HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Wishing you and your family a Happy Holiday and prosperous New Year!

See you on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to LEO MUMPFIELD for winning the Armani Village Haiku Showdown!!! He competed against approximately 130 other 4th and 5th grade students in a poetry competition. I am very proud of him!  Click on the "Student Work" tab to view some of his winning poetry.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

I could not have ask for a better way to begin my Winter Break, than with the wonderful gifts that were given to me.

THANK YOU TO...

Kaitlyn Cook and family for the teapot and mug

Brandon McLean and family for the poinsettia 

Brianna Owens and family for the card

Marissa Goodwin and family for the coffee mug and cocoa

Theo Smith and family for the hand-knitted scraf

Charlie Sutton and family for the gift card (I love to eat!!)

Exhibition REMINDER

Please make sure that your child is working on their interest project over Winter Break!

Milestone 1:

Due Wednesday, January 12^th

All resources for the “COUNTRY” interest project:

o   Students must bring in THREE books along with the printed materials from each of the THREE websites, and the form with a parent signature

Milestone 1

Milestone 2:

Due Thursday, January 27^th  

Notes from all resources in an outline format

o   During the learning team meeting, we discussed the 11 main topics (roman numerals) that need to be answered to assist your child in their “COUNTRY” interest project, which you received at the learning team meeting.

Milestone 2

NEW Narratives (Report Cards)

Our school's narratives/report cards have undergone some fairly drastic changes. They still include narrative comments, but we've added skills checklists to give you some more specific feedback on your child's performance in many areas within each subject.

I did want to discuss one thing in particular: the rating system. In the checklists, students are rated "Needs Improvement," "Developing," and "Secure." While I was filling them out, I noticed numerous students rated "Developing" in many areas (especially writing) and I want to let you know in advance that in the Fall/Winter of fifth grade, "Developing" is acceptable. It means they're where they're supposed to be and making the proper amount of progress. 

A rating of "Secure" is not very common this early in the year. The goal is to move students from "Developing" to "Secure" during the course of the year so that their fifth grade skills are solid and they are ready for sixth grade.

If you have any questions, please let me know. 

CAMP COPNECONIC

Can You Believe It?

Camp is only $25 this year!!!

Monday, February 14th - Wednesday, February 16th, the 5th graders will be traveling to Camp Copneconic in Fenton, MI. 

The money for camp is due Friday, January 7, 2011.

Check out the fun that previous 5th graders have had...

View more presentations from embryjd.



As you shop over Winter Break, don't forget about the items on the "What to Bring List."

What to Bring List

Sounder Book Report

Don't Forget: 

Your child's book report for the historical fiction novel, Sounder is due on Monday, December 13th. 

Board Game Instructions

BLOG UPDATE

I have just added TWO more tabs to our classroom blog!

STUDENT WORK: This tab allows you to view exceptional work. Some work that will be displayed in the future are: composition pieces, poetry, and many more!

RIGHT NOW:  Power Points that were created for Exhibitions are posted.  

HELPFUL WEBSITES: This tab provides links to websites that are used frequently in our classroom.  

RIGHT NOW: Everyday Math websites are available to help assist your child with new math concepts and homework. 


Also, links to Edmodo, Google Docs, and some of the AMPT teacher's blog are posted.

Permission Slips

Please click on the "Permission Slip" tab above and complete the Winter Celebration form. 

Winter Concert

On Wednesday, December 8th at 6 p.m. the 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders will be performing in the Ellen Thompson's music concert titled, "Peace, Love, & Music." I hope to see all the families there because every student has a role in this production.

The students are expected to arrive at the school at 5:30 and to wear UPA colors (black, white, or red). 

CAMP MEETING

There will be a Winter Camp Information Meeting on Wednesday, December 8^th, before the Winter Music Concert, at 5:15 in the 3^rd Floor Village area. Information will be given regarding dates, cost, chaperones, behavior expectations, what to bring, and more. Please plan to attend this very important meeting!

BLOG UPDATE

I have just made an update to our classroom blog to make things more convenient for YOU!

Now, you can fill out forms like Permission Slips, Exhibition Sign-up forms, and Celebration forms directly on the blog, without printing paper.

Just click on the “Permission Slip” tab above. 

RIGHT NOW: I've just posted a permission slip on the blog that can be filled out for the movie, Sounder that we will be watching on Monday.

I’m going “Bananas” over…

Charlie Sutton and family for donating books to our classroom library and the box of Kleenex

Marissa Goodwin and family for donating a ream of copier paper

Brandon McLean and family for donating packs of lined paper