Spring Fair 2009!

After three fantastic days at Camp Squeah (Mr. Kershaw will have the slide show ready soon!!), here are some 5G stars at Spring Fair this weekend! I tried to catch as many of you as I could -- I'm sorry if I missed you!


The food was delicious!

Karaoke Supporters!

Candy Walk Winner (you would think he would be happier about his win...)

AC/DC all the way!

Exploring all of the rooms!

Just caught up with him as he was leaving!

Peace-lovin' gals

Happy ladies

More AC/DC fans

These two rocked the mic all afternoon!

Gladiator style

Spring Fair 2009!

Cool Camp Countdown!

It looks like the weather is on our side for the rest of the week and the forecast definitely has fun, fun, fun on the horizon! Please remember to review the packing guidelines, and don't over pack - we have limited space on the bus so bring the essentials and remember to layer! :)

If you are finished packing and have some free time tonight, here are some fun Science activities to try!
http://www.scienceworld.ca/fun_stuff/make_stuff/trythisathome.html

On Wednesday, May 6th from 3:30 to 4:30, Ms. Murphy and I will be leading a group of volunteer students to tie knots in the Community Day Parade t-shirts. We should be finished by 4:30, and Ms. Murphy and I will supply some special treats for our awesome volunteers! If you are free on that day, please r.s.v.p. to me via e-mail so I know that you have your parent's permission to stay after school for this fun activity! Space is limited - clear your schedule for our groovy tie dye party (this might be slightly misleading...we are just tying knots - not dyeing!! But you will be so proud when you see the finished products on Parade Day!!). It's going to be great!

Have fun packing tonight and please don't forget your smiles, laughter and sense of adventure!!

See you at 8:15 am for our Camp Squeah Epic and Exciting Experience!!

Fort Langley

After several attempts - let's hope this works!

Fort Langley Slideshow

Here we go!!

The countdown is on!

The sun is beaming and so are the faces of 5G! The Jeans Day Fundraiser was a huge success for the BC Children's Hospital (it is nice to be comfortable!). Click here to see some biographies of the kids you are helping through this fundraiser! http://bcchf.ca/main/index.php?miracleKids

Camp Squeah is going to be amazing, and it is hard to believe that we are leaving on Wednesday!!

Tonight:

• Ensure that your Math homework is complete.
• Be reading for your Book Report!
• P.E. kit for the morning and bring your uniform.
• CALLING ALL NEWSPAPERS -- PLEASE BRING THEM IN TOMORROW!!

Congratulations to Scott who won a Summer Camp with the White Caps Football Club this morning!

Good night, 5G!

Notes for the weekend...

We had a great time at Morven this morning - informative tours led by fabulous Grade 6 students, cookies and juice and tons of information about all of the fun things to look forward to.

-- $2 Jeans Day on Monday -- Jeans on the bottom and uniform top.
-- Bring in newspaper for Squeah!
-- Last call for Scholastic orders (due Monday)
-- Problem Solving test on Monday -- please review!
-- Development of Canada/Immigration Test on Monday.

Enjoy the beautiful sunshine, 5G!

Wonderful Wednesday!

5G celebrated Earth Day today by turning off our lights, bringing our snacks and lunches in reusable containers and just generally being connected with and celebrating our relationship with Earth. In the assembly, Shae was honoured for his contributions with the class compost with a Spirit Award (but he is not well - we hope you feel better soon, Shae!).

Tonight, I would like students to focus on being organized. Oral Book Reports are fast approaching - check in your agenda month long planner if you have forgotten your presentation date! Review your Problem Solving duotang to prepare for the upcoming test on Monday.

We leave for camp in exactly one week - I am so excited! Take some time to review the packing list and ensure that you have all that you will need for our wilderness adventure!

Enjoy the sunshine, 5G!

Reminders for tonight

• Earth Day House Assembly - Number One uniform with House shirt or Environmental shirt
• Pack Spirit wear
• Math (5G: page 272-274)
• Study Problem Solving
• Study Socials - make notes on push/pull factors.
• Please bring in newspapers for camp!

Thank you!

Buddies: A Year in Review

Here's a glance back through the year with our wonderful Buddies class, 2M. It has been such a joy to watch the relationships between the students develop, and both groups have certainly learned alot! Thank you for being such a great group of students!

Monday, Monday

5G welcomed a new Scientific addition to our classroom today - a worm home! It will take a few days to fully set up, but soon we will have a fun way to learn about worms and all they are capable of!

Tonight for homework, please ensure that you are organized for our last full week together before camp.

• Come in P.E. kit and bring your uniform.
• Rugby -- 7:30 am tomorrow on the field.
• Wrestler's -- good luck tomorrow! :)
• Wednesday, April 22nd - Earth Day Assembly - wear your house t-shirt or any earth-friendly themed t-shirt!
  
• Problem Solving quiz for Ms. Gould Mon April 27. You need to know how to find the Lowest Common Multiple, how to use t-charts to organize your information, guess-and-check and determine who is the most important person in a word problem (the person everyone else is compared against). Here is a site that may help you review: http://www.stfx.ca/special/mathproblems/grade5.html
  
• Immigration and Founding of Canada Test Mon April 27 - you know what to study! You will rock it!
• Tomorrow is Garbageless Lunch Day -- WE ARE GOING TO BEAT OUR WEIGH-IN FROM LAST WEEK!! Please bring all of your food and drink tomorrow in reusable containers. Alternatively, bring snacks that are compostable!
• Friday, April 25th -- meet at Morven at 8:15 am - please join us even if you will not be at that campus next year. It is going to be a fun morning and we'll be back in time for Music. Wear your smartest Number One, please.
• Please bring in any old newspapers for a Camp Squeah activity we are eagerly getting ready for! Shh -- I'll never tell what they will be for! It's going to be great!
  

Thank you, everyone!

Homework

Hi all,

Please come dressed in your P.E. kit tomorrow, and pack your civvies for our Bowling Party with 2M! It is also important that you bring your library books back to school on Friday.

Wrestler's -- Form is due tomorrow

Math:
5G: 263-264 in Jump
5M: 271-271 in Jump
5BR: 256-260 in Jump
5C: Measurement sheet

Please sign and return your Decimals Tests!

Socials: Be working on your letter home from the perspective of an early settler of Canada. The instructions are in the booklet, and I would like you to invest time editing your own work. This is due on Monday.

Good night!

Science Fair Success!

Dear 5G,

I am, as always, so impressed with your hard work, dedication and enthusiasm. 5G shone tonight as they showcased their Scientific Inquiry! I loved to see the looks on your faces as you spoke so proudly and eloquently about your projects, and this was a wonderful opportunity to see how you fared on a major project with minimal help from me. This is a safe opportunity for you and I to both find out how your organizational and independent-instruction-following skills are before they take centre stage next year in Grade Six! And the results are in - you are all stars!! Congratulations again, 5G!

I will be posting some photos in the next few days -- Fort Langley, Science Fair and months in review slideshows will be coming to a blog near you soon!

A few reminders:

• Please get math test signed for your math teacher. 5G had an incredible showing on the Number Sense section - an impressive 91% class average! Wonderful!! Problem Solving was, as expected, more of a challenge and our class average was 74%. Please remember to use the strategies you have learned to apply to more difficult questions. Drop by to reinforce your learning at recess and lunch time - I know that with some review of basic principles and careful application of your logical thinking, success is in your future!
• Be reading for your Oral Book Reports (we will discuss the criteria for this assignment next week)
• Practice your Bowling skills to prepare for our Buddy Bowling Bonanza on Friday! Parents - please feel free to join us for all or part of the time - score keepers are in high demand! :)

Good night, 5G!

5G: Best Looking Class Ever

Check out these wonderful kids!
:)

Tuesday

Today was great! We saw the Middle and Senior School Dance performance at Kay Meek and it was amazing! I hope that many 5g kids chose to dance next year, as it seems like a really strong program.

