WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!
CONVOCATION
Welcome to third grade at Fresno Christian Schools all new and returning students! I have already met several of our new students and I know God has a great year of learning in store for all of us. Parents, family, and friends are invited to join our school for our opening Convocation in Peoples Church Sanctuary at 7:55 AM on Monday, August 17, 2015.
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Each week on Monday you may go on-line to read our class newsletter. The newsletter will contain our weekly character trait, scripture verse, spelling words, homework assignments, and special activities like field trips. On Mondays you will want to look for a Red Homework Folder with your child’s graded work along with a copy of the newsletter. Please take the opportunity to go through the work together.
BIBLE
Each week we will focus on a specific character trait verse. The Bible verse will be sent home on Mondays and will be from the NIV version used at school. Bible verse tests are on Fridays every week. Third grade students will be asked to write from memory the Character Trait, Reference, and Bible Verse. You will want to help your child practice writing the verse each week at home. My hope this year is that each child will continue to grow to know Jesus in a deeper way and hide His Word in their hearts. As we seek to know Him, we will do so by participating in daily class worship, searching and reading God’s word, studying the powerful stories of Old Testament patriarchs, participating in chapel, studying memory verses, and praying together.
BIBLE MEMORY VERSE
Character Trait: Wisdom
Reference: Proverbs 9:10
Verse: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
SPELLING TESTS
I will be sending out a weekly list each Monday. Start practicing your spelling words early to ensure good results on Fridays. Each week “BONUS” words will be given for those students who like an additional challenge. These words are not mandatory. The student may choose to do them or not. Bonus words missed do not take away from the score of the 20 regular words, but do help a student if his quarterly grade is borderline. Along with our weekly spelling test grades, students will have a Friday sentence dictation grade. This gives the students an opportunity to practice using their spelling words in context and improve writing skills needed for compositions.
SPELLING WORDS-LESSON 1
Consonant & Short Vowel Sounds
1. led
2. legs
3. skill
4. sniff
5. stilts
6. stick
7. crush
8. never
9. block
10. jacket
11. tennis
12. gutter
13. yellow
14. pocket
15. matter
16. wobble
17. address
18. hundred
High-Frequency Words
19. eye
20 during
Bonus Words
* California
* Sacramento
CHAPEL
Grades 1-6 will meet every Monday morning for Chapel and Worship from 8:15-8:45 AM in the North Lobby Chapel.
MUSIC
This year third graders will have instrumental recorder choir music on Thursdays from 8:45-9:15 AM as well as vocal choir music on Fridays from 8:05-8:45 AM.
STUDENT PROFILE
I am sending home a STUDENT PROFILE concerning family, school, and religious experiences. This gives you the opportunity to share areas and concerns you would like me to be aware of as I work with your child this year. Please take time to fill out the profile this week and return it by this Friday, August 21. At conference time we can focus on strengths and areas for future growth together. Thanks for your insights.
Please let me know if your child has any kind of allergies I should be aware of. I am asking that students and adult volunteers avoid wearing fragrances in the classroom due to allergic reactions. I appreciate your support with this matter.
HOMEWORK FOLDER
Each student will be given a homework folder sent home on Mondays. Please look in this RED homework folder for your child’s graded work from the previous week. It houses a newsletter, possible flyers, and weekly math homework assignments. Please take the opportunity to go through the work together and correct any mistakes. Please return the folder with the math homework each Thursday. This is part of your child’s effort grade for responsibility. Also, any daily work not completed in class, such as math, reading or spelling, is considered homework. Students will have a yellow folder for transporting daily work not finished in class. Please return the completed work the following day.
SUPPLIES TO BRING
1. ONE medium sized pencil box (plastic, no larger than 6″ X 9″ X 3″)
2. Highlighter (preferably yellow or lighter colors)
3. Key chain for their new Bible & cover
4. Set of felt pens (optional)
Please help your child to succeed by limiting unnecessary clutter and distractions. Some children bring so many things that they are burdened by their supplies and some use them as toys. In this case they will be asked to take them home. Thank you!
**For hygiene purposes we are also in need of lots of tissue, unscented hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes for the classroom. We use these throughout the year to stay healthy as a class working closely together. If you are able to donate any of these items, please send them to school with your child. Thank you! 🙂
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
I look forward to seeing each of you at “Parent Back to School Night” Tuesday, August 25th when I will share details about the “World of Third Grade.” Together, here at FCS, we pledge our sincere effort to continually help your child grow spiritually and academically while under our care. Thank you for your encouragement and prayers.
RECESS AND LUNCH
Morning recess is scheduled from 9:45 AM-10:15 AM daily.
Lunch and afternoon recess is from 11:45 AM-12:25 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
On Thursdays lunch/recess will be from 12:40 PM-1:25 PM.
P.E. FOR THIRD GRADE
Wednesdays 12:40 PM-1:25 PM
Fridays from 10:55 AM-11:40 AM
Be sure to wear appropriate clothes and shoes that are for workouts. Water bottles need be brought to school on a regular basis and kept in your child’s backpack. Please inform the office of any health concerns and notify me as well. Students must have a written notice from parents or doctor to be excused from P.E. activities.
THURSDAYS ARE EARLY RELEASE DAYS
Please note that every Thursday is an early release day with dismissal at 2:05 PM due to Staff Professional Learning Communities.
ASSESSMENTS
I am performing a variety of assessments in class this week in the areas of reading, writing, and math. Ongoing assessments will be performed to assist in meeting your child’s instructional needs.
POWER SCHOOL
Power School offers a variety of information including attendance, grades, and special notes to parents. This is a SECURE website and therefore you, as a parent, may access your child’s information confidentially.
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL
School begins at 8:00 AM sharp. Students who arrive later than 8:15 AM must report to the office for a tardy slip. Students go directly to the play area north of building 5 in the mornings starting Tuesday, August 18. After the 7:55 AM freeze bell and unfreeze whistle, they will line up on the playground with their teacher and classmates. Children should only be upstairs before school in the hallway escorted with a parent or with a restroom pass from the early morning yard duty teachers
School ends daily at 2:45 P.M. Please arrange pick up promptly. Children not picked up by 3:00 P.M. will be taken to the office to call parents and wait. The pick-up location at the People’s campus is between Building 5 and the Peoples Church preschool playground. All children must wait with the teacher until an adult walks over to pick them up. They may not go and meet you at your car.
SNACKS
Snacks may be eaten during the morning recess. Fruit, veggies, crackers, cheese, chips, yogurt, and fruit snacks are some suggestions. We will save our dessert foods for lunch. Because of various children’s food allergies, we are not allowed to share or trade food.
MILK & JUICE CARDS
Milk and juice will be offered for K-6 students. Milk and juice are 40 cents each. You may purchase a Milk or juice card for $8.00 each. Each card is good for 20 drinks. These are available in the Elementary Office. You will be notified when it is time to purchase a new one. This is offered as a convenience to you and is not mandatory.
BIRTHDAYS
Children will be honored individually on their birthdays. You may bring a treat and drink if you choose. Your child and you may choose and there are no restrictions, whatever is a favorite to your child. We celebrate at 2:30-2:40 PM. Just let me know a few days ahead of time if you want to celebrate at school. If your child has a summer birthday, he/she will not be forgotten. We will find a day for them. It can be on their half birthday or any day that works for you.
CONTACT AND CLASSROOM HELPERS
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at: cfraser@fresnochristian.com. You may also send a note with a child. I check emails each day and I will return your email within 24 hours. In the event of an emergency, please call Lisa Dooley, elementary secretary in the Elementary Office, at 299-1695.
Also, I welcome parent helpers in the classroom from 8:00-10:15 AM. If you would like to help with paperwork, bulletin boards, assisting students, or other tasks, I would greatly appreciate it! Sign-ups for morning classroom helpers and field trips will be at Back to School Night Tuesday, August 25th.
BOOK ORDERS
Online book orders are sent home monthly. Scholastic publishes excellent books and software for children at a moderate price. Please do not feel obligated to purchase.
SILENT SUSTAINED READING
Please have your child bring a favorite literature book to read during “Silent Sustained Reading” after lunch each day. The book should be kept in his or her backpack at all times for easy access on a daily basis. There are also classroom library books.
SPIRIT DAY!
Every Friday is SPIRIT DAY at Fresno Christian. So if you have a shirt that says “Fresno Christian, FCS, or has the FCS Eagle on iT , be sure to wear it on Friday. Our whole class will be getting class t-shirts with Fresno Christian’s name for field trips in a few weeks. It was included in your tuition. If you wish to purchase other FCS Spirit Wear your children or adults, go to our school website.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
AUGUST
Monday, August 17 — Convocation at Peoples Campus – 8:00 AM
Tuesday, August 25 — Back To School for grades 3-6, Tuesday, @ 7:00 PM
