Hello Parents! I am writing from my comfy chair at home! I sure hope we are at school tomorrow! We will be. I just know it! I hope your kids are enjoying their really long weekend! LOL I see more snow is in the forecast! I am praying it is just a little bit of snow! 

Calendar Dates:

Jan. 15- FAST testing begins

Jan. 17- Kindergarten/5th grade mass

Jan. 17- PTO Meeting 6pm

Jan.19- Spirit Day

Jan. 28-Feb. 2- Catholic Schools Week

Reading- Well things are pushed back with the snow days. We will finish up our story either on Friday or Monday. I will see how things go when we get back. Their story is called Celestial Railroad. It is about how many Chinese men came to America in the 1800s to help create the Transcontinental Railroad. It discusses the hardships of that job for all the men, but it does show how the Chinese workers complained less, did their job, but were still treated poorly. They started with 50 Chinese workers helping out, but with their work ethic being so strong thousands were there by the end! It was really interesting. In grammar they are working with subject and object pronouns- singular and possessive.  The spelling test was supposed to happen today, but that will be pushed back! 

Book Reports are due on January 26. I know some are struggling with making time to read their books. I told them they can't just read it at school. They need to take them home. They have a packet with the information needed on the project they chose.  If they need drawing paper or poster paper they can ask me! 

Math- We are in our chapter. Not very far yet! They worked with multiplying decimals by 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000. I let them use calculators. Some of them figured out that the decimals moves to the right by the number of zeroes they multiply by. 10=1. 100=2. 

Religion- We are starting a new chapter when they return. This one I believe is on the sacraments. 

I gave most of them jobs to help with kindergarten class with at their mass next week. Some of them have reading parts to practice. 

Rosary- We are planning to hold a rosary for Perry. The plan was for Friday afternoon. I don't know if that is still the plan or not due to our snow days! I have some of the 5th graders leading it. If we have school on Thursday (which I think we will) I will let you know for sure! 

Lunch calendar- due to snow days our lunch calendar has had some changes! Tomorrow's lunch will be Sloppy Joes, green beans, chips and two fruits. I will keep the kids posted daily on the changes so they can plan accordingly. 

Recess- Make sure they have their boots, snow pants, mittens/gloves, and hats for recess! I am NOT excited about the cold temps coming our way! 

If you're at the store- could you get some wipes for our classroom?? Thank you!!! 

I hope everyone has a good end to their week and a great weekend! Stay warm. Drive safely!

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

 Hello Parents,

Happy Wednesday! So much energy this week with fun clothing and the realization that Christmas break is around the corner! 

Calendar Dates:

Dec. 22- Bring a Sack Lunch

Dec. 23- Jan. 2- Christmas Break

January 3- Classes Resume/ Mass Day

Reading- We finished our story about the Wild West this week. We enjoyed the biscuits from Mrs. Clark in the kitchen! The struggle was real for moving west back then. I don't know that I could have handled all the hardships. Those people were so strong! They will test over this Wild West story on Thursday. On Friday morning we will do the weekly assessment, but we are doing it on paper this time. They are going to work with me to figure out how to look up hints or answers in the story. I am hoping they will learn that there is no rush. They have plenty of time. They will also have a spelling test on Friday. 

Math- We finished our chapter! They took a test on Wednesday! When we get back from break I am going to start the multiplication of decimals chapter. Most likely I will be jumping around in that chapter a little bit because I want us to get to division and fractions! 

Religion- this week we have been covering Advent. On Monday, we discussed the people we remember on the Jesse Tree. I did show them two short little videos on Ruth and Queen Esther because we don't know them as well. On Tuesday, we discussed our own family trees. They may have questions about their ethnicity. We also talked about traits that we pick up from our parents: height, hair color, etc. When we return we will do a short chapter on Christmas. 

Mass- Starting in January the first graders and kindergarten kids will start to do mass. The 5th graders will be helping the kindergartners with their masses. Some of the 5th graders will have reading parts, some may only hold the microphone. Not all 5th graders will have a job. We do have mass that first day back in January! Dress up! Maybe we will have some snow by then! 

Thank you so much for the nice Christmas presents!!! They are so great! The snacks I am probably going to share with my family! I am heading to Waterloo to spend it with my brother and sister and their families.  I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year! 🎄✝❤

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Parents! Happy Wednesday! I hope your week is going well! We are busy little elves I feel like this week! I can't believe we only have one more week until Christmas break! 

