4/14-4/18 Third Grade Highlights

Dear Third Grade Families,

Hope everyone is doing well! Here’s a look at what's coming up for the week of April 14 -April 18. 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

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for the incredibly thoughtful birthday gifts, kind messages, and all the love you showered me with. I truly felt so appreciated and celebrated, and it meant the world to me! I feel so blessed to be part of this wonderful classroom community. Thank you for making my birthday extra special!

Deadlines:

May 12: California Native American Tissue Box Project (Templates sent 4/2/25)
May 27: 3rd Trimester Mass Reflection (10 reflections required).

Palm Sunday/ Family Mass at 11am
April 13, is Palm Sunday, and we invite all families to join us for our 11:00 AM Family Mass. This special Mass will mark the beginning of Holy Week and is a wonderful opportunity for our students who attend in their Formal Mass Uniforms can check in with a parent volunteer at the choir and will receive a Free Dress Pass.

Reading Assessments (Mon-Wed)

This week, I will be conducting a few reading assessments with the students, including Oral Reading Fluency, Vocabulary, and Spelling. These assessments will help determine each child's current reading level and guide my instruction moving forward.

To help your child do their best, please ensure they come to school well-rested, having had a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast.

Wednesday -All School Mass

We will have an All-school Mass on Wednesday. All students must wear formal mass uniform.

Progress Report

Progress reports will be going home on Wed., Apr. 16. Please take a moment to check Gradelink to see if your child has any missing homework. If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to reach out to me directly—I’m here to help.

As a reminder, the progress report is simply a snapshot of where your child is at right now. There is still plenty of time for grades to improve before final grades are issued at the end of the 3^rd trimester.

Holy Thursday- All School Lenten retreat

This Thursday 4/17 is a noon dismissal. We will only have pretzels and water for our snack, and we will have a “sacrificial” walking recess to recognize the solemnity of Holy Thursday. Students may wear their PE uniform.

Uniform Reminder

This is a friendly reminder about our school uniform expectations. All students—both boys and girls—must have their uniform shirts tucked in at all times while on campus. Boys are also required to wear a belt.

Starting this week, students who enter the classroom without their shirt tucked in will receive a uniform infraction. We understand that during recess and physical activity, it may be difficult to maintain this standard; however, when students are in the presence of staff, administration, or in any professional setting, they are expected to present themselves appropriately.

Encouraging Students to Use Their Social Studies Magazine

I’ve noticed while reviewing the students’ Social Studies homework that some students have been relying on Google to answer their questions instead of using their magazine. While search engines can be helpful tools, many of the responses I’ve seen are too broad, and in some cases, the students don’t fully understand the vocabulary they’re using because they’ve copied the information directly from online sources. Our Social Studies magazine is specifically designed for third-grade reading levels and directly supports the content we’re learning in class. Encouraging your child to read from this material will help them build a better understanding of the concepts and prepare them for our weekly tests.

Please take a moment to remind your child to use their magazine when completing their Social Studies homework. Reading the text carefully not only improves comprehension but also helps them develop important academic habits they will need in the future.

St. Anthony of Padua FESTIVAL, 05/16- 05/18
Our school campus will be set up with Rides, Games, Food and Fun for the entire family. ALL SAP School families are required to serve 8 hours during the Fiesta. (8 hours per family on tuition contract) $200 fine for non-participation will be billed if your hours are not fulfilled.

The Festival is also in need of the following donations to keep costs down, each class has been assigned the following items:
Kinder     (2) Hefty supreme foam Hinged lid container 3 compartment and (1) napkins
Grade 1   (3) Cases Coke cans 24 count and (1) Case 35 bottle water
Grade 2   (2) Heavy duty 3 compartment plates 10 ¼” and (1) 500 count napkins
Grade 3   (2) Chocolate Abuelita 38oz and (1) 500 count napkins
Grade 4   (1) Food Tray 2 lb. 250 count pack and (1) 4 oz ice cream cups
Grade 5   (2) Round Corn Tortilla Chips 64oz and (1) 6lb. Nacho Cheese Can
Grade 6   (4) Cases Sprite & Coke cans 24 count and (1) bag of napkins
Grade 7   (2) Cases Pepsi cans 36 count and (1) Case 35 bottle water
Grade 8   (2) Las Palmas 6 lb. can and (3) Hominy 6lb can

Please bring your donations to the fiesta table outside of church on Sundays or drop off at the School Office. All donations must be in by May 10, 2025

Upcoming Events:
For more details, please refer to the [school calendar here].

April 17- 25– Easter Break
April 26 – School Resumes
April 28 – School Resumes
May 5 – Student Teacher Soccer Game (Cinco de Mayo!)
May 5-9 – Teacher Appreciation Week
May 9 – Mass with Mother Figures at 8am Mass
May 10 – Happy Mothers’ Day!
May 12 – Fiesta Set up week begins, May Crowning (8th grade leads), Choir sings (12 noon dismissal, daycare till 3pm), Mary’s Day activities
May 16-18 – Parish Fiesta, please sign up for shifts and send in class donations to school (see calendar for Noon dismissals and student free days due to Fiesta set up and clean up)

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out. Thank you & God Bless!

Warmly,
Mrs. Martinez-Do