Mrs. Erica's 4th Grade Class

Fourth Grade will be going on our annual field trip to Mammoth Cave on Monday, April 30^th. Buses will depart promptly at 6 AM. Please have your child to school by 5:45 AM. We will be lining up in the gym by class. If your child is late, he or she will be left behind. Since our tour is scheduled in advance, it is important that we leave on time so that our group can get the most out of our experience. 

What should I bring?
Since we do have a long bus ride, your child may bring entertainment (handheld game systems, IPods, etc.); however, you should remember that BES is not responsible for lost or stolen property. Snacks are also a good idea. Snacks for the bus should not require utensils to eat. Drinks MUST have lids. Open containers (cans, cups, etc.) will not be allowed. Please do not send large coolers or bags as our storage space is limited.  Anything your child brings must fit in their lap or under their feet. Because of safety, we cannot keep things in the aisles or in front of emergency exits.

What should I wear?
If your child has a BES Rocks t-shirt or another BES t-shirt please wear it this day. Due to the amount of walking and rough terrain, students MUST wear tennis shoes. They may also want to bring a jacket if the weather is cool. 

What’s for lunch?
We will not be able to purchase food at the park; therefore, your child should bring his or her own lunch or preorder a lunch from the cafeteria. Refrigeration is not available so be sure to pack food that will not spoil. Disposable lunch sacks are a great idea since they take up less room and require fewer trips to and from the bus. 

When will I be home?
Buses are scheduled to arrive back to the school at 6 PM. Please be here by 5:45 so that your child does not have to wait.  If we see that we will be early or late, we will call you. Please make sure you are available at the contact number you have provided us. We must have written permission ONLY if your child is riding home with a friend. Permission over the phone will not be accepted.

May my parents go?
If parents choose to go, they must provide their own transportation and go on a separate tour. Mammoth Cave has strict policies concerning group size. Their policy allows 1 adult per every 10 students. We have enough faculty and staff available to meet this requirement. The park also has a policy concerning strollers. Since we will be hiking in rough terrain for several miles, park officials have also informed us that we will not be allowed to bring siblings. Any parent that plans to attend the trip must have a background check on file in the office.

What if I’m sick?
If your child is sick or running a fever, PLEASE do not send them. We will be 3 hours away from home with 90 children and it would be very difficult to get your child home in a timely manner. Also, if your child is prone to car sickness, we need to know ahead of time so that we can seat them accordingly. If you have medication for this, please administer it ahead of time and let us know upon your arrival. 

Hopefully, this answers any questions that you may have concerning our trip. We are so excited about this adventure! It will be a great learning experience for your child.

Homework for the week of April 9th:

• 3 Spelling assignments due THURSDAY
• Spelling Test on THURSDAY
• Reading Logs due on Monday, April 16th

Reminders:

• Field Day is this Friday!



• Reading logs due on Friday, March 23
• No Spelling this week

Reminders:

• Spring picture orders are due tomorrow, any turned in after tomorrow will have to include the late fee with the payment.
• 4th grade fundraiser: Smencils are on sale the week for $1 in the gym from 7:30-7:50 am
• BES Rocks T-shirt orders are due THIS FRIDAY

Our class set a goal of earning 20 blue tickets this nine weeks- and we have met our goal! Tomorrow afternoon, we will have 30 minutes of technology time. Students may bring in handheld electronic items such as: iPods, PSP, and DS/DSI.

However, they will NOT be allowed to bring cell phones or laptops.

 ** Spelling Test and 3 Assignments due tomorrow!

Homework:

• 3 Spelling assignments due Friday
• Spelling Test Friday
• Reading Log due Monday, March 5th

Reminders:

• Take Home Folders will go home Wednesday 2.29.12
• Thursday is the last day to meet your AR goal (points and average)
• The Book Fair is next week & Family Reading Night is on Tuesday, March 6th