Welcome to 4^th grade! My name is Mrs. Clavijo, and I am beginning my 14^th year at West Lake. Over the past thirteen years, I have grown to love and respect our school and those who create our school community. I am motivated to take on leadership roles within the school to ensure that our school continues on this positive path for your children.

I am looking forward to this new school year and all of the exciting things that await us this year, as well as the changes we will all be working through together.. The first thing many think of when they enter fourth grade is the NC Writing Test. Put your worries aside, the writing test has been officially removed, and students will now be taking multiple Writing Assessment Assignments throughout the year. We have many things in place to help your children progress in writing. We will also continue to use “Team Time” this year as a way to remediate and extend your student’s learning in various academic areas. This will allow them the opportunity to gain exposure to the other awesome teachers on our grade level. The curriculum is deep in 4^th grade and progressively becomes more difficult in the 2^nd and 3^rd quarters. It is expected that an “easy” subject in 3^rd grade may not seem as simple in 4^th, but we will work through this.

Fourth grade is a year of not only increased academic expectations, but also increased student responsibility. Students will be held accountable for forgotten homework, even if parents bring it to school. Students will have to write down and keep track of homework, tests, and projects in their own agendas daily. Students will also be responsible for taking their own notes and studying those notes for tests. This may seem a challenge at the start of the year, but by working together and holding the children accountable, we will achieve growth in terms of behavior and study skills. It is important that students have the supplies listed on the supply list as soon as possible. I will help them to label and organize their folders in order to get ready for the year. Let me know if you difficulty obtaining any of the supplies due to financial hardship. Students will have behavior calendars to be signed nightly. This will help us communicate regularly about behavior and study skill progress. Ask parents who have been through 4^th grade before and you will be amazed at how far your children will come, but it may take time to get there. Just hang in there! J

Again, I look forward to meeting and working with each one of you and your children this year! I can’t wait to see what amazing growth will take place this year!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Clavijo