December 1st

WOW! I can't believe November is GONE! Usually I update our blog weekly, but with report cards, conferences, and Thanksgiving this month just TOTALLY got away from us!

So! Here is what is new and coming up!

Science/Social Studies

Groups A & C are back in Science. Groups B and D are back in Social Studies. In science, students are contining to work with motion and forces. So far this session they have explored balanced and unbalanced forces through the building of balloon rockets, and we've been testing Newton's first law of physics through the use of tracks, ramps and different weight and mass marbles.

5th Grade and Christmas

All fifth grade students are working on a "secret" writing assignment for Christmas. If they have younger siblings in the house and you ask them about it, they are only allowed to say "We're working on a research project for Christmas..." Later, we will let them fill you in on all the fun details... but for now... ssshhhhhh!

Christmas Party

Our Christmas party will be held in the cafeteria as a whole 5th grade group again. Students will have "stations" that they will rotate between to complete various activities. Parents are MORE than welcome to come and share in our fun! We always need help serving food, at the stations etc.

Mrs. S.'s class will bring Salty and healthy foods.

( Chips, fruit, cheese and crackers, etc)

Mrs. Buell is "Sweet Stuff"

(Cookies, Brownies, Candy, etc)

Mrs. Vandermei is paper products

(Cups, plates, napkins... No styrofoam please! )

Michael Moshun @ Chenery Auditorium

We will be eating lunch at 10:45. Make sure if you chose "home" lunch on the permission slip that you remember to send a lunch with your child that day. Show begins at 12:15. If we return early enough we will be walking to Generous Hands to deliver our cards and our socks from our "Toasty Toes" campaign.

A.R. Goals

50% goal - December 10th.

75% goal January 11th.

100% goal January 28th.

November Newsletter - A Paper copy was sent home today.

Conferences

Fall conferences are November 11 and 18th. By now you should have received a bright pink note asking for your preference for conference night and times. If you have not already sent this home, please send it in asap. Time slots are filling up fast!

For those of you that pick up your children after school, I do offer some after school slots. Please let me know if you would like to take advantage of this. ( Sadowski's only)

2nd Quarter A.R. Goals

25% day - November 22

50% day - December 10

75% day - January 11

100% day - January 28.

Upcoming Spirit Days

November 12th - Team Spirit Day

December 17th - Pajama day.

Student Hygiene

As our children grow and mature, their hygiene needs change with their changing bodies. Some of our students are in need of parental reminders regarding healthy hygiene ( bathing, washing hair, under arms, brushing teeth, cleaning fingernails, wearing clean clothes to school, etc.) We appreciate your help in guiding your child to make good hygiene choices. We want every child to feel comfortable, accepted and ready for a learning filled day at Sunset.

Thanks! Have a great week!

2nd Week of Meap!

Today was grueling! The kids had THREE sections of the Map M.E.A.P. Sections 1 and 1A took from 9:15 this morning until 12:05!!!! The kids were so fried by then that we took them out to run around and play kickball for a few minutes before lunch.

After lunch they started again with the final section. They were done by 2:00. Tomorrow is their LAST day of meaping for this year UNLESS they were absent any of the other days... then they will be meaping until those are made up. Tomorrows test is science.

Sadowski Reward Day

Sadowski's class had their "Reward" for filling their marble jar last Friday 10/15. Kids were allowed to wear pajamas and bring snuggly stuff for spreading out on the floor. The FOOD that came in was AWESOME! We had so much that we couldn't possibly eat all of it! In the past I had as many kids that wanted volunteer to bring in something as usually only 1/2 of it actually made its way in... I think EVERY child who volunteered to bring something did! yay!

OEC

Our fifth grade trip to the OEC was wonderful! We had a phenomenal picture scavenger hunt in the morning and the kids took some great pics! We'll start putting our pictures and our OEC Books together next week. For the afternoon they had a "Trail Rally". Each group had to follow the clues of the station to find the next station and then complete that activity. It was fun watching the kids figure out the clues! Some stations had the kids figuring out how to filter water and make it clean with nothing but a bag of supplies and no directions.... Another had the kids listening and identifying pre-recorded bird calls on a C.D. player. Too fun!

OEC packets are in the process of being graded and will come home soon.

Halloween !!!!

The Halloween party is fast approaching! On October 29th all the fifth graders will have their party together in the cafeteria. A note is going home with students today listing which class will be in charge of what for this party. For instance.. for this party :

Buell - Salty/non sweet snacks(Cheese, fruit, crackers, chips)

Sadowski - Cups and beverages ( Pop, juices and at least 75 cups! No styrofoam please!)

Vandermei - Sweets ( cupcakes, brownies, cookies, candy)

At our next party (Christmas) the class will switch items. So for instance, Vandemei would bring drinks, Buell sweets, and Sadowski Salty non sweet snacks.

Parents are welcome to join us in the cafeteria for our party. We will definitely be in need of servers and pourers!

Party snacks

It is NOT necessary to bring in 75 of each treat. Just enough for one classroom (25 - 30 ) will be more than sufficient. That way if more than one person brings in brownies we don't have 150 brownies and the kids will have more choices.

A.R.

75% day is October 25th. Students who are not currently at their 50% goal have been spending recess in to get caught up on points and notes went home last week ( for Sadowski's) notifying parents of who needs to meet this goal. Please remember goals for all three classes were set with 30 minutes of reading time here at school and a minimum of 30 minutes of reading time at home. If they aren't reading at home, you need to ask them why they are not!

Congrats to Michael H. from Sadowski's class.. he's at 225% of his goal!

Meaps!

