PC Pierce

BIBLE

Easter:  Christ’s Resurrection 

Reference:  John 11:25 

Bible Verse:  

Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies.” 

**There will be no Bible or Spelling test this week due to SAT testing but we will memorize an Easter passage to reflect on this week leading up to Easter and the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

PARENT CORNER

SAT 10 TESTING

This week Fresno Christian Schools will be conducting the Stanford Achievement Testing.  Testing will take  place each morning.  It is important that your child BE PROMPT to school.   PLEASE AVOID BEING ABSENT if possible during testing week.  If you have appointments that could be rescheduled, that would be very helpful. The following are five suggestions to help your child prepare for testing:

1.  HAVE YOUR CHILD GO TO SLEEP EARLY.

2.  YOUR CHILD SHOULD BE AT SCHOOL ON TIME.

3.  A GOOD BREAKFAST IS VERY IMPORTANT.

4.  DO WHAT YOU CAN TO HELP YOUR CHILD BE IN A GOOD MOOD.

5.  EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS TEST.

BURRITO BREAKFAST

Thursday, March 26 a burrito breakfast will be provided for students at 9:40 AM.  Students will be served breakfast burritos in our classroom on their way to recess.  What a nice way to boost our brain power the last day of our testing!  Thank you dear parents!!

 READING COUNTS

For the final quarter of third quarter here are the expectations for Scholastic Reading Counts:

For a C in Reading:  Earn the Red Award – 50 Points

For a B in Reading:  Earn the Bronze Award – 100 Points

For an A in Reading:  Earn the Silver Award – 250 Points

For an A+ in Reading:  Earn the Gold Award – 500 Points

Twenty to thirty minutes is given daily for silent sustained reading as well as forty-five minutes in Library Experience each week.  Students may also use class time to read after all required daily board assignments are completed.  Students may take quizzes on Scholastic books or Red Star books each Monday during Computer Lab with Mr. Hyatt as well as take supervised quizzes at home each week.

The deadline for completion of the above goals is Friday, May 15.

EASTER  CLASS COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

Our third grade class was out of town on a field trip to the Tech Museum  the day of our  school-wide Community Service Project Day.  So, this Friday, March 27, our third grade class will be walking over to Sunrise of Fresno Assisted Living to visit the residents.  We will be making Easter placemats and Easter cards in class to take and share with the residents.  We will also participate in some Easter caroling of Resurrections songs for the residents.  The children will wrap a small gift of cookies to give to each resident during their visit together.  We will walk over at 10:30 AM and return shortly before 11:30 AM.

FRIDAY LUNCH

Our class will be blessed with a pizza lunch on Friday, March 27 by our room parents.  Children do not need to bring a lunch but may wish to pack a morning snack.  Happy Easter!

EASTER CELEBRATION

We will have an Easter celebration on Friday, March 27th.  We have a busy day!!

8:00 AM – 9:40 AM —  Finish SAT 10 Testing

10:15 AM — Sunrise Assisted Living Easter Visit

(We will walk over to Sunrise Assisted Living adjacent to our school property.  We will need a few parents to bring in cookies, baggies without the zip part, and curling ribbon for the children to bag and tie!!  These can be brought in Thursday.)

11:30 AM — Pizza Lunch in our classroom

12:30 PM — P.E. with Mrs. Whipple

1:30 PM — Easter Party outdoors

(Water  play, ice cream, and fun, fun, fun!  The sign-up sheet will be posted on the door Monday morning.  Also, a letter will be in the Red Homework Folder from our room mothers.  We are asking each child to bring 12 filled Easter eggs for our hunt!  Thank you for all you do!!!!

YEAR END CLASS REWARDS

ICE CREAM PARTY- Student must earn 100 points for Reading Counts OR master their Third Grade Level 4×4 Math facts in addition and subtraction.

 PIZZA PARTY- Students must earn 500 points for Reading Counts OR become a Lifetime Member in our 4 x 4 Math Club.

 Students have until Friday, May 15th to complete these goals.

 SOCIAL STUDIES PROJECTS

All 3rd grade students will be completing a Fresno History Board  Project during class time to display at Open House.  Students will be assigned a partner this week to “share a board” with.  The information will be done separately and they will be graded on their work only.

Freestanding tri-fold boards (size 36” x 48”) have been ordered for the class to do their projects.  The cost of the board was included in tuition.  Once students have been assigned partners and know the color of their presentation board, they will need to plan to purchase a bright, colorful border to trim the border for the project. These can be purchased at GW School Supply House where there are many wonderful choices or at an office supply store.  I will let you know when the boards come in and when you need to bring your presentation board trim.

Students should also start looking for postcards advertising Fresno, its agriculture, landmarks, historical museums, or famous places.  Students will be adding their personal touches to their Fresno History boards.  We will start working on them after Easter vacation.  They will be on display for Open House On May 5.

GET-A-WAY LUNCH WITH MRS. FRASER AND A FRIEND

Congratulations to Caleb Mynderup who won the “Get-A-Way Lunch with Mrs. Fraser and a Friend of Your Choice” at the silent bid portion of the FCS Auction Dinner Night!  The Get-A-Way Lunch to John’s Incredible Pizza will take place after Easter vacation.

 SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDER

The date for deadline on March on-line book orders has been changed.  All on-line only orders are due this Friday, March 27 before Easter vacation begins.

COKE HALLOWELL CENTER FOR RIVER STUDIES FIELD TRIP

WE will be taking a field trip adventure to the Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies on the San Joaquin River Friday, April 17, 2015.  Included will be:

1)  Tour of the historical Riverview Ranch and hands-on interactive exhibits

2)  Hike along Hidden Homes Nature Trail and Pond with binoculars

3)  Games that encourage students to learn about the local wildlife and migration habits

4)  Activities and games teaching students about the river and history of water in our valley

5)  Visit to the River Gift Shop

6)  Picnic Lunch on the beautiful garden grounds

Students’ admission is prepaid in their tuition cost.  Chaperoning, carpooling parents receive free admission.  Bring a sack lunch and drink.  Midmorning snacks will be provided by our room mothers.  We will leave at 8:30 AM on Friday, April 17th and return at 1:00 PM.  Travel will be by carpool.

If you would like to serve as a carpooling chaperone, please email me at cfraser@fresnochristian.com by FRIDAY, APRIL 10th.   Please let me know the number of students you can transport.

All parent chaperones will need to complete the New Volunteer Policy form before attending, if you haven’t already done so. These forms are available in the office and can be turned into Mrs. Roberts when completed. She will let me know who has been cleared to attend the field trip.

Also, check the guidelines for driver verification on our school website and make sure your information is current.  Thank you so much!!

FINE ARTS FESTIVAL AND CLASSROOM OPEN HOUSE

Come and join us for a fabulous evening of Fine Arts, Music, and Open House on Tuesday, May 5  6:30-9:00 P.M. We will begin in our classroom where students will give their parents a tour of our Fresno history themed classroom and share their work.  Then we will all head out to the Chapel of People’s Church for third grade square dancing and the Fine Arts Festival.

As part of “Fresno History Day” third graders will dress up as Fresno pioneers for the square dancing performance planned by Mrs. Ainley, our music teacher OPEN HOUSE EVENING.  Students may come dressed in any of the following ways:  Yokut Native American Indian, fur trapper, gold miner, Fresno pioneer, cowboy, or cowgirl.  Students may want to start planning their attire for the May 5th event.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

MARCH

March 23-27 — Stanford Achievement Testing

Thursday, March 26 — Burrito Breakfast 9:40 AM

Friday, March 27 — Community Service Project:  Easter Visit to Sunrise of Fresno Assisted Living 10:30-11:30 AM

Friday, March 27 — Easter Party 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM

March 28-April 6 — EASTER VACATION!

APRIL

THURSDAY, APRIL 2 — HAPPY BIRTHDAY FAITH DEGROOT!

Tuesday, April 7 — Return to school

MONDAY, APRIL 13 — HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUNTER CASTIGLIONE!

FRIDAY, APRIL 17 — Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies Field Trip

CHARACTER TRAIT:  Patience

Reference:  Proverbs 15:18

Bible Verse:  A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.

Definition:  Waiting with calmness

Opposite: Unwillingness to wait with a happy spirit

SPELLING:  LESSON 26

Pattern Words- Hard and Soft G

1.  giant

2.  edge

3.  angle

4.  guide

5.  judge

6.  guest

7.  guess

8.  cages

9.  village

10.  guard

11.  badge

12. dodge

13.  gather

14.  hangar

15.  danger

16.  garage

17.  gasoline

18.  courage

High-Frequency Words

19.  listen

20.  scared

Challenge Words

*  artifact

*  San Joaquin River

PARENT CORNER

MEUX TRIP

A very special thank you to all of you who so kindly helped chaperone, carpool, and feed our class on the Meux Museum Trip and the the Historic Walking Tour of Fresno.  What a great turn-out!!  It was wonderful to spend time together outside the classroom with all of you.  I appreciated your shepherding of children down the busy streets of Fresno.  Boy, were you just a little tired and sore Friday night?  ME TOO!!!!!

MEUX PHOTOS FOR THE YEARBOOK

If you have any photos to share from our field trip to the Meux  Museum, City Hall, Fresno Water Tower, or Brix Mansion we would love to include them in the yearbook.  You are welcome to send an email of them to me this week.  If you have any other photos of events, activities, or parties from this year, you are welcome to send them as well.

BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT WEEK

This is benchmark assessment week. The children will have assessments  in writing on Wednesday.  We will also conduct benchmark assessments in  Reading with Scholastic Reading Inventories on Monday of this week during Computer Lab.

AUCTION ITEMS

Don’t forget this upcoming weekend is our annual school auction!  You still have time to donate items and purchase tickets for this wonderful event!  Another great way for everyone to help FCS at the auction is to donate a dessert.  They are not served with dinner so we count on desserts!  Serving dishes make desserts even more valuable.  These desserts are a popular item and a wonderful way to share with those at your table!!

Bring your desserts to the FCS gym on Saturday, March 14 , between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.  We will even wrap them for you!  Cookies, cakes, pies, brownies, candies, dipped items, tarts, cupcakes…every dessert will be sold!  Students will receive points for each dessert item donated.  Be sure to fill out a form for your student’s class to get credit.  Thank you for your support!!  Questions?

GET A WAY LUNCH WITH MRS. FRASER & A FRIEND

Be sure to bid on the  “GET-A-WAY LUNCH WITH MRS. FRASER AND A FRIEND” at the FCS Auction Dinner Night!  It will be listed in the Silent Auction section and will go to the highest bidder!!

PHYSICAL FITNESS TESTING

This week we continue Physical Fitness Testing.   Testing will be on Wednesday and Friday afternoons during our regular P.E. times from 12:30-1:15 PM.  If possible, please try not to schedule appointments for that week.  If it is unavoidable, there  will be make-ups.  Also, please have your child wear appropriate clothing and footwear (tennis shoes) for these activities.

Here is the Physical Fitness Testing schedule for Third Graders:

Tuesday, March 11  –  Sit & Reach

Thursday, March 13  –  Pull Ups, Push Ups,  or Arm Hang

Tuesday, March 18  –  Shuttle Run

As the warmer weather arrives, please send a water bottle with your child each day. We will take drinks many times throughout the day in order to stay hydrated. Thanks!

MATH

This week we will begin learning about division of whole numbers.  You can expect to see work that provides practice with dividing 2-digit numbers by 2, 5, 3, and 4 and with finding unit cost.  

Math Vocabulary:

Dividend:  The number that id divided in a division problem

Divisor:  The number by which a number is divided in a division problem

Unit Cost:  The price of one item

READING

Just a reminder that all students should earn a minimum of 25 points in Reading Counts for the third quarter goal to receive the Blue Level Award.  If you have not reached that goal, you will need to finish reading Red Star Books or Scholastic Books at home this week and take a quiz or quizzes at home to reach the goal by Friday, March 13th.

END OF THE THIRD QUARTER

Just a reminder that 3rd quarter ends this Friday, March 13.  Please send all corrections and make-up work returned to me no later this Thursday.  Thank you!  The 3rd Quarter Grades will be posted online and available next week  Wednesday, March 18.

 COMING ATTRACTIONS