11/24-12/5 Third Grade Highlights

Dear Third Grade Families,

I hope everyone is doing well! Here’s a look at what's coming up for the next 2 weeks of Nov. 24-Dec.5^th. Please make sure to read all the important information below to avoid any questions that may already be addressed. If you missed last week’s email, you can find updates on my school blog: Third Grade Blog.

Updates

First of all, thank you all so much for celebrating with us this Saturday. My husband and I are incredibly grateful for your generous gifts and kind words. We truly felt loved and supported, and it meant so much to us.

A special thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Lopez for welcoming us into your beautiful home to celebrate. And thank you to Mrs. Lopez, Mrs. Ruiz, and Mrs. Orozco for throwing such a wonderful and memorable party. Lastly, thank you to all the parents that helped make this celebration special. Everything—from the decorations to the food—was absolutely perfect, and we appreciate all the love and effort you poured into making the day so special.

As of now, I’m hoping to still be back during the first week of December and plan to begin my maternity leave after that week. I will keep everyone updated if anything changes.

Once I begin my leave, Mrs. Ednaliza Garcia will be taking over our class. She is fully prepared and excited to step in, and I know the third graders will have an amazing time learning with her.

Thanksgiving Break
We will have our Thanksgiving Break from November 24–November 30. Enjoy a wonderful week of rest, celebration, and family time!

Our Stone Soup Class Activity

Last Friday, our class made Stone Soup together! This story teaches a wonderful lesson about sharing, community, and how everyone’s small contribution can create something amazing. The students loved bringing the story to life by making our own pot of stone soup in class.

A big thank you to Mrs. Garcia, our long-term substitute, for helping us through the whole process—and thank you to all the parents who donated ingredients, bowls, and spoons. We truly couldn’t have done it without you! Your child brought home a step-by-step recipe because many of them said they would love to try making it again at home with their families. We finished the entire pot—many students even asked for seconds! It was such a special moment for us to enjoy a warm meal together, almost like our own little Thanksgiving feast in the classroom.

Deadlines:

Dec. 1: Turkey in Disguise Project (Distributed on Nov. 3rd)
Feb. 16: 2nd Trimester Sunday Mass Reflection (7 reflections required) (Distributed on Wed, Nov. 12th)
Feb 25: 2^nd trimester Goals - AR (85%-Accuracy & 100%-point goal) & ST MATH (75%) goals (Journey & puzzle) * If these goals are not met by the end of the trimester, it will result in an Effort Slip.

Third Grade Friendmas & Secret Santa

1. Secret Santa Gift Details
Our class is excited for Secret Santa this year! Students have taken photos of their assigned classmate’s wish list on their iPads, so you can find all the information there.

Here’s what you need to know:

Gift Limit: $10 before tax. The students asked questions about this—we had a little chat on what “before tax” means!
Gift Selection: Students should choose a gift or combination of small gifts from their Secret Santa’s wish list that stay within the $10 budget.
Due Date: Please send the wrapped and labeled gift (recipient’s name only) to school on or before Wednesday, December 10.

2. Christmas Party Information – Tuesday, December 16

Students may wear a Christmas sweater to school on the day of our class party.
The party cost is still being finalized. We will be serving Raising Cane’s for lunch.
Once I receive final details from our room parents, I will update everyone right away.

Focus of the Week (Dec 1- Dec 5)

Math: Relate Multiplication & Division, Multiplications Facts of 2-12
Grammar: Pronouns
Science: What is Gravity?
Religion: TOB Book 2
Prayer: St Michael (Test on Dec. 5)

Tests

Thursday

Into Math Module 7

Friday (Multiple Choice)

St Michael prayer (Oral & Fill in the Blanks)
Math Ninja

2nd Trimester Expectations

Friday, Nov 14 was the start of our 2nd trimester. This is an exciting time, but it is also a time when our expectations grow to further our preparations for the next grade level. Here are some of the expectations that I am looking out for

1. Writing Skills

Cursive Writing: Begin practicing cursive letters, with an emphasis on readability and consistency. By the end of the trimester, students should be able to legible write in cursive.
Paragraph Writing: Write at least one paragraph with 3-5 sentences on a given topic, ensuring that each sentence contributes to a complete thought.
Grammar and Mechanics: Use correct punctuation and capitalization. Each sentence should begin with a capital letter and end with appropriate punctuation (period, question mark, or exclamation mark). Emphasis is placed on creating complete sentences and coherent thoughts.

2. Reading and Comprehension

Fluency: Improve reading fluency by reading aloud with accuracy and appropriate expression.
Comprehension: Answer questions about the main idea, details, and sequence of events in a story. Students should be able to summarize a text and explain character motivations and story outcomes.

3. Math Skills

Multiplication Facts: Master multiplication facts from 0 to 12. Regular practice is essential, as students will use these facts to solve multi-step word problems and more complex math operations.

4. Personal and Classroom Responsibilities

Homework Responsibility: Submit homework independently by the deadline without reminders.
Organizational Skills: Keep personal belongings and supplies organized. Students should bring their own supplies and take responsibility for their learning materials.
Listening and Following Directions: Actively listen during instructions and follow directions promptly
Preparedness: Come to class prepared with all necessary materials, including personal supplies and iPads, as well as an organized workspace.

I am encouraging all students to meet these expectations every day, and it would be helpful if you could also encourage your child to work with these expectations at home too!

Adopt A Family- SAP Christmas Project 2025
The Christmas season is just around the corner, and we’re excited to invite you to be part of something truly special. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Adopt A Family Christmas Program — a heartwarming tradition dedicated to bringing the magic of the holidays to hundreds of families in the downtown Los Angeles area.

Meet the Shir-Zai Family! The Shir-Zai family is a loving, resilient household doing their best to stay strong during challenging times. Moosa, the father, works long hours to cover rent and bills as the family's sole provider. Despite his exhausting schedule and limited sleep, he remains dedicated to spending quality time with his wife and children.

Taiba, the mother, recently gave birth to their newest daughter. She stays home to care for the baby and the couple’s three other children — including a child with autism, who requires extra attention, care, and support. The family faces daily challenges in meeting his sensory and dietary needs, especially as he is a very selective eater. Still, they do everything they can to help him feel safe, supported, and included.

Though finances are tight and every day brings new struggles, the Shir-Zai family remains hopeful and united. Their dream is simple: to continue living a healthy life together, and for their economic situation to improve.

This holiday season, your generosity can bring warmth, joy, and a bit of relief to this beautiful family. If each SAP family purchases just one item for the Shir-Zai Family, they will experience a miraculous Christmas. Imagine the joy we can bring to this family!

How Can You Help?

Learn about the Shir-Zai Family

Please review the attached Shir-Zai Family Profile to get to know this beautiful family and understand their specific needs. Each grade level is assigned to one family member — this makes gift-giving more personal and organized.
- Follow the Gift Instructions
Be sure to read the Instructions for Purchasing Gifts so you're fully prepared to participate and help make this experience smooth and meaningful for everyone involved.
- Choose a Gift to Purchase
If you’d like to help (and we hope you do!), visit our school wide Adopt-A-Family Sign-Up Genius to select a gift you will purchase:

Here is the Sign-Up Genius to designate the gift you will buy.

For our parents of younger children, this can be a wonderful teaching moment to show how we make little sacrifices to show our love for those in need. Let’s come together to make this season brighter for the Shir-Zai Family. Thank you for being part of this beautiful tradition of giving!

Amazon Wishlist

As we gear up for an exciting school year filled with learning and growth, I wanted to share a wonderful opportunity to further enhance our classroom experience. I created an Amazon Wishlist with carefully selected items that will greatly benefit our students' education journey. You may check out the link below.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1C4X0QEVATZ5V?ref_=wl_share

UPCOMING EVENTS
School calendar can be found (clicking here)

November 24-28 – Thanksgiving Holiday NO SCHOOL, NO DAYCARE
Dec 5 – Poinsettia Pick up from 8-10am and 2-6pm or 12/7 at 8th grade bake sale at church from 12-2pm)
Dec 5 - Last day to drop off gifts for the Adopt-A-Family (Shir-Zai Family) to Room 9
Dec 6 – Feast of Santa Maria Kamalen: novena at 11:30am, Mass in Church at 12 noon, and potluck in Hall, all families welcome! SAVE THE DATE!
Dec 15 – Christmas Program: Market, Tree Lighting: Holiday Raffle Winners announced outside on blacktop, NOT in Church (more info to come from Mrs. Garcia)
Dec 16 – Noon Dismissal (NO DAYCARE) last day of school before Christmas break, Staff off campus at 12:15
Dec 17-Jan 2–Christmas Break
Jan 5 –Classes Resume

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out. I look forward to another great week of learning with your child!

Thank you & God Bless!

Warmly,