Hello Parents, I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving break! Did you get enough to eat?? I was in Waterloo at my brother's house. I got to spend some quality time with my nieces which was great! 

Calendar Dates:

Dec. 2- Spirit Day

Dec. 7- Christmas Concert

Dec. 8- Mass/ Noisy Change Collection

Dec. 9- Miss Surma's Surgery 

Dec. 16- Spirit Day

Dec. 21- Bishop at mass

Dec. 22- Christmas Caroling

Dec.23-Jan. 3- Christmas Break

Substitutes- Okay, they tried to get one person to be my sub for the two weeks I am gone,but that just didn't work out. So from Dec. 9-16 they will have Jennifer Redd. She has subbed here before.Tiffany Ossian will be here from Dec. 19-21. Lisa Sawtelle will be here on the 22nd. Of course, I know this could change. The 5th graders will have to adapt. 

Reading- This week we started my favorite unit! Every story is about someone who had to be involved in the Revolutionary War somehow. This week's story is fiction, but based on some truth. We heard about the adventure for John Adams and his son on their journey to France. John was sent there to see if he could get the French to help us during the war. By this point the war had been happening for 3 years. In grammar they are working with subject and object pronouns-- he,she, it, you, they, them, him, and her. Their spelling this week are words with a  VCCV pattern. That means there will be a vowel, followed by two consonants, and then another vowel. That might help them in practicing for their post test on Friday. 

Math-We are wrapping up our chapter this week. They will be testing early next week. It could be on Monday. Their next chapter will be more multiplication, but with decimals. This makes me happy because I thought it was division and I definitely want to be here for that chapter. 

Religion- We started our Advent chapter! They did a great job at mass today. We had to do some new stuff because Fr.Patrick was gone, but we made it through! The 5th graders also helped me by passing out our new song books to all the different classrooms! They also got their first time being the oldest partner with their Advent Angels! It sounds like their first time went pretty good! They had fun stories to share! 

Spirit Day is on Friday! $1 for sweats! 

No mass next Wednesday! It will be on Thursday because it is a holy day of obligation. 

Next Wednesday, we will be taking the kids to the high school to practice for the concert that night. Look for a permission form in their folder. 

Catholic Daughters Luncheon- The 5th graders always get invited to sing at Holy Spirit for the ladies! This year they are going on the 15th. Mrs. Warner, Mrs. Redd, and Mrs. Simmons will take them there. They will sing and then they get to eat with them! I told the kids they will love the meal because it's a great potluck of yummy food and desserts! I put a permission form in your child's folder for this as well! I'm bummed I will miss out! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I plan on doing lesson plans for when I am gone or at least getting a start on them. 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Parents, I hope you're having a great week!  I posted lots of calendar dates...make sure you mark yours! 

Calendar Dates:

Nov. 18- Spirit Day

Nov.22- Iowa History Fair 2:15 pm

Nov. 23-28 -Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 30- 5th grade mass

Dec. 7- Christmas Concert

Dec. 8- Mass/ Holy Day of Obligation

Dec. 16- Spirit Day

Dec. 21- Bishop at mass

Dec. 22- Christmas Caroling

Dec.23-Jan. 3- Christmas Break

Reading- This week they are reading a nonfiction story called Cougars. It reads more like a science text filled with lots of information! I think we've all learned a lot! Grammar is a little more confusing this week because they are figuring out how to write sentences with quotation marks. The spelling this week has those tricky last two letters- or, ar, and er. This is our last story in this unit. I am going to go ahead and test them next week with a Unit test. I want to keep some kind of schedule going and I don't really want to wait until after our Thanksgiving break.  We will start Unit 3  after break. They are sharing their book reports this week! I have seen some really great projects! 

Religion- We are finishing up our chapter on the Beatitudes. They will test on Friday! That means we can start focusing on Advent next and it's just in time! Advent Angels will start the week we get back from Thanksgiving! I know the kids are excited! 

Math- They are still working on multiplication. On Wednesday we moved into multiplying with zeros in the factors. 

Social Studies- There is a handout/invite in your child's folder for the Iowa History Fair. It is next Tuesday, November 22 at 2:15. You are welcome to come and check out ALL the projects! Grandparents are invited to join you!  Ask the kids some questions! Mrs. Sickels has a schedule of when your children will give their presentation in her classroom. I also put that in your folder. She said the projects are to go home the day of the presentation. Make sure you check it out and make arrangements for getting it home with her. 

Friday, November 18- Spirit Day! Sweats for $1

5th grade mass on November 30th! Kids are getting their parts this week to practice at home! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Parents, I hope everyone enjoyed that long weekend! It was good to see and chat with all of you at conferences! 

