Christmas Party

The 4^th grade will have a Christmas celebration on Friday, December 16^th from 12:30-2:00. During this time we have decided to have a “smorgasbord” from which our students may choose treats. To make this possible please make sure you read the letter that went home on Tuesday, December 6. This letter let you know what your child’s class is responsible for bringing to add to the “smorgasbord”! Please fill out the bottom portion of that letter and return it to your child’s teacher.

Also, we will not do a gift exchange, but if you would like to send a gift we thought a great alternative would be something the entire class can use. Because it’s getting cold outside, recess will often be indoors. Classroom games, construction paper, markers, puzzles, etc. will be wonderful gifts to share. This is a great idea because the entire class will benefit!

JANUARY 18th - WEAR TEAM ATTIRE

On January 18^th, the Wacky Wednesday will be, “Go Team St. Jude Kids”! Students will be allowed to wear their favorite team attire-jersey, tee shirt, sweat shirt etc.

FEBRUARY - POP TOPS!

In February the Ronald McDonald House Pop Tops drive will begin. The homeroom with the most pop tops will receive a pizza party. So start saving now!!

Science Extra-Credit

Due by December 9^th

For extra credit students may chose to create one of the following:

1. An Animal Scrapbook – You may choose to focus on one animal or more than one animal for this project. However, you will need the required elements for each animal that you choose.

2. An Animal Report or Article – This project can be paper or poster size and must include all of the required elements (focus on one animal for this project).

3. An Animal Diorama with a Fact Sheet – Choose one animal and use a shoebox to create its habitat and other required elements. Use a fact sheet to explain the components of your diorama (fact sheet example: classification = mammal, habitat=forest, etc.)

4. An Animal Brochure – Choose one animal and create an exciting brochure about that animal, using all of the required elements.

5. Science Experiment - Use your science text book or the internet to find an experiment or Insta-Lab that relates to animals. You will need to use the Scientific Method to guide your experiment. Write up your experiment using the steps of the Scientific Method – this write-up can be paper or poster size. Share any pictures that you can about your findings.

Required Project Elements – Your project should include your animal’s physical characteristics, classification, habitat, prey, predators, adaptations, life cycle and interesting facts.

· If you have any other project ideas, please let me know. J

· 10 points possible – 1 point for each required component. Extra credit will be applied to the Daily Review section (40% of grade).

Animal Extra-Credit Project

Student Name: ____________________ Type of Project: _____________________

REQUIRED ELEMENTS: (1 point each – 10 points possible)

_____ Physical Characteristics _____ Predators _____On Time

_____ Classification _____ Adaptations _____ Neat (Spelling Too!)

_____ Habitat _____ Life Cycle

_____ Prey _____ Interesting Facts (3)

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Extra Credit Points Earned ______

Animal Extra-Credit Project

Student Name: ____________________ Type of Project: _____________________

REQUIRED ELEMENTS: (1 point each – 10 points possible)

_____ Physical Characteristics _____ Predators _____On Time

_____ Classification _____ Adaptations _____ Neat (Spelling Too!)

_____ Habitat _____ Life Cycle

_____ Prey _____ Interesting Facts (3)

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Extra Credit Points Earned ______

Western's Student Council Announcements

The Student Council holds a St. Jude Children’s Hospital fundraiser that was has been approved for this school year. They will hold several “Wacky Wednesdays” throughout the year. Their first, scheduled for Wednesday, November 16, 2011, is SUNGLASSES DAY!! “The future of St. Jude’s children will be so bright they will have to wear shades.” Any student wanting to wear sunglasses needs to bring $1.00 to school on that day.

Also, Western Elementary, along with other elementary schools in the district, will be assisting Scott County High School students with their annual canned food drive. Chase Harpole, a former Western student, met with the council members Tuesday morning to request their assistance with this project. Chase’s goal for us is to collect 2,000 cans of food between November 7^th and November 18^th. While these may seem a daunting task, Student Council members assured him we could do it!!! There will be a table set up in the main lobby where donations need to be placed beginning Monday. Hopefully we can help “one of our own” to make this a reality!!! A letter from Chase and the Student Council will be available to be sent home in Friday folders.

Finally, the “Tree of Love” will be set up in the lobby after Thanksgiving break. As in the past, the tree will be decorated with hats, toboggans, gloves, mittens, and scarves, which will be distributed to children in Georgetown and Scott County who may need some warm attire to deal with the cold winter weather. More information will follow regarding “The Tree of Love.”

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week 2011

October 24-28

“It’s up to me to be drug free!”

Activities at Western

Monday- Students will receive a red ribbon to wear all week.

Tuesday- Students receive a Red Ribbon Week pencil

Wednesday- Students will sign the “Drug free” pledge in their classrooms

Thursday- Wear Red Day- All students and staff are encouraged to wear red!

Friday- Judging of Red Ribbon Week door decorating contest (the winning classroom receives 30 certificates for a free ice cream from Chick-Fil-a!)