Hello Parents! I hope you are doing well this week! We almost have everyone back in the class! We have been enjoying these nice temps as well. I know they will go back to normal soon enough! 

Calendar Dates:

Feb.9- Celebrating Valentine's Day/ Spirit Day

Feb. 14- Ash Wednesday- 5th grade mass

Feb. 23- End of 2nd Trimester/ Spirit Day/ Fish Fry

Mar. 2- STM Foundation/ Gala

Reading- They took their Module test on Monday. Sorry, I haven't checked them yet! I feel like every night there is something going on that stops me! I am also trying to check all the sick kids' papers. We did start our new unit. This one is focused on helping the planet. The first story we are going to read about is telling us how urban places create gardens on their rooftops! We are also learning about how authors write with persuasion. We discussed what that means. I posed a question to the 5th graders today. How would you persuade your parents to let you stay up longer at bedtime...without tears or drama? Quite a few of them had some pretty good arguments, while others were planning to tell you the "why", but then they were going to really play video games,etc. LOL I tried to play the role of the parents and give them some , "what if your parents say this..."  I apologize now if they try to pull something on you!  In grammar they are working more with verbs. Today we worked on writing verbs in past tense . We also worked with verbs where the spelling changes when we write them in a different tense. 

The spelling list is a bit trickier this time. It is the schwa sound with "L" . We talked about how the final syllable would have a vowel and L , but that vowel will not necessarily be heard. "Quarrel" was a tough one for many. I did tell them, it's not "coral". Angle and angel are on the list and always easily confused. 

Religion- We just finished up our religion chapter. I am going to talk to them about making their Lenten promises because that will start on Wednesday. I do tell them to pick something that won't make your family members' life miserable too because you are miserable. Father Halbur always talked about his friend who gave up coffee and then was miserable to live with until his wife told him to pick something else! No need for everyone to suffer! 

We will have mass next week! We have a big one!  I will give them their parts on Friday to start practicing. We have an extra reading that day, plus ashes.  There will be another Noisy Change Collection that day. 

Math- We are nearing the end of our chapter! They will probably be testing next week at some point. I have been sitting with some of them lately doing corrections because decimals X decimals ...we forget we need to count where to put that decimal in our product. 

Friday is a Spirit Day! They can also wear RED for Valentines or their Superbowl team clothing

The Valentines Party will be on Friday afternoon. I told the kids they can bring their Valentines on Friday. Thank you, Jacquie Merritt, for supplying our party with some treats! 

Tiffany Ossian came in on Wednesday to take pictures for our silent auction item! Thank you so much!! Don't forget that we are looking for donations for the silent auction item, but also the Live auction book basket that 3-5 will be putting together. 

I am going to be gone on Monday afternoon. There will be a substitute that afternoon. 

I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend! Stay well! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma