Hello All- We have 7 days left before break! I can't believe I am noting January calendar dates already! 

Calendar Dates: 

Dec. 11- 5th grade sings at Holy Spirit

Dec. 17- 5th grade mass

Dec. 19- Need Sack Lunch

Dec. 20- Jan. 4- Christmas Break

Jan. 5- Classes Resume

Christmas Dress-up Days

Dec. 15- Dress as a Christmas Character

Dec. 16- Christmas Plaid

Dec. 17- Dress up for mass

Dec. 18- Shining, Bright, Festive

Dec. 19- Christmas Vacation (The Griswalds)  gear, ugly sweaters, and Christmas PJs

These days are optional for them! They don't have to dress up (except on Wednesday)! 

Friday after lunch and caroling in the gym we will go back to my room for a movie. I have a birthday celebration so that will be their treat that afternoon before we leave for break! 

Reading- They are taking their Module Test this week. I have broken it up over 3 days this time. I am hoping that helps with scores. I also read them the story The Mystery of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg. He is the author of The Polar Express and Jumangi. Inside are 14 different sketches. Each has a title and a caption. The kids are going to pick one of them and create a story around it. The caption that goes along with it will be in their story somewhere. I want them to have their rough draft done before we gone on break. My hope is that I will be able to edit them over break so they can fix them when we return.  

They also wrote their cinquain poem. This poem is 5 lines and is based on so many words and syllables per line. I want them to read them aloud first and then you will see them. They are written about someone they know. They will be giving them their poem when done. 

Math- We are working on multiplying decimals by decimals this week. The multiplying is fine, but remembering we need to count places to put the decimal in our final answer is the trick! 

Religion- We have been focusing on Mary this week since her holy day of obligation was on Monday. On Tuesday, the kids used their computers to research the different titles the church has given Mary. They found 15, but some found more than that! We will be getting back to our chapter study guide tomorrow ( Thursday) . They will test over the Beatitudes chapter next week on Monday.  I want to finish that chapter before we go on break. 

I gave out the mass parts today to those who will have a job. Many have more than one job. 

Reconciliation is on Friday for the 5th graders. We are going out with the middle school students this time to the chapel. 

Music- Just a reminder that we go to the church tomorrow to sing for the CDA and guests. They will provide us lunch. I told the kids if they were unsure then they should pack a sack lunch. It is usually a wonderful lunch! 

Pre-Christmas behaviors- We have not started off this week very well. Tempers are flaring. I know most of this comes because Christmas break is just around the corner and they are excited. They are ready to be away from each other. We are getting annoyed by things that normally wouldn't bother us.  I did rearrange desks again- hoping to make things a little better in that way. We also just need to remember to look for patience and walk away when things or people start to drive us crazy. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am heading to see my sister Penny. This week hasn't been a good one for her, lots of pain and panic attacks. I am hoping my presence will keep her calm for a couple of days anyway. 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 

Hello Everyone- I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know my siblings and I loved spending the time together even though we had to cut it short due to the weather.  My brother got 13 inches of snow! I told him I was happy with our amount! 

Calendar Dates: 

Dec. 5- Spirit Day

Dec. 8- Mass / Holy Day of Obligation

Dec. 10- PE DAY - no mass

Dec. 11- 5th grade sings at Holy Spirit

Dec. 17- 5th grade mass

Dec. 19- Need Sack Lunch

Permission Slip- There is a form in your child's folder for our trip to Holy Spirit Church on the 11th. I have enough drivers. They will sing for the CDA and guests and then we will eat with them. It is a potluck luncheon. If your child doesn't feel comfortable with that- they may still pack a sack lunch! They don't need to dress up on this day.  Please have forms returned to me by the 9th.

Monday, Dec. 8- We have a holy day of obligation. The kids will need to dress for mass on Monday!  We will have our PE Day on Wednesday. They will still get out early on Wednesday. 

Reading- Our final story in this module is really a bunch of different poem styles. The main character is writing poems in school, and he just can't seem to stop writing them! They will take their quiz over this story on Friday. The weekly module test will be on Monday. Since this is our last story in this module- that means we will have a big module test starting on Tuesday.  I think I will break it up this time so that we can start a writing project. They will take a test tomorrow ( Thursday) over their spelling words. 

Religion- We are finishing up our chapter on the Beatitudes. The other day we made a list of hashtags  that would apply to each Beatitude. For example: #praymore  or #acceptapologies   Our next chapter is a short one covering Mary. I wanted to get that covered next week since we are celebrating her on Monday.  After that I will get into our Advent chapter. There seems to be a lot to cover before the Christmas break! 

