Hello Parents- We are having a great first week in my opinion!!! I hope the kids agree! We are slowly getting into our routine and starting real work.  

Calendar Dates: 

Sept. 1- No School/ Labor Day

Sept. 3- Mass/ 1 hour early out

Sept. 5- Spirit Day

Sept. 8- Green Valley Day

Sept. 11- Picture Day

On Tuesday- I will be leaving work around 2:50 pm so that I can get a tooth pulled. (YAY-😔)Mrs. Mitchell will help with dismissal. I will be back on Wednesday. 

Picture Day- I put your child's picture form in their Take Home Folder. IF you are ordering, please return ASAP. You can also do it online. You can return that form and write online purchase so we know for sure. 

Early Outs- Next Wednesday will be our first Wednesday early out. We get out one hour early. Please make sure your child knows that after school plan if it is different from our regular days! 

Computers- On Tuesday, I had them get into their Xtra Math accounts. This is site that will work on their math fluency with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. We will do this along with time tests each week. I know they did this in 3rd grade, but it is a great tool to do again! Once they have passed each kind of math- they will be done! 

I also had them create an account in Prodigy. They will work on math problems and it also has some video games they can play in between the problems they solve. 

Field Trip- In your child's folder is a permission slip for our trip to Green Valley on Sept. 8. There is a form attached that you need to fill out for the DNR. Please fill out both and return  ASAP. They will need a sack lunch and drink that day. They need to wear tennis shoes that day due to the ground and where we are walking. Mr. McCabe is in charge of the day, so if you have questions, I would email him. 

Reading- I gave them their first spelling pretest on Wednesday. I always give them a list of the words afterwards to take home and study- unless they happen to get 100% on the pretest. If they do that, they don't take the post test. With our new series I cannot get them covered in a week. So don't expect a Monday pretest and Friday post test. My stories are longer than the  K-3 stories. I will always let the kids know when their post test is as time gets closer to the end of our story. We will start working on our first story on Thursday. 

Math- On Wednesday, they worked on a worksheet that is really like a "pretest", but it's not a test. They worked on problems to show me what they already know. Our first chapter focuses on place value of numbers and then taking them apart and writing them in word form, expanded form, and standard form. We also will be working on understanding what an exponent is and what it can tell the kids. 

Religion- They made bookmarks to use with their religion books this year. I had them search up a Bible verse of their choosing and then decorate it. I then laminated it for them. We will start our year working on learning about the Bible and how to locate certain Bible verses. In the spring they will take the ACRE test. It is a standardized religion test. Students in 2nd, 5th, and 8th take it. This year I am having them keep a composition book with information that we discuss throughout the year. I am not teaching to the test- I  am trying to make sure the material is being covered. 

Spirit Day- Our first one will be on Friday, Sept. 5. The kids can wear sweats and/or a hat for $1. 

School Shooting- The horrible news on Wednesday about the school shooting in Minneapolis at a Catholic School during mass hits home a little harder. We took a moment of silence on Wednesday and prayed for all those students, families, teachers, and staff. Please know I do not like having to talk about this with your kids, but I also know we have to have a plan in case. It breaks my heart. Please know that every day your kids are with me- I am looking out for them! 

Mass- Thank you to my volunteers ( Chase, Zayn, Ryleigh, Estella, and Jude)  for stepping up and leading us in the Sanctuary song on Wednesday! 

PE- There is a form Mr. McCabe gave the 5th graders for his class. Please read it over with your child and both of you need to sign. Return as soon as possible. 

I hope everyone enjoys their long weekend! I plan on going to my sister Penny's house in Waverly to stay with her and help out. Have a safe and fun weekend! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma