Hello Parents, I hope you had a great weekend! It was nice to get home and spend time with my sister and her husband. 

Important Dates:

Apr. 1- Field Trip to DM

Apr. 4-8- Iowa Assessment Week 

Apr. 8- Spirit Day

Apr. 10- Palm Sunday

Apr 14-Seder Meal/Cross Walk

Apr. 15- School Closed/ Good Friday

Apr. 17- Easter

ISASP Testing- On Monday we will begin testing. The 5th graders have 4 tests total to take. They will do one a day. 5th and 8th are both tested in science whereas the other grades are not. I will try to test in the mornings when they are most awake! They will still get their specials. The tests are timed, but we are given suggestions on about how long they should take. The PTO will provide snacks for a test break. What can you do?? Make sure they get plenty of sleep the night before, eat a good breakfast each morning (if they are breakfast eaters), and let them know that they should do their best and not blow this test off. We do use this information to make other decisions. 

Due to the testing, their schedule/routine will be off next week.

Math- I have been using some of our normal math time to work on our practice tests this week so we aren't covering much for material. I will get back into it later this week and next week. 

Reading- This week is their unit 4 test. They won't have any spelling or vocabulary to do. At this time, I don't think I will be doing a story next week with the ISASP tests. That means no spelling test next week either! 

Field Trip- The kids will need to wear jeans and a nice shirt on Friday, no shorts.They should also wear comfortable walking shoes. Our morning will be outside when we get there. The kids will need a sack lunch with drink. Remember it is a Friday during Lent.  They also need to pack a mask for the Civic Center just in case it is needed. They may have electronics for the ride up and back. 

Please help donate to the Food Shelf. A flyer went home last week with items you can purchase to donate! Mrs Sickels and I help on Monday nights pack food bags for kids to get for their weekends. We usually pack over 150 bags. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

 Hello Parents, I hope everyone had a great spring break! I headed to Waverly and visited my sister and brother! My sister and I also drove to Galena, Illinois for a couple of days! It was GREAT!  The weather was perfect until that snow!

Important Dates:

Mar. 24- PTO Meeting

Mar. 25- Spirit Day $1 for hats or sweats

Mar. 30- 5th grade mass

Apr. 1- Field Trip to DM

Apr. 4-8- Iowa Assessment Week 

Spirit Day- Friday, March 25- Due to temps they can wear sweats or a hat for $1

Religion- We are in our Lent chapter right now. Our first story was of Jesus being tempted in the desert by the devil. We talked about the correlation of the 40 days he spent there and the 40 days of Lent. We also talked about what we gave up for Lent being our "temptations" like he faced with the devil. On Wednesday, the 5th graders took the ACRE test. It is a standardized religion test given to 5th and 8th graders. I think the 8th graders already took it. Mrs. Simmons comes in to help us get it going because it is online!

Field Trip- There is a form in your child's folder on Thursday for our field trip next Friday to the Des Moines Civic Center. Please fill out and return as soon as possible. There is also a $5 fee for each child to help pay for the gas and buses. They will need a sack lunch and drink that day! 

Reading- This week they are reading the story The Black Stallion. It's not the entire story of course, just a portion. Alec is stranded on this island with Black. They have to create a friendship to help each other survive! Our grammar focuses on the rules of writing titles of books, newspapers, songs, TV shows, articles, etc. I gave them a cheat sheet again that I will let them use on the test. The spelling list was fun! Words from other languages threw them off! Ask them what dungarees are or what is a siesta??🤣🤣

Mass- We have mass next week! I will give them their parts on Friday!

Friday- This Friday is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord for the church. Father Adam said that you can eat meat on Friday and have whatever is you gave up! So... that means they can eat ice cream, play that video game, drink a juice box, but just for Friday!! 😊😊

ISASP Testing is the week of April 4. These are the Iowa Assessments. They will take some practice tests next week. In 5th grade they are tested in reading, language/writing, math and science. 

April 1st Fish Fry- Knights are looking for people to donate cookies! 

Thank you again for the birthday gifts! That means a lot! I think they liked their "treats" from me! I hope you have a great weekend! I am heading to Sioux Falls to see my sister. We are going to visit our mom's best friend on Saturday. She is like our 2nd mom and has been dealing with cancer. 

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

 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