Caswell

THE END OF THE YEAR IS FINALLY HERE!

 Sniffle, sniffle. Sob, sob. It's that joyously sad time of the year when we say goodbye to another group of fifth graders as they travel on to new adventures in their academics. It has been a wonderful first year here at Due West. Thank you parents and students for welcoming me so warmly.

As the year comes to a close, here are several reminders:

* SEND IN STAMPS FOR REPORT CARDS

* MOUNTASIA NIGHT (MONDAY 5:00P to 8:30P -- 5th grade students only with their parent/guardian)

* CAREER DAY PART II (WEDNESDAY)

* DESK CLEANING / TEXTBOOK RETURN (WEDNESDAY -- please bring a plastic bag to carry personal items home)

*AWARDS DAY PRACTICE (THURSDAY)

*VARSITY LUNCHEON / GAMES IN THE AFTERNOON (THURSDAY)

*AWARDS DAY PRACTICE II (FRIDAY)

*AWARDS CEREMONY(FRIDAY)

*WALK OF HONOR (FRIDAY)

HAVE A GREAT AND SAFE SUMMER!!!!!!!!

FIELD DAY

 Field Day is Tuesday, May 5th. Be sure to bring a good and healthy snack, a water bottle, a towel, and a positive attitude. Get plenty of rest the night before!!!!!!

5th Grade Night at Mountasia Family Fun Center

 Monday, May 18th, is Due West 5th Grade Night at Mountasia Family Fun Center located on Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw. Please see the note (on blue paper) titled "IMPROTANT 5th GRADE INFORMATION, PLEASE READ!" for it has all the specifics you need to know about the evening (i.e. no "drop-offs," no siblings, etc.). The time is 5P to 8:30P and includes a dinner of pizza and soda. I look forward to seeing everyone out there!

IMPORTANT DATES!!!!

PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO RECENT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS SOME OF THE BELOW DATES HAVE BEEN CHANGED OR DELETED ALL TOGETHER. I WILL INFORM YOU OF CHANGES AS NEEDED. AT THIS MOMENT, OUR TRIPS TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. THE ANNE FRANK MUSEUM (AT KSU) TRIP HAS ALSO BEEN CANCELLLED. 

Below is a schedule of important dates in regards to the transition of our wonderful fifth graders to middle school as well as the exciting events remaining in the current school year. YIKES!!!!!!!!!

FEBRUARY 4th -- 4H program at Due West

FEBRUARY 19th -- School closed for students

FEBRUARY 26th -- Cobb EMC Electric Avenue program

FEBRUARY 27th -- Natural Connections program at CATO Nature Center

March 4th -- State of Georgia Writing Asessment

March 9th -- 4H program at Due West

March 17th -- Water Ways Field Study at CATO Nature Center

March 19th -- Lost Mountain Middle School visits Due West to talk to 5th grade

March 20th -- Due West visits Lost Mountain Middle School

March 25th -- Field trip to Anne Frank / Holocaust exhibit at Kennesaw State University

March 30th & 31st -- Overnight field trip to 4H Center (more information to follow)

April 16th & 17th -- Health Wise (more information to follow)

April 20th -- 4H program at Due West

April 22nd through May 1st -- CRCT

May 5th -- 3rd through 5th Grade Field Day

May 11th -- McClure Middle School visits Due West to talk to 5th grade

SOCIAL STUDIES

We are currently studying the 1920s, Great Depression, and the 1930's. Please know that there is an excellent online resource that goes along with our text. Go to www.eduplace.com/kids/ , then click on "Social Studies", click on "Social Studies" again (under "Choose a book"), then click "United States History: Civil War to Today". This path will lead you to some great support resources for the social studies textbook. Have fun!

Blog Entries

Be sure to check out the different categories each time you read the blog. The dates listed are the origination dates of the entry. When I edit and update the entries, the dates do not update. So, it may look like I never update the blog, but I really am every one to two weeks. Thank you!

