No Tutoring This Week

Good Morning Families,

With this being the last week of school, and given that students are taking their Cumulative Review test today, there will be no math tutoring after school this week. Please make plans to pick up your child at their regular dismissal time.

Thank you!

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of December 17-19

Families of 4C,

This Week’s Testing Schedule:

• Monday
• Cumulative Math Review Test Ch. 1-3
• Cumulative Grammar Review
• Electricity Review Quiz
• Tuesday
• Life Sciences Quiz

As a reminder, all missing and absent work can be turned in for partial credit until Monday, December 17.

Students will be taking home all unneeded school supplies and cleaning their desks on Wednesday morning.

On Wednesday, we will be having our end-quarter celebration! The celebration will begin after morning recess until packup. Students will be creating mugs to gift to someone if they wish, and we will be indulging on hot cocoa and healthy snacks! If you are signed up to bring something in, you may send it with your student before Wednesday for safekeeping. See the Sign-Up Genius for more info: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f49aca628a5fb6-endofsemester

This Week:

Math: The Unit Review Test will take place on Monday, December 17. This test will cover everything we have learned this year: fractions, multiples, factors, estimation and approximation, rounding, and place value.

Grammar/Writing: Students will take the Cumulative Grammar Review Test on Monday, December 17.

Spalding: No Spalding this week.

Science: Student will take the Electricity review quiz on Monday, December 17, and will take the Life Sciences Review quiz on Tuesday, December 18. Students will use remaining time this week to finish their environmental impacts posters and present in their groups.

History: No history this week.

Greek and Latin Roots: No roots this week.

Poetry: No poetry this week.


I hope you all have a joyous holiday break!

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of December 10-14

Families of 4C,

Our Archway Arete library has officially launched, and we are looking for volunteers to help students check out books. Sign up here to serve! Our class, 4C, will visit the library on the following dates from 9:00-9:15.

• January 18
• February 22
• March 22
• April 12
• May 10

Students can turn in all box tops in a ziploc baggie with their name on it for a chance to win a gift card to Barnes & Noble! Box Tops will be collected this Thursday, December 11.

To allow more time for grading, grade reports will be sent this Friday.

As a reminder, all missing and absent work can be turned in for partial credit until Monday, December 17.

This Week:

Math: This week, students will begin practicing for their Units 1-3 Cumulative Review. The Unit Review Test will take place next week on Monday, December 17. This test will cover fractions, multiples, factors, estimation and approximation, rounding, and place value.

Grammar/Writing: Students will continue learning about complex sentences, correlative conjunctions, and quotations. Toward the end of the week, we will be doing an in-class review for the grammar test that will take place next week.

Spalding: Spalding will continue this week with our next 30 words, and will take their weekly test on Friday. On Thursday, our Spalding Coach, Mrs. Clouse, will be coming in to observe. This will be our final week of Spalding for the semester.

Science: We will begin our unit on the Scientific Method this week. We will also be reviewing chemistry and life sciences for the review tests that will take place next week, on Monday and Tuesday (Dec. 17 and 18).

History: On Monday, students will be reviewing in class for their Arizona History Unit Test that will take place the next day, on Tuesday the 11.

Greek and Latin Roots: This Wednesday, students will take their end-quarter roots test. This test is cumulative, and will as multiple choice questions on roots 1-50. Students can use their roots cards to help them prepare. This will be the final week of roots for the semester.

Poetry: Poetry recitations on “The Flag Goes By” by Henry Holcomb Bennett will be this Friday, December 14.


It is hard to believe we have reached the final full week in the semester! I’m eager for a strong end to 2018 for all of our students.

--Mrs. Conforti

Science-- Extra Credit Opportunity

There is an extra credit opportunity available in Science for the remainder of the semester, and many scholars have already taken it upon themselves to get started! If your scholar has not yet expressed interest in doing the extra credit for a boost in Science, I hope that you encourage them to do so.

If students track the weather for 10 consecutive days in any city of their choice, they will have the opportunity to earn a few extra credit points. The city can be any real city in the world that they would be able to gather accurate data for, but it must be the same city for all 10 recorded days. For additional extra credit, students may plot their data on a graph provided in class. Instructions for this extra credit assignment are outlined in the Science notebook.

Please note that all assignments are due on December 17. The last day to be able to start this project for successful completion would be this Friday, December 7, as students need to track the weather for ten days in a row.

If you have additional questions, please bring them to your student first, as the information given on a daily basis in class will be the most accurate and up-to-date. As always, I am available for any further questions as needed.

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of December 3-7

Families of 4C,

With the semester and the season’s temperatures winding down, our winter dress code is now in full effect. Please see the handbook excerpt below for details:

Students may not wear shorts to school during the winter months. Girls must wear knee-high socks or tights with skirts. Please refer to the Family Handbook for the dress code. 

As a reminder, ALL STUDENTS must wear belts with pants and shorts (when shorts season returns). Girls do not have to wear belts with skirts that do not have belt loops. Keep in mind that as our students are growing tall and strong, some of our young ladies may need to update their skirts if it is one they have been wearing since being in the lower grades. As a general rule of thumb, skirts should extend past fingertips when standing casually (arms down at sides).

Congratulations to all of our students for a job well done in our class Spelling Bee! The Annual Archway Arete Spelling Bee will be held on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 6:00 PM in the MPR.

Lastly, keep collecting those box tops! Students can turn in all box tops in a ziploc baggie with their name on it for a chance to win a gift card to Barnes & Noble! Box Tops will be collected on December 11.

This Week:

Math: This week, students will continue practicing fractions of a set to prepare for their unit test on fractions of a set that they will take on either Thursday or Friday. If you feel your student needs more help with this particular concept and would like for them to attend tutoring if they are not yet already, please send me an email so we may further discuss tutoring as an option for them. As a reminder, there will not be any Khan Academy until third quarter.

Grammar/Writing: Last week, students did a lot of hard work to finish up their first writing workshop on water conservation! This week in grammar, students will be learning about sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and they will be introduced to complex sentences and the parts that make up complex sentences.

Spalding: Spalding will continue this week with our next 30 words, mention ---- believe, and will take their weekly test on Friday. On Thursday, our Spalding Coach, Mrs. Clouse, will be coming in to observe.

Science: This week, we will be finishing our meteorology unit. In the beginning of the week, students will continue learning about weather forecasts and we will discuss the difference between weather and climate. Students will have their study guides completed by Wednesday for correction as a class. On Thursday, we will use class time to review for the Meteorology test on Friday.

History: This week, we will continue working through our unit on Arizona history. This week students will be learning about Americans in Arizona, the Mexican War, and how Arizona became a territory of the U.S., and later, the 48th state of the Union.

Literature: Students will study setting and characterization as we continue our reading through Robin Hood.

Greek and Latin Roots: This Wednesday, students will take their weekly quiz and will learn the next three roots in the set. Students should review roots cards to prepare for their quiz they will take every Wednesday.

Poetry: Poetry recitations on “The Flag Goes By” by Henry Holcomb Bennett will be on Friday, December 14.


I hope you are all as eager for December’s arrival as I am! Have a wonderful weekend.

--Mrs. Conforti

Khan Academy/ Math Groups

Good Afternoon Families,

Due to the limited amount of time remaining in the semester, we will be cancelling math groups for the remainder of second quarter to allow more time for direct instruction and practice. I apologize for any inconveniences this may cause, especially to those of you who have already volunteered your time to come into the classroom to help with Khan Academy. Students are still permitted and even encouraged to work on Khan Academy from home, but they will not have any in-class working time for Khan Academy until we return for third quarter after winter break.

Thank you for your understanding! I encourage those who volunteered their Wednesday mornings these next couple weeks to reach out to other grade levels to see if they could use an extra helping hand.


Warmly,

Mrs. Conforti

Week of November 26-30

Families of 4C,

I hope you all enjoyed spending time with loved ones over the holiday weekend. I’m looking forward to finishing the semester strong!

This Week:

Math: This week, students will learn Fractions and Division and will take their unit test at the end of the week.

Grammar: We will be continuing our writers’ workshop on water waste this week.

Spalding: Spalding will resume this week with our next 30 words, and will take their weekly test on Friday.

Science: We will continue working through our fourth science unit, Meteorology, by learning about fronts, thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and meteorology forecasts. This week students will begin filling in their Unit 4 Study Guide to begin preparing for the Unit test next week.

History: This week, we will be beginning our Arizona History Unit! We will start this week by reviewing Arizona’s regions, rivers, and lakes, and will continue by learning about Arizona’s points of interest, indigenous peoples, and the language of Spanish in Arizona.

Literature: Students will study setting and characterization as we continue our reading through Robin Hood.

Greek and Latin Roots: This Wednesday, students will take their weekly quiz and will learn the next three roots in the set. Students should review roots cards to prepare for their quiz they will take every Wednesday.

Poetry: Poetry recitations on “The Sin of Omission” by Margaret E. Sangster will be this Monday, November 26.


I hope all our scholars are well-rested and rejuvenated for the full week ahead. I’m eager for a strong finish these next three and-a-half weeks!

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of November 19-20

Families of 4C,

We have quite the short week ahead! Due to the holiday, there will be school on Monday and Tuesday and this short break will be an R&R weekend!

On Tuesday, we will be having a short celebration with a focus on table manners and gratitude following lunch, from 12:40-1:50. If you plan on attending, please send Mrs. LaVell and myself an email letting us know. Thanks!
See the sign-up genius here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f49aca628a5fb6-happy

In an effort to provide a fruitful homework experience for our scholars, we rely on the feedback of our families. Parents, please share your feedback by completing this
homework survey at your earliest convenience.

Grade reports will not be sent this week due to there only being two days of school in week 6. Grade reports will be sent out again in week 7 after more assignments are entered.

This Week:

Math: On Monday, students will be taking their test on mixed numbers and improper fractions. Students can use Unit 3 review to prepare for the test. On Tuesday, they will be taking their weekly review quiz.

Grammar/Writing: We will be continuing our writers’ workshop on water waste this week.

Spalding: There will be no Spalding due to the short week. Spalding will resume following the short holiday break.

Science: We will continue working through our fourth science unit, Meteorology!

History: On Monday, students will be reviewing chapters 17-21 for the unit test on Tuesday. Students should use the study guide and class notes to help them prepare for the short-answer style test.

Literature: Students will study setting and characterization as we continue our reading through Robin Hood.

Greek and Latin Roots: With the short week, roots will be on Tuesday this week instead of Wednesday. Students should use the multiple choice review and their roots cards to help them prepare for the multiple choice quiz on Tuesday. The roots review packet is to serve as an additional study resource, and is due on Tuesday.

Poetry: Poetry recitations on “The Sin of Omission” by Margaret E. Sangster will be the Monday following Thanksgiving break, November 26.


I hope you all have a joyful extra-long weekend spending time with family. Give thanks!

--Mrs. Conforti

November 13-16

Families of 4C,

I’m looking forward to seeing all of our scholars’ Europe Country Projects this week! Projects presentations will be on Tuesday and Wednesday, and you see can see the presentation schedule here!

If you are planning on attending any of the presentations, please send me (TMartin@ArchwayArete.org) and Mrs. LaVell (RLavell@ArchwayArete.org) both an email so we can let the front office know how many visitors to expect. If you are bringing in a food item (either store bought or homemade), you must include the ingredients list for dietary purposes. Thanks!

This Week:

Math: Students will continue learning about fractions as we learn what mixed numbers are and how to add and subtract fractions with mixed numbers.

Grammar: Students will take their Grammar test on compound sentences on Tuesday, November 13. On Thursday and Friday of this week, we will be doing our first writing workshop!

Spalding: There will be no Spalding this week or next week with the shortened weeks. We will continue with Spalding the week following Thanksgiving. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Thursday and take the final test on Friday.

Science: We will continue working through our fourth science unit, Meteorology!

History: Europe Project presentations will be on Tuesday and Wednesday morning this week! There will be no history the rest of the week, but students are permitted to continue working on their chapters 17-21 study guides. More time will be given for study/review next week.

Literature: Students will study setting and characterization as we continue our reading through Robin Hood.

Greek and Latin Roots: This Wednesday, students will be quizzed on roots 35-38 and will learn the next three roots in the set. Students should review roots cards to prepare for their quiz they will take every Wednesday.


I hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable long weekend! I hope to see some of you for presentations this week.

--Mrs. Conforti

Khan Academy Postponed (11/7)

Good Afternoon!

Due to the shortened schedules for the next couple weeks, we will not be doing Khan Academy this week or the two following weeks to allow for more time for our math lessons and assessments. If you are signed up to volunteer, there is no need to come in tomorrow, November 7. We will resume Khan Academy in three weeks, on November 28.

Thank you for your understanding!

--Mrs. Conforti

Europe Project Presenations

There is one more week to work on Europe Projects! We are looking forward to seeing how our students have taken authority and ownership over these projects.

ALL research packets and essays are due on Tuesday, November 13, and presentations will be on the 13 and 14. If your child is planning on bringing a food item, please send me an email so I can prepare to distribute the food item during their presentation block. Please see the schedule of presentations below:

Tuesday, November 13:

• 8:00-8:10 Eliezer
• 8:10-8:20 Stella
• 8:20-8:30 Isaiah
• 8:30-8:40 Aubrey
• 8:40-8:50 Ashton
• 8:50-9:00 Isabella
• 9:00-9:10 Ella
• BREAK
• 10:20-10:30 Jack
• 10:30-10:40 Hunter
• 10:40-10:50 Evan
• 10:50-11:00 Marley
• 11:00-11:10Annalise
• 11:10-11:20 Gabi
• 11:20-11:30 Tichelle
• 11:30-11:40 Golden

Wednesday, November 14:

• 8:00-8:10 Noah
• 8:10-8:20 Sarina
• 8:20-8:30 Alise
• 8:30-8:40 Charlotte
• 8:40-8:50 Tai
• 8:50-9:00 Yancy
• 9:00-9:10 Ali
• BREAK
• 10:20-10:30 Lily
• 10:30-10:40 Kendall
• 10:40-10:50 Sydney
• 10:50-11:00 Case
• 11:00-11:10 Gavin
• 11:10-11:20 Ralph
• 11:20-11:30 Milly
• 11:30-11:40 Tayo

Feel free to stop by during your scholar's presentation if you are able and willing to make it! If you plan on attending a presentation, send me an email so I can let the front office know when you will be coming. Thanks!

Week of November 5-9

Families of 4C,

Students interested in the Bard Competition must have their registration forms turned in Monday, November 5.

Picture retakes will take place on Thursday, November 8th. If your student was absent for picture day or you desire a retake, have your child come ready for retakes! See the Archway Arete Newsletter for ordering information.

This Friday will be a Spirit Wear Day! Students are welcome to come dressed in their Archway Arete gear and uniform pants, shorts, or skirts.

Beginning this week, any student with missing homework assignments will be calling home during recess to explain why the assignment is missing. This call is to serve as informational purposes ONLY, and is not meant for families to rush late work to school. As per usual procedure, the student can make up missing work the same day during morning recess for a 10% deduction, or they can turn it in the next day for a 20% deduction. Thank you for your cooperation to promote checks-and-balances and consistent communication in our classroom!

This Week:

Math: Students will continue learning about fractions as we learn what mixed numbers are and how to add and subtract fractions with mixed numbers.

Grammar: This week, students will spend time learning about clauses and compound sentences. They will then spend the rest of the week studying for their next grammar test, which is Friday. There will be homework assignments coming home on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to help them prepare.

Spalding: This week, students will be studying their next 20 words, Hurrying----- Soldier. 4C is ahead of the other classes in Spalding, so we will have fewer words to study for the next couple weeks. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Thursday and take the final test on Friday.

Science: On Monday, students will be taking the short-answer portion of their Life Sciences Unit test.
We are beginning our Meteorology Unit! Students will begin by learning about the Water Cycle, types of clouds, dew point and humidity. At the end of the week, students will learn about the effects of aerosols in cloud formation.

History: We will continue studying the Middle Ages by learning about the Hundred Years’ War and Joan of Arc.
Essays and research packets for the European Country Project are due Tuesday, November 13. Presentations will be due November 13-16, and days will be assigned to each student this week.

Literature: Students will study setting and characterization as we continue our reading through Robin Hood.

Greek and Latin Roots: This week students will be quizzed on roots 33-35, and will learn the next three roots in the set. Students should review roots cards to prepare for their quiz they will take every Wednesday.

Poetry: Students will recite “Clouds” by Christine Georgina Rossetti on Monday, November 5.


I hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable weekend!

--Mrs. Conforti

Annual Bard Competition

Hello Archway Arete Parents and Students! It’s once again time for our annual Bard Competition, which means registration starts now! If your student is interested in trying their hand at this artistic form in this exciting and challenging competition,  please have them ask their teacher for a registration form, which must be turned in no later than Monday, November 5th by the end of the day. Each student who registers will also receive a copy of the Poetry Out Loud judging guidelines to help them refine their performance for the first round of the competition, which will take place across November 16th and 19th at 3:05 after the school day. More details to follow. I am so excited for this competition to kick off and see what students we’ll be hearing from this year, so please don’t hesitate to register! If you have any further questions, please email Ms. Arce-Lindsay at carce-lindsay@archwayarete.org. I look forward to seeing our students perform! Happy poem hunting!

Week of October 29 - November 2

Families of 4C,

We will be celebrating our Read-a-Thon this Wednesday, October 31! We will begin our celebration at lunch time and there will be pizza and snacks provided, so you do not need to send your child with a lunch that day. The class will be reading “The Witches” by Roald Dahl together for the afternoon, but students are permitted to bring their own non-pop culture book to read independently if they choose. Wednesday morning activities will resume as usual, including Khan Academy.

Students who have submitted a costume proposal are permitted to come Wednesday dressed as their favorite book character, historical figure, or scientist. Please note that our Wednesday special on the 31st is P.E., and all students must wear athletic-style shoes with their costumes so they can still participate.

Absences:

Absent work will not be sent home for students who miss less than two consecutive days until the day they return to school. This allows teachers to keep checks-and-balances of make-up work and allows students the opportunity to rest so they can come back to school refreshed and energized!

If you anticipate your student being absent for more than two consecutive days, you may request assignments from a teacher in advance to have them work on while they are out.

If your student is absent from school, they will get all notes, assignments, and assessments on the day they return to school. Everything they missed will be provided by a teacher, but it is the responsibility of the student to go to a teacher to find out what they missed when they get back. Students will have the number of days they were gone to make up any absent work. If a student is absent the day a test is given, they will be expected to take the test on the day they return.

This Week:

Math: At the beginning of the week, students will learn how to add and subtract fractions and they will be tested on this at the end of the week on either Thursday or Friday. If there is time at the end of the week, students will begin learning about mixed numbers.

Grammar: This week, students will learn about compound parts of speech: compound subjects, compound objects of the preposition, compound direct objects, compound adjectives, compound predicate nominatives, and how to classify and diagram compound sentences. Students will also be doing a review throughout the week on conjunctions.

Spalding: This week, students will be studying their next 31 words, Controlled----- Piano. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Thursday and take the final test on Friday.

Science: We will be finishing up our Life Sciences Unit this week by learning about the regions in Arizona and the plants and animals found in each region. On Wednesday, we will have an in-class review session, but students should be utilizing their study guide throughout the week to study for the unit test on Thursday. Please note that the class average for last week's science quiz was a 64%. Students should use this quiz to help them aim the focus of their study to prepare for the test this week.

History: We will continue studying the Middle Ages by furthering our reading by taking a closer look at the importance of the Magna Carta and the new kind of government it helped establish. At the end of the week, students will be taking a quiz on the Magna Carta. At the end of the week, students will learn about the Hundred Years’ War.
Essays and research packets for the European Country Project are due Tuesday, November 13. Presentations will be due November 13-16, and days will be assigned to each student in the coming weeks.

Literature: Students will study setting and characterization as we continue our reading through Robin Hood.

Greek and Latin Roots: This week students will be quizzed on roots 30-32, and will learn the next three roots in the set. Students should review roots cards to prepare for their quiz on every Wednesday.

Poetry: Students will recite “Clouds” by Christine Georgina Rossetti on Monday, November 5.


Have a wonderful weekend!

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of October 23-26

Families of 4C,

It was great to have the opportunity to talk with each of you this week at conferences!

There is no school this Monday, October 22.

Math Tutoring will start back up on Thursday, October 25 and will continue to be every Monday and Thursday by invitation. If math tutoring is recommended for your child, you will receive an invitation via email in the coming days.

Grade Reports will be sent after week 2 to allow for more assignments to be entered into the grade book. Thank you for your patience!

As we progress through the year, please include myself and Mrs. LaVell both on any emails regarding grading or assignments to ensure well-rounded communication:

• Mrs. Conforti: TMartin@ArchwayArete.org
• Mrs. LaVell: RLavell@ArchwayArete.org

This Week:

Math: At the beginning of the week, students will review equivalent fractions and comparing fractions before learning how to add and subtract fractions later in the week. Students will take their Unit 3 Chapter 1 Test on fractions this Friday.

Grammar: This week, students will learn about Interrogative Pronouns, Interjections, Contractions, and Introductory Elements.

Spalding: This week, students will be studying their next 30 words, Search----- Excite. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Thursday and take the final test on Friday.

Science: As we continue through our Life Sciences Unit, students will learn more about population density and the factors that can affect the size and success of a population. Students will learn how animals use adaptation and natural selection to survive, and they will understand the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources. Students will have a quiz toward the end of the week on these topics, and should be regularly reviewing their notes to prepare. At the end of the week, students will begin learning about different types of regions, specifically those that can be found in Arizona.

History: We will continue studying the Middle Ages by furthering our reading about Eleanor of Aquitaine, Islam, and the Crusades. Students will be completing their Unit 2 Study Guide for chapters 11-16 throughout the beginning of the week to prepare for their Unit test on Friday.
Essays and research packets for the European Country Project are due Tuesday, November 13. Presentations will be due November 13-16, and days will be assigned to each student in the coming weeks. 

Literature: Students will study setting and characterization as we continue our reading through Robin Hood.

Greek and Latin Roots: This week students will be quizzed on roots 26-29, and will learn the next three roots in the set. Roots will be every Wednesday; students should review their roots cards to prepare for the quiz.

Poetry: Students will recite “Clouds” by Christine Georgina Rossetti on Monday, November 5.


I hope you all a relaxing and enjoyable long weekend!

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of October 15-19

Families of 4C,

Due to parent teacher conferences this week there will be early dismissal everyday at 12:05 PM.

If you have not yet signed up for a conference time slot there are still four slots available (two on Wednesday and two on Thursday, link to sign-up HERE).

Regular Grade Reports will be sent this weekend as per usual. However, please be aware that as we are starting a new quarter the grade book will not have very many assignments in it this week and will likely not be an accurate reflection of your scholar’s performance and progress.

This Week:

Math: Students will be taking the Units 1 and 2 Cumulative Assessment on Tuesday. On Thursday and Friday will be beginning our new unit on fractions. Despite the half-day schedule, we will resume Wednesday Morning Khan Academy sessions as usual.

Grammar: This week, students will learn about Interrogative Pronouns, Interjections, Contractions, and Introductory Elements.

Spalding: This week, students will be studying their next 30 words, Provision----- Complete. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Thursday and take the final test on Friday.

Science: Students will continue working through our Life Sciences Unit as they learn about animals. This week will cover abiotic vs. biotic animals, habitats, and population density. Students will be taking a quiz on Thursday and should be reviewing their notes regularly to prepare.

History: We will continue studying the Middle Ages by furthering our reading about King Henry II and Thomas Becket. Toward the end of the week, we will learn about Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Essays and research packets for the European Country Project are due Tuesday, November 13. Presentations will be due November 13-16, and days will be assigned to each student in the coming weeks.

Literature: In the second quarter will be beginning our second literature book for the year, Robin Hood.

Greek and Latin Roots: This week students will be learning the next three roots 26-29.

Poetry: This week students will be learning their new poem for recitation, “Clouds” by Christine Georgina Rossetti. Recitations for this poem will be on November 5.


I look forward to seeing some of you this week, and I am eager for a strong start to the second quarter!

--Mrs. Conforti

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Good Morning Families of 4C,

It's that time of year! Conferences will be held the first week of school following Fall Break, Monday, October 15 through Thursday, October 18.

4C Conference Sign-Up

Parents will meet with Mrs. Conforti and Mrs. LaVell in the classroom (4C) to discuss their child's progress in fourth grade over the course of the first quarter. Conferences will last approximately 25 minutes; the final five minutes between conferences will allow for transitions and teacher breaks. Conferences will run from 1:00pm - 4:30pm Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Tuesday, conferences will run from 1:00pm-7:00pm. Use the following link to select one time slot to attend: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0b4faaaf2faafc1-quarter


Specialists Conference Sign-Up

While conferences with your child's teachers are mandatory, conferences with specialists are optional. If you are interested in meeting with one of the specialist teachers, you can request a sign up through the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4ea8a92aa7fe3-25specials2.

We look forward to discussing your child's growth with you!

Week of October 1-5

Families of 4C,

As the first quarter is winding down and coming to an end, your fourth grade students are continuing to persevere and work hard to finish strong!

Regular Grade Reports will be sent this weekend as per usual. If your student has any missing assignments, they can turn them in no later than Thursday, October 4 for partial credit. No missing assignments will be accepted for late credit after October 4, as grades for the quarter will be finalized.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held the first week back to school from Fall Break. The Sign-Up for conference times will be posted to the blog on Wednesday, October 3.

This Week:

Math: Students will continue to learn how to multiply by two-digit numbers. Students will learn long division with one and two-digit numbers and will take their test toward the end of the week on Thursday or Friday.

Grammar: This week, students will learn about Personal and Indefinite Pronouns, Interrogative Pronouns, Interjections, Contractions, and Introductory Elements. They will also be doing review of last week’s concepts: demonstrative pronouns, and comparative and superlative adjectives.

Spalding: This week, students will be studying their next 31 words, Avenue----- differ. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Thursday and take the final test on Friday. On Thursday, we will be doing our Spalding review lesson with our Spalding coach Mrs. Clause!

Science: Students will continue working through our Life Sciences Unit as they learn about vascular and nonvascular plants and plant reproduction and seed dispersal. Students will have two quizzes, one at the beginning of the week and one toward the end. Each quiz will be review of the notes they have taken thus far. Students should be reviewing their notes regularly to ensure they are prepared.

History: We will continue studying the Middle Ages by reading about William the Conqueror, King Henry II, and Thomas Becket. There will be a quiz on this week’s notes a the end of the week, so students should be reviewing history notes regularly this week to ensure they are prepared.

Essays and research packets for the European Country Project are due Tuesday, November 13. Presentations will be due November 13-16, and will be assigned later in second quarter.

Literature: We have finished our first literature book this year, The Princess and the Goblin. We will be having our end-of-quarter celebration on Friday afternoon to commemorate our first novel completed as fourth graders!

Greek and Latin Roots: On Wednesday, students will be taking a review test on roots 1-25. They can use their set of notecards and their review from September 26 as a study guide. The review check they were given will be nearly identical to the test, except it will include roots 23-25 as well.

Poetry: Students will give their oral recitation of “Dreams” by Langston Hughes on Monday, October 1. All students should be prepared to recite the poem on Monday, but may present on Tuesday depending how time allows. 

Week of September 24-27

Families of 4C,

Homework Surveys:

Upon reviewing the fourth grade homework survey data, the majority of families are finding that homework is being completed within the suggested time (61%). About twenty percent of families are taking up to 90 minutes, and about another twenty percent are taking over an hour and a half. When all of the data is averaged, it looks like the average child is spending around 75 minutes a night on homework.

One common comment was that the homework load isn’t too much, except when there are test and quizzes to study for. There are three accommodations we are proposing to help resolve this concern.

The first is a student and parent accommodation. In the history and science notebooks, at the end of each unit or section, is the study guide for the next test. We recommend that students start filling in this study guide as they learn new information. As they learn this information, their focus should be on those things. We also recommend that they make note cards with this information for easier study. This way, they are working toward memorizing what is most important during the whole unit or section and not just in the last few nights before the test.

The second and third accommodations are teacher accommodations. First, instead of having the study guides due the day before the test, they will be due at least two days before the test. This will provide students with more time to study their finished and corrected study guides. Second, the two nights before any history or science test, students may use the 25 minutes of nightly reading time to study for the upcoming test.

For some families, these accommodations will not be sufficient to relieve the amount of time being spent on homework. If you are finding that your child is still spending more than 70-90 minutes on homework every night, please reach out to your classroom teacher.

