Dear Room 20 & 21 parents and students,

We hope you had a good weekend!  March brings many exciting activities our way.  We continue to practice for our musical and have sent home parent volunteer forms.  We really do need your help to make this successful.  We're currently looking for parents who can help with the drawing and painting of our backdrops.  Please take a moment to consider donating your time.  

5th graders will be taking the district writing test on Tuesday and we will have a visit from the Outdoor School counselors at the beginning of next week.  Physical fitness testing is underway, so please be sure that students come dressed properly for PE on Mondays and Wednesdays.  If you have not returned your parent/student/teacher conference confirmation, please do so as soon as possible.  Thank you and have a good week!

Just a quick reminder that our blogsite addresses are:

Room 20 (Scourkes) http://rockhopperroom20.blogspot.com

Room 21 (Roels) http://gtfroom22.blogspot.com

Parent Survey:

The 2010 parent survey is now on-line! It takes about 30 minutes to complete -- and your participation is vital. Please answer the survey as honestly as you can -- your input will help us provide the best education possible for your student as well as continuously improve our school. 

Look for the action item at the end of the survey so we will know that you have completed your survey! We're looking for 100% participation!

Please click on this link:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/portal2010

The deadline is March 5th.  Please help us to meet our goal!
Thank you to those parents who have already completed the survey!

Volunteers Needed:

On Thursday, April 1, 2010, Rooms 20 and 21 will be presenting a brand new fine arts performance entitled "U.S. Presidents."  It's going to be a phenomenal show, and our performers are already preparing themselves for this exciting night.  Now, we need some enthusiastic parents to help us put together an eye-catching backdrop, and assist with costume and prop needs.  If you're interested, please return the form that will be sent home this week and return it on or BEFORE Monday, March 1.

Curriculum:

Language Arts

Our focus continues to be on the persuasive writing genre this week.  We've discussed the purpose of persuasive writing, tips for constructing a persuasive piece, and how a writer can evaluate the quality of their persuasive work. Students also worked in small groups to discuss examples of persuasion and propose arguments for & against particular positions and have constructed a rough draft of a writing piece. This week we'll evaluate the essays we've created and then refine them together. The 5th graders have their district writing test on Tuesday.

We continue to read Dear Mr. Henshaw, take AR Quizzes and focus on root words in spelling. Reading Logs are due this Friday and oral presentations begin the week of March 8th. Students will be given the exact date of their presentation this week.

Math

In 4th grade math, we'll finish up work on our decimal study in the next couple of days, and we'll test our understanding on Friday this week.  The test will cover Chapters 19 and 20, so it would be wise to review the lessons in these two chapters in order to be comfortable with these concepts.

In 5th grade math, we've used our protractors to refine our ability to measure angles and have studied triangles and quadrilaterals. We're beginning to measure the area and perimeter of irregular shapes and triangles.  

Social Studies

The students are just about finished with their Explorer Keynote projects and will be presenting their work in class this week and beginning their essays. The geography quizzes went home today.  Please be sure to sign your child's quiz so that they can return them tomorrow.

Science

Our Living Systems unit is ending with some great posters being completed on nutrients, food groups, and regional diets.  The unit will be concluding with a technology project to be introduced this week.  The topic will be plants, and the work will be done primarily at school with a partner.  We'll be using Apple's iPhoto software to put together a visually informative presentation that could also be shared in BOOK form!  Homework note: Kitchen Science is due tomorrow!

Calendar of Events:  (Please note that new dates have been added!)

March:

Tues., 3/2     5th Grade District Writing Test

Tues., 3/2     5th Grade Hearing test

Thur., 3/4     Middle School Parent Information Night - Cupertino at 6:00, Miller at 7:00

Fri., 3/5        Reading Logs Due!

Mon., 3/8      Student Outdoor School Presentation

Mon. 3/8       Oral presentations this week!

Tues., 3/9     Class Picture Day

Wed., 3/10    Parent Outdoor School Presentation

Fri.,  3/12     Geography Quiz!

Mon., 3/15    Learning Day - NO SCHOOL

3/18 - 3/26    Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences  - 12:30 DISMISSAL EVERY DAY

Thur., 3/25   Middle School Parent Information Night  - Lawson at 6:30

Fri., 3/26      Spirit Day: Crazy Socks Day! 

MYSTERY STATE CLUES:

• Motion pictures (movies) were invented in this state.
• The first nearly complete dinosaur skeleton was found in this state in 1858.
• This state was the first to ratify the U.S. Bill of Rights, in 1790.
• This state is the most densely populated state in the United States.
• Inventor Thomas A. Edison had his lab in this state.
• Which state is it?

Sincerely,

Mr. Roels and Miss Scourkes

Rooms 20 & 21

Rockhopper Village

Portal School