Thursday, April 7, 2016

April 6, 2016

5th Grade Newsletter April 6, 2016
Dear Parents,
Thanks for helping your children with their science projects.  We have some great thinkers in our 5th grade this year.  
We will be giving your child a script for the Great American program on April 20, with our next blog update.  Keep looking for an appropriate costume for your child’s character.  We also need a few instrumental music solos for our program.  We are needing (hopefully): “Yankee Doodle”, “New York, New York”, (or another movie tune), “Stars and Stripes Forever”, “Home on The Range”, and a classical type piece.  If your child would like to do one of these, have them let us know and we can have him/her audition for the number. We would like these solos selected before April 20.
We are continuing to learn many new things, so attendance is really important.  Our testing schedule was sent home on a bright red paper last week, and it is also listed on the calendar below. Your child will be in the best situation by taking the test with the whole class at the scheduled times.
5th Grade Calendar
Ready, set, hang on!!  We will try our best to inform you of upcoming events as soon as we are able.  April and May get pretty crazy!   So far……….
  • Mon. Apr. 11--Junie B. Jones, SUU Playmaker's Performance (Mrs. Payne's class)
  • Wed., Apr. 20--Newsletter/progress report
  • Thurs., Apr. 28-TESTING (morning)
  • Fri., Apr. 29- TESTING (afternoon)
  • Sat., Apr. 30-KITE FLIGHT--PLEASE TURN IN READING LOG AT CMS SOCCER FIELD.  SOUTH GETS MONEY FOR KID’S READING TIME.
  • Mon., May 2-TESTING (morning)
  • Tues., May 3-TESTING (morning)
  • Wed. May 4- Newsletter/progress report
  • Thurs., May 5-TESTING (morning)/-Reading Celebration (afternoon)
  • Thurs., May 12-Battle of the Books(5th grade-morning) We need parent help.
  • Fri., May 13- Orchestra concert @ 1:30
  • Mon., May16--Field Trip to Zion ($3.00 for the movie)
  • Tues., May 17--ALL books read and written about for Reading Revolution/ program practice in the afternoon
  • Wed., May 18-costume check (Bring in costume for Great American play.)
  • Thurs., May 19-Tour of the Middle School (We walk back.) Judicial Reading Award (sundaes) in the afternoon/Cedar Middle School Spring Open House from 5:30 - 7:30 (You will be able to pick up a class schedule for next year.)
  • Fri.., May 20-- program practice in the morning/ Congressional Reading Award (movie/popcorn) in the afternoon/Final Newsletter/ progress report
  • Mon., May 23-- Presidential Reading Reward (Breakfast in the Park)/
          program practice in the afternoon
  • Tues., May 24--Famous American 5th Grade Program @ 10:00 for K-3 & 2:00 for 4th grade and parents
  • Wed.,May 25-Worker’s Holiday (Tent Day)
  • Thurs., May 26--Track and Field Day for 4th & 5th grade @ CHS  (We need parent volunteers this day.) Students need a white t-shirt (new or old) to color for a final art project with Mrs. Davis, at the end of the day.
  • Fri., May 27--Last day of school/ Dismissal at 2:30
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Thank you for your continued support.
     Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Little, & Mrs. Payne

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

March 23, 2016

March 23, 2016   NEWSLETTER
Dear Parents,
We are ready to start  4th quarter.  WOW!!  All work for 3rd quarter is due tomorrow, Thurs., Mar. 24 in order to earn Worker’s Holiday. All students got a missing assignment list last week.  We are going to the Aquatic Center this Fri., Mar. 25, in the afternoon, for our Worker’s Holiday.  Students who have not earned this will stay at the school to work on missing assignments. The cost is $2.00 per students.  WE ARE IN NEED OF A FEW PARENTS WHO WILL GET IN THE WATER WITH THE STUDENTS.  This will be from 1:15-2:45.  We will be riding a bus to and from the Aquatic Center, however, if you want your child to walk home after swimming please send a note.  If a student does not have a note s/he must ride the bus back to school.
Spring Pictures are tomorrow.
The last day to order a yearbook is March 29.  
We are excited to have your child present what s/he has learned from doing her/his science project.  The students will be presenting their finding to their classes on Fri., Apr. 1, during the morning.  They will display their projects in our classrooms from 2:45-3:15 for parents to come view, if you would like.  You are welcome to take them home at 3:15 if you wish.  We have the upper grade TALENT SHOW in the gym at 1:00 on Apr. 1, as well. Remember that tryouts are after school tomorrow, if your child turned in an entry form.
Please be thinking about what costume your child will need as s/he dresses as her/his famous American for our end of year program on May 24.  Make-up is fine, but please do not paint faces to change skin colors. Students will get a script in April.  Every student will have a part to memorize.  
We want to wish you a Happy Easter on Sunday!  We do not have any days off for Easter because of the week long Spring Break.
We are working hard in class and good attendance is so important.  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 6.
We want to encourage students to READ, READ, READ!!  A book report for Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Little’s students is due by April 19.  the second report is due by May 17.  ALL BOOK REPORTS FOR READING REVOLUTION ARE DUE BY MAY 17.   Mrs. Payne’s students need to continue writing in their Reading Response Journals (due each Wednesday).  Our 5th grade Battle of the Books will be on May 12.  
We will need parent help during the morning of May 12 to help with
Battle of the Books.
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, & Mrs. Payne

