Dear Parents/Guardians, September 5th, 2017
September is in full swing and we have 20 eager children in our grade 3 class. Welcome back to you all! We hope that you have had a restful summer and that you are ready for another exciting school year. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and to provide you with a brief overview of the expectations and routines that I have for my classroom. My name is Jared Semenchuk and I am delighted to be working with you and teaching your child(ren) this year.
September has been and will continue to be spent getting to know the students as learners (their strengths, needs and interests), teaching and reviewing curriculum, and building a welcoming, respectful and supportive classroom environment.
Homework
The grade 3 students can expect to have about 15- 30 minutes of homework each night during the week. This will include reviewing materials that were presented that day, completing assigned class work and practicing new concepts taught in class. Please be advised that any assignments, writing pieces or projects sent home throughout the year will be accompanied by written instructions and clear due dates!
Agendas
Each student has received an agenda. I truly believe in helping the students to use their agenda as an organizational aid. I will promote the use of their agenda on a daily basis and ask that you initial the agenda each night when your child has completed their homework. Please feel free to use their agenda as a means of communicating with me, as I will check them on a daily basis.
Scholastic Orders
Scholastic book order will be sent home with your child on a monthly basis. If your child wishes to place an order, please fill out the order form and return it to me along with a cheque that is made payable to Scholastic Canada Inc.
Parent Volunteers
There will be lots of exciting and engaging activities happening in our class throughout the year. If you feel as though you would like to be a part of the action in our classroom then please feel free to come in. We would be glad to have you! You can contact me by telephone or through the agenda to set up any classroom volunteering.
Term Newsletters
Each term I will send home a newsletter which indicates the curriculum that will be covered for each subject. I will post these newsletters to the class website’s forum section. I will include the focus of each subject, as well as, the overall expectations that the students and I will be working towards. Should you have any questions with respect to this, please contact me.
A brief outline of what we will cover over the next few weeks:
Religion/Family Life: As part of our Religion curriculum, students will be exploring the idea of community and the rich diversity of persons within it. Our Family Life Curriculum has us focusing on the human person who is created out of love in the image and likeness of God.
Math: In math, we will be studying graphing and reviewing basic mathematical operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division). Students will revisit the techniques involved in reading, writing, comparing and ordering whole numbers.
Science: Science has us learning about Matter and the characteristics of Solids, Liquids and Gases. We will conduct a number of hands-on investigations to explore the properties and changes in matter.
Language Arts: Our first writing focus will be Descriptive Writing. We will be working towards strengthening our ability to write an engaging descriptive piece about themselves!. Students will be practicing their reading, as well as, their ability to visualize the content of various texts. Our oral communication focus will be on speaking skills. (ie: asking questions in response to lesson content, using grade level vocabulary, asking for clarification when needed).
Physical Education: Students will be participating in activities to improve and maintain cardio, flexibility and strength levels. The focus will be on travelling, manipulation and stability skills (ie: soccer, running).
The Arts: Students will be producing self portraits or works of art that communicate a range of ideas. We will look to define elements of design, like colour, line, shape, form and texture.
I am really looking forward to working with you and your child. If you have any questions, concerns or ideas about the information presented in this letter or anything else then please do not hesitate to contact me at your earliest convenience. I have left the link for our class website below.
Thank you,
Mr. Jared Semenchuk