Social Studies Tests

Social Studies tests were handed back today. Some of the kids did great, others it was obvious that they didn't study! Some of the tests have "retake" written on them. Please ask to see these tests ( there are two) to verify whether or not they need to retake their tests with Mrs. Buell.

Spell Test

Due to the shortened week the kids did not have a formal spelling list this week. They did however, have a test over their 5th grade high frequency words. These lists are glued inside their spelling folders inside the front and back cover. We took a test on these most commonly used words today, and I will have to say I was a bit surprised! By 5th grades, the kids should all know how to spell "they" "which" and "what". Please encourage them to review these words! Tests have already been graded and returned.

Parent /Community Survey

If you have not already done so, please visit the district website and take the district survey regarding school budget cuts. The district has put out this survey to ask YOUR opinion on what should and should not be cut from our schools. As your children attend this school district, and your taxes pay for our schools, your opinion should count more than ours. Please take the time to fill out this survey. Some suggestions that we as teachers have had are: 1. Extending the school day by 10 minutes and cutting the number of school days. This would eliminate gas for busses, food for the cafeteria and would save water and electricity. Other districts have done this and it has not only saved money but it has NOT impacted meap or standardized tests scores as students are still attending school the same amount of time. 2. Putting a freeze on building renovations aside from normal yearly maintenance. 3. Limiting the use of money earmarked for technology to only replacing broken items. This past year, every teacher as well as the middle school and highschool computer labs got a new computer and a brand new flat screen monitors. What was wrong with the old ones? It's nice to be able to give our kids the latest and greatest technology, but if you can't afford it, you don't buy it! Something that many of us our familiar with within our own households. Do you have suggestions that would help us save money? Do have an idea that would help us generate money ? Please take a moment to visit the district website and take the survey. It is on the main page. Scroll down and find the link.

Class Reward

The class filled their reward marble jar. Technically we were supposed to have our reward party today ( Wednesday) but with me being gone and sick with the OTHER flu on Friday, and then gone and out for teacher training on Monday afternoon we didn't have enough time to plan. Therefore, our reward is on Friday, December 4th. A letter should have come home yesterday that was handwritten by your student. Wings students do not have this letter as they were in wings, but they were informed of our plans etc. Pajamas may be worn.. I would prefer this to them all having to go down to the bathroom and change. They may bring electronic devices ( Ipods, PSP , etc) but items are their responsibility and I will not be held accountable if their item is broken, damaged, or missing.

Thats it! Have a great turkey day!

Christmas Gifts

As a grade level, the 5th grade teachers have decided that in lieu of having a gift exchange in our classroom, that we would instead like the kids to bring in a pair or a few pair of socks. These socks will go to the generous hands backpack program and will be packed into the backpacks before christmas break. The fifth graders will be traveling to the generous hands sight on December 15th before christmas break to help pack these socks into the backpacks. Please make sure they are dressed for walking this day with gloves, boots and hats.

As far as gifts for us, the teachers, we would LOVE gifts of hand sanitizer, clorox wipes, and kleenexes. Barnes and Noble gift cards for our classroom libraries are also greatly appreciated!

November 18th

Good grief! Time is flying by so fast that I can't keep track of the days!

Parents who had their conferences canceled due to my illness: I've contacted about half of you via email so far... We had indoor recess today so there was no time to call at that time. Will try to phone contact those I haven't heard back from yet tomorrow.

Science

We have begun and are working on the "Objects in the Sky" unit. So far we have covered the tilt of the earth on its axis (which causes the seasons) Summer and Winter Solstice, Spring and Fall Equinox, orbit, rotation, as well as direct and indirect light. ASK your student what causes the seasons. They should all be able to explain WHY the tilt of the earth toward or away from the sun causes the daylight hours to increase or decrease according to our position to or away from the sun. Better yet, give them a ball and a flashlight and have them demonstrate it to you. They should also be able to use this same process to explain why the shortening of the days triggers the leaves to fall, animals to begin to prepare winter den's and for birds to migrate.

Science Book Pages

This week , science classes worked on pages 2 +3, 4 + 5, and 6 - 7. Homework for this week that is due Friday is a simple word search for these students only. If your student didn't have science this week they will be doing these experiments next week. Everyone however should have page 1 complete.

Electronics Party - A.R. Reward

If your student met their A.R. goal for the 1st semester, Friday after recess we will be having their electronics party reward. Students who did not make their goal will have the opportunity to read and test on books in a quiet reading room during this time. New goals have been set. Feel free to email me whenever to ask me what their goal is, and what their current percentage of that achieved goal is. I'd be happy to keep you in the loop!

