Welcome to 5th grade 2015 - 2016!!

Congratulations parents!  We made it through our first week!

Spelling list for this week came home with students tonight to study.  We're taking a week for them to get all of our names and core values down and then we'll start on our spelling book.

Their list includes the following words:

Vander Mei            Buell             Sadowski            Michigan            Vicksburg        honesty

respect             caring              responsibility             Sunset Lake  


Student council selections will begin this week. Forms will be due Monday the 21st... no exceptions!

Speeches will be on the 23rd and elections will be on Thursday the 24th.



Book Fair!  The  book fair will be back the last week of September on Monday - Wednesday.  Our class sign up time is Tuesday the 29th from 2:15 - 2:40.


Term cards for science!  You should start seeing these come home.  Monday set 1 is due!  There are 22 cards in this set and the kids had almost 40 minutes to work on them today in class....so if they say they didn't have time they probably were just talking more than working!

Cards come in a packet.  The first page of each packet are the terms and they are to glue one word on a separate blank card.  After all the words are on separate cards, they need to find the matching definition in the packet and glue that on the opposite side.

They should all have a glue stick but tape is also fine. Make sure they secure the edges so that when they shuffle the cards for practice the titles or definitions don't come loose.

There are 8 packets total but set one is the biggest. These are terms that they HAVE to know before they go to middle school next year.  The term card test over sets 1 - 4 will be Friday September 25th. they should be studying these for 10 - 15 minutes each night.


We have a high school intern named Olivia Holmes.  Olivia was my student in 2008/2009 and is spending her afternoons with us this year to determine if she wants to be a teacher.  She told the kids today to hold onto their term cards into high school as she still used them .


Thanks so much for a great first week!

Tiffany Sadowski

Sadowski update 5/26/15

We have an extremely busy week this week!

Tomorrow our class walks to generous hands for pack backpacks as a part of our "community service" for the year. We're going to leave right after recess at 1:30 and return at 3:15

Thursday is the final systems and survival test.  Tomorrow we will play jeopardy to review and the test will be given in my room later Thursday afternoon as we are not switching that day.

Thursday we also walk to the district library at 11;00 to hear about the summer reading program. We should be back by noon.  From noon until the end of the day I will have a substitute as I administer their final dibels (reading fluency) test for the year.

Friday graduation is at 9:00......  for lunch we are having pizza brought to us by the fair housing committee for the kid's participation in the fair housing poster contest this year.

After recess at 2:00 we're splitting up the boys and girls and doing human growth.  Boys will meet with the gym teacher from Tobey... girls will be with their own classroom teacher.

Tuesday June 2nd is track and field day!   Be sure to join us on this fun filled day!

Thanks!

Tiffany Sadowski

Sadowski update 5/18/15

 Sorry for delays in sending updates...Been pretty hectic around here lately!

This Friday is our annual Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery Field trip. A flyer is coming home today with things your child needs.. Mrs Vandermei says she sent out an electronic copy earlier last week. We will leave sunset at 9:00. If you are driving your child I need your signed liability waiver that went home last week. As of this email I only have four.

   If you would like to meet us at Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery we should arrive by 9:45. As long as I have your liability waiver I'll automatically count your child as present without them having to show up here first. If however they do get sick the day of the trip (it's happened!) just call em and let me know to mark them absent.

Friday May 29th is 5th grade graduation. We start at around 9:10 by the time we get attendance taken, but I would advise being here no later than 9:00. Sometimes its standing room only if you are not a bit early.

Following graduation we ask that you meet your child outside the music room door for pictures.  We hang outside for about 10 minutes then back inside for school as usual. With our curriculum being so packed we teach content right up until the last two days of school.  

  If it rains we'll meet inside the cafeteria.  

That same afternoon following recess we will teach human growth and development.  Girls and boys will be split.  In years past I taught the girls, but last year each 5th grade teacher taught their own girls as Mrs Buell and Mrs. Vandermei received their training last year.  I would assume that will be the same this year.

If you do NOT want your child to participate in the human growth lesson you are welcome to come and get them. I do have the DVD available for you to watch if you would like tp preview it. 

    Know though that this lesson does not cover reproduction at all... it is merely changes in their bodies and growing up.  I do recommend however that if you haven't already had "the talk" that you do so sometime this summer. If they don't hear it from you, they WILL hear it next year.  I am continually astounded by how many kids become sexually active starting in 6th and 7th grade.

Spelling list for this week is synonyms (words that mean the same thing) and antonyms (words that are the opposite of each other in meaning)

delight

pleasure

freedom

liberty

lengthen

extend

narrow

slender

entire

whole

exit 

entrance

public

private

increase

decrease

backward

forward

eastern

western

Sadowski update 4/29/15

Congratulations!  Your kids did amazing on the M-step!  14 total hours on their rear ends and not one complaint!  I'm so proud of how each of them tried their best!