This Week:

Math: Students will begin the week reviewing rounding and estimation on Monday before taking their test Tuesday on addition and subtraction. We will spend the rest of the week learning about multiplication and division, and we will be using estimation to help solve.

Grammar: Students will be taking their Classifying and Diagramming Test on Direct and Indirect Object, the ‘not’ adverb, helping and linking verbs, predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives. Students should use their graded in-class practice and homework practice to review over the weekend. If you are interested in supplemental sources to help your student understand Direct and Indirect Objects, Predicate Nominatives and Predicate Adjectives, or Linking Verbs and Helping Verbs, you can click the links for supplemental videos that briefly explain each.

Spalding: This week, students will be studying their next 30 words, Laid----- Publication. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Thursday and take the final test on Friday.

Science: Students will continue working through our Life Sciences Unit. On Monday, we will be finishing our foldable project as we continue learning about Taxonomy. Students will also learn the types of vertebrates before going on to learn about plants, the parts of a flower, photosynthesis, and vascular vs. nonvascular plants. Students will take a short quiz on Friday to review the life sciences terms they have learned so far.

History: In order to provide more review time for students, the Unit 2 Test on chapters 5-10 will be given on Tuesday and our review day will be on Monday. Students were given complete answers to every question except #4, #5, and #8. These questions they should complete for homework so we can review as a class on Monday. Moving forward, study guides will be due two days before the test is given. This one is due the day before since we have been working on it for the last three days. After the exam Tuesday, students will finish the week continuing to learn about life in the Middle Ages.

Students were assigned their country for the European Country project earlier in the week. The packet students were given has all necessary information required to complete the project, including a weekly outline as a guide for when things are due. The only specific due dates are for essays and the research packet, aside from the final project itself. Research and Essays need to be completed by the beginning of Quarter 2, Week 5. This will fall on the week following Veterans Day, so essays will be due on Tuesday, November 13 (no school that Monday).

Literature: Students will continue to study characterization as we continue reading “The Princess and the Goblin.” All students should bring in a copy of the book to use every day for literature.

Greek and Latin Roots: On Wednesday, students will be learning the next three roots and taking their weekly quiz. The weekly quiz will cover two previously taught roots from last week, and one previously taught root from the weeks before. Students need to know the meaning of the root and a derivative word of that root.

Helpful Links:

Singapore Math: If you are interested in additional resources to help your child study at home, you may reference these videos from Archway Glendale.

Grammar: If you are interested in supplemental sources to help your student understand Direct and Indirect Objects, Predicate Nominatives and Predicate Adjectives, or Linking Verbs and Helping Verbs, you can click the links for supplemental videos from the Khan Academy and Shurley English that briefly explain each.


I wish you all a wonderful weekend, and I look forward to a lot of learning in the shortened week to come!

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of September 17-21

Families of 4C,

I hope all of your weekends are off to a lovely start after putting in hard work this week!

Class Announcements:

Thank you to those of you who have donated tissues to our classroom; we now have quite the ready supply approaching cold and allergy season!

Parents, please be advised that there was an error to the answer key on question #1(f) on Math Test 1.5A. This question will be removed from the scoring making the test out of 13 points, so no student will have this question marked against them.

Weekly Grade Reports will be sent to all families this weekend to serve as a snapshot of your child's grade. If you have any questions or concerns with their current grade, please first direct them to the student to promote self-responsibility in academics.

Upcoming Events: You can find more information about all upcoming events on the Archway Arete Newsletter. Here are this week’s events:

The Mother and Son Event is Saturday, September 15 from 5:30 to 8:30 at the school. We hope to see our young men there with their moms!

Picture Day will be this Thursday, September 20. Students should bring their best smile to school on this day!

Grandparents Day will be this Thursday, September 21. All scholars are welcome to invite their grandparents to spend part of the day with them at school and get a feel for what happens in the student’s school day!

This Week:

Grammar: Students will continue practicing classifying and diagramming simple sentences. This week, students will learn about helping verbs and verb phrases, the “not” adverb, predicate nominative, and predicate adjective.

Math: On Monday, students will be taking their cumulative review assessment on the last 6 chapters. This test will cover negative numbers, order of operations, multiples, factors, rounding, approximation, and place value. Students will use the Cumulative Test B worksheet for review. As the week progresses, we will dive into addition and subtraction using bar models. On Wednesday, students will continue working through practice in the Khan Academy.

Spalding: This week, students will be studying their next 31 words, Perhaps----- Courage. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Thursday and take the final test on Friday.

Science: As we are delving into the Life Sciences unit, students will be learning about the needs of living things and classification and ordering of species. Students will be doing a special foldable this week while taking notes on Classification Taxonomy. Students will continue to have regular weekly quizzes in science.

History: Hear ye, hear ye! This week is Chivalry Week in fourth grade! During Chivalry week, students will be making rules for our classroom to follow for the week that reflect attitudes of courage, honesty, helpfulness, honor, justice, and other virtues upheld by the knights of the Middle Ages. This is not a romantic activity, but rather an exercise to display the Code of Chivalry and why it was valued by the knights. For the knights, the Code of Chivalry was not only about honor and feats of war, but was also used to uphold respect and manners to everyone in society, not just the knights. For this reason, we will be tailoring our class laws to resemble respect for self and others and showing good manners. Throughout the week, students will continue learning and reading about life in the Middle Ages, and will take the Unit test on chapters 5-10 on Friday. Students will also have their European Country projects introduced this week.

Greek and Latin Roots: On Wednesday, students will be learning the next three roots and taking their weekly quiz. The weekly quiz will cover two previously taught roots from last week, and one previously taught root from the weeks before.

Poetry: Poetry Recitations will be this Monday, September 17. Students should be ready to recite “Afternoon of a Hill” by Edna St. Vincent Millay.

Literature: Students will continue to study characterization as we continue reading “The Princess and the Goblin.” All students should bring in a copy of the book to use every day for literature.

I wish everyone an enjoyable weekend!

-- Mrs. Conforti

Week of September 10-14

Families of 4C,

Please welcome our class parent, Mrs. Restivo! She will be serving her third year as a class mom for Archway Arete. She will be communicating with you this year in respect to how you can help out with classroom celebrations and will keep you up to date on what is happening with the PSO. I have confidence that her giving heart will make an impactful difference for our students this year!


Grade Reports will be sent weekly to keep you up-to-date about your child’s current grade status. The grade report primarily serves as a snapshot for the child to see where they are and how they are doing, and does not require any additional action items for parents to complete. Grades will commonly fluctuate week-by-week, as they are a tool to track learning progress to see where the student can get stronger. Our goal is not to chase a certain number or letter, but rather to track their growth.

The goal for homework is an average of 60-75 minutes. As this is an average, some students may take longer or shorter depending on their skill level and the rigor demanded for each assignment. If homework ever exceeds 1 hour and 30 minutes, feel free to send an email to let me know that you eclipsed your 75 minutes and outline any specific problems you may have encountered on it so I can see where to offer help. In terms of subjects, students should be spending no more than about 30 minutes on any one subject, unless a project or larger assignment is required and these dates will be given ahead of time. If you find that your child has met the 30 minute mark with a subject, feel free to end homework for that subject and switch to another.

In an effort to provide a fruitful homework experience for our scholars, we rely on the feedback of our families. Parents, please share your feedback by completing this homework survey at your earliest convenience.

