Dear Parents, I am so happy the temps this week are getting us closer to spring, but I did tell your kids they need to watch... temps can change quickly! They might not want to wear shorts in the 40s! 

 Important Dates:

Mar. 4- Spirit Day

Mar. 5- Auction and Dinner

Mar. 8- Honor Choir in Underwood

Mar. 10- Conferences/ No School

Mar. 11-18 Spring Break

Mar. 21- Classes Resume

Reading- This week we are doing our story in 4 days due to our short week last week. They will have a post test on Friday in spelling. This week our story is Darrell Rock Reporting. It is about a young boy who writes an article for the local newspaper to persuade the town to take an empty lot and create a town garden that will help the homeless people there. He has to take his argument to the town council to get voted on. Another student wants to turn it into a parking lot for the teachers. Who wins???? In grammar we are working on different kinds of pronouns. 

Math- I was hoping we'd be done with this chapter before break, but I am not quite sure that is going to happen. The four day week has messed with my plans a bit! 

Religion- They have been learning about the sacraments of healing- penance and reconciliation and anointing of the sick. The plan is to test over this before we leave for spring break. When we get back from break, we will focus on Lent. 

Spirit Day on Friday!

Shorts- I told the kids that I know they can now wear shorts again, but I also stressed to use good judgment.  As of right now, next Monday is back in the 30s. That could be a very cold recess and we won't keep them inside because they wore shorts. 

Honor Choir is next Tuesday! I am going to put another copy of the letter Mrs. Stoner sent you with all the details just as a reminder in your child's take home folder this week. I will be going with them that day since all of them are participating! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

 Hello Parents, I hope everyone enjoyed their extra long weekend! We will celebrate 2-22-22 on Thursday! The kids can wear their ties, tutus, and tie-dye on that day! 

 Important Dates:

Feb. 25- Spirit Day

Mar. 2- Ash Wednesday/ Lent begins

Mar. 4- Spirit Day

Mar. 5- Auction and Dinner

Mar. 11-18 Spring Break

Mar. 21- Classes Resume

Conferences- Please check out the link and make sure you have signed up for a conference time!  I sent the link to you in an email and on my classroom Facebook page. 

Reading- This week they are reading a story called The Dog Newspaper. This is a true story by the author Peg Kehret. She has written some great books for kids that I read a long time ago! This is her story about how she got into writing. EJ was the dog her uncle returned to the states with after WWII. Her first story was writing about EJ! In grammar this week they are moving on to prepositions and prepositional phrases. I give them a little chart with quite a few of the most common prepositions. They will also be allowed to use it on the test. 

Due to our "snow day', I am changing the plans so that we cover this story in 4 days instead of 3. That means I will give them their post test on Monday, Feb. 28,  in spelling as well the test over this story. Then next week I will do that story in 4 days as well. That works out better because the next week will be conference week and they are going to be at honor choir all day on Tuesday. 

Math- We are still going at it with division! Slow and steady! I am going to try and be done with this chapter before we leave for spring break! That is my goal. We will see how it goes! 

Lent- Has your child made any decision on what they are doing for Lent this year? They will need to know by next Tuesday. We will fill out our promises in religion class.

We will also celebrate Fat Tuesday on Tuesday! The 4th graders will be making donuts. 

Spirit Day is Friday! Sweats for $1

The auction is March 5!!!

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I sure would like those temps we had last weekend!

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

Dear Parents,

I hope everyone is having a good week! It was nice to kick off the week with Valentine's Day! Thank you for all the donations for our LIVE auction item! There was enough money to get the 3D printer and filament. 

 Important Dates:

Feb. 21- No School/ PD Day

Feb. 25- Spirit Day

Mar. 2- Ash Wednesday/ Lent begins

Mar. 4- Spirit Day

Mar. 5- Auction and Dinner

Mar. 11-18 Spring Break

Mar. 21- Classes Resume

Math- this week I taught them the standard algorithm of division. Once they have it down, I will let them choose which method they like better to divide. Either way is correct! I also taught them how to check their division by multiplying. I told them this was a great way for them to KNOW they got the right answer and it also means less chance of correcting! 

Reading- This week we read a science fiction story called LAFFF. It is about a boy who makes a time machine that can only go to the future for a short time. His next door neighbor decides to use the time machine to go forward to figure out what essay won a writing contest at her school. She wants to write the winning essay to impress her parents. There is a slight twist at the end of the story...ask your kids to explain it! In grammar we are working on identifying adverbs which describe verbs and adjectives. 

