Parents-
I wanted to take a few minutes and give you some of the highlights of Quarter 4.

Math – Currently, we are reviewing for the CST’s.  Please look at the project trees to see this semester’s  focus area.

Language arts – Reading-This semester we will be reading Bull Run.  Students may read this at home, as well as, read along with me at school.  Projects are based on knowledge of the book.  Writing– students will choose a note-able Civil War figure and write an expository essay.  (see syllabus)

History – Civil War (see syllabus)

• Check out Civil War biography from local library.
• April 24 – Students will present their Core Knowledge poems to Mr. Hamm.  3 students will be chosen to move ahead to  Thursday’s school-wide contest.
• April 25 – Grandparent’s Day!!!!  EARLY RELEASE 11:30
• May 6-11 – OTA will be taking the CST’s.  Please make sure your child is well rested and has had a good breakfast.

Parents,
As you know, Q3 officially ended last Friday. Because of the field trip last week, I extended the deadline to turn in projects until tomorrow, April 18. Please make sure that you look at your student’s project trees and discuss with them the projects they have turned in and the points they have earned.  I have met with students on a daily basis and have graded all projects for Q3.

If your student has not completed the minimum number of projects needed, you will see an Incomplete on their report card.  This means that although they may have done well on tests and quizzes, they did not complete enough projects to pass that subject area.

I have passed out the syllabi and project trees for Q4.  Please look over them with your children.  I am available to meet with you and your child to answer any questions you may have.

Thanks,

Jill Lehr

Parents-
Just a reminder that school will be closed both Friday and Monday.

The students have won a “Star party” that we have decided to combine with our Valentines celebration on Thursday, Feb. 12.  Your children will have a free dress day.  We plan to walk to Heritage park at 11:00 for a class kickball game, pizza and a Valentine exchange.  Carleen Heij, one of our room moms, will contact you with an updated class list.  Please make sure that if your student brings  Valentines, that they include everyone in the class.

Please send in $2.00 with your child tomorrow and I will order pizza to be sent to the park on Thursday.  You do not need to send lunch on Thursday, but you may send a drink and snack.  If you are available to help me transport goodies to the park, please let me know.

Thanks,   Jill Lehr

Thanks to our resident elves, A wonderful party has been planned for the fifth grade!!  We are planning crafts and games.
I have asked your child to bring in a wrapped book for a “book exchange” and a special holiday dish to share.

The celebration will begin at 12:15.  Parents are welcome!

Thanks,

Jill Lehr

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Parents,
I just wanted to update you all on my absence.

I am so sorry to have missed these last few days of school.  I will most likely be out the rest of this week, but should be back Monday.

The kids were promised a party for earning 25 stars!!  We planned it for last week, and had to postpone it until this Friday.  I do not want to disappoint them again. With your help, I would like for them to have their party from 11-11:45 on Friday.  I am having a small surgery on Thursday, and may or may not make it on Friday.  Tara and possibly Ericka will be there for a movie, games and snacks.  The students can volunteer to bring in snacks, popcorn and drinks to share during the party.

Thank you,

Jill

Fifth grade report cards for the first quarter went home today. Please take a moment to go over your child’s report card with them, sign the envelope, and return it to school.

OTA has scheduled 2 half days for November 29 and 30. I am available to meet with parents whenever necessary throughout the school year. If you would like to meet me on either of those half days, please let me know ASAP.

Thank you for a great first semester and for sharing your awesome kids with me.  They are a pleasure to work with!!!

Jill Lehr

Thanks for all of the parents who have volunteered to drive/chaperone.  We are set.  I have the following drivers:

Berblinger – 4 seats,  Bissel – 5 seats,  Gillooly – 4 seats,  Keller – 5 seats,  Luyties – 5 seats and Thomas –  3 seats

If you are driving, please plan on staying throughout the field trip.  We will be picnicing beforehand, so please plan on eating lunch with our class.

Thanks,

Jill Lehr

Hello!

Jennifer Lonack here, I will be the art docent in the 5th grade class this year.

I am excited to start working on art projects with the class next week.

If you are interested in helping out, please let us know.

October is a great time to get the kids out to see/experience art…

It would be wonderful to spend time with your kids visiting some of the great museums, performances and other art events around San Diego – and October is a free month for kids!

If you are viewing visual art, ask the kids about balance, contrast, proportion, pattern, rhythm, emphasis, unity, texture, space, composition, medium, theme etc… these are the elements of art that we will be focusing on throughout the year, and applying/repeating the terms outside the classroom only deepens their understanding. It is also a wonderful time for the students to share their knowledge with others simply by asking and listening to their understanding/interpretations.

Within a museum or local art gallery (always free) is a fun time to play a game “who can find an example of [fill in the blank] first?”

Here is a reference to some basic terms that will be available to the students in class: http://www.happyscribbles.org/art-terms.php

I am excited to announce that the three Dare to Reuse contest winners from our entries last year will be shown this November at the San Diego Children’s Museum. There will be an opening reception which will be a fun opportunity to view the other nine pieces that will appear in the upcoming 2013 calendar.

I will let you know when a date is set, and the calendar is ready!

Gratefully,

Jennifer Lonack

jlonack@gmail.com

Parents,

Thank you again for the HUGE Back to School Night turnout.  It was great to see so much support.  As we finalize our daily schedule (science and robotics), I will be e-mailing all of you who offered to help and try to set up a weekly schedule.

• Supplies- We are in desperate need of lined paper.  We could also use more spiral notebooks, red pens, and lead pencils.
• Reminders – Next Wednesday, October 3, will be our states and capitals test.  Spelling will not count against them, but your child will need to know where each state is located.
• Friday, October 5 will be the last day to turn in History projects.
• Monday, October 8, we will shift our focus to early man.

Please look at your student’s syllabus and project tree to see what projects he/she still need to complete.

Friday, November 2, is the Jog-a Thon.  This will be a half day at OTA.