ACCELERATED READER

 Please know that Accelerated Reader is not a reading program. It is a vehicle by which students are encouraged and enticed to read. I do not require my students to take Accelerated Reader tests. I use this program as an incentive to improve the final reading grade each quarter. A goal is set for the students. If they meet that goal, 2 points are added to the final reading grade recorded on the report card that quarter. The goal this term is 75 points. Encourage your child to check out Accelerated Reader books! (Students are allowed to go to the library in the morning before the bell and anytime during the day when it does not interfere with instruction.)

SPELLING

This week we are working on the sounds made by the letter combinations "ou" and "ow."  Look for that Spelling Journal every night. Even if there is no written assignment, students should spend a few minutes reviewing their notes and their "Words To Learn" in the back of their spiral.

Cobb County utilizes the Sitton Spelling program. This program focuses on spelling patterns and skills rather than rote memorization. Each week the class will be introduced to a couple of concepts revolving around good spelling skills. Some of the concepts may be new and others may be extensions of previous lessons. Expect to see the "Dear Parents..." activity every Tuesday night. These activities provide practice that you can do with your child to help support their success in the program. Each student keeps a Spelling Journal which you should see come home every night! There will always be some type of homework, even if it is just to review the week's notes. In the back of the journal is a page titled "WORDS TO LEARN." The words listed on this page are the words with which your child has difficulty spelling.

They come from a weekly word test given on Wednesdays.  Please work with your child on these troublesome words. The unit ends every Friday with a proofreading and skills test. 

100s Club

Here are our 3rd Quarter inductees:

CARA P. (100s Plus), HALEY M. (100s Plus), and ALEC A. (100s). Congratulations! Remember, there is still one more chance this year to become a member!

It's that time again! Practice those multiplication and division facts because we will be testing for and inducting new members to the 100s and 100s + Clubs this week!

Here are our 2nd quarter 100s Club and 100s Plus Club winners! Congratulations!

Suzanna A., Andrew C., Jon F., Pierce F., Devaughn G., Alex G., Bhoomi L., William L., Ashey P., Emma Kate W.

I hope everyone is practicing their multiplication and division facts! A new challenge for the second installment of the 100s Club will be the week of December 15th.

Congratulations to the following students for making it into the 100s Club and 100+ Club first quarter!

ANDREW C., ALEX G., MAHAM H., BHOOMI L., WILLIAM L., HALEY M., CARA P., ASHLEY P., and NIKOLAI T.

In an effort to encourage the learning of math facts (multiplication and division), the class will take part in the 100s Club. How this works is each week students take "practice" timed tests (one multiplication and one division). Toward the end of each quarter each student will take two "real" tests (2 multiplication and 2 division). The highest scores will be recorded. If a student makes 90% on the division and 95% on the multiplication, they will become a member of the 100s Club. They will receive an award and a special treat. It doesn't end there! Once a student makes 100s club, he or she can then attempt 100s Plus Club (100% on both division and multiplication timed tests). With four chances to become a member (one chance each quarter), the potential for success is wonderful. In addition, the students will graph their progress weekly on a line graph in their Math Journal.

So, start practicing those multiplication and division facts, 1 through 12! Log on to www.aplusmath.com for a little extra fun and help.

Mathematics

In math we are working on multiplication and division of decimals. We will also tackle circumference of a circle, area of a circle, adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers, and simple algebraic expressions.

 There is a wonderful online resource that goes right along with our textbook. Go to www.eharcourtschool.com . You will get a username and password prompt. These were sent to you earlier in the year, but I have copies if you need them again. The site is a wonderful place to enhance the practicing you do at home with assigned homework and beyond!

Due West Fifth Grade is compacting this year in an effort to bring our students a wide variety of learning opportunities. Each unit builds on the next so you will see many of topics and the concepts associated with them repeatedly throughout the year.