May 2015

APRIL 29, 2015  5th Grade Newsletter

  Calendar for May:

April 30--Reading/LArts End of Level Test (Mrs. Payne's class)
May:

1--Reading Celebration.  Sponsored by our wonderful PTA and held during school.

5--Mrs. Payne’s class takes the 1st session of the Language Arts End of Level test.

6--Mrs. Williams & Mrs. Little’s classes take the 1st session of the Math test.

5--Orchestra Concert (joined with CMS), 6:00 PM.

6--CMS Open House, 6-8 PM.  We encourage you to take your child, tour the

    school, and meet his/her teacher.

7--Mrs. Payne’s class takes the 2nd session of math test.

8--Mrs. Williams & Mrs. Little’s classes take the 2nd session of the Math test.

8--Battle of the Books.   Parents, we need help running this, from 12:30-2:30.   If you can donate your time, we’d love to have you..  Thanks!  Please contact us right away if you can help from 12:30-2:30,

11--Zion Field Trip.  

       We have plenty of chaperones.  Thanks for volunteering!  Your child needs to bring water, walking shoes, and a home lunch (if applicable).  It may be good to bring a hat or sunscreen.  We will be hiking.  

       If you haven’t already paid $3.00 for the IMAX Theater movie, you can still send that to school.  Thanks!

12--Last day to turn in Reading Revolution Book Reports  (Mrs. Little’s/Williams’

   students)  *No more stickers on the chart!

12--Last day to turn in Reading Response Journals (Mrs. Payne’s students)

    *No more stickers on the chart!

12--Present State Reports (Mrs. Payne’s class)

14--Judicial Award (ice cream sundaes)

14--Orchestra Concert, 1:00 PM.  We are excited to see our 5th graders perform!

15--Costume Check for Great American Heroes Program.  Please bring costumes so we can make sure you are ready to go on stage.  If you need help finding a

costume, let us know and we’ll see if we can help.   Students need to have their

parts memorized.  They received scripts on April 29.

15--Congressional Award (Movie & Popcorn).

18--Presidential Award  (Breakfast in the Park)  *We will ride the bus to the Canyon Park @ 9:00, eat breakfast, play, then walk back by 11:30..  

19--Great American Heroes Program,  10:00 (K-3) and 2:00 (4/Parents).   You can

    take your child home afterwards.  

20--Tent Day--WORKER’S HOLIDAY

20--Mrs. Smith (school secretary) is retiring.  An open house will be held in her honor in the school library 2-4 PM.  You are welcome to drop in.

21--Track Meet (Field Day) at CHS track.   This will last most of the day.

22--Last Day of School

Whew!  Can you believe this schedule?   We’ll continue to squeeze in reading, writing, and arithmetic, especially since we have more high stakes testing ahead of us.  We are still in major review mode, and we really appreciate your child being in school every day.  Once this testing is over, our learning takes on a different shape..  A little more relaxed and a little more fun.  Yay!   

Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Little’s students are writing an ABC Book, and Mrs. Payne’s class is working on State Reports.  These reports will be presented on May 12 and 13th.  

The last newsletter will be posted on Wed., May 13.

Your help and support are invaluable to us as teachers.  Thank you for helping us with your child’s education.  We love each one of these 5th grade students!

                        Mrs. Payne, Mrs. Little, and Mrs. Williams

April 30 will be the last day I (Mrs. Payne) will collect Reading Response Journals on a weekly basis. For the next two weeks (or until the 12th of May), students need to hand them in ONLY when they have completed reading a book.  

April 20, 2015

Dear Parents,

I forgot to update this blog when I sent home the latest notice about your student's progress.  So here it is:

End of Level Testing will be--
     Science-    Thursday, April 23
     Lang. Arts-Thursday, April 30
     Math #1-   Tuesday, May 5
     Math #2-   Thursday, May 7

Notice the change in the math dates.  

Saturday, April 25--Kite Flight reading incentive. Turn in reading sheets at the 
                            CMS, get a free kite.  10:00-3:00 PM.  Our school gets money for this :)
Thursday, April 30--Magic of Writing entries are due.  
My students are all working on their fantasy/science fiction stories about a planet called Wakyabi and its humanoid, insect, and animal organisms.  Their creatures have specialized structures and variations that help them survive in their environment.  These stories will be entered in our Magic of Writing contest.
Since the computers are being used for testing, your child may need to finish his/her story at home.

