Dear FAmilies,

We hope that your unexpected time off on Friday was relaxing and that you had time to play in the snow with your family. Here are some updates for the week:

Invention Convention: Student Contracts (p.8 of packet) were due last Friday. Many students have already turned them in, but please be sure to send them in tomorrow if you can. Patent Applications (p.9-10 of packet) were originally due this Wednesday, but due to the snow days, I will accept them on Thursday as well.

Students did some brainstorming in class and came up with myriad problems to solve. We talked about what would make their lives – or the lives of friends and family – easier. What would make getting ready for school easier? What would help with chores? What would help with sports you play? Hobbies? The possibilities are endless!

• How can you remember to feed your pet?
• Do you feed your pet too much or too little?
• What do you do about muddy paws?
• What can you do to organize sports gear?
• Can you keep your fingers from getting blistered and calloused when learning to play the guitar?
• Do you use too much or too little shampoo?
• Are you bored with all of your board games?

As always, I look forward to seeing the students’ ideas.

Wordly Wise: Test on Lesson 16 on Tuesday.

Book Projects: Students should be about halfway finished with their fantasy novel. If your child is having difficulty, please let his or her homeroom teacher know. The book should be completed by Friday and the first project is due next Friday, February 2.

Upcoming Events and Dates to Remember:

1/19 – Invention Convention student contract due (page 8 of packet) – Please turn in Monday, January 22
1/22 – Ned’s Mindset Mission Assembly
1/24 – Invention Convention patent application due (pages 9 and 10 of packet) – Will accept Thursday, January 25 as well
1/26 – Students should complete reading fantasy novel by this time
2/2 – Fantasy book project #1 due
2/9 – Fantasy book project #2 due, AND
2/9 – Invention Convention progress report due (page 11 of packet)
2/13 – Trifold display board due
2/19 – Student Holiday/Teacher Work Day
2/26 – 3/1 – Winter Break
3/4 – Completed inventions due to FA
3/6 – Invention Convention, MS MPR, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Your fourth grade team,
Michelle and Bill