Concert Coming This Wednesday!

• The Arete Winter Concert is scheduled for this Wednesday, November 15. Concert information is reposted below.
• There will be no homework assigned this Wednesday.
• I have strongly advised the students to bring in their Biome Project by Wednesday if possible. The Thursday due date still stands, but completing it before the concert is guaranteed to reduce stress for everyone involved!

Concert information:

Our Winter Concert is fast approaching! It will be held at Higley Center for the Performing Arts in Gilbert on Wednesday, November 15th 2017.

Please note that students are expected to wear concert attire, NOT their uniforms. Gentlemen should wear a plain white collared shirt, black pants, black socks and black closed-toed shoes. Solid dark-colored vests and ties are optional for gentlemen. Ladies should wear a white top, black skirt, black tights and black closed-toe shoes.

Here are few frequently-asked-questions regarding the concert. You can direct additional questions to our music teacher, Mrs. Stephanie Kaye, at skaye@archwayarete.org.

What is the date of the concert?
Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Where is the concert?

Higley Center for the Performing Arts

4132 E. Pecos Road

Gilbert, AZ 85295

When will the concert begin?
The 3rd-5th grade concert will begin at 6:45 p.m.

What about the K-2nd grade concert?
The Kindergarten-2nd grade concert will begin at 5:30 p.m.; the 3rd-5th concert will follow immediately thereafter.

What time does my child need to be at Higley?
Fourth graders should be brought to Higley at 6:20 p.m. Teachers will chaperone the children until the concert begins.

What should my child wear to the concert?
Please see above.

Will my child be able to bring food to the concert? Will food be served?
No food will be permitted after call time or during the concert.

This Week in Class: Monday, Nov. 13 - Friday, Nov. 17

This week in class:

History: This week in history, students will close out the Middle Ages unit with the study of Joan of Arc and relevant literature, as well as learning about the Black Death and the role it played in Europe toward the end of the Middle Ages. Students will take a test next Friday on chapters 17-21, for which they have the study guides. (We will finish completing them in class next week.) Next week (beginning Monday, Nov. 24), students will begin the unit on Arizona history.

Science: We'll move forward in our meteorology unit, focusing on cloud formation and the earth's atmosphere. We'll conduct a demonstration to model how clouds formulate and complete a foldable about the different types of clouds. 

Language Arts: Students will continue reading about Robin Hood, his merry men, and the adventures they encounter. Is Maid Marian his true love? We will find out! In grammar, students will master pronouns and the “understood” you, followed by conjunctions. Spalding will bring more words and more markings.

Math: Students will continue working on fractions. There will be nightly homework.

European Country Project

Your child should have brought home information for a project on the countries of Europe. This is an extensive project that will require many hours to complete. It consists of six parts- a tri-fold board, a project packet, a 3-paragraph essay, the 3-5 minute presentation, a visual aid, and a reflection paragraph. There will be a copy for you to keep as well.

The research guide explains, in detail, all of the facets of the project.

The fourth grade team realizes that the Biome Project is still being completed, but we wanted students to have the benefit of an extra weekend to potentially begin work on this major project. This is especially true for gathering the needed books. We also wanted the due date to be before the last weekend before the holidays, as many of you will need that weekend to prepare for trips, incoming guests, or your own vacations. Originally the Biome Project was due this Thursday, but we felt an additional week would be helpful. The overlap is purposeful, but in a helpful way. The thought is the more time for each, the better. And, to reiterate, the Biome Project is not meant to be a major undertaking.

It has been tradition, at other academies, to assign this as a "Winter Break" project, normally assigned the Friday before break, and due the day back. We have always found that to be unfair. This year, we are allowing students more time to complete the project than we have in years past. The project is due Thursday, December 14th. This allows students five full weeks, and five full weekends to complete the project. There will be in-class work days as well.

Your child should have received the following:

-Project packet

-Project timeline- this is not a mandatory due date list. This is simply a guide.

-Poster requirement sheet- This lays out the requirements for the poster portion of the project.

One of the requirements is that students choose one of these three things:

-dress up in clothes native to their country.

-make food from that country.

-create an architectural model or model of a landmark from that country.

 hey may do more than one, but must do one minimally. Please remember that students are responsible for the safe-keeping of all materials during the five-week period.

Mr. Posner tells me he has seen some crazy, elaborate projects, e.g., Eiffel Towers with mechanical parts, lights, and moving people; a Tower of London, complete with moving clock parts. These were amazing, but....obviously not created by a 10-year-old. While I expect parental assistance and guidance, there is something to be said for work mostly completed by the student. I simply do not want you, as parents, to feel as though you have a project to complete.

Project presentation day is Friday, December 15th. I will send out the presentation schedule at a later date. Parents are welcome, and encouraged, to come in and watch their child present.

Thank you, and as always, please contact me with any questions you have once you see the information.

Upcoming Tests, Quizzes, and Projects

Math Test (originally scheduled for Thursday, November 9 but postponed to allow for additional practice): Monday, November 13

Grammar Test: Wednesday, November 15

Science Quiz: Thursday, November 16

Biome Project due Thursday, November 16

Math Test: Friday, November 17

History Test: Friday, November 17

Spalding Test (Week 5 words): Friday, November 17

European Country Project due: Thursday, December 14

Winter Concert on November 15 -- Please save the date!

Our Winter Concert is fast approaching! It will be held at Higley Center for the Performing Arts in Gilbert on Wednesday, November 15th 2017.

Please note that students are expected to wear concert attire, NOT their uniforms. Gentlemen should wear a plain white collard shirt, black pants, black socks and black closed-toed shoes. Solid dark-colored vests and ties are optional for gentlemen. Ladies should wear a white top, black skirt, black tights and black closed-toed shoes.

Here are few frequently-asked-questions regarding the concert. You can direct additional questions to our music teacher, Mrs. Stephanie Kaye, at skaye@archwayarete.org.

What is the date of the concert?
Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Where is the concert?

Higley Center for the Performing Arts

4132 E. Pecos Road

Gilbert, AZ 85295

When will the concert begin?
The 3rd-5th grade concert will begin at 6:45 p.m.

What about the K-2nd grade concert?
The Kindergarten-2nd grade concert will begin at 5:30 p.m.; the 3rd-5th concert will follow immediately thereafter.

What time does my child need to be at Higley?
Fourth graders should be brought to Higley at 6:20 p.m. Teachers will chaperone the children until the concert begins.

What should my child wear to the concert?
Please see above.

Will my child be able to bring food to the concert? Will food be served?
No food will be permitted after call time or during the concert. Please plan accordingly.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Biome Project Instructions (this sheet was sent home last week)

Pie pan has lost its home!

Hello families -- can anyone identify this orphaned pie pan, left in Mr. Posner's room after our Read-A-Thon festivities last Wednesday?

I'd like to return it to its rightful home!

Please let me know by email, thanks.

MK