Students prepared for the election by reading up on the candidates
(We had an AWESOME discussion in class - it was very fun!)
Important Dates
Other Important Announcements
Please sign up for parent-teacher-student conferences using the link below. Students should be present at the conference.
Conferences are a beautiful time to highlight student successes and focus on areas for growth. Students and parents have been expected to check their child's progress weekly using gradelink, so there should be no surprises on the report cards next week.
- 11/11 End of First Trimester
- 11/11 Special Veteran's Day Mass
- 11/13 Alternative Christmas Market 8:30-1:00 p.m.
- 11/14-11/17 Book Fair in the school library
- 11/16-11/18 Noon Dismissal for Parent Student Teacher Conferences
- 11/21-11/25 Thanksgiving Break
- 12/9 Author reading, Book signing, Waffle Breakfast event to support SJA Inclusion program
Other Important Announcements
Please sign up for parent-teacher-student conferences using the link below. Students should be present at the conference.
Conferences are a beautiful time to highlight student successes and focus on areas for growth. Students and parents have been expected to check their child's progress weekly using gradelink, so there should be no surprises on the report cards next week.

Multiplication Mastery Celebration!
The students have been working hard all trimester to learn their fast facts. Students had the opportunity to earn an ice cream sundae if they mastered all facts up to their 12s. The celebration will be during lunch on Monday. I rarely use sweets to incentivize students but this is a special 4th grade tradition.
Late Work
There was an unacceptable amount of late work turned in this trimester. I feel that the students are not learning lessons of responsibility (bringing their work home and back to school, everyday, on time) because they only lose a few points for late assignments. From now on ALL LATE WORK will receive half credit. In the upper grades, including 5th grade, no late work is accepted, so we need to put good habits into place now.
California Native American Unit
We are wrapping up our unit on California Native Americans this week and next. Tomorrow students will be presenting their mini-research projects in class. Students spent a week researching a California Native American tribe and had the choice of how they wanted to present their research in the form of a project. Chat with them tonight about their projects - they've been working very hard! In addition to social studies, the students have been incorporating their learning into reading, writing, and art. We are currently reading Island of the Blue Dolphins together as a class. We've read several native legends and are working on writing our own! The students learned to weave last week and will have the opportunity to make some pottery tomorrow. It is a very fun cross-curricular unit!
The students have been working hard all trimester to learn their fast facts. Students had the opportunity to earn an ice cream sundae if they mastered all facts up to their 12s. The celebration will be during lunch on Monday. I rarely use sweets to incentivize students but this is a special 4th grade tradition.
Late Work
There was an unacceptable amount of late work turned in this trimester. I feel that the students are not learning lessons of responsibility (bringing their work home and back to school, everyday, on time) because they only lose a few points for late assignments. From now on ALL LATE WORK will receive half credit. In the upper grades, including 5th grade, no late work is accepted, so we need to put good habits into place now.
California Native American Unit
We are wrapping up our unit on California Native Americans this week and next. Tomorrow students will be presenting their mini-research projects in class. Students spent a week researching a California Native American tribe and had the choice of how they wanted to present their research in the form of a project. Chat with them tonight about their projects - they've been working very hard! In addition to social studies, the students have been incorporating their learning into reading, writing, and art. We are currently reading Island of the Blue Dolphins together as a class. We've read several native legends and are working on writing our own! The students learned to weave last week and will have the opportunity to make some pottery tomorrow. It is a very fun cross-curricular unit!
WHO WANTS WAFFLES? Join us for a Book Reading by Steve Breen and Waffle Breakfast
Please join us on Friday, December 9th at 8 a.m. in the Parish Hall. This event will directly impact and support all of our students and their learning styles and preferences. Please see the order form attached below or click here to place your order and purchase breakfast tickets. Book orders and tickets must be placed by Friday, November 18, 2016. There are many options to participate and (signed) books make great gifts!
*If the whole class orders then we get to go and have breakfast ALL TOGETHER AS A CLASS which would be a very special treat*
Christmas Poinsettia Fundraiser
Please support the Class of 2017’s graduation activities by pre-ordering your Christmas poinsettias now. Orders are due by November 30th with pick-up on Wednesday, December 7th. Please see the flyer for details. The 8th Grade thanks you for your support!
Sports Camp - Thanksgiving Break
Coach Ramsay will be holding a sports camp at SJA during Thanksgiving Break. The camp will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. The cost is $125 and registration form is due by November 16th.
Alternative Christmas Market November 13th
...where gifts celebrate the meaning of the season! We honor the birth of Jesus by continuing his work – we offer gifts that serve and help the poor locally and globally. St. James Academy is participating in the Parish Alternative Christmas Market on November 13th, 8:30-1:00 p.m. Please see the flyer for more information and contact Mrs. Lang (clang@saintjamesacademy.com) if you would like to assist.
Scholastic Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to school on Monday November 14th and will be here until Thursday, November 17th. The Book Fair will be open in the SJA Library Monday - Thursday mornings from 7:30-8:00 a.m.; Tuesday after school until 3:30 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday until 4:00 p.m. The Fair will not be open on Friday. Profits from the fair help us to purchase new books for the library. Please see informational flyer.
Please join us on Friday, December 9th at 8 a.m. in the Parish Hall. This event will directly impact and support all of our students and their learning styles and preferences. Please see the order form attached below or click here to place your order and purchase breakfast tickets. Book orders and tickets must be placed by Friday, November 18, 2016. There are many options to participate and (signed) books make great gifts!
*If the whole class orders then we get to go and have breakfast ALL TOGETHER AS A CLASS which would be a very special treat*
Christmas Poinsettia Fundraiser
Please support the Class of 2017’s graduation activities by pre-ordering your Christmas poinsettias now. Orders are due by November 30th with pick-up on Wednesday, December 7th. Please see the flyer for details. The 8th Grade thanks you for your support!
Sports Camp - Thanksgiving Break
Coach Ramsay will be holding a sports camp at SJA during Thanksgiving Break. The camp will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. The cost is $125 and registration form is due by November 16th.
Alternative Christmas Market November 13th
...where gifts celebrate the meaning of the season! We honor the birth of Jesus by continuing his work – we offer gifts that serve and help the poor locally and globally. St. James Academy is participating in the Parish Alternative Christmas Market on November 13th, 8:30-1:00 p.m. Please see the flyer for more information and contact Mrs. Lang (clang@saintjamesacademy.com) if you would like to assist.
Scholastic Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to school on Monday November 14th and will be here until Thursday, November 17th. The Book Fair will be open in the SJA Library Monday - Thursday mornings from 7:30-8:00 a.m.; Tuesday after school until 3:30 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday until 4:00 p.m. The Fair will not be open on Friday. Profits from the fair help us to purchase new books for the library. Please see informational flyer.