Math- We started multiplying decimals this week. The first day they used a calculator to multiply by 10, 100, or 1000. We talked about how the decimal moves with each zero.  On Tuesday they multiplied a whole number times a decimal. We talked about money a lot with those problems and how we might be buying multiple items that cost us $0.50.  We also talked about being charged sales tax on items. That led to a whole discussion on why we pay taxes! 

Advent Angels will start next week. I told them who their angel partner was today! It's always exciting! 

I hope you enjoy the music program tonight! The 3-5 graders did an excellent job at practice today. I had a lot of middle school students telling me how great they sounded! Thank you , Mrs. Warner! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Stay warm! Stay safe! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Families! I cannot believe next week is Thanksgiving already. Where has our month gone?? 

Calendar Dates: 

Nov. 21- Spirit Day

Nov. 26-Nov. 30- No School/ Thanksgiving Break

Dec. 1-19- Can wear sweatpants unless a mass day- if they paid their $20

Dec. 3 - Christmas Concert and Practice Day

Dec. 5- Spirit Day

Dec. 8- Mass / Holy Day of Obligation

Dec. 10- PE DAY - no mass

Dec. 11- 5th grade sings at Holy Spirit

Dec. 17- 5th grade mass

Reading- They finished the story this week and took their weekly module test on Tuesday. I am kicking myself for my lesson plans. Too many tests and projects to grade! The book reports have all been given, but I am grading them as I find the time. Sorry.  My goal is to come in this weekend and finish them up if I need to.  They will start this final story in our module on Thursday with the spelling pretest.  We won't be able to get it all done before Thanksgiving break so we will come back to it. 

We had a couple of book reports that dealt with 9-11. We had a good talk today about what happened that day and what it was really like.  I forget they weren't even born yet. So...if your child is asking to see videos of that day- that is the reason. I won't show those here. That is totally up to you as parents. 

Math- Today (Wednesday) they took their practice test. I need to check them. Once I have done that we will go over them . I am thinking the test will be Friday or Monday. It just depends on me grading them.  Our next chapter is multiplying decimals. I will hit a few areas, but not go heavy into this one so that I can get to our division chapter. 

Religion- We started going over each Beatitude and discussing what it means to live them out. They are harder to understand their meanings compared to the 10 Commandments, but I try to explain that Jesus gave us these to find our true happiness because in 2025, we tend to find happiness in a video game, new phone, new car, my job, money, power, etc. We talked about how none of things go to heaven with us so that happiness is just temporary, but living the Beatitudes will find us our true happiness on earth, but also in heaven some day. 

Sicknesses- Thank you for sending wipes, etc to my room. That will be helpful. If your child needs cough drops for their sore throat, cough, or just a scratchy throat- just make sure they stop in and see Mrs. Levine first. She gives me a note from the office to keep with it. They should have their own water bottles and stay away from the drinking fountain for now. I am going to tell them they should take them home every night and wash them- sick or not sick. I am doing the same with mine. Mass was a little noisy with all the coughing ( I was part of that). LOL  Remember they have to be fever free and vomiting free for 24 hours before they can come back. The same goes for strep - they can't come back until they have been on their meds for 24 hours.  I am hoping that the illnesses don't ruin your Thanksgiving breaks, but the time away from each other will be a good thing. 

Sweatpants Fundraiser- They have until December 2 to turn in their $20 if they want to participate. They won't be able to wear sweats on Dec. 3, 8, and 17.  We will have mass on December 8 due to it being a holy day of obligation. We won't have mass on December 10.  NO pajama pants! 

Winter Reminder- Remember once the snow hits, they should be bringing snow boots, snow pants, coats, mittens, and hats. Recess gets to be really long and boring if you can't play with your friends.

Permission Slip- Remember to return the permission slip for going to the high school to practice on December 3. If you've lost it, let me know. We can get you a new one. Thank you!!! 

I won't be sending out a blog next week. Remember we are only having school on Monday and Tuesday. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know we all have many blessings to be thankful for this year. I am heading to Waterloo/Cedar Falls. We are having Thanksgiving at Penny's assisted living facility with my siblings and nieces and nephews. Please travel safely to and from your destinations. 

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

 Hello Families, I hope everyone is having a great week! I am enjoying these temps much more than what we had over the weekend. 

Calendar Dates: 

Nov. 14- Biz Town Day

Nov. 21- Spirit Day

Nov. 26-Nov. 30- No School/ Thanksgiving Break

Dec. 3 - Christmas Concert

Dec. 5- Spirit Day

Dec. 17- 5th grade mass

Reading- We are finishing up our story this week. They will test over it next Monday. They will also have their post test in spelling on Monday. On Tuesday, we will do the weekly module test.  The grammar for this story is about writing plural nouns. I gave them a "cheat sheet"  for the different rules in spelling them. Based on homework, I don't think many are taking advantage of that tool. I will tell them again to use it on the test, but will have to see if they choose to do it. 