**Our next newsletter will be posted on April 6.




                      

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

STEAM Celebration (Science Share Fair & South's Got Talent!)

Our Science Share Fair has turned from  
STEM  to STEAM !  
We are adding South’s Got Talent at 1:00 in the gym, so you can pop into our room and see our student projects afterward. Remember, parents can come see the projects anytime between 2:30-3:15 on Friday, April 1st. I hope your child has been thinking, planning, and working on this project.

South’s Got Talent:
Applications due-March 21
Auditions held-   March 24
Talent Show-     April 1
*This is taking the place of Arts Night this year

5th Grade Science Share Fair
Forms due-   March 25
Projects/Inventions/Research/Collections Presented- April 1 (in each classroom)
    *We’ve added another category: COLLECTIONS  (the science variety)



Wednesday, March 2, 2016

March 2, 2016

5th Grade Newsletter
March 2, 2016
Coming up:
 March 4-  Mrs. Payne’s book projects due
7-11-Spring Break
14-   Yearbook art due
15-   YBTC Challenge
22-   2nd book report due(Williams/Little)
23-   next print-out/ newsletter
24-   Spring Pictures
25-   End of Term/ possible Worker’s Holiday
25-   Forms due for Science Share Fair
    April 1-   Science Share Fair

Attached is a letter explaining our Science Share Fair (formerly called Science and Engineering Expo). This will take place on the afternoon of Friday, April 1st.  Parents, you are invited to come to our 5th grade classrooms on this day (April 1) from 2:45-3:15 to look at the projects.  You may take your child home with you at 3:15.  Please read the letter so that you can guide your child in selecting an appropriate project. Be aware that students will choose only one of the following three science projects: Experiment, Invention, or Research Project.  Details are in the letter.  
The form must be returned by March 25th.
     We hope you are on the lookout for a costume for your child to wear in our American Heroes Program coming up in May.  Let us know if you run into problems.  We teachers are especially excited about this program and are spending our early mornings writing the script.
We are closing in on our Civil War Unit, and will begin learning about the World Wars and the Great Depression. For Science, Mrs. Little/William’s classes are learning about magnets, and Mrs. Payne is beginning the heredity unit.
Students are reading and writing every day, and increasing their literary skills so they can ace the SAGE test coming up the first of April.   
We appreciate your help and encouragement at home, both on daily math assignments and on special projects. If your child is behind, please administer a little tough love, if necessary, so s/he can catch up.  

Thanks for your continued support here at school.  We feel lucky to have parents like you on our team!