   

     During the M -step the kids filled up their reward marble jar. They also got to 100% of their reading goal before any of the other classes and earned a pizza party. This will take place tomorrow afternoon.  I'll go pick up the pizza's during lunch recess.....I'll keep them in a hot bag so that they stay warm and then after our last switch (math, science, social studies) we'll have our reward and relax!  This will occur at 2:30.  

  Kids will be allowed to bring pillows (though I personally now have 23 pillows) or blankets to relax on .... they can bring electronic devices and we'll start a movie... With an hour we won't get through it all but we can pick it up again later before the end of the year.   I also have cups, plates and 2 liters so I don't think we're going to need any additional food for this reward.

Friday is a BUSY busy day!   We'll start off the day with the spelling test.. then we'll go to the 2nd grade economics sale. Items at the economic sale range from 25 cents to $1.00 with most items being .25 or .50.  Kids can buy whatever they wish, however I do not allow the consumption of mountain due, surge or other energy drinks during the school day. If they buy them, they'll have to wait until they get home.  I also will only allow two treats from the sale to be eaten before lunch.  Otherwise I'll be peeling them off the ceiling due to sugar highs.

We will eat an early lunch on Friday.  Kids will get their lunches at 11:10 and we're going to try to eat and get on the busses to go to the Rock and Mineral show by 11:30. We should arrive by noon... which will give us a full hour ( 12- 1:00 p.m.)  we'll get back on the busses by 1:15 to head back to Sunset Lake for the Walk- a-thon at 2:00.  So their day is action packed from beginning to end!

On Monday May 4th the kids will have the opportunity to try out instruments to decide whether or not they want to participate in band next year.  They will usually bring a slip of paper that lists what instrument they "got".  Know that this instrument is merely a recommendation, and is not the only choice your child has for instruments if they should choose to be in band.  I recall that they told me that I should play the clarinet.  Well.... I wanted to play trumpet... not a clarinet. Whatever your child wants to play they will WANT to practice more and will usually do better on. The recommendation is merely a way to try to ensure that sixth grade band teachers don't have 50 of one instrument and nothing of another for the upcoming year.

For students that choose band, you will have the option of renting to own your child's instrument. This is a good way to go if your student isn't sure that they will stick with band more than a year.  All you owe is the fees for one year of rental.  Know however, that ebay is LOADED with instruments at rediculously low prices. I can't even sell my trumpet online because I refuse to sell it for the low price they are going for right now. Most sellers have a return policy and money back guarantee.  You can take it to Marshall Music over behind the mall when you get it to have it checked out if you think something might be amiss and then return it if necessary. Everyone I know that has purchased an instrument in the past few years via ebay has been very happy with both the price and the quality.  Something to consider to save some extra $!

Friday May 8th, all 5th graders will be going to the outdoor education center for the afternoon.  I will make sure I pack and Epi pen just in case we have any reactions with bee stings etc.  We will be back by the time the busses roll.

Friday May 22nd is the final field trip of the year to the Wolf Lake fish Hatchery and to South Haven beach.  This is an amazingly fun trip!  We only have one bus signed out to go as many of you stated that you wanted to drive your own child. I will be sending home a form this week for you to sign stating that you are driving your own student.

5th grade graduation is on May 29th at 9:00.  

Can't believe we're already in the last month of school!  Where did the time go?

Spelling list for this week is as follows:

captive

register

ourselves

organist

density

wedge

biplane

radios

drummer

counselor

batteries

triweekly

gently

loneliness

juggler

ranches

midstream

ginger

installment

semidarkness

Thanks!

ticks!

If your kiddos like to play outside start checking them for ticks!  (already?  I know!)

Was out last night walking the property and came in with a tick on my wrist cuff and three on my pants leg... and I wasn't even in tall grass!

And I'm not the kind of person that believes most things that are put on-line before investigating myself... but there is a link floating around about a new tick disease that makes you really sick not long after being bitten.... A few were news 3 links so please be aware!  Have your kids check themselves closely when they come in... and check their hairlines and scalps in the morning... if they've been missed that's where they usually cling overnight.

And with those creepy crawly thoughts firmly affixed in your brain... have a great day!

Sadowski update 4/13/15

First... thank you so much for all the emails and messages regarding the loss of Bear.  They have meant a lot!

2nd... Celebration of the Arts is coming... see the following from Patty Heintzleman below:

Plan to attend the VCS Celebration of the Arts on Tuesday, April 21!
Here is the info :
The VCS Fine Arts Department celebrates the arts
with an evening of music, drama, dance, film and
visual art. This event features artwork by all grade
levels displayed throughout the high school, a film/
video showcase and dance presentation in the PAC
and will culminate in a collage concert, performed in
the gymnasium, featuring all performing ensembles in
the district.
Artwork by all grade levels 5:30 Lower level of the HS
•
Film/Video showcase 6-6:30 in the Auditorium
•
Dance presentation 5:30-6pm in the Auditorium
•
Collage concert featuring all perfomers 7pm in the HS gym
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Free Admission


3rd... Spring Picture day is this Thursday, April 16th.  Since 5th graders are M-step testing in the morning their pictures will be in the afternoon.

4th..... The art teacher has requested the following materials for an upcoming project:
Any object that is highly detailed and can fit in a zip lock bag. Things needed are things that can leave an impression in clay. action figures, little army people, critters, coins with nice raised surfaces etc. Non fragile, non breakable items only.  Fabric with raised patterns can work too.

Students will bring the items home after they use them and clean them back off. A flyer is coming home in their mailboxes today.

5th Spell list this week:
generous
message
stranger
grudge
margin
energy
oxygen
genius 
college
lodge
imagine
stingy
apology
gentleman
arrange
pledge
region
damage
ledger
average

Science

Starting this week we will be getting a shipment of tree frogs and hermit crabs to our classroom. 

The purpose of these critters is to mimic scientists who conduct "field work" when studying an animal species for research into their behaviors, instincts, etc.

At the end of our unit, I will have four tree frogs, and four hermit crabs available for adoption.
The kids will learn all about what each animal needs as far as habitats and cages go.... I will also provide a detailed list of needs for each.
Frogs will need a container that allows for dirt or peat moss and some green leaves plus a little water dish. They will require small crickets... not the big ones. Most bait stores have them for $1.00 a dozen.  MV pets on westnedge has them 10 for $1.00.  10 crickets will last one frog about two weeks.  Meal worms really don't move around enough to trigger their prey drive so unless you can locate some unusually wiggly ones I'd stick with crickets.

Hermit crabs are much easier. Sand in the bottom of a container with a water dish they can crawl in and out of and a container of food and their good to go. They are highly social... and do better with a buddy. You can usually buy another one for $5.00 at pet supplies plus.  They also need another shell larger than what they are wearing as when they grow they change shells.  These are usually .25.
In order to be considered for a crab OR a frog (one or the other, not both) I need a note from you that states your child's name.... what species they want and that you will provide a home for it until it dies or you pawn it off on someone else who will keep it until it dies. Tree frogs are non native species and cannot be released.  Better yet, if your child really wants one, let THEM write the note and you sign it!  lol!  Scrap paper is fine.

To keep it fair for everyone, signed notes only please..... no emails.  As I get the notes I will number them.  The first four notes for frogs get a frog. The first four notes for crabs get a crab.  I will take 10 notes for each though... as I have had it happen before that when I get ready to send them home in May the first 4 kids have changed their minds.

Also know that we sometimes have a frog or a crab die.  If your child is number 4 and their species dies, they won't get one.  

I also have available RIGHT NOW guppies.  They don't need a big tank... they don't even need a filter. They're hardy little suckers and tend to reproduce quickly... but they usually eat their own kids so no worries there.  These are left over from the 4th grade unit.

That's it.  Email, call or text if you have any questions.
269-321-1530 (school)
269-501-3969 (cell)

sadowski update 3/16/15

Happy warm Monday!

Lots going on this week.

Tuesday 1:20 - 1:40 is our book fair slot.  Kids that have money can shop... kids without money can still shop and look at the available items.

Tuesday 6:30 - 8:00  Literacy night at Sunset Lake Elementary!  Come and join us for the book fair, reading and A.R. testing and other book related activities!

M-STEP testing.   The M-Step has replaced the M.E.A.P.  And if your kiddos thought that the meap stood for Mean Evil Annoying Paper, I can't imagine what they're going to call the M-Step because this test is SO difficult!  Unlike the MEAP that we weren't allowed to look at, The M-Step has lessons that we are required to teach specifically for the test. The kids then have to use the information we give them, (no prior knowledge allowed) to complete the tasks on the test. The amount of information they are expecting these kids to reference, pull items from etc. is enough to make MY head spin so I'm seriously worried about their mental health during this testing period.

Testing starts the Tuesday we come back from spring break.  The kids will have one test a week for the next three weeks.  Writing, Math and Social Studies. Due to the fact that a lesson has to be taught prior to them testing PLEASE make sure they don't have any dentist , doctor or other appts. from 9 - 12:30 for those three weeks.  We really need them here!  

Please also make sure that during this time they are well rested and that they are having some sort of breakfast in the morning.  

April 2nd is records day.... No school for students that day.

spelling list for this week..... s, es, and ies endings.  

 soldiers

pianos

essays

chiefs

treaties

countries

luggage

skis

characters

badges

valleys

places

beliefs

envelopes

essays

badges

palaces

heroes

latches

countries

treaties

groceries

diaries

gentlemen

loaves