History: The Europe Map Test will be given on Monday to allow students more time to study. Students were given a detailed study guide of the map to complete for homework, and this should be the primary study source. You can visit the links for songs about Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Southern Europe for review. As an additional resource, I have also included a link to an online quiz that can be used to study. On Tuesday, students will take their unit test on the Byzantine Empire, and they can use the Study Guide on page 48 in their notebook for review. This week, we will learn about Charlemagne, feudalism, and castles as we continue our time travel through the Middle Ages.


Science: We will begin this week by continuing to learn about electromagnetism before taking our unit test on electricity Thursday. Students can use the Study Guide on pages 29-30 for review. At the end of the week, we will begin our new unit on life sciences.


Spalding: We will continue Spalding as regularly planned this week, with 3 sets of 10 words for homework this week. Our 30 words this week will run from “themselves-------state.” Your student is responsible for bringing their Spalding notebook home to dictate words. You may also reference the curriculum night packet for the full year’s list of Spalding words.


Math: We will be taking our Order of Operations test on Monday. On Tuesday, we will begin working with negative numbers. Your student is responsible for bringing their math workbook to and from school every day on the nights they have workbook homework. Students should have up to page 33 completed in their workbooks thus far. Check in with your child nightly to ensure they are getting all the practice they need.


Greek and Latin Roots: Greek and Latin roots are taught and reviewed from the set of cards students make in class every Wednesday, unless otherwise noted. This week students will be learning the next three roots and will be tested on 3 previous roots they have learned. Students are responsible for keeping track of their own cards.


Grammar: On Tuesday, students will be taking a Classifying and Diagramming test on pronouns and prepositions. Students should use the homework over the weekend to help them prepare for this test. This video might be helpful when helping your student with classifying and diagramming. There are other resources like this available online, just keep in mind that Great Hearts teaches “Shirley English” and these will be the most effective resources for practice.


As always, I look forward to another week of learning, and I hope you all enjoy your weekend.

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of September 4-7

Families of 4C,

Thank you for coming to our fourth grade Curriculum Night! For those of you who were unable to make it, I have attached a digital file of the Curriculum Night packet to the blog here. In this packet, you can find information about procedures, homework policies, and curriculum scope for the school year. You can also find the complete list of Spalding words with rules and markings, and Spalding instructions for you to practice reviewing phonograms and dictating words to your student.

Monday is Labor Day and we will have no school. This will be an R&R (Rest and Relaxation) weekend for our students. Students will have the opportunity to spend this 3-day Labor Day weekend with loved ones free from homework, so they can come back to school refreshed on Tuesday!

Grade Reports will be sent this weekend. If you have any concerns with your child’s current grade, feel free to reach out with any specific questions.

Our classroom is in need of tissues! With cold season rearing its head, we have been going through tissues very quickly in our classroom and have run completely out of our supply. If your family is willing and able to donate some tissues to our classroom, it would be greatly appreciated! Sending your student to school with a reusable whiteboard eraser (such as an old sock) will also help cut down on how often tissues are being used.

There are still clubs with spots available after school! Clubs with Spots Available:

• Monday: 1-5 Math Club, 2-5 Sports Club, 2-5 Band, K-1 Art Club
• Tuesday: 2-3 Art Club, 3-5 Dance Fitness Club, 4-5 Choir
• Thursday: 3-5 Science Club

Visit archwayarete.configio.com if you are interested in more information regarding after school clubs. 

Math: We will continue learning Order of Operations this week. This week students will begin nightly reviews for math that will be graded for accuracy in addition to workbook pages and test practice. We will be taking our Order of Operations test on Friday. We will also be beginning the Khan Academy this week, an online math program that will take place of our Wednesday math groups. If you are interested in being one of our Wednesday math tutors, please send me an email expressing your interest. You must have a fingerprint card on file with the front office in order to volunteer.

Science: As we continue making our way through our unit on electricity, we will be spending this week learning about electrical circuits. We will conduct lab experiments where students have the opportunity to build their own circuits. At the end of the week, students will begin filling in their study guides to prepare for the Unit test next week. Students will also take regular quizzes on vocabulary and concepts to help prepare them for next week’s test.

History: In our study of the Middle Ages, we have also been reviewing the countries of Europe on a map as a class. Students will be tested on the Europe Map next Thursday. On Friday, we will review the second part of Unit 2 on the Byzantine Empire as a class to prepare students for the Unit 2: Byzantine Empire test they will take on Monday, September 10.

Spalding: This week, we will continue dictating our next 30 words. For homework, students should be writing the words two times (once with rules, markings, and syllables; and one time how the word is read). The exception for this is the night they write all 30 words; for all 30 words, the word only needs to be written once. These words should be dictated to them by a family member in the order they are presented in class. If students misspell a word on their homework, they should write the correct spelling three times next to the misspelled word. On Thursday of this week, our Spalding lesson will be observed by Mrs. Clause, our Great Hearts Spalding coach!

Grammar: Students will continue practicing classifying and diagramming simple sentences as we add new parts of speech into simple sentences. By the end of this week, students can recognize nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, article adjectives, prepositions, object of the preposition,

Literature: As we continue our journey through The Princess and the Goblin, students will be taking a closer look at indirect and direct characterization as well as narrative perspective. Reading logs are due at the end of each month. Since the last day of September falls on a weekend, September reading logs will be due Monday, October 1.

Roots: On Wednesday, students will be quizzed on the first 12 Greek and Latin roots they have learned, and they will learn the next three roots. Students should expect to have a roots quiz every Wednesday.

I hope that your families are all able to enjoy a restful and relaxing holiday weekend!

--Mrs. Conforti

Weekly Blog Post Delay

Good Evening Parents,

I hope your three-day weekends are all off to a good start. Unfortunately, I will have to delay posting the weekly blog. I am feeling ill this evening, due to migraine headache. The primary reason for updating you with this information is because on Curriculum Night I mentioned that the weekly blog will be updated regularly on Friday afternoons. I intend to maintain this timing throughout the school year, but I hope that you can offer your patience with me in these outlier circumstances. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience, and I can assure you that the weekly blog will be updated in full tomorrow.


Best Regards,

Mrs. Conforti

Week of August 27-31

Families of 4C,

As we head into week four, I thank you all for a wonderfully strong start to the school year and I’d like to encourage your families and your scholars to continue to persevere through the demands of fourth grade!

You are cordially invited to attend our 3rd-5th grade Curriculum Night, taking place on Wednesday, August 29th. The purpose of the event is to break down a typical day that your student experiences and to provide some general information and tips to help your child in and out of the classroom. The event starts at 6:00 pm in the Arete gymnasium, with opening remarks from Mr. Gillingham, Mrs. Vaughan, and our Specialists. From 6:30 to 7:30, parents will join Mrs. LaVell and myself in 4C for review of classroom procedures and policies, demonstration lessons, and a brief Q&A session. If you have a question on your mind, feel free to send it to me in an email ahead of time. I will be compiling a list of parent questions to prepare an FAQ for Curriculum Night to ensure your pressing questions are addressed. Due to limited seating, this is a parent-only event. Overflow parking will be available at The Falls Event Center located just east of the school.

In the spirit of fostering a healthy campus environment, we would like to ensure that all our scholars are equipped with some brain food! Please send your child with a healthy snack to eat at recess (no cookies, candies, etc.), and a water bottle if they do not already have one. We also ask that you avoid sending your child with any snacks of the aforementioned sort as a birthday celebration, and consider healthy snack alternatives or a classroom book to donate instead!

