Quarter One Week Four

Hello Fourth Grade Families, 

This will be the last week that homework is displayed on the home page of our blog. Week five and beyond will be located under the homework tab. Please make sure to continue to check the home page of our blog for news and other updates. 

MAP Testing: 

On Thursday, your child will take the MAP test (Measures of Academic Performance). This test is simply a diagnostic assessment to help evaluate your child's current academic performance to best support their academic development. The test will give your child an overall performance grade in reading and math, along with provide us detailed information about where your child is in his or her math and reading development. It often indicates learning gaps that the child may have from previous years, which need to be supplemented and corrected before more advanced learning can happen. 

This test does not impact your child's grade on their report card. However, this information will be used to inform us if your child needs to attend math tutoring or other interventions: BURST (a reading intervention) or Dreambox (a math intervention). We do not make the testing information public to parents except upon request. We are happy to meet with anyone who has any questions. 

Lessons:

Grammar/Writing: 

Our scholars will be introduced to personal pronouns and prepositional phrases. We will begin each lesson reviewing previous knowledge. At the end of this week, our scholars will have a cumulative test on what they have learned up to this point. 

Here are some review pointers:

- Review the definition of a sentence. A sentence is a group of words that make a statement, ask a question, express a command, or an emotion. 

- Review the five parts of a complete sentence: capital letter, subject, verb, end mark, complete sense. 

- Review the four types of sentences: declarative, exclamatory, imperative, interrogative. 

- Review the parts of speech:

          - A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea. 

          - A verb is a word that does an action, shows a state of being, links two words together, or helps another verb. 

          - An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. 

          - An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or a pronoun. 

          - An article adjective is a special adjective: a, an, and the. 

          - A pronoun is a special word that can take the place of a noun in a sentence. 

          - A preposition is a word that connects two other words in a sentence in a special way. 

History:

Our scholars have completed their first four sections of the Middle Ages unit and will be tested on Wednesday. Students will be assigned the study guide on Monday night and it will be due on Tuesday. On Tuesday night, students may use their 25 minutes of reading time to review for the history test. We will spend some time reviewing on Tuesday to ensure that students have the correct answers on their study guides. It is important for our scholars to study at home to prepare themselves. Our next section will turn to the Eastern Roman Empire, which became known as the Byzantine Empire and lasted much longer than the Western Roman Empire. 

Literature:

This week, students will read chapters 10 - 14 of The Princess and the Goblin. On Friday, we will begin our next seminar from The Book of Virtues. The topic of discussion will be about the virtue of friendship in Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan's relationship. 

Math:

Our scholars worked on developing a deeper sense of numbers, while working through factors. This week, we will begin our next chapter on multiples. Our next test will be on Friday. 

Poetry:

Almost all students have successfully recited their first poem of fourth grade. We are so impressed with their courage, as some of them get up in front of the class to recite it. We look forward to coaching them on their delivery, in the coming weeks. The next poem for memorization is "Afternoon on a Hill," by Edna St. Vincent Millay. 

Greek and Latin Roots:

Our scholars now have the first nine greek roots. This week will be adding roots 10-13. On Wednesday, our scholars will take a review check over the first ten. If your child is missing any of the roots cards, you can find a PowerPoint with them, here. 

Science:

During science this week, our scholars will experience two labs in which they determine which kinds of materials are insulators and conductors. Students will learn about Benjamin Franklin's experiment, that electricity is the flow of electrons, and the role of insulators in making electricity safe. 

Spalding:

After spending the first few weeks completing our rule pages, our scholars will start learning how to spell words. We likely won't put any notes in our blogs about Spalding unless there is something noteworthy. If you've forgotten what a typical Spalding week looks like, scroll down to last week's post. Monday through Wednesday involve learning new words. Thursday, students will review all the week's words and write them for homework. Spalding tests will be on Fridays. 

We are thoroughly looking forward to seeing you at Curriculum Night on Wednesday. Remember to email me any questions you may have, that you would love answers to. 

