Week of Feb. 6

I could not be happier that last week is over! The book-making business is not for me. Some of you may have noticed I was a bit more stressed than usual:)I'm better now and ready to move on to bigger and better things! As a side note, there were several students that either didn't get their paperwork back signed, didn't hand in their book, left it at home on Friday or didn't get enough finished to warrant publication. (I sent 59 books, there are 71 5th graders)

This week we will finish "Out of the Dust" and have a final exam on Friday. It will consist of multiple choice, fill-in-the blanks, short essay and identify the quote. It is a much shorter test than the other novel exams and shouldn't cause much stress. Students have been taking a quiz every 50 or so pages and most understand the novel very well. I will drop the lowest quiz grade from each student.

Pre-EOG testing will also take place this week for 5th graders. They will each take a math, a science and a reading pretest. Schedules will once again be disrupted, but we are accustomed to it at this point! We are nothing if not adaptable!

Black History Month will finally begin next week. Mrs. Brindle and I team teach this month-long unit (it will no doubt run into March this year). We plan many wonderful and educational activities based on black American history, literature and art. This has also become a really great time for 5th graders to get to know their Language Arts teacher for next year and become better acquainted with upper class-men. It has been much anticipated and should be a lot of hard work and fun.

5th grade dance: To be held after school on Feb.17, from 4:30-6:00 in Neuse Charter School's cafeteria. Students should dress nicely, i.e. dresses and ties, shirttails tucked. We will have decorations, dancing, refreshments, games and a photographer on board. I need parents to supply refreshments. If your last name begins A-E, please supply drinks, F-J please supply salty treats (i.e. chips), K-O please supply sweet treats, P-T please supply either sweet or salty treats, and U-Z please supply cups and plates (I have plenty of napkins). Donations of decorations are welcome! (especially white lights)

It’s Talent Show time! And auditions are right around the corner! Finally, your opportunity to show us what you got! Singers, dancers, bands, acrobats, poets, magicians…be creative, grades 5-10, are all welcome to audition! Tryouts will be held in Mrs. Brindle’s room daily, beginning Tuesday Feb. 21 at 3:20 until Friday, Feb. 24.
The 2nd Annual Neuse Charter School has Talent Show is certain to be a show-stopping extravaganza you will not want to miss but you must be signed up to audition. Signup sheets are in the front office, outside Brindle’s room in the middle school building, outside the tech lab in the high school building and outside Berner’s room in the elementary building. Please only sign up on one sheet!
This was an awesome and fun event last year and it is certain to be even better this year! Come on, Neuse, let’s put on a show! Sign-up to try out today!