Welcome! Our first four days were busy ones. We spent a lot of time building our classroom community and learning what we each need to have a successful year in 5th grade. Using a variety of iPad apps, we’ve been creating All About Me ebooks. These will be ready to share soon! We’ve also taken several beginning of year assessments.
Working with others is an important skill in life. We took part in several challenges which required teamwork. Groups strategized together to attempt tasks like the Cup Challenge and Marshmallow Towers. After each challenge, we debriefed and identified what went well. We developed a list of skills we believe help groups work together successfully.
Each afternoon we participated in 5th grade STEM Camp integrating science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students from all four classes first broadened their definition of the word "technology," realizing that technology is more than electronic devices. Several small STEM challenges were presented, encouraging problem solving and teamwork. Last Thursday, Swasey’s physical therapist, Mrs. Virgenson, explained to us how joints work. We’ll use this new understanding to tackle the main STEM challenge of building a knee brace.
Thank you for sending your child prepared with all the materials needed to set up his or her binder. Your child's binder will go from home to school and back each day.
I hope you can join us on Wednesday, September 9 from 6:00-6:50 for Open House. Classroom expectations, curriculum, grading, homework, etc will be discussed. You will be asked to sign up for a goal setting conference which includes your child, so please bring your calendar with you. I’m using Volunteer Spot to organize the conference times (as well as regularly scheduled parent conferences). You may sign up any time at: http://vols.pt/pC47T3. Please create an account with your email address and you will be sent reminders prior to your scheduled meeting. If the times listed do not work with your schedule, please let me know and we will find another time.
Specials Schedule
Monday: Music
Tuesday: Art
Wednesday: Phys. Ed.
Thursday: Library
Friday: Phys. Ed.
Please remind your child to dress appropriately for our special each day!
Finally, if you are sending in a note regarding dismissal, absence or other information that needs to be sent to the school office, please include your child's last name on the note. This way the office staff is clear about any changes taking place during the day.
Enjoy the slideshow sharing a few first week activities!
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| Free photo slideshow customized with Smilebox |