We are finishing up our study on World War 2, and will read about the Korean, Vietnam, Cold War, then our current War on Terrorism.  We won't spend a lot of time on these wars, but if any of you parents have served in one of them, we'd love you to visit our classroom and tell us about your service. 

These dates are coming up in May:

Friday, May 1-Reading Celebration, here at the school.  This is sponsored by the                                  PTA and is centered around the author, Mo Willems.
Monday, May 11-Field Trip to Zion ($3.00 to see the movie in the IMax Theater).
Tuesday, May 12-Tour CMS  (We'll walk there and back).
Thursday, May 14--Battle of the Books  (We'd love some of you to volunteer).
Thursday, May 14--Orchestra Concert @ 1:00 PM
Friday, May 15-Judicial & Congressional Awards (Ice Cream Sundaes &
                         Movie and Popcorn)
Monday, May 18-Breakfast in the Park (for Presidential Award winners)
Tuesday, May 19-American Heroes Program (10:00 & 2:00)
Wednesday, May 20- Tent Day (Worker's Holiday)
Wednesday, May 20- Awards Assembly for Reading Revolution and Patriot
                     Awards
Thursday, May 21--Field Day at CHS track
Friday, May 22--Last Day of School.

Whew!  Not a lot of time left over for reading, writing, and arithmetic, but I'll do what I can to fit it in.  Let me know if you would like to chaperone our field trip, help with the Battle of the Books, or help with Breakfast in the Park.  

     Once again, thanks for your continual support!   

                                         Sincerely,  Jeanne Payne

March 25, 2015

Dear Parents,

We are off to a great start for 4th quarter.  We are excited to have your child present what s/he has learned from doing his/her science project.  The students will be presenting their findings to the classes this Friday, March 27 during the morning.  They will display their projects in the gym from 2:00-3:00 in the afternoon.  You are welcome to take them home (kids and projects) at 3:00, if you wish.

The last day to order a South Elementary Yearbook is this Friday.  Just send $12.00 in an envelope, labeled yearbook.  Add your child's name and teacher and we'll see that it gets to the PTA.

We need your child to find and PRINT a picture of their Great American Hero, and bring it to school by Monday, 30th, so that we can begin drawing it in our art class with Mrs. Davis.  These drawings will be pencil sketches, so colored pictures are not needed.  They just need to be big enough to see details.  If you'd rather, you can send it to me and I can print it here at school.

Also, be thinking about what costume your children will need as they dress up as their famous American for our end of year program on May 19.  Make-up is fine, but please do not paint faces to change skin colors.

Have a Happy Easter!  There will be no school on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday of next week (April 1-3).  School resumes on Monday, 6th.

We will be walking to the SUU Auditorium on Friday, April 10, to watch Honk! Jr., Playmaker's Spring Production.  We have asked that students donate $1 to cover the cost of the ticket.  Most of our students have already paid this.  Thank you.

We are working hard in class, and good attendance is so vital!  We are still learning many new things, and will also start reviewing the things we have been learning all year.  We will be taking our end-of-year tests, starting in late April.  We should be able to give you our schedule for testing in the next newsletter on April 15.

We want to encourage students to READ.   [Note: This newsletter was written by Mrs. Williams, but I, Mrs. Payne, want to say how very pleased I am with the reading my students are doing.   I am so proud of my students and how they are filling up the Revolution Reading Chart with stickers!  Remember, the Reading Response Journals are due today-- and every Wednesday.)

Our 5th Grade Battle of the Books will be on May 8th.

Thank you so much for the great support that you give us and your children.  We love teaching your children and cannot believe how quickly this year has gone.

                                      Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Little, and Mrs. Payne

March 11, 2015

Dear Parents,

It’s hard to believe that 4th Term is here already.  Following are some events you will want to calendar:

MARCH

Friday 13th--End of 3rd Term

Monday 16th--All work must be turned in, including the Great

    American Hero Information Sheet and the Science Expo

    Registration Form

Friday 20th--Worker’s Holiday

Friday 27th--Science Expo (displays in the gym)

APRIL

Wednesday 1st-3rd--Spring Break (no school)

Friday 10th--Musical Production, “Honk! Jr.”

     Please look on PowerSchool and view your child’s progress report.  All missing assignments must be turned in by Monday (16th) in order to attend Worker’s Holiday..  Remember, s/he must also have 80% or higher.   Those students who earn this Worker’s Holiday will go swimming at the Aquatic Center on Friday 20th..  We will ride the bus there at 12:30, then will walk back   The cost will be $3 (or a swim pass).  

      We have students who will be performing in “Honk! Jr.”, the Utah Shakespeare Playmaker’s production of the Ugly Duckling.   We’d love to attend this on April 10th.  It will cost each student $1 to attend.  We need to pay for all the students when we enter the Randall Jones Theater, so we are asking that you send the $1 to school (anytime within the next few weeks. would be great).  We will walk there and back.

    The Science Expo is the next big project.  We’d love to answer your questions if you have any.  We hope your child knows what s/he wants to do.  

Thank you for your support.   We say that in every letter, but we really appreciate you!  We are a team,, and we couldn’t be as effective without your support.

 

        Sincerely,  Mrs. Payne, Mrs. Williams, and Mrs. Little

February 18, 201

Dear Parents,

     Thank you so much with the help you have given as your child has taken the SAGE writing test.  It is so helpful to have all of our students present on the day we take the test.  I feel that the students did a great job with the first section of the test.  Remember,  the second portion will be tomorrow (Thursday) at 9:00 AM.  

     I'm sending a list of Famous Americans home today.  Students need to choose a list of ten Americans that they would like to represent in our Great American Hero program in May.  We ask that students pick ten because they may not get their first or second choice (or seventh or eighth).  We will be picking these Famous Americans next Friday, February 27th.   Students will need to fill out a biography information sheet once they have been assigned their American Hero.   This bio sheet will need to be turned in by March 9th.

     SEPs (Parent Conferences) will be held the first week of March.  Look for the SEP form coming home today.  If that time does not work, pencil your child's name in an empty slot and return it.  Thanks!

     Science and Engineering Expo:  Also coming home is an information letter explaining this event.  The Science Expo will not be judged;  however, projects will be graded.  Please fill out the registration form and return it to me by Monday, March 2nd.  This expo is for 4th and 5th grades.  They can choose to do a research paper or a full-blown project.
Students will need to have their project or research paper completed by Friday, March 27th.  Parents can come view the projects in the gym, from 2:00-3:00 on this same day.

     We are finishing our Matter Unit, and we want to culminate this unit by making "fudge in a bag".  This is a costly activity, so we are asking for a donation of $1.00 per student.  If you can donate, that would be a great help.  We would like to buy the ingredients on Tuesday, February 24th.   If any of you would like to come help with this activity on February 27, we'd love to have you.  We will start at 1:45.

     Spelling Bee is Friday (20th).  Megan and McKenna are representing our class.  (Go girls!)
   
     My students did an excellent job presenting their book projects today.  Now they can think about the Civil War Project, which will be due Friday, February 27th.  This gives them a week and a half to complete.  They have already been given an assignment sheet, so please ask them about it.

                   Feel free to call or email me, if you have questions.  Thanks!

                                     Sincerely, Jeanne Payne

February 4, 2015 Newsletter

Hello, parents and students,

I'm always amazed at how quickly we reach this time of the year.  We're already at mid-term of third quarter.   Please note the upcoming activities and events:

Wednesday, February 4--Harmonicas.  We began today.  If you would like your student to borrow one from me, let me know.  They can also purchase one from me ($4.50), or buy one elsewhere (Key of C).   We will squeeze in 15 minute practice times here at school on Tuesdays and Fridays.  

Monday, February 9--Worker's Holiday.  This will be a read-a-thon.  Students may wear PJ's and bring a few healthy snacks to munch on while they read.  They may bring a pillow or blanket, if they wish, and a GOOD BOOK to read.   Those who have missing assignments will be catching up on them during this time.

Thursday, February 11--SAGE writing test (the real thing)
Thursday, February 19--SAGE writing tests will be administered at 9:00-12:00 during the 11th and 19th.   Please make sure your child gets a good night's sleep and eats a good breakfast.

Friday, February 13--Valentine Party.  We will take the last period of the day to open Valentines.  Each student may bring a Valentine for each of his/her classmates.  These may be home-made or store-bought.  Usually we have plenty of candy inside the Valentines, but if you wish, you may send a treat.   If students would like, they can decorate a box at home and bring it to hold their Valentines.  If not, I will provide a large envelope they can use.   I will send a list of names home tomorrow.  Sorry, I forgot to attach it to the progress report today.

Friday, February 13--Valentine Literacy Unit is due.  I hope your child has interviewed you (or Grandpa and Grandma) and written up your love story.  This needs to be written neatly or typed.  This activity will help students improve their writing skills as they think of a "power house" lead and a "home run conclusion".   I ask that you help them with this.

Wednesday, February 18--Book Project due.  This is a Cereal Box Report (or any box will do).
Students have an instruction sheet to refer to.  S/he will need to stand in front of class and share the box and all the "ingredients" listed on the outside.  The book needs to be_____

Monday, February 16-- President's Day, no school.

Friday, February 20--Spelling Bee.  A qualifying test will be given to students on the 12th.  Highest scorers will compete in the Spelling Bee.  (A list of 100 words was sent home a few weeks ago so students could study and prepare, if they wanted).

Parent Conferences (SEPs) will be the first week of March.  I will send home schedules in two weeks.  If you have any conflicts going on this week, please let me know so I can avoid those days when I schedule your appointment.

I hope you have been able to view some of the GO MATH teaching videos.  You can go directly to the link on the South Elementary home page.  There is one video for each lesson.  The after school math tutor is also available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays until 4:00.

Science Share Fair:  We won't be having a science fair this year.  Instead, we will present a SCIENCE SHARE FAIR.  Students will not be judged, but will present a research paper or a full blown project in class, and then in the gym with all the 5th graders.  They can choose to write a research paper or conduct an investigation.  More information will be sent home in two weeks.  This will be due the end of March.

Please look at the Progress Report I sent home today and sign the orange slip.  The typing sheet I attached will be the last one going home (but don't stop practicing).

I know it sounds like a lot is expected this month, but I've tried to space it out so that everything doesn't come due all at once.   I hope I haven't forgotten anything, but feel free to tell me if I did!
I value your input, and I know how necessary it is that we keep communication lines open.

                              Thank you!  Mrs. Payne

January 21, 2015

Coming Up in the 5th Grade...

January 20--Math Tutor begins
     We know some of you have been patiently waiting for this to happen.  The tutor will be in the library 3:30-4:00 PM, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.  This tutor will help 3rd-5th graders catch up or learn math concepts.  We hope you take advantage of this if your child needs extra help.     Important:  students must be on their best behavior, and they must be picked up promptly at 4:00.  If you want your child to take advantage of this, please let me know.

January 23, Friday--Language Arts Interim Test (Practice Test)
     These tests help us see what we still need to teach before the "real" ones coming up.  They also help students know how to manipulate the computer icons as well as get a feel for the SAGE tests.  Thanks for sending headphones for the testing.

January 25--Students may begin recording their reading minutes for the Lion's Kite Flight for      Reading.  Look for the sheet coming home with the progress report.  Students can bring their reading charts to the kite festival, where they will exchange their chart for a kite, book, or movie pass.  Our school will get money depending on the time students read.

February 4th--Begin Harmonicas (Mrs. Payne's class)
     If you would like to buy a harmonica for your child to own, s/he can bring $4.50 and buy a harmonica from me.  My harmonicas are very basic, beginner instruments.  If you want a higher quality one, you can purchase one at a music store (or online).   If you choose to buy one from another source, make sure it is in the KEY OF C.   If you do not wish to buy one, your child may borrow a harmonica from me.  It will be a used one from previous years, but cleaned and sanitized.

February 12 (Thursday)--SAGE WRITING TEST--the real thing!
February 16 (Monday)--President's Day--no school
February 19 (Thursday)--SAGE WRITING TEST-the real thing!

February 20 (Friday)--School Spelling Bee, 2:30 PM for 3rd-5th grades (2:00, 1st-2nd).
    A list of words was sent home with the progress reports today.

March 10 (Tuesday)--"You Be the Chemist" competition at SUU.  We will send one team of six students from our 5th grades to compete.  Any students interested in taking the qualifying exam may do that.

March 13 (Friday)--3rd Term Ends
April 25--Lion's Kite Flight for Reading


Thanks for encouraging your child to read at home.  My students have surprised me and taken off in a big way!  Our chart is getting full of stickers, and I am so proud of all of them.

Remember to sign the gold verification slip and send it back to school as soon as you can.  I appreciate your support, your offers to help, and your communication over the needs of your child.  We are in this together!

                                                        Sincerely, Mrs. Payne