Month: September 2025

Dear Families, September 26, 2025

We are finally done with our MAP testing for this fall…with the exception of a few make-up tests for a couple of kids. I am super proud of how hard they worked!

Most students finished their book reports by today! Good work, especially for their first formal presentation! I was impressed! Look below for a few kids’ presentations!

St. Francis of Assisi Day is celebrated October 1. Please bring in your pet at 8am to be blessed by Fr. Stephan!

Please put October 9th at 8:15 on your calendar because our students are responsible for the first of three Masses. We have some speakers and a few non-speaking parts as well. We look forward to seeing you there!

Blessings,

Paula A. Martin-Zender

Religion – Fourth Grade Theologians learned about the Bible this week. Many memorized the first five books of the Bible: the Pentateuch. We discussed the two main parts of the Bible: the old and new testaments and the most important books of the Bible: the Gospels. We discussed the Liturgy of the Word and how each reading comes from various parts of the Bible, including the Psalms (silent P)! On Thursday, we went to adoration too.
Language – We took the Reading and Language MAP tests today. We also learned about the Eastern dragons vs. the Western dragons. No spelling this week due to the MAP testing.
Math – Fourth grade mathematicians are reviewing subtraction with multi-digit numbers.

Science – These scientists finished planning, developed a budget and began building our collaborative 3D mythical creature.

Social Studies – Fourth grade historians learned about different kinds of maps and graphs. They also learned about cultures and what makes cultures special. They evaluated themselves and their own culture.

Specialists

Art –Collaborative Octopus Project – Our 4th graders are working on watercolor landscapes with turtles, focusing on proportion and texture. They are learning how different sizes and shell patterns bring their artwork to life.

Spanish – They learned at what times of the day we use: Buenos días, Buenas tardes o Buenas noches.

Music – This week in music, we are writing, speaking, and playing the new rhythm learned last week, experiencing two-part singing and folk dance with Old Joe Clark, and singing and moving together with the warm-up Good Morning.

Physical Education – We talked about the 5 components of Fitness and what each test is going to tell us about our bodies.  We took the pacer test, curl-up test and began the flexibility test. 

Library – This week we read Buffalo Fluffalo.  This book delves into conversations of compassion and self-acceptance….also it prompted us to find out what the difference is between a buffalo and a bison.  Students also had the chance to practice their typing skills.  To look at the story or other library activities and even the link to practice typing from home, check out library page.

Wednesday, October 1 – 8:00 – Bring in your pet for a blessing! – regular uniform

Friday, October 3 – All-school Mass – dress uniform

October 4-5 – Spirit Weekend – Go to Mass in Whatcom county for a Free Dress coupon from the priest!

Thursday, October 9 – Fourth graders are responsible for the Mass at 8:15.

Friday, October 10 – No school – Christ in the Classroom Retreat for all staff.

Dear Families, September 19, 2025

I have been home sick most of the week due to laryngitis. It’s hard to teach when my voice takes a vacation! The good news is that your children have been very flexible with the various substitutes. Because of my absence, there will be no Friday Folder this week. It will be brought home to you next Friday. I am excited to see your children next week again because I miss them!

Next week MAP testing will continue on Tuesday, (probably on Wednesday too because the reading test takes so long) and Thursday. Homework will be held to one assignment per night next two week, the night before the tests. Please do not schedule appointments during this time. Also, please feed your child a good nutritious breakfast with protein for Tuesdays through Thursday. The tests will be in the mornings, 8:15-9:45. This week’s tests will be Reading (Tues and Wednesday) and Language (Thursday).

Be sure to come to the Harvest Festival this Saturday, September 20th! It will be a fun time! The DUNK TANK is coming…there may some fun teachers that will give you the opportunity to try to dunk them into the water!

Blessings,

Paula A. Martin-Zender

Religion – Fourth Grade Theologians began the Second Step program which is a social-emotional program. The first section is on building goals. We began creating a goal of building a 3D mythical creature. Your children are very excited about this! They also began their first unit in their Word of Life book in which they learned about “God’s Loving Plan” and St. Thomas Aquinas.
Language – Presented their mythical creatures this week! They also reviewed and dove deeper into dictionary skills. In spelling, we worked in Unit 3 which was themed on the silent vowel a using a, a-consonant-e, ai and ay.
Math – Fourth grade mathematicians are reviewing addition up multi-digit numbers.

Science – These scientists began planning how to engineer a collaborative 3D mythical creature.

Social Studies – Fourth grade historians reviewed the world map, seven continents, and four oceans. They also identifying all 50 states on the US map!

Specialists

Art –Collaborative Octopus Project
Students are creating shaded “suction cups” to help build a giant Pacific Northwest octopus. Each class adds one color, and together the tentacles will form a colorful octopus inspired by the color wheel.

Spanish – The Independence day of México is on September 16th, so they learned about the Mexican flag and the Mexican national anthem. Also they learned how to ask and answer the question: Where are you from? “De dónde eres tú?, soy de Costa Rica” y tú?, soy de Croacia”.

Music – This week in music, we are learning and defining tempo terms (the speed of the music). We are also reviewing rhythms with eighth notes, quarter notes, and sixteenth notes while singing Frère Jacques. Finally, we are singing Jubilate Deo in a three-part round, practicing harmony and independent part-singing.

Physical Education – We talked about how “getting out” in a game is part of the learning process that helps us improve our skills and knowledge of the game and that being a good sport means not arguing with the referee. We reviewed that a strike is a hit with control.  We practiced this playing 4 square and gaga ball.  The next two weeks the students will be participating in the fall Fitness Gram test.  

Library – We read Flat Cat.  We talked about the Washington Children’s Choice Awards; Flat Cat was the winner last year.  We also spent some time working on our typing skills and learned about the tool Classroom Cloud that we will be using this year to help students be where they need on their laptops.  Students that brought books back also had the opportunity to check out new books.

Saturday, September 20 – Harvest Festival

Tuesday-Thursday September 23-25 8:15-9:45 – MAP testing

Friday, September 26 – Mass – Dress uniform

Dear Families, September 12, 2025

It was so great to meet many of you on Wednesday evening for Curriculum Night! If you did not get a chance to come, be sure to check out my curriculum on the school’s website under fourth grade. Here is the link. If you have any questions, be sure to send me an email for quick questions or ask for a meeting for more in-depth thoughts and discussions. I look forward to continuing to get you know you as we are partners with your child.

Thank you again for the classroom gifts! We will use all of them!

Be sure to come to the Harvest Festival next Saturday, on September 20th! It will be a fun time! The DUNK TANK is coming…there may some fun teachers that will give you the opportunity to try to dunk them into the water! (If you see Fr. Moore, encourage him to sign up for a turn in the TANK!)

Next week begins the MAP testing. Homework will be held at one per night in the next two weeks, the night before the tests. Please not schedule appointments during this time. Please feed your child a good nutritious breakfast with protein for the next two Tuesdays and Thursday. They will be in the morning at 8:15-9:45 September 16, 18, 23, (probably 24) and 25. The tests will be Science, Language, Math, and Reading.

Blessings,

Paula A. Martin-Zender

Religion – Fourth Grade Theologians are learning how we learn with our “Bubblegum Brains” being flexible, coming up with goals and learning to expand our grit.
Language – We researched and created a presentation for a mythical creature this week! Students will present on Tuesday! In spelling, we began with Unit 2 which was themed on vowel- consonant-silent e.
Math – Fourth grade mathematicians dove into ordering, comparing and estimating up to six-digit numbers.

Social Studies – Fourth grade historians reviewed the world map, seven continents, and four oceans. They also identifying all 50 states on the US map!

Specialists

Art –Collaborative Octopus Project
Students are creating shaded “suction cups” to help build a giant Pacific Northwest octopus. Each class adds one color, and together the tentacles will form a colorful octopus inspired by the color wheel.

