Hello Parents! WOWZA! I am only wishing for the Christmas break so your kids have some time to really get better! This seems early. This stuff usually breaks out in January during Catholic Schools Week! I hope everyone stays well! 

Calendar Dates: 

Dec. 19- Hawaiian Shirt Day

Dec. 20- Sack Lunch Needed/ Christmas Sweater Day/ Spirit Day

Dec. 21- Jan. 5 -Christmas Vacation

Jan. 6- Classes Resume

Reading- This week they have been fixing and typing the stories they have created. The plan is to share them on Friday morning! We will wait to start a new story after we get back from Christmas. They did take their spelling tests and weekly module tests on Monday. I am trying to get the sick kids to get theirs done. 

Book It- I gave them their January calendars today! They have 5 days of reading before we get back. They can return their December ones when they get back after our  break! This is the usual time of kids losing minutes because they are busy at home so they might want to stock up on minutes to be safe! 

Take Home Folders- I see a couple of kids are now using their "back up folders". Please check at home to see if it is there so they can return it! Thanks!!! 

Math- We started working on multiplying decimals times whole numbers. We did an activity with Base 10 blocks on Tuesday. I think we will continue that on Thursday. I don't want to start teaching a skill with so many gone. We will just start again when we get back! 

Religion- They did a GREAT job with mass! I am glad the kids were so flexible! With kids missing I had to change some jobs around! They were willing to step up to help out! We are going to finish our Advent chapter before we leave. 

Spirit Day on Friday! They can wear sweats with their ugly Christmas sweaters! 

Sack Lunch- They will need a sack lunch on Friday. Milk will be provided! They will be eating with their angels. 

If they are getting a gift for their angel- please try to keep it to $5. They do not have to buy them a gift! Caroling will be from 12:30-1:00...you are welcome to join us! 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! May 2025 bring you health, happiness, and some fun! I am heading to Waverly on Monday to spend Christmas with my sister and my brother and their kids. 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Parents, I hope you're having a great week! I think the cough is being passed around the room. I am trying to remind them to cover their mouths when they cough! I am also reminding them to use Germ-X or wash their hands anytime they cough or blow their nose. I have four kids gone today. Please don't hesitate to keep them home. They can make up whatever homework they miss! 

Calendar Dates: 

Dec. 12- 5th Grade sings at Holy Spirit/ Wear Blue

Dec. 13- Spirit Day/ Grinch Day

Dec. 18- 5th grade mass 

Dec. 20- Sack Lunch Needed

Dec. 21- Jan. 5 -Christmas Vacation

Jan. 6- Classes Resume

Friday, December 20- They will be eating lunch with their Advent Angels. They need a sack lunch that day. Milk will be provided. Caroling is from 12:30-1:00. You are welcome to join us in the gym! 

Reading- We are in our Eruption story this week. We read a story about a volcano that erupted in the Philippines in 1991. They talk about the different levels of warnings. We discussed how we have similar warnings for hurricanes. We have different levels of tornadoes based on the damage. There were people evacuating on a water buffalo! Can you imagine?? I did show them video footage of that volcano as well as Mt. Saint Helen's volcano. The footage from that one was amazing. 

The grammar this week is harder because they are trying to find the direct and indirect objects in a sentence. We've been doing it together because there are questions I ask them to help them pick it out! 

They will have their spelling test on Monday. They will also do their weekly module test then too. 

Religion- We are working on our Advent chapter. The other day we discussed all the holy days the church has in its calendar. We also read the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah being visited by the angel Gabriel. He told them they were to have a baby. Zechariah didn't believe it was possible because they were old. He was unable to speak until their child was born. He named him John. John was a prophet that told others to prepare the way. 

Mass- They have their parts. Those who have a reading part should be practicing at home! Please join us if you can next Wednesday! 

The 5th graders helped me out today (Wednesday) pass out the new song books for mass. Many hands make it so much easier! 

Math- We tested over the chapter on Tuesday. They will be taking their tests home to you to get signed. I did talk to them about making careless mistakes --some problems just not done. Not following directions on some even though I circled them.  We just need to make sure we've looked over the test before we hand it in. 

Spirit Day- Friday is a Spirit Day! They can wear sweats for $1 along with Grinch Day! If they have Grinch pajamas, they may wear them. They just need to make sure they have appropriate clothes for recess. 

I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend! I still haven't put up my Christmas tree- so that is the goal for me! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Parents, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I had a great time in Colorado with my nieces! It was so nice to see those mountains in the distance each morning! 

Calendar Dates: 

Dec. 6- Spirit Day/ St. Nick's Day / Wear a bow or ribbon day

Dec. 12- 5th Grade sings at Holy Spirit

Dec. 18- 5th grade mass 

Dec. 21- Jan. 5 -Christmas Vacation

Jan. 6- Classes Resume

Mass- The 5th graders will lead mass on the 18th! I will hand out jobs next week. 

Religion- We are finishing our chapter on the Beatitudes. They will have a test tomorrow (Friday). Afterwards we will move into the chapter that covers Advent and our liturgical year. 

Permission Slip- I am sending home another slip! The 5th graders are just so busy. Next Thursday, they will be going to Holy Spirit to sing for the CDA. They serve us lunch as a thank you! The ladies love to hear their singing. They also provide a wonderful lunch! The kids will not go hungry! Please sign and return by next Tuesday. Thank you! There is a small cost because we are taking the trolley. 

Reading- You will see their module test scores in their folders.They all did GREAT! I did take out the written response question. In my opinion it was unrealistic to ask a 5th grader that question. It was very difficult. I am not sure a middle schooler would have like it either! They finished their stories and I will begin the editing process. They took a spelling pretest on Tuesday. 

Our new unit is nonfiction. It covers natural disasters. The story we are currently reading is about a volcano that erupted in the Philippines. We have been talking about how we prepare for thunderstorms, tornadoes,and snow storms compared to what they have to do to prepare for a volcano. There is a lot of hard vocabulary in this story. Volcanologist is one of the words! That's just fun to say! The story also includes footnotes. I explained what they were and what the mean. They are learning even more terminology that has to do with volcanoes. 

The grammar in this story has to do with direct objects. These can be tough, but I will be teaching them some helpful questions they can ask when they are trying to locate them in the sentence. 

Math- We are finishing our chapter. The practice test will begin on Thursday. They will most likely have a test over this chapter on Monday or Tuesday next week. 

12 Days of Christmas- we are going to have some fun dress up days to celebrate the season of Christmas. Each day I will remind the kids what the next day will be. I will also post it on my Facebook page to remind you. This is for fun! It is NOT a requirement! 

Friday is a Spirit Day! Sweats for $1! They can also wear a bow or ribbon! 

Don't forget we are helping buy gifts for the nursing homes. If you can help out, that would be great! We will have another noisy change collection next week! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Are you going to Merry Marketplace? Looks like there will be a lot happening in town! Have a great weekend, no matter what you do! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma