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

Hello Parents, 

I hope you had a great weekend! I got my 2nd Covid booster and my flu shot on Friday! Fun fun!   I do love the cooler temps! 

Calendar Dates:

Oct. 7- Spirit Day

Oct. 14- No School/ PD Day

Oct. 21- Spirit Day

Oct. 28- Spirit Day

Reading- This week they are reading the story called Elisa's Diary. It is about a girl who moved from Puerto Rico to America. She is struggling with learning the English language when it comes to speaking, but she does a great job of writing it. She met a boy in her class who moved there from Guatemala. He is the opposite of her. He can speak English but struggles with writing it. They join forces to help each other out. By the end of the story she shows us that she became a teacher and helps other kids who struggle similarly. Our grammar this week is on plural nouns.  On Tuesday we filled out a "rule sheet" with examples of words and how we have to write them to make them plural. I told them that if I were them I would use that sheet on Friday when we take the test. Their grammar scores have been falling and I think it is because they are rushing. They also struggle with identifying nouns in a sentence.  

This is our last story in this unit. Next week they will NOT have a spelling test. They will have a unit test. I break it up over the 5 days. They need to remember to read these stories a couple of times. Typically this first test doesn't score the best for the kids. I will also be assigning the first book report project next week. They will get a packet with their choices of projects to do. They will choose one. They will need to okay their book choice with me also. All of that is written in the packet. 

Math- They have a math test over chapter one on Thursday. There isn't much for studying unless you want to give them decimals to find out which is greater and which one is smaller. They could also practice writing them in written form or expanded form. 

Religion- I had to pause the book because we are getting ready for the Rosary next Wednesday at mass. Some of the 5th graders have a part. I have emailed you about that. They will be leading the Rosary next week in the gym. You are welcome to join us. It will be at our normal mass time...9:15am. Father Patrick will be gone so there won't be mass that day. 

Substitute- I have a doctor's appointment the morning of October 4. There will be a sub in the morning that day. I will be back by lunch time. 

Please make sure that if you are notifying me about your child needing to leave early, come late, a change in the pick up plan or if they are sick that you also notify Mrs. Sanchez in the office. They need to hear the reason your child is leaving or is gone from you, not me. That way they can appropriately mark it in JMC, plus it gives Mrs. Sanchez the chance to get to know all the families. Thanks so much! Her email is ksanchez@crestonstmalachy.org.

Art- Next week the kids will need a paint shirt for art class! Nick Allen is bringing in pumpkins that the kids will paint for Hy-Vee! They will also receive a pumpkin to take home and paint or carve there. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I will be heading to Waterloo. It is my niece Olivia's homecoming. 

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

Hello Parents! I hope everyone had a good weekend. I know that rain put a damper on Balloon Days activities! My soccer game in the rain was not as fun either!  

 Calendar Dates:

Sept. 23- 3 Hour Early Out/ homecoming/Spirit Day

Oct. 1- Spirit Day

Oct. 14- No School/ PD Day

Oct. 21- Spirit Day

Oct. 28- Spirit Day

Reading- This week they are reading their first nonfiction story. It is called Double Dutch. It is about a group of girls that were on a Double Dutch jump rope team. I showed the kids a video on Monday of some students at the championships of this. We were all impressed with their speed of jumping and twirling the rope. Some of the kids decided they were going to try at recess on Tuesday. I was told it didn't go well! LOL   In grammar we are working on identifying nouns in a sentence. I showed them the Schoolhouse Rock video on nouns...did I just age myself?? I hope some of you watched that! We also area discussing common and proper nouns. That seems to be harder! I thought it would be easier! Proper nouns have capital letters! They will have a spelling test on Friday as well a test over the story. We will get that done before the early out. 

You will see last week's scores in their folders. Last week had a cold read. That means they had to read a story by themselves and answer 10 questions about it. I stress that they should read it more than once because normally they read our story 3 times before they test over it. I am not sure how many did that. 

Math- This week we are rounding decimals! The skill of rounding is probably something they've been doing since 2nd grade. Some of the kids are still struggling with this concept.  I think next week we will be working on reviewing and testing over this chapter. 

Religion- They took their first test on Tuesday. They are also making cards for Fr. Patrick. Next week after mass we are presenting him with them for Priesthood Day! 

Friday, Sept. 23 is a 3 hour early out. No lunch will be served!It is also a Spirit Day! They might want to wear sweats on Friday with the temperature drop! They can also wear their black and red if they want to support the Panthers. The parade starts at 1:30.

Book It- This will start October 1st. I will give your kids their calendar to keep track of their minutes. If they meet the goal each month, they will receive their coupon for Pizza Ranch. I also give awards at the end to the kids who participate all 6 months. I'm thinking I will keep track of my minutes this year too! I'm in a book club so this gives me the extra push to read, not that I need one. 

I hope everyone enjoys the early out on Friday. Hopefully the rain won't delay the parade or cancel it! Happy Homecoming!

God Bless, 

Miss Surma

 Dear Parents, I hope everyone had a great weekend! I know many of you were rained on on Saturday during your football games! I went to Des Moines on Sunday to watch my niece play in her soccer game. The weather was just perfect for that one! 

 Calendar Dates:

Sept. 15- PTO Meeting

Sept. 16-17- Balloon Days Weekend

Sept. 21- 5th Grade Mass

Sept. 23- 3 Hour Early Out/ homecoming

Reading- This week they are reading a story called Off and Running. This is about a couple of 5th graders who are running for office in their class. Miata gives a formal speech and offers to do things that will clean up the school grounds. Rudy is very informal. He offers to get them more recess time and ice cream every day at lunch! Sadly, the story leaves us hanging and we never find out who wins. In grammar they are looking at the parts of a sentence as well as verbs that fit with the subjects. They will have a spelling test on Friday as well as a test over the story. 

Math- We are breaking down the place value of decimals from tenths to thousandths. They are learning how to read them to me and write them. They are also learning to write them as fractions. For example: 0.765 would be said as seven hundred sixty-five thousandths. As a fraction it would be 765/1000.  I keep telling them to think of money as they look at the value. Tenths are our dimes and hundredths are our pennies. 

Religion- We learned this week about Saint Damien of Molokai. He worked as a missionary in Hawaii taking care of the people who had been sent there to live and die from leprosy. He worked for a long time before getting leprosy himself. I showed them a quick video on his life there. We are nearing the end of the chapter, so there will be a test soon. 

Homecoming- Next Friday we have a 3 hour early out because of homecoming and the parade. No lunch that day. They can wear their Panther gear if they have any to support the Panthers! 

Mass- It is our mass on Sept. 21. I have given each child a part. I will send home their reading parts. Please practice with them over the weekend! Father has really done some changes to our servers. The kids having been soaking it up! They look really professional! 

I hope you have a great weekend! Enjoy Balloon Days. I am heading to Waterloo to watch my great niece Gracie play soccer and go to her sister's 2nd birthday party! 

God Bless,

Miss Surma