Updated:  10/20/08  Please send back signed midterms sent home last Wednesday before the  break.  We are having some trouble with certain e-mails, coming back as undeliverable.  If you don't hear back from me within a day, please write a note in your child's assignment notebook, or leave a message with Tonya Moon, our secretary.  Test 4 in math is tomorrow, practice test 4 due tomorrow.  Pumpkin Math is this Thursday.  Please have your child bring a pumpkin about 4 - 5" in diameter by Thursday.  Once we're finished using them for math, we'll paint/decorate and walk over to the Pines residence on Halloween.  More about that later this week.  I'll send permission slips soon.  We had a great time at Children's Theatre.  It was a long production, but very entertaining.  Please send in Marathon Pledge $.  Scholastic Book orders are due this Friday.  Have a great week!

Updated:  9/22/08 Please send back completed A.R. contracts or other misc. papers given at curriculum night last week.  If you were unable to attend, your child was given a folder with the information we discussed and papers inside to fill out and return.  This Thursday, 9/25, we will walk to Woodlake Nature Center.  Field trip permission slips went home on Friday - the $10.00 charge is for all three of our field trips there.  Please feel free to join us - we'll leave here at 11:35 and you may meet us there or walk over with us. No school this Friday - teacher workshop.  St. Peter's Fall Festival is this weekend.  Have a good week.

Updated: 9/8/08 Welcome back to School! We had a great first week and the students adjusted quite well to their new grade and busy schedule. Thanks to all of you who promptly sent back paper work and forms. It seems overwhelming initially - hang in there. Our upcoming field trip to Children's Theatre on Oct. 14th will be a lot of fun. We'll see "Madeline and the Gypsies. Permission slips went home last Friday and are due on Sept. 15. Please indicate if you'd like to chaperone. Please e-mail me at ArmbrustP@btcsmn.org if you have concerns or questions rather than using schoolnotes e-mail to correspond. Thanks and have a great week.











Updated: 5/30 - What a busy week we had! Our flower sale was very successful - total to be announced soon.

A BIG thanks to Sue Burlage, Joan Johnston, Mary Rooney, Gloria Perez for their help with selling flowers and hauling them back & forth. We are very grateful. Spelling Bee - Nick Collins, Gr. 5 won the overall Bee between 4th & 5th grade. Congratulations to him and all the students who participated, and were good sports. Please return signed permission slips for Augsburg Park. We'll be going on our last day, June 5. Report cards will be sent home w/students on Thursday.

If you want your child's Power Point presentation e-mailed home, or Language/Science projects e-mailed home (and have Power Point on your home computer) let us know and we'll send it to you. They're doing a great job and have some wonderful projects to show for all their hard work. Have a great weekend!





Updated: 5/22 - Last test 23 for math next Friday, May 30. Spelling Bee w/5th grade, next Thursday. Parents welcome. More details will be on classroom newsletter. Selling flowers next Wednesday at the 3 parishes. Still need parent helpers, please.

Field Trip to Augsburg on Thursday, June 5- perm slip home soon. Last day of School - June 5. 5/28 Spring Concert @ Penn, 5/29 end of year family picnic. Look for details in weekly newsletter. Could use another crew of parent volunteers to give the bathroom its second coat. E-mail me if you're willing/interested. (next tues/wed - painting?) Book orders due tomorrow. Yearbooks passed out next Friday. Memorial day, Monday. Have a great weekend! (Round 2 of painting, second coat, next Tues or Wed.) Thanks!!





Updated: 5/16: Spelling Bee - written test (20 words) on Monday, 5/19. Wednesday, 5/21 I'll be painting the main floor bathroom and am asking for parent volunteers to help. We'll start at 2:30. If you have an extra roller to bring, that would be great. Math test 22 next Friday, May 23. Practice test due. Next Thursday, May 22 MW states and capitals quiz. Students have study guides. All library books due next Thursday, 5/22. Nicollet Field Day on Friday, May 23. Math-a-Thon prizes should arrive soon! Book orders due next Friday, 5/23. Have a great weekend!



Updated: 5/9 - Test 21/math - Wednesday, 5/14. Practice test due also. 5/12 - Language note cards due for Mrs. Kalbfell. 5/13 - Mallory's birthday - Laura's on the 14th. 5/15 - Science test flashcards home - Woodlake Nature Center field trip - leave @ 11:35 - 2:00. Already have permission slips from Sept. Friday - 5/16 - James & the Giant Peach vocab. test. Study guide home today. (Multiple choice - 20 words, 100 pts. Next week we'll be painting our clay pots for our flower sale. Plans are for the last week in May - (Wed & Thurs of that week). More details to come. Math-a-Thon tee shirts/prizes should be here in a wk or so. Students may wear them instead of uniform shirts. 5/16 - Wizard of Oz 8th grade play. 9:00 day performance @ AHA. Have a great weekend!



Updated: 5/2 - Test 20/math - Tuesday, 5/6 - Practice test due. Reminder for Friday's open gym night for all 4th grade girls - 6-8pm.

