I hope everyone had a wonderful spring break! I know I enjoyed my days away by spending some time with my siblings in Waterloo and Sioux Falls.  

Calendar Dates:

Mar. 27- Spirit Day

Mar. 29- Palm Sunday

Apr. 2- Seder Meal- Sack lunch needed

Apr. 3- Good Friday/ No School

Apr. 6-10 ISASP testing week 

Apr. 8- 5th grade mass

Apr. 13- No School/ PD Day

Reading- We are finishing up our Celestials' Railroad story this week.  They will take their quiz over this story on Friday. They will also have their spelling  post test on Friday. We played a game on Monday of Spelling Tic Tac Toe.  It was a fun way to review the words!  Their grammar is focusing on subject and object pronouns. Today we found the pronoun and its antecedent. The weekly module test will be on Tuesday of next week. 

ISASP Testing- next week I am going to give them practice tests throughout the week to get them ready for  the testing they will do after Easter. In 5th grade they have 4 tests. They have a reading test, language arts/writing, math, and a science test. I believe the science test is only given in 5th grade and 8th grade. 

Math- We worked on finding the common denominator  and then renaming the fraction on Monday and Tuesday. Now we begin adding and subtracting decimals with unlike denominators. 

Religion- We just finished our chapter on Lent. We started a new one the other day. We read the story of the tax collector and the Pharisee saying their prayers. The tax collector asks for forgiveness while the Pharisee basically gives a list of the things he has done right compared to others. This chapter focuses on mercy, but more specifically the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy. Next week we will pause to focus on Holy Week. 

Spirit Day on Friday and it looks like the temps will be dropping so it should be a good day for sweats/hat! 

Students will need a sack lunch on Thursday, April 2, after the Seder Meal. 

No School on Good Friday, April 3! 

The 5th graders will have their mass on April 8. They will have another mass when they help the kindergarten class at the end of May. 

March Book It Calendars will be due by April 2. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

 Hello Families- I will be having the kids clean out the closet and take home their boots next Wednesday. Hopefully the boots can stay home! 

Calendar Dates:

Mar. 6: Spirit Day

Mar. 6- Reconciliation for Grades 3-8

Mar. 9-12- Parent Teacher Conferences

Mar. 10- ACRE Test for 5th graders

Mar. 11- Noisy Change Collection

Mar. 12-22 Spring Break

March 11, 2026 is now an early out like all other Wednesdays. Dismissal at 2:10

Reading- We are wrapping up our story on the Wild West this week. They will have a post test in spelling on Friday.  Their weekly module test will be then too. This week we focused on problems they faced in the story and how they went about solving them. We also focused on two central ideas. They worked in groups to find proof from the story to back those ideas up.  We worked on quotations and interjections in grammar. 

Math- The tests have been taken. My plan is to go over them tomorrow and have people correct that need to be corrected. The ones I have checked so far have been pretty good! 

Religion- We are focusing on Lent right now. We went to the chapel on Tuesday to say the Rosary again. They did a wonderful job!  On Friday they will have the opportunity to go to Reconciliation. We are going to go with the 6-8 grades in the afternoon. We have been talking about possible sins they have committed since Christmas ( that was the last time we went as a school to Reconciliation). I have been talking to them about their behaviors with a rosary, at mass, or during prayer in the morning, at lunch, or at the end of the day. 

They will take the Religion ACRE test on Tuesday. This is a standardized test for grades 2,5, and 8. 

Spirit Day on Friday, March 6! They can wear a hat if they don't want to wear sweats since it is supposed to be so nice! 

Noisy Change Collection next Wednesday, March 11. 

Wipes- I bought more wipes and we should be okay until spring break. We may need more afterwards though. 

I will see you next week at conferences! I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Happy Thursday! I hope you are having a great week! 

Calendar Dates:

Feb. 27- Fish Fry at STM

Feb. 28- STM Dinner and Gala

Mar. 4- Noisy Change Collection 

Mar. 6- Reconciliation for Grades 3-8

Mar. 9-12- Parent Teacher Conferences

Mar. 10- ACRE Test for 5th graders

Mar. 11- Noisy Change Collection

Mar. 13-22 Spring Break

Conferences- Please make sure you have signed up for your conference time! 

Reading-  We are in our new unit on the Wild West. This first story is more about the people that traveled west on the Oregon Trail. We are learning about the hardships they faced as they moved west. They talked a little about Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea. We also looked up real photos of some of the trail roads that still contain the grooves from their wagons. We found a huge rock in Wyoming that people stopped to carve their names in. It was the half way point on their trip. This is why I also taught them about The Oregon Trail game. I am glad to hear it brought back memories for many of you!  The grammar we are focusing on now is using quotation marks.  We are also going to work on homophones and homographs. 

