Mrs. Clemens' 5th Grade
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Weekly News

5th Grade

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November 30, 2016

11/30/2016

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Musical Chair Multiplication

I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving with your families! I got to stay in San Diego  and spend the week with my husband's side of the family. There were 19 of us, it was so fun! The students made beautiful Thanksgiving placards for the dinner table, so I hope they had a chance to share those with your families. ​
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Lots to be Thankful For!

Important Dates
12/1 Bring in "Generosity Photo"
12/1 Have Classic Novel Finished (starting book report in class)
12/4 Solana Beach Tree Lighting and Choir Performance
12/6 All School Reconciliation
12/8 4th Grade Mass - Feast of the Immaculate Conception
12/9 Author Reading & Book Signing with Steve Breen
12/9 Nursing Home Visit 
12/13 Book Report Due 
12/16 Noon Dismissal - Christmas Break Begins! :) No Aftercare
12/24 Happy Birthday Connor

Virtue of the Month: Generosity
Students have been asked to bring in a photo of someone who they feel is an example of this virtue. They will need the photo for an activity that we are doing in class THIS THURSDAY. 

Book Reports- Students were asked to finish their classic novels by tomorrow so that they are prepared to start writing their book reports in class. They will receive the instructions and planning packet in class tomorrow. We will spend the next 4-5 school days working on the project in class and then the rest is expected to be completed at home. While assisting your children in completing their book reports please keep in mind that it is a student project and they should be doing all of the work. They are so capable and creative, they may just need a little guidance! Thank you! ​

Reconciliation - On Tuesday 12/6 we will be going to reconciliation for the first time this year as part of our celebration of Advent. We have started preparing for this in class, but the students should be studying their guide and examining their conscience all week long. They will have a short quiz next Tuesday morning before we go down to the church. They will need to be able to write down the steps of reconciliation and the Act of Contrition.

4th Grade Mass is next THURSDAY. We are celebrating mass on Thursday because it is a Holy Day of Obligation when we celebrate the Immaculate Conception.  Students should come to school in their mass uniforms on Thursday and they have the option to do PE in their regular uniform or change their clothes during lunch. All families are welcomed and encouraged to join us for mass! :)
Reminder: Students are expected to be at church no later than 7:45 to prepare for the mass. 

Author Reading and Waffle Breakfast - I am happy to announce that the whole 4th grade class will be attending this very fun event together next Friday 12/9! Thank you for supporting this great cause! I hope to see many of you there :)

Nursing Home Visit next Friday 12/9
We will be bringing the holiday cheer to the nursing home next Friday with some festive Christmas caroling! Students may bring in Christmas accessories (santa hat, antlers, bell necklace, etc.) to wear with their uniforms. 
Thank you to my awesome chaperones and drivers: Pam Liebig, Patty Calabrese, Linda, Betty McDonald, & Denise Teuber!


Polar Express Christmas Party - The 4th and 2nd grade will be teaming up for our 5th annual Polar Express Christmas Party on Friday 12/16.  We will attend mass in the morning and then students have the option of changing into their PJs before we board the Polar Express. We need lots of volunteers to help make this event a success. Please use the sign up below if you are able to contribute in any way. Thank you!
Christmas Party Volunteer Sign Up
IPads- We will be doing lots more on the iPads this trimester.   Much of the students homework will be paperless and. Turned in via google classroom.  I totally understand that technical difficulties can happen and I know it is a learning process for all. That said, students need to be extra responsible about bringing their iPads to school fully charged everyday for school. I am also reminding them that they need to be problem solvers and practice trouble shooting on their own before asking for help.  In class our steps are:
  1. Close out of the app and restart it
  2. Fully REBOOT the iPad by pressing the top and home button until the apple appears
  3. Ask a friend for help (this can be a phone call or e-mail at home)
  4. Ask the teacher
I am so proud of all that my amazing 21st century learners are capable of, they surprise me and teach me every day! :) 
For Parents: Youtube and Google can help in almost ANY situation! 

​Peacemaker - The 4th grade peacemaker award was given to Ben Lang this trimester. He is an excellent model of faith, friendship and scholarship. As we've been studying the virtues of the catholic faith, it is obvious that this student takes them seriously. I see him working to practice affability and prayerfulness in his everyday actions and more importantly he looks for these virtues in others. Both in the classroom and on the playground he is kind and considerate to all of his peers. He is the type of person that can peacefully work with anyone in the class and works hard to include others. He is a great helper and often offers a hand after he has completed his own work. This student is also very dedicated to his schoolwork. He completes his assignments on time, participates enthusiastically in class and puts great effort into everything he does. His ability to actively listen, think critically and empathize with others is remarkable for his age.
One of the things that stands out most about this student is that he brings a great attitude to any task put before him. His bright smile and positive outlook on life is a shining light in our classroom and rubs off on everyone around him.  Ben Lang we are so lucky to have you as a peacemaker and friend in 4th grade this year.
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1st Trimester Peacemakers

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Feed the Future Gardening

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November 16, 2016

11/16/2016

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Building and painting clay pottery as part of our Native American Studies Unit

It is hard to believe that a third of the year is already over! I'm very proud of all the growth that the students have made in the last 12 weeks.  Thank you for taking the time to meet with me this week to share your child's hard work and success. I am looking forward to working together the rest of the school year to help your child grow and reach their full potential. ​

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Important Dates
11/16-11/18 Noon Dismissal for Conferences
11/21-11/25 No School for Thanksgiving
12/1 Have Classic Novel Finished (starting book report in class)
12/4 Solana Beach Tree Lighting and Choir Performance
12/6 All School Reconciliation
12/8 4th Grade Mass - Feast of the Immaculate Conception
12/9 Author Reading & Book Signing with Steve Breen
12/9 Nursing Home Visit 
12/13 Book Report Due 
12/16 Noon Dismissal - Christmas Break Begins! :)
12/24 Happy Birthday Connor

Other Important Announcements

Book Reports
Students need to have their class novels read by December 1st. We will do the planning and some of the writing of the book report in class. Students will need to complete their artwork, final drafts, and put the report together at home. It is due December 13th.  Directions will go home after the break.  (They are also posted on my website)

Fast Facts
Students should continue to study their fast facts at home weekly! 

WHO WANTS WAFFLES? Join us for a Book Reading by Steve Breen and Waffle Breakfast
Please join us on Friday, December 9th at 8 a.m. in the Parish Hall. This event will directly impact and support all of our students and their learning styles and preferences. Please see the order form attached below or click here to place your order and purchase breakfast tickets. Book orders and tickets must be placed by Friday, November 18, 2016. There are many options to participate and (signed) books make great gifts!

*If the whole class orders then we get to go and have breakfast ALL TOGETHER AS A CLASS which would be a very special treat* 

Christmas Poinsettia Fundraiser
Please support the Class of 2017’s graduation activities by pre-ordering your Christmas poinsettias now. Orders are due by November 30th with pick-up on Wednesday, December 7th. Please see the flyer for details. The 8th Grade thanks you for your support!

Sports Camp - Thanksgiving Break
Coach Ramsay will be holding a sports camp at SJA during Thanksgiving Break. The camp will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. The cost is $125 and registration form is due by November 16th.

Alternative Christmas Market November 13th
...where gifts celebrate the meaning of the season! We honor the birth of Jesus by continuing his work – we offer gifts that serve and help the poor locally and globally. St. James Academy is participating in the Parish Alternative Christmas Market on November 13th, 8:30-1:00 p.m. Please see the flyer for more information and contact Mrs. Lang (clang@saintjamesacademy.com) if you would like to assist.

Scholastic Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to school on Monday November 14th and will be here until Thursday, November 17th. The Book Fair will be open in the SJA Library Monday - Thursday mornings from 7:30-8:00 a.m.; Tuesday after school until 3:30 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday until 4:00 p.m. The Fair will not be open on Friday. Profits from the fair help us to purchase new books for the library. Please see informational flyer.

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Taking a "Brain Break" to Play Silent Ball

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November 10, 2016

11/10/2016

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Students prepared for the election by reading up on the candidates
(We had an AWESOME discussion in class - it was very fun!) 

Important Dates
  • 11/11 End of First Trimester
  • 11/11 Special Veteran's Day Mass
  • 11/13 Alternative Christmas Market 8:30-1:00 p.m.
  • 11/14-11/17 Book Fair in the school library
  • 11/16-11/18 Noon Dismissal for Parent Student Teacher Conferences
  • 11/21-11/25 Thanksgiving Break
  • 12/9  Author reading, Book signing, Waffle Breakfast event to support SJA Inclusion program

Other Important Announcements
Please sign up for parent-teacher-student conferences using the link below.  Students should be present at the conference. 

Conferences are a beautiful time to highlight student successes and focus on areas for growth. Students and parents have been expected to check their child's progress weekly using gradelink, so there should be no surprises on the report cards next week. 
Conference Sign Up
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Multiplication Mastery Celebration!
The students have been working hard all trimester to learn their fast facts. Students had the opportunity to earn an ice cream sundae if they mastered all facts up to their 12s. The celebration will be during lunch on Monday.  I rarely use sweets to incentivize students but this is a special 4th grade tradition.  ​

Late Work
There was an unacceptable amount of late work turned in this trimester. I feel that the students are not learning lessons of responsibility (bringing their work home and back to school, everyday, on time) because they only lose a few points for late assignments. From now on ALL LATE WORK will receive half credit. In the upper grades, including 5th grade, no late work is accepted, so we need to put good habits into place now. 