Spanish – We started Calico Level 2. This week they learned about Daily Routine: me lavo las manos (I wash my hands), me voy a la escuela (I go to school) and so on.

Music – This week in music, we aresinging Jubilate Deo in a three-part round, practicing harmony and independent part-singing. We are learning and defining tempo terms (the speed of the music). Finally, we are reviewing rhythms with eighth notes, quarter notes, and sixteenth notes while singing Frère Jacques.

Physical Education – We learned that when we win, it is okay to celebrate but not brag about it and when we lose, we congratulate the other team by saying things like good game (GG), way to go, your guys are on fire etc.  We also learned that when we get out, we need to OWN it by learning from our mistakes and getting back in the game.   We practiced this by playing games like Mushroom Ball and 4 Square. 

Monday, September 15 – Pizza Lunch!!!

Tuesday, September 16, Thursday September 18 – MAP testing

Friday, September 19 – Mass – Dress uniform

Saturday, September 20 – Harvest Festival

Dear Families, September 5, 2025

What a fabulous beginning of the new year! I have fallen in love with the all of your children! Daily they amaze me with their enthusiasm for learning, their ah-ha moments and their care for each other! If these last two weeks are an indication of this year, then we are going to have an amazing year!

Today is the first day I am sending home the Friday Folders. Please go over all of the work in the folders with your children. They will be creating a new goal for next week that they created today. They also put it on next week’s agenda goal at the top. Please check in with them next week on how they are doing. If your child is missing any work, there will be a report stapled to the goals sheet. Please help your child locate any missing work in their backpack or home and have them turn it in on Monday.

Thank you SO much for the class gifts you bought for our classroom! I’m so happy with my labeler, label ribbon, stickers, pens, etc! You are amazing!

I look forward to discussing more in detail the year on Curriculum night that starts at 6:00 pm on September 10th. I always enjoy meeting parents!

Below are a few pictures of all the fun activities we did this week. Read below for more details!

Blessings,

Paula A. Martin-Zender

Religion – Fourth Grade Theologians are learning how we want to treat each other with safety, respectfulness, and with responsibility. We learned about our “Bubblegum Brains” as well as put together a puzzle showing our gifts that is made into the initials of Jesus. We discussed in detail 1 Corinthians 12: “We are many parts but one body.”
Language – We took an assessment and picked out our book report books. A book report schedule will be handed out at Curriculum Night. We wrote a Bio-Poem about ourselves. In spelling, we began with Unit 1 which was themed on short vowel sounds.
Math – Fourth grade mathematicians are learning about place value for six or more digits.
Science – Our scientists learned how we work collaboratively by stacking cups in a group of four.

Social Studies – Fourth grade historians took a bookwalk through our Social Studies book today.

Specialists

Art –Collaborative Octopus Project
Students are creating shaded “suction cups” to help build a giant Pacific Northwest octopus. Each class adds one color, and together the tentacles will form a colorful octopus inspired by the color wheel.

Spanish – ¡Bienvenidos! We remembered some basic vocabulary and instructions like: De pie (stand up); sentados (sit down); silencio (be quiet). Also, we review important classroom rules like: Decir por favor y gracias (say please and thank you); seguir instrucciones (follow directions); escuchar (listen).

Music – This week in music class we are… Moving to a rhythm stick dance to the music of September by Earth Wind and Fire. We are practicing and reviewing music class rules and procedures. Finally, we are singing Jubilate Deo.

Physical Education – We talked about PE expectations and procedures and played team building games called Pass the Frog and The Crazy Card Challenge.

Saturday and Sunday September 6-7 – Spirit Saturday/Sunday – Go to Mass in your uniform at a Catholic church somewhere in the county and receive a Free Dress coupon from the priest after Mass!

Wednesday, September 10 – Curriculum Night – 6 pm

Saturday, September 20 – Harvest Festival – Put it on the calendar! It will be a blast for the whole family!