The Blaile Buzz

Labor Day is celebrated to honor the significant contributions and achievements of American workers and the labor movement. Originating in the late 19th century, it acknowledges the struggles and successes of workers in demanding better conditions, shorter workweeks, and safer workplaces. The holiday also serves as a traditional marker for the end of the summer season and is a federal holiday signed into law in 1894.

When I post grades to Focus, I enter the percentage or points earned for each assignment. I use clear assignment titles so students can easily identify their grades. Students are trained to check Focus regularly, and I encourage this often. It builds independence, responsibility, and prevents “surprises” at report time with missing work.

Codes Used in Focus

NTI = Not Turned In

• Meaning: The assignment was graded for most of the class, but your student did not submit it. Without the work, I cannot assign a grade.

• Student Action: Find the assignment (usually in the green PYP folder or Inquiry Notebook), complete it, and turn it in. If needed, they should ask me for help.

• Next Step: Once submitted, I change NTI to a grade, which usually improves their GPA significantly.

• Impact on GPA: NTI counts as a zero until completed. This highlights missing work. For official grades (interims/report cards), I replace NTIs with at least a 50% if the work is still missing, per school policy.

• Late Work Policy: In the first nine weeks, no points are deducted for late work. In later quarters, late submissions may lose points if significantly overdue, though I am flexible and work with students based on effort and circumstances.

X = Excused

• Meaning: The assignment cannot be made up (e.g., a lab sheet from a field trip your child missed).

• Impact on GPA: None—excused assignments do not affect grades.

NG = No Grade

• Meaning: The assignment was missed due to absence, but can still be made up.

• Student Action: Complete and submit the work. I typically provide all missed assignments upon return. If absent, we put a folder at the student's seat, and this organizes any handouts for the time they were absent. Students should ask questions if unsure.

• Next Step: I allow time to complete the work based on the number of days missed. Once submitted, I update the grade in Focus.

• Impact on GPA: NG may slightly lower a grade until completed, but never as much as an NTI.

If your family is experiencing difficulties at home, I would like to provide additional support at

school. I understand that you are not always able to share details and that’s okay. If your child is

coming to school after a difficult night, morning, or weekend, please text me “Handle with Care”.

Nothing else will be said or asked. This will let me know that your child may need extra time,

patience, a hug, or help during the day. 💕

Sincerely,

Roxanne Blaile

321-446-2938 (personal cell)

Our Week:

Monday - No School/Happy Labor Day!

Tuesday - Day 6 - Art & Music

Wednesday - Day 1 - Spanish

Thursday - Day 2 - PE

Friday - Day 0 - Art

Unit 1: How We Organize Ourselves

The Central Idea of this unit is "Systems and relationships in human and natural communities help meet needs and ensure survival."

🔬We will incorporate our science standards into this unit through the exploration of the Science

Process Skills and many of our Life Science standards.

The Week Ahead

🌎 In Social Studies, we will finish up diving into learning about Florida's Native American Tribes. Tribes will present their research of their tribes to the class this week.

🔬 Our scientists will continue investigating plant and animal life cycles, as well as seasonal changes and adaptation.

📚 We will continue our first novel study of the year, Fish in a Tree. During our novel study, we will read portions together in class and students will have at-home reading assignments. Throughout our novel, we will apply a variety of reading comprehension skills.

📚 Students will read during our daily BREAK (Building Reading Endurance and Knowledge) time and are expected to read for at least 20 minutes each night. Students can log their reading minutes into Beanstack through their Launchpad.

✏️ Our writers will practice writing to specific prompts that are aligned to our unit of study. Students practice writing for 20-30 minutes at a time to build stamina in writing.

🔢 Unit 5: Numbers and Number Patterns

In this unit, students will:

• find factor pairs and multiples using the relationship between multiplication and division and divisibility rules.
• use understanding of factor pairs to identify prime and composite numbers.
• use a pattern rule to describe and extend a numerical pattern and identify features of the pattern not explicitly stated in the rule.

🔢 Students who struggle with quick recall of their multiplication facts should practice regularly.

These sills will be applied in many of the concepts taught in 4th grade.

Wednesday, September 16: Interims Posted in FOCUS

Friday, September 25: Teacher Workday/No School

Wednesday, September 30-Friday, October 9: Read-A-Thon

Monday, October 12: Teacher Workday/No School

Tuesday, October 20: Report Cards Posted in FOCUS

Have gently used books at home that our 4th graders would love? I would love to have them donated to our classroom library! If you would like to donate to our library, please drop books off at the front office with "Mrs. Blaile" written on the box, and drop me an email letting me know they are up there! I will collect them, and those I can keep, I will. Those I cannot keep (based on Beanstack approval) I will return to you. Every little bit helps! Thank you!

4th Grade Teacher

Freedom 7 Elementary School of International Studies

400 4th Street South

Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

blaile.roxanne@brevardschools.org

321.868.6610 ext. 44671