California Native American Unit
We are wrapping up our unit on California Native Americans this week and next. Tomorrow students will be presenting their mini-research projects in class. Students spent a week researching a California Native American tribe and had the choice of how they wanted to present their research in the form of a project. Chat with them tonight about their projects - they've been working very hard! In addition to social studies, the students have been incorporating their learning into reading, writing, and art. We are currently reading Island of the Blue Dolphins together as a class. We've read several native legends and are working on writing our own! The students learned to weave last week and will have the opportunity to make some pottery tomorrow. It is a very fun cross-curricular unit! 

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WHO WANTS WAFFLES? Join us for a Book Reading by Steve Breen and Waffle Breakfast
Please join us on Friday, December 9th at 8 a.m. in the Parish Hall. This event will directly impact and support all of our students and their learning styles and preferences. Please see the order form attached below or click here to place your order and purchase breakfast tickets. Book orders and tickets must be placed by Friday, November 18, 2016. There are many options to participate and (signed) books make great gifts!

*If the whole class orders then we get to go and have breakfast ALL TOGETHER AS A CLASS which would be a very special treat* 

Christmas Poinsettia Fundraiser

Please support the Class of 2017’s graduation activities by pre-ordering your Christmas poinsettias now. Orders are due by November 30th with pick-up on Wednesday, December 7th. Please see the flyer for details. The 8th Grade thanks you for your support!

Sports Camp - Thanksgiving Break
Coach Ramsay will be holding a sports camp at SJA during Thanksgiving Break. The camp will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. The cost is $125 and registration form is due by November 16th.

Alternative Christmas Market November 13th
...where gifts celebrate the meaning of the season! We honor the birth of Jesus by continuing his work – we offer gifts that serve and help the poor locally and globally. St. James Academy is participating in the Parish Alternative Christmas Market on November 13th, 8:30-1:00 p.m. Please see the flyer for more information and contact Mrs. Lang (clang@saintjamesacademy.com) if you would like to assist.

Scholastic Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to school on Monday November 14th and will be here until Thursday, November 17th. The Book Fair will be open in the SJA Library Monday - Thursday mornings from 7:30-8:00 a.m.; Tuesday after school until 3:30 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday until 4:00 p.m. The Fair will not be open on Friday. Profits from the fair help us to purchase new books for the library. Please see informational flyer.

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November 2, 2016

11/2/2016

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Conference Sign Up
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Halloween Fun!
​Great job at the talent show Connor & Layli!

Important Dates
  • 11/4 Noon Dismissal
  • 11/4 Praying the Rosary Quiz
  • 11/9 ALL FIRST TRIMESTER WORK MUST BE TURNED IN (no work will be accepted after this date)
  • 11/11 End of First Trimester
  • 11/14-11/17 Book Fair in the school library
  • 11/16-11/18 Noon Dismissal for Parent Student Teacher Conferences
  • 11/21-11/25 Thanksgiving Break

First Trimester is coming to an end!
Next Friday 11/11 is the last day of the trimester.  I will not be accepting any make-up/late work after Wednesday 11/9 at 3:00.


The students had an hour of class time yesterday to check their grades, meet with me one-on-one, and work on any make-up work.  Most of the students utilized this class time well... they located assignments in the no-name pile, found missing assignments in their desks/folders, organized their desks and worked on class work.  Reflections need to be signed and turned in tomorrow.

Students are invited to stay after school tomorrow from 3:00-3:40 to work on any make-up work in the 4th grade classroom and discuss any questions that they may have about their grades. If students choose to stay, they need to come ready to work. If they are disruptive or off-task they will be asked to go to daycare. 

Thank you all for the follow-up and support at home! I know that 4th grade is a big jump from the younger grades in regards to homework, grading, responsibility and independence. We have spent a lot of time this year discussing topics like responsibility, accountability, time management, prioritizing, goal setting and making good choices. We are working hard to build good routines and habits in 4th grade! The students are all making progress. Sometimes the best lessons are learned through failure or making mistakes. It is a marathon, not a sprint... they will get there! :)

I look forward to sharing your child's successes with each of you at parent/teacher/student conferences in 2 weeks! See link above to sign up for a time. (If you don't find a time that works for you, let me know and we can work something out) Students SHOULD be present at conferences. 

If your child is going to daycare during conferences, let Coach Ramsey know that it is for a conference!


Nursing Home Visit - I was so proud of the students last Friday for their positive participation during our visit to the nursing home. The class brought so much joy to the residents!  

Yarn Needed
We are doing a weaving project next week as part of our California Native American Studies unit and we need solid colored yarn. If you have a spool that you do not mind donating to the class, we would appreciate it! Thank you!

Sports Camp - Thanksgiving Break
Coach Ramsay will be holding a sports camp at SJA during Thanksgiving Break. The camp will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. The cost is $125 and registration form is due by November 16th
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WINTER SPORTS SIGN-UPS
Kindergarten through 8th graders can participate in SJA sports this winter season!! Deadline to sign up is November 15th.

Pee Wee Soccer (Kindergarten-4th grade)
Season runs January-February, practices during PE and possibly after school, one game each Saturday(all away games).


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