What’s Coming Up – Week of March 4-8, 2019

Miscellaneous:

Conferences:

  • Georgetown’s spring conferences will be held Monday, March 11 and Wednesday, March 13. A conference confirmation slip was sent home last week. Please contact me if you are unable to make your assigned conference time. You can also view your conference time here: Cooley Conferences 2018-19 – Spring Conferences (2019)

5th Grade Camp:

  • All parents who submitted an interest form for chaperoning at camp will be notified whether they’ve been selected by March 1.

Middle School Visit:

  • The 5th graders will visit Baldwin Street Middle School on Monday, March 4th.
  • We’ll leave Georgetown shortly after 9:00 and return by 11:30.

Early Release:

  • March 8th

Important Dates:

  • The end of fifth grade is full of exciting events. For your convenience, we’ve created a list of important dates. We’ve linked it to each of our blogs; you can view it here.

What’s Coming Up – Week of February 25-March 1, 2019

Miscellaneous:

Conferences:

  • Georgetown’s spring conferences will be held Monday, March 11 and Wednesday, March 13. A physical conference confirmation slip will be coming home on Monday, February 25, 2019 because I forgot to hand them out today…they were sitting right on my desk…my apologies!  You can reference your time before then by looking at the schedule here: Cooley Conferences 2017-18 – Spring Conferences (2019)   Please email me ASAP if it will not be possible to meet at this assigned time.

5th Grade Camp:

  • All parents who submitted an interest form for chaperoning at camp will be notified whether they’ve been selected by March 1.

Middle School Visit:

  • The 5th graders will visit Baldwin Street Middle School on Monday, March 4th. Watch the blog for further details.

Early Release:

  • March 8th

Important Dates:

The end of fifth grade is full of exciting events. For your convenience, we’ve created a list of important dates. We’ve linked it to each of our blogs; you can view it here.

 

Middle School Music Program Information

Is your fifth-grader interested in participating in one of the music programs in middle school?

Click here for information on the band, choir, and orchestra programs offered to middle school students in Hudsonville and how to determine which program or instrument might be a good fit for your child.

Please take the time to review this information as there have been some changes to the process this year. Most notably, instrument fittings and choir information will be available during the evening meeting times rather than during the school day.

What’s Coming Up – Week of February 18-22, 2019

Hello Parents! Check out some updates below!!!

5th Grade Camp:

  • Information regarding opportunities for parents to volunteer as camp chaperones were sent home on Wed. of this week. If you are interested please return the form to school by Feb. 19th.
  • Dates for camp this year are May 16-17.

Symphony Field Trip:

  • On February 19, fifth graders will have the opportunity to travel to Holland to see a special performance by the Grand Rapids Symphony. We will leave school around 10:15 and return around 1:00.

Jet’s Pizza Night: Thursday, February 21

In ELA, we’re reviewing the features of narrative writing.

We read through two mentor texts and highlighted some positive things we noticed, as well as some areas that the writer could improve. We are preparing for our post-assessment in narrative writing which we will begin next week.

We’re trying some new things in math to build community, discussion, and deeper thinking processes.

We’ve tried collaborative problem solving by working around the room. Students were presented with a complex problem and needed to converse with each other using strategies that we’ve learned.

 

What’s Coming Up – Week of February 11-15, 2019

Greeting Parents!  I’d love to say that the bad weather is behind us, but you know Michigan as well as I do!  What I will say is that we are working very hard to get some consistency with our routines and expectations in the classroom while your child is here.  We did lose some instruction time, so we, as a team, are working consolidate and plan effectively so we are caught up and work smoothly and efficiently through our content.  The good news is that everybody in the area is experiencing the same thing, therefore, there is a lot of support in what we’re all feeling!  Check out some things happening in 5th at Georgetown below:

Camp News:

  • Information regarding opportunities for parents to volunteer as camp chaperones were sent home on Wed. of this week. If you are interested please return the form to school by Feb. 19th.
  • Dates for camp this year are May 16-17.

Symphony Field Trip:

  • On February 19, fifth graders will have the opportunity to travel to Holland to see a special performance by the Grand Rapids Symphony. We will leave school around 10:15 and return around 1:00.

Valentine’s Day:

  • In fifth grade, we do not do parties for Valentine’s Day.
  • We will have an optional Valentine exchange. If your child chooses to participate, please have him or her bring a Valentine for each student in the class .
  • We will decorate bags to use to gather our Valentines, so there is no need to create a box or container to send in.

Math:

We are launching Unit 5 which will focus on the division of whole numbers and decimals.  Once again, it is incredibly important that your child keeps practicing their math facts.  A high level of fact fluency is a great indicator for future math success!

ELA: Historical Fiction:

  • We are continuing to focus on becoming powerful readers of historical fiction texts.  Students are reading historical fiction novels in small groups as book clubs. To keep up with reading expectations, it is important for your child to honor their group’s reading plan.    
  • Reminder….The students are expected to read 100 minutes a week. As a parent please initial the log when they read at home, showing you confirm your child has read for the minutes recorded.

Social Studies:

We are exploring Life in Colonial America.

Science:  

We are continuing studying the unit, “Ch-ch-changes” on physical changes.

Optional Online Social Studies Test

Due to the MANY snow days, I have decided to give students the option to complete the social studies test online. If students prefer, they may take the paper & pencil version of the test at school on the day we return. 
 
If your child chooses to take the test online:
  • He or she must work on the test with a parent or guardian in the room.
  • Use academic honesty and integrity
  • He or she must work independently. 
  • Students may not look at any study materials (study guide, maps, notes, Quizzizz, etc.) while they take the test.
  • Students may ask a parent or caregiver to read aloud question(s) that are confusing, but that person may not help the student select answers. 
  • Students may only take the test one time. 
  • A parent/caregiver will be asked to agree that the student will follow the guidelines above before the student may complete the test.
I sent an invitation to students via their school email accounts to take the test online if they wish.
Again, taking the test online is OPTIONAL. Students may choose to take the pencil/paper version of the test upon our return to school if they are more comfortable with that method.
Thanks for your willingness to help try something new!
Matt

Welcome Back + Camp + Valentine’s Day

Hello, parents.

After many days off and then a two-hour delay this morning, I was so glad to see your children’s smiling faces this morning! I will provide the usual weekly update later this week, but I wanted to give you some information on some upcoming events.

  • Fifth-grade camp will be here before we know it! We are looking for parents who would be interested in chaperoning at camp. Today your child should have brought home a sheet detailing the dates of camp and expectations of chaperones. If you are interested in being a chaperone for camp, please follow the instructions on the sheet.
  • Valentine’s Day is next Thursday.
    • In fifth grade, we do not do parties for Valentine’s Day.
    • We will have an optional Valentine exchange. If your child chooses to participate, please have him or her bring a Valentine for each student in the class (29). It is best if your child simply fills out the “From” portion of the Valentine and leaves the “To” portion blank. This makes the distribution process much more efficient.
    • We will decorate bags to use to gather our Valentines, so there is no need to create a box or container to send in.

Valentine’s Day Questions

Hey all! Just a reminder, we do not do an official Valentine’s Day Party in 5th grade.  We will do some fun things in class, however, not a traditional party.  Your child may, if they choose to, prepare Valentine’s cards for everyone in the room.  Please be sure that no one is excluded.  Here is a list for your child to use for names, etc.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone soon! Cross your fingers for no more delays or snow days! -Mr. Cooley