Book Reports- I forgot what it's like to have a big class! We aren't going to get through them as quickly as I thought. I am hoping to do a few every day! 

Math- We are also wrapping up our chapter on multiplication this week and Monday. We will work on the review and test next week. 

Religion- Our next chapter will be over the Beatitudes. The 5th graders don't memorize them like they had to do with the Ten Commandments. We do go over each one and discuss ways to live them each day.  These are hard to understand, but our book does a good job of simplifying them for us. 

Permission Slip- In your child's folder is the form to fill out so we can practice for the Christmas concert at the high school. Please fill it out and return as soon as possible. 

Outdoor Classroom Fundraiser- make sure to check out the flyer in your child's folder. There are some specific rules to follow so make sure you read it carefully.  This is optional- not a requirement! 

Field Trip- I think we are all set. It would be great for the kids and drivers to be at school on Friday by 7:15. Meet in our hallway. I have name tags for the parents going with us!  The address is 6100 Grand Avenue, Des Moines. We usually end up parking in the back unless we get lucky up front!  The kids need to dress for mass day.  If they are on the Construction Crew they may wear jeans and a nice shirt. They will be on the floor working. I would also suggest for the girls- they might choose pants over a dress because of our town meetings where they have to sit on the floor.  They will need a sack lunch and drink that day. We will be back in time for the bus.  Students are allowed to take electronics for the car ride as long as they stay off any social media platform. This also means no picture taking and no texting to others or you (parents). They also need to keep the volume down so as not to bother the driver or others in the car.   I think they are ready to go! They have filled out all their work in their job folders and their bank tracker is set to go! I will post pictures on Friday after we get back.  Illnesses are starting to go around. If your child wakes that morning with a fever or not feeling well, please don't send them to school just to go to Biz Town. I don't want to have to call you from there to come and get them. 

I hope everyone has a good weekend! I am sticking around here this weekend! I am planning on going to the musical at the high school on Saturday night! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Families- I hope everyone enjoyed the long break last week! I went to Cedar Falls and stayed with my sister Penny. We had a good weekend together. 

Calendar Dates: 

Nov. 7- Spirit Day

Nov. 11- Mural Painting Day

Nov. 12-4-8 Grade Mass 

Nov. 12- Book Reports Due/ Advent Activity Night at STM

Nov. 14- Biz Town Day

Nov. 26-Nov. 30- No School/ Thanksgiving Break

Field Trip- We are set to go next Friday, the 14th. We are leaving STM at 7:30 am. Anyone in the Greenfield area can meet Rebecca Van Donselaar at Casey's at the same time. You will have to meet her there again around 2:30 to pick up your child. Please let me know. I have gotten a couple emails so far.  They will need a sack lunch and drink that day. They also have to wear mass day attire. 

Math- We have been focusing on Biz Town this week, but I think we will get some more multiplying done before we go. I have been catching up on corrections with them. I did show them this week another website 

Reading- We read through our play on Wednesday. It was fun to talk about how the king was upset that people were taking time off of work and that upset him so much that he arrested Spring. Spring was then banned. He has a dream of being taken to court for "attempted murder" because with no spring, plants and animals were going to die.  The grammar for this story will focus on making nouns plural. I am giving them a "rules" sheet that will help them keep all the different ways a noun can become plural.  The English language has to always be a little tricky! 

Book Reports Due on Wednesday!!! They will share them during reading class. 

Religion- We finished our chapter on the seven sacraments. They are working on the review and study guide this week. As of right now, the test will be on Tuesday. 

Mural Painting- Next week each grade gets to help with the new mural going up in the K-2 hallway. The 5th graders will be painting on Tuesday morning. I would suggest wearing a shirt that can get dirty or bringing an old T-shirt to wear while painting. They can change afterwards into their other shirt. 

Take Home Folder- in your child's folder is  a card from CYC if you are interested in signing up your kids for camp next summer. 

Spirit Day is tomorrow! Sweats for $1. We don't do hats during the winter months. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I am heading back to Cedar Falls because my sister Eva is here from Maine and her son and his fiance are going to be here. It's been a couple of years since I have seen him! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Families! It's always a little hard and shocking to see the closet in my classroom fill up with coats and sweatshirts! I can take the cool weather. The white stuff can stay away a little while longer. 