Miss Kogler

Grade Reports and Curriculum Night

Over the past week, you have begun to see your child's red folder appear with graded papers galore. You may have noticed some scores that were not what you expected. The leap from 3rd grade to 4th grade can feel big at times. Being patient with the process, supporting them on their way, and knowing that a little bit of struggle is a good thing will help your child grow throughout the year. If you are concerned or have questions, please reach out to me via email. I am happy to set up a time to discuss anything that may be on your mind. Grade reports will be sent out electronically on Friday, August 31. This is a good time to reflect on the first couple weeks of school and begin to plan for your child's growth.

It would be our greatest pleasure if you would attend Curriculum Night, taking place this Wednesday, August 29. The purpose of this event is to break down a typical day in fourth grade and provide general information and tips regarding your child in our classroom. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Arete gymnasium, with opening remarks from Mr. Gillingham, Mrs. Vaughan, and our Specialists. From 6:30 - 7:30, parents will join me in 4A for a review of classroom procedures and policies, demonstration lessons, and a brief Q&A session. Our time together goes by so quickly. To make the most of it, we would love to gather your questions before the event to create a FAQ sheet. Please email me your questions with FAQ in the subject line. Due to limited seating, this is a parent-only event. Overflow parking will be available at The Falls Event Center located east of the school.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

Miss Kogler

Amendment to Quarter 1 Week 3

Spalding - Spelling Words:
You may notice that your child hasn't brought home any spelling words for Spalding this week. Our scholars are using their time to carefully complete the rule pages in their blue Spalding notebooks during class. There is no homework associated with this class during at this time. Before we can move to spelling words, we must complete the rule pages to understand how the English language works. Please stay tuned for an update on our progress, next week.

Grammar - Paragraph Editing:
Your child may be wondering where week three went in their proofreading packet. Please instruct them to do Monday-week four tonight (Tuesday night). Some of them may do this automatically, as this is the next proofreading section in their packets.

Illness
Many of our scholars have been home sick over the past couple days. A letter went home in our scholars' red folders informing you that strep throat has been reported in our class. Please watch your child for the symptoms which usually appear 2-5 days after exposure.

- Throat Pain
- Difficulty Swallowing
- Red and Swollen Tonsils
- Tiny Red Spots on the Soft or Hard Palate
- Fever
- Headache
- Rash
- Stomach Ache
- Swollen Lymph Nodes

For accurate diagnosis, a throat culture needs to be taken. Symptoms generally occur 2-3 days before a culture will show positive results. If medication is prescribed for strep throat, your child needs to be on the medication for 24 hours before returning to school.

Please call the school's Health Office if you have any questions or concerns.

This message is from school nurse, Kristine Hodgkins.
(480) 222-4261

Dress Code

This year, Great Hearts and Archway Arete are putting more emphasis on the dress code. Students who fail to meet the dress code standard will receive a uniform infraction. An infraction is meant as a reminder to families to comply with the dress code requirements. Repeated offenses will result in a conversation with our Dean of Students. For a copy of the dress code requirements visit our family handbook, here. (Pages 45-50)

Boys:

Belts for Boys: Boys must wear a black belt with their uniform. This is true of shorts and pants. 

Appropriate Length Hair for Boys: Boys must have their hair cut short enough that their hair does not touch their collar, come below the midpoint of the ear, or cover their eyes. 

Shoes: Shoes should be all black. See note below:

Girls:

Headbands, Bows, Barretts, and Hair Ties: Girls may wear headbands, bows, barrettes, and hair ties, but they should match the school uniform. They should be black, white, baby blue, or navy blue. Other colors will not be permitted. They should also be small to prevent from distraction. 

Bracelets: Students may wear one watch, but are not allowed to wear bracelets. This includes hair ties for ladies. Students who wear bracelets will be required to remove them, even if cutting is required. 

Shoes: Shoes should be all black. See note below:

"Please note, there is an error in the 2018-2019 Family Handbook that is being corrected. The error states that solid white shoes are also an option. This is not the case and only solid black shoes are an option. We will send a link to the corrected handbook in next week's newsletter. In the spirit of unity and purpose, Great Hearts has standardized the shoe requirements across all fo the academies. In order to ease into the new standard, during the 2018-2019 school year, we will accept shoes with a colored sole and small white details on the shoes. The rest of the shoe, including laces, must be solid black and the style athletic by Tuesday, September 4, 2018. Please reach out to Dean of Students, Stephanie Kaye, with questions." (Archway Arete Newsletter, August 10, 2018). 

