Hey Parents! We know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now. Make things a little easier to get prepared for next year. 

 Below is the easy-to-read, printable school supply shopping lists for the 2023-2024 school year.

 

Fourth Grade Supply List 2023 - 2024

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Please see the link below for wonderful back-to-school information for fourth grade for the 2023-2024 school year.

We encourage you also to review our grade level and special schedules on the specials page.

2023 - 2024 Fourth Grade Parent Information Presentation

General Announcements

• For breakfast, kids who come in at 7:35 or later are sent to class with their trays to finish in the classroom. Anyone who comes in before that eats in the cafeteria and leaves at 7:40 to go to class. Those kids are not allowed to leave with breakfast items. Breakfast opens at 7:00. If your student plans on eating breakfast at school, please allow them enough time to get their breakfast and eat it in order to be in class on time at 7:40 ready to learn.

September 2023

September 4: Student/ Staff Holiday

September 6: Fall Picture Day

September 14: Shepard Sockhop at 6:00 pm

September 18 - 22: Education Go Week with Daily Dress-up Themes!

September 20: Holifield Science Learning Center Field Trip

September 25 -26: Spirit Night at Chuy's Plano

September 30: Shepard Book Fair Kick-Off 

October 2023

Parent Conferences TBD

October 2 - 5: Shepard Book Fair

October 5: Art Night at 6:00 pm

October 9 - 11: Student/Staff Holiday

October. 12 - 13: Student Holiday/ Staff Workday

October 16 - 18:  5th Grade Camp

October 20: Shepard Pride Rally

October 23: Spirit Night at Cici's Pizza

October 24: Fall Picture Retakes

October 27: Shepard PTA Fall Party at 5:00 pm

October 25 - 31: Red Ribbon Week

November 2023

November 7: Student Holiday/ Staff Workday

November 9: 3rd Grade Musical at 6:00 pm

November 20 - 24: Thanksgiving Break - Student/Staff Holiday

December 2023

December 12: 4th and 5th Grade Choir Concert at 6:00 pm

December 14: Bedtime Story Night at 6:00 pm

December 20: Winter Parties

December 21: Shepard Pride Rally

December 21: Last day of the semester - Early release at 12 pm for all students. *All students will be served lunch before dismissal*

December 22 - January 5: Winter Break - Student/Staff Holiday

January 2024

December 22 - January 5: Winter Break - Student/Staff Holiday

January 8: Student Holiday/ Staff Workday

January 15: Student/Staff Holiday

January 26: Shepard PTA Movie Night at 6:00 pm

Fourth Grade Schedule Overview

7:00 am - 7:30 am Early Morning Drop-Off. During this time, students will be either in the gym or in the cafeteria for breakfast until the 7:30 am bell rings.

7:30 am - 7:40 am  Student Arrival

7:40 am - 7:45 am  Announcements

7:45 am - 8:00 am  Daily Meeting

8:00 am - 8:45 am  Science

8:50 am - 9:40 am  Specials 

9:45 am - 11:15 am  Math

11:15 am - 11:45 am  Social Studies

11:45 am - 12:15 pm  Recess

12:15 pm - 12:45 pm  Lunch

12:45 pm - 1:00 pm  Social Studies

1:00 pm - 2:45 pm  Reading/ELA 

2:45 pm - 2:55 pm  Pack Up/Dismissal 

Library:

Each class gets 45 minutes at a time on Thursdays.

Please contact your grade level teacher for your student's specific time slot.

PACE:

PACE students receive 1 hour at a time on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Please contact your grade level teacher for your student's specific time slot.

Counselor:

Each class gets 30 minutes at a time on Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays.

Please contact your grade level teacher for your student's specific time slot.

**Please see the section Important Announcements & Upcoming Dates (2023-2024) for upcoming tests and assessments**

September 2023

Math: Unit 1 

• Students will be representing the value of a digit in whole numbers and decimals using standard, word, and expanded notation.
• Students will be relating decimals to fractions.
• Students will be representing decimals including tenths and hundredths using base-ten blocks and money.
• Students will be comparing and ordering a set of whole numbers using symbols. 
• Students will be comparing and ordering decimals with models and money.
• Students will be locating and naming whole numbers and decimals as points on a number line.
• Students will be rounding whole numbers to a given place value or use compatible numbers to estimate.
• Students will be representing a rational number as a fraction and a decimal. (tenths and hundredths)
• Students will be describing the relationship between place values (a place is ten times bigger; ten times smaller).
• Students will be applying the mathematical process standards.

Science: Unit 1

• Students will be using evidence to develop descriptions and explanations.
• Students will be making predictions based on observable patterns.
• Students will be measuring using the metric system.
• Students will be safely using the appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data.
• Students will be designing and conducting an investigation.
• Students will be communicating scientific explanations and valid conclusions.
• Students will be reading texts and/or using media to obtain information.
• Students will be comparing and contrasting various types of matter based on their physical properties.
• Students will be comparing and contrasting mixtures including solutions.

