New Job: Blog on Hold

I have a new position at Syracuse Elementary!  I am the new Instructional Coach for the school and will hold this position for the next two years.  So, for those of you who have been wondering where Miss C is, I am still at the school.  I love teaching and am excited to be in classrooms, working with teachers, sharing the passion that I have for this profession.  Thanks for checking in on me!!!

Newsletter: May 28

We are winding down. There are 5 more days of school! I wanted to fill you in on end-of-year things that are happening in our room and school. 

 Field Day 

Was a HUGE success! Special thanks to our volunteers who helped it run smoothly. The kids did excellent! We will have our awards next week. Students who placed in the top 3 of their event will receive ribbons. 

Spring Cleaning 

Next Monday, June 2, we will be cleaning! We will clean out desks and lockers. Please make sure your student brings an extra bag (or two) to haul things home. We will have a few things left to send home on the last day, but the majority will be taken care of on Monday.

 Books and T-shirts 

Vineyard Community Church is collecting children’s books and gently used child-size t-shirts (adult smalls as well) for summer community outreach projects. If you have things you would like to donate you can send it to school with your student or drop it off at Vineyard (located next to WMS).

Newsletter: May 16

We have 13 days of school left! I cannot believe how time has flown by. The kids are doing great as we finish up some things. We are currently working on projects for the Solar System or Human Body in Science, making demonstration videos for positive behavior in our school, and practicing our states, capitals, and abbreviations for Social Studies! 

RELAY FOR LIFE! 

We had a GREAT walk-a-thon today! I am proud of the kids and their efforts to help fight cancer! Last I heard we were close to raising $10,000 as a school!!!! FANTASTIC!!! 

Some highlights for our class: 

Noelle, Hannah, Miss C logged 2 miles each 

Niles ran 7.2 miles 

Lilly walked 1 mile backward 

Everyone was moving the whole time! 

Field Day 

Due to the threat of rain, we have postponed Field Day. We will let you know on Monday the rescheduled date! (Most likely May 27 from 8-12). 

 If you would like to help, let me know!

Newsletter: April 25

27 days to go! That seems like a whole lot and not very much time all at once. We have been busy...prepping for Middle School, working on projects, preparing for ISTEP+, enjoying our time together. There is a lot that happens at the end of the school year. Please keep up with your student’s agenda and papers that come home. 

 ISTEP+ testing 

Our test days are April 29, May 1, and May 2 in the mornings. Please do your best to make sure your student is here those days. Good rest and a healthy breakfast can make a world of difference. 

 Lock Down Drill 

Yesterday, we had a Lock Down drill (practice) at school. We were presented with a scenario and then discussed what we as a class would do to ensure our safety. The kids had great questions and discussion. I assured them that, in the event of a real lock down, I would do everything I could to keep them safe. This may be something you want to follow up with at home. 

Accelerated Reader 

We are in the last 6 weeks! Keep reading! 

 STATE FAIR 

We will showcase student work on May 1 at 1:30pm. There will be an invitation for you to come a see what your student has been working on. You can also check out the rest of the 5th graders' work. 

 Field Trips 

Dates are listed. Permission slips will come home next week. All slips and money must be turned in by May 8. If you would like to chaperon, please let me know. We also need volunteers to help with Field Day from 8:30-12:00 on May 16! Let me know if you are interested!

We made a music video!

We have been working with our Warrior Buddies to make a music video.  To view it, click on the link: 

Why Does the Sun Shine?

Newsletter: March 28

These full weeks of school have been wonderful! We are getting lots of work done and enjoying NORMAL again! We have started our State Projects...read more below. 

School Carnival!!! 

Thanks to all who volunteered, donated, and attended the carnival. It was a HUGE success and lots of fun was had by all. 

State Projects 

We are working on our HUGE state projects. Each student has been assigned one of the 50 states. They will be working on several different research projects: capital city, travel brochures, important people, and state reports. All of the work will be on display at our 5th Grade State Fair on April 24th. More information will come regarding times. All work will get done at school as long as students utilize their time well. 

BeAcH DaY! 

Friday, April 4, is Beach Day at school. This is our way to celebrate and kick off Spring Break. Students can dress for the summer weather (that we will hopefully have someday)! Beach towels, sunglasses, flip flops...Let’s celebrate! We will have the school-wide Beach Party and Limbo contest at 2pm in the gym.

Newsletter: February 28

We have reached the end of the second trimester. Report cards will be sent home on Friday, March 7. Along with report cards, you will receive your student’s AR Report for the trimester and a ClassDojo behavior report. If you have any questions about grades, AR, or behavior, I would be happy to meet with you! 

School Carnival 

The annual School Carnival will be held March 21 at Syracuse Elementary. 

5-7pm Dolphin Diner open 

5-7pm Raffle and Silent Auction 

5:15-7:30pm Games 

Room parents will contact volunteers. 