Quarter One Week Three

Hello Families,

We hope that your weekend was restful and relaxing. Thank you again for sharing your children with us. We are looking forward to another great week in fourth grade. 

Tutoring:

Next week, we will begin math tutoring on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Tutoring will run from 2:05 - 2:40 on Wednesdays and 3:05 - 3:40 on Thursdays. Math tutoring is by invitation only. However, if you feel that your child is not meeting their potential and their test or quiz categories are below 75%, please feel free to reach out to me. Our hope is that tutoring is academically focussed support for students who really need it, which doesn't permit everyone to be in it. 

Study Guides and Practice Tests:

Throughout the year, there will be many study guides and practice tests. We recommend to students that they have their parents review these items, especially math practice tests. Our hope is that we are able to grade the practice tests on the same day they are given and send them home with our students the night before the test. The goal is for our students to recognize what they need to practice before they take the test the next day. However, it seems as though they are not taking that time to practice at home because they think they have mastered it. Please, slow your child down a bit to make sure they have understood the content. We will always let you know what tests students will take each week, but the day on which they are taken is subject to change. 

Studying as a Habit:

We are encouraging our fourth graders to study their notes regularly. We have created a schedule to break down the study habits that should be forming. Our goal is for our students to not have to take home those two large workbooks every night of the week. 

Science: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 

History: Tuesdays and Thursdays

Grammar, Poetry, and Greek and Latin Roots: Two nights per week using student's and parent's discretion. 

What and How to Study:

Students should study the past five note pages in their workbooks. When studying, we recommend a parent or older sibling covering up the answer to see if the scholar can get it right without looking at it. Ambitious students might even find it beneficial to create notecards for the content or use the online flashcard provider, Quizlet. At the end of each unit or section there are study guides. Students can use those pages to quiz themselves on the content, as well. 

Reading Logs and Reading Assigned Homework

There will be times where we assign a reading as homework for our students. Students may be asked to read a chapter of literature if they were absent or read an article for science or history. Assigned readings for homework may be counted toward the nightly reading expectation of 25 minutes. This may mean that our scholars are piecing together the 25 minutes using multiple subjects. 

Week Three Lessons

Grammar: In grammar this week, students will review adjectives and adverbs. There will be a test at the end of the week over these two parts of speech. The test will include diagramming sentences to pick out the adjectives and adverbs. 

History: We started the largest unit of history, Europe in the Middle Ages, on Thursday. This week, students will start their study of memorizing the names and locations of the countries of Europe. You may find that they come home asking when your next family trip can be to Europe. 

We will cover the following topics this week:

- Barbarian Tribes that Led to the Fall of Rome

- Middle Ages Known as the "Dark Ages"

- Separation Between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church

- Roles Religion Played During this Time

Their next test will be next week and will include chapters one through four. This is a great time for our scholars to get into the routine of studying their notes.

Literature: Students will continue their journey deep into the mountains as we read, "The Princess and the Goblin." Ask your child about our seminar on The King and His Hawk. The students are learning how to share ideas and discuss topics in a seminar-style format. This week we will seek to understand Narrative Perspective and have a brief fill in the blank review at the end of the week. 

Math: If you only have one subject to really work on with your child at home, let math be that subject. We will begin our study of factors, this week. The key to understanding factoring is knowing your multiplication and division facts. A great resource for extra practice at home is Math Playground. We will end the week with a test on factors. 

Poetry: Students will be expected to recite, "Humanity," this week. They will have the opportunity to recite the poem to their teacher or to the whole class. Every student will be expected to recite at least one poem in front of the class during some point in the year. If they feel confident, encourage them to try it. Clarence by Shel Silverstein will be our poem of study this week again, but we will not recite this one. 

Greek and Latin Roots: Students will be tested on the last three Greek and Latin roots they learned. They should practice knowing what each root means and one English word that comes from it. 

Idioms of the Week: The idioms of the week are "blow hot and cold," and "break the ice."

