Dear Third Grade Parents,

Have you recovered from Spirit Week 2014? I am still reeling from the Teacher bat ball victory over the eighth graders!  Phew!  What a game.  It was definitely a great time had by all.  Hopefully this weekend will be filled with a lot of fun and relaxation.

This upcoming week should be fairly calm as we continue to wrap things up.  Please be sure to check this week's Curriculum Update to see what this week has in store.

Curriculum Update for the Week of June 1, 2014:

Religion:  Begin Chapter 24-  the Catholic Church is world wide;  Being the light of the world

Math:  Continue to review- length in inches, feet, yards, miles, centimeters, meters and kilometers;  review of capacity- quarts, gallons, cups, pints, grams and kilograms; Review of temperature in fahrenheit and celsius

Language Arts:  Continue unit on adverbs of how, when, where and why;  Continue Vocabulary Workshop unit 8;  Spelling test on Friday

Reading:  guided reading group 1:  Continue to read and discuss The Lemonade War:  chapter 10-12;  guided reading group 2:  Continue to read and discuss  Nim's Island: chapters 7-9;  Whole Group:  Read and discuss a science magazine article, "Finding Machu Picchu"

Science:  Continue Chapter 9:  changing forms of energy; how light and matter interact

Social Studies:  Continue Chapter 12;  Making choices about spending money- income, savings;  Making a budget;  Keeping track of money;  Investing in yourself and planning for your future

Well, that is all for now.  Just a reminder, Mass is on Monday at 8:00.  Please make every effort to have your student at school on time so we are able to walk over to the church together.  Tuesday is pizza lunch day and Wednesday the Junior Yard will have their poetry reading in the parish hall at 2:00.  I hope to see you there!

Thank you for helping to make Spirit Week a success.  Your patience and assistance is greatly appreciated!  Have a wonderful weekend.  Thank you for all you do to help make Stella Maris Academy an amazing place to learn!  Take care and God bless.

Sincerely,
Ms.  Eileen Griffin
Your Third Grade Teacher

Happy Memorial Day!

Dear Third Grade Parents,

Happy Memorial Day!  Today is the perfect example of why that sunshine tax is so worth the price.  What a great day of sun and fun.

 I hope all of you enjoyed your long weekend as we remember the ultimate sacrifice our military heroes have made.  God bless them all and their families too!

This week will definitely be a fun filled spirit week!  Please make sure you check last week's E- Notice for the schedule of free dress attire.  I do want to make mention that the class is scheduled to sing a song  for the talent show and since the song is "Happiness" from "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown", I think it would be easiest for each student to wear a solid colored shirt with pants or appropriate shorts.  Feel free to be creative and have your student wear a yellow shirt with black zig zags to match Charlie Brown- just a fun thought, but not required by any means.

This week's Curriculum Update of subject topics is tentative, but all tests or quizzes listed will be on the dates given.

Curriculum Update for the Week of May 26, 2014:

Religion:  Continue Chapter 23- Catholic Christians respect and honor the religious faiths of all; Chapter 23 quiz on Thursday

Math:  Continue year in review:  Telling time; measurement; continue to review multiplication and division facts

Language Arts:  Review adjectives; Begin unit on adverbs;  Vocabulary Workshop:  Begin unit 8- completing the sentence, synonyms/antonyms and match the meaning;  Spelling test on Friday

Reading:  Guided Reading Group 1:  Continue to read and discuss The Lemonade War;  Group 2:  Continue to read and discuss Nim's Island;  Whole Group:  Finish close reading article on the grave of King Tut

Science:  Begin Chapter 9- Forms of energy and energy uses

I hope everyone has a fantastic week of fun and SMA Spirit.  Thank you for all you do to make Stella Maris Academy a fabulous place to learn.  Take care and God bless!

Sincerely,
Ms. Eileen Griffin
Your Third Grade Teacher

Welcome Back!

Dear Third Grade Parents,

Thank you for checking in each week to see what our third graders will be studying each week.  I really appreciate your effort and support of "staying in the know".

This week will be a catch up week from last week's unexpected interruption.  Please see last week's Curriculum Update for the topics we will be covering.  While the lessons in each chapter have advanced, the chapters have not.

Lastly, the Unit 7 Vocabulary Workshop quiz will be given on Thursday and the Chapter 22 Religion quiz will be on Wednesday

Thank you for your patience and understanding of last week's cancellation of school.  This week should be much smoother and the temperatures are promising to be just perfect.  Thank you again for all you do to help make Stella Maris Academy an amazing place to learn.  Take care and God bless!

Sincerely,
Ms. Eileen Griffin
Your Third Grade Teacher

P.S.  I almost forgot-  The Third Grade class won the Junior Yard Competition for bringing in the most $ for the Jogathon!!!  We won "The Day with Mr. Guay"!  Yahoo!  Thank you to all of you for pushing us over the top.  We did it!

Dear Third Grade Parents,

Happy Mother's Day to all our fabulous third grade moms.  I hope your day was special and filled with lots of hugs and kisses.  You all deserve a million!  I appreciate all you do for our class and for me.  I would seriously be lost without all of your help and support.  Thank you!!!!!

Please check the Curriculum Update below for this week's topics, tests or quizzes!

Curriculum Update for the Week of May 11, 2014:

Religion:  Continue Chapter 22-  Living out the Good News of Jesus Christ;  The Church works for peace and justice;  Chapter 22 Quiz on Friday

Math:  Quick Quiz on Rounding and estimating in addition and subtraction on Monday;  Two step word problems; properties of multiplication;  patterns in multiplication; the meaning of division

Language Arts:  Adjectives- articles, numbers, descriptive words; Vocabulary Workshop:  Review unit 7-  Unit 7 Quiz on Thursday;  No Spelling Test Friday

Reading:  Guided Reading Group 1:  Read chapters 1-6 of The Lemonade War  Group 2:  Finish reading and discussing Sarah, Plain and Tall;  Begin to read and discuss Nim's Island

Science:  Begin Chapter 8:  what is matter and the states of matter- solids, liquids and gases

Social Studies:  Continue Chapter 8:  Trading with the world; imports, exports, and international trade

Well, this is all for now.  Enjoy the rest of your Mother's Day Weekend!  I hope you are all being spoiled.

Lastly, thank you to Mrs. Goldman for organizing and setting up the First Holy Communion reception and thank you to all of you for your generosity and time to make the event so special for the second grade communicants.  Your support  helped to make the day a truly special event.

Have a fantastic week.  Take care and God bless!

Sincerely,
Ms.  EIleen Griffin
Your Third Grade Teacher

Dear Third Grade Parents,

What an amazing weekend of sunshine and fun.  I hope all of you are enjoying our early summer weather.

Please check the Curriculum Update below for this week's tests or quizzes.  Don't forget, this Wednesday is the Third Grade field trip to the Petco Park Science Day and Padres baseball game.  It should be a great day!  Please be sure to remind your child to turn in their permission slip and money tomorrow if they have not done so already.  Thank you!

Curriculum Update for the Week of May 4, 2014:

Religion:  Chapter 19 quiz on Tuesday;  Begin Chapter 22:  Jesus brings God's life and love to all people;  Jesus shares his mission with the Apostles; The Church works for justice and peace

Math:  Review of place value and rounding whole numbers;  Review of adding and subtracting three-digit numbers

Language Arts:  Possessive nouns;  Cumulative review of subjects, verbs, nouns and prepositions;  Vocabulary Workshop Unit 7- completing the sentence and synonyms/antonyms

Reading:  Guided Reading-  Group 1:  Finish reading and discussing The Hundred Dresses;  Group 2:  Continue to read and discuss Sarah, Plain and Tall;  Whole Group Reading:  Continue unit on Greek Mythology-  Read and discuss myth of Arachne

Science:  Review Chapter 7;  Chapter 7 test on Friday

Social Studies:  Famous American Report due Monday;  Continue Chapter 11-  Using resources, resources at work; factories- then and now

Art:  Continue Van Gogh painting project

I hope everyone has a fantastic week.  Thank you for all you do to make Stella Maris Academy an amazing place to learn.  Take care and God bless!

Sincerely,
Ms. Griffin
Your Third Grade Teacher