Reading: Unit 1

• Students will be making connections to personal experiences, ideas in other texts, and society.
• Students will be making inferences and using text evidence to support understanding.
• Students will be responding to an increasingly challenging variety of sources that are read, heard or viewed.
• Students will be analyzing plot elements, including the rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. 
• Students will be recognizing characteristics and structures of informational text including the central idea with supporting evidence.
• Students will be explaining the author’s purpose and message within a text.
• Students will be using the writing process recursively to compose personal narrative that is legible and uses appropriate conventions.

Social Studies: Unit 1

• Students will be using mapping elements to create and interpret maps.
• Students will be identifying, locating, and describing the physical regions of Texas
• Students will be reciting and explaining the meaning of the pledge to the Texas flag.
• Students will be explaining the meaning of various patriotic symbols of Texas.
• Students will be differentiating between, locating, and using valid primary and secondary sources.
• Students will be analyzing, organizing and interpreting information.
• Students will be creating written and visual material such as journals and graphic organizers.

Wearing tennis shoes is encouraged during Specials and on the playground. 

Please always label all clothing items, including jackets.

Please remember to use/send appropriate hygiene products as needed for your student.

To report an absence, please call the Child Safe Line at

469-752-3600 (option 3) or email ShepardAttendance@pisd.edu 

If you know BEFORE school that there will be a change of dismissal, please send a teacher note in the morning or email the office so we are aware.

If you need to change plans AFTER your child is here, you have 2 choices:

• Call the front office, and they will tell the teacher  –OR-
• E-mail the teacher, and cc: ShepardAttendance@pisd.edu  and Donna.Wonders@pisd.edu (the secretary). That way, in case the teacher misses it, I will make sure that we know and then a “change in dismissal” card will be sent to notify the teacher.

If your child is absent, please send a signed note with the reason for their absence or bring a doctor’s note (if you went to the doctor). 

We recommend calling the school 5 - 10 minutes prior to arrival for pick up, so students have time to gather their items and come to the office. This is especially helpful for when students are at recess, lunch, specials, or in academic services.

**Must bring a form of identification for pick-up**

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Attendance Reminders for Parents

1. Instruction begins at 7:40 am.  The school doors open at 7:00 am. Please try to have your student in class, unpacked and ready to start by 7:40 am. Any student not in the building after the tardy bell rings will be issued a tardy.  
2. Please call the child safe line before 8:30 if your child is going to be absent or later than 9:00. Dial 469-752-3100 and choose option #3.   Remember, calling the child safe line does not excuse the absence.  It is strictly to let the school know the child is safe and with you.

3. A signed note or an email to ShepardAttendance@pisd.edu is required within 3 days of the absence in order for us to excuse the absence(s).  You must include the dates your child was absent and the reason for absence.  

4. Notes to excuse an absence will not be accepted after 3 days.

5. In regard to students leaving early:  Students will be called to come down to the office when the parent arrives in the office.  This will allow the child to benefit from the maximum instructional time possible.

Your child's snack should be:

• a simple snack that is packaged separately from their lunch. 
• The snack should be one that they can open easily and manage independently. Please no snacks that require a spoon or a fork.
• Your child may bring a bottle of water to class. Their name should be marked clearly on the water bottle to prevent your child's water from getting mixed up with that of another child.

Ideas for healthy snacks can be located on the Texas Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition website

Students may bring their own labeled lunch, buy lunch from the cafeteria, or do a combination of both. Each student will have their very own lunch code located on their ID badge. This is a number that is scanned or entered if your child buys anything from the lunch line.

If sending money to school for lunch, PTA purchases, book orders, etc., please place it in a sealed envelope with your child’s name and put it in your student’s take-home folder. Most of these purchases can be made online.

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Parent Lunch Visitors for 2023 - 2024!

During the school day, students have a 30-minute long recess. Recess is usually an outdoor play time if the weather permits. On bad weather days, we will do an activity in our classrooms during this time. On occasion, the students will be permitted an additional recess time. Teachers do not apply sunscreen to children. We recommend applying sunscreen to your child before you send them to school. We go outside every day unless the temperature is below 32 degrees or it is raining.

If your child is celebrating their birthday, their teacher will take the time to recognize their special day and they will also be mentioned on our morning announcements, "The Patriot News." If you wish to bring a treat for the whole class, they will be shared at the end of the day. Some examples of birthday treats are store-bought cookies or donuts. Please, no peanut butter treats. Please arrange this celebration with your child's teachers. Family members are currently not allowed to attend. This will just be for your child and their class. 

Birthday invitations have to be handed out by students at non-academic times.

Field Trips will be organized based on the school and district schedules in conjunction with the academic goals of the grade level. 

We will send home flyers about specific field trip information closer to the field trip dates as well as post information about them here in the Important Announcements Section.

In order to volunteer at the school, any person must complete a background check form. Please do this now if you think you may ever want to chaperone or help with anything at school. The more the merrier!

      Types of volunteers include:

• Room Parents
• Workroom helpers
• Field Trip Chaperones
• Watch Dog Dads
• Fine Arts Day presenters or helpers

All volunteers must sign in at the front office.

Please ask for more information if you are interested. You are welcome!

Plano I.S.D. Volunteer Application and Information

Registration

We have provided here for you the link for information about new student enrollment. Should you have any further questions, feel free to call Shepard Elementary on our mainline and speak with our front office. The direct phone number is (469) 752 - 3100

New Student Enrollment