At this winter's sno-ball auction - the Amundson family bid for Mr. Miller's time in hosting a girls only open gym night!

Mr. Miller promises a great night of fun gym activities for the girls!

If possible, please email or call Keri Amundson to let her know if you are able to attend so they know how many are coming.

keri.amundson@target.com 952.346.5489

Thank you!





Updated: 4/24 - Test 19/math today - results home tomorrow. Please return the surveys we sent home last week for next year's parents. Thanks for your help & input.

Midterms go home tomorrow. Please sign & return next week. An A.R. printout will be attached. Let me know if you have questions. Next Tuesday-Thursday, I will be at St. Thomas More school in St. Paul on an accreditation team. Mrs. Kelly will be substituting. Math-a-Thon booklets/pledges due on 4/30. 4th graders went out on Earth Day and picked up all the garbage we could find on the grounds. They did a great job and our campus looks good. We made Earth Day cards for our buddies. We discussed what we can do to make a difference on our planet. Our marigolds are sprouting and we'll be painting our clay pots in the next two weeks.

Social studies - going to be doing a Power Point for the Midwest, working in partners.

Reading - we're reading James & the Giant Peach and are about 1/2 way through. We'll watch the movie upon completion.

Have a good weekend!









Updated: 4/18 - Today we're sending home a sheet for you to fill out to aide 3rd grade parents who are moving to 4th next year with the transition. We would greatly appreciate your input. Please return with your child as soon as you can. Thanks!!

Earth day activities are currently being done - clean up the playground next Tuesday, 4/22 (earth day). Additionally, students will be decorating grocery bags to be used at Rainbow, Cub and other local groceries. Students are making earth day cards for their kindergarten and 8th grade buddies. Talk at home about how each of us can make a difference by doing small things that matter.

Be sure to read the school newsletter going home today - lots of info and dates for upcoming events. Also check out the back of our classroom newsletter about a research project for Science. Math Test 19 & practice test due next Thursday, 4/24. 3rd Trimester midterm is 4/22. Midterm reports will go home next week along w/an AR report. Have a good weekend! Go Wild!



Updated: 4/9 If you have playing cards at home, please bring them to school for math games. Don't go buy them, we can share. Picture $ or pics were due on Monday, 4/7. Please return either as soon as possible.

Our marigolds are now planted - thanks to all of you for sending in the potting materials. Math test 18 will be next week - probably on Wednesday, 4/16. We spent 3 days with investigation 9, so we're a little behind. Our Asian Fair begins tomorrow. 4th grade chose Sri Lanka to study. Mrs. Abeywardene, Shanelle's mother (4K) is presenting a power point presentation today. Their family is from Sri Lanka originally so we'll hear first hand about their culture!

Happy Wednesday - SNOW - the other 4 letter word.







Updated: 3/25 Math test 16 today - also watched part of a DVD of Emily Keis' grandfather who spoke about his days as a sailor and survivor at Pearl Harbor. It was a great follow up on our classroom play we did about the incident. We also watched a 10 minute DVD about the upcoming Math-a-thon. More info to come home later. Mrs. Kalbfell will be giving service hours for this and I will give every 4th grade student a pledge of $5.00 if they complete the entire book or CD as long as they get one additional $5.00 pledge. Though this is completely optional, it's really a great cause. All money goes to St. Jude's for seriously ill children. Thank you for all you do. Have a good week.





Updated: 3/13 Practice test home today (16) due 3/25.

Please return A.R. contracts if you have not done so. Art Adventure - 3/27. Language review due 3/28. Those will be sent home on 3/27. Mass at Assumption on 3/26.

(12:15) Have a wonderful Easter. Let's hope for continued warmth and sunshine.



Updated: 3/7 Report cards home today - new A.R. contracts included - please sign & return envelope w/new contracts. Conferences on 3/10 & 3/11. Tues, 3/11 - Art Adventure.. 3/12 - Mass - Nicollet - 12:15. 3/13 Art Adventure and Practice test 16/math - due 3/25. No School on 3/14. Lots of 4th grade birthdays coming up! Have a great weekend!



Updated: 2/29 - End of Tri. 2.

3/3 No School - teacher workshop. 3/5-Penance Service -9:30 for 4th graders. Test 15 Math & Pr. Test Due on 3/5. 3/6 - Soc St. Quiz - Location of SE & SW states. Capitals will not be tested at this time. Students have study guides in their notebooks.

3/7 - Spirit Day and Report Cards home today. Please sign envelope and return. New AR contracts need to be returned for 3rd tri also. They will go home on 3/7. Have a great weekend.



Updated: 2/15

2/18 - No School. 2/20 - Mass @ St. Richard's, Book Orders Due on 2/20. Practice Test 14 home on 2/21 - Due on 2/25. Trumpet Dioramas due on 2/27. Info went home in student planners last week. Vocab test for ch. 9-13 next Friday, 2/22. Study guide home today on back of class newsletter. Spring conferences are optional - sheets home today. Unless it's marked, "teacher requests" on it, it's your choice. Ask your child in 4A about our candle lit valentine's party in the hall!

