YEAR 4 NEWS

NIST
Welcome back to a fresh year at school. Year 4 is full of challenges, excitement and learning experiences which we are sure your child will enjoy and thrive on.

AUGUST 11, 2011

Back to School night is on TUESDAY AUGUST 23rd.

THE YEAR 4 TEACHING TEAM
Homeroom Teachers: 4BM Mr Bob Medrala (bmedrala@nist.ac.th) 4HP Ms Heida Porrata-Doria (hporrata-doria@nist.ac.th) 4CS Ms Caroline Scott (cscott@nist.ac.th) 4CW Mr Chad Walsh (cwalsh@nist.ac.th) 4NBMs Nicky Bourgeois (Year 4 Coordinator) (nbourgeois@nist.ac.th) Academic Assistants 4BM and 4CS Ms Ngaung 4CW Ms Noi 4HP and 4NB Mr Joe ESL Teacher: Mr Nigel Sheppard (nsheppard@nist.ac.th) Learning Support: Ms Cassie Seiter (cseiter@nist.ac.th) Other specialist lessons your child will receive throughout the year - either timetabled, or in blocks include: Art, Music, PE, Swimming, I.C.T, Drama, Library, Thai Studies and World Languages. For PE please refer to pages 35 and 36 of the Elementary School Parent Handbook which is available on the elementary portal front page. Year 4 - 6: Students should come to school in their school uniform and change into their PE clothes in the school changing rooms for their PE lesson. After the lesson they are expected to change back into their uniform. They should not wear PE clothes all day. Note: Students in Year 4 who have PE period 1 (before recess) are allowed to come to school in their PE uniform and to change out of their PE clothes after the lesson. Homeroom teachers will discuss any exceptions in class. PARENT HANDBOOK
The school has compiled a very comprehensive ELEMENTARY PARENT HANDBOOK which is available on the portal. Please spend some time reading it as it really contains most things that you need to know, as well as helpful information regarding the curriculum here at NIST.

COMMUNICATION
Most communication between teachers and parents will be via email and/or blogs. All returning parents will be familiar with the Veracross system and new families will have received . Please ensure that you complete the process of checking and updating your contact details. Feel free to communicate with your teacher

via email, but please remember that between 7.30am and 2.30pm, our priority is teaching your child. Of course the teachers are also happy to have you speak with them directly regarding any particular concerns. Please refer to pages 24 and 25 of the Elementary Parent Handbook for further guidelines and information regarding whole school communication.

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YEAR 4 NEWS

HOMEWORK
Year 4 homework guidelines can be found on pages 30 and 31 of the Elementary Parent Handbook. 15 minutes - Homeroom assignments 15 minutes - World Languages work 10 - 15 mins - uninterrupted reading hopefully for ENJOYMENT! Please see you teacher if you have any concerns regarding your childs homework.

OTHER HANDBOOK ITEMS

Library lessons have already begun. Please ensure your child has a library bag to help protect his/her library books. Year 4 students are able to borrow 3 books at a time. Parent Handbook page 33. Uniform - Please name all items. Parent Handbook page 43 Birthdays - Please communicate with your childs teacher directly to arrange a time. Parent Handbook page 23

CAMP
You will receive more information over the next few months about our Year 4 camp. Please note that there will be a Parent Information Evening in October. Well let you know the date once finalised. Also, the students will need to bring an old pair of shoes that can go in water, so if your child needs a new pair in the next few months, please hold on to the old pair for camp use.

UNIT OF INQUIRY

Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why.

- Bernard Baruch

You will receive a Yr 4 newsletter blog post at the beginning of each unit. We love to have visiting experts into school to speak with the children and often find our parent community is the best resource for this. Can you please let the team know if you have a particular area of expertise that you think may be of interest for the whole year level.

We look forward to a fantastic year, The Year 4 team