Happy Almost Easter Break! The 3rd trimester is in full swing (if you can believe it!) and we are about to start our two week vacation. 

It was nice to see all of you at the informational meeting for our Overnight Field Trip coming up April 12th.  Please get forms and payment turned in (all at once) as soon as possible. Due: Tuesday, April 5th at the latest. 

Green Free Dress this Thursday 3/17 for St. Patrick's Day! Students have PE that day so they should wear athletic shoes with their green attire. 

If your child did not order a green bagel they can bring money to school tomorrow and buy one. There should be enough :)

Wednesday Writing Journals - For the 3rd trimester, students are expected to write a minimum of 2 paragraphs each week in their journals.  4th grade paragraph expectations are glued into student journals- they should review this before writing their prompts next week. 

Book Report- our next book report is due the Friday we get back from break.  It is a board game book report. Students received directions and a rubric for this several weeks ago.  They are also posted on my website.  This is a big project, students should be finishing up their novels over break and starting to work on this assignment. 

We've been doing a lot more on the iPads and I know with that comes technical difficulties. It's been really cool to see the students help each other out and problem solve together.  I am taking all of this into consideration when grading assignments that are turned in online.  If for any reason your child cannot get their assignment turned in via google classroom - have them e-mail it to me, or come to school a few minutes early and I can help them get it turned in. Please let me know how I can best help with this at home.  Thank you!

Coming Up
Science chapter 12 test Friday
Math ch. 8 test Friday

Report cards go home this Friday

Mission Reports are wrapping up!  The final draft of the report is due this Friday 3/11.  The students received detailed information on how to put the reports together at home. This information should be in their blue report folders. If students do not have time to finish their maps, diary entries, table of contents, and dividers in class over the next week then they will need to complete some of that at home. They should be working on that a little bit each night so that they are not overwhelmed the night before the report is due.   

End of the Trimester is this Friday 3/11 - report cards will go home next Friday 3/18.

Green Free Dress next Thursday 3/17 for St. Patrick's Day! Students have PE that day so they should wear athletic shoes with their green attire. 

Island of the Blue Dolphins novel study - We are currently working on an interactive book report to culminate our novel study of Island of the Blue Dolphins. The students have been able to connect their learning about California Native Americans, explorers, and missions to this beautiful novel by Scott O'Dell.  Unfortunately, some of the students did not take care of the books that I loaned to them and they will need to be replaced. You will receive a note in your child's Wednesday folder today if this is the case.

Mandatory Parent Informational Meeting next Tuesday, March 15th at 6:00 PM in the 4th grade classroom.  This is in preparation for our 4th grade overnight field trip coming up this spring. It is very important that each of you attend this informational meeting. You may want to bring a pen and a checkbook to fill out forms while you're here. 

School Wide Reconciliation is next Tuesday. We are preparing for this in class this week and students will be quizzed on the process next week in preparation. 

Wednesday Writing Journals - For the 3rd trimester, students are expected to write a minimum of 2 paragraphs each week in their journals.  4th grade paragraph expectations are glued into student journals- they should review this before writing their prompts next week. 

More on Writing-  The class is finishing up publishing their "opinion writing pieces". They've done a really beautiful job going through the entire writing process. Please have your child share their writing with you (it is on their iPads :-)

Science- we've moved on to our next unit of study in science: physical science.  Chapter 12 is very short (just 2 lessons). Students will be tested on chapter 12 on Thursday next week. 

Don's Field Day - 
Please see letter below for information on this event!
My name is Sydney Strong, and I am a senior at Cathedral Catholic High School. As a part of the National Honors Society at CCHS, we are putting on a free field day for 6-12 year olds. We are working in conjunction with K.I.D.S. Therapy Associates, Inc. to have a day of fun games for both special needs and mainstream children. K.I.D.S. has connected special needs families with our event, but we are looking to bring in mainstream children from the local schools. My younger brother, Drew Strong, is in seventh grade at St. James, and I was wondering if there would be any way to get information about our event out to the St. James Academy parents and students. I have attached a picture of our flyer for more information. Please let me know if this would be possible.
Thank you,
Sydney Strong

iPad Projects- Now that we're half-way through the school year, we are doing a lot more on the iPad in 4th grade.  Check in with your child and have them show you some of the great work that they've been doing! :)  Last week we assisted first grade in creating cultural heritage screencasts. 

The 4th Grade had a wonderful trip to Mission San Diego de Alcala yesterday! The old principal from SJA, Donna Kruzona, was our docent which was a treat.  It was a great experience for the students to tour a real mission after all of the research we've been doing in class.  We will also get to tour Mission San Juan Capistrano this spring as part of our overnight field trip. See more photos below. 

Mission Reports are wrapping up.  The rough draft of the last paragraph is due this Friday.  The final report will be put together at home and is due next Friday 3/11.  The students received detailed information on how to put the reports together. This should be in their report folders. If students do not have time to finish their maps, diary entries, table of contents, and dividers in class over the next week then they will need to complete some of that at home.  I would check in with your child toward the end of the week to make sure that they do not have a load of things to complete right before the report is due. 

Mission Models due this Friday.  This was a completely OPTIONAL family project.  On Friday students will get a chance to share their mission and discuss the process of building it.  They will be on display in the library to view for the next  several weeks.  I've asked the students not to bring the models in until Friday morning because we do not have room to store them in the classroom. 

The end of the trimester is quickly approaching 3/11! Students will not be allowed to turn in any late/make up work after this Friday.  The only exception to this is if students are making up or re-taking tests from this week.  Any work completed after this Friday will go on next trimester's report card.  Please check gradelink so that there are not any surprises when report cards come home at the end of the trimester.  I have a huge no-name pile. 

Island of the Blue Dolphins novel study - We are wrapping up our most recent novel study. This is an incredible book based on true events that connect to California history. The students have been able to connect their learning about California Native Americans, explorers, and missions to this beautiful novel by Scott O'Dell.  Unfortunately, some of the students did not take care of the books that I loaned to them and they will need to be replaced. You will receive a note in your child's Wednesday folder next week if this is the case. 

Mandatory Parent Informational Meeting on March 15th at 6:00 PM in the 4th grade classroom.  This is in preparation for our 4th grade overnight field trip coming up this spring.


Outerwear- Students have been wearing non-SJA sweatshirts and jackets to school.  This is  not allowed per our school uniform policy. Students wearing non-uniform attire will be asked to remove it while at school. On Fridays, students should be in their mass dress attire, not in spirit wear/hoodies. 

Our awesome new SJA spirit wear was passed out today! Please check that your child got their correct order and e-mail coach Bohman if there are any issues. 

Thank you so much to families who have donated boxes of tissue! We could still use a few more if anyone is grocery shopping over the weekend :)

SJA Annual Gala! I hope everyone is planning on attending this year's gala! It is such a fun event, and raises a lot of money for school programs. Please support your child is selling their raffle tickets for this year's gala.  Also, consider bringing friends to the gala or sponsoring a table! :) 

The photographs are GORGEOUS! Even if you are unable to attend the gala, I encourage you to purchase these beautiful photographs of your children. 

Thank you so much for your generous gift of a Jewelry Raffle Ticket! :)

​Noon dismissal this Friday

School Wide Reconciliation is next Tuesday