Calendar Dates:

Nov. 11- Veterans Day Program 2pm/ Spirit Day/ Iowa History Project Due

Nov. 23-28 -Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 30- 5th grade mass

Dec. 21- Bishop is at mass

Reading- This week we are reading a historical fiction story called Storm Warriors. The kids thought these men in the photo were soldier, but I explained their job was to save people from shipwrecks...kind of like our Coast Guard now. It is a good story about one boy who believes this is his future, but then when forced to watch it happen...isn't so sure he has the courage to go through it. During a rescue he does show he is braver than he thinks and is capable of helping others! The grammar this week focuses on subordinating conjunctions and complex sentences. Spelling this week was fun for me because it was compound words. Did you realize that light bulb, throughout, and up-to-date are all compound words???

Math- They are multiplying!!!! They actually grabbed on to the standard algorithm really easily!  I reminded them they could do the partial products way if they chose, but they didn't! It was funny, I was helping some 4th graders with their math- they were doing the partial products way and loving it!  We have been focusing on double digits x double digits! We will expand into hundreds and thousands. 

Religion- We are working on the Beatitudes. I am hoping your kids gave you a little coupon booklet this week! That was just one way to live them! We discuss them and come up with ways to live them out, but they will not need to memorize them. 

5th Grade Mass- we have our next mass the Wednesday after Thanksgiving. I will give them their parts before they go on break. 

Iowa History Projects should be brought in on Friday!!! 

Friday at 2:00 is the Veterans Day program. Bring some kleenex!  Some of the songs are tearjerkers! 😢 

Spirit Day- The kids can wear sweats for $1!!! The temperatures will be perfect for sweats, but if they'd like to wear some red, white, and blue for Veterans Day, that would be great too! 

Due to the temp change- make sure they have a coat on Friday! Sweatshirts aren't going to be enough for recess! Thank you!!! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Parents, I hope everyone is having a great week! Next week is going to be CRAZY!!! 

 Calendar Dates:

Oct. 28- Spirit Day

Oct. 31- Halloween/ Halloween Parade at school @2:30

Oct. 31-Nov.3 Parent Teacher Conferences

Nov. 8- Book Report Due

Nov.8- Pizza Party

Nov.11- Iowa History Project Due

Congratulations to the 5th graders! They won the pizza party for the Coin Wars! Our 3rd graders came in 2nd, and our 2nd graders came in 3rd.  The 5th graders will have pizza for lunch on November 8. The really amazing thing is that over $14,000 was raised for the Honor Flights for Union County!!! What a wonderful cause that is!

Last day to wear shorts is October 31st!

October Book It Calendars are due Nov. 1st!!! Please make sure you sign them! 

Reading- This week they are reading a story on the Everglades in Florida. It is a nonfiction story with the purpose of persuading the kids in the story to take care of them. It will be their responsibility as adults. This week is our 3rd story in this unit. That means on the test they will get a cold read and 10 questions to answer. I am going to focus on that part of the test rather than our story. This week in spelling we are working on homophones... ring and wring, lesson and lessen. I did tell them that on Friday for the posttest I will be mixing them up so they won't be in order...that means they need to know the meaning behind each one as well as the spelling. In grammar we are working on conjunctions. They are also finishing typing up their Halloween stories. Next week we will share those aloud! They will be posted for you to read during conferences. 

Next week is a short week for us so I am not going to do another story or spelling. We will be working on other things! 

Book Reports due November 8!!! 

Math- We have just begun our multiplication chapter. I gave them a timed test on Tuesday just to see how well they know their facts. It showed me that many of them have to really learn them better this year! That is something you can work on at home with them. Flashcards are great, but not necessary! Roll a pair of dice or just give them random facts to answer while you're driving to the store! 

Religion- We are just starting to work on the Beatitudes! They don't need to memorize them. We will discuss each one and come up withe examples of how we can live them today. 

Reminder:- No School next Thursday or Friday! 

November 1st is a holy day of obligation- All Saints Day. We will have mass on Tuesday, not Wednesday! They need to dress up on Tuesday! 

Social Studies- Iowa History Project due November 11

Halloween- Kids should bring costumes on Monday! Parade is at 2:30 in the gym. All are welcome! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Make sure you check your schedule for your conference day and time next week!! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

Dear Parents, I hope everyone is having a good week! 

 Calendar Dates:

Oct. 21- Spirit Day

Oct. 28- Spirit Day

Oct. 31- Halloween/ Halloween Parade at school @2:30

Oct. 31-Nov.3 Parent Teacher Conferences

Nov. 8- Book Report Due

Nov.11- Iowa History Project Due

Math- We will be testing over chapter 2 on Friday! We are going over their practice test on Thursday.  I noticed many didn't want to read their story problems. They just want me to tell them what to do. I warned them that I won't do that on the test. 

Reading- This week we are reading a piece of the story Old Yeller, the classic! I told them this is a book they could read for our next book report, next trimester. This part of the story just shows the main character how the big yeller dog is actually helpful at the farm! He saves his younger brother from a bear! We talk about dialect in this story... they use the word "yeller" instead of yellow.  We also talk a lot about adages and proverbs in this story. These are things we don't normally here anymore.... " A penny saved is a penny earned" is an example. I told them their grandparents or great grandparents might use them. In grammar we are working on direct and indirect objects. We did this mostly together in class. It is a difficult concept, but when we do it together and I can ask them the questions to get them there...they do just fine! 

They are typing up their final drafts of their Halloween stories. They will be due next Friday, October 28. This is something they can do at school. 

Religion- On Thursday I will be testing the rest on their last prayer to know. Hopefully, they will get it! They are also working on showing the mysteries of the Rosary. There will be posters hung up in our hallway to show them! They are doing a great job depicting them. After the mysteries, we will be back in the book starting to work on the Beatitudes. 

Social Studies- They are working on typing up their Iowa history project papers at school. They are getting class time to do this! Their 3D projects will be due Friday, November 11. They are doing these at home. 

Friday is a Spirit Day! They can wear sweats for $1!!

I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hi Parents! This is another short week! I hope you enjoy your long weekend! We have professional development on Friday for our LETRs class. I was able to see my niece's soccer team play on Saturday! They won so that was fun too! Simpson has a beautiful campus, especially in the fall. 

Calendar Dates:

Oct. 14- No School/ PD Day

Oct. 21- Spirit Day

Oct. 28- Spirit Day

Oct. 31- Halloween/ Halloween Parade at school

Oct. 31-Nov.3 Parent Teacher Conferences

Reading- This week they are reading a story called The Quest for the Tree Kangaroo.  This is an informational text so it reads more like their science and social studies book. This is about a group of people in Papua New Guinea who are researching the tree kangaroos. Their goal is find them and put a collar on them so they can track them and learn about them. These animals are very elusive. In grammar this week they are working on identifying verbs in sentences. They will be working on action verbs and helping verbs. They are also working on identifying synonyms and antonyms.

Unit test scores are in their take home folders. As I expected, scores weren't the best. I know a few of them were having a hard time staying focused during the test. It is given over the whole week and it's not timed. They have time to go back and look up answers in the story. I don't think many of them did that based on the scores. I reminded them that a normal story we read 3 times in class and discuss. They could at least read the story 2 times before answering questions on the unit test. I am not sure many did that either. 

Math- We are finishing up our chapter on adding and subtracting decimals. This one was a lot shorter than chapter one!  They will have a test next week. 

Religion- This week they are out of the book! We are working on 2 of the benchmarks for 5th grade religion. They will be memorizing two prayers. They need to be able to say them to me. They will keep trying until they pass! I gave them a lavender paper with the prayers on them they can take home and say them to you for practice! They need to know the Apostles' Creed and Hail Holy Queen. Their first try is going to happen tomorrow (Thursday). 

No School on Friday!!! Enjoy your three day weekend! 

Below is the Conference Link. You need to look at your calendar and schedule a day and time. I have a few days set up so there should be plenty to choose from! 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0544A5AA23A2FF2-5thgrade1

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Parents, Happy Wednesday! I hope your week is going well. I loved seeing my niece last weekend get ready for homecoming. I also got to spend the day watching her and her  volleyball team play in a tournament! 

Calendar Dates:

Oct. 7- Spirit Day

Oct. 14- No School/ PD Day

Oct. 21- Spirit Day

Oct. 28- Spirit Day

Oct. 31- Halloween

Nov.3 Parent Teacher Conferences

Reading- This week they are taking their unit 1 tests. I will send scores home next week once the tests are done. I also gave them their first book report project. They have an orange packet with their project choices. They are to choose only one. I told them the sooner they have their book read , the sooner they can get their project done because it is due shortly before the Iowa History project. Next week we will start unit 2. There will be a spelling test next week. 

Math- We started chapter 2 this week. They are working on adding and subtracting mentally . They are also estimating decimals to find the sums and differences. Rounding numbers is still difficult for some of the kids. I noticed mentally adding and subtracting is too. You can always work on that at home with the basic facts. Some of them still don't know things like 10+5= 15 without counting it in their head or using their fingers. They really need to know those basic facts in all areas. It saves so much time when they are doing their problems. 

Religion- We took a break to practice for the Rosary today. We will get back into this chapter and finish it. After that I take a break from the book. They  will be doing a lot of work based on the Rosary. Two of those things will be prayers they need to know. I will let you know when we are at that point. They did a GREAT job with the Rosary today! You can catch it online if you missed it! 

Spirit Day- This Friday is Spirit Day! Sweats for $1! The weather looks to be a perfect day for sweat pants! 

Coin Wars starts next week. The high school is raising money for the Veteran's Honor Flights. Students can start bringing in their spare change next week!  1st place class gets a pizza party, 2nd place gets a cookie or cupcake party, and 3rd place gets suckers!  This is a great cause! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I plan on going to my niece's soccer game! Loras vs Simpson! 

God Bless, 

Miss Surma