February 24- 5th Grade Newsletter

Upcoming Dates

• Mar 3 Read-A-Thon Pledges Due
• Mar 3 Read-A-Thon
• Mar 10 Early Release Day
• Mar 31-Apr 9 Spring Break
• Apr 11-13, 18-20 M-Step Testing

Read-a-Thon

The Read-a-Thon is Friday, March 3rd. All pledges and green pledge forms are also due that day (these were optional).  We encouraged each student to try and raise $37.50 in pledges to pay for the balance of camp.  Along with lots of independent reading, a book club meeting, and some mystery readers, a pizza lunch will also be provided that day for all 5th graders. Finally, students will have an opportunity to earn prizes that day. If you are interested in donating a prize or a few dollars to purchase some prizes, please send them on or before March 1st.

Middle School

This year, all middle school visits and meetings will occur after the M-STEP. Look for more information after spring break regarding dates.

M-Step Preparations

Here is a blurb from Mr. Field about the upcoming M-Step testing that will begin right after spring break:

Dear Parents,

  Here is our annual state testing schedule for the M-STEP this spring.  Please make every effort to ensure that your student is at school on these dates by avoiding scheduling doctors appointments and vacations on the following dates.

Thank you for your partnership with us!

~Park Staff

Grade 5 Testing Schedule  

4/11 (Tues) ELA

4/12 (Weds) ELA

4/13 (Thurs) ELA Part 2

4/18 (Tues) Math

4/19 (Weds) Math

4/20 (Thurs) Social Studies

Subject Overview

Reading: We are halfway through our historical fiction book clubs.  We have over 20 different clubs meeting 3x per week, discussing and exploring their books.  We will continue with our M-Step prep, focusing on identifying main idea, supporting details, compare/contrast, as well as text structures of nonfiction passages on days that book clubs do not meet.  

Math: Students are studying Unit 5, Division of whole numbers and decimals.  

SS: Students are studying the Road to the Revolution.

Science: Students are diving into research to discover “How can we control zebra mussel invasion that has impacted the Great Lakes?”

February 10 - 5th Grade Newsletter

Upcoming Dates

• Tues, Feb 14 Valentine’s Day Parties
• Thur, Feb 16 Soc Studies Test over Colony packet
• Fri, Feb 17 Symphony Field Trip + Lunch out
• Fri, Mar 3 Read-A-Thon
• Fri, Mar 10 Early Release Day

Read-a-Thon

The Read-a-Thon is Friday, March 3rd. A pizza lunch will be provided that day for all 5th graders. Students will have an opportunity to earn prizes that day. If you are interested in donating a prize or a few dollars to purchase some prizes, please send them on or before March 1st.

GR Symphony

On Friday, February 17, we will be heading to the Grand Rapids Symphony. For this trip we do not need any chaperones.  We will be leaving mid-morning for an 11:15 performance. Since we will not return to school until after lunch, we will be stopping at McDonalds/Taco Bell/KFC in Jenison to have lunch. Please send enough money for your child to have lunch there OR students can pack a lunch to eat at the restaurant.

Camp’s Winning Picks

Yesterday during a 5th grade meeting, we held a drawing for a fully paid camp tuition and 2 Camp Pendalouan t-shirts.  Names were put in the bucket based on help that was provided during the can drives.  And the winners are…..tuition paid = Landon Rose, t-shirt = Elli Wondergem and Morgan Hall!  Congratulations everyone!

Valentine Cards

We will be passing out Valentine cards on Tuesday, Feb. 14th. It is optional; however, we ask that your child hands one out to everyone in the class if he/she participates. Then, for the party, the 5th graders are planning it.  Along with the snacks they bring, they will be watching a movie. We will give them some movie choices that are either G or PG rating.

Subject Overview

Reading: Today, we launched our historical fiction book clubs.  We will have over 20 different clubs meeting 3x per week, discussing and exploring their books.  We will continue with our M-Step prep, focusing on identifying main idea, supporting details, compare/contrast, as well as text structures of nonfiction passages on days that book clubs do not meet.  

Math: Students are studying Unit 5, Division of whole numbers and decimals.  

SS: Students are finishing Life in Colonial America; then they’ll study Road to the Revolution.

Science: Students are diving into research to discover “What has caused the lake levels of Lake Michigan to change between 1986 and 2013?”