Grade Reports will be sent electronically on Friday, August 31. You can expect your child to also bring home their mailbox of graded work for weeks 2-4 on the 31st as well. The first few weeks of grades have been recorded manually (not yet digitally) in our classroom thus far, as we were experiencing some technical difficulty with the online gradebook in the first few weeks. IT has since resolved the issue, so you may expect electronic grade reports to be sent regularly after this Friday.

Fourth Grade will be doing MAP Testing on Thursday, August 30. This test is simply a diagnostic measurement to gauge where students are, and it will not impact their grade in any way.

Poetry: Poetry recitations for “Humanity” by Elma Stuckey will begin on Monday! Any students who do not have time to recite Monday will be given time for their recitation on Tuesday.

Roots: Students will be quizzed on roots 1-10 on Wednesday. The will also learn roots 11-13. Roots lessons will begin with a weekly quiz from the previous week’s roots cards, and will conclude with students learning 3-4 new roots.

Grammar: Last week, students learned how to classify and diagram simple sentences identifying nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, and article adjectives. On Monday, students will take an Adverbs and Adjectives Test with Classification and Diagramming. We will also be introducing prepositions and pronouns. For homework, students will be continuing paragraph edits for the article “Birthday Mail.” Edit sections Monday through Wednesday will be taken for completion and neatness (students should have around 8-10 edits per sections), and Thursday will be taken for accuracy (students will be told how many of each kind of edit in advance). These edits should be completed day-by-day, and students should not work ahead to other sections until the day it is assigned.

Literature: Students reviewed the types of narrative perspective last week, looking at first, second, and third person points of view. Students also learned the difference between third person objective, subjective, and omniscient points of view. As we continue to read The Princess and the Goblin, we will take a closer look into characterization and practice narrative perspective. We will centralize our characterization focus using STEAL, looking at a character’s Speech, Thoughts, Effects on others, Actions, and Looks. Students will continue to have regular journal entries to summarize chapters, and these will be completed for homework if class time does not permit completion. Students should be reading independently for 25 minutes every night. Any assigned reading for other subjects will fulfill this reading requirement. Reading logs will be turned in and graded at the end of each month.

Math: This week we will begin our chapter on multiples and we will be taking our chapter test on multiples on Wednesday (8/29). Toward the end of our week, we will begin working with Order of Operations.

Spalding: As we finish up our last rules pages, we will begin dictating words this week. You can expect your child to have regular Spalding homework starting this week.

Science: We are starting our new Science unit on Electricity this week, and we will continue working in this unit until we take the test in week 6. Students will be given regular quizzes throughout the unit in order to gauge understanding. They should be reviewing their notes consistently during the week to stay prepared. Students will learn about electricity usage and human impact, static electricity, currents, circuits, and engineering with safety.

History: As we continue our unit on the Middle Ages for the next few weeks, students will learn about the church’s influence in shaping nations, powerful empires and emperors, and they will be taking a closer look at the European continent. Students will continue identifying European countries on a map, and will have a quiz on this next week. Students will be tested on the first four chapters of the unit on Friday.

I hope to see many of you at Curriculum Night on Wednesday!

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of August 20-24

Families of 4C,

Thank you for another great week of learning! We are all settling into our routines and getting a feel for the work to be expected each week.

Math: On Monday, we will be starting our new unit on factors. Students will be taking their test on factorization at the end of the week on Friday.

Science: On Monday, we will be taking a short quiz reviewing protons, neutrons, electrons, volume, mass, and density. Students should review their notes for these vocabulary terms. Throughout the week, we will be continuing our Chemistry unit, as we do a lab on mixtures and solutes. We will finish up our Chemistry unit with the Unit Test on Thursday, and begin learning about electricity on Friday.

Spalding: This week in Spalding we will still be continuing our rules pages in class. You can expect to begin dictating words to your student later this week or early next week, depending on the time it takes for the class to make our way through the rules.

History: On Monday, we will begin our new history unit on Europe in the Middle Ages. We will start with reading about the Roman Empire, move through the Dark Ages, and learn about the role that churches played in forming nations during this time. On Friday, we will take a short quiz on Europe in the Middle Ages.

Grammar: On Monday, students will be taking a test on sentences and nouns. We have been learning about the four types of sentences, the five parts of a complete sentence, and we have learned about singular and plural forms of common and proper nouns. Throughout the week, we will be introducing verbs and learning how to classify and diagram simple sentences. On Friday, students will take a test on Diagramming Simple Sentences with nouns and verbs.

Literature: We are continuing our journey through "The Princess and the Goblin" and you can expect your student to have regular Journal Entries to complete for each chapter. Time is given in class to start on Journal Entries, and should only be homework if not completed in class.

Poetry: Students should continue to practice their Memorization of "Humanity" by Elma Stuckey. We will be doing recitations of this poem next week.

Greek and Latin Roots: Students will be taking a Roots quiz on Wednesday and will be tested on roots 1-4. They have already learned through their first 7 roots, and will continue with learning roots 8-10 this week.

If you'd like to see what your student is up to in Specials, please check the links below!

• Art: https://cal-archwayareteart.blogspot.com/
• French: https://aretefrench.blogspot.com/
• P.E.: http://aretepe2-5.blogspot.com/
• Music: http://archwayaretemusic.blogspot.com/

Please take notice of Great Hearts new heat advisory policy: 

On days when the National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning, students may not go outside for recess once temperatures have reached 107 degrees F. At all other times, teachers should be vigilant about assessing students’ needs for hydration and looking for signs of heat exhaustion.

Bearing heat in mind, Mrs. LaVell and myself offer opportunities for students to get a drink during classroom transitions. Please encourage your child to bring a water bottle to school and to take responsibility in filling it up at lunch to avoid missing class time.

Feel free to reach out with any further questions you may have about this week. I hope you all enjoy a peaceful weekend!

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of August 13-17

Good Evening Families of 4C,

Our first full week of school is in the books! This week your students learned and reviewed school and classroom expectations. We will be practicing these expectations every day to ensure we create the best scholarly environment possible.

On Monday, we will be taking our first math quiz. Students can review this quiz by completing their math worksheet over the weekend. Next week, your students will be continuing the Chemistry lesson in science and the Geography lesson in history, and there will be quizzes in both of these subjects later in the week (date TDB, see student's daily agenda). We will also be starting our Spalding phonograms and rule pages, and we will be continuing reading "The Princess and the Goblin" in Literature.

If your family has yet to acquire a copy of "The Princess and the Goblin," please try to send your child to school with their copy on Monday. If you are unable to get one by Monday, please aim for them to have it at the earliest convenience. 

Theory Time books are needed for all students for Music class. These books may still be available at Barnes and Noble or if not they can be found at Amazon (please make sure it is not written in if buying used).  The book list with ISBN number can be found on the Archway Arete website.  Please send this book in with your child by Thursday, August 16th.  If you have any questions or concerns you can contact Mrs. Kaye at SKaye@ArchwayArete.org.

