I just finished grading last week's Math tests and I am happy to announce that all the students PASSED!  Yay!  They did an amazing job on their test and I am very proud of them! 

September seemed to fly by!  So far, this class is a joy to teach.  They are engaged in the lessons & are genuinely curious about a variety of topics.  We had a fire drill today & they were very well behaved.

I want to thank the parents who attended the parent teacher meeting last Thursday night.  I went over some important things, as did Mrs. Stefanini.  If you did not attend the meeting, please contact me so I can send home the packet that was given out at the meeting.  I want to make sure I meet all my parents.  I want to keep the doors to communication open at all times.  Please email me if you ever have any questions or concerns.  I want to work with all parents to make sure the students are successful this year.

I gave the students the outline for their first project - a Religion project on the Works of Mercy.  They have two weeks to complete it, so there's plenty of time to work on it.  Don't wait until the last minute to start working on it!  If either the students or parents have any questions, please email me ASAP. Again, don't wait until the last minute to ask questions!

The students will take their first Math test this week.  They have been doing very well in Math, so I am confident that they will do wonderfully on their tests.

This Friday will be a busy day.  It's first Friday, which means a Spelling test, Mass at 9 am, a Bake Sale, and of course, 12:00 dismissal.  There is also the Back to School Dance that night.

In regards to 12:00 dismissal, PLEASE pick up your child on time!  If any child is not picked up, they will be put in after-school and the parents will be charged.  If your child IS after school, please send his/her lunch.

In regards to the Bake Sale, the 5th grade is required to bring in juice boxes or pouches.  If everyone brings in one package, there will be plenty for the school.  Other classes are required to bring in other items, such as cookies & cupcakes.  We wouldn't want to run out of something because not enough students brought in juice or other items.  If you want to send in the juice early, you can send it in on Thursday.  There will be lots of goodies to purchase.  Everything is between $0.50 and $1.00.

The dance is from 7-9 pm.  The cost is $8.00.  The money & signed permission slip must be put into an envelope with your child's name and "Dance Money." All money and permission slips are due Thursday MORNING!  Money will NOT be taken after Thursday morning.  Please do not give the money at the main office window.  It will not be taken.  If your child wishes to attend the dance, please send in the money and signed slip in an envelope by Thursday morning.  The tickets will be given out on Friday.  Please remember that if your child is absent on Friday, he/she will not be permitted to attend the dance.

Please go over the Dress Down Day guidelines in the planner.  These guidelines are for school dances as well.  The students should be dressed and act appropriately.  If not, those students will not be allowed to attend other school dances.  Everyone should go and have a great time!

Speaking of dress codes, as of October 15, the students must wear their regular uniforms, NOT the summer uniforms.  Please refer to the planner for the dress code.  I expect all my students to follow the guidelines since they are strictly enforced.

I am also pleased to announce the 5th grade Student Council:

President - Manahil

Vice President - Jose

Representative - Robert

Congratulations to these three students!  I know they will do a wonderful job representing 5th grade this year.

Welcome back to school! The first week went off without a hitch.  The students were polite and seemed excited (nervous?) for 5th grade.  They have great personalities and I look forward to teaching them this year! 

We are still waiting for math workbooks and planners.  As soon as they are delivered, I will give them out to the students.  I will make copies from another workbook I have for the students' homework this week.

Since the weather is still hot, I will allow the students to keep water bottles in the classroom.  Keep them a normal size (16.9 oz and under) and only one bottle is allowed.  The students can fill them up at lunch time.  The students can keep their water bottles until the end of September, when the weather is significantly cooler.

The Common Core unit we are working on is Inventive Thinking.  We will read about and discuss inventors and inventions that changed the world.  We will read about this in all subject areas and I will have the students research and write a report on an inventor or invention that changed the world.  I will also have the students write up plans for their own inventions.