Hello Parents, I hope everyone had a great week last week and enjoyed the weekend! I had a great time at our conference in Chicago! Mass was amazing! I wish you all could have heard that children's choir! OH MY! I went to some really great sessions too. Plus, it was just fun being with my co-workers/friends in Chicago!


Dollars for Scholars- The essays were written. They had to choose one of the 6 character traits and then tell how that is important to their education. They wrote and rewrote them. I had 3 other teachers read and choose their top 3 choices. The ones going on are Caden Simmons, Kaycie Britten, and Kadley Bailey. Of those three, the committee will choose  one winner. They are usually announced at the end of the year after mass.

Reading- This week we are reading the story called Rachel's Journal. It is the journal of a pioneer girl traveling west with her family in the 1800s . She keeps a journal of all the experiences along the way...the dust and heat, meeting an Indian, a buffalo stampede, the flooding of the Platte River and then trying to cross it with a wagon and cattle. This week we will be focusing on cause and effect in this story.  Their spelling words are all words that begin with a prefix:-un, -dis,-mis, and -in. They will have a spelling test on Friday as well as the test over the story. Next week will be our 5th story in our unit. That means they will have a unit test the week of May 13.

Book Reports and Costumes -- May 13

Math- This week we started on our chapter of fractions. I usually start with the 4th grade material because it is something they don't usually get to. On Monday we used fraction strips to begin finding equivalent fractions. They are also learning how to make equivalent fractions with multiplication.


May 8, 2019- Middle School Information Night!  6 pm. This is for you guys !!!! This is a great night to learn about the expectations for your kids as a 6th grader!  All incoming 6th graders and their parents are encouraged to attend! Pizza will be provided! 

FAST Testing- We are now doing the Spring testing round for our reading fluency. The goal is 163. I have only been able to get about 5 kids done so far. When we are done, I will send home scores. 

Mass- The 5th graders did a great job today! Special shoutout to Matthew who had to step in and do the first reading because a student was sick!  Just letting you know that we will have mass on the last day of school. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am going to a wedding on Saturday afternoon and then driving to Waterloo to catch my niece Emily in her high school's musical of The Little Mermaid on Sunday!

God Bless, 
Miss Surma