Fourth Graders are Stars!

(Students Taking Academic Responsibility)

Welcome to Open House

September 17, 2009

Rights

* a good education

Your 4th Grader has the right to:

* a safe environment

* voice his or her opinion

* use school books, materials and

equipment* fair treatment

ResponsibilitiesYour 4th grader is responsible for:

* following safety rules

* respecting the opinions of others

* taking care of all school materials

* treating others fairly

* doing his or her best

CME is a NO Place for HATE Campus!

Four years ago, the students of CME signed a school wide resolution of respect which states that “respecting all people makes everyone

feel equal and helps us get along with others. This is a responsibility of ALL people.”

Colony Meadows Elementary students will continue to participate in activities that promote a sense of pride and respect for the members

of our school community throughout the school year.

The Character Links program is in place again this year. Students will be provided with the “Home Link” to take home with them with

suggested activities and topics for conversation with family members.

Teachers Helping Your Child Be a Star!

ELA (Reading and Language Arts)

•Michelle Austin - Ross (A. M.)

•Jennifer Helfer

•Catha Ivy

Math, Science, Social Studies, and Health

•Michelle Austin - Ross (P. M.)

•Lisa Short

•Sue VanAllen

Daily ScheduleMonday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday8:00 – 10:30 A. M. – A. M. Class10: 30 – 11:15 A. M. – LAMP Class(Switch classes just before or after LAMP)11:15 A. M. – 12:15 P. M. – P. M. Class12:45 – 1:15 P. M. – Lunch1:15 – 1:45 P. M. – Recess1:45 – 3:00 P. M. – P. M. Class

WednesdayTIGER TIME (LAMP) 8:15 – 9:15 A. M.(Switch classes at 11:25 A. M.)

Recess ScheduleOn a daily basis, each student will walk or run at least two laps around the track. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be scheduled (or structured) recess activities.

Two groups will play on the forts or play soccer.

Two groups will play on the hardtop with basketballs or jump ropes, play four square, or play on the swings.

One group will play in the pavilion or play kickball.

Thursday and Friday will be free play days.*Structured recess will begin as soon as cooler weather prevails!

Weather and Water

The teachers are advised of weather alerts and are aware of the effect that some weather

conditions can have on the health of individuals.

We strongly encourage students to drink water after recess to help rehydrate their brains and

bodies. Students are allowed to bring their own water bottles to recess and to class.

Fourth Graders will have the opportunity to

experience: Science Kits

Hands-on Science

Math/Science Fair

Texas Readers Club

Author Visits

Voting for the Bluebonnet Award Winner in January

Field Trip

Frontier Day

And much more!

TAKS Testing Dates

Writing TAKS – March 3

Math TAKS - April 27

Reading TAKS - April 28Students are tested in Grade 5 on Elementary Science objectives.

Tips on Attendance! Class begins promptly at 8:00. Students arriving after this time will be counted tardy. (Students should be in the classroom by the 8:00 A. M. bell.)

Please call the front office first thing if your child will be absent from or late to school. (281.634.4120 or 281.634.4130)

Please send an excuse note with your child upon his or her return to school after any absence. It will be marked as an Unexcused Absence until the excuse note is received. The note should be turned in within two days of the absence.

If you take your child to the doctor or dentist for an appointment, please request a school pass from the nurse or receptionist. Your child’s absence or tardiness will be marked as an Unexcused Absence or Tardy until a note is received from the medical office.

The number of tardies and days absent will be considered when our students apply to be a part of KGRR Tiger News in fifth grade!

If you are eating lunch with your student, please receive a visitor’s pass from the front office before entering the cafeteria.

Students will only be allowed to purchase snacks through the cafeteria during the last part of the lunch period on Thursdays and Fridays.

Nutritional guidelines were modified during the 2004 – 2005 school year. Please note that FBISD and the State of Texas may continue to make modifications to them. FBISD now has a form that must be completed if your child brings birthday treats to share.

Your child will be allowed to consume a healthy snack in the morning. He or she is encouraged to bring a water bottle to help keep them hydrated and ready to learn.

Got food?

More Need to Know Info!Take home folders are sent home

daily. Please check them for work and school information.

Expect to receive school wide information (such as calendars, lunch menus, special program announcements, etc.) primarily on Tuesdays.

Visitors are welcome. Please report to the main office upon entering the building for a visitor’s pass.

If your child is a car rider, please have his/her name and 4th Grade boldly printed on a piece of paper or on a paper plate. This helps the teachers on duty identify the student being picked up at the front or back door.

If your child has a change to his or her usual routine for going home, WRITTEN PERMISSION from you must be received by the teacher.

If you need to get a message to your child during the day for any reason, please contact the front office. Any E-mail messages sent to the student’s teacher during the school day may go unread until after 3:00 P. M.!

If your child is a bus rider, please review the rules for bus safety with them. Riding the bus is a privilege that can be lost if a student does not follow safety rules.

Please be sure your student knows his or her rainy day procedure for dismissal from school! (Students will not be allowed to walk or ride bikes when the weather conditions include thunder and/or lightning!)

All medication brought to school must be left in the nurse’s office. It must be in the original packaging and accompanied by a note giving the name of the medicine, child’s name, and specific directions for dosage.

We strongly encourage our students to use tissues and practice healthy hand washing habits. With that in mind, we appreciate the donation of additional boxes of tissues and hand sanitizer for the classroom!

Ways to Help Your Fourth Grade

Student

Reading, Writing, and Social

Studies

•Read and talk about a variety of texts and reading materials, asking him or her to explain, describe, compare, summarize and/or predict

•Let them see you read at home or at the library for various reasons

•Read silently for up to a 30-minute time period

Work on building his or her vocabulary each week in a variety of ways including playing word games such as Scrabble

Read about and discuss current events

Practice using the Internet as a reference

Write by hand or using a word processing program on a computer for various reasons (letters, thank you notes, e-mail messages, lists, reflections about daily events, vacations, or other experiences)

Practice cursive handwriting

Use reference materials such as dictionaries, atlases, newspapers, magazines, and encyclopedias

Use maps to practice locating places in the community and around the world

Watch movies or documentaries of historical value or for literary connections

Read non-fiction books and other materials such as biographies

Visit visit public libraries and local museums

• Practice addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts

• Practice problem-solving skills related to tasks, such as cooking, shopping, playing games and telling time

• Perfect time-telling skills

• Use mathematical vocabulary to explain math problems

Mathematics and Science

• Measure, using standard and nonstandard units

• Sequence objects and events

• Observe and describe living and nonliving objects, noting the functions of their parts

• Observe and measure weather changes, changes in the night sky, and in seasons

• Observe how living things depend on each other and their environments

• Plan and conduct simple

investigations, gathering

information and constructing

reasonable explanations using

their data

• Observe metamorphosis in

insects or tadpoles

• Plant seeds to observe

properties of soils

• Visit museums

New Math Book Adoption in 08 -09 School Year

• enVisionMATH incorporates technology into every lesson with digital introduction videos.

• Students and parents will have the ability to access the website to view the book, activities, and practice pages. Information related to the website will be sent home by your child’s math teacher.

Agendas!• Your child was provided with a Premier Timetracker

Agenda that was purchased for each third, fourth, and fifth grade student at Colony Meadows Elementary.

• We are encouraging each student to record assignments on a daily basis.

• Your child should be showing you his or her agenda each day and asking you to sign or initial the column for that day to indicate that you are aware of homework assignments and other important school information.

• When you sign the agenda, please verify that your student has completed the assigned homework.

• Please encourage this responsibility that your child has been provided. We are hoping that this skill will help our students become more organized and prepared for the increasing role they must take in their academic responsibility.

Parent InformationYou will find more information on curriculum standards, prerequisites, expectations, and ways to support your fourth grade student

at home on the FBISD website (http://www.fbisd.k12.tx.us/).

Click on “Parent Information” and scroll down to the “Important Information for the

2009 – 2010 School Year” section. Click on the document titled “Parents Guide

to Curriculum 2009 - 2010” for detailed guides by grade level.

ConferencesAs teachers, it is our goal to meet with

each of you during the school year. We will begin setting up conferences by the end of this month (September) and will be sending home invitations for those meetings.

As a courtesy to your child and to the teachers, please remember that tonight is not an appropriate time to discuss your child’s performance or progress in school.

Thanks to PTO and Volunteers!• Parents, thank you in advance for

the hours you volunteer and your financial support which help us with the many activities your children experience at Colony Meadows!

• Also, thank you in advance for considering our “apple” wishes in the fourth grade hallway! This year should be bushels of fun!

• Katrina Ross is our fourth grade volunteer coordinator … I am sure she will appreciate your help!

We are glad that you are here tonight to hear this important information!

We hope you will encourage your

fourth grader to be a star in the 2009 – 2010 school year!

You may visit the FBISD & CME websites to find important information that will influence our school

and learning this year!

www.fortbend.k12.tx.us/cme