Calendar Dates:

Dec. 11-15- Coin Wars 

Dec. 14- Sing for CDA at Holy Spirit

Dec. 15- Spirit Day

Dec. 23- Jan. 2- Christmas Break

January 3- Classes Resume/ Mass Day

Dress Up Days Next Week: 

Dec. 18- Grinch Day/ Wear Green

Dec. 19- Pajama Day/ Slippers/Robe

Dec. 20- Dress up- Mass Day

Dec. 21- Dress Up as your favorite Christmas Carol

Dec. 22- Ugly Sweater/ Favorite Christmas Shirt

Don't forget to wear your winter coats etc., on these days! Recess will be chilly in PJs. 

Reading- In their folders you will find their scores from their Module test last week. They did better! We took time on Monday to go over the test question by question and discussed possible hints that might have helped them or using their composition notebook for help too. On Tuesday, we started our next module. This one covers the Wild West. They had to discuss what they already knew about the move out west years ago and we focused on some key vocabulary words. We are going to be reading a story that is informational-nonfiction. It is about the things the pioneers had to experience on their travels west. I found it really interesting, but I like learning about that time period in our nation's history. This is another longer story, so we won't be on a 5 day cycle. I will make sure we get this done before Christmas break. 

Book Report- They were given their next project last week. They all have a Newbery Winner or Newbery Honor book. The final day to switch books is Friday. I know a couple of them have already finished reading!  The project is due on January 26. Those that have finished reading might want to start on their project now before they forget all the details. 

Religion- They did a great job on their chapter test! We will be focusing on the Advent season before break. 

Math- Our schedule this week has been a little off. I am still hoping we can get the chapter test in next week before break. Multiplying 3 digits by 2 digits has thrown some of them off a bit. 

Congratulations to the 5th graders! They won the cookie party for the

 Read-A-Thon for most minutes read! Thank you to those who participated!!! 

Friday, December 22- The kids will need a sack lunch. Milk will be provided so they do not need a drink. The kids will eat lunch with their Advent Angels in the gym. After lunch is when we do the caroling. You are welcome to come and sing along. That will start around 12:30.  In the past SOME Angels like to get their Angel partner a Christmas gift. This is NOT required. Please remember to make the gift something simple and easy for their buddy to carry home that day! Please don't spend more than $5. Again, this is optional! No worries, I will remind you again next week! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I need to finish up wrapping gifts and maybe start some holiday baking! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Parents, 

Well, it's been an off and on couple of weeks since coming back from Thanksgiving. Lots of short fuses and picking at each other. Not every day, but it feels like it sometimes. It's nothing horrible! Don't worry. I just think we are getting on each other's nerves.  I think we are just in that Christmas mode and ready for a longer break. We will make it through! Only 2 more weeks! They may nag at each other in one minute, but then they are all giggles  the next! I love your kids! ❤

 Calendar Dates:

Dec. 6- Christmas Program 6 pm

Dec. 8- Mass/ Holy Day of Obligation/Noisy Change Collection

Dec. 11-15- Coin Wars 

Dec. 14- Sing for CDA at Holy Spirit

Dec. 15- Spirit Day

Dec. 23- Jan. 2- Christmas Break

Permission  Slip- Another one in your child's folder! This one is an invite to the church to sing for the CDA. The ladies are also super sweet and make lunch for us! I told the kids they usually make really good dishes, but if your child is worried...tell them to pack a sack lunch. We usually walk away feeling stuffed. The 5th graders will also sing their Christmas songs for the ladies. I feel lucky that I get to go every year with the 5th graders. Please return ASAP. 

Reading- They took their selection quiz on Tuesday over our hurricane story. They took their weekly module test on Wednesday. They also took their spelling test. On Thursday, we will take the Module Test (unit test).

Religion- We finished up our chapter on the Beatitudes. On Monday we had to create hashtags for what we could do to live like Jesus. That was fun to write! They will test next week! We will then start working on Advent. 

Math- We are working on multiplying larger numbers by two digit numbers. We are also working on some of our factors have 0 in them! They have the process down for the most part, but when it became a number in the hundreds that slowed some of them down. We also have some little errors in adding or not dropping the 0. They are making great strides! 

Coin Wars will start next week!

Don't forget if you can help out by donating to the nursing homes, please do!  We have more people this year! 200! Please help out if you can and thank you to those who already have sent items in ! They are so appreciated! 