Science: Students will end their study of chemistry with a reading about solutions and a demonstration. They will have their first science test of the year this week. Students can begin to fill out their study guide as early as Sunday night. A Quizlet is available to study from, here. The question on why water and oil do not mix should be attempted, but will not be graded for accuracy. If you looking for the reason, it is due to water not being a solvent for oil and therefore the oil does not dissolve into the water. 

Spalding: Students have been working hard to complete their Spalding rule pages. These rule pages are important because they give the students the framework for the English language. This week, students will be given their first spelling words of the year. On Friday, they will take their test. Here is the typical week in Spalding:

Monday - Wednesday:

       - Class

            Orally Review: 15-25 Phonograms

            Written Review of 10 Phonograms

            10 Words Taught and Written in the Spalding Book

       - Homework

            Review 10-15 Phonogram Cards (2-3 Minutes)

            Spalding Words - The Day's Words

                   (Students will write the words twice with rules and markings). 

                 - Parent Dictates Words

                 - Student Says Words in Syllables and Writes the Words in Syllables

                 - Student Adds Markings

                 - Parent Reviews Words for Accuracy

                 - Repeat

Thursday:

       - Class

            Orally Review: 15-25 Phonograms

            Written Review of 10 Phonograms

            Review the Week's Words

      - Homework

            Review 10-15 Phonogram Cards (2-3 Minutes)

            Spalding Words - The Week's Words

                 - Parent Dictates Words

                 - Student Says Words in Syllables and Writes the Words in Syllables 

                   (No Syllables or Markings)

                 - Parent Reviews Words for Accuracy

We hope you found this post to be beneficial. The posts will be lengthy until students and parents develop at-home routines to study and complete homework. 

Please don't hesitate to email me regarding any questions you may have throughout the week. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Miss Kogler and Mrs. Arnold

Classroom Parent

The week is off to a great start! Thank you for your support and grace throughout the last week and a half. Your children are certainly a blessing in our lives.

We are seeking a volunteer(s) to fill the role of classroom parent. This role would consist of helping to plan class celebrations, create sign-ups for volunteers, oversee supply donations, work directly with the P.S.O., accompany us on our annual field trip, and be a regular volunteer in our classroom during reading and math groups.

If you have any interest in being the primary classroom parent or a support to the classroom parent, please email me before Friday.


Miss Kogler

Quarter One, Week Two

Hello families,


Week Two:
We hope your weekend has been restful and refreshing. I'm sure our scholars are enjoying a little break from the routine and study of our first week of school. Though third grade wasn't easy, fourth is a whole new challenge. Our goal is to develop their inner drive to accomplish something that challenges them. The easy thing to do is to choose the road of least resistance. Great things happen when we are willing to pursue the difficult.


Upcoming Lessons: 

Math:
The students studied whole numbers last week and will be tested on their understanding on Tuesday. The class performed a practice test on Friday, that was assessed and sent home with them over the weekend. Monday, we will offer extra help to those who need it, in order to prepare our scholars for their test on Tuesday.
Our scholars will be working on estimating and rounding in Unit 1, Chapter 2. This is a quick chapter and they will have another test on Thursday or Friday, depending on their understanding of the concepts.

Grammar & Writing:
Last week, students reviewed the four kinds of sentences and nouns. On Tuesday, they will take their first Grammar Test. The test is lengthy, but I believe most scholars will perform well on it. Last week was a lot of review for our scholars.
Study Tip:
Sentences
- The four kinds of sentences: declarative, exclamatory, interrogative, and imperative (definitions and examples of each).
- Label the five parts of complete sentences: capital letter, subject, verb, end mark, and complete sense.
Nouns:
- Match nouns to the four types of nouns: person, place, thing, or idea.
- Make singular nouns plural.
- Make proper nouns plural.
(Our scholars will be instructed to take home their Grammar Notebooks. Inside is where all their definitions and examples live. This will help you know what they should study).
After our test on Tuesday, students will then look at how to classify and diagram very simple sentences (sentences that only possess a subject and a verb). There will be a much shorter test on this later in the week.

