Hello Everyone!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend! I cannot believe that Christmas is right around the corner!

Don't forget Book Reports are due on Wednesday, December 17th.

There are several events taking place this week. Just a reminder this is the final week for our School-wide Advent Outreach Bibs, Bottles and Booties.

Thursday, December 18th, is our School-wide Christmas Program.  The students will need to wear their Christmas Best or the Mass uniform.  The students need to be at school at 6:40 PM because the program begins at 7PM.

Thank you to everyone who took time to sign up to bring or send in items for our class Christmas Party. Our class party will be on Friday, December 19th at 1:40-2:25PM in our classroom. Please feel free to join us to celebrate. There will be a School-wide Advent Prayer Service at 2:30 PM.

Please do not forget that the students are required to read 10 minutes a night and do IXL for 30 minutes for the week and record it on their Logs. It counts as a quiz grade. Please assist me in helping your child become a lifelong reader. These logs are do every Monday for a quiz grade.

Here are a few highlights of what is happening this week in Fifth Grade...

Religion- The students will review the information covered in Unit 2 of our Religion series. The students will be able to explain the meaning of conversion and understand what it means to turn to God and grow in God's love. The students will recall that Jesus forgives us our sins and reminds us to seek God's forgiveness from the heart. The students will create a song or a poem to show that Jesus continues to forgive through the Church.

Math- The students will analyze and solve a variety of problems to evaluate their understanding of the concepts presented in Chapter 5. The students will complete their test on Thursday. The students will be completing several review Christmas math activities on Friday.

IXL Math-The students can work for mastery on Level G sections M.8 through M.14 on IXL. This will help your children to practice adding fractions with like denominators. Please remind your child to record their information on their Math Logs because their IXL time counts as a quiz grade. The students will only be required 30 minutes on IXL.

Science- This week we will be making connections about mitosis and how it relates to growth and cell division, regeneration as well as comparing and contrasting mitosis and meiosis. The students will be making predictions as to what they think life cycles are and how animals change as they grow. They will be comparing and contrasting complete and incomplete metamorphosis.

Science Lab- The students will be conducting several experiments that are Christmas related. The students will be creating Christmas trees that grow crystals and learning about Chromatography where they will draw conclusions based on their outcomes.

Social Studies- The students will be able to predict and explain why the Pilgrims wanted to start a colony in North America. They will identify the important events of the Pilgrims' first year in New England. The students will compare the development of Plymouth with the development of Jamestown. The students will analyze historical events in sequence.

Reading- The students will recall the story “The Case of the Flying Saucer People” a mystery by Seymour Simon, in order to identify the vocabulary from the lesson. The students will be utilizing several skills to help decode the text. The students will be evaluated by completing the End of Selection Test on Tuesday. Please have the students review their vocabulary words for this story. The students will be making predictions in the book “The Westing Game” our class read aloud book. Please remind them to document their minutes for their home D.E.A.R. Time as it counts as a quiz.

Language Arts- Word Study- The students in the Yellow Group will be sorting their words based off of the Long or Short Sounds of -E in accented syllables. They will be listening to the words and determining if the accented syllable is in the 1st long, 1st short or 2nd long syllable and no oddballs. The students in the Pink Group will be sorting their words with the Schwa + R spelled -er, -ir, -ur or oddball (spirit and every). The students in the Blue Group will be sorting their words based on number prefixes quad-/quar-, quint-/pent-, oct-, dec- and cent-. Word Study Test on Friday.

In Vocabulary we will be reviewing on Unit 7-12! If you have not accessed the Grammar or Vocabulary websites, please do so by using the access code located on the second page in their book to create a user log-in so that your child will be able to take advantage of the fun learning games available. There is not a test this week!

In Grammar, the students will be reviewing Unit 3 on Verbs because they will be evaluated on Wednesday for their understanding of how to use verbs in their writing.

Physical Education/Health- Students will participate in: skill drills related to the game of Whiffle Ball. Health - We explore the topic of “Bullying”.

Music- Students will prepare their performances for the Christmas Program on December 18, 2014 at 7:00PM in the PCRS gymnasium.