Advent Angels activity will begin this Friday! Don't forget we have mass on Friday. It is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. There will also be a Noisy Change Collection at mass. This money goes to help our adopted families. We buy some Christmas presents for them. 

Prayers- I just wanted to let you know that your kids are great at praying for you and others! I feel like every morning during our morning prayer, they keep adding more people to their list. It makes our prayer take a little more time, but I don't care! I love that they care so much for others! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma

 Hello Parents, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I had a very nice time with my brother and his family in Waterloo. It was great to see the nieces again!  I hope your kids filled you in on their day at BizTown! I hope you got to see the pictures we posted on Facebook. It was such a great day! The ladies there told me that this was the biggest group of kids and were worried about how it would go. It went so well! I was so proud of them! It was fun at lunch to hear our kids and others say, " I need to eat fast because I have to get back to work!"

 Calendar Dates:

Dec. 1- Spirit Day / Read-A-Thon Due

Dec. 6- Christmas Program 6 pm

Dec. 8- Mass/ Holy Day of Obligation/Noisy Change Collection

Dec. 11-15- Coin Wars 

Dec. 14- Sing for CDA at Holy Spirit

Reading- On Monday we had our LETRs class with Emily Lampe from the AEA. We spent a great deal of time working through our new reading series and discussing how we could/should plan our days. The biggest A-HA for me was that some of my stories and the work that goes with it can't all be done in 5 days. We were so used to doing that with our old series. So I told the 5th graders, that for our story this week we are definitely slowing down! It is about hurricanes and reads much like a science textbook. The story is also 14 pages long. They will NOT have a spelling posttest this Friday! It will be sometime next week. I told them I will let them know when, so they aren't surprised, but they should keep practicing their words at home. 

The spelling list for this story focuses on the VCCV pattern. On Tuesday the kids had to write and divide their spelling words up between the consonants. For example they had to write the word bargain like bar*gain and jour*ney. 

Math- We are working on multiplication. We are multiplying triple digits times double digits today. That was confusing for some so we will practice again tomorrow in class. I am not sure what is throwing some of them off yet. 

Helpful 5th graders! Your kids helped me out today! We have our new song books for the coming church year. A group of girls helped me cut the Eucharistic Prayer card out today of the books from the closet. The other kids were counting out books and delivering to each classroom! They will be ready for Advent next week! Many hands make light work! 

Religion- We are still working on the Beatitudes! We will probably be testing next week sometime.  There will not be mass next Wednesday (Dec.6) . We are moving it to Friday because it's a holy day- The Feast of the Immaculate Conception. They won't need to dress up on Wednesday, but they will on Friday! 

Advent Angel activities will also start next Friday. 

Christmas Program- In your child's folder is a permission slip for the kids to go to the high school next week to practice for the Christmas program. The program is that night at 6 pm in the auditorium. Please return the form ASAP. Thanks! I have heard some of their songs. They sound great! 

Spirit Day on Friday! They can wear sweats for $1.

I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend! Sounds like it will be a great weekend to walk around Creston on Saturday with the Merry Market Place! I know some kids will be singing! 

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

 Hello Parents! I hope you are having a great week! Colds and illnesses have started to enter our classroom. Me included! I am going to be pushing using hand sanitizer! If you are at the store, the classroom could also use more wipes! I bought a 3 pack on Tuesday. 

 Calendar Dates:

Nov. 17- End of 1st Trimester

Nov. 21 - BizTown Field Trip

Nov. 22-27- No School/Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 28- School Resumes

Nov. 29- 5th grade mass

Reading- This week we are reading a story about the tsunamis that hit Indonesia in 2004! Remember seeing that on the news?? I showed them a little of a video that was taken that day, but it was mostly the aftermath. These stories are definitely harder to read due to the content and vocabulary. It is interesting to see how they predict those earthquakes under the sea. Did you know they measure coral?? They also knew that the island was slowly sinking so the scientists predicted something was going to happen! I had no idea. That is a lot different from predicting tornadoes! Their spelling list this week is compound words! Did you notice that some have spaces in between while others have hyphens? That is always  a fun pretest to give! In grammar they are working on conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions. We also are talking about dependent and independent clauses. 

