Month: February 2026

February 20, 2026

Dear Families,

Happy Lent! We have begun Lent with Ash Wednesday being mindful of Prayer, Almsgiving and Fasting, the three tiers of Lenten observances. Based on that, we have come up with personal “Spirit” goals. Since the New Year, we had goals on the “Mind.” After Lent, our focus for our personal goals with the Body. ACS education for the Mind, Body and Spirit!

I have medical procedure that has been planned for awhile on Wednesday, February 25th and will be out for a week. It is nothing serious. I just wanted to let you, as parents, know. Mrs. Eusabio and Mrs. Mura will be my two substitutes while I am gone. I have no doubt that my students will be on-target for those experienced professionals. My emails will be limited during that time. I will be back to teaching on Wednesday, March 4th. Thank you for your support on this.

I would love to have someone come into my classroom and do some filling and a few other things weekly on Friday morning or just before school gets out on Thursday. Please let me know if you are interested.

WHATCOM MATH COMPETITION – Assumption has been invited to participate in a math competition hosted by Franklin Academy. We hope to form a team of students in grades 3–5 to compete on Saturday, March 21st. At this time, we are looking for one or two parent volunteers to help lead and support this enthusiastic group of young mathematicians. Assumption will provide you with a room, materials, and ideally the group will meet at least once a week after school until March 21st. If you are interested in leading this, please reach out to Bev Williams at bwilliams@assumption.school by Wednesday, February 18th. More information will come home for participants once we figure out if we have a team leader. 

Blessings,

Paula A. Martin-Zender

Religion – Fourth Grade Theologians dove into Lent and Ash Wednesday this week.
Language – We continued working in small groups for reading having each group focus on a different book. They are practicing staying focused and getting the work during class done or it becomes homework. The four books are: The Battle of the Castle, The War with Grandpa, Frindle and Sarah, Plain and Tall. For writing, they are finishing their Salmon stories! Spelling focused on Unit 20 which was on the -er and -or endings. Everything in spelling will be in cursive for the rest of the year! I am picky, yet your children are meeting the high expectations! Thank you for your support on this!
Math – Fourth grade mathematicians are working with factors and multiples. We had fun learning about prime and composite. We filled out a Sieve of Erotosthenes. Finally we worked with patterns.

Science – These scientists began a unit on sound and sound waves.

Social Studies – We learned about how the transcontinental railroad changed Washington (and the rest of the United States) as we are learning about how Washington became a state.

Specialists

Art – Students finished their bottle compositions by adding details to show texture and movement. They also explored the difference between 2D and 3D forms in their artwork.

Spanish –  We review vocabulary about Miércoles de Ceniza y Cuaresma -Ash Wednesday and Lent-, such as: orar, ayunar, dar, morado, 40 días, cambio, camino -to pray, to fast, to give, purple, 40 days, change, journey-.

The students are going to have a test about family members on Tuesday, February 24th. On Monday they will take home the worksheet where they will study for the exam.

Music -This week in music we are…learning how to read TAB notation on the ukulele, an alternative note-reading system used for string instruments. We are practicing playing together on one unified beat and reviewing the open string names of the ukulele. We are also playing the rhythm game King of the Mountain to build quick rhythmic thinking and accuracy.

Physical Education – We learned all 8 of the basic jump rope skills: single bounce, double bounce, bell, skier, hop, jogger, rocker and backwards.  We practiced these skills while jumping in the Endurance challenge and Thunderstick.  

Library – We read about We Are Definitely Human together in class.  February is kindness month, this book and all the others we read during our group times will discuss how we treat others.  We also helped contribute to our “kindness board” in the hallway by sharing different kind things that others have done for us by writing them down.

Tuesday, February 24 – Spanish Class Test

Saturday, March 7 – Auction – Buy your tickets!

Thursday, March 12 – Next book report is due – written book report – written at school

Friday, March 20 – Our Mass 8:15

Monday-Wednesday March 23-25 – Accreditation Team is visiting our school!

Tuesday, March 31 – All-day field trip to Museum of Flight – get those permission slips in!

February 13, 2026

Dear Families,

Happy Valentine’s Day! We enjoyed a wonderful party today! Thank you to the room moms once again: Tori and Elodie! You are amazing! We also spent a half hour with our Pre-K buddies today to celebrate Valentine’s Day with them! Enjoy the pictures below!

I would love to have someone come into my classroom and do some filling and a few other things weekly on Friday morning or just before school gets out on Thursday. Please let me know if you are interested.

WHATCOM MATH COMPETITION – Assumption has been invited to participate in a math competition hosted by Franklin Academy. We hope to form a team of students in grades 3–5 to compete on Saturday, March 21st. At this time, we are looking for one or two parent volunteers to help lead and support this enthusiastic group of young mathematicians. Assumption will provide you with a room, materials, and ideally the group will meet at least once a week after school until March 21st. If you are interested in leading this, please reach out to Bev Williams at bwilliams@assumption.school by Wednesday, February 18th. More information will come home for participants once we figure out if we have a team leader. 

We wrapped up our book reports this week and picked new books! We also are wrapping up our Salmon Stories! We worked hard on them!

