December 18-21 Upcoming Events

• Monday: Advent Prayer Service @ 8:45 (this is a change in time) Week 3: "Find Joy with God's People"
• We received so many wonderful items to share with West DesMoines Human Services and  Connection Cafe today, students did an amazing job sorting all of them out.  Monday we will be finishing this Mission project by putting together and wrapping these toiletry boxes to be delivered in the afternoon.
• Also Monday students may wear advent or Christmas tops with dress code bottoms.
• Thursday: Dismissal at 11:20 MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
• Classes resume on Thursday January 4th Have a safe and wonderful Christmas with friends and family!

The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus."
Luke 1:30-31

5th Grade Newsletter

December 18th-21st

This will be our last newsletter until January!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Religion –Our 25 Days of Christ is still underway.  We are using this theme to learn about 25 major events in Christ’s life.  We are learning about these events through scripture, art, videos, and individual reflection.  Please feel free to visit this website for more information.  http://25daysofchrist.com/pages/the-25-days-new-testament-edition

We will hold our final Advent prayer service on December 21st at 9:30.  We will begin a unit on Sacraments following Christmas break.

Reading/Language Arts – We have taken a break from letter writing and conferencing to engage in a class book-A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.   This will be able to count as one of the 40 books students need to read by the end of the school year.  We are also still offering independent reading time so that the students can continue working on their 40 books!  When we return from break, we will finish up A Christmas Carol and then move into a unit on MLK.  We will read  various books and articles about MLK and reinforce a number of comprehension strategies during this unit.  There will still be time for independent reading to reach that 40 book mark at the end of the year!

Math –  We continue to work on Division concepts.  We will also be interpreting remainders in story problems. Please work on math related situations over the break - cooking, wrapping presents, and shopping all offer real-life ways to incorporate everyday math skills. :)      

Social Studies - We have been working hard showing knowledge of geopgraphy as we have been going through our preliminary rounds for the Geo Bee.  Ask you student if they are moving on (they know).  The written test will be givin on Monday the 18th. We will start preparing for BizTown when we return from Christmas break.  Volunteer information for BizTown related teaching will be coming home soon so keep an eye out.

Science - Students have been exploring hands on activities in our science lab about mass and weight and the instruments used to measure both.  We will continue to learn about matter and the changing states of matter, testing on this information will take place when we return from Christmas Break.

Language Arts – We completed our unit on Nouns.  We’ll complete a couple weeks of Daily Language Review in January and then begin work on a Verb unit.  We’ve been working on persuasive writing pieces.  We’ve taken the writing process step-by-step as a class.  We’ve discussed pros/cons, counterarguments, and the vocabulary typically used in a persuasive piece of writing.   We’ve also discussed how to choose reputable sources and how to cite our sources to avoid plagiarism.  The completed persuasive papers will be turned in for a grade.  We probably won’t get these finished before break but we’ll complete them when we return after break. We will then work on an informative paper in January to be written about MLK (his life and legacy).  This will be paired with learning in Reading.  The paper in January will be a graded piece as well.

Spelling – There will not be a spelling test next week due to the short week.  Our next spelling test will be the week of January 8th.  It will consist of words with the soft g sound.  

December 11-15 Upcoming Events

• Monday: Advent Prayer Service @ 2:45 Week 2: "Finding Joy in God's Creation"
• Tuesday: Reconciliation, Adoration, SPIRITwear, 5th Grade MUSICAL (be in homeroom classroom by 6:40)
• Thursday: Mezzo Choir on fieldtrip
• Friday: 5th Grade MISSIONS DAY

People of the whole Judean Countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to [John] and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

Mark 1:5

5th Grade Newsletter

December 11th-15th

Religion –Our 25 Days of Christ is well underway.  We are using this theme to learn about 25 major events in Christ’s life.  We are learning about these events through scripture, art, videos, and individual reflection.  Please feel free to visit this website for more information.  http://25daysofchrist.com/pages/the-25-days-new-testament-edition

We will continue with these lessons through Christmas.  Advent Prayer Services will be held Dec. 11 at 2:45 (5th grade leads), Dec. 18 at 2:45. and Thursday Dec. 21 at 9:30.

Reading/Language Arts – We have taken a break from letter writing and conferencing to engage in a class book-A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  We began this week by learning about Charles Dickens and his background.  We will start reading Stave 1 next week.  This will be able to count as one of the 40 books students need to read by the end of the school year.  We will complete some comprehension activities as well as engage in some Christmas fun that relates to the book.  We will also still offer independent reading time so that the students can continue working on their 40 books!

Math – We started Unit 4 on division. Your child will continue to be asked to make best estimates on quotients and divide by decimals.  

Social Studies - We took some time to discuss the rules and process for the Geography Bee this week.  We worked on daily quizzes and help a day of a “mock Bee” so students could see what the questions next week will be like.  I will be administering this Geo-Bee orally to 5th grade during our regular classes.  There are 7 rounds to go through, which will take two days.  Students need to pass 5 of 7 questions to move forward to the written exam given by Mrs. Larson the following week.  Click here for more info to practice.

Science - After taking a few days to review geography, we started our unit  investigating Matter.  We will continue to discuss the 3 states of matter up to Christmas break, with some fun activities and lab experiments.

Language Arts – We completed our unit on nouns!  The test will be on Monday December 11.  We spent Thursday and Friday this week reviewing.  We will continue with our persuasive writing unit next week.  

Spelling – Our Spelling list next week will consist of contractions!

Upcoming Events:

• Monday, Advent Prayer Service @ 2:45
• Wednesday, NO Mass
• Friday, The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Mass @ 8:45

5th Grade Newsletter

December 4th-8th

Religion –Our 25 Days of Christ is well underway.  We are using this theme to learn about 25 major events in Christ’s life.  We are learning about these events through scripture, art, videos, and individual reflection.  Please feel free to visit this website for more information.  http://25daysofchrist.com/pages/the-25-days-new-testament-edition

We will continue with these lessons through Christmas.  Advent Prayer Services will be held Dec. 4 at 2:45, Dec. 11 at 2:45, Dec. 18 at 2:45. and Thursday Dec. 21 at 9:30.

Reading/Language Arts – We have taken a break from letter writing and conferencing to engage in a class book-A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  We began this week by learning about Charles Dickens and his background.  We will start reading Stave 1 next week.  This will be able to count as one of the 40 books students need to read by the end of the school year.  We will complete some comprehension activities as well as engage in some Christmas fun that relates to the book.  We will also still offer independent reading time so that the students can continue working on their 40 books!

Math – Your child will be bringing home the Unit 3 test over Geometry on Monday. Please review, sign, and return with your child. We will start Unit 4 on division.

Science - We took a quiz over force and motion today.  Students have had a great time learning about the three main types of force with some great hands-on activities.  I love seeing them engaged, exploring science!  Next week will will continue science, investigating Matter.

Language Arts – We began a unit on nouns as well as a persuasive writing unit.  We will plan to assess and complete the writing process for both of these units before the Christmas break!  We’ll be busy!

Spelling – Our Spelling list next week will consist of homophones!  It will be important to not only know how to spell them, but also know when to use the appropriate form of the homophone.