FGWS Home

Address:    www.fgws.org

I check my e-mail all throughout the day.  It is a great way to get instant feedback to your questions or comments, and I encourage you to contact me this way.  My e-mail address is kheims@rsdnmp.org and I also receive school e-mail at home. I don't check the e-Pals account as often.

Reading:  Research says that children become better readers by reading at their ability level, so students will also read for a minimum of  15 minutes each night.  Students have a reading calendar for the month, which they will keep in their homework folder.  Students earn $1.00 of "Kickin' Kash" for each reading minute beyond the required 15 minutes. 

Classroom assignments are generally due the next school day after they are assigned.  Class time is always given to complete assignments.  Students may need to finish an assignment at home if it is not completed during the given class work time.  This is in addition to the normal assigned homework

              Term 3:   you may pick this report card up in the office

To download some of the PDF files listed above, you will need the plug in, which is free.

Work from the week will come home for you to look at each week in a “Thursday Folder.” The folder is organized with two pockets.  On one side you will find work which is acceptable (grades of 80% and above).  Acceptable work can be taken out and kept at home.  The other side of the folder will be for work which needs to be corrected and turned back in (grades of 79% and below).  Students may turn in and finish any incomplete work and correct assignments that have received scores below 79% within one week. Students receive "Kickin' Kash" for a parent signature on their Thursday Folder signature page on Friday.

Each month students will read a novel at their reading level and complete a project.  Projects are due at the end of the month.  Students will share book projects with the class at the end of the month.  Some class time will be given for reading and working on the project but one hour weekly of reading is also expected to be completed as homework.  Depending on how the class silent reading time was used, some students may need to do more at-home reading in order to complete the book and project by the deadline.

When students are absent, they are responsible for making up the work.   Students will have an “Absent Folder” on their desk when they return.  Students have the same number of days they were gone, for example, if John misses 2 days of school, he would have 2 days after he returned to school to make up the work.  Much of our classroom activities cannot be done at home (group work, experiments, in-class games, buddy class activities, etc), so regular attendance is encouraged.

A grade of "N" means needs improvement

Students are always expected to turn in their best work.  Students are highly encouraged to correct low scores to make sure they understand what was being taught.  Scores will be raised 10 points or to a 75%

This year students will learn about life skills and problem solving, nutrition, exercise, safety (personal safety, drugs/alcohol, earthquake safety, fire safety, intruder drill procedures, playground safety), the skeletal system, and growth and development (girls only).

It would be great if students would bring and use a plastic water bottle with a spill-proof lid.   This avoids 30 students standing in line for our one drinking fountain!

If student behavior disrupts the learning of others, the student will be reminded of the classroom and school rules and asked to fill out the yellow "Think Time' slip telling what behavior was unacceptable and what his/her plan is for the future.  For repeated problem behavior, students will visit with Mrs. Rawlings, our principal and may take a note home for parents to sign showing awareness of the situation.   Parents - see the "Discipline Pearls of Wisdom" section.

Sometimes our staff members give compliments to our class for things like traveling through the building quietly or for respectful or responsible.  Each compliment point is tallied on the board when we get back to the classroom.  Compliment points from our principal are worth five points and fire drill compliment points are worth five points.  When our class has earned an average of four points per student, the students earn a video party at which they may bring healthy food and juice to share with others and they each get four gumballs (the gumballs represent the points earned per student).

Every week a different student will be our special "Star of the Week".  This person will get to help in the classroom, and gets special privileges, like using the special roller chair, eating with friends at the back table, and leading the line all week.  At the end of the week, students will write a page to be made into a special book all about the "star" person.   It promises to be a special keepsake.  Read the Star of the Week letter.

I believe students should be challenged to learn as many new things as they can.  Saying "I'm bored" is not going to happen in my classroom!  Students may become members of my classroom Mastery Club.  Students who achieve 16 accomplishments or more become members of the Hall of Fame and will have their name added to the Hall of Fame wall.  These challenge activities may be done at home or at school. Students will also earn $50 "Kickin' Kash" for each challenge mastered.

Students may deposit their "Kickin' Kash" into a savings account in my "Renz Bank."  Students may apply to be a student bank teller or manager by taking a math test and showing the skills necessary to run the bank.  These employees earn $10 "Kickin' Kash" for each day worked.  Student bank managers will manage the accounts, check deposits and withdrawals for accuracy, and pay interest on the savings accounts.  Later in the year students will get checking accounts and will pay for fines and fees with this account.  Students will also pay their income taxes on April 15th.

At the end of the year, students will spend the "Kickin' Kash" they have earned and saved all year.  I will hold a classroom auction comprised of garage sale and sale-type items I have collected.  If you have any items to donate, I would appreciate it very much! 

Conferences are held twice a year:  October 19-20, 2006 and again mid-year the week of February 8-9, 2007.  The conference time is meant to be a three-way conference between parents, teacher, and child.  Parents will receive information about baseline testing data, learn about academic and social progress, discuss TAG plans (if appropriate) and discuss questions and concerns.  I can offer one conference per child, as it takes most of the two days to fit in conferences for each of the 30 children.  I always post the newest conference schedule on our website for the convenience of parents.  

Students may bring a healthy snack to eat mid-morning.    Good items to send for a snack would be fruit or vegetables, applesauce, yogurt, cheese sticks, crackers, or juice.  Please DO NOT send items with lots of sugar in them (no candy, pop, etc.)

Students have homework four nights a week, for approximately 30 to 40 minutes.  Students who turn in 100% of their homework ON TIME (meaning the first thing Friday morning) will become members of the 100% Homework Club!  Students must maintain a 100% average for the entire term to become lifetime members of this elite club.  At the end of each term students receive a certificate showing their accomplishment.   See who is on the list so far!

We will take several field trips over the course of the year.  I will send a note home with the dates and cost for each trip.   Check our field trip page for more details.   If you would like to volunteer, be sure you have filled out the necessary school district volunteer form at least 2 weeks prior to the trip.

Click here to go to our curriculum page to see what fourth graders will be learning. 

Click here to go to the fourth grade school supply list for this year.   Please make sure supplies are replenished throughout the year.

Students will receive a classroom A.R. goal for each term.  This is based on the student's individual reading ability.  Each student who meets his or her goal will receive a certificate from Mrs. Renz. 

I cannot imagine teaching without the assistance of parent volunteers!  Parents play a critical role in the functioning of our classroom.  In order to help in the classroom or chaperone on field trips, all volunteers must fill out the district volunteer form and be approved at least two weeks prior to the field trip.  This form will be sent home but may also be requested from our office.  I encourage you to fill out the form to keep your options open throughout the year.  Please let me know your talents and skills and I’ll put you to work! 

Students may use the individualized Accelerated Math program this year.  This program is based on the student's individual math ability.  Students work at their own pace in this program, mastering goals and objectives.  Students may take their A.M. folders home to work.  Answers are transferred with #2 pencil to a scan card, that the student runs through our classroom scanner.  Immediately, the computer diagnoses and prints a report, then prints a new practice sheet.  There is no ceiling on this program for students.   The sky's the limit!

To download some of the PDF files listed above, you will need the plug in, which is free.

Go back to the Top

I make each child in my class an individualized photo-memory book of projects, events, activities, and field trips to document the child’s fourth grade year.  This is be a wonderful way to remember the school year.  If each child could send $4.00 to help cover the cost of printing the books and photos in color, that would help a lot.  It will be a keepsake to treasure.

Gumballs are earned by when the whole class is recognized for great behavior and for doing the right thing, and following the rules.  When an average of four gumballs per student have been earned, the students have a party.  They vote upon, and watch, a G-rated video and get into small groups to bring treats as a reward for working together.  My motto is:  Do the right thing, even if you think no one is watching.

Check the due date at the bottom of the order form.