Hello Families! We had a busy week! They did such a great job at mass!!! Can't wait for everyone to hear the bells next week! 

Calendar Dates: 

May 17- 8th grade graduation/Spirit Day

May 22- Spring Concert/ Last School Mass for the year

May 24-Last Day of School/ Field Day/ 3 hour early out

Reading- I decided we would end our year writing another story. Every year I read the book The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg. It is a series of pictures, a title and sentence to go with the picture. The kids then have to choose one! They write their story based on that. The one sentence that is given has to be used somewhere in their story. It is a lot of fun to see what they come up with for their stories. 

They did a great job on their book reports! I think everyone learned something they didn't know! The costumes were great! I will be grading those as quickly as I can, but right now I am without internet at home- hopefully fixed tomorrow! It's been a quiet week at my house! I don't think I could have handled life on the prairie. I need noise in the background! 

Silent Book Club Day- On Wednesday, May 22, we are going to have a silent book club day! There is a flyer in your child's folder with the details! This will be similar to Mrs. Sickels' Cuddle Up and Read Day.  

Math- We have been doing our math FAST testing this week so we haven't done much in the classroom. We will be getting to subtract mixed numbers! They will learn how to borrow with fractions before they can subtract their numerators. 

Religion- Our last chapter covers the Sacraments of Healing -- Penance and Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. We will probably get in one more test before the year ends. 

Spirit Day on Friday, May 17! Hats and/or sweats for $1. This is the last one for the year! 

All library books need to be returned by May 22.

Permission Slip- In your child's folder is a permission slip for an afternoon at Rainbow Park for the 4th and 5th graders. Unfortunately we didn't make enough money at last year's auction to take them to the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad like we had hoped. We are going to use some of that money next week to buy snacks and drinks for them to enjoy at the park.  We are going to walk over and let them play! We will need someone with a car over there in case we have an emergency, as well as have them cart over some play equipment and the snacks and drinks.  We have looked at the weather forecast and we do see rain. If we need to cancel, we decided we will do a movie afternoon in our rooms. They will need a water bottle that day to take with them! Make sure to wear shoes that are easy to walk in! 

If you would like to join us on the walk and hang out with us at the park, you are more than welcome.  You can also drive over there if that is easier. Just let me know! We plan on leaving here at 12:45. We will be back at school by 2:45 or 2:5o.  We know this is really short notice, sorry about that! We just kind of threw this idea together!  Please return the permission slip by Monday. 

Thursday, May 23- Clean out Desks and Lockers- Make sure they have an empty book bag or two  for school that day!! 

Congrats to Harper for winning the Dollars for Scholars Essay Contest for 5th grade!!! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am heading to Waterloo on Friday for my niece Olivia's graduation. I will miss out on the 8th grade graduation. 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Parents, I had a great weekend last week. I got to watch my niece play soccer and score the first goal for her team! I also enjoyed every minute of helping her get ready for prom. She was beautiful! I might be biased! She also named won Prom Queen!!! I was able to watch Grace graduate in Colorado via livestream. I saw part of Emily's graduation too, but prom activities got busy! It was a great fun! 

Calendar Dates: 

May 8-12  Archery Nationals

May 15-  Final Book Report Due/ 5th Mass Day

May 17- 8th grade graduation/Spirit Day

May 24-Last Day of School/ Field Day/ 3 hour early out

Reading- This week we finished up our story on Phillis Wheatley, an African American slave who wrote poetry. She wanted to get it published, but the publishers didn't believe she was the one who wrote it. She had to go in front of 18 men in the Bay Colony and sit through an examination to prove herself! She is the first African American slave to get her poetry published. Their spelling test will be on Thursday as well as their weekly module test. On Friday, they will take their Module Test( unit test). 

Book Reports are due on Wednesday. They should bring their costume to school that day. I think I will be able to get through most, if not all of them that day! 

Math- We are working through our fractions! This week we are adding mixed numbers with unlike denominators and simplifying them!!! There are lots of steps to go through along with lots of sighing and complaints, but they are doing it!!! I told them I wasn't going to stop teaching and pushing them to do more even though they are sighing and complaining. I don't know if we will test over this chapter before the year is out, but I am going to get us as close to the end of it as possible. 

Religion- We started a new chapter. This one covers the Sacraments of Healing which are Penance and Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. We dive into what the receive when they go to confession and the kinds of things they should confess. 

They are doing mass next week with kindergarten. They are also playing their hand bells at mass! I am excited to listen to that! You're more than welcome to come!

Last Day of School is a 3 hour early out! They will need a big bag or two on that Thursday, May 23 because I will have them clean out their desks and lockers then. No lunch at school on the last day. 

Good Luck to Ava, Finn, Leo and Quentin at Archery Nationals! 

Congrats to the 5th grade class! They got 1st place in the Glow-A-Thon for laps! They will get a Dilly Bar party next week!!! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Are you going to Market on Maple?  I am planning on it! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Families, I hope everyone is safe and sound after last Friday's storms and tornado. I had just arrived at my brother's house in Waterloo when the text messages started coming in! I was praying for all! We continue to pray for those affected by the storms. 

Calendar Dates: 

May 2- Glow Run Lap-A-Thon

May 3- Public School Band Experience/ Spirit Day

May 8-12  Archery Nationals

May 15-  Final Book Report Due/ 5th Mass Day

May 17- 8th grade graduation

May 24-Last Day of School

Reading- They took their test on Tuesday  along with the spelling test. On Wednesday, we will start our last story in this module. That means they will have a new spelling test on Wednesday. I have it planned out that next week we will wrap up this story. I plan on the next spelling post test to be on Thursday, May 9. By next Friday, they will be taking a Module (unit test). The kids that are gone for archery will take them on the Monday they return.  

Book Reports are due on May 15. They should pack their costume in their bag that day. I think I will be able to get through most of them, if not all! 

Religion- They will test over our most recent chapter on Thursday. This one covered the Fruits of the Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Last Friday, we started our Guidance books. I think we will get into more of that next week. 

Math-This week we worked on adding and subtracting of fractions with unlike denominators making sure to use the lowest common denominator possible. It became slightly more challenging when they had to add and subtract 3 different fractions within the same problem. For example: (1/2 + 3/30) - 2/20.  I haven't focused on simplifying yet. I wanted them to understand what the process to rename them before they add or subtract. I think we are there now so that is our next step!  They will also be adding mixed numbers with unlike denominators. 

Glow Run on Thursday!!! Wear bright colors, white, or neon so you glow in the dark while you run. Make sure to return your  fundraiser forms!!! 

Friday- They need to be at school EARLY! They will load the trolley at 7:55 am. Mrs. Warner will be in charge. Make sure to eat breakfast at home! They will be back at 9:00. I know some of them are excited! 

I am going to be gone on Friday. I am taking a personal day and heading to Waterloo. My niece Olivia is a senior and has a soccer game that night. This is my chance to see her play. It is also her senior prom weekend! My brother and sister-in-law are going to go to Dubuque on Friday because Olivia's older sister graduates on Saturday from Loras College. To top it all off their oldest child is graduating from her college in Colorado on Friday! Talk about needing to be in more than one place at a time! Sadly, they knew they couldn't do it all. I am going to take care of all the prom activities with Olivia while they celebrate Emily in Dubuque all weekend! WE will all celebrate Gracelyn when she comes back to Iowa for Olivia's graduation. 

Mary Brown will be my sub. She will go with Mrs. Warner to the public school. If you have any messages or concerns on Friday, contact the office. They will let the kids know. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma