Newsletter

Scrumduddlyumptious September

Welcome to our Golden Ticket finders!! I am so excited to meet you. My name is Ms. Damianos and I will be your child’s teacher this year. I have been at Laurel Hill since I was a student here myself. I have been at Laurel Hill for 9 years. I have taught 4 years in Kindergarten and am returning to 4th grade since I was last here as an assistant. Mrs. Davis will be joining us on our wonderful journey through 4th grade! She has been at Laurel Hill for 7 years. We can not wait to go a magical journey with our Golden Ticket finders!

   Our first day of school will be Thursday September 4th, we will meet on the field in front of the stage. Please remember to wear assembly dress, blazers are optional. Parents are welcome to come and stay for our first day welcome ceremony on the field. Please feel free to email me with any questions about the first day: mdamianos@laurelhillschool.org.

    Our reading program will begin with our Classic Classic novel studies: The Black Stallion and Zlateh the Goat. Students will be required to bring their novel each day during our study. On Friday September 5th, I will do a novel check, students will need to bring in both novels with them.

   Homework Policy: In 4th grade, we will have homework every day. Reading comprehension homework will be sent home Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Grammar homework will be sent home on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each night the students will go home with math and spelling homework (except Fridays). Along with their nightly homework, students will be expected to read for 20 minutes every night. Their reading log will be due on Friday. Each day, students will be responsible for writing their homework in their agenda. I will check that the homework is written correctly. I ask that a parent/guardian sign the planner nightly and that it is returned to school daily.

   Communication: This year, we will be using the Remind app for school communication, along with weekly emails, and a monthly newsletter. The weekly email will have reminders and information for the week (assembly dress, events coming up, school closings, etc). Each month, I will share a newsletter with upcoming events as well as an overview of what we will be focusing on in the classroom.

   Reading Logs/HBC: Reading is crucial to students to help them grow and succeed. I ask that each night students read for 20 minutes and keep track of their pages to help with their HBC log. Students should have a separate notebook for the HBC counts. In this notebook, please record the title and number of pages of each book your child reads. At the end of the year, we will have our final HBC assembly where your child will be awarded a medal. The number of pages read by each student will determine what medal they are awarded.

   Tests: Students will have a spelling test every Friday. Tests in other subjects will depend on when we finish the unit we are studying. Your child will be provided with review sheets before each test and will be made aware of upcoming tests ahead of time.         Reading: Our reading units for the beginning of the year will focus on our Classic Classic studies of The Black Stallion and Zlateh the Goat. After our novel studies, we will be moving into our Open Court curriculum.

   Math: This year, we will continue our math program, iReady Math. Students will study math in various ways to develop a deep understanding of the various math concepts with an emphasis on student discussions. Each activity is designed to help students grow and develop their math skills, problem solving abilities, and apply different strategies to problems.       Science: The TCI "Bring Science Alive!" 4th Grade Science curriculum is a modern, interactive, and standards-aligned approach to science learning. It encourages students to inquire, investigate, and understand—not just memorize. With cross-disciplinary integration, teacher support, and inclusive design, it aims to spark curiosity and build confidence in young learners. Our first unit of the year will be: Plant and Animal Structures.

   Social Studies: TCI’s 4th‑grade social studies program is smart, active, and inclusive. It goes beyond memorizing facts, encouraging children to investigate, think critically, and articulate what they learn with evidence. Coupled with strong literacy ties and extensive support for both teachers and diverse learners, it’s designed to make social studies meaningful and memorable. Our first unit of the year will be: Discovering the Social Sciences.

      Specials: In addition to our traditional subjects, students will have the opportunity to attend speciality classes. Special subjects include:Technology, STEM, Library, Physical Education, Spanish, Art, and Music.

    It is going to be an exciting year in 4th grade and I am so excited for the year ahead!! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at mdamianos@laurelhillschool.org.