It Is the 8th Week of School -- Can you believe it?

Happy Monday,

This week will be a great one for us.  We are wrapping up our study of the solar system.   It would be a good week to buy your child a Milky Way Bar to celebrate  all their hard work and our place in the galaxy!  Students are currently working on Planet Reports and Planet Travel Brochures!  I know parents are all looking forward to "booking a flight" to the planet of their  choice.  I just hope my students have figured out how we survive once we get there!

Homework for the week is IXL H 11 and 12 for Math .  Check on your child's progress on the H skills (division) by looking at the reports section and selecting  performance and performance by category.  An IXL overall  grade for this unit will be given on Oct. 22 (last day of the first grading period) based on the total number of skills on which  your child has scored 90% or above.  There are 14 skills  and it will be scored as if it were a 14 item test  (14/100% , 13/93%, 12/86%, 11/79% , 10/72% etc ).  Extra time each night or over the weekend is your choice at this point if your child is behind in mastery of these skills.

The Science Test for Chapter 2 will be 10/12 -- they now have all the tools needed to study for it this week. (Vocab cards/ study guide that we highlighted/ foldables/ and corrected lesson checkups) We will begin Chapter 3 on Thursday 10/11/12  (love that date)  in preparation for our field trip to the Marine Science Education Center on Oct. 16th.

The field trip cost of $5.00 must be paid  and the permission slip returned by Friday, 10/12.  This field trip is a part of the science curriculum for 5th grade and will provide 3 grades for Science.  If you chose for your child not to attend,  an alternative assignment that will count for 3 grades will be assigned.  This field trip does not require chaperones since it takes place at a Duval County school building and the rooms are barely large enough to accommodate the size of the student groups that we are taking each day.  There will be other trips scheduled later in the year where we will need your participation as chaperones.  Students should wear their class field trip shirts for this field trip and must bring a bag lunch ( no lunch boxes).

Mrs Hopkins asked that I mention that papers that require a parent signature must be returned to her.  She has had many instances of these not being returned.  All such assignments are stamped "sign and return".   She has discussed this with the students and now needs your assistance in getting those papers returned so that she is sure that you have seen your child's work.

The media center has started a new program "Library Ambassadors"  to assist from 8:00-8:30 each day.  Interested students were given an application.  Please encourage your child to become involved in this very worthy activity.

A student study skill unit will be implemented by our guidance counselor starting this week. The students will receive a 45 minute lesson once a week for the next 5 weeks on goal setting, organization, study skills, and prevention of test anxiety.  We are very excited about this new program.  Our first sessions are on 10/11/12 (there is that neat date again) .  Please ask your child Thursday night  about what was covered in the class and what goals they set.

Have a great week and take advantage of the light in the evenings-- only a few weeks until daylight savings time ends for the year.