No School on Monday, Feb. 21. It is a professional development day for us! Enjoy your long weekend! 😁

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 Ties, Tutus and Tie-Dye! The kids can dress up for this fun day- 2/22/22!! This is not a requirement! 

Religion- We started a new chapter this week!  We are focusing on the sacraments of anointing of the sick and penance and reconciliation. This will be good.  They will go to confession at some point during Lent. We will most likely move into Lent after this chapter. They need to decide what they are doing for this Lenten season. They will fill out their promises on March 1. Lent will begin on March 2. 

3rd Trimester will begin on Tuesday! The late slip records will be wiped clean. Do you realize that means we only have 12 more weeks of school???  This year is flying by us! 😢

Wipes- We could use some more in the room if you can donate any!!! Thank you! 

Look on my Facebook page for pictures of their painted coasters! They did a great job! 

Just a reminder- students may not bring in fast food for their sack lunches.

I  hope everyone has a great weekend! Enjoy the extra day off on Monday!!

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Dear Parents, Well, CSW is over and we are back to normal!! I love CSW, but having a routine is nice too! 

Important Dates:

Feb. 11-  Spirit Day

Feb. 14- Valentine's Day celebration

Feb, 16- 4th grade mass

Feb. 21- No School/ PD Day

Feb. 25- Spirit Day

Mar. 2- Ash Wednesday/ Lent begins

Mar. 4- Spirit Day

Mar. 5- Auction and Dinner

Valentines- The kids may bring in their Valentines on Monday. We will celebrate then! 

Math- This week I am teaching them to use compatible numbers when estimating with division. It is easier than just rounding because this way there won't be a remainder for sure.  They do have to pick compatible numbers though so that it works evenly. They really just need to know their basic facts to figure it out. I let them use their multiplication table when needed. Don't worry, they won't be bringing this home to you! We do this in my room so you don't have to stress. I told them I never learned this when I was in school, but it is so much easier than rounding when dividing. 

Reading- This week we are reading the story Lunch Money.  This is about a boy who makes his own comic book. He sells them at school for 25 cents. We are only reading a small portion of the book so they would need to read the book to find out how well he does in selling them. He does every part of creating these. They are the size of a credit card. In grammar this week we are working on adjectives- words that describe nouns.  On Tuesday, they had to find the noun and then find the adjective or adjectives that described that noun. Once those were located, they had to tell me if they adjective answered- how many? what kind? or origin? The origin were pretty easy to identify because they were capitalized- Asian, American, Japanese,etc. On Wednesday,they had to find the linking verb first and then locate the adjective that followed it. 

FAST Scores- Sorry, I kept forgetting to send home their FAST reading scores! They are in their folders! They did GREAT!!!! 

Religion- We are finishing up our chapter on baptism and confirmation. They will have a test on Monday.  Lent will be starting at the beginning of March. It might be a good idea to start talking to your kids about what they are planning on doing for Lent this year. 

Spirit Day on Friday! Wear sweats for $1!

Any auction donations??? Send them in! Get your tickets for the dinner or put your order for the food if you are watching from home! 

Next week in art we will work on our silent auction item of coasters. 

I hope you have a great weekend! 

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

 Dear Parents, Happy Catholic Schools Week! It's been busy, but so much fun to celebrate our school! 

Feb. 4- Book Reports Due

Feb. 11-  Spirit Day

Feb. 14- Valentine's Day celebration

Feb, 16- 4th grade mass

Feb. 21- No School/ PD Day

Feb. 25- Spirit Day

Mar. 4- Spirit Day

Mar. 5- Auction and Dinner

Thursday- They will need a sack lunch and drink for when we return from the YMCA. We won't be swimming now because their pool is broken and won't be fixed until March 1. They can wear sweats that day! I don't care if they wear shorts as long as they have sweats to wear over them for the ride to and from the YMCA. 

Friday- I have everyone's slips for Grandparents' Mass. They will be picked up here at 1:00 and then they will leave with their guest after mass is over. Please make sure you have talked to them about how to pick up your child from school. Mrs. Simmons has sent home directions I believe earlier this week by email.  We aren't doing a reception in the basement this year. They need to dress up in mass day attire. 

Math- They have been working on division with either the standard algorithm or dividing by partial quotients. I let them choose their way. You know the standard way. Not to worry, I try not to let them have math as homework with this because I don't want you frustrated with partial quotients if you've never done it! In reality, it's a lot easier mentally! Next week we will be back in the book and start dividing with double digit divisors. 

