WELCOME TO 4th Grade

Dear Families,

            WELCOME BACK!  This year is going to be awesome!  4^th grade is a year full of growth

both academically and socially.  I hope that this letter finds you well rested and ready to begin the school year.

            This will be my 9^th year in 4^th grade, but my 14^th year at Walled Lake Elementary.  I have two daughters – Caroline and Katelyn, and a dog, Rose.  During the summer months, I spend lots of time with them and my husband.  My favorite memory from this summer is was a family wedding in North Carolina!  The McDonald’s love the OCEAN!!

            MEET AND GREET:  We will be having a meet and greet on Monday, August 27^th from 3:00-5:00pm.  You can come into the classroom, have a look around and drop off supplies (if you have them).  I am looking forward to seeing some of you then.

            Every school year, I am excited about the first day of school.  I cannot wait to greet each one of your children on Tuesday, August 29^th.  I just know that we will have a great year together. 

            Please bring a favorite book and a family picture to school on the first day.  I can’t wait to see what types of books you all like to read.  We will be sharing our favorite books as a class during the first week of school.  The supply list for 4^th grade was available on the Walled Lake Elementary webpage.  If you have not been able to view it, I have included a link to the webpage for you:

https://www.wlcsd.org/downloads/walled_lake_elementary/2017-2018_supply_list.pdf.

A few reminders for the first day of school:

1.  FAPES (Fine Arts and Physical Education) – We will have either art, music, PE, or media on the first day of school.  Please send your child to school with gym shoes just in case.  I will send the permanent schedule home as soon as I have it.

2.  SNACK – We will have time for a snack at some time during the school day.  If you would like to send your child to school with a healthy snack, that would be great.

3.  DISMISSAL – Please send me a note if you have any after school changes that I need to be aware of. 

4.  The majority of parent communication will be through email and my school blog.  I will send home a note asking for an email address on the first day of school.  My blog is accessible with a smart phone.

https://mcdonaldroom17.blogspot.com/

 

            I am looking forward to seeing all of you on the first day of school (or at the Meet and Greet)!  Please do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions or concerns, my email address is ellenmcdonald@wlcsd.org.

Sincerely,

Mrs. McDonald

A Year In Review

1st Day of School

Hello Families,

This time of year is always bittersweet for me, but this year especially so.  I have watched many of your children grow since Kindergarten.  I have gotten to know them in a way that I haven't known another group of kids.  I am so proud of who they have become and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for them.  So many times, kids leave WLE and I occasionally get to see them again.  However, I know for this group, I will get to see them grow even more...since they are going to be growing alongside my own daughter.

I feel truly special to have been chosen as your child's teacher.  This year has been a year of growth and change - some rough patches, but with MUCH laughter and smiles.  Please keep in touch and stop in to say hi when you are at WLE.

Halloween

Imprints

Last Week of School

As a final reflection of the year, I asked the kids to think about the following idea:  What do you want people to remember about you from 4th grade.  We all leave our imprints on people, what do they want people to remember about them.  This are the ideas that I shared with them about me:

• Mrs. McDonald LOVES math...  she loved to ask us questions and always wanted to know why:)
• She is maybe a little too emotional about books - she cried a lot.  But I hope they remember that I cried a lot because characters like Auggie got to experience joy and friendship.
• She laughs - she thinks that kids in the classroom are funny.
• She is serious too - she thinks we need to do our job.
• She believes that we can! - She always asked us to think about what we did well.
• And (last but not least)...she is Caroline's mom.  Which means that we will still see her:)  

Be sure to ask your child what they want people to remember about them.  I know I will remember what a great group of kids that they are.  I will remember how proud I am of the children that they have become.

A Year in Review

Please enjoy our final installment of A Week in Review.  However, the children feel this one should be called "A YEAR IN REVIEW".

Report Cards

They will be available in FamilyAccess on Friday.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  I will check my email throughout the summer.

iReady for the Summer

Your child will still be able to log into the math and reading lessons for iReady this summer.  They are lessons designed to meet your child right where they are in their learning.  A note will be going home about it.

June WLE TV

June 5th:  https://youtu.be/qUx09bIulF0
June 7th:  https://youtu.be/U1VvQxWdgM0

Fall 2018 News Crew Applications

Calling all 4th Graders!!!
If you would like to be on the news crew next year, now is the time to apply!  The applications are due by Friday, June 8th!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0eRvQK4_vvjuI9WOboPdsNhdTDL1nJ8d6G4JP3EaI1p_gDg/viewform?usp=sf_link

MAY WLE TV

May 1st:  https://youtu.be/iqI1c4523xI

May 8th:  https://youtu.be/7311akgmO_o
May 10th:  https://youtu.be/WwRPzjmt86I

May 15th:  National Anthem:  https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/my-drive
                   News:  https://youtu.be/9OJ2VJnxVj0

May 17th:  https://youtu.be/JXOmjDRkx54

May 22nd:  https://youtu.be/RHgVbEjXXug
May 24th:  https://youtu.be/MoeyQC5nM6Q

May 29th:  https://youtu.be/75Ll2XujuDM

April 13th - A Week in Review

Happy Friday!

Below you will find out latest WEEK IN REVIEW - the US Government Edition.  Our BA will be next week on Friday.  We will be working on the review together in class and it will go home with your child Tuesday.  Please use it to help your child study for the BA

REPORT CARDS

The 2nd Trimester Report Cards are posted!  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about your child's progress!

SPRING FAIR

Our Spring Fair is coming up FAST!  It will be held on Friday, May 11th.  All activities will be planned for outside, hopefully Mother Nature cooperates.  A note went home last week about the Classroom Baskets.  Our theme this year is SUMMER.  Please consider donating a SUMMER items for our spring fair basket!

MSTEP

4th Graders in Michigan will be taking MSTEP this spring.  Our testing weeks will be:

ELA Assessment - The Week of May 5-11

Math Assessment - The Week of May 21-25

Our class will only be testing on ONE day during that week - unless your child needs extra time to finish.  I will let you know our exact date as soon as I have it.

April WLE TV

April 10th: https://youtu.be/sytUTS5xyjw
April 12th:  https://youtu.be/Kh7O4axCsmE

April 17th:   No news - due to the snow:(
April 19th:  No News

April 24th:  https://youtu.be/o2io3pJZKss
April 26th:  https://youtu.be/Ng9VfzN-3cE