May 20 - I neglected to send home a notice that is time sensitive.

Extra, Extra Read All About It!
Calling all 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Journalists

Have you ever wanted to create a Hunnewell newspaper? Now is your chance.

WHO: All interested 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students

WHAT: Be the first to create a school newspaper

WHERE: Hunnewell Music Room

WHEN: Friday, May 22nd, 8:05-8:30 a.m.

WHY: Interested 4th graders asked for it and we think it’s a great idea. News writing and
reporting is fun and a great way to take pride in your community.

DETAILS: Join parent advisor at meeting to discuss and brainstorm content ideas for the newsletter.
Content may include feature stories, interviews, surveys, jokes/cartoons, recipes.

QUESTIONS: e-mail Lisa Bhatt – lebhatt@aol.com



March 29 - MCAS Dates - MCAS Gum and Hard Candy

The posted dates for grade four MCAS administration have been changed. The April 9 date has been
moved to April 13. The revised grade four test dates are as follows,

MCAS Schedule
Tuesday, March 31 Long Composition
Friday,April 3 ELA Reading Day 1
Monday, April 6 ELA Reading Day 2
Tuesday, April 7 Long Composition Make Up
Monday, April 13 ELA Reading Day 3

******************************************
MCAS Gum & Hard Candy
Gum during MCAS helps keep bodies still. Gum also helps control the fidgets. These are the
guidelines for fourth grade:

1. Students should bring their own sugar-free gum.
2. A mint flavor is encouraged because peppermint is known to clear the mind.
3. Any student chewing gum in a loud or disruptive manner will lose the privilege of chewing gum.
4. Mint Life-Saver and Jolly Rancher hard candy will be supplied by teachers to help students keep
focused.

MCAS is one exception to the Hunnewell Wellness Policy







March 25 - The posted dates for grade four MCAS administration have been changed. The April 9 date
has been moved to April 13. The revised grade four test dates are as follows,

MCAS Schedule
March 31 Long Composition
April 3 ELA Reading Day 1
April 6 ELA Reading Day 2
April 7 Long Composition Make Up
April 13 ELA Reading Day 3







March 24 - ***Please***SIGN UP FOR A CONFERENCE***Please***

Hello Parents! It's time to sign up for a Parent/Teacher/Student Conference. Please go
to our classroom web site and choose the fourth option on the navigation bar called: Spring 2009
Conferences.

Please eMail me three choices and I will rapidly reply to you a date or your choice. The schedule
will be filled on a first come first served basis.

You may also request a date and time that fits your schedule if the dates and times available do not
work.

If you would like me to work with another teacher to coordinate consecutive sibling conferences let
me know via eMail.





March 22 - Hello Parents! It's time to sign up for a Parent/Teacher/Student Conference. Please go
to our classroom web site and choose the fourth option on the navigation bar called: Spring 2009
Conferences.

Please eMail me three choices and I will rapidly reply to you a date or your choice. The schedule
will be filled on a first come first served basis.

You may also request a date and time that fits your schedule if the dates and times available do not
work.

If you would like me to work with another teacher to coordinate consecutive sibling conferences let
me know via eMail.




March 16 - Mrs. Chaff asked that you please bring your recorder to Music class on Tuesday.





February 24 - The Unit 4 Math Assessment did not go home today, as some parents may have been led to
think (by me). It will go home on Thursday, February 26.



December 18 - Due to the impending weather conditions, Friday, December 19 will be an early
dismissal following the Wednesday release schedule.



December 11 - Today our discussion naturally led into physical and learning disabilities.
Specifically, a book talk about "Rules" by Cynthia Lord, brought up autism. We discussed what it is
and the varying degrees - the spectrum. This tied in well with our Count Me in Curriculum that began
in Physical Education today. It also was a good example of a child who might get picked on while
playing outside because he or she is different then many other children. Many of the students were
able to share their personal experiences with other autistic children which added a lot to our
discussion. Tomorrow we will end our week with talking about bystanders and their role in
playground situations.



December 10 - We continued discussing playground talk today. We talked about the impression you
make on others when you use these words. Students brought up the mixed messages they get and
started listing all the places they hear these words other than the playground. We talked about the
word courage and its meaning. We discussed how some things take more courage than others to do.
Then we broke into small groups to talk about how much courage it takes to stand your ground in some
cases. Finally, we came back together and shared some of our thoughts that were talked about in the
small groups. In the end we all agreed that it is possible to combine the courage of your friends
around you to do something or say something that you might not be able to say if you thought about
doing it by yourself. On Thursday, we will talk about how we can enlist bystanders to help us
"collect courage" and use it. Every student came back to school this morning saying that they had
great conversations with their parents. I hope this message helps to continue the dialog you are
having at home in support of our conversations in school.

These are the questions students shared in small groups today:

How much COURAGE?
• Read each scenario below.
• For each scenario, talk with your partner about how much courage, on a scale of 1 to 4
(1 being the least amount of courage and 4 being the most), it would take to intervene
and do something about the situation.
• Discuss with your partner why you decided on the 1, 2, 3, or 4.

How much courage does it take to…….
1. Tell one of your friends to stop teasing a kid you don’t know very well?
2. Tell one of the popular kids to stop making fun of someone you don’t know very well?
3. Tell a bully to stop picking on someone who doesn’t have many friends?
4. Confront a group of bullies who are pushing a kid around?
5. Confront a bully who is your age and teasing a younger kid?
6. Tell your parent or a relative about someone who is bullying you?
7. Tell a teacher about someone who is bullying you?
8. Tell an older kid to stop saying mean things to someone your age?
9. Ignore someone who teases you while you are playing?
10. Say something to a girl who is picking on a boy?
11. Say something to a boy who is picking on a girl?




December 9 - Today in Open Circle we discussed words people have been hearing on the playground. In
sharing these words we learned that certain words have power and a very strong meaning. Some words
we defined since the words were being used but the definitions were not known. We discussed how
using these words makes people feel and why people choose to use these words. We discussed why
these words are inappropriate to use at school, in the classroom and on the playground. We will
continue our conversation throughout this week by discussing what it means to have courage, then how
bystanders can help to stop these words from being used. Please take some time to talk to your child
about the power of words when used in a negative way. A letter and article went home today with
specific talking points that you can use as a parent. Please let me know if you have questions.

December 7 - An important notice was not distributed on Friday. If your child in 4Si is the only
child at Hunnewell, then you may not know that Diane Redfield, after many years of contributing to
Wellesley Public Schools, has announced her retirement. Her retirement takes effect during the
December vacation. I will send home the formal announcement on Monday. Forgive me for neglecting
to send home this notice. If your were surprised to hear this from another family, I truly apologize.


Novemer 18 - Parents, originally, I told students they didn't have to bring the Time for Kids back
to school Wednesday. However, we will be using them in class on Thursday. Please send them back to
school for our work on Thursday. Students are welcome to keep them at home Wednesday night for
their reading pleasure.

November 7 - 4Si Newsletter has been posted


October 11 - I have told our class that I will be attending The Book Club on Monday, October 20,
7-8PM. I have included the specifics of the event from the calendar page of the Wellesley Free
Library. The book being discussed this month is "The Search for Delicious," by Natalie Babbit. I
have not joined this group before, but I am sure it will be fun. Please consider joining us.

Details:
Monday October 20, 2008
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Children's Room
The Reading Club book for October is The Search for Delicious by Natalie Babbit. Copies of the book
are available at the Children's Desk. The Reading Club (TRC) is a book discussion group for children
entering 4th and 5th grade with an adult. We hope you will read the book and drop in to join our
discussion!

October 4-Newsletter posted go to the newsletter tab on the navigation bar or insert this address
into your browser. http://www.teacherweb.com/MA/Hunnewell/34S/photo5.stm

September 29-I have extended the Book Club Orders I will place orders on Friday, October 3. You may
place your orders online or send in your order with a single check (total all your order forms)
attached and made out to Scholastic Book Clubs.

September 22 - Frequently Asked Questions have been Updated based on questions asked in class and on
"Back-to-School" night.

September 19 Newsletter Posted

PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE:
I have changed the homework page to an auto-delivery page, separate from this page. Please enter
your email and/or text message mobile number and extension to both the news flash and the homework
page to keep current of the happenings in 4Si. If you have already signed up for this school year,
I have already copied your address over to the modified homework page, so you do not need to
register again.