Reading- This week is the unit 3 test. They will begin a new unit on Monday which will mean the spelling test will be back on Monday! Their book reports are due on Friday! 

Auction- The St. Malachy Foundation Auction/ Dinner is set for March 5. This year it is in person at Crestmoor as well as online!  Please send in your donations for the auction basket ASAP. Our wing is putting this together. So far we have 6 donations. Please do what you can to help! We will take care of the silent auction item at school. 

Valentines- We will celebrate on Valentine's Day. The students may bring in treats/candy for their classmates that day. ❤❤❤❤❤❤

I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

Dear Parents, Sunday is our kickoff for Catholic Schools Week. If you can join us at mass on Sunday at church that would be great to see you! There is a breakfast afterwards in the basement provided by the Knights. Next week will be crazy busy, but one of my favorite things to do with all the activities! 

  Important Dates:

January 28- Spirit Day/Sweats for $1

Jan. 30-Feb. 4- Catholic Schools Week 

Feb. 4- Book Reports Due

February 14- Valentine's Day celebration

Catholic Schools Week- 

Monday- Dress in STM colors. Need a sack lunch/ no drink.

Tuesday- Dress up as a grown up! ( I can't wait to see them)  

Wednesday- Dress as a letter of your name ( first or last). This one should be fun! 

Thursday- Dress in sweats. ( pack a swimsuit and towel ) Need a sack lunch and drink.

Friday- Dress up day- Mass at Holy Spirit at 1:30 pm with grandparent or special guest

Reading- This week they are reading another biography. This one is about two different people that were involved in the Revolutionary War. James Plumb was 14 when he signed up for the war. He was sent to battle in New York. He was given a silver dollar for signing up. Sybil Ludington was a teenager who rode like Paul Revere one night to gather men up to fight in a battle. She rode 40 miles in one night, Paul Revere road 14 miles. Amazing lives these teenagers led during the 1700s. In grammar this week we are focusing on transitions in writing. We will do this together in class each time. They will have their test on Friday and spelling test. Next week is a unit test week, that means there won't be any spelling! I don't really want to test during CSW, but I also don't want to put it off for another week. 

Book Reports due on February 4, 2022

Math- We are starting division this week, but I am not in the book. I am just doing some review to remind them of the steps of division. Our book jumps right into dividing by double digit divisors. I need to make sure they remember the process first. 

Religion- On Thursday the kids are going to start researching a saint and find facts about their  life. They will be sharing their information with the class next week. 

Auction- Please send any donations for the auction basket in with your child! For the silent auction they will be painting coasters! 

I hope everyone has a nice weekend! Hopefully our temps will be nice enough for you to get outside! I hope to see you at mass on Sunday! 

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

 Dear Parents, I hope everyone enjoyed their snowy weekend! I know I was able to get a few things done that I had been putting off! 

 Important Dates:

January 26- 5th grade mass

January 28- Spirit Day

Jan. 30-Feb. 4- Catholic Schools Week 

Feb. 4- Book Reports Due

Please return the blue sheets that went home last week to let us know who will be going to the Grandparent/ Special Guest mass with your child(ren) during Catholic Schools Week. 

Reading- This week we read a biography on James Forten. His father Thomas was a freed slave who worked as a sail maker. Thomas earned enough money to free his wife from slavery.  James grew up with some schooling and then wanted to join the Revolutionary War as a soldier. He was on a privateer ship and his job was to bring up the gun powder from below deck. After the war, he ended up buying the ship business from the man he worked for as a child. He was also an abolitionist and worked for women to get the right to vote. In grammar, we are using commas and semicolons. 

Next week will be our last story in this unit. That means they will be taking the unit test during Catholic Schools Week. 

Book Reports are due in TWO weeks, Friday, February 4!!!!

Math- They are testing over chapter 4 on Thursday and possibly Friday. It just depends on how long it takes them. Next week we will begin our division chapter! 

Catholic Schools Week - Sunday is the kick off day with mass at Holy Spirit. Come celebrate with us and stay for breakfast with the Knights of Columbus!  Below is the link so that you know each dress up day and the activities planned for that day. 

https://www.crestonstmalachy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Catholic-Schools-Week-2022.pdf

They will need sack lunch on Monday (milk will be provided)  and Thursday(they will need to supply their own drink- no pop)

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Stay warm! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma