Passion Projects

Dear Families,

Lighthouse 4th graders will be working on research based projects starting next week.  Over the weekend students should pick a topic they’d like to write a report and do a project on.  Please help your child pick a topic they can research.  General topic ideas range from animals, people, places, and hobbies to events in history.  I recommend staying away from video games and sports as research topics.  Projects could include a poster, map, diagram, trifold, model…etc.

Students will be presenting their reports and projects on Friday, March 27, time to be determined (probably in the morning).  Parents, grandparents, family and friends will be invited into the classroom to hear the presentations.

Thanks,
Mr. Cheney

Tech Day on Friday

Dear Families,

Students have earned another reward.  They have decided to have a Tech Day on Friday afternoon.  Students may bring a device from home to use at school provided the games are school appropriate.  Students are also fully responsible for the well-being and protection of their own devices.

Thank you,

Mr. Cheney

 

Valentine’s Day Compliments

Dear Families,

We will be celebrating Valentine’s Day next Friday with a few healthy snacks and exchanging compliments.  If you would like to send in a healthy snack please email me.  Students will be working this week to take notes on positive things about their peers.   This weekend they will be asked to write a compliment about each classmate and give a reason for each compliment.  The exact directions will go home on Friday and will include some detailed directions on writing the compliments.  Students can write their compliments on the sheets I give them or on their on Valentines if they wish.  At the end of the day I just want kids to practice giving and receiving compliments.

Examples of Compliments:

Damion, I realized what an exceptional athlete you were, when I saw you dribble around three people and score a goal during soccer.

Elizabeth, you are such a good friend, because you always make me feel better when I’m sad.

Jack, you are a really good student, even though everyone around you was talking, you were able to stay on task.

You are invited to join us for our compliment exchange on Friday, February 14, at 1:30.  Typically, we share read our compliments to ourselves, share a few favorites with a small group, and share two to the whole class.  It’s always fun to see the smiles on their faces as they give and receive compliments.

Thanks,
Mr. Cheney

National Hot Chocolate Day

Dear Families,

The class has earned another reward and we will celebrate it this Friday, at 2:00.  Coincidentally, it’s National Hot Chocolate Day on Friday.  It’s also the Friday, before the Super Bowl.  As a result we will combine the two occasions into our reward.  On Friday, we will be wearing our favorite sports team jersey and having hot chocolate in the afternoon.

Thank you,

Mr. Cheney

Next Week

Dear Families,

We’ve got a few fun activities next week.  Here they are:

Wednesday, 10:30-12:30 – craft building with parent volunteers

Thursday – Classroom reward for filling our fish bowl 3 times!  We will be combining fort day, stuffy day (bring your own stuffed animal), and board game day from 11:30-3:00.

Friday – We have a magician coming in the afternoon and would like to watch the movie “Home Alone” with the class unless there are any objections.

Thank you,

Mr. Cheney

Calling All Carpenters

Dear Families,

I need some handy volunteers next Wednesday, December 18, from 10:30 – 12:30.  Volunteers need to have a drill, drill bits, tin snips, a 2X4 about a foot long, and lots of patience.  Volunteers will be helping us build some miniature winter sleds.  Parents or grandparents are welcome to volunteer.  Please email me if you’d like to help us out.

Thanks,

Mr. Cheney

Conferences

Dear Families,

Report cards went home today and conferences are scheduled for next week.  If you have any specific questions about report cards or essential expectations please send me an email, and I’ll make sure to be prepared to answer your questions at your conference.  If you don’t have any specific questions, I will update you on all areas of academic progress and behavior.  Please note that we did not cover VT history this trimester, so I put in a placeholder of “M” until we cover it next trimester.

Have a great Thanksgiving,

Mr. Cheney