Calendar Dates: 

Oct. 27-30 Parent Teacher Conferences

Oct. 29- Halloween Parade at 2:15 pm 

Oct. 30- No School/Conferences

Oct. 31- No School 

Nov. 1- Holy Day of Obligation/ All Saints' Day

Nov. 12- Book Reports Due/ Advent Activity Night at STM

Nov. 14- Biz Town Day

Reading- We are reading our fantasy story called Airborn. This story take place in the past and is the story of a cabin boy and a young girl reading the journals of Captain Benjamin Malloy and his travels in his hot air balloon.  He journals about seeing some kind of animal that looks similar to a bat and a panther. It flies in the sky around him. The question in the story is whether what he was seeing was real or imagined. His granddaughter believes they are real, while the cabin boy thinks he was delirious.  We also talked about the time period because women and girl were wearing long dresses. Kate, the granddaughter, also had to have a chaperone in her presence at all times. We discussed what that meant for girls during that time period. It sounded like their conversation with Mrs. Sickels in social studies was similar when she was going over the rules for teachers back in the 1800s.  They will test over this story next week. We will be able to start a new story when we get back in November. 

Book Reports are due in 3 weeks!  If your child needs white paper or poster paper they can see me! I will also print off anything for them if you need me to. 

Spelling Posttest will be on Tuesday! 

Math- We are working on multiplying two digits x two digits this week. Dropping the 0 is the tricky part to remember for some. Today they multiplied two digits x three digits. That added another layer for some confusion for some. We are going to continue this and adding some 0's in the numbers to see what happens when we have zeroes in our problems. 

Religion- We are finishing up our work with the Rosary this week. We will be getting back into our books and starting a new chapter starting on Friday. 

Book Fair- We have a new company this year! The book fair will be open during conferences. The 5th graders filled out their wish lists during library time. I am putting a flyer in their Take Home Folders that you can check out. 

Wednesday, October 29- It is a mass day, but they DON"T have to dress up.  They can wear their normal clothes that day. They should make sure their Halloween costume is in their bag for later that afternoon. The middle school is going to supply activities again in the afternoon and the parade is at 2:15. You are welcome to come to the parade. You can also take your child home afterwards, but make sure to let me know  before you leave. 

Mass on October 29 will be the first graders and kindergarten class. Some of the 5th graders will be helping out by holding the mic. 

I won't be sending out a blog next week since I will see you at conferences. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am making a trip back home to Doon on Saturday. I will take down the flowers at my parents' cemetery plot and leave them a Christmas wreath.  It will be a long day on the road, but that is okay! It will be nice to see Doon. It's good thing I have a book I can listen to on my drive! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 I hope everyone is having a great week! I am enjoying these fall temps. Mrs. Sickels keeps telling me about how cold our winter is supposed to be. Shush! I am not ready for that kind of talk yet! 

Calendar Dates: 

Oct. 17- Spirit Day

Oct. 20- Flu Shots at school 

Oct. 27-30 Parent Teacher Conferences

Oct. 29- Halloween Parade at 2:15 pm 

Oct. 31- No School 

Nov. 1- Holy Day of Obligation/ All Saints' Day

Math- We are starting our multiplication chapter.  With the first lesson I let them use a calculator to solve the problems. They were working on noticing the patterns when we multiply by 10s 100s and 1000s. We brought back exponents too!  Our next lesson was on estimating factors to find their product using mental math. 20 x 200=?   It is a good chance to review rounding.  The next lesson should be review because they will be multiplying by a single digit. I know they did that in 4th grade.  Our real focus of this chapter will be multiplying by double digits. 48 x 87 and bigger like 312 x 98. We will also work on multiplying with 0's.  Now, I do tell them if they don't know their facts they can use their multiplication table in their composition books.  I don't want them sitting there using their fingers to find 8 x 9 while trying to get their assignment done. Feel free to do flashcards at home or in the car! 

Reading- They have taken their first Module test ( unit test). I have a few to check tonight, but overall I was pleased with the scores. They were better than I thought they would be! I will show you their actual test at conferences.  Today I gave them a spelling pretest for our new story.  Our next story is another fantasy story. This one has a bit of a mystery to solve. It is also one of the longer stories- I think it is 18-19 pages.  In grammar we will be focusing on what a common noun is and what a proper noun is. I think street names and acronyms and some groups and official titles get confusing. 

Religion- We are working on our booklets for the mysteries. We are reading short verses from the Bible and then summarizing them . I plan on showing you those at conferences as well. 

Halloween Parade will be on October 29 at 2:15 in the gym. Students should come to school with their costume in their bag. You are welcome to attend!  If you plan on taking your child home afterwards, make sure to stop in the room and check out with me so that I know they are gone!  No weapons or anything close to a weapon for the costume are allowed. It is also a mass day, but they DON'T have to wear mass clothes that day.  It isn't a spirit day so they cannot wear sweatpants, but jeans or shorts (depending on temps) are okay. 

Conferences- Have you gone into JMC and  picked your day and time?? Please do so ASAP.

Spirit Day on Friday! Sweats and/or hat for $1!

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Big plans? Whatever you're doing- have fun! Be safe! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma