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