your regular sign in information like logging into your chromebook. The only difference will be that you have to enter @vistausd.org after the student number (the first set of numbers).
Volunteering in the classroom
As security at schools are heightened, it has become necessary to fill out the VUSD School Volunteer Application and I have to submit a Volunteer Schedule to the office staff so they will know who you are. If you would be kind enough to download, fill out, and return the Volunteer Application and the Volunteer Schedule, we can get you in the classroom as soon as possible. If you are unable to commit to a regular schedule, but find an opening that you would like to come in, please send me a message on Class Dojo.
Empresa's PTA and early bird Yearbook Orders
To join Empresa's PTA click the link.
For 2023 / 2024 Empresa Yearbook orders click here.
- - - - - - - - - -
We have an amazing curriculum including California history, Geology, Science, Math skills, Writing genres, and high interest novels. 4th grade marks a period of strengthening skills learned in the primary grades to a new level and it's not uncommon to find students being quite proficient and above grade level in Math, Reading, and Writing by the end of the year. It is very common to have your child's enthusiasm for learning rise to unexpected levels and many students claim this to be the most exciting year of their K-12 school experience. Just know this, your child is in the right spot and I am confident that they are going to have fun, learn a LOT, and boost their confidence to new levels. Check this website often. I update it every week and sometimes more if needed. I look forward to a great year together!
Very important supplies and items your child will need:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As you prepare yourself for grade 4, keep a daily journal, paying close attention to capitals, complete sentences, and punctuation. Find a good novel series and spend a bit of time every day for pleasure reading. Lastly, keep your Math skills sharp by reviewing the basic skills that should be mastered by the end of grade 3 in the "Incoming 4th Grade Summer Math Packet" here.
Other important skills students should be confident in:
*Grades 1 - 3 Sight Words
*Addition Basic facts
*Subtraction Basic facts
*Multiplication Basic facts
*Lexia Core Level should be at LEVEL 16
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To Volunteer and join us on a field trip, fill this Volunteer Application out and bring your ID to be scanned at the office. Please download the VUSD Insurance form here. If you don't normally carry this high amount, it can be raised just for the time period you will be driving students for a nominal amount, if any.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The National Parks' Program "Every Kid in a Park" has been continued for another year. This program allows all 4th graders and their entire carload of people free entry into all of the National Parks in America. I will send home the paper voucher which will be scanned at the parks' entrance and can be traded for a plastic card that is valid through August 2024. Start planning a great road trip with your family!!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I have activated the Scholastic Link for parents and students wishing to order some really well priced books. Once on the site, click on "First Time Parents" and enter the class code H8GVR to get linked in to the class. I usually submit the orders in 2 weeks time, once enough students have had a chance to make decisions. Enjoy!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Please check with your child on a regular basis to see how their supplies are doing. The recommended supply list can be found on the Supplies Needed page.
Paul Pence
[email protected]
Hello Fourth Grade Families,
Hi All,
Egg Hunt
The whole 4th grade is going to celebrate Easter with an egg hunt on Friday. I would like to request donations of filled, plastic eggs. If you are able, please send them in by Thursday. Thanks so much!
4th Grade Gold Rush Day, Wednesday April 17, 9:00 - 1:00
4th grade has been learning all about the gold rush and the impact this had on California in the 1850s and today. We will culminate this unit of study with a "Gold Rush Day" on the playground and blacktop on Wednesday, April 17. The Julian Mining Company will bring dozens of activities including: Gold Panning, Sluice Boxes, Laundry washing, and Ax Throwing. We will have our mining buildings all set up and do a photo booth and a hot dog grilling. Information on the activities planned and sign up links are here. Permission form is here.
Spring Break
Spring Break is next week, April 1-5. School resumes Monday, April 8.
Open House
Empresa's annual Open House is Thursday, April 25. Come out and see the amazing work your student has been doing.
Trimester 3 has begun
Trimester 2 is in the books with report cards coming home last Friday, March 15. Consider any 2s as an area to enhance with extra help / reinforcement at home. Please check the levels below and make sure that your child is keeping up.
As we make our way towards grade 5, there are some goals the students must meet:
Lexia Level 18
XTRAMath Mastery of Multiplication
3 paragraph essay with generally correct spelling, capitals, periods, proper sentence structure
We have quite a few students that are not on track to meet these goals with just classwork, even with 5 months remaining. Please ask your student where they are with each of these and raise up the daily time spent on each at home.
Homework
Homework for March 25 is here.
Class Donations Needed
We continue almost out of dry erase markers, clorox wipes, kleenex. If you are at Costco or Staples and willing to donate, we really appreciate it!
Currently Studying
We are shifting our studies in Science to Geology including volcanoes, earthquakes, gems, precious metals, gold, etc. This will culminate with a field trip in March to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Carlsbad.
In Social Studies we will be shifting our studies to Spain's Mission System, Ranchos, Westward expansion in America, and obviously, the Gold Rush.
Ukuleles
We will be rehearsing for our upcoming fourth-grade performance during music. Students do not need to bring their ukuleles for the remainder of January and February.
Multiplication/Division Facts
In Math, we will continue to work on long multiplication and division skills, so please continue to show / reinforce the methods to solve these with accuracy. Examples: 43 X 23, and 546 / 3.
More time is going to be needed for most spent on memorizing their addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts on XTramath.org. This is only going to become more crucial to have these facts memorized as the years wears on, so please encourage your students to get on the website and practice daily. If they think they have nothing to do for school, they probably do - get on the XTRAmath.org!
Sicknesses / Absences
We are headlong into flu / cold season, and absences are going to be inevitable. If your child is going to miss, it is pretty important to try to keep up and make up any lessons. Use this link to access Zearn, Lexia core, and Renaissance to complete online Math and Reading lessons. Students will use their regular login credentials. Thanks!
Class Donations
If you are willing to donate needed supplies to the class, thank you so much! I have put a wish list on Amazon. Here is the QR Code:
Have a great week!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Congratulations to our March Students of the Month and Empresa Rockstars. You are doing a brilliant job!
Aedan Coyne - Student of the Month for March 2024
Alitzel Quiroz Torres - Student of the Month for March 2024
Zoe Lee - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for March 2024
Rommel Valdez Hernandez - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for March 2024
Congratulations to our February Students of the Month and Empresa Rockstars. You are doing a brilliant job!
Lotus Sinnerton - Student of the Month for February 2024
Aiden Yanez - Student of the Month for February 2024
Nicole Garcia- Empresa Rockstar of the Month for February 2024
Curren Wirdeman- Empresa Rockstar of the Month for February 2024
Congratulations to our January Students of the Month and Empresa Rockstars. You are doing a brilliant job!
Natalie Lim - Student of the Month for January 2024
Ailey Camarena - Student of the Month for January 2024
Cayden Bayer - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for January 2024
Noah Rojas - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for January 2024
Congratulations to our December Students of the Month and Empresa Rockstars. You are doing a brilliant job!
Luke Meeuwsen - Student of the Month for December 2023
Leah Naranjo - Student of the Month for December 2023
Kaylani Best - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for December 2023
Colton Stangl - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for December 2023
Congratulations to our November Students of the Month and Empresa Rockstars. You are doing a brilliant job!
Kiara Cirolia - Student of the Month for November 2023
Camden Nichols - Student of the Month for November 2023
Riley Korn - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for November 2023
Evie Hardamon - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for November 2023
Congratulations to our October Students of the Month and Empresa Rockstars. You are doing a brilliant job!
Alicia Antonio - Student of the Month for October 2023
Aaliyah Smothers- Student of the Month for October 2023
Damian Guerrero - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for October 2023
Hailey Long - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for October 2023
Congratulations to our September Students of the Month and Empresa Rockstars. You are doing a brilliant job!
Khalil Sarwan - Student of the Month for September 2023
Sydney Walker - Student of the Month for September 2023
Adrian Cuellar - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for September 2023
Alicia Antonio - Empresa Rockstar of the Month for September 2023
- - - - - - - - - -
Using our computer programs at Home
Students needing to access the programs on Class Link at home should follow these instructions.
If you need to get onto Google Classroom, go to Google and sign in using your regular sign in information like logging into your chromebook. The only difference will be that you have to enter @vistausd.org after the student number (the first set of numbers).
Volunteering in the classroom
As security at schools are heightened, it has become necessary to fill out the VUSD School Volunteer Application and I have to submit a Volunteer Schedule to the office staff so they will know who you are. If you would be kind enough to download, fill out, and return the Volunteer Application and the Volunteer Schedule, we can get you in the classroom as soon as possible. If you are unable to commit to a regular schedule, but find an opening that you would like to come in, please send me a message on Class Dojo.
Empresa's PTA and early bird Yearbook Orders
To join Empresa's PTA click the link.
For 2023 / 2024 Empresa Yearbook orders click here.
- - - - - - - - - -
We have an amazing curriculum including California history, Geology, Science, Math skills, Writing genres, and high interest novels. 4th grade marks a period of strengthening skills learned in the primary grades to a new level and it's not uncommon to find students being quite proficient and above grade level in Math, Reading, and Writing by the end of the year. It is very common to have your child's enthusiasm for learning rise to unexpected levels and many students claim this to be the most exciting year of their K-12 school experience. Just know this, your child is in the right spot and I am confident that they are going to have fun, learn a LOT, and boost their confidence to new levels. Check this website often. I update it every week and sometimes more if needed. I look forward to a great year together!
Very important supplies and items your child will need:
- ▫ Backpack
- ▫Zipper pouch for pencils and supplies (not a supply box - desks get way too crowded)
- ▫ Hand held pencil sharpener
- ▫ 3 Packets of Dry erase markers (avoid Rose Art brand - they dry out very fast)
- ▫ Homework Folder (Batman, kittens, puppies, etc. - your choice!)
- ▫ 5 different colored VINYL subject folders with pockets and 3 prong clips [These are the sturdy plastic or vinyl folders, not 3 ring binders]
- ▫ 3 Packets of pencils
- ▫ 3 reams of writing paper (load the plastic folders with a pinch each)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As you prepare yourself for grade 4, keep a daily journal, paying close attention to capitals, complete sentences, and punctuation. Find a good novel series and spend a bit of time every day for pleasure reading. Lastly, keep your Math skills sharp by reviewing the basic skills that should be mastered by the end of grade 3 in the "Incoming 4th Grade Summer Math Packet" here.
Other important skills students should be confident in:
*Grades 1 - 3 Sight Words
*Addition Basic facts
*Subtraction Basic facts
*Multiplication Basic facts
*Lexia Core Level should be at LEVEL 16
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To Volunteer and join us on a field trip, fill this Volunteer Application out and bring your ID to be scanned at the office. Please download the VUSD Insurance form here. If you don't normally carry this high amount, it can be raised just for the time period you will be driving students for a nominal amount, if any.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The National Parks' Program "Every Kid in a Park" has been continued for another year. This program allows all 4th graders and their entire carload of people free entry into all of the National Parks in America. I will send home the paper voucher which will be scanned at the parks' entrance and can be traded for a plastic card that is valid through August 2024. Start planning a great road trip with your family!!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I have activated the Scholastic Link for parents and students wishing to order some really well priced books. Once on the site, click on "First Time Parents" and enter the class code H8GVR to get linked in to the class. I usually submit the orders in 2 weeks time, once enough students have had a chance to make decisions. Enjoy!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Please check with your child on a regular basis to see how their supplies are doing. The recommended supply list can be found on the Supplies Needed page.
Paul Pence
[email protected]