Seeking food choppers! I received the letter for our field trip on Tuesday. They are asking us to donate 5 pounds of potatoes  They need to be washed and cut into bite size pieces. I also need someone to do the same with a bunch of celery. They would like them in a plastic container or bag. If you can help out, let me know. It will be first come, first serve! :) Thank you!!! 

Hello Parents,
I hope you had a great long weekend! I had a nice time at home! I was glad the hot weather left for a short while! We even had a thunderstorm!

Field Trip- If you haven't filled out the permission form I sent home last week in your child's folder, please do so. I think we are set on drivers. I am waiting to hear back on what vegetables we need to supply for the stew.

Language Arts- In your child's folder you will see a score sheet of last week's assessment. I also attached a letter explaining some things. Please take some time to look it over. We are going to still have a posttest on Friday for spelling. This week we worked on decoding open and closed syllable words. I have the kids take notes on the decoding. They can use their notes to help prepare themselves for Friday's assessment. We also worked on the long and short vowels in our spelling words. Their story this week was a play. There weren't enough roles so they had to take turns. I can see where some will need practice reading with inflection in their voices.

Math- This week we are really working on the decimals to the thousandths place. The trick is remembering the (ths) to add to the end of the place value.

Mass- On Monday, we will have mass with Father Walsh. Father Halbur will be on vacation. It is also the RVTV day for the Cy-Hawk game. The students and staff can wear clothing to support ISU, IOWA, or Creston Panthers with denim jeans, capris, or shorts. If you don't have anything like that they are to wear mass day attire. We will not have mass then on Wednesday. Our 5th grade prayer service will be the following week on the 18th.

I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend! Don't forget the Holy Spirit International Food Fair is here on Sunday afternoon and evening!

God Bless, Miss Surma

Hi Parents,
WOW! It seems like a crazy week! We have been very busy. We are really working at place value in math from billions to thousandths. They are to be able to write it in words, standard, and expanded form. We are working on it daily. 

The new reading series is PACKED with things to teach and do with the kids. I am still trying to figure that out and how to make our day run smoothly with it. Please be patient. I can tell the work will be more challenging for them. That goes along with our Iowa Core. They will be reading harder words. They will be writing more. They will be reading the story more often each week. We do assess after each story. Those are no longer 15 question tests. Now they will have 40 questions covering vocabulary, comprehension, decoding, and language arts. They will also have their post test in spelling. It is a lot more for them. 

In your child's folder is the permission slip for our field trip along with a letter. Please have the form returned to me by September 10. Thank you!

Religion- We started our year working on parts of the Bible. They had to be able to locate 10 different Bible verses for me. We are also working on Creation at this time. 

Picture Day is Thursday, August 29. Make sure if you're ordering pictures, I have the order form. Thanks! 

Mrs. Sickels is doing very well!!! Her incision is about 6 inches. They shaved her head entirely, but she was fine with that. Her biggest issues at this time are bright sunlight and noise. Those will go away in time. She is walking and napping when she is able to, the heat doesn't help right now!

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Enjoy the long weekend! I am heading to Doon after work on Friday to spend the weekend with my mom. 
God Bless, 
Miss Surma

Hi Parents,
I have 2 drivers so far for the field trip to Ellston, plus myself. I will need more! Please check your calendar to see if you can join us on September 17. I need to let them know by September 3 if we are able to be there. We won't go if I can't get enough drivers. So far I have 15 kids in cars. I still need room for 7 more! Please let me know if you can help out! Thank you!!!! 

Just letting you know that Mrs. Sickels surgery went very well ,but they did shave ALL her hair off. The tumor was benign! She is in ICU for the rest of today and tonight! God is Good!!!!

Hello Parents,
In your folder is a letter from me. It is more of a description of what to expect in 5th grade. It covers the classes, birthdays, lateslips,etc.
Reading- This week we are taking an assessment test. This is part of our new series. It will give me a little look into how your child does in all areas of reading. It works on vocabulary, decoding, spelling, comprehension, and writing. I also gave them a spelling test over 30 words. This also gives me an idea of where your child is when it comes to spelling. I am able to differentiate for your children based on those scores. It will be interesting for sure!!! I think the reading series is going to be more challenging for all of us..teachers and students! It really works with our Iowa Core which is necessary these days! Next week I will begin with lesson one.
Math- They took a test on Wednesday over all areas in math. This gives me an idea of what they know in math and what we still have to learn. We will begin with place value. We work from billions to thousandths! We are starting that focus on Thursday!
Religion- Our year will begin with knowing how to locate a verse in the Bible. This should be somewhat of a review for them because we did this last year too.
Field Trip-- The 5th graders will have a field trip to Ellston,Iowa on September 17. This is part of their Iowa History unit in social studies. Normally, Mrs. Sickels takes them, but due to her surgery, I will be going along! I haven't gone in quite awhile, so I am excited! We are going to visit the Ringgold County Historical Museum. I will need drivers. I also need to let you know there is more to just saying "yes" now. There is some more paper work involved as well as watching a video on driving online. Mr. Walsh has this information. If you can drive us that day, please let me know as soon as possible. You should contact the office about the paperwork and the video to watch beforehand. I will need room for 22 kids!
The week has gone very well! I am enjoying getting to know your kids better each day! I think we are off to a great start! Have a great weekend!  Ms. Surma

Hello Parents, 
Just a quick note for you. We will not be following  mass dresscode for the school masses in August.