:) Have a good weekend.





Updated: 2/8 Math practice tests home today - due Tues., 2/12. Test 13 on 2/12. Red/White/Pink day on 2/14. Jeans okay. We'll have a valentine party. Class lists will be sent home today if students want to make cards for each other. Vocab test on Friday, 2/15. Chapters 5-8 - Study Guide on back of class newsletter home today. Information about dioramas stapled in student planners. These will be due on 2/27 (Wed). Butter braid fund raiser - please continue to send in orders. Thanks to our parent volunteers for organizing this! Have a good weekend.



Updated: 2/1 We had a fun week - lots of activities. Today students took math test 12 - will send home on Monday. Still waiting for some signed midterms - please return them if you haven't done so. Reminder about this Sunday's "Pack the Pews" at Assumption masses. Students who go and wear their BT sweatshirts will receive a non-uniform pass. Next week we will have another 5 minute timed test on multiplication facts. Please have your child practice. We are working on long division and it's very difficult for those who still don't know their facts. We are about 1/3 of the way through with "The Trumpet of the Swan". I'm hoping we finish by the end of the tri as it's on Accelerated Reader and worth 6 points. We worked hard on decorating our classroom door for the school contest. Kids did a great job. Judging is this afternoon, I believe. We'll also be making dioramas for The Trumpet of the Swan - save those shoe boxes, please. Thanks to those of you donated items for our Italian baskets. Joan Johnston and Sue Burlage put them together for the Sno-Ball. They're great! Thank you!

Sno-Ball is this weekend at Assumption - starts at 6:00 - 10:00. Finally, thanks for your help with the ski trip. We had a great time!



Updated 1/18 - Mid terms posted online today - also hard copy in student's planner. Quiz next Wed. on ch 1-4 vocabulary - Trumpet of the Swan. Study guide home today - it's attached to the 4th gr newsletter.

Have a good weekend. (stay warm?) Read 1/13 entry if you have not done so. Thanks



Updated 1/13

Happy New Year! 1/15 Practice Test 11 due. Test that day too. Tuesday, Jan. 22 we'll be going to Woodlake Nature Center for the "Keeping Warm" activity/experiments. No perm. slip or money needed - you filled out perm. slip for all year in Sept. (and sent $10.00 for costs)



Perm. slips for ski trip due 1/22 - all chaperones welcome. Info went home last Friday.



Sno-ball 2/5 - Grade 4's theme for the silent auction basket is "That's Italian" If possible, please send something for the basket related to our theme.



Our second set of Learnia tests for Reading and Math are in the works.



No School this Monday, 1/21. MLKing Jr. Holiday. Teachers will be on a retreat.



Catholic Schools Week - kick off is 1/25 with our ski trip. 1/28 - 2/1 promises to be a fun-filled week with many activities planned. Detailed info soon to be sent home.



Midterms will be posted/sent home this Friday, Jan. 18



Have a good week!





12/21 Update: No homework over Christmas break, though

I encourage all students to study times tables and read for Accelerated Reader.



Thanks for all the canned goods sent in for MN food shelves and donations for the poor. We are very blessed in this country and it's important to help out when we can.



The Christmas program was wonderful. We have a wonderful group of singers and actors this year.



Ski trip info will be sent home after Christmas.



Peace and Merry Christmas to all!



12/14 Updated: Monday, 12/17 test 9, Math. Practice test due also on that day. 12/20 is the 12:15 performance of 4th/5th grade play. Evening performance - students may go directly to church.

Still collecting supplies for Advent Service Project - thanks for sending them in.

12/21 4th grade Christmas Party - Red & Green Day for all - no uniforms. (my classroom computer is on the blink, but should be repaired soon) I can access info from other computers. Have a great weekend. "Paws"



11/19 Updated:

Have a great holiday weekend - Happy Thanksgiving!





Please return report card envelopes and Accelerated Reader contracts for 2nd Tri.





4A has 30 Magazine orders. Thank you!



Math Test 7 on Tuesday, 11/20 Practice due 11/20 for extra credit (parent signature required)



Holy Angels Production......we will be seeing "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" on November 30. More details to come later.



Children's Theatre - We'll be seeing "A Year with Frog & Toad" on November 29. Play begins at 10:30 and cost is $14.



Our field trip to the Pines was great. The students were very well behaved, sang like angels, and the seniors really enjoyed our nice kids and their pumpkins. Thanks to parent helpers who drove pumpkins over or walked with us to the Pines.



Please add the BTCS Buck Hill ski trip to your calendars. This date is now confirmed and the 4th-8th graders, along with parent chaperones, will be going on Friday, January 25th.





If you have any questions or concerns throughout the year, please e-mail me at: ArmbrustP@btcsmn.org.



Thank you,



Patty Armbrust