Tonight for homework, students should be putting the finishing touches on their Science Fairs. Reminder: double check over the pink booklet to ensure that you have followed the instructions completely. This is a great exercise in self-guided organization and achievement.

Please review for the Math test tomorrow - ensure that you can compare, order, add, subtract, multiply and divide decimals!

Thanks, everyone!

Earth Day Eco-Art

Ms. Scott is organizing a really fun art activity in preparation for Earth Day! It's called eco-art, and it's a great way to redefine garbage and recycling in our lives! Feel free to complete your masterpiece at home, but be sure to bring it in to Ms. Scott before Monday, April 20th!

Here are the guidelines:

• Your masterpiece must be made completely of items taken from your garbage or recycling.
• It must be appropriate size to display in the lobby.
• It must stand on its own, or hang from the wal.
• It should reflec your creativity, and passion for saving the earth!

You can do this project on your own, with your friends or with your siblings! So get dirty and good luck with the eco-art challenge, 5G!

The beginning of a beautiful week...

Wow -- what a day! The view from the classroom is truly stunning today and our spirits are soaring. We are in the final countdown mode for the remainder of the year and it is jam packed with fun things!

On Friday, we studied the art work of the famous Spanish painter, Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso (a.k.a PICASSO!). We examined the way he represented people to capture their spirit or essence, rather than a literal portrayl of their appearance. 5G created portraits of a person of their choice to show the many sides of their subject, the complexity of the human spirit and the beauty of art. Please drop by to see even more! Some of the beautiful products are showcased in today's post.

Tonight's reminders:

• Come in P.E. kit and pack Number One for the dance performance at Kay Meek tomorrow afternoon.
• Complete the bright yellow spelling sheet (due Wednesday) focusing on comparatives and superlatives.
• Study for the Decimals math test on Wednesday and Thursday.
• Continue working on Science Fair (due next Tuesday)
• Return the green permission form for Camp Squeah on Thursday.
• Problem Solving duotang (a complete homework check!) is due for Ms. Gould on Thursday. It is imperative that you be organized and hand in your work on time!
  

Important Date announcement for your calendar's!
5G Cafe Concert will be held on Monday, May 25th from 11:0 to 12:30.
Please clear your calendar and plan to be blown away by 5G's fantastic performance in their French plays!

Have a wonderful afternoon in the sun, 5G! Can't wait to see you tomorrow!

Thursday, April 2

Hi everyone,

Just a few reminders for tonight:

• The rough draft of any and all completed Science Fair components are due tomorrow. Please just hand in a copy of your material - save your originals to continue working on over the weekend.
• Come dressed in proper P.E. kit in the morning, and pack your civvies for the remainder of the day. Bring three bottles for the Spring Fair Bottle drive (0r $20, please!)
• Read for 20 minutes.
• Finish Math homework. 5G Math will ensure that pages 237 - 240 are completed (class time was given) as well as the four daily questions to practice multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1000!
• Complete Problem Solving for Ms. Gould.

Several important forms are due:

• Better Life due Fri April 3
• Bowling permission form due Fri April 3
• Scholastics due Tues April 7
• Camp permission form due Thurs April 9

Thanks, everyone!

Today!

We had a wonderful time at Fort Langley today - pictures will be coming soon! On that note - a "Winter in Review" slide show will be posted this week, as well!

We learned many great things at the Fort today. We saw how life was lived firsthand - the differences in accommodation and occupation between the owners and the workers, how heavy the bales of fur were for the voyageurs to carry, how barrels were made by the Coopers and how Blacksmiths created amazing things in their forge. It was really great, and the weather was beautiful.

Tonight for homework:

• Number One uniform and pack Spirit wear.
• Science Fair! (rough draft due Friday)
• Plural crossword puzzle due tomorrow.
• Read for 20 minutes.
• Problem Solving problems for Ms. Gould.
  
• Any Math set homework?
  
• Yellow bowling permission form due on Friday.
• Better Life coffee form due on Friday.
• Scholastic due April 7th

Thanks, everyone! Enjoy the sunshine!

Looking at the week ahead...

Hello everyone,

It is going to be a great week! We go to Fort Langley tomorrow to step back into the past and learn about the history of BC and the Fur Trade!

Reminders:

**Please come dressed for the weather. Civvies are allowed, but please ensure that you are wearing sensible footwear and proper outer wear (if it is raining, be prepared with a jacket and a hood!).

**Please bring a lunch that does not require microwaving. Pack this lunch in a little day bag (no backpacks with big rollers!) to be stored in the Fort while we walk around. We'll eat at 12 and then have some time to play before we board the bus back to school to carry on our learning by planning the building of our own Fort!

** Cameras are welcome, but iPods and other electronics are not. It's a good idea to bring a book in your day bag for the bus ride!

• Tonight for homework, please continue to work on your Science Fair. I will collect a copy (not originals) of all student work on Friday to check in. Please be prepared.
• The spelling crossword (working with plurals) is due on Wednesday.
• Quinten, Dylan and Nan will be playing their Recorders in the assembly on Wednesday. Congratulations for reaching the Black Belt level!
  
• Spring Fair Bottle Drive on Friday (more civvies! more fun!) Bring three bottles for the Drive.
  
• Scholastic book orders are due on Tuesday, April 7th. Almost everyone is on to the Third book for 39 Clues -- it looks like a great one and Scholastic has a great deal.
  
• Decimal test on Wednesday, April 8th - be prepared to perform the four operations with decimals, as well as comparing, ordering and solving problems!

Thanks, everyone. Enjoy your evening!

Happy weekend!

We had a wonderful week together! Today we celebrated the hard work of four students: Zakia, Danesh, Jenny and Dillon. Min Jee deserves recognition for placing Second in the Legion essay contest! We have an incredibly talented class.

Please have a safe and happy weekend, and continue to work diligently on your Science Fair!

See you on Monday!

Thursday

I apologize it has taken me so long to post - my internet connection at home has been down.

Here are some reminders for tonight:
* Bring Library books
* Math (5G should complete pages 234, 235 and 236 in Jump -- class was given to work on this, so it is not as daunting as it looks!).
* Come in P.E. kit, pack uniform
* Science Fair!
* Read for 20 minutes (Book Report coming up!)
* Rugby in a.m.
* Return permission forms for Co-Currics

Here is a quick glance at the term ahead!

Fort Langley on Tues March 31 (Civvies - dress warmly!)
Fri April 3 - Bottle Drive -- civvies! Bring three bottles to donate
Fri April 10 - Good Friday - no school
Mon April 13 - Easter Monday - no school
Wed April 15 - Science Fair 5 p.m.
Fri April 24 - Grade 5 trip to Morven to learn about the exciting times ahead of us in Grade 6
Mon April 27 - Jeans Day! please bring $2 for the Children's Hospital
Wed April 29 - leave for Camp Squeah!! (return on Fri May 1)
Sat May 2 - Spring Fair
Thurs May 7 - BOOKtopia author talk at Kay Meek - Ben Mikalsen! Check out his website to the left to learn more about this famous author!
Mon June 1 - School photo - Number One uniform
Tues June 2 - 4/5 concert (after school)
Thurs June 11 - last day of school!

And we're off!

Welcome back to what is sure to be an excellent Third Term together! I enjoyed hearing about the adventures 5G students had, and tonight I will read their excellent third-person perspective stories!

Here are a few reminders for tonight:

• Come in P.E. kit and bring your uniform.
• Continue to work on your Science Fair.
• Complete the hot-pink Analogies Spelling homework.
• Read for 20 minutes to prepare for an upcoming Book Report!

Thanks, everyone! Have a wonderful night!

It's the final countdown!

The students of 5G have been working intensely to complete out Second Term units of study. Congratulations for an amazing term!

Tonight, students have quite a lot to do!

• Come to school in the morning.
• Return Problem Solving test with Parent signature if not yet done so.
  
• Scholastic orders final due date.
  

Thank you and good night!

