WOH, Tuesday November 19, 2024
What We Love About Fourth Grade by Jennifer Neafcy, 4th Grade Teacher
After a decade of teaching early childhood, I transitioned to fourth grade. While I have been known as a preschool and kindergarten teacher at Hope, the majority of my experience has been in elementary and middle school. I cherished working with our youngest learners, but I am thrilled to return to upper elementary education. Fourth grade serves as a pivotal transition year, where students engage more in group work and take greater ownership of their learning. They build upon the foundational skills acquired in kindergarten through third grade, applying this knowledge to new concepts while enhancing their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
This is my second year with the current fourth grade class, having also taught them in kindergarten. One of the greatest joys of teaching is witnessing students’ growth throughout the year. With this group, I have the unique opportunity to observe their development from kindergartners to fourth graders. They are increasingly independent and collaborative, asking questions that deepen their understanding and applying their foundational skills in math and reading to further their learning.
I asked our fourth graders what they love about fourth grade and our classroom. Here are some of their answers:
- We have a spacious room with AC.
- There are many flexible seating options throughout the room.
- The room and the day are organized. Students know what to do and when to do it.
- They love learning new concepts in science and math, especially long division. They were nervous about long division at first, but now they feel great about it. (As a math teacher, this made my day.)
- Math is in the mornings when their brains are more alert.
- They enjoy challenging tests.
- Posters are around the room to help them remember their learning.
- Planners are used each day to keep them organized.
- There are lots of fun activities, such as science investigations and team-building exercises. Their favorite team-building activities were “Save Fred,” where they had to save a gummy worm after it “fell out of its boat,” and stacking cups with only a rubber band and a piece of string.
I am excited to spend the rest of the school year with this group of students and continue to support their growth and learning journey.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Tues, 11/19 PTH Auction Meeting; 6:30pm – 7:30pm in the View Roombel
Tues, 11/19: Elementary Open House – more info to come
Now – Dec. 3rd: Hope’s Giving Tree (see info below)d inf
Wed, 11/13-Fri, 11/22 Food Drive – boxes outside classrooms
Mon-Fri, 11/18-11/22: Book Fair; in the Commons
Sat, 12/7: Hometown Holiday Night Market (PIP HR Opportunity)
SCHOOL NEWS
Admissions
Hope’s Elementary open house is TONIGHT, November 19th at 6:30 PM. This is a perfect opportunity for current preschool families to check out kindergarten to grade 5 on the second floor! All classrooms will be open and teachers available for questions. We encourage families to share with others about this upcoming event so we can grow our Hope community! RSVP Here.
Dress Code Reminder
A reminder to parents and students that on Hope branded t-shirts are ONLY to be worn on Fridays and not Monday through Thursday. Navy or white polos can be worn any day of the week. School sweatshirts/hoodies or navy or white cardigans are to be worn inside the building/classrooms. All other logo branded sweatshirts can be worn outside, but must be removed when entering the building/classroom. Students will be asked to remove non-Hope items while inside both buildings.
Christmas Greens Pickup – Nov. 21 & 22 (Time TBD)
Families that ordered greens or poinsettias from the East Coast fundraiser can pick up in the Lowers on Nov 21st and 22nd. Exact time to be determined, but will be emailed out to families as soon as it is known.
Little Coders: Intro to Coding (grades K-2, Mondays 3-4 pm
Tailored for early readers, this course helps students boost their computational thinking while having fun with friends! Beginners learn coding basics like Loops and Conditions. Returning students tackle new challenges, such as debugging. All students build exciting games, stories, and animated characters.
REGISTRATIONS: www.codingwithkids.com/session/70124
Scratch: Game Development (grades 3-5, Thursday 3-4 pm)
Unleash your creativity with Scratch, a fun drag-and-drop coding tool. Learn coding basics like loops and variables if you’re new, or explore advanced concepts like functions and game physics if you’re returning. Build exciting games, animations, and story projects, like the Greedy Birds!
REGISTRATIONS: www.codingwithkids.com/session/70125
Chapel offerings for November and December are going to Living Water.
Attendance and Hope North Campus Info:
If your student will be absent or tardy for any reason, please email office@hopeseattle.org. The information will be checked by both campuses.
Hope main campus direct phone line: 206-935-8500
North campus direct phone line: 206-590-2545
IMPORTANT LINKS:
School Milk – Milk and Bible Link
SCHOOL EVENTS
West Seattle Hometown Holiday Kickoff Event – Dec. 7th
The West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays celebration is December 7th! This annual event has been a fun kickstart to the holiday season, featuring local businesses and talent and the lighting of the Christmas Tree in the Junction! I’m excited for Hope Student council as well as students (in grades 3-8) and parents to be able to volunteer at the market, serving hot chocolate to the West Seattle Community. This is a big event for us!
I need excited volunteers to help set up, serve and manage hot water production (very important!) and take down. Any hours that Hope parents serve can earn PIP hours. Sign up here!
Volunteers do not have to attend the entire event. Please LIST IN THE COMMENTS WHAT TIMES YOU WILL BE VOLUNTEERING FOR.
Book Fair, November 18-22; in the Commons
We are excited to announce that our school will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair, which will take place from November 18-22, 2024 in the commons.
For students, it’s one of the most anticipated events of the school year—but we need volunteers to make it happen. We hope that you can offer your time and talents to help students experience Bookjoy firsthand! And every purchase at the Fair directly benefits our school. So, it’s a win-win!
Food Drive; Wed, Nov 13 – Fri, Nov 22:
Student Council is sponsoring a food drive to benefit the Hope Lutheran Church food pantry and the Welcome Table in White Center. The bins are looking a bit empty, but we have the whale week to fill them! Collection bins will be outside every classroom. Below is a list of needed items. Please check expiration dates. We are not able to accept any expired food.
Any canned goods with pull top lids (veggies, fruit, meats, soups, ravioli, etc.)
pasta
rice
peanut butter
cereal – cold and individual instant oatmeal packets
granola bars
instant coffee
crackers
shelf stable milk
Hope’s Giving Tree
We have a great opportunity to serve those in need in our community by providing gifts to those who could benefit during this Christmas season. We will partner up with our Hope Church for this event. Please see the email that was sent out with more information and gift lists. Classrooms will adopt a family, and each class will fill the requests for a family unit. Collection bins have been distributed to each class.
Please bring UNWRAPPED GIFTS to your class collection bin by Tuesday, Dec 3rd or earlier
Bible Study for Moms: Thursdays, 8:30-10:00- in the Youth Room. Everyone welcome. Stop by for coffee from 8:30-9:00. Contact Amy Kopecky at akopecky@hopeseattle.org.
CLUB 45 will meet once a month on Wednesdays from 6:30-8:00 pm including dinner. November 20 & December 4. Contact patramueller@hopeseattle.org.
Parents and Teachers of Hope (PTH)
Tues. Nov.19th PTH Auction Meeting; 6:30pm – 7:30pm in the View Room.
Come help us plan our auction and earn your PIP hours! (Auction will be on March 9, 2024) There are many opportunities to work from home as well. The Auction Committee meets on Tuesdays (unless otherwise posted).
PTH 2024-2025 Volunteer Sign up List and Event Calendar
Your PTH has been busy planning events and need your help! Many hands make light work! Let’s work together to create and help make this year a fun one! Start planning your volunteer/ PIP hours early. Please use the link and review the upcoming events you would like to help with. Your PTH will contact you with more details. Thank you!
PTH 2024-2025 Volunteer Sign up List and Event Calendar (Dates and Times subject to change- please see WOH for details and updates)
ParentEd Talks: Tonight! November 19th
Join us for the upcoming FREE ParentEd Talks — a dynamic series of parent education webinars featuring renowned parenting experts, these 12 virtual sessions will dive into essential topics such as building resilience, navigating screen time, fostering independence and youth mental health. Register for the entire series now, then join any live talk throughout the year. Plus, you’ll receive access to the event recordings to watch anytime, anywhere. To redeem your complimentary tickets ($120 value), sign up here and enter promo code HOPELUTSCH.
ParentEd Talk November 19th:
Raising Digital Natives: Solutions for Healthy Screen Time Habits
With Delaney Ruston, documentary filmmaker, author and physician
Nov. 19, 2024, 7–8 p.m.
“Screenagers” filmmaker and physician Delaney Ruston offers valuable takeaways from her research on the impact of screens and will discuss how to foster open communication with kids about online experiences. Learn how to help your family find balance in the digital age.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES (PIP hours apply!)
Please see volunteer opportunities under PTH events also.
Logging PIP hours is very easy.
1. Parents log into their GradeLink account
2. Click on Service Hours tab
3. Enter information of activity, time spent and who the organizer/initiator/supervisor was. This could be a teacher, Tammy, Sally, Melanie (PTH), etc.
4. Once entered it is approved by the office.
Lunch/Recess helpers still needed for middle school:
We are looking for volunteers to help out at the middle school lunch and recess. All days need covering, with the exception of Thursdays. We are looking for volunteers who can help out once or twice a week from 12:20-1:00pm. Please email Ms Mead at smead@hopeseattle.org.
CHURCH NEWS
Join us for worship on Sundays at 8:30 for Traditional Worship and 10:30 for Contemporary Worship with Children’s Church and a staffed nursery. For more information on upcoming small groups and retreats at Hope Church Click here
Hope’s Giving Tree is starting soon! Every year Hope Church partners with local schools to provide gifts for families in our community. A tree will be in the Commons starting in November if you would like to buy gifts for a child. sign up here. Dates to wrap presents will also be available soon. If you would like to get involved, please contact Jen Rice.
Family Advent Wreath Making – Sun, Nov 24; 9:30-10:30am Your family is invited to make an Advent wreath and learn about the season of Advent on Sunday, November 24 at 9:30- 10:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. All wreath supplies and Advent devotion books provided. Please register in advance. Register here
The Journey Discipleship Pathway Series classes will be held on Wednesday nights during CONNECT, 7-8:30PM (with dinner provided at 6:30) to help equip you as you lead your children. Tonight’s theme is called “Inviting the Spirit to Lead”. For more information, please contact Jonathan Kopecky jkopecky@hopeseattle.org
