December 4, 2009
Greetings!
I’m happy to say we’ve completed all of our ITBS testing this week AND our first trimester of 5th
grade! Thank you for all the work you’ve done to help your child get to this point! We’ve had a
fantastic beginning to our year, and I am excited to delve deeper into the curriculum now that we’ve
established classroom routines, learned homework procedures, etc.
These next two weeks are jam-packed with learning and fun! Here are a few highlights:
Night of the Notables: the yellow NN packet I will refer to regularly is also found online. Your child
must have their yellow packet with them at school each day, but may bring it home as well to work
on portions of the project, etc. This Tuesday, the 8th, your child should have at least one book or
other resource at school so we can begin talking about using sources to find the info we need.
PLEASE help your child find age appropriate books they can read on their own when we work at
school.
Math: We’re diving deeper into our study of long division. I teach both the traditional method, and
the Everyday Math “Partial Quotient” method. Students may choose the method that is best for them.
Social Studies: We’re beginning Chapter 4 on Monday, which introduces us to the new colonies! This
is a short chapter, so we’ll work through it quickly and take our Chapter 4 quiz on Thursday the
17th. (Notes will be available online by Tuesday the 8th.)
Advent: We are continuing to pray together as a class and as a school during this time of
preparation. We talked in 5th grade about the importance of “taking inventory” of the
blessings/things we have, before we can ask for more. Each day, we’re celebrating and honoring
each other as we write a classmate a little note and say a prayer for them. As a school, we are
raising money and awareness for the OSU Orphanage in Ghana and collecting gloves and socks for
the homeless. As always, I am so grateful for all your support and the wonderful example of
compassion and generosity you model for your children.
Service: Mrs. Mills has invited the 5th graders to join her for caroling at the Homeless Dinner Monday
the 14th. (I’ll keep the homework light that night, in hopes that more people will be able to
participate.)
Buddies: Join us for caroling at Queen Anne Manor on Wednesday the 9th from 9:30-11ish with our
buddies! (Meet us outside the Pre-K room at 9:30.)
Christmas Party: Our class party will begin with pizza lunch provided by the Christmas Party Parents
on Thursday, the 17th from 11:45-12:10. It will conclude with activities and games on Friday, the
18th.
Report Cards... go home Tuesday, December 15th with your child.
Have a fabulous weekend!
~Monika