Updates: Week 31

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog.  There is a lot of important information in this post. As always, please let us know if you have any questions. 

Important Announcements

Field Trip

• As you know, we will be going to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History on May 18th. 
• Please click this link for more information regarding our field trip. Please let us know if you have any questions regarding our trip. 

STAAR Testing

• We will take our Math STAAR on May 9th and Reading STAAR May 10th. 

Spring Conferences

• We do not get a designated day for spring conferences like we do in the fall, but we will be able to offer conference times (either face to face or via phone/email) to those that are interested. 
• We sent home conference interest forms last week, and we requested that they be returned by Monday, April 18th. However, due to the fact that we received so few of them back, we've extended the deadline to Tuesday, April 19th. Even if you are not interested in a conference, please let us know because we want to be sure we've given everyone a chance to have a conference. Thank you for your help & support with this. 

Engineering Extravaganza 

• Our annual Engineering Extravaganza will be this Thursday, April 21st from 5:30-7:00. Our TCE teachers will be leading a variety of stations that highlight different engineering skills and tasks. We think it will be a lot of fun, and we hope you and your family can make it. 

Upcoming Dates

• Thursday, April 21 - Engineering Extravaganza 
• Friday, April 22 - Spring Spirit Run
• Friday, April 29th - Holiday Coupon: A Picnic Outside for Lunch
• Friday, May 6th - Mother's Day Marathon
• Monday, May 9th - Math STAAR
• Tuesday, May 10th -  Reading STAAR
• Friday, May 20th - Field Day
• Tuesday, May 24th - Recorder Concert (AM and PM) 
• Thursday, May 26th - Holiday Coupon: A Movie & Popcorn

Character Education
The citizenship quality for April is Effort. 

Each week, Town Center focuses on one life principle, or guiding character quality. The life principles for each week are discussed on the morning announcements and will be posted on our agendas. 

What are we learning?
Math & Science

In math, the learners are investigating the different parts of lines, types of angles, and how these relate to the geometric shapes. 

In science, the learners are participating in an engineering experience where they get to work collaboratively to create a hot air balloon. They will be investigating the different parts of ecosystems. 

Language & Literacy

In reading, we will focus on nonfiction texts this week. Learners will be able to choose from a variety of nonfiction passages based on their interests. 

Social Studies

In social studies, we are wrapping up our study of the Texas Revolution. The learners created word clouds to demonstrate what they've learned about various vocabulary terms. Ask your learner about the different Mind Missions they've participated in during this unit.  They've designed rain protection devises, toys, and disguises! 
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Thank you, again, for taking the time to read our blog. We are looking forward to another great week with our fourth graders! 

Updates: Week 29

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog.  There is a lot of important information in this post. As always, please let us know if you have any questions. 

Important Announcements

Field Trip

• As you know, we will be going to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History on May 18th. As a reminder, all field trip permission slips and money were due Friday, April 1st. This includes chaperone money and forms. If you have not turned in these items, please do so as quickly as possible. If you are unable to return these items for any reason, please email your child's teacher. 
• Please click this link for more information regarding our field trip. Please let us know if you have any questions regarding our trip. 

STAAR Testing

• Our first round of STAAR testing was successful. The kids completed their writing tests and everything went smoothly. Thank you to PTO for providing our snacks. 
• We will take our Math STAAR on May 9th and Reading STAAR May 10th. 

Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast - April 7th

• We are so fortunate to have many parent volunteers at Town Center, and we are abundantly grateful. As a token of our appreciation, we'd like to invite all of our volunteers to our annual Appreciation Breakfast on April 7th. If the image doesn't show below, you can click this link to see the invitation. We hope you're able to make it! 

Texan Town 

• Our last session of Texan Town will start on Friday, April 8th. 

•  As always, l
  

  earners can purchase a popcorn subscription for $2.50, which will cover the cost of popcorn for 5 weeks of Texan Town, or they 

  can purchase weekly for $.50 a bag. 
  
  
• The dates for the last session of Texan Town will be 
  

  April 8, 15, 22, and 

  
  

  May 6, 13.

Spring Conferences

• We do not get a designated day for spring conferences like we do in the fall, but we will be able to offer conference times (either face to face or via phone/email) to those that are interested. 
• We will be sharing information regarding spring conferences this week. Be on the look out for a handout!  

Upcoming Dates

• Thursday, April 7 - Volunteer Breakfast 
• Friday, April 15 - TCE Hoedown
• Thursday, April 21 - Engineering Extravaganza (More Info to Come)
• Friday, April 22 - Spring Spirit Run
• Friday, April 29th - Holiday Coupon: A Picnic Outside for Lunch
• Friday, May 6th - Mother's Day Marathon
• Monday, May 9th - Math STAAR
• Tuesday, May 10th -  Reading STAAR
• Friday, May 20th - Field Day
• Tuesday, May 24th - Recorder Concert (AM and PM) 
• Thursday, May 26th - Holiday Coupon: A Movie & Popcorn

Character Education
The citizenship quality for April is Effort. 

Each week, Town Center focuses on one life principle, or guiding character quality. The life principles for each week are discussed on the morning announcements and will be posted on our agendas. 

What are we learning?
Math & Science

In math the learners are finishing up our unit over measurement. We will be taking a test at the end of this week covering area and perimeter, relative size of measurement within the customary and metric systems, and measurement conversions. 

*NEW MATH WEBSITES*
The learners were introduced to two new Math websites that they can use at school, as well as at home. The websites are listed below:
Prodigy- prodigygame.com/play
Khan Academy- khanacademy.org

In science we have started our new unit in life science, beginning with energy in ecosystems. The learners will be exploring how living organisms within an ecosystem interact with one another.

Language & Literacy

In reading, we will continue to focus on comparing and contrasting texts by analyzing the main ideas, points of view, authors' purposes, and text structures. We will also continue to focus on thinking critically and analytically about various texts. 

Social Studies

In social studies, we are continuing our study of the Texas Revolution. Throughout our study of the various battles in the Revolution, learners will be thinking about the following big questions: 

How does the past shape our present and future? 
Could the Revolution have been avoided? 
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Thank you, again, for taking the time to read our blog. We are looking forward to another great week with our fourth graders!