Weekly Reminders 5/10/10

Dear Room 20 & 21 parents and students,

With a week to go until our biggest event of the school year, we continue to work tirelessly in the classroom on our various class subjects and the projects that go with them. Now might be a great time to check in with your student to make sure they are able to complete the work set out before them. Please feel free to contact us if you or your student has any concerns or questions about the assigned tasks. Overall, our classes are doing a great job of managing their own work- it's a wonderful sign of our students' personal growth.

*Just a Reminder about visiting our school campus:
PLEASE REMEMBER everyone needs to sign in at the office every time you are on campus. (This is a safety protocol and State law.) If you are dropping off a lunch, you still need to sign in. Also, older students may not meet you at the parking lot. For lunch drop off, we will also have a bin in the office where you may leave the lunch for your child to pick up.

Just a quick reminder that our blogsite addresses are:

Room 20 (Scourkes) http://rockhopperroom20.blogspot.com
Room 21 (Roels) http://gtfroom22.blogspot.com

Curriculum:

Language Arts

Volunteer Opportunity!
Literature Circles have arrived! We will be meeting for our last literature circle groups of the year on the following dates. We would love to have help in the classroom with this activity if you can make it! We realize the dates are a little unusual, but we're working around a very full calendar. All times are from 8:10-9:00. Just email us as soon as you can and let us know if you are available! Thank you for your understanding!

Literature Circle Dates:
Wed, 5/26, Wed. 6/2, Mon. 6/7, Thur. 6/10

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes is our featured literature. We are continuing our reading and discussion of the text this week. This story lends itself to poetic study and practice, as well as careful reflection on cultural traditions and family situations. We are practicing the haiku style of poetry presently, and we'll be getting into some origami work along with our conversations and writing related to the text.

Math

In 4th grade math, we will be wrapping up our "Measurement Extravaganza" on Monday- it will be fun to see if we can do some conversions of our measurements from metric to customary, and vice versa! After this, we'll delve into geometry principles for the next couple of weeks (when we're not at Outdoor School, that is.)

In 5th grade math Biz World has begun! We have started learning about businesses and what makes a successful business. Students have been grouped into companies and will soon incorporate and sell stock to a venture capitalist (Miss S.). Be sure to ask your child each day what they've learned! * Bedroom Projects are due this Friday, May 14. I can't wait to see them!

Social Studies

In social studies, the students are finishing their research on the state they have been assigned. We'll begin our outlines and essays this week. Last week the students were given their list of the mountain region states, and will be tested on Friday, May 14.

Science

This week, we will complete the last of our research papers to accompany our completed tech project. We will start our final science unit of the year, Mixtures and Solutions, on Wednesday- I know all the students are looking forward to this series of investigations. Also, our last Kitchen Science project of the year will be sent home this week- it will be due at the end of the month!

Outdoor School Essentials

As you know Outdoor School begins on Tuesday, May 18th. Please be sure to refer to your packets for more specific information, but here are a few important details regarding our trip.

• Students are to arrive at school by 8:00 and drop their luggage off in front of the office right away.

• Put all luggage out in front of the office in your child's designated room area.

• We will send home special luggage tags on Friday.

• Make sure both sleeping bag/pillow and luggage have the tags attached before you arrive.

• Medication needs to be in it's original container and then placed in a Ziploc bag with the child's name and room number written on the outside.

• Place medication in your family room teacher's bin near their luggage area.

• All students must have a bag lunch with their name on it. Place the lunch in the family room teacher's class lunch container.

• We have designated special parents to help load the buses to avoid confusion. After dropping off your child’s luggage, medication, and lunch, please clear the bus loading area.

• The buses will be leaving at 9:00 sharp!

•Please check your outdoor school packet for the checklist of what is to be packed and what NOT to bring. Make sure that ALL personal items are labeled with a Sharpie permanent marker.

• On May 21st we will arrive back at school between 12:30 and 1:00. We would like to encourage you to pick up your child at this time for early dismissal!

• Also, it is FUN for kids to get mail while they’re at camp. Please feel free to send a letter or two during the first couple of days. The address in your packet.

Calendar of Events:

Fri. 5/14 5th Grade Bedroom Projects Due
Fri. 5/14 States Quiz: Mountain Region
Mon. 5/17 Social Studies Research Due
Mon. 5/17 Sadako Quiz
Tues. 5/18- Fri. 5/21 Outdoor School (note: early dismissal for our classes on Friday)
Tues. 5/25- Thurs. 5/27 Human Growth & Development (5th gr. only)
Fri. 5/28 Learning Day- NO SCHOOL
Mon. 5/31 Memorial Day- NO SCHOOL


Mystery State:
The first baseball stadium was built in this state in 1909.
This state is the only one of the 13 original colonies not bordered by the Atlantic Ocean.
A town in this state is considered the Chocolate Capital of the United States.
The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia in this state in 1776.
Which state is it?



Sincerely,

Mr. Roels and Miss Scourkes
Rooms 20 & 21
Rockhopper Village
Portal School