Blessings,

Paula A. Martin-Zender

Religion – Fourth Grade Theologians dove into Moses and the Ten Commandments. We discussed the name God gave for himself to Moses: I Am Who I Am.
Language – We continued working in small groups for reading having each group focus on a different book. They are practicing staying focused and getting the work during class done or it becomes homework. The four books are: The Battle of the Castle, The War with Grandpa, Frindle and Sarah, Plain and Tall. For writing, they are finishing their Salmon stories! Spelling focused on Unit 19 which was on the -le and -en endings. Everything in spelling will be in cursive for the rest of the year! I am picky, yet your children are meeting the high expectations! Thank you for your support on this!
Math – Fourth grade mathematicians began exploring factors. We had fun learning all the rules for divisibility and making Venn diagrams and Factor trees!

Science – These scientists are finishing up their stories about the salmon life cycle as a narrative.

Social Studies – We reviewed about Lewis and Clark. Then we discussed the settlers of Washington. It began its way to statehood by being the Oregon Territory and then the Washington Territory.

Specialists

Art – Students finished their bottle compositions by adding details to show texture and movement. They also explored the difference between 2D and 3D forms in their artwork.

Spanish –  Continuing with family members vocabulary, they learned how to respond when someone asks them, ¿Cómo se llama MI mamá? -What is MY mom’s name?, the answer is: TU mamá se llama______ -YOUR mom’s name is______-.
Physical Education – This week we reviewed basic jump rope skills and learned four intermediate jump rope skills. Participated in the Endurance Challenge and Thunder Stick.

Music -This week in music we are…learning how to read TAB notation on the ukulele, an alternative note-reading system used for string instruments. We are practicing playing together on one unified beat and reviewing the open string names of the ukulele. We are also playing the rhythm game King of the Mountain to build quick rhythmic thinking and accuracy.

Library – We read about We Are Definitely Human together in class.  February is kindness month, this book and all the others we read during our group times will discuss how we treat others.  We also helped contribute to our “kindness board” in the hallway by sharing different kind things that others have done for us by writing them down.

Monday, February 16 – President’s Day – No school

Wednesday, February 18 – Ash Wednesday – Holy Day of Obligation – Dress uniform

Thursday, March 12 – Next book report is due – written book report – written at school

Friday, March 20 – Our Mass 8:15

Monday-Wednesday March 23-25 – Accreditation Team is visiting our school!

Tuesday, March 31 – All-day field trip to Museum of Flight – get those permission slips in!

February 5, 2026

Dear Families,

It was nice to get back to a “normal week,” although a shorter one. Some students have finally completed their very creative Salmon Story. Others are plugging away at it. I think you will find them quite enduring!

We will be celebrating Valentine’s Day on Friday. I sent home a list of all students in your child’s Friday Folder. Please use that to make sure that all students have a home-made card by your child or a store-bought one. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Blessings,

Paula A. Martin-Zender

Religion – Fourth Grade Theologians finished and took a test on the Holy Trinity. They began study on Moses. Next week, we will dive into the Ten Commandments.
Language – We continued working in small groups for reading having each group focus on a different book. They are practicing staying focused and getting the work during class done or it becomes homework. The four books are: The Battle of the Castle, The War with Grandpa, Frindle and Sarah, Plain and Tall. For writing, they are writing their Salmon story helping with editing and her expertise! Spelling focused on reviewing Units 13-17.
Math – Fourth grade mathematicians dove deeper into perimeter and area for various squares and rectangles. They used formulas to find the missing measurements and worked on three-step problem solving.

Science – These scientists are writing about the salmon life cycle as a narrative.

Social Studies – Reviewed the first two lessons from “How Washington Became a State.”

Specialists

Art – The students worked on creating unity in their compositions by repeating colors, shapes, and patterns. They learned how different elements can work together to make their artwork feel connected and complete.

Spanish –  They learned how to ask and answer question about family members, for example: ¿Cómo se llama tu abuela?, mi abuela se llama Teresa, -what is your grandmother’s name?, my grandmother’s name is Teresa-.

Physical Education – This week in PE we played an invasion game called Capture the Flag.  The students worked on teamwork, strategy, chasing, and fleeing.  Next week we will start our jump rope unit for the 3^rd and 4^th graders and volleyball for the 5^th graders.  

Music -This week in music we are practicing playing together to a steady beat, focusing on ensemble awareness when many students are playing at once. We are doing an active listening activity with Gigue from Partita No. 1, identifying dynamics, instruments, and whether beats are grouped in twos or threes. Finally, we are learning the string names on the ukulele and using the song Green Cats Eat Ants to help memorize them.

Library – We read about We Are Definitely Human together in class.  February is kindness month, this book and all the others we read during our group times will discuss how we treat others.  We also helped contribute to our “kindness board” in the hallway by sharing different kind things that others have done for us by writing them down.

Friday, February 6 – Regional Professional Development for Teachers – No school

Sunday, February 8 – Spirit Weekend

Monday, February 16 – President’s Day – No school

Wednesday, February 18 – Ash Wednesday – Holy Day of Obligation – Dress uniform

Tuesday, March 31 – All-day field trip to Museum of Flight – get those permission slips in!