Hello, everyone! Great job on presentations last week!
Many changes coming to our wonderful little 5th grade world in the next couple of weeks and I want to be sure everyone is on board so I’ll send my blog home in letter form this week.
Schedule: High school will be having exams this week, and because all of Neuse Charter shares teachers, there will be a trickledown effect for us. Not entirely sure what will happen, so bear with us and be patient (I know that will be my mantra :)
Possible Retention letters: Along with report cards on Jan. 20, teachers will be sending letters of possible retention. I will administer an EOG pretest for all of 5th grade before next week to help determine who will be receiving possible retention letters. It is very early to make this determination but we must let parents know if there is, in our estimation, a reasonable possibility that your child will be retained to 5th grade next year. This is determined in several ways. The decision is based on a combination of teacher recommendation, EOG Tests, previous retention and student performance. This is a complicated decision, not made lightly, and will be ultimately a decision intended to benefit the student and his or her academic future. If you receive a letter of possible retention, we will set up a parent-teacher conference to try and work out solutions and discuss options for the rest of the year. Hard work moves mountains.
Homework: Many students have become very lax with regard to homework. I will send home current homework grades this week (I have already with 5B and 5C). Homework cannot be made up. Beginning after the break, students may work in the Competitive Edge Book for homework. I will post pages to complete for credit on my blog. Students must correct answers in class for credit. It is very important to understand this will not be easier than regular homework (Reading and writing a summary) but it is very, very good EOG practice. I will be working on this book in class with 5A.
Remediation: With the new schedule that begins on Jan. 23, remediation will be stepped up for struggling students. During their afternoon electives, some students will be pulled out for extra help. This does not include PE. If this is a problem, please send Ms. Rennie, Mrs. Dohner or me an e-mail or a note expressing the issue.
Scholastic News: Almost weekly, students work on this news magazine and answer Common Core and EOG type questions associated with the reading. Many are struggling with this, mostly because they do not take time and care with their answers. Informational reading will become more and more important as your child progresses through Middle School and High School (as per the Common Core Standards). If you have a few minutes, please try and discuss some of the world’s news and what impact it has on our daily lives with your student.
Out of the Dust: This is a serious book with some sad events. We will be reading it aloud and discussing it in class, including the stages of grief and how they unfold in the book. There is nothing overly graphic or gratuitous. There is also some fun stuff! Please send a tart apple with your student to class this week before Thursday for a surprise!
Games Club: Games club will be concluding and it it’s place, we will begin Art Club. Due to the fact that 5th grade is not scheduled for art or music for the second half of the year, Mrs. Dohner and I will be holding Art Club from 3:15-4:00 on Thursdays beginning Jan. 25. As with Games Club, students must be in good standing with at least a “c” average and no trips to the office for discipline issues. Also, getting picked up late may disqualify students from participating. We will be drawing, painting, sculpting, listening to world music, etc… Any parent with a special talent who would like to hold a seminar is encouraged and welcomed!
Spelling/Vocab: Bad news: Test will be on Thursday this week, as Chip Celebration will be on Friday! Good news: only 10 words! Please review our previous words from Out of the Dust, as they will be important to know.

Spelling/Vocabulary for week of 1/9/2012
Know how to use words in a sentence and how to spell them correctly!

5A
grateful (again:)
depression
remains
level
quaking
shrine
delicate prairie
convince
gripe

Spelling/Vocabulary for week of 1/9/2012
Know how to use words in a sentence and how to spell them correctly!
5B
breathless
depression
rhythm
leveled
quaking
shrine
brighten
prairie
convince
gripe


Spelling/Vocabulary for week of 1/9/2012
Know how to use words in a sentence and how to spell them correctly!
5C
achievement
depression
rhythm
leveled
quaking
shrine
brightening
prairie
griping
purposeful