Religion- They did really well on their tests! We will be working on a Lent chapter next. On March 10 they will take the religion ACRE test. This is a standardized religion test given to students in 2nd, 5th, and 8th grade. 

They will go to Reconciliation on March 6. 

Math- We are going to go over their practice test on chapter 5 on Friday. They will start the test on Monday. I don't know that we will finish it in one day so it may take a couple of days to complete. 

Noisy Change Collection- There will be a collection on Wednesday, March 4 at mass. We are collecting money for the food pantry as part of our Lenten almsgiving. 

FAST Scores- the reading and math scores are in your child's take home folder today.

Thank you for having your kids bring their boots. Even though the snow is melting- we still like the boots because it means less mud in the classroom. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I hope to see some of you at the STM Auction/Gala! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

Hello! I can't say I have hated this weather! Recess duty has been wonderful! I don't know that I will say that on Friday! 

Calendar Dates:

Feb. 20 Book Reports due

Feb. 27- Fish Fry at STM

Feb. 28- STM Dinner and Gala

Mar. 4- Noisy Change Collection 

Mar. 6- Reconciliation for Grades 3-8

Mar.9-12- Parent Teacher Conferences

Mar. 11- Noisy Change Collection

Mar. 13-22 Spring Break

*During the season of Lent, we ask that all students bring meatless meals on Fridays.

Spirit Day on Friday, February 20! Sweats for $1

Reading- They are finished with their Module tests! Overall, scores were pretty great! I was impressed because the stories weren't easy to understand.  Score sheet will be in their take home folders. I gave them a spelling pretest today (Wednesday). Our next module is about the wild west! It is one of my favorites just because I always find that time period interesting. We will start work on that tomorrow. This first story teaches them a lot about the things the pioneers experienced on their journey west. I know in grammar they are going to be working on quotation marks. 

Math- We will be finishing up our lessons in division this week. Next week we will be working on the practice test and the real test. This week we did throw in another digit so sometimes they were dividing into the thousands. That took a bit to remember we might have another number to bring down to finish dividing. 

Religion- We are wrapping our chapter on the Sacraments of Initiation .  I graded their saint reports. I am keeping those for conferences so you will see them then, They will be working on a chapter review with a test to follow. Our next chapter will be over Lent. 

Conferences- in your child's take home folder is a paper for directions on signing up for a conference time. I know you can do that now. I see some have already gotten their date and time. 

St. Malachy Foundation Gala is set for next Saturday, February 28. It is a great night with great food ! The auction is always fun to watch! Hope to see you there! 

Noisy Change Collection- We will have 2 times during Lent to collect money. The money we collect will go to Mark O'Riley's Food Pantry. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I will be working at the bookstore on Saturday!

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

 Dear Parents, The spring-like temps are bringing everyone out of the cold weather crabbies! 😉 There is lots of energy in the room (not in a bad way) !  I have told them though that the "high" of the day isn't usually until they go home so the mornings and noon recess might still require a jacket! 

Calendar Dates:

Feb. 13- Celebrate Valentines

Feb. 18- Ash Wednesday/ Lenten Angels Activity

Feb. 20 Book Reports due

Feb. 27- Fish Fry at STM

Feb. 28- STM Dinner and Gala

Reading- We finished our story on Hurricanes today! The rest of the week will be about testing to end the module. They will have their weekly module test as well as a Module 3 test. That last one I break up over days so it isn't so much all at once. I know our next unit will be focused on the wild west!  They took their post test in spelling on Tuesday. We won't do a pretest until next week sometime.

I spent last weekend editing the stories they wrote before Christmas. I know they were excited to hear I had done it. They will be editing those in the coming days and then sharing them aloud with the class. Some of them worked with a partner or small group, others created their own! 

The book reports are due next Friday, February 20! If they need any paper from me or for me to print something off, please let me know. 

We will celebrate Valentine's Day on Friday in the afternoon. I told the 5th graders to wait and bring their Valentines until that day. 

Math- We are working on our long division. I have been chunking the assignments so hopefully they aren't feeling too overwhelmed. I know I work with a couple of kids during class and there has a been a steady line of other kids asking for help. I do want to say that some of your children have been GREAT at taking time to sit with others and help them out, especially if I am busy or Mrs. Jensen is busy! It has been great listening to them teach and ask questions! 

Religion- This week they shared their information on the saints they did research  on. Some of them had very interesting lives and some horrible deaths! I am grading those and will get those back to  them as soon as I am able. 

Ash Wednesday mass will be next Wednesday. You are welcome to join us for mass. The 5th graders will be making their Lenten promises on Friday. 

I hope everyone has a terrific weekend! Enjoy the weather! I am not sure of my plans. My great niece Bella has her first birthday on Saturday so I am waiting to see if there is a party happening for her! Happy Valentine's Day! The Galentine's Day at The Venue sounds fun! 

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

 

Hello Parents- Okay, I actually had all 23 kids back today! I am not saying anything more because I will probably jinx it! 

Calendar Dates:

Feb. 6- Spirit Day

Feb. 13- Celebrate Valentines

Feb. 18- Ash Wednesday/ Lenten Angels Activity

Feb. 20 Book Reports due

Feb. 27- Fish Fry at STM

Feb. 28- STM Dinner and Gala

Math- We are working on long division and I am purposely taking it slowly. Some of the kids have caught on rather quickly with a few minor bumps in the road. For others it isn't so easy. I am sitting with those kids and we are going through each problem slowly. I am also making all of them check by multiplying! This way they know they got it right! That can also be a trick for some because some have forgotten how we multiply two digits times two digits, or they forget to add the remainder. These are all typical issues that happen every year! Soon enough they will all be working on their own! So if you see a worksheet in their folder tonight that isn't done- don't worry! I told them to stop and we would work on it again tomorrow. Now, if you want to give your child a division problem to do at home- go ahead!  The extra practice won't hurt! 

Reading- Our story is on hurricanes. They are learning about how they are formed, how they get their names, the damage they can cause, the directions they can travel...lots of information! Did you know that they aren't all called hurricanes? It depends on where it takes place! This story has charts, maps, and photographs that we are also gathering information from!  Our grammar continues our work with subordinating conjunctions! Our spelling list has words with a VCCV pattern in them. Their spelling post test will be on Tuesday, Feb. 10. 

Just a reminder: they have a little over 2 weeks to finish their book report project! 

Religion- We are in a chapter that is going over baptism and confirmation. This one really focuses on if kids or adults were joining the church. They would receive these sacraments at the Easter Vigil.  Part of our discussion is that when they get confirmed in the Catholic church, they pick a saint name. I told them to take time to choose. This is someone they should look to as a role model and also someone who can intercede for them. They are going to do some research on saints and pick one. They will get a worksheet from me to fill out about their saint. They will share these with the class when done. 

Spirit Day on Friday! Sweats for $1

The season of Lent is coming up soon. You might start having a conversation with your child about what they want to do this Lent. Are they going to give up some thing or do more of something? I always tell them that if they give up something- they cannot make the family miserable for it. 

Valentines- We will celebrate Valentines the afternoon on the 13th. We will make our bags for Valentines next Wednesday. 

I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!  If you didn't get to stop in at the book store on Saturday- I am working on Thursday and Friday after school!  Mrs. Ramsey asked me if I would be interested in working there ??  My sister Penny and I always talked about owning our store one day so this is my chance to fulfill that without being the owner! I know she will be with me in spirit! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Families! Well, it looks like the illness is pretty much out of our room.... I hope! 

Calendar Dates:

Jan. 20-30 FBLA Coin Wars

Jan. 25- Mass at 1:30, Pick up at 1:00

Feb. 6- Spirit Day

Feb. 13- Celebrate Valentines

Feb. 18- Ash Wednesday

Feb. 20 Book Reports due

Feb. 28- STM Dinner and Gala

Reading-  They took their reading test today! I am happy to say scores are much better than the last one! I don't know that I will get their scores sent home this week, but for sure next week!  We will have a new spelling pretest on Friday to go with our new story. Our final story in this module is on hurricanes. 

With our activities this week they wrote a letter to a 5th grader at St. Brigid School in Portland, Maine. I did show them some pictures of their school and activities they do. 

Today they wrote a letter to a National Guard member. These letters will be sent out later as part of some care packages a group of moms are putting together in Des Moines.  

Book Reports Due- Friday, February 20

Math- We haven't gotten a lot of math done this week! On Monday we will start dividing using the standard algorithm. I am also going to teach them how to check it by multiplying! That will save them, me, and you some time and possibly pain! LOL 

Religion- We checked the study guide today. Their test will be on Friday. 

FAST Testing- I have gotten almost everyone done with the testing. I just have to get some of the kids who have been sick caught up! 

Thursday, Jan. 29- Kids need a sack lunch!!!  * Sack lunches should include food from home. No Subway or McDonald's ,etc. No carbonated beverages. Milk will be provided. 

They can wear their STM gear or black and yellow/gold if they have some! 

Friday- they will need to wear their mass clothes. Grandparents or special guests need to pick up kids at 1:00 and then drive to the church. Mass will begin at 1:30. After mass is over you are free to take your child home. The bus will be provided if needed,but please let me know by Friday morning. 

Hope everyone has been staying warm! My sister Eva said she got nearly 2 feet of snow in Maine! I don't want to shovel that kind of snow! Have a great weekend! 

God Bless, 

Miss Surma