Spanish- This week students will use the numbers they have learned to tell the day’s date, how old they are, and tell time. Have a wonderful week!!!

Technology- The students will be creating digital snowflakes and discussing symmetry.

Art-Fifth Graders will assemble their sculptural clay castles this week and add any finishing details.

Hello Everyone!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Today, we had a beautiful mass for the Holy Day of Obligation, the Immaculate Conception. The students will not need to wear their mass uniform on Wednesday this week, as we had mass today.

I will be preparing a sign-up sheet on SchoolSpeak for our class Christmas party. Please feel free to sign up. If there is something special that you make and you would like to bring it, please send me an email and I will add it to the list. Thanks in advance!

Please do not forget that the students are required to read 10 minutes a night and do IXL for 30 minutes for the week and record it on their Logs. It counts as a quiz grade. Please assist me in helping your child become a lifelong reader. These logs are do every Monday for a quiz grade.

Here are a few highlights of what is happening this week in Fifth Grade...

Religion- The students will review Chapter 12 and they will be evaluated on the chapter ideas that are key to growing as a disciple of Jesus Christ, tomorrow. The students will understand that Advent is a season of joyful expectation and preparation for the coming of the Son of God.. the students will learn how to pray the O Antiphons. The students will recognize that the season of Christmas is a time to rejoice in the incarnation. The students will identify the different masses that are held to celebrate Christmas and what they mean.

Math- The students will use concepts to solve problems involving subtracting mixed numbers, subtracting mixed numbers from whole numbers, subtracting mixed numbers by renaming the minuends and estimating sums and differences of mixed numbers.

IXL Math-The students can work for mastery on Level G sections M.8 through M.14 on IXL. This will help your children to practice adding fractions with like denominators. Please remind your child to record their information on their Math Logs because their IXL time counts as a quiz grade. The students will only be required 30 minutes on IXL.

Science- This week we will be reviewing and assessing the students understanding of cells and how they work in body systems to keep us alive.

Science Lab- The students will be conducting an experiment where they will draw conclusions based on mixed reactions and determining how can you tell that a chemical reaction has taken place.

Social Studies- The students will be able to predict why the europeans began to explore the eastern coast of North America. They will identify seven important explorers of the eastern part of north America and describe their discoveries. The students will identify the reasons that the French founded New France. The students will analyze decision making process that includes gathering information, identifying options, and predicting consequences. They will work on applying this skill to everyday situations.

Reading- The students will recall the story “Seeing Earth from Space” a photo essay by Patricia Lauber, in order to identify the vocabulary from the lesson. The students will be utilizing several skills to help decode the text. The students will be evaluated by completing the End of Selection Test on Wednesday. Please have the students review their vocabulary words for this story. Please remind them to document their minutes for their home D.E.A.R. Time as it counts as a quiz.

Language Arts- Word Study- The students in the Yellow Group will be sorting their words based off of the Long-U Patterns in accented syllables. They will be listening to the words and determining if the accented syllable is in the 1st or 2nd syllable and no oddballs. There are two ways to sort this sort one by the syllables and the other way is by using the headers jewel, rooster, include and oddball. In this sort there are three oddballs Tuesday, beauty and cougar. The students in the Pink Group will be sorting their words with the W OR /E/ sound (war, wor, and wa) before the vowel. The students in the Blue Group will be sorting their words based on Latin Roots MAN-, SCRIB/SCRIPT, CRED and FAC. Word Study Test on Friday.

In Vocabulary we will be working on Unit 12! If you have not accessed the Grammar or Vocabulary websites, please do so by using the access code located on the second page in their book to create a user log-in so that your child will be able to take advantage of the fun learning games available. There is not a test this week!

In Grammar, the students will be learning about how to identify and utilizing the correct form of more irregular verbs and Contractions with not.

Physical Education/Health- Students will participate in: skill drills related to the game of Whiffle Ball. Health - We explore the topic of “Bullying”.

Music- Students will prepare their performances for the Christmas Program on December 18, 2014 at 7:00PM in the PCRS gymnasium.

Spanish- This week students will use the numbers they have learned to tell the day’s date, how old they are, and tell time. Have a wonderful week!!!


