Upcoming Dates and Announcements:
- Monday, September 1st – Labor Day – No School
- Tuesday, September 2nd – Classes resume at 8:30 am
- Thursday, September 11th – Parent Night (Grades 1st – 8th Grade)
- Middle School 5:00 – 6:00
- Elementary 6:30 – 7:30
- Wednesday – September 24th – School Picture Day
Dear Families,
It has been such a joy getting to know our wonderful group of 14 students this year! I only got to learn a bit about them when I would visit fourth grade last spring, but this new group of kids is collaborative, respectful, and ready to learn. We’ve spent time talking about expectations, reviewing last year’s skills, and reflecting on what it means to be fifth graders – the leaders of our main campus. Everything we do in class connects back to that idea, and my goal is to help your child grow in both independence and confidence as they begin this important transition from being younger elementary students to preparing for middle school. This first full week marked the beginning of our first novel study, an introduction to the world of decimals, and officially tested our stamina now that we’re back to full days of school, new routines, and homework!
This week’s newsletter has a lot of information that is important to start the year now that we’ve worked out the details in the first week, and we will cover more on our Parent Night on September 11th. Your child will work with several teachers throughout the year, but please know that I am your main point of contact if you have questions or concerns about anything pertaining to fifth grade, and this weekly newsletter is the best source of information and updates. I am so excited for the year ahead and look forward to partnering with you to support your child’s success for their last year of elementary school!
Warmly,
Mrs. Katie Wallace
Morning Drop Off Routine & Dismissal Procedures:
- Students can be dropped off directly at our classroom after 8:20 am. Prior to 8:20, children can be dropped off at the gym doors.
- We say that school drop off ends at 8:30, and we begin our instructional day at 8:45. So you understand, we utilize that extra 15 minutes to the best of our ability. Each and every morning, fifth graders are prompted with a morning academic review and a journal prompt. This time also allows students to unpack, turn in, or review homework, and sharpen their executive functioning skills. It is an important way to start their academic day to set themselves up for success. We understand that 8:45 am works better for some, and nothing done prior to 8:45 will be graded or required to make up, but it is very beneficial for the children if they are in their seats by 8:30 am. Students needing additional support or one-on-one help can be exempt from morning work and can meet with a teacher during this time, if and when they are present.
- Students can be picked up at the classroom patio at dismissal. Around 3:20, students move up to the gym and out of the classroom.
- If your child isn’t standing on the patio and there is a gap in the cars, please pull forward.
Planners and Yellow Folders:
- As we have no new students in our class this year, I can assume you are all familiar with our yellow folders. Please help us ensure yellow folders get emptied when they go home.
- What is new to the students this year is their agenda. They write their homework in it daily, and are to keep the whole planner for the whole year, learning to prepare for assignments in advance. Parents are encouraged to write a note in the planner as an easy form of communication between all of us (parent, teacher, and child).
- Students are encouraged to write in their personal plans for the month (games, practices, etc.) to help them learn how to best utilize their free time.
Weekly Recap:
Math
- Introduced our Math Notebook – a one-stop shop for students’ notes on each new math topic we cover
- Encourage your child to bring their notebook home (and ensure it’s returned to school) if they are struggling with their homework
- Students have been introduced to decimals! Start talking about them with your child every chance you can. Where is gas cheaper? Which carton of milk is cheaper?
Language Arts
- Mrs. Kramer kicked off the year in Writing Workshop with an introduction to memoirs
- Students are brainstorming their personal life events and learning how to tell the story in detail
- On Fridays, Mrs. Kramer teaches a college class for West Liberty University education students on how to teach writing. We will have nearly 30 college students with us on Friday mornings for the Writing Workshop, working one-on-one with our fifth graders to help them hone their writing skills, after their 8 am class with Mrs. Kramer.
- We began reading “Out of My Mind” by Sharon Draper and are having wonderful, insightful discussions on acceptance and understanding.
Deep Dive: Water Science
- Mr. Rouse is leading our water study deep dive this 6 weeks.
- Students created rules, policies, and expectations for their creek behavior
- Studied macroinvertebrates and the various creatures they may encounter while exploring our creek
- Children will work through a pack of guided notes throughout the deep dive as they explore the water cycle, environmental factors of our area, and enhance conservation efforts.
Computer & Tech Info
- This year, we have dedicated time in our schedule for a Digital Discovery class where we will learn all things Google Drive, Canva, programming, computer safety, and more. On top of this class, we enter the world of research and essays in Language Arts, so their device usage is much more frequent and essential in fifth grade.
- Students are to have a Chromebook (or similar device) with them every day and are required to have it charged daily. A set of headphones for the classroom is also required.
- If your child needs to bring their charger to school, please make sure it is labeled with their name.
SEL: Social Emotional Learning
Wheeling Country Day has a school-wide initiative for teaching our children about their social and emotional needs. Every Monday, we have an SEL class, and this week, students learned about mindfulness. At its core, mindfulness means paying attention and is very connected to social and emotional learning and academic success. It is a practice that supports students in noticing what is happening inside and outside themselves in the moment. It’s been shown to improve academic outcomes and help with many social-emotional issues. Over the course of the school year, students will learn mindfulness tools to help with their feelings and emotions, make responsible decisions, and improve their overall self-management. We listened to bells, built our stamina for mindfulness, and tracked where our mind went when it wandered.
Special Classes:
- Three days a week, students will be in one science or social studies Deep Dive. They are in the same class, each day for 6-12 weeks, depending on the course.
- Twice a week, the students will have the following classes:
- Spanish with Madame MacAteer
- Art with Mr. Kalcum
- Music with Miss Dena
- P.E. and Health/Wellness with Mrs. Ochap and Mr. White
- Once a week, the students have:
- SEL – Social Emotional Learning
- Drama/Public Speaking with Mr. Alex
