Week of April 23rd

    Chris Vandermei just shared a phenomenal new website with the kids today.  One of my biggest beefs has always been that at the elementary level we have no books.... nothing to look to when you your child is having difficulty or when they've missed school due to illnesses, etc. This website is literally a giant text book with every topic your child will ever encounter through their school careers.  My highschool helper was here today and asked me a genetics question for her A.P. biology class... I wasn't sure so I looked it up and the site and there it was!

    All topics are listed alphabetically. So Algebra is going to come before biology, biology is before chemistry etc.

Each topic you click on is a 5 - 15 minute video of someone talking AND showing you about the topic, how it works, the forumla... whatever you need.  Its very user friendly! (Meaning if I can do it, anyone can do it!) All the basic math concepts the kids have worked on this year are there..... so if they were having issues with story problems, or decimals, have them watch the video clip with you to tweak their understanding.

The website is   khanacademy.org     If you don't have internet, i'm checking with the computer lab right now to see if we can get this site put on our computers so that parents and kids could come use it here after or before school if needed.

Walk-A-Thon

The walk-a-thon is tomorrow. Please have your students dress appropriately for the weather. Its supposed to NOT be raining by this time, but it is supposed to be quite windy.  If pouring rain persists through the afternoon, we will postpone.

 it.

Rock and mineral show

  Next Friday (May 4th... where did April go???) The 5th grades will travel to the Kalamazoo County fairgrounds for the rock and mineral show. According to the letter I got from them today, we will only be allowed to enter from the new entrance. I haven't been there yet this year so I don't know what that looks like, but they stated that signs will be posted to direct the busses.

    WMU will again have a presentation at the show. The room for this can be found off the back hallway. At the far end of the main exhibit are is a door leading to the hallway... signs out in the hall will lead you to this room.

   In addition to all the displays, kids can buy tickets to some of the booth activities.  I think they're 50 cents per ticket or 5 tickets for $2.00..... but don't quote me on that!  Hope to see you there!  We should arrive by 12:45.

We're in the Home Stretch!

Holy cow! Where did our year go! Hard to believe that we only have 8 more weeks of school left!!!!!

And these next 8 weeks are action packed, with field trips, events, track and field day and of course... 5th grade graduation.

Accelerated Reader Goals for Marking Period 4

25% Day - April 23rd

50% Day - May 4th

75% Day - May 16th

100% Day- May 31st

Due to the last week of school being track and field day, packing up the classrooms etc, the kids have one less week to reach their goals this marking period. We have reminded them of this, but reminders from you also will be most appreciated.

Field Trips & Events

2nd Grade Economics Sale - Friday, April 20th

2nd graders put up their "wares" to sell for profits. Items can be purchased for 25 cents - $1.00 each! 5th grade shops at 9:15 - 9:45.

Walk -a-thon

This is a school wide event. Students are to get sponsors and the raised money will go to paying for Sunset student events, and needs.

Kalamazoo Rock and Mineral Show - May 4th 12:45ish

Sunset 5th graders will travel by bus to the Kalamazoo Geological society rock and mineral show. Students will learn the difference between sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks, and will be able to explore and buy numerous minerals for as little as 25 cents. There is a "mine car" activity for $1.00 in which students can lower a mine care into a mine, and then wash and sift their treasure to reveal many semi precious stones and prizes. There is also a "geode" station. For $2.00 - $20.00 (depends on the size of the geode) students can purchase a geode that will be cracked open for them at the show. Great collectible keepsake. For PARENTS this is a GREAT opportunity to get real precious and semi precious stones ( amethyst, ruby, garnet, topaz, opals etc) at PHENOMENAL prices. Parents are welcome to meet us at the show to hang out and shop with us.

Spring OEC ( Outdoor Education Center) May 11th - Students only

We will be out at the OEC all day. Students that had previously chosen school lunches for this event on their beginning of the year sign up forms will receive a sack lunch from the cafeteria. All other students will need to bring their own lunch. Please watch the weather and have them dress accordingly.

Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery- South Haven May 25th

This trip is the highlight of 5th grade! We start our moring off at Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery in Mattawaan. (131 to M-43 exit/West to South Haven.) At Wolf Lake we will tour the Hatchery, and take a hike out around the ponds to identify bird species, and native wildlife. Students will culminate this part of their trip by feeding the trout and salmon in the holding pond by the visitor center.

At around 11:30, we will depart for South Haven's South Beach.Parking IS $5.00 per vehicle and must be paid via the yellow parking lot slots. Cars without parking paid are ticketed. They patrol the parking lot checking cards ona regular basis. Even the busses have to pay!

At South Haven the kids will be allowed to eat their lunch on and play on the beach. Students will be allowed to go into the water UP TO THEIR KNEES only. With multiple drownings in Lake Michigan last year due to undertows, I"m not taking any changes. As this is a school field trip, school dress code must still be adhered to... no bathing suits will be permitted.

Towards the end of the afternoon ( weather and wind permitting) we will take any kids what would like, for a walk to the lighthouse. We will board the busses at around 2:15 to leave at the lastest at 2:30. We have to be back for the afternoon bus run.

More details for this trip will follow... but this IS a trip where you CAN give you own student a ride TO and FROM our locations should you choose to do so.

5th Grade Graduation - June 1st 9:10 - 11:00ish

Track and Field Day - June 5th

Last Day - June 8th ( 1/2 day only)