Tuesday

Hi all,

• Please remember to come in your sharp Number One uniform tomorrow for our Class Photo!
• We will be having Spirit in the afternoon - pack those House Socks if you have them!
• Problem Solving tests must be signed tonight and returned for Ms. Gould.

Thank you!

Last week before March Break!

Hello all,

The weather has been funny up on the mountain today, but the rain has held off to reveal a beautiful day!

Here is the homework for tonight:

• Wrestling is canceled tomorrow morning.
• P.E. is canceled tomorrow - please come to school in regular uniform.
• Rugby is on - those boys and girls can bring their P.E. strip to change into.
• Spelling sheet on consonant blends with 'h' due tomorrow.
• Read for 20 minutes.
• Get your Rodeo Day costume in order -- Friday is going to be a great day!
• Any Math homework that needs to be completed for sets tomorrow.
• Sign and return Problem Solving test for Ms. Gould.
• Last call for Scholastic orders - please return by Thursday.
  
• Reminder: no after school daycare on Friday - happy March break to all! :)
  

Thank you and good night!

Thursday night homework

Pink Shirt Day was a huge success! We saw some great skits and heard some powerful writing about the symbolism behind letting your actions speak louder than your words during this event. Mr. Hatch came by to take some photos and he even had a few moments to hear Min Jee's wonderful essay.

5G had a science quiz today, and this very likely highlighted the areas students still need to study. Not many students have been taking advantage of Study Hall to further their understanding. I will remind you that it is your responsibility to learn. Use the resources that are available to you!

Homework:

• Math (5G should complete Thousandths page and "Decimals are different"). We had a short quiz today reviewing basic fraction skills. Be sure to share your results at home!
  
• Come in P.E kit and bring proper uniform.
  
• Return Library books.
• Bring recorders.
• Review for Poetry (test on Monday).
• Review for Science (test on Wednesday). Tonight, why not focus on the two methods of digestion. Aim to understand!
• Be happy!

Good night, 5G!
Feel better soon, Scott!

Public Speaking Celebration AND Lucky Stiff - all in one day!

Wow - what a day! 5G was superbly behaved all day, and I am so proud to be their teacher!

Tonight, students will complete pages 31 and 32 in their Digestive System orange booklet. We began this together as a class today, and this should provide a useful review for a top secret pop quiz tomorrow.

We are celebrating Pink Shirt Day tomorrow! The pink shirts will be handed out to each student tomorrow morning, so that we present a united front to stand up against bullying. The power of solidarity is astounding, and I know that this symbolic event will be a great moment in our on-going journey of development. Check an upcoming issue of the North Shore News to see the shining faces of Grade 5! Reminder - students can wear civvies on the bottom tomorrow.

There is a Problem Solving quiz tomorrow, and to fully prepare for this, students should complete the package for Ms. Gould. This package is also due tomorrow!

We celebrated the achievements of our Silver medal winners today - Sofia, Zakia and Mikayla! Congratulations, ladies!

Thank you, 5G! Have a great evening!

Tuesday night reminders

Hello all,

The Boys and Girls Basketball teams were away at the CAIS celebration today, so 5G was running at a pretty low number! We spent some time reviewing number sense by playing some increasingly difficult number games (and in the process we reviewed some geometry vocabulary and the concept of digital roots). Fraction Bingo capped off a fun math-filled day.

Homework tonight:

• Come in sharp Number One uniform. Spirit is canceled tomorrow, so your bags should be lighter!
• Quiz yourself by labeling the diagrams you have (the yellow booklet). Aim for comprehension - so be able to explain the path of the important substance (food or air) through the body! Practicing this will ensure that you can accurately label and understand any diagram, rather than just memorizing the order!
• Complete your Problem Solving package for Ms. Gould by Thursday. You have a Problem Solving quiz on Thursday!
  
• Invest some time reviewing fractions if that unit was a challenge for you. Choose one skill to focus on each night (converting improper fractions to mixed numbers, simplifying answers, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions). You can make up the two or three terms you need to practice. Learning takes patience and perseverance, 5G, so aim for success and practice away until these skills become natural. It is possible that it may take months for you to fully master these fractions skills, and that is okay! Rome wasn't built in a day.
  
• Watch the Habs beat the Canucks (Ha ha, that one was for you, Victor!)
  

Good night, 5G! Keep smiling!

Thursday

Hello everyone,

I am so happy to be the teacher of such a great group of people! It has been an amazing week - the speeches on Monday, our Digestion System plays today (were you the stomach, the liver, the small intestine or the large intestine?) and the Parent-Teacher Interviews tonight have all been fantastic!

I hope that Jay is feeling better soon, and that Dylan and Quinten enjoy the interior. We'll miss you three boys tomorrow!

Here are a few reminders for tonight:

• Math: 5G should complete the Hundredths page in the "Delightful Decimal" booklet
• Science: Respiratory review sheet - practice your fill-in-the-blank skills!
• Jump Rope for Heart tomorrow - bring pledge forms
• Be dressed in P.E. kit
• Bring Number One uniform for Judging 1:30 - 3:00
• Bring $5 or $10 for Australian Relief Fund tomorrow
• Music: written Recorder quiz tomorrow

Thank you!

Wednesday

What a beautiful day!

Here are a few helpful reminders for 5G tonight:

• Early dismissal on Thursday, February 20th -- Grade 5 is dismissed at 1:55 pm. Bus children will go to daycare until the regular bus to Morven departure time.
• Page 4. 2 in the Orange Digestion booklet should be completed tonight for homework.
• Speech judging is on Friday, so students should be practicing every night. Focus on great eye contact in the mirror, the intonation of your voice and strength of delivery.

Good night!

Tuesday

Good morning, 5G!

I would like to post a few reminders, as I will be away today:

• 5G math set homework: Ensure that pages 222-225 are complete in your Jump book. (Two of those pages should have been completed in class today).
• Complete Page 5 in your orange Digestive System booklet. The information you need to complete this is found on Page 4.
• Please come in proper Number One uniform in the morning, with your House shirt for the House Assembly in the morning. Pack Spirit wear for the afternoon.
• Be working away on your Jump Rope for Heart pledges - the envelope is due on Friday, February 20th!
• Friday, February 20th is Ivanhoe Grammar Relief Day in honour of the tragedy of the terrible fires in Australia. On this day, students are asked to bring in either a $5 or $10 bill that will be sent to one of our fellow Round Square schools, Ivanhoe Grammar.
  

Enjoy your day, and I am looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday morning!

Monday, Monday

Thank you so much for your support today in our Speech Celebration. The students of 5G blew me away with their amazing delivery, confident voices and command of timing. Their hard work certainly shone through today, and I am excited for Friday!

Tonight for homework, students should complete the K section of the KWL chart in the orange Digestion booklet. The Respiratory and Digestion test will be held on Friday, February 27th. 5G has the Respiratory component nailed, and I am confident that they will succeed!

The blue Poetry booklet also came home tonight, so that students can begin reviewing for their Poetry test on Thursday, February 26th. It is imperative that students understand the meaning of various poetic devices, including smilies, metaphors, alliteration, onomatopoeia and hyperbole.

After you have read a good novel for 20 minutes your homework is complete!

Thank you again for such wonderful work today - I'm off to the swim meet tomorrow, so I'll see you on Wednesday (House Assembly day!)

The end of the Respiration unit is near!

We have had a great time learning about the process of respiration and the path of air through the body. Bill Nye the Science Guy's movie was informative and we will cap it all off tomorrow by building a model of the lungs with a plastic water bottle. Please bring in any extra small bottles! Thank you! This will really drive home the role of the diaphragm in breathing.

The focus of tonight should be preparing for the Math test and practicing Speeches. 5G is excited to host our parents on Monday, February 16th at 1:45 pm!

In our quest for organization, everyone did a fabulous job of filling in their month overviews in their agendas. 5G - keep on track by referring to it often!

We will have a small Valentine's Day celebration tomorrow afternoon. I ask that if you chose to bring in Valentine's Day, that you include everyone! Ms. Gretzinger is preparing a special (tasty) treat for everyone tomorrow! We will also celebrate by making posters for the upcoming "Pink Shirt Day" on Thursday, February 26th. Details will follow, but for now, here are some links for you to learn more about this exciting event!

http://www.pinkshirtday.ca/

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/09/18/pink-tshirts-students.html

Wednesday, February 11th

Winter is back, but hopefully not for long! We are going to build a model of a lung tomorrow, so it would be great if students could bring in small plastic water bottles for our Science block in the afternoon. I'll bring in some extras, as well!

The Math test on Friday is quickly approaching, so I recommend that students spend some time reviewing by practicing a few questions of each operation, varying between whole numbers, mixed numbers and improper fractions for a challenge!

Enjoy your evening!

Tuesday!

It was a very busy day today, and it's great to be back. We celebrated Pirooz's and Quinten's birthday today - they both had their special day on Sunday! Tonight for homework:

• 5G Math - complete page 97 in your Multiplication and Division booklet
• Science - complete the page describing the path of air through the body. We are really getting into the unit now, and it is important that students understand the vocabulary and process of the Respiratory System.
• Come in a sharp Number One uniform, and bring proper Spirit wear
• Speeches are all on cue cards now, and fully memorized. Work on incredible delivery!

Have a great evening - see you in the morning!

Friday!

What a beautiful day! I hope that you all have a wonderful and safe long weekend that is filled with many moments of laughter, relaxation and love.

There are a few pressing academic events coming up, so while I hope you enjoy your break, I also hope that you spend some time reviewing addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions (that includes knowing how to handle mixed numbers, improper fractions and whole numbers!). Twenty minutes a day of review will help you immensely for your test!

It is imperative that you practice your speech, and thankfully you can do that anywhere (driving up to Whistler, on a lovely walk through your neighbourhood or even in the bath!). I am so excited to hear the final product next week!

Enjoy your weekend, 5G, and thank you for such a wonderful week together!

Thursday

We had a great day today - the fresh spring-like air really filled up our lungs today (as our diaphragm contracted and expanded our rib cage to allow our lungs to fill with air, right 5G?!). We are really in the full swing of our Respiratory unit now, and our heart rate lab today was really informative!

Here are a few reminders for tonight:

• Get Circulatory test signed, and return.
• Any Math set homework (multiplication time!)
• Problem Solving is due for Ms. Gould tomorrow
• Music homework is due on Tuesday
  
• Come in P.E. kit, and bring your uniform!
• Enjoy a good novel for 20 minutes or so
  

Speeches are really coming along, and I am so excited for the children to showcase their speeches. It is so important to practice speaking in front of a mirror, maintaining strong eye contact (that means memorization!) and speaking with wonderful intonation, emphasis and flow. Smiling when you speak will help your speech sound lively and interesting. Let the speech flow, and don't be afraid to have some fun!

See you in the morning! :)

Monday

Happy Monday!

The flu is making its rounds through the school, so it is very important to get a great sleep, eat healthy foods, drink lots of water and to wash hands frequently! 5G is a great class, and I want you all to be healthy!

For homework tonight, students will complete "Activity Two" in the Respiratory System booklet Labeling a Diagram of the lungs. Please use the answers from "Activity One" to help you complete this. This is going to be a fun and easy unit, connecting the ideas we learned in the Circulatory System to the actual process of acquiring oxygen through the lungs. It is important to review the new knowledge often to ensure success in the unit.

Tomorrow, students will come to school in their P.E. kit, bring recorders, pack their uniform and also bring an old shirt for the Pig Heart Dissection (!!) at 11:00 am. Parents - interested in joining? Come on in!

Problem Solving will be due on Friday, February 6th. Students who have missed today due to illness or the basketball game are still responsible for completing this work!

Today, 5G was very lucky to listen to a presentation from Grade 6 students Safir and Zoe. These model students outlined for the class what they can expect from the transition to Morven. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to ask me as we go through the year.

Have a wonderful and healthy night! Ms. Gretzinger's brothers, sister and nephew are here from Ontario - woo hoo!

Homework

We ran through many speeches today, and the children sound amazing! It is really important to practice these speeches to the point of memorization, so that you can really showcase your writing with confident eye contact and expression!

** Students must bring speeches each day until the Finals**

• 5G Math homework: Jump page 219 and return your Math test with a parent signature.
• Please make sure that you are prepared for Music in the morning with your recorder and black binder.

Enjoy your night!

Overview of the current Math Unit

To help guide your thinking, here is an overview of the math unit we have just begun:

• Finding Least Common Denominators
• Adding and Subtracting Fractions
• Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
• Applying your knowledge in word problems

This unit will be assessed within the next few weeks (the test date has not yet been determined). It is imperative that students seek help in understanding this material as we move along in the unit - not the day before the final test! All four teachers are here to help!

February at a Glance

February is going to be a great month, and here is an overview for your records at home:

• Tuesday, February 3rd: Pig Heart Dissection
• Wednesday, February 4th: Ms. Gretzinger away at a swim meet
• Monday, February 9th: Mid-term break - no school
• Monday, February 16th: Parents invited to 5G for a Speech Celebration! 1:40 - 3:10
• Tuesday, February 17th: Ms. Gretzinger away at a swim meet
• Thursday, February 19th: Early dismissal 1:55 pm. Parent-Teacher Interviews in the afternoon
  
• Friday, February 20th: Jump Rope for Heart. 5G Speech in-class judging 1:30-3:00
• Monday, February 23rd: Grade 5 Speech semi-finals at 11:50
• Thursday, February 26th: Poetry Test

Making blood

I spy with my little eye....

Most people may see water, food colouring, popcorn, Cherrios and marshmallows, but I know that 5G sees the four parts of BLOOD!

Can you correctly name the parts of blood, and their important jobs?
Of course you can!

Happy Monday!

Hello from the library,

What a beautiful day! My meeting is on a break so I thought I'd post a few reminders for tomorrow:

* P.E. kit in the morning - please pack your uniform.
* Study for Math (test on Tuesday)
* Study for Science (test on Thursday) -- there is a great link to the left (Science textbook quiz) that could be a great way to prepare!

I hope you had a great day with our supply, Ms. Scott and I am looking forward to being back with 5G tomorrow!

Homework

With the two tests next week, homework tonight mostly consists of studying. We had two Science quizzes today - the labeling of the heart was returned today for studying purposes (many children achieved perfect - well done, 5G!), and the larger one (longer essay explaining the path of blood through the body) will hopefully be returned by tomorrow.

Come in P.E. kit and bring your recorders! C'est tout!

Congratulations to Scott, Quinten and Dylan for winning house points this afternoon for their fantastic (and spontaneous) cleaning of the classroom!

Blog Face Lift

Our classroom got a fancy makeover, and so too has our blog!

I've left the position of everything the same so that you can still find the great poll and valuable links to the left, but the tranquil lighthouse is a nice change for the new year. On the main page you will only see posts from the last 20 days (this should decrease the loading time on your computer screen), and to see older entries simply click on the "Older Posts" link on the bottom right hand side of the page.

Thank you!

Children have to be educated, but they have also to be left to educate themselves.
Abbé Dimnet, Art of Thinking, 1928

Happy Wednesday!

It is so beautiful to be above the clouds here at Wentworth! The sun in shining and our spirits are bright. We have been working so hard in the Circulatory, Poetry and Fractions units since the holiday, and the knowledge really is being showcased here in 5G. Please feel free to stop by to see the great work we've been up to!

On Monday, January 26th, the rough copy of the speech is due. This will provide us with good material with which to work to prepare for the in-class judging and the parents event. Details of this will be posted this week.

On Tuesday, January 27th, there will be a Fractions Test in Math Sets. Students should know how to create equivalent fractions, demonstrate knowledge of fractions with diagrams (correctly drawn!), change between mixed numbers and improper fractions and understand how to get a fraction of a whole number (what is 1/4th of 16?). Discuss with your math teacher to get more details!