Parents, please note our restroom policy below:

• Students are encouraged to use recess, lunch time, and before/after school for any restroom visits or trips to the water fountain. These are our "Bathroom Hours."
• Before school- 7:20-7:50
• Recess- 9:55-10:10
• Lunch- 11:55-12:35
• After school- 3:05-pickup
• Students will be given two (2) emergency passes to be used during class time IF they have an emergency and are not able to wait until the next slot for Bathroom hours.
• Students are asked that if they have an emergency and need to go during class, that they do not ask to go during direct instruction time. Instead, they should wait until a group/independent working time or a transition. (This frees the learning environment from distraction and allows class to function more smoothly).

If your child has a medical condition or concern that requires them to use the bathroom more frequently (beyond Bathroom Hours and 2 emergency passes), please send me an email so I can work with your family to better accommodate them.

Mrs. LaVell and myself are working diligently in these first weeks to offer as many reminders as possible to students to use Bathroom Hours. Our goal is to work with our fourth graders to help them become responsible for their own time management, and to ensure they don't miss out on any of the fun learning in class! 

Finally, many of you expressed interest in volunteering in our class. Thank you! I will be reaching out in the following weeks to touch base with some of you about ways you might be able to get involved with our class. If any of our 4C family members are interested in being our lead classroom parent, please send me an email directly so I know you have interest in the position. As I am a bit newer to the Archway Arete family, I would appreciate if you would also include in your email any past experience as a classroom volunteer or as a lead parent to help provide me with some background.

Thank you for a great first week and a strong start to the school year! 

--Mrs. Conforti

First Day of School

Good Afternoon 4C Families!

Our first official day as Fourth Graders has come and gone! Today your student took their first Spalding Test, learned about reading maps, and learned many procedures for our classroom and for the school.  Mrs. LaVell and I are both eager for another day of learning tomorrow, and for many days to come after.

As you prepare your child for the following days of the school year, there are a couple housekeeping notes to keep in mind:

• It is hot, hot, hot! If possible, please send your child to school with a reusable water bottle each day. This helps them stay hydrated throughout the day while not making them miss class time to get a drink from the water fountain.
• Please note that the MPR will be treated as a silent study hall in the afternoons during pick-up. Students will be expected to work on homework quietly while they wait to be picked up. Make sure your child brings a book to read during this time for the days they may not have homework, or if they finish their homework early.
• Tomorrow is our first day of P.E.! Students are expected to wear all black athletic shoes to comply with dress code. Please reference the Archway Arete Uniform Policy to make sure your child is properly outfitted! 

Lastly, our classroom is well-stocked with most supplies thanks to the generous families of 4C! In order to maintain a clean and healthy learning environment, our classroom will go through tissues and disinfectant wipes often. We will gratefully accept donations of either of these items throughout the school year. You will also be notified if need arrises for any other materials or supplies as the year progresses.

Many of you have emailed to ask about subscribing to our class blog. I have updated the blog so you may now enter your email address if you would like to subscribe so you don't miss a post. As always, you may reach out to myself or Mrs. LaVell if you have any further questions or concerns.

Kindest Regards, 

Mrs. Conforti

First Week of School

Good Afternoon 4C Families!

We are incredibly excited to have our students in class this Monday! We hope everyone has a restful weekend and comes ready to learn!

The first week of school we will be establishing and practicing our daily routines and procedures, and familiarizing ourselves with our classroom and our school! Students will be taking a tour of the entire Archway Arete campus with Mrs. LaVell and myself on Monday morning, and we will spend the rest of the day enriching our minds and hearts in learning.

Although the first few days of school will look a bit different, below you can see the daily schedule we will be following M, T, Th, and F.

• 7:50-7:55 Announcements/ Pledge
• 7:55-9:15 Math
• 9:15-9:55 Specials: Music (M, Th)/ P.E. (T, F)
• 9:55-10:10 Recess
• 10:10-10:50 Science
• 10:50-11:30 Spalding
• 11:30-11:55 History
• 11:55-12:35 Lunch
• 12:35-1:00 History
• 1:00-1:40 Grammar/ Writing
• 1:40-2:20 Literature
• 2:20-3:00 Specials: Art (M, Th)/ French (T, F)
• 3:05 Dismissal 

On Wednesdays, the main difference in the schedule is that they will only have one Specials block in the day instead of two, and dismissal is at 2:05.

Be advised that as our Arete families are still settling into their routines, traffic pickup will be a very busy time and might take a little longer than it will later in the year. Please plan ahead for these conditions when picking up your child from school in the first couple weeks.

I look forward to beginning our fourth grade journey in the pursuit of all that is True, Beautiful, and Good!

--Mrs. Conforti

Meet the Teacher Night

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to Mrs. Conforti’s and Mrs. LaVell’s Fourth Grade class! This is your official classroom assignment notification. We are so happy to have your student in our class! We hope to see everyone at Meet the Teacher Night tonight, August 2nd, 2018. Students should bring all school supplies to this event. (Please do not label supplies! Our supplies are communal.) Please note that there are two sessions:


Last name beginning A-M—5:30-6:30

Last name beginning N-Z—6:30-7:30


We look forward to meeting everyone tonight!


About Us:

My name is Mrs. Conforti, and this is my first year teaching 4th grade at Archway Arete. I had the privilege of coming to Archway Arete as an Apprentice Teacher for 5th grade half way through the year in January, and I’m very excited to be expanding my role this year! Before that, I was working as a K-12 school portrait photographer at different schools across the valley after I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in English Literature from The Walter Cronkite School at Arizona State University. My time spent covering education as an undergraduate reporter and as a school photographer helped strengthen my desire to be in the classroom where I could work more closely and personally with students.

Since coming to Great Hearts, I have found a natural home that values commitment to shaping both hearts and minds with an eye to virtue, while holding truth, beauty, and goodness to exceptional standards. The love I have for teaching and for empowering younger generations is the driving force behind my excitement for this school year, and I am humbled by the opportunity to foster a love of learning in our classroom. I look forward to getting to know you and work with you this year to ensure your child’s success! In my spare time, I enjoy reading and doing yoga. I was recently married in April to my husband, Anthony, who is attending his first year of medical school. As busy newlyweds, we love to spend our weekends relaxing together with our cat, Achilles!

My blog (conforti4c.blogspot.com) will feature lots of helpful information for parents and students throughout the year, so please check it regularly for new updates and information on what is happening in our classroom! You are also welcome to subscribe to our class blog to ensure you never miss an update!

The best way to get in touch with me is by email—I check my email regularly throughout the weekday. Please feel free to email me at TMartin@ArchwayArete.org with your questions, comments, or concerns. (Please note that as I was recently married, my email address is my first initial and maiden last name “Martin”; I apologize in advance for any confusion this may cause.)

I am delighted to have your student in our class, and I thank you in advance for your support and partnership in the upcoming year.


Kindest Regards,

Mrs. Conforti




Hello!

I am Mrs. LaVell and I will be the Assistant Teacher in Mrs. Conforti’s 4C classroom. This is my second year at Archway Arete and I am looking forward to a great year with 4th grade!

I am originally from St. Paul, MN where I was an attorney and worked in environmental cleanup and litigation for over 12 years before moving to the Valley with my husband Tom to be a full time mom and raise our family. We have two Arete Prep students, and I have also been a classroom mom and volunteer at Arete for many years before joining the faculty.

I am very excited about the beginning of this school year, and look forward to helping your child have a pleasant and successful fourth grade experience.


Rachel LaVell

RLavell@ArchwayArete.org