History:
In history, our scholars will conclude their study of geography and will take their first test on Wednesday. There is a study guide for this test in their history notebooks (p. 17). Monday and Tuesday will be spent reviewing the concepts from this chapter.
Study Tip: 
- Memorization of key vocabulary helps students be more confident in their answers. An online practice is listed here.
On Thursday and Friday, we will begin our unit on the Middle Ages. They will begin by reviewing the glory that was Rome and its crumble. Expect them to be inspired and want to take a visit to the ancient city when they get home this weekend.

Literature: If math, science, history, and grammar lend themselves to causing some student stress, literature is where they find relief. Next week, students will read chapters 5, 6, and 7 of The Princess and the Goblin. Ask your child how the book is going. They have all been thoroughly engaged in the process and verbal analyzation we do in the classroom.
On Friday, we will turn our eyes to take a look at The Book of Virtues by William Bennet. Scholars will partake in legends, myths, Biblical stories, biographies, and poems during even weeks (2, 4, 6, & 8) of each quarter. The purpose of each reading and seminar afterward is to discuss the situations the characters find themselves in and the virtue that can be gleaned from their noble or ignoble decisions and actions.
Year Readings:
"The King and His Hawk"
"Hellen Keller and Anne Sullivan"
"David and Goliath"
"The Story of Cincinnatus"
"St. George and the Dragon"
"As Rich as Croesus"
"The Sin of Omission"
"Damon and Pythias"
"Keep Your Eyes on the Prize"
"Can't, Jonathan and David"
"Nathan Hale"
"George Washington's Rules of Civility"
"Icarus and Daedalus"
"O, Captain My Captain"
"Dolley Madison Saves the National Pride"

Poetry:
Last week, we discussed the poem "Humanity" by Elma Stuckey. At some point during week three, students will be asked to present the poem before the class or to Miss Kogler or Mrs. Arnold. This is a great poem for discussion at home. The ideas and themes our scholars picked out of the poem last week were so intriguing. "Clarence" by Shel Silverstein will also be read and discussed this week, but our scholars are not expected to recite this poem.

Greek and Latin Roots:
Students will begin their Greek and Latin roots flashcards, this week. Students should review these a few nights a week. Their notecards are kept in their backpacks so they should have them available every night. The study of Greek and Latin roots is cumulative, they will be tested on:
25 - End of First Quarter
50 - End of Second Quarter
75 - End of Third Quarter
100 - End of Fourth Quarter

Idiom: Ask your child to explain the idiom, "as the crow files." This week we will be taking a look at the idiom, "blow hot and cold." Students are not tested on idioms, but you may find it enjoyable to hear how your child understands them.

Science:
Scholars will begin the week with a mass, volume, density lab on Monday. On Tuesday and Thursday, they will have their first Science quizzes. I will give some support on these first quizzes in respect to what the students should study and know. They will also learn about the following topics: vacuums, elements and the periodic table, atomic numbers and mass, and mixtures and solutions.

Spalding:
Last week, students were introduced to Spalding, some for the first time and some for the fifth time. Some scholars may think that their handwriting is as good as it's going to get. We have been working on some very simple fixes to enhance our handwriting. If you take notice, use these tips at home:
- Hold the pencil correctly. Lightly grip the pencil between the thumb and middle finger, allow the pencil to rest on the pointer finger, not the space between the thumb and pointer finger.
- Sit up tall.
- Arms gently laid on desk.
This week, students will be working through lowercase and uppercase cursive letters and the rule pages in their Spalding notebooks. This will be the last week fo Spalding with no homework.

MCC:
On most days of the week, I give the students a short reading and comprehension activity. These are graded every day and reviewed together. Please keep a lookout for these at home. They are the primary way we determine how your child's comprehension skills are.
Study Tip:
- One of the best ways to increase reading comprehension is to read with your child at home. Asking them questions about what you read together, allows them to relax and describe how they comprehended the text.

Graded Work:
Our greatest concern for your child is his or her moral virtue -- responsibility, honesty, integrity, and wisdom. Your children will hear us say, it isn't about the grade you receive, it is about the effort and care you put into your work. Students who possess these virtues and others often find that intellectual virtue follows close behind.
Grades do not indicate a child's overall ability level or intelligence. They are the map to your child's current success or mastery in a specific subject (like science) or skill (like studying). If your child receives an F on something, it doesn't mean they are a failure, it means they need more practice and instruction.