As of today 10/12 Meaps are under way! We began part one of the reading meap today. The rest of the schedule is as follows:

Reading Day #2 10/13

Math Tuesday 10/19 A.m.

Science - Wednesday 10/20 a.m.

Please try to keep pull outs of your child during A.m. minimum during this time!

Whooping Cough

A letter will be going home today concerning a case of whooping cough in a Sunset family. As of now, it is only the family member of a Sunset student who has been diagnosed. All other member of that family have been put on antibiotics as a "just in case" and all students from that family will be kept home for the remainder of the week to make sure that no symptoms show. A letter is going home from the heath department today to the youngest and only children from each classroom. Please make sure that you read this over for important information.

New science /social studies!

5th students of science and social studies have switched and are now attending their other class for the next four weeks. B and D now have science... A and C have social studies.

Week of October 4th

Last Friday all science students took their first test over the term cards they have been working so hard on. As with all tests, some did fantastic and some need to retake the test. Please remember that all assignments for science class can be re-done for a higher grade.

Make up tests are always on Wednesdays and are open the next three Wednesdays after the test has been taken. For students who do better orally than on a written test, have them make arrangements with me to come in and test on their term cards orally. The percent of those they get correct will count as their test grade. Students can retake the test as many times as necessary to be successful. I would rather have them learn what has been taught. If this means we have to extend over the three Wednesday rule, that is also fine, but the make up test MUST have been taken within those three weeks before a third chance outside of those three weeks will be given.

OEC

This Friday all 5th grade students are heading to the OEC. By now some of your fifth graders have asked if it is possible for you to borrow the family digital camera. If this is alright with you, they will be the only ones using the camera from their group. If you have decided not to let them use your camera ( we DEFINITELY understand why not) then we will provide some disposable cameras for the group. We'll be asking them for verification by the end of Thursday so we know how many we'll need to go get. Weather is supposed to be nice in the afternoon but chilly in the morning... please make sure they dress in layers and NO SANDLES! They'll be on and off the trail and we don't want them getting poison ivy on their feet. If your student is allergic to bees, please let the office know so we can carry the appropriate emergency supplies.

Switch Change

Please remind your students... everyone who has had science for the last four weeks will begin social studies on Monday. Everyone who has had social studies will begin science.

Science students will take their final unit test over everything they've learned over the last four weeks tomorrow. I gave everyone a review sheet with the questions and the answers of things that will show up on the test. Please have them study this.

Thanks! ( Please excuse any typos... I typed this in under 4 minutes!)

Week #4!

Sorry we didn't do a week 3 posting..... things got a little crazy busy here last week!

All Classes

Our first visit to the OEC ( Outdoor Education Center) will be Next Friday, October 8th. Students have already been told to dress for the weather, but we will continue with reminders until the day that we go. We will be at the OEC all day so students will either need to pack a lunch or they will have needed to select "school lunch" on the permission slip that you signed for them at the beginning of the year.

Field Trip

All three fifth grade classes will be attending an artist education show by Michael Moshun on Wednesday, December 8th at 12:15. This will be a chaperone free trip due so the number of seats that are available at the show. Students will eat lunch early at Sunset and then depart for the Kalamazoo civic center.

Picture Day this Wednesday, Sept. 29th!

A.R. Goals

A.R. goals for this marking period have already been set and the 25% goal has already passed.

The 50% goal is October 7th.

The 75% goal is October 25th

The 100% goal is November 4th.

Kids will want to make sure they reach their 100% goal this time! We're have an amazing yo yo performer come in. He is awesome!

Science!

In science all students should have by now completed sets 1 -4 of their term cards. In addition to practice times in the classroom, students will need to be studying these words every night as they have a TEST on Friday over sets 1 - 4. All students have been informed of this, and the test date is written on the back board... so don't accept any excuses on Thursday night when they claim they "didn't know they had a test!"

Science and Social Studies

Science students will begin Social studies classes and social studies students will begin their 4 week science rotation on Monday, October 11th. Orange science books will continue to be used AFTER the current science students finish their 4 week social studies unit, so please make sure that these do not get lost! If you see it ( "Forces and Motion" is the title) laying around at home, please send it back to school and encourage them to keep in in their desks!

Thanks!

Week #2 !!!!

Thanks to all the parents and students who were able to make it to Open House on Thursday night. It was so nice to meet all of you!

Switching Classes

Science, Social Studies and Math Switch starts on Monday. All students in all classes were told what group they are in for this switch. Sadowski's students should all have written their designated group letter inside the information page of their Schedule/Agenda books.

Groups A & C have Science until October 11th. Groups B & D have Social Studies until that same date.

Groups A & B go to math at 10:15. At that same time Group C has Science and Group D has Social Studies.

At 11:15 Groups C &D go to Math and Group A goes to Science and D goes to Social Studies.

Meap Tests are Coming

Meap testing is coming up quick. I'll list the dates early this week regarding which days testing will take place. PLEASE try NOT to schedule any dentist, doctor, or other appointments on these days as it is critical that they be our rooms taking these state mandated tests.

Spelling

Words Their Way ( WTW is the abbreviation we use) lists will be passed out starting Monday. As in all the years past with this program, students will cut out their words for practice sorts as well as writing them in either their WTW journal or booklet ( This varies by teacher preference). These journals or booklets is what they need to be bringing home to study, not their cut out words. The cut out words are for use for class spelling activities individually or with a partner. Spelling tests are Friday, so a review of their words a few minutes each night should prepare them.

Accelerated Reader ( A.R.)

Accelerated Reader goals for the marking period have been set. Some students have already begun taking tests. I will post the deadline dates for 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% goals for this marking period later this week.

Don't forget! Picture day is September 29th!

Thanks!