On Thursday, January 29th, we will celebrate our hard work in Science with a Circulatory Test. A proper review for this will be sent home soon, but in the meantime, please ensure that you know the function of the circulatory system, the names and jobs of the different parts of blood and the path of blood through the body (be sure to use words like -- upper and lower vena cava, left and right atria and ventricles, pulmonary veins and arteries, the aorta and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide). Act it out, draw it out, trace it out on your body -- you can do it!! Remember the goals we made at the beginning of the year - ask yourself what it means to meet expectations, and then what kind of answer may exceed expectations? Expect the best from yourself because you are all very smart young people!

Scholastic orders are due on Thursday, January 29th.

The Aquarium trip is quickly approaching - I am so excited! Friday, January 30th is going to a wonderful time to learn and have fun together!

This is looking far into the future, but we will also test the Poetry unit during the week of February 16th (exact date to be determined). 5G knows that the best way to study is to understand and review knowledge on a DAILY basis - not the night before! So now is the time to really nail down the difference between similes and metaphors. 5G works like busy bees in the hive (I used "like" so it's a simile!). The puppet show in assembly was a ray of sunshine in my day (it wasn't really - I was connecting two concepts without "like" or "as" - it's a metaphor!) Being prepared will help you get the most from your learning and decrease your stress level. Also don't forget that the entire staff of Wentworth is here to help you achieve your best, so tak to any of us to help you manage your time, understand concepts or just for a chat!

Tonight for homework:

• Math
• Science: Circulatory booklet -- Complete "Don't miss the boat". We will have a small quiz tomorrow using this exact concept, so be sure to complete it thoroughly!
• Bring your recorder to prepare for Music class on Friday.
• Boy's basketball practice at 6:45 am and a home game tomorrow after school! GO CAVS GO!
• Be happy.

Homework

What a day! We began our poetry unit in full force today by studying the poetic devices similes, metaphors, alliteration and onomatopoeia. Tonight for homework, students will analyze their favourite song lyrics for poetic element (to be completed on the given page). Students are welcome to bring music in tomorrow to share with the class (optional, of course!)

Please wear your P.E. kit and bring your uniform to change into.

See you in the morning! :)

Homework

Hello everyone!

We had a really fun day today making 5 L of blood (actually how much we have in our bodies!), and learning even more about the job of blood cells. I'll post a photo of this later tonight when I get home. To keep the knowledge of the day fresh, tstudents need to complete two pages from the Circulatory Booklet for homework- one sheet will require the Science Probe textbook, Section 5.3 "Your Blood and What it Does", and the back of that page is also due tomorrow "The Blood". It won't take too long, and will be a great way to reinforce what we covered in class!

Please bring your Recorders to school tomorrow for Music class (you will have to bring this every Friday). Come dressed in P.E. and pack your uniform for the rest of the day.

Math homework is recorded individually in the agendas, and 5G needs to complete pages 199-202 in the Jump book. Math tests need to be signed and returned.

There is a Spelling quiz tomorrow, and we had class time today to review for this. I know that everyone is going to soar on this one! :)

Good night!

Mid unit review

Can you find the atria and ventricles of the heart on this diagram?
Would you be able describe how these heart parts function?
Can you label the septum, and describe its role in the heart?
Can you trace the path of blood through the heart?
Can you explain why some arrows are blue and some are red?


Well then, I'd say you are right on track for great success with this unit!

(If you are looking for some help with these questions, please come to study hall and find out!)

Helpful website: http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/heart.html

Understanding the path of blood through your heart and body

This is important! And challenging, so hold tight and keep trying!

The heart has four chambers (or rooms). You need to remember that the flow of blood is very logical -- as the blood enters the heart after its long and treacherous journey through the body, it does not have much oxygen left. It needs to enter the lungs to acquire more oxygen! It then enters the heart and gets one push pump out into the body to travel around again.

Check out this link for an easy diagram!

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/anatomy/heart/labelinterior/label.shtml

Please be sure to complete the page in your Circulatory System booklet - How the Circulatory System Works so we are fully ready to MAKE BLOOD in class tomorrow! :)

*****other homework*****

• Read for 20 minutes.
• Complete Math homework.
• Return Aquarium form tomorrow

Good night!

Tuesday

Just a few reminders for tonight:

• Number One uniform in the morning - please being Spirit wear! :) Boots, gloves and hats are still important!

• Math homework for 5G - get test signed and complete pages 177 and 178 in Jump. It is important to understand the use of variables when making your equations! Fractions are around the corner, so you can also practice reducing fractions to sharpen your skills.

• Spelling words on the blue page -- please excuse the hand writing, but the printers are down and this was the next best option!

• Important sheets coming in - hot lunch (by 14th), aquarium (by 15th), Better Life coffee (by 16th), Scholastic orders (by 29th).

• Read for 20 minutes - check out the Lightning Thief by Riordan - it's an incredible read!

Thank you!

Countdown to Family Literacy Day -- January 27th

There are only 14 days until the 10th anniversary of Family Literacy Day! This holiday was created to encourage the unique learning that can occur when children read with the important adults in their lives, and you can participate, too!

To learn more about the event, go to the official site: http://www.abc-canada.org/en/family_literacy/family_literacy_day

To learn more about how West Vancouver is celebrating this event at the library, go to their site! http://www.westvanlib.org/

The mayor will be reading to the crowd at 10:30 am to help break a world record -- will you be a part of the group??

Welcome back!

It was so great to see 5G again today after our long and relaxing vacation! We made some New Years Resolutions as a class to focus the remainder of our year together...

• think of others
• get involved
• choose to be kind
• read more/think more

These broad goals can be interpreted widely, and are in addition to our on going academic goals of being an active learner in the curriculum, being organized and improving our cursive writing skills.

We got straight into routine with our Spelling program this morning. The words this week are from our Circulatory System unit as well as our Making Words program (with a focus on prefixes and suffixes). There will be a spelling quiz on Friday, January 16th. These words are coming home Tuesday evening on a blue sheet for home practice.

A few reminders:

• P.E. in the morning - please come to school in your full P.E. kit and pack your uniform.
• There is still snow up here on the mountain, so it is really important to bring snow boots, gloves, hats and proper jackets!
• Hot lunch forms are due on Wednesday, January 14th.
• Aquarium sleep over forms are due on Thursday, January 15th.
• Yellow Better Life coffee forms are due on Friday, January 16th.
• Begin thinking of a speech topic!
• Read for 20 minutes (book report assignment coming soon!)

Snow Day!

We had a great morning together and were able to exchange gifts with our buddies - 5G made bookmarks with thoughtful acrostic poems to encourage a love for reading in their Grade Two friends.

The snow is really coming down now, though, and the decision to end school early was a good one. The world is breathtakingly beautiful from up here on the mountain, but getting down in the weather is best done earlier rather than later! Hopefully our day tomorrow can still happen, as we have a great church service planned for the morning. I will post it on the blog and send out an e-mail if tomorrow is canceled due to the weather conditions. It will, of course, also be on the school website.

Reminders:

• Please wear Number One uniform in the morning for the service.
• The Hot Lunch forms need to be returned by January 14th.
• Have lots of fun in the snow tonight!

Good night, 5G, and thank you for being so awesome!

The final week

5G was buzzing today in anticipation of the great fun ahead for us all in the next few weeks. The snow at recess made it all even more exciting! The kids have kept their cool, so to speak, and buckled down to begin learning about the Circulatory System (how the heart pumps blood through the body, the difference between veins, arteries and capillaries and what blood is made of). We will not complete this unit until after the break, but learning about it now combined with playing some games over the break will help 5G achieve great success with this challenging material.

Tomorrow is a busy day:

• Boys Wrestling practice at 7:45 am
• P.E. in the morning - everyone must come to school in full P.E. kit and ensure they have outside shoes or boots for recess. Gloves and toques are also a good idea in this cold weather.
• Math test on time, temperature and graphing
• Secret Santa and class party in the afternoon - pack your pajamas!

One last thing -- somewhere in this bunch of 29 cute kids are Ms. Gretzinger and Brad in Grade One. Can you spot us?

The last school weekend of 2008

The snow and cold did not dampen the fun in 5G as we watched one of the plays (well done, Group 1 - you portrayed the meaning of Christmas beautifully!), made bookmarks for our Grade 2 Buddies and just rode the excitement of yesterday's wonderful performance. Pictures of the concert will be included in our quickly approaching December in Review slideshow. Thank you so much for coming last night to be a part of such a beautiful concert - those smiling kids on stage surely made us all proud!

Enjoy your weekend together as we put the finishing touches on the year. The yellow Problem Solving duotang is due on Monday for Ms. Gould, so please make sure that you have completed all of the work! Choir is canceled on Monday, so choir kids - please remember to ask your parents to pick you up at regular dismissal time. There is a math test on Tuesday -- time, temperature and graphing! I am so impressed with your Secret Santa thoughtfulness - I know that Tuesday will be full of surprises and thankfulness.

Thank you, and good night.

Wednesday!

As the term draws to a close, the hearts in 5G are getting lighter! We rehearsed for the performance tomorrow and the kids (and teachers) sounded wonderful. Tomorrow is going to be a fun day, and these reminders may help us:

--Please bring black pants for the performance tomorrow. You may come to school in the black pants, but bring your grey uniform pants to change into so that your costume stays clean for tomorrow night. Students will come to school again at 5:30 pm on Thursday night in the black pants, and the performance is expected to finish at 7:30 pm. Tonight, your homework is to get a good nights sleep to get ready for the day!

- 5G will be making their wish lists for the holidays at the Book Fair tomorrow morning, so feel free to stop by the library while you are at school for the concert!

Good night!

Tuesday, December 9th

What a great day - the kids began their Wonderful, Exciting Book of Christmas Awesomeness (also known as their Christmas booklet), and there are many brain teasers, crossword puzzles and Mad Libs to keep us busy in these next few days. The group Christmas plays are coming together nicely and I am excited to see the final product later in the week (but please remember to only work on the script when your whole group is with you - so don't be working away on tonight by yourself!)

Tonight, please sign and return the Skeletal and Muscular Systems test. Question 19 was the most challenging question for most children, as it required students to put together all of the knowledge they learned over the entire unit. Good quality answers included information from each of the smaller parts we covered - bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments, joints and whether or not the action of walking was voluntary (we came up with some gross consequences if walking was, in fact, involuntary!) Please look over this test with your child, and sign on the front.

A few reminders:

• Number One uniform in the morning and Spirit clothes for the afternoon. the forecast is rain, rain and more rain, so pack your full tracksuit in case the P.E. department decides to hold Spirit outside.

• There were TWO indoor recesses today, so if the rain stops it would be a good idea to go outside and play to make sure that you get some fresh air today! Skipping rope and hop scotch are two easy and quick ways to get your heart pumping and your lungs filled with that wonderful west coast air.

Good night!

Monday, Monday

What a day -- we've been busy making Christmas plays, learning a new language (Rebus!) and surfing our way through the pre-holiday madness! It is going to be a really fun week, and there are just a few reminders to be aware of.

• No need for P.E. kit - Gym class will not be held tomorrow because of the K/1 dress rehearsal in the morning. Students - please come in your regular uniform, and be sure to bring sensible outerwear - jackets are a must in December!

• Thursday, December 11th - the big day!! I am really excited to see those adorable 5g faces up on stage on Thursday night - please remember to bring black pants and smiles.

• Tuesday, December 16th - the other big day!! Secret Santa gift exchange and class party.

Enjoy your night!

Homework

Students are likely putting some final touches on their review for the Science test tomorrow. Good luck tomorrow, 5G - I'm sure you'll achieve great success!!

There may be math homework in the sets tonight, as the unit test is on Tuesday, December 16th. Reviewing time in both 12 and 24 hour clock formats and the very tricky elapsed time concept is recommended!

The festive store is tomorrow at 11:15, so please remember your shopping bag and money!

Vancouver Aquarium Sleepover

Coming home with your child tonight is an informational package (with a blue cover) detailing the Vancouver Aquarium sleep over opportunity on Friday, January 30th .This is an optional activity, and comes at additional cost. I went along last year and the experience was tremendously exciting. We spent the evening on a private guided tour of the exhibits and had a delicious and healthy bed time snack before falling asleep to the peaceful sounds of the Beluga whales as the graceful creatures floated past the viewing windows. It was truly breathtaking! Note to parents -- if you are able to join us, then please do, but I recommend bringing a small air mattress to sleep on under your sleeping bag -- the floor nearly did me in last year!

Today

We had loads of fun today building an arm out of popsicle sticks and understanding the relationship between biceps and triceps in movement. The yellow information sheet came home along with the actual arm model for your continued fun!

Tonight, please complete page one of the prefix booklet - looking at the meaning of uni-, bi- and tri- when placed in front of a root word.

Math homework was likely assigned today - in my math set, students should complete both sides of the blue sheet about graphing. Math test on Tuesday, December 16th will cover time (12 and 24 hour clocks), temperature and graphing.

Please come to school in Number One uniforms and pack your Spirit wear (along with a full track suit).

Reminders:
****Festive Store on Thursday, December 4th****
****Scholastic Book Fair on Thursday, December 11th****
****4/5 Choir Performance on the evening of Thursday, December 11th****
****Secret Santa gift exchange on Tuesday, December 16th ****

Thank you!

Homework

The primary focus this week is reviewing for the Science test. Tonight, I encourage students to think about how the skeletal and muscular systems work together to facilitate movement -- how exactly do they achieve this? Your answer would be thorough and have correct language.

Problem Solving homework from Ms. Gould: Finish the two questions in your yellow duotang.

Please read for 20 minutes and be sure to record the information in your agenda.

Enjoy your night!

November in Review

What a month!

The beautiful views of the ocean are actually from our classroom -
just in case you are visiting our blog from another city!

Friday, November 28

Happy weekend!

It was a great week (the four days I was healthy enough to be here for), and the countdown is on for the remainder of 2008! Here are a few reminders for our last few weeks together...

• Project H.A.N.D.S. is underway with its House penny drive! Please bring in any loose pennies you have laying around and add them to your house jar in the foyer!

• Science test on Thursday -- review!

• The French DVD should be watched four times a week for 10 minutes a day - please mark down these viewings in the agenda and sign for Mme. Keiser.
  

• Please return any outstanding library books on Monday.

• The Festive Store is on Thursday, December 4th. Be sure to come to school with a large shopping bag with handles for all of your purchases. Cash should be brought to school in a Ziploc bag with your name clearly labeled. The checklist at the bottom of the pale green notice sent home last week should also be in the bag. Thank you!

• Our Scholastic Book Fair is on Thursday, December 11th. We saw a presentation from Mrs. Narwal today about two of her favourite books - Loser by Jerry Spinelli and 39 Clues Book One! Both are excellent books, and would be wonderful considerations at the Book Fair!

• The red notice sent home today details our Secret Santa endeavour. There is a $15 limit to the exchange (no limit on creativity or thoughtfulness), and we will open the secret gifts on Tuesday, December 16th. We brainstormed today what the word "secret" meant, so I'm sure that the surpise won't be spoiled!!

Enjoy your weekend!

Voluntary and Involuntary Muscle Lab

The best way to learn, is to do!

The Science lab about muscle types is a great way to solidify knowledge about involuntary and involuntary muscles (and those muscles that could be classified as both!). This activity can be done in front of a mirror with a timer. Enjoy! We'll share the results tomorrow. The lab is in your Muscle booklet!

The hot pink review sheet is a useful tool to prepare for the test - please practice your note taking skills, cue card strategy and acting out your answers through songs and movements to really understand the material!

Here is that catchy review you performed a few weeks ago!

Spelling quiz tomorrow, and math sets very likely have math homework.

Basketball and Wrestling should come to school with both their uniforms and full P.E. kit.

Thank you!

Homework tonight!

Tonight...

• Last call for Operation Christmas Child (due tomorrow)
• Problem Solving tests must be returned with a signature tomorrow
• Study spelling for a quiz on Thursday
• Science Muscular booklet -- two sheets in the booklet will be completed tonight - Masses of Muscles and The Muscle Mystery
• Math homework (5G math will make corrections on the Elapsed Time Quiz and two-digit multiplication quiz)

See you in the morning in your gorgeous Number Ones and with Photo Retake smiles!

(handsome models)

Taking French to a new level

I love sitting in when Mme. Keiser is teaching French with 5G, and am always impressed with the level of both skill and knowledge. I would love for each and every student to be fully bilingual (so that they may go on to become Prime Minister), and part of that process is fully immersing yourself in the language.

I wandered into Sophia Books downtown over the weekend, and was impressed by the selection of French short stories and novels for children. It is well worth it to explore, and reading a French book or two would be a wonderful New Year's resolution! The store is on West Hastings, and here is the link to their site: http://www.sophiabooks.com/

The library is a wonderful resource for French material, and achieving success in this subject is much like any other endeavor - you will get out of your learning what you are willing to put in!

Here are some interesting websites that may also be of interest to you if you are looking to review foundational concepts or to extend your knowledge:

Basic review: http://www.hello-world.com/French/EN_French.php

Learning French through games: http://fslactivities.ca/kidsplayground/index.html

Learning about Canada (in French!): http://www.museevirtuel.ca/Francais/index_flash.html

Enjoy!

Language Arts class

Hi 5G,

You will need this website to complete our Language Arts lesson today on the laptop cart. Pay careful attention to the Exercise Number on the handout! You will need to click on the red "Interactive Exercise" link for each exercise we complete in class.

http://www.chompchomp.com/exercises.htm

Homework

We had a great day today, and I know that this week will be a fun one. Tonight, students should sort and copy their spelling words on the yellow sheet. That sheet is yours to keep at home for studying throughout the week.

Students can take home their green Science binder and textbook to study with, but it is so important to return it to school each day. Review sheet to follow this week, but in the meantime, here are some websites to explore in addition to the links to your left:

http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/muscles.html

http://yucky.discovery.com/noflash/body/pg000123.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/10348/

The yellow Problem Solving duotang is coming home tonight to be completed by Monday, December 1 for Ms. Gould. The problem solving test is coming home tonight, so be sure to review that this evening. Reading clues is so important, and practice makes perfect. Please sign the test tonight by Wednesday at the latest -- if our entire class brings it back on time, Ms. Gould promises 5G a class treat. There is a bright red P.S. information package coming home tonight as well, so please read it to gain more knowledge about the program and strategies this year. That is for you to keep!

P.E. in the morning, so students should come in a full tracksuit and bring their uniform to change into -- even if you have floor hockey at lunch.

Thank you!

Spelling

This week, students are learning about the long "e" and long "i" differences in sounds when the letter "y" is present at the end of a word. The study is further divided into parts of speech. This means that the words can be sorted into four categories - verbs (all long "i" sounding words), nouns, adjectives and adverbs (the last three word parts are all long "e" sounds at the end of the word).

Students will be working in class to spell these words correctly, as well as the rules for changing the applicable words into plural and past tense variations. Your help at home is, as always, appreciated. Quiz on Thursday, November 27th.

Long i
verb
try
certify
apply
occupy
rely

Long e
noun
celery
candy
gypsy
quarry
country
cemetery
category
copy

Long e
adjective
happy
pretty
guilty
angry
silly

Long e
adverb
happily
correctly
clearly
safely
horribly
hourly
certainly
sensibly

TGIF

We made it! It is hard to believe that so much of November has passed, and that our December events are approaching so quickly.

Today in Art class, students created beautiful wire sculptures after learning about American artist, Alexander Calder. The final pieces needed to be connected to nature in some way, and be able to stand freely. This exercise in balance was truly an exercise in patience, as some students discovered that wire could be a stubborn material to work with. Dedication and flexibility contributed to excellent final pieces. We are sorry we couldn't wish Matt a Happy Birthday in person today, so I hope he knows we were thinking about him!

Term One report cards are available on PCR tomorrow (Saturday). Term Two is going to be so great, and I have absolutely loved the beginning of our year together.

Looking ahead:

• Monday, November 24th: Operation Christmas Child due
• Tuesday, November 25th: Legacy
• Wednesday, November 26th: 5G runs assembly; Photo retake day
• Wednesday, December 3rd: 5G runs assembly
  
• Thursday, December 4th: Science test -- Skeletal and Muscular body systems
• Monday, December 8th: Saleema Noon presentation
• Thursday, December 11th: 4/5 Christmas concert (please have black dress pants for this event)
• Wednesday, December 17th: 5G runs assembly
  
• Thursday, December 18th: Last day of school - break begins at 3:20 pm!!

Wednesday

It was a really great House Assembly this morning, and our 5G host representative did an amazing job! Two of our students were celebrated for their incredible kindness in front of the entire school, and they deserve to be very proud!

We'll be back to completely hosting assemblies next week, so get your best presenting voices ready!

Tonight, students should study for their spelling quiz tomorrow. Just in case you can't find your words...

• skull
• maxilla
• scapula
• sternum
• rib
• ulna
• radius
• femur
• tibia
• phalanges
• metatarsals
• tarsals
• patella
• metacarpals
• carpals
• sacrum
• pelvis
• vertebrae
• humerus
• xyphoid process
• clavicle
• mandible
• where OR wear
• your OR you’re

The kids have been doing so well at learning where all of these bones are, and learning the correct spelling of these difficult words is part of this process! Write out each word several times, cut out some letters and rearrange them, make a song to help you remember a few of the more difficult ones -- what ever your strategy is, get to it tonight!

Math homework tonight across the board, and students should also be reading a good chapter book. It's always fun to read aloud and practice your fluency and expression so consider that to spice up your nightly reading if you are getting bored.

Enjoy your night!

Tim Horton kindness

I don't know who you are, but you are a good person who understands my love for a good fritter. Thank you very much to the mystery parent/student who delivered this tasty treat on the eve of report cards!

Tuesday, November 18th

Legacy was an amazing success this morning! Thank you so much to everyone who participated this morning, and I am looking forward to another great round tomorrow!

Tonight, students should complete the Bones Package - read the information about Joints and complete the assignment based on that knowledge, and then have some fun completing the other two fun sheets.

Tomorrow is a House Assembly, so students will wear their House t-shirts over their Number One uniform, and pack clothes for Spirit in the afternoon.

5BR Math kids - please get your math test signed!

That's all, folks!

Monday, Monday

Tonight, students should be preparing for the challenging spelling quiz this week (which will actually happen, by the way, because it is scheduled for Thursday and not our busy, busy Friday!) by reviewing the words and creating a poem (or two) using at least 8 of those words! We will publish them in a beautiful way tomorrow, so tonight just focus on getting your ideas down and having them sound great!

Please read for 20 minutes and record the title and author in your agenda.

Please come to school in your P.E. kit with full tracksuit, and pack your uniform to change into.

Our first Legacy morning is tomorrow - it's going to be great!

5G: Greatest Class in the History of Classes

Dear 5G,

You are an amazing class, and I am so proud of you for all of your hard work, creative ideas and exuberant energy this term! You have been incredible to teach, and I know that these last few weeks of 2008 are going to be wonderful!

Love,
Ms. Gretzinger

Enjoy your weekend!

Coats for Kids - Collingwood Charity Drive!

The approaching season is such a wonderful time to think about our lives and all we have been given, and what we can do to spread joy to others - to our families, friends and strangers. Joy is an incredible feeling, and when we are kind towards others it is multiplied exponentially.

There are so many ways to accomplish this goal, and this morning information was shared with me about another such opportunity. A family at our school, the Negus-Stevenson's are asking other families to donate gently used, clean coats and jackets to help children in need in the Vancouver area (downtown and the North Shore) stay warm this winter. For every coat/jacket donated, the Negus-Stevenson Family Trust will donate $25 to a maximum of $10,000 to Collingwood School (wow!). If this drive interests you and your family, bring your coats to the front lobby between now and December 1st!

Thank you!

Track Suits: Fact vs. Fiction

Should kids wear track suits in November when they come to school in P.E. kit (or at any point need to change into their P.E. kit)? Survey says: YES!!

The November weather is often unpredictable, and it is important that students are warm and dry to keep them operating at their very best. Wearing a track suit is an important part of that goal.

Tomorrow, students should come to school in P.E. kit in the morning (along with their track suit bottom and top). Students should pack their uniform to change into. Parents of boys in 5G - if you notice that your son is missing a pair of grey pants, they are in our class Lost & Found - I've shown the boys but no takers so far!)

Thank you for your help in keeping 5G'ers warm, healthy and happy.

Tonight

Hello all,

Underground to Canada novel study projects have been coming together so beautifully, and I am excited to see them in their final form tomorrow, Friday, November 14th. My last plea is to review the criteria of the assignment in the instruction book - it outlines EXACTLY how to achieve marks in each project, and today it became clear that some students have not been referring to the rubric to know the expectations exactly. For example, the Report Card assignment specifically requests details from the novel to support the choice of marks (to be included in detailed comment portion), and yet many students did not include ANY details from the book. Examples are always important!! Thank you for your on-going support and encouragement at home in keeping such detailed logs on the yellow contract. This has greatly helped your child to stay organized and accountable!

Please also return the yellow Better Life coffee forms tomorrow along with any Photo Retake Forms!

Enjoy the sunshine!

Wednesday, November 12th

Hello all,

Hope you enjoyed your long weekend, and that you are ready to rock for our short week together!

5G kicked off our assemblies with a bang - our presenters and hosts were incredible models for the rest of the school, and it will be an exciting process to develop our public speaking and leadership skills over the next few months.

Tonight, students should continue to review for the Math test tomorrow. The novel study project is due on Friday. We will have a large work period tomorrow to devote to the project. Remembrance Day submissions are due tomorrow - please sign the paperwork tonight and return to school in the morning. And lastly, Better Life coffee forms are due on Friday!

Phew!

Good night!

Thursday, November 6th

The presentation by the Vancouver Symphony at the Orpheum this morning was incredible! We journeyed through time to hear pieces of classical music that were truly breathtaking! The children were so well behaved, and certainly made me proud with their maturity.

Tonight, students should study for their spelling test by completing their word search. To continue our study of the human skeleton, students are going on a search-and-find in your household for examples of the two types of joints - hinge and ball-and-socket. Exploring is a much better way to understand than mere memorization!

Please come to school in your P.E. kit tomorrow (with your complete track suit as the weather has now turned much colder!), and pack your uniform to change into.

Good night!

Wednesday, November 5th

Just a few reminders for tonight...

• Number One uniform for the Symphony trip tomorrow morning. We will leave at 9 am, so there is no need to come early.
• There is a Problem Solving assessment in math class today, so students have one extra day of grace if they have not completed their math homework! It is so, so important to be practicing at home in preparation for the upcoming test.
• As it gets colder, please remember to wear track suit bottoms and tops when in P.E. strip. Please label these items with your name to help decrease confusion!
• Coming home tonight is a fun skeleton to build at home! These pieces look best when they are attached in a way that allows movement (so attaching the pieces with pipe cleaner, string or thumb tacks). Making this fun craft together will be a great way to reinforce the vocabulary of this unit, and will be a valuable hands-on resource for home review. In class we are discussing the function of some key bones...What does your skull protect? What does your spine protect? What does your rib cage protect? Food for thought....

Enjoy your night, and I am really excited for the symphony trip in the morning!

If we are to attain real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a war against war, we will have to begin with the children.

Mahatma Gandhi

Tuesday night homework

It ended up being a beautiful autumn day and it is a wonderful season to witness the changes around us. I sat near a girl on the bus this weekend who was discussing her New Year's plans - I was shocked! Thankfully, we are not there yet.

Tonight, the primary focus should be completing math homework and ensuring that basic skills like multi-digit multiplication problems...

5689
x 68

...are mastered, and that long division is beginning to make sense. Practice makes perfect!

Please also sign and return the Government test, read for 20 minutes and be prepared to wear your Number One uniform in the morning with your Spirit wear packed for the afternoon. Most children have completed the Problem Solving package for Ms. Gould, but if this is not yet done please make certain that you have it done for the morning! The more math you do, the more you will succeed!

Enjoy your evening, 5G!

Monday, November 3rd

The IMAX trip was a huge success this morning - The Human Body movie was a wonderful introduction to this fun unit! The Wild Ocean 3D movie was indeed wild - the kids had a great time trying to touch the beautiful dolphins and sharks as they came perilously close to our faces!

It would be a wise idea to continue thinking about skeletons tonight as the information is still fresh. If you are meat eaters, perhaps your dinner preparation could include a look at the bones! There are plenty of interesting websites for children to learn about the human skeleton in fun and interactive way - here is one for you to check out! http://42explore.com/skeleton.htm

Tonight, please review our spelling words for the quiz on Friday. We tried an exciting new form of spelling today - making words! The children received 12 letters and had to construct as many words as possible from those letters. It is a great way to learn about the addition of prefixes and suffixes to words to change meaning. The bonus word was difficult (no one was able to find it!), and the 25 words for this week are primarily from this exercise. 5 of the 25 words are inspired by the upcoming skeletal unit - it is full of challenging vocabulary and it best to get right into it!

Government unit tests are coming home tonight - please review, sign and return. The "Great Canadian" awards are yours to keep - congratulations to 5G for learning so much about Canada in this unit!

Continue the practice of reading a great novel for 20 minutes, please, and record the title and author.

Looking into November

Here is an outline of the month of November, as I know it so far!

• Monday, November 3rd: IMAX trip to see The Human Body and Wild Ocean. Please wear Number One uniform and pack a disposable snack. This will be a great kick-off to our Human Body: Human Skeleton unit.

• Wednesday, November 5th: Remembrance Day assembly. Number One uniform.

• Thursday, November 6th: Vancouver Symphony Trip. Please wear Number One uniform and pack a disposable snack.

• Monday, November 10th and Tuesday, November 11th: NO SCHOOL

• Wednesday, November 12th: 5G's first assembly day! We will be running the next eight assemblies for the school! :)

• Thursday, November 13th: Math test on place value, adding and subtracting with regrouping, multiplying, long division and some problems with money. Start studying now!

• Friday, November 14th: Novel study project due.

• Tuesday, November 18th: LEGACY RECYCLING DROP-OFF 7:30 - 8:30 AM
  

• Wednesday, November 19th: LEGACY RECYCLING DROP-OFF 7:30 - 8:30 AM
  

• Monday, November 24th: Operation Christmas Child due. Please be sure to include the $7 shipping fee - additional donations welcome in Ms. Brown's collection jar!

• Tuesday, November 25th: LEGACY GROUSE MOUNTAIN DROP-OFF 8:00 - 8:30 AM.

• Wednesday, November 26th: Photo retake day - get those fabulous smiles out!
  

October in Review

October was filled with wonderful moments in 5G, and I tried to capture a few of them! Here is a glance back through our second month together...

These things keep getting longer and longer... :)

Hallowe'en!

What a day! We had a wonderful time together, and credit needs to go to the amazing class parents of 5G for contributing their ideas, organization and time to make an incredible party for 5G! The donut eating was wild, the pumpkin relay was hilarious, the touch lab was disgusting (did anyone eat that vomit?!) and the picture frames and cookies were gorgeous.

Click here to see some photos from the day! Turn those speakers up! :)