                  Mrs. Payne, Mrs. Little, Mrs. Williams

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

February 17, 2016 Update

5th Grade Newsletter
February 17, 2016
Thank you so much for attending parent-teacher conferences.  We enjoyed meeting with you to discuss your child’s progress. If your child has not turned in his/her 6th grade registration form, we need it by Friday.
We are already at mid-term for third quarter.  We will be having a Worker’s Holiday this Friday, February 19 in the afternoon.  This will be a movie.  Students may wear PJ’s if they want, and bring a few healthy snacks. They may bring a blanket or pillow to make a comfortable spot. They will be able to choose between two Family Feature films.  All missing work is due tomorrow Thurs., Feb. 18 in order to earn Worker’s Holiday.  Students must have an 80% overall total, and have their Famous American reports turned in, to earn Worker’s Holiday.  All students were given a missing assignments report at the end of last week.  Those not earning Worker’s Holiday, will be able to work on missing assignments during this activity in another room.  Please note that students who turn in “late work” will NOT be receiving full credit on that work.  This will be for all students on all assignments for the remainder of the year.
Students can begin figuring out a costume for their Famous American,  so that it won’t be hectic in May.  Students have been told that they are NOT to paint their skin a different color to indicate race, although regular make-up is fine to help define their character.  Each student will get a script, with a part to memorize, in April.  Further information will be sent as this gets closer.
We are not having a “science fair” this year, but will be doing a SCIENCE SHARE FAIR.  Students will not be judged, but will present their project in class and then possibly set it up in the gym to share with others.  We will be talking about the different types of projects that they can do in science class and information about this will be sent home fairly soon.  These will be due at the end of March.  Being able to present scientific information is a 5th grade standard, so this will be required for all students.
If you have not sent the permission for your child to participate, or not participate in Mrs. Bassett’s presentation about the choking game, please do so.  If a letter is not returned your child will not be able to participate.
If your child is interested in winning a $100 tuition scholarship for “Art, Music, & Me” Kids Summer Camp this summer s/he can write a one page paper on why s/he wants to attend the camp, how s/he feels about the arts, etc. The paper should include what potential the student has in either music, dance, drama, or visual arts. It will be at SUU from June 13-18.  We need the application entry turned in by Mon., Feb. 29.                             
The next newsletter will be posted on Wed., March  2.  We don’t have school the week of March 7-11. We are off for Spring Break.  The students do NOT have to make up the “snow day”. The state interim superintendent made the decision to require teachers make up the day, but not students and support personnel.
        Please sign the orange verification slip stating that you have read this letter and checked Power School, and return it with your child.
Thank you for your support,
Mrs. Williams, Mrs.Little, & Mrs. Payne

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

FIFTH GRADE NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 27, 2016
Dear Parents,
    Sorry that the Snow Day we had planned for Worker’s Holiday from last quarter, hasn’t worked out yet.  We thought we would have had some snow by now, but the sun keeps showing itself, so we will be doing an alternate activity this Friday in place of it, unless it happens to snow in the next two days. If there is snow on the ground tomorrow or Friday have your child come prepared for the Snow Day activity, but if it stays sunny and nice, we will be having a Game Activity for the students on Friday.  Students will bring in games they would like to play from home, and they will enjoy these games with other students who also made Worker’s Holiday. Electronics are fine to bring, but the students have to be responsible for them.
    The students were given a list of words for the Spelling Bee which is coming up on Monday, February 8th.  They will be given a pre-test tomorrow on these words, to see if they qualify for the Spelling Bee.  All students are required to take the pre-test.  The top three students in each class will be nominated to be in the Spelling Bee.   If these students choose not to be a participant in the Spelling Bee, then they can opt out.  Please have your child look over the list tonight, so they can do well on the pre-test tomorrow.  The pre-test will go on their grade.
    Please ask your child for his/her Kite Flight calendar that your child will be receiving soon.  This is an easy and fun way for our school to earn money.  The students are required to read every night anyway, so you can add their minutes to the Kite Flight calendar.  Keep this calendar in a safe place until April when you will turn it into the Kite Flight people.  Your child will receive a free kite or book, and our school will receive money toward items we need for our school.
    Remember SEP week is next week.  We look forward to visiting with you about your child’s progress.  If you haven’t sent back the SEP form indicating whether or not you can make your SEP time, please make sure to do that in the next couple days.  Remember that school lets out at 2:30 all week next week, even on early out Wednesday. Your child will be registering for 6th grade next week.  S/he will need to choose orchestra, band, or art/music appreciation.  The instrument your child wants to play will need to be listed.  We have sent home information booklets about orchestra and band.
    The BOOK FAIR is also next week.  It is buy one get one free.
    We will be going to the STEAM festival at the Heritage Center on Fri., Feb. 12.  We will ride a bus over first thing in the morning and walk back to school in time for lunch.  (This time may change, but we'll let you know). We will celebrate Valentine’s Day during the afternoon. A class list will be sent home.
    There is no school on Mon. Feb.15.
    We appreciate all the help and support you have given us this year.  Thanks for all that you do.
                                                                     Sincerely,

                                                                      Mrs. Little, Mrs. Payne and Mrs. Williams