Math- We started chapter 3 this week with multiplication. They had to multiply one and two digit numbers by 10, 100, 1000. They also had to estimate their factors and then mentally multiply to find the product. On Tuesday, they worked on multiplying numbers by a single digit. On Thursday we will begin multiplying  double digits . This should be a review, but I always go slower because I know it takes a minute to remember how to do it. We will use the standard algorithm which means the way you learned to multiply! So, you can always help them at home too. 

Biz Town- The 4th and 5th got together to finish up their work in their businesses on Tuesday. Today, I sat with each business and we filled out their checkbooks and deposit tickets. They also had to enter some information into their bank register so they will be ready to go! We will leave that morning at 8:00 am! Please make sure your child is here by that time! They need to wear mass day attire. They need to have a sack lunch and drink that day. No sodas. We told them not to pack a full course meal because they probably won't have much time to really eat that day.  It is also a "working lunch"! 😉 I will tell the kids that morning what cars they are riding in. They are sooooo excited! They have a countdown going on! 

Religion- We started our new chapter on the Beatitudes. They don't have to memorize them! We spend a lot of time talking about each one and how to live it! Our next mass is on the 29th, the Wednesday we get back from Thanksgiving. I don't know that I will have everything ready for them next week...so they might not get their reading parts until the 28th, but I am going to try!    I told the kids today that Father was back, but wouldn't be at mass because he was sleeping! Guess who surprised us??? It was so good to see his smiling face again! 

Our kickoff to the Read-A-Thon started today with our Advent Angels! It was a lot of fun! Ask your kids!  They can add that 30 minutes of reading to their papers! 

I won't be writing a blog next week! I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! If you are traveling to see family, I will say some prayers for smooth roads and no deer! I plan on heading back to Waterloo to spend it with my brother and his family. 🦃🍽

God Bless, 

Miss Surma 

 Hello Parents! I hope you enjoyed the extra days with your kids after conference week! I know I enjoyed the longer weekend. I was able to clean my house. Resetting my clock didn't seem to go well for me on Monday morning! I messed up my AM and PM! Amazingly, I still made it by 7:45! I now have 2 alarms set! 😀

 Calendar Dates:

Nov. 10- Veteran's Day and Pep Rally/Spirit Day

Nov. 15- Read-A-Thon kickoff/ PTO Meeting

Nov. 17- End of 1st Trimester

Nov. 21 - BizTown Field Trip

Nov. 22-27- No School/Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 28- School Resumes

Nov. 29- 5th grade mass

Reading- This week we read a story called Eruption! It is about a volcano eruption that happened in June 1991 of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines.  This is definitely a nonfiction story filled with harder vocabulary words that are definitely for this topic area! I showed them a quick video about this volcano too so they could really see some of the devastation afterwards. Our grammar this week is focusing on direct and indirect objects.  They will have a spelling test and weekly test on Friday morning. 

Math- Mrs. Sickels and I got our kids together and told them their jobs for BizTown Day! I think they are pretty excited. Then our CEOs and CFOs had to do some math to figure out how much they were asking for in their loans from the bank. The other kids were busy writing ads for the newspaper, radio, magazine, and video.  I am going to get them back in our math books on Thursday! We are working on multiplication. 

Religion- They did a chapter review on Tuesday and will be working on a study guide. They won't test until next week. This chapter gives a brief overview of all 7 sacraments. Our next chapter is covering the Beatitudes. 

Friday- The afternoon will be crazy, but packed with fun! First, it is a Spirit Day. They can wear sweats. We'd like to see them in some black and red as well to support the football team! If they would rather wear red, white, and blue for Veterans Day- that is okay too! 

Our Veterans Day program is shorter this year. It will be from 1-1:40 pm.We will be leaving right after for the high school to attend the Pep Rally.  We will be back for the bus, but don't be surprised if we are a little late due to the rally. Please be patient in the bus and car line. 

Just a reminder- your kids will need a sack lunch and drink on the field trip November 21. We are asking that they don't bring any pop/sodas for their drink that day. Water bottles, Gatorade, juice boxes are fine. They really won't have a lot of time with their lunch and drinks. They will not be carrying their water bottles with them to their jobs like they do in school. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Will I see you at the dome??? I am planning on watching the 10 am game with Van Meter that morning to watch my godson play. My brother Joe also films the games for the Panther Network. He will most likely be above one of the end zones. You might catch me hanging out with him! Safe travels for all those going to the game! Go PANTHERS! 🏈🏈🏈

God Bless,

Miss Surma