Reasons your child may surprise you with a D or F:
- Lack of understanding of the material.
- Poor teaching tactics on the teacher's behalf.
- Prior knowledge not present to understand the new information.
- Poor study habits.
- A learning challenge caused by some past trauma or present disability.

Think of the grading system as an alert system. If a poor grade surfaces, it alerts us that our scholar needs attention. Fourth grade is the perfect place to make mistakes, learn from them, and grow as a learner. It will take time for our scholars to become well versed in making mistakes and growing from them.

If you receive a quiz or test back and the grade is not what you want or would have expected, please understand that you are not the only parent going through this painful experience. Your child may start to think that they aren't smart because they failed a history quiz at the beginning of the year. Or, after the first math test, they may see an F or D and think they are just bad at math. None of this is likely the case. Your child is helping us pinpoint where they need more practice, better to find this at the beginning of the year than the middle or the end.

Tests and Quizzes:
We will never give your child a test without giving them fair warning, of at least one school day. Quizzes are worth much less than tests and it is a quick assessment for us as teachers, to evaluate who needs more practice and who is ready for the next challenge. Sometimes, these will be given without prior warning. Our goal is not to cause our students anxiety, but to show them what they can be proud of learning and what they need help with. Expect quizzes and tests to be issued regularly. What we have found in the past, is that after the initial shock of a quiz or test wears of, the scholar is left with a sense of accomplishment that they were able to recall what they learned and use it. Those that are don't feel this sense of accomplishment, may need more time on the subject or skill.

We realize that this is a lot of information that may take some time to process. Please reach out to us if you have any questions regarding this week's homework or concerns regarding your child. Mrs. Arnold and I are looking forward to another great week at Archway Arete.

Homework Policy

Thank You, Parents!
First and foremost, thank you for partnering with your children this week on their homework. The first week of school is one of the busiest, as we work on classroom procedures paired with new content. Our scholars did an exquisite job of putting the time in to their studies and have shown their determination. We are so blessed to have such a motivated class.

Homework Expectations:

Homework is expected to take somewhere between an hour to an hour and thirty minutes. That expectation is for the average student. Some students who are very disciplined can complete their homework in as little as 40 minutes. As we get into the swing of the school year, it may take time for your child to get used to the flow of our assignments which mainly include: writing summaries, finishing their workbooks and note taking, studying for quizzes, and practicing new concepts. Students who may struggle in school can have homework take as long as two hours. If you find that your child is regularly taking more than an hour and a half because of the difficulty of the work, please let me know and we can work to find ways of resolving the issue.

A Typical Night Might Look Like This: 

- Math: 30 Minutes

- Grammar/Literature: 15 Minutes

- Science: 10 Minutes

- History: 10 Minutes

- Nightly Reading: 25 Minutes

Red and Yellow Folders:
Our scholars' red folders are for take-home papers and announcements, while their yellow folders are for homework they are currently working on. These two folders should go back and forth each day between school and home. Our goal is to assess homework in a timely fashion. We will send it home Monday through Friday in the red folders. The reading log lives in the yellow folder.

Reading Logs:
Students are expected to read books appropriate for their reading level for 25 minutes per night. Students may read anything they like with your approval at home for their free reading time. The 25 minutes is included in the hour to an hour and a half homework each night. The reading log is more for you to fill out than your child, because you will be the one holding your child responsible. Last, students can make up reading time. If one night is especially busy for you, your child can make it up. The aim is 125 minutes of reading for a five-day week. Shorter weeks will have lower expectations. 

Birthday Treat Policy

The following message is from the Archway Arete's leadership.

Celebrating birthdays is a good way to show the students in our school that they are special and loved. There are many different ways to mark the occasion, but we want to be careful about students eating too many sugary, processed snacks. If each child were to bring in cake or donuts for his/her birthday, that would mean 30 unhealthy lunchtime desserts every year. Some parents would rather their child not eat this type of food and the effects of these sugary snacks can disrupt the learning environment. In fact, we strongly suggest a non-food item if parents wish to mark the occasion. Pencils, books, or other souvenirs can be just as special, don't require clean-up, and won't affect whatever diet parents wish for their children. Some teachers may allow a healthy snack for their classes as an exception (to be eaten in the lunchroom), but please reach out to the lead teacher for details. Make note that sugary treats will not be served to students, and will be sent home with the child that brought them in.

The academy suggests non-food items or healthy snacks for birthdays. Please see your child's teacher for acceptable treat options, as well as alternatives to food items.

- Food must be in its original packaging with the ingredients listed. Fresh fruit is the exception (we do have a strawberry allergy in our class).
- No peanuts or other nuts.
- No cupcakes, cakes, cookies or other treats with frosting (this includes donuts).
- No pop-culture references.

If you have any questions regarding what to bring in, please contact Miss Kogler.

First Week of School

Thank you to everyone who made it to Meet The Teacher Night, last Thursday. It was a blast to have you in our classroom. We know your children are anticipating the first day of school with all kinds of feelings; excitement, nerves, joy, saddness. Rest assured, that we will ease our way into the school year. This week is all about solidifying our classroom procedures and cultivating our safe and friendly environment for learning.

The school day ends at 3:05 p.m., with the exception of Wednesdays which end at 2:05 p.m.

View our updated daily schedule for information about specials and lunch timing. 

If you're looking for what we're learning this week, head over to the homework tab. 

Please feel free to email me any time: ekogler@archwayarete.org.



Keep in mind when you are packing your child's lunch that we are a peanut-free classroom. All snacks to be enjoyed in the classroom must be peanut free. 

Meet Your Teachers

Miss Kogler - Lead Teacher

THEN

I have always had a passion for teaching and helping others. I grew up in a household of five children. Every day I learned something new from my siblings experiences, stories, and direct instruction. In high school, I discovered my deep passion for fostering relationships and developing plans. 

Everyone always told me, "You'd make a great teacher."

My mom was a kindergarten teacher for 25 years. My summers and after school hours took place in her classroom  organizing books and gathering materials for her. After high school, I moved from Southern California to Arizona with my parents and attended Mesa Community College. It only took one semester for me to know that a business degree wouldn't suit me. There was a kids program at a local church that caught my eye and I knew immediately that planning curriculum, group management and working with kids was exactly what I wanted in a career. 

I transferred to the winter snow globe of Minnesota, Martin Luther College. MLC specializes in educating teachers on the history of education and teaching strategies that have been used past through present. I had many firsts there, my first blizzard (no, not from dairy queen), my first cheese curd, and my first professional teaching experiences. 

You'll never guess what happened next.

I had a job teaching elementary school all lined up for after graduation. All of my class requirements, teacher's assistant work, and student teaching experiences were complete. An active experience guiding leader job opened up at Backroads Travel. I thought to myself, "What an amazing way to mix the outdoors and education." 

NOW

Since accepting a position with Backroads Travel, I have taken families on tours of Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, The Grand Canyon, Santa Barbara, Napa Valley, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, Sedona, Tucson, Croatia, Montenegro, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. My time has been spent learning the culture, history, food, language, and outdoor recreation routes in each location. I have gathered a plethora of experiences that I cannot wait to bring into the classroom.

Mrs. Arnold - Assistant Teacher

My name is Lauren Arnold. I am so excited to be the Assistant Teacher to Miss Kogler this year in 4A. This will be my second year as an Assistant Teacher at Arete. Getting back to work with each of your kids is so exciting for me. 

THEN 

I am originally from Kentucky, but have lived in Arizona for three years now. I still miss my old Kentucky home, but I feel at home here in Arizona and love living here. I graduated from the University of Louisville in 2008 with a degree in Psychology. Last year as my first year back to work after staying home with my children for six years. I feel so fortunate to get to help educate and shape these amazing kids.

NOW

My two kiddos are students at Arete as well! My son, Jameson, is going into First Grade and my daughter, Natalie, is starting Kindergarten this year.

In any spare time I find, I love to read! I love reading Classics (Little Women and Pride and Prejudice are some favorites), as well as modern fiction, and books about teaching and parenting. I also enjoy getting to explore Arizona by going on hikes with my family and camping up North in the cooler weather. 

I look forward to meeting each of you and getting to know you and your children this year!