Technology- The students will be creating a digital Acrostic Christmas Poem.

Art-Fifth Graders will create a clay slab to use as the foundation for their clay castle!

Hello Everyone!

Happy December!!! I hope that you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving Break! I cannot believe that it is already December!!!

This week, on Wednesday December 3rd the fifth grade will be in charge of Mass. Please try to join us if your schedule allows.

Please do not forget that the students are required to read 10 minutes a night and do IXL for 30 minutes for the week and record it on their Logs. It counts as a quiz grade. Please assist me in helping your child become a lifelong reader. These logs are do every Monday for a quiz grade.

Here are a few highlights of what is happening this week in Fifth Grade...

Religion- The students will identify the five basic forms of prayer, describe the rewards of daily prayer, illustrate and analyze the ways that the sacramentals enrich the Church's prayer life, recognize and highlight some special practices and popular devotions and review the chapter ideas that are key to growing as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Math- The students will be developing the necessary skills to add mixed numbers with like and unlike denominators, add and subtract mixed numbers, remaining sums and differences, rename the differences of two fractions with like denominators, subtract fractions with compatible unlike denominators and calculate the sums or differences for each type of problem.

IXL Math-The students can work for mastery on Level G sections M.1 through M.8 on IXL. This will help your children to practice adding fractions with like denominators. Please remind your child to record their information on their Math Logs because their IXL time counts as a quiz grade. The students will only be required 30 minutes on IXL.

Science- This week we will be exploring more about the digestive, excretory, skeletal, muscular and nervous systems. The students will be able to identify different types of bones, joints and muscles as well as where they are located. The students will learn about which organs makes up each system as well as how they work together. The students will be able to distinguish the differences between each body system.

Science Lab- The students will be conducting an experiment where they will draw conclusions based on making snow. The students will also be making observations and comparing data to determine what takes place when adding warm or room temperature water to the insta-snow. The students were also able to deduce that this was a chemical change as opposed to a physical change. Even though it was in the 70's outside, we had snow for the first of December in the Science Lab.

Social Studies- The students will summarize the results of Pizarro's conquest of the Inca Empire. The students will also analyze the growth of New Spain, describe important economic activities and identify features of colonial cities. The students will be evaluated on Chapter 4 on Thursday.

Reading- The students will be reading the expository nonfiction story, “Oceans” by Seymour Simon and then they will be evaluated by completing the End of Selection Test on Thursday. Please have the students review their vocabulary words for this story. Please remind them to document their minutes for their home D.E.A.R. Time as it counts as a quiz.

Language Arts- Word Study- The students in the Yellow Group will be sorting their words based off of the Long-O Patterns in accented syllables. They will be listening to the words and determining if the accented syllable is in the 1st or 2nd syllable. There is only one oddball and it is “Eroupe. The students in the Pink Group will be sorting their words based on the R-influenced O in accented syllables. They will be listening to the words and determining if the accented syllable is in the 1st or 2nd syllable. They have two oddballs and they are “sorry” and “reward”. The students in the Blue Group will be sorting their words based on Latin Roots FRACT-, -FLECT/FLEX, JECT and MIS/MIT. Word Study Test on Friday.

In Vocabulary we will be working on Unit 11! If you have not accessed the Grammar or Vocabulary websites, please do so by using the access code located on the second page in their book to create a user log-in so that your child will be able to take advantage of the fun learning games available. There is not a test this week!

In Grammar, the students will be learning about how to identify an inappropriate shift in verb tense and irregular verbs.

Physical Education/Health- We explore the game of Hockey learning rules, terms associated with the game. Lead up activities and safety are also investigated this week.

Music- Students will continue practicing their Christmas Program music.

Spanish - This week students will use the numbers they have learned to tell the day’s date, how old they are, and other festivities. Have a wonderful week!!!

Technology- The students will be creating explorer trading cards where they will be summarizing the information that they have gathered about their specific explorer.

Art- Last week in Art, students enhanced their cityscapes with color. This week, we’ll tie in literacy by reading the book, “The Day the Crayons Quit,” and will analyze and summarize this book as it applies to our art class.