Mount Vernon and Big Sister/Little Sister-Highlights of the Week

What a week this was! Even though the weather was dismal for Mount Vernon, the good news is that it did not rain!  I have been there, at least, ten times, and I never get tired of seeing the view of the Potomac from the piazza.  It's amazing to think that George Washington enjoyed that same view.  The girls were as in awe of the experience as I was. We said a prayer at the tomb of George and Martha, and the docent on duty said that made his day...all of those yellow capped heads bowed in prayer.  This is such a special group of girls, and I mean that!

Big Sister/ Little Sister

St. Catherine's has a long standing tradition of the girls partnering with older classes.  Up until this year,  the Fourth Grade partnered with an upper school student and walked to St. Stephen's for St. Catherine's Day, as well as partnering with classes for various activities to celebrate Miss Jennie's birthday or just to work on projects. This year we are partnered with Susan Crook's middle school class for a Big/Little activity.  The fun part about this--I taught Susan Crook, as well some of her students! Susan and I had a ball coordinating things with our girls.  Yesterday we made Thanksgiving cards to accompany the cans for the Food Drive.  We also made a FlipGrid! As soon as I get the link, I will let you see it!  Meanwhile, enjoy these pictures from yesterday and ask your daughters what a FlipGrid is!

Information and Permission Forms for Wonder

Hi Everyone!

As you know from my email, on Monday, November 20, the Fourthies are going to see WONDER at the Bowtie Theater.  Every child in America is excited to see the movie WONDER, and almost every child in America has read the book or had it read to them. I always read it to my classes until the sequel, AUGGIE and ME, came out. Your girls are hearing me read that book to them now.  Let me just say that this book is life-changing.  Ask your daughters about Julian and his Grandmere, and you will know why I say that!

Click on this link to access the forms for the movie.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12opiH-OpvnBfzB-Sbs2M5H4suOHiltswlVcHre92YdQ/edit?usp=sharing

Halloween, Engineering, Writing...it's all in a day! ....

Reminder:  Mount Vernon Field Trip   Wednesday,  November 8
Meet at School at 7 AM sharp    -   Returning in time for carpool
Additional Information on previous blog pages and personal email.

ERBs begin next week on Monday morning, November 13 ******************check your email

Halloween and More Halloween

Halloween was celebrated over and over in all kinds of different ways...math, writing, reading and building are among some of the creative areas we explored.  Halloween Edpuzzles are always fun and challenging.  The girls are learning to use their analytical skills to problem solve by using the Singapore Math method, which is bar modeling.  We have spent much time on this, and the girls are growing in confidence.

Stop by our hall bulletin board and read some of the girls' spooky Halloween writing.  It was their opportunity to choose a  picture and write a setting or short story or beginning of a story.  The girls loved it. Our concentration was on creating a mood with strong verbs and adjectives.  We had quite a range of scary stories and some potential mystery book authors!

You could feel the excitement in the classroom as the book projects arrived, and wow, they were even more innovative this time.  There is so much creativity in our class!  The girls are very supportive of each other also, and each girl made a point to compliment others on their effort.  The best part of the day was the building of the haunted house.  This required the girls to use their best engineering skills, while they figured out which projects should be the foundation, and so forth...math and engineering at its best!

Halloween on its way and George Washington's digs too!

What a quick week!  The girls are focused on everything Halloween, and why wouldn't they be?  Fall is finally in the air, and Halloween is upon us, so it's time to write some spooky Storybirds and mysterious descriptions. We started today, and the girls had a ball.  They begged to work on it at home tonight, but I think we will leave that time to Wordly Wise.   On Halloween, the Fourthies dress up as a vocabulary word that they have learned this year.  Everyone is very excited! This is the girls' opportunity to get creative!

It's amazing how much math the girls have done since the beginning of the year, and some of it includes concepts and computation that was previously introduced in sixth grade.  PEMDAS...remember that?  After a  lot of practice, your girls are doing really well.  As we slide into Unit 2, we are concentrating on estimation and problem solving.  The next time you are in the grocery store, let your daughter practice her rounding and estimation skills. This is real-world problem solving!


As outlined in my email, on November 8 the Fourthies will travel by bus to Mount Vernon, home of George Washington.  The study of presidents is a major focus of our curriculum throughout the year, so we thought we would visit Mount Vernon.  It's an exceptionally beautiful house and setting, and the Educational Center is spectacular and perfect for the age of our Fourthies.

Lower School Field Trip Information

October 2017

Grade:  4

Date of Trip: Wednesday, November 8th

Location:    Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Hwy, Mt Vernon, VA 22121

(The Fourthies will tour Mount Vernon, the home of our first president, George Washington.  This is a highlight of our fourth grade curriculum, as we study the lives of presidents throughout the year.  Fortunately, in Virginia, we have several homes from which to choose, but we think this one is truly special and the education center is outstanding.)

Time of Student Drop Off at School: 7:00 a.m. (Students should go promptly to their classrooms. Teachers will walk with the girls to the James River buses parked on Grove Ave.)

Time of Trip Departure:  7:15 a. m.

Time of Trip Return:   3:25 p.m. (Parents will be notified if we are delayed.)

Trip Attire:  Field Trip Attire and yellow Fourthie hat, jacket appropriate for the weather

What to bring:  Money for lunch. We will eat in the cafeteria at Mount Vernon.  There is a child’s meal available for $6.00, which includes chicken nuggets, French fries, Jell-O, and a drink. Otherwise, please send around $12.00 - $15.00 for lunch. Click here for a menu with options at the Food Court.

Special Instructions: The girls may bring a book to read on the bus or enjoy the pleasant company of their classmates. No electronics, please.

We just had our first recital on Friday. Laudie had a really long piece to play on the piano, and she did a great job!