New Literacy Homework

Starting this week, students will no longer be bringing home a literacy sheet with a crossword puzzle. Instead, each week they need to check out a fun, childrens story book. The book must be a level of 3.0 or higher. We want these to be fun, while at the same time getting in touch with some great authors and stories. They will then be held accountable for this homework by taking an A.R. test over the book they have read.

Thanksgiving is next week already! No school Thursday and Friday

November 11th

I've been out since Monday after school with the flu. I don't think its H1N1 as my temp never went over 101. I will be away from the kids one more day ( Thursday) so that I don't get them sick, but I WILL be at conferences on Thursday night.

Students are welcome to attend their own conferences, and I will be returning to school on Friday.

If your conference was skipped on Monday night, I will begin rescheduling those conferences when I return to school on Friday. Please be patient if I don't contact you immediately... I have 14 to schedule and I already booked some after school slots next week. If you CANNOT attend a conference before school, or if you must have a conference after 5:00, please email me at my school email address so that I can try to book everyone who needs an after 5:00 conference on one night.

November 5th 2009

Wow! This week was just as nuts as last week! Sorry to be so late with the posting!

In science this week and next week, the kids will be learning about what causes the changing of the seasons and will be doing experiments with clay and flashlight models. Many of them think that they seasons are caused by the distance of the earth to the sun while the earth is on its yearly orbit around the sun. They will learn how and why this is not true and should be able to explain to you what DOES actually cause the seasons when asked.

Bear

Bear will be out of the room for reading for the next two weeks due to some minor surgery that he had this past week. Nothing major, just some below the surface fatty tumors and a couple of skin tags removed. He'll be back once he gets his stitches out.

Conferences

Parent teacher conferences are Monday or Thursday night of this upcoming week. Some of you have generously volunteered to come in for your conference before or after school and I really appreciate this! With only 24 slots available and 27 kids, it would have been impossible to fit them all into two nights. Please try to be on time for your conference. I will have a timer running during each conference so that I can stay on time myself. It is not my intention to get you in and get you out as soon as possible but with all my conferences back to back if I'm off 2 minutes for one conference, then I am off 2 minutes for each conference for the rest of the night.

If we don't get to delve into information that you need to hear more about, I would be happy to schedule an additonal conference with you later.

A.R. goals

Accelerated Reader 100% goals were supposed to have been met yesterday. Students who did not meet their goal for last quarter will have the opportunity to stay in at recess until they reach this goal. The 2nd quarter for A.R. starts this Monday. Please refer to the September posting for the dates of the 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% goals for 2nd semester.

The State Education Budget Cuts

Within the last two weeks the teachers of Vicksburg have been asked to make lists of what we feel are the most important things to keep, and what items/classes/materials/ can be cut from our district expenses. What is most important to all of us is the education of your students. Therefore, what the teachers feel is the most important thing NOT to cut is the teaching staff. We already know that many districts will be cutting and laying off teachers before Christmas break. That means that where there was once a class of 27 students, there might now be classes of 35 - 40 students. Classes of this size make quality instruction nearly impossible as teachers spend more time on classroom management and crowd control than actual instruction.

Vicksburg Community Schools has more teachers with Masters Degrees than nearly any other school in west Michigan. We know we get paid less than other teachers in other districts but lets face it... if you go into education, its not about the money... it's about the kids. The teachers in Vicksburg stay here because we believe in and support the commitment that Vicksburg has made to us to help us give your students the best instruction possible. But with the looming deficit ahead and cuts needing to be made, NOW we need YOUR help more than ever. YOU pay the taxes that fund our schools. Therefore YOUR opinion as to what to cut and what to keep should also come from you, the parents. As teachers and administrators, sometimes we get so caught up in working with the kids from day to day, what we have, what we don't have, and what we need, that we run out of ideas as to how to help ourselves. Kind of like... you can't see the forest while you're in the trees? If you have any ideas on how to generate money for the district, or if you have some strong opinions on what to cut, what not to cut and the reasons for them please call the administration building and give your suggestions. We know we can't keep asking you for money as your wallets are stretched thin as it is right now also.... But how can we USE the resources we already have here in Vicksburg to generate some extra cash flow? What activities would you be alright with being cut? What programs should be kept to make sure that the kids leaving us will still be prepared for college? Do we update our technology and computers each year or put that on hold until the economy begins to stabilize more? These are going to be tough choices for us... but with your help it is my hope that we can come out of this in better shape than the larger districts around us will. Think about it and please contact admin. and let them know what you think. Without you and your opinions, there would be no Vicksburg Community Schools.

I'll get off my soapbox now! Have a great week!