Silent Auction Basket 

Our class will be partnering with Mr. Stewart’s class to put together a basket for the silent auction. Our theme is Wawasee/Sports. We are asking for donations of sports equipment, Wawasee wear, and athletic bags. If you would like to donate, please send things with your student by March 14! 

ISTEP+ Testing 

We will be taking the Applied Skills portion of the ISTEP+ test March 10-14. Testing will take place each morning. If your son or daughter needs to have any appointments, please try to avoid these mornings. This prevents them from having to take any make-up tests and miss class time. Also remember to make sure your student gets a good night of sleep and eats a healthy breakfast! 

Trimester 3 

We are entering the final trimester of the year! These next 12 weeks will fly by! Let’s finish out the school year strong: making goals, working hard, and prepping for Middle School!

Newsletter: February 21

This may go down as the craziest winter of all time! I apologize for not keeping up on newsletters better. Despite all of the crazy schedules and happenings in our room, the kids have been AMAZING!!! Our trimester ends Friday, February 28. All work must be turned in on that date to receive credit. 

We have a new student! 

Brian Kurdimanov has recently moved here from Cheboksary, Russia! He has been in the US for a little over 2 weeks. We are SUPER lucky to have him in our class. Language has presented a bit of a barrier, but we are all adjusting to the use of google translate and other means of communication. I am sure you have heard much about him! It has been a great first 3 days for all of us. The class has welcomed him and not let language be a problem. 

Visitor 

We had a guest student yesterday, Hayden Anderson. He is a homeschool student who took a field trip to our class yesterday. The purpose was for him to get perspective on what public school is like. Again, the class welcomed him with open arms. 

 Both of these experiences have been AWESOME! We are blessed to have had the opportunities! 

Fighting Sickness 

I know that sickness is moving through the school in full force. Good sleep, plenty of water, and nutritious meals are the best ways to combat! If your student is out sick, please help him/her to get work made up in a timely manner. I always send make-up work home in an orange folder. 

Science Fair 

The Science Fair will be on Feb. 26. Science Central will be here from 5:30-6:30 in the gym for some family fun activities! Come and see what’s happening!

Newletter: January 31

Winter is definitely making its mark this year. The kids have done a FABULOUS job of “going with the flow” as we have navigated many delays and closings. They have all been reminded to be sure to have an AR book with them at all times...many will benefit from reading on those days that school is delayed or closed. Hang in there...warmer weather will be here eventually :) 

Valentine’s Day Party 
We will have our class Valentine’s Day party on February 14. Students ARE NOT required to bring in valentines. However, if they bring them, they bring them for the entire class. If you would like to send in a treat that day, just sent it with your student! Your student has a class list and names of specials teachers. We have 23 students in our class. 

Help a teacher out... 
Needless to say, the weather is crazy this winter...I LOVE IT! It does make for crazy days at school. You can help by making sure that students are getting work done (lots of late work recently), reading for AR on delay/cancellation days, and keeping track of school stuff. 

Snow Make-Up Days 
Due to the unusually hard winter and school closings, Wawasee Schools will be in session on the following dates: 

 February 3rd for the September 30th closing 

 February 24th for the January 8th closing 

 March 24th for the January 23rd closing

 May 30th for the January 28th closing 

Monday, February 24th was originally scheduled as a Teacher Work Day. The Teacher Work Day is now cancelled and classes will be in session. The last day of the second trimester will be February 28. The first day of the third trimester will be March 3rd.

Newsletter: January 17

Our first full week was a SUCCESS! We hit the road running Monday. We are in the second half of the school year: expectations are higher, pace is a bit faster, and work load has increased a bit. The kids did really well! We have many new things happening in 5th grade for the second half of the school year. Read on to find out what’s going on! 

Success Time 

This is new to 5th grade. We have had an allotted Tier 2 intervention time all year. However it has recently been restructured and now called Success Time. During this 30 minute time period, the 5th grade is working on Language Arts skills. Each student takes a pre-test and is then placed according to their results. Check with you student to see what they are doing during this time. Many of them go to Mr. Brady or Mr. Stewart for Success Time. Groups will be flexible, changing every 2 weeks (approximately). 

NWEA Testing 

We will finish testing next week. Our final test is scheduled for January 21. We will be testing in the morning. Please do your best to make sure your student is here! 

Conferences 

If you were unable to make it to conferences last night, your student will be doing their conference with you over the weekend! 

Snow Make-Up days! 

We will have school on January 27 and February 3 to make up for missed days (days missed were September fog day and January 8). The IDOE has granted a waiver for January 6 and 7, so we do not have to make those up. 

Preparation for Middle School 

It is the time of year when we make a shift in our classroom. Prep for middle school becomes a focus. Expectations are higher, work gets a little harder, and consequences are handed out quicker. I really begin to push the students to be more self-accountable for work, grades, and goals. Any help from home is GREATLY appreciated. This will help make a smooth transition for next school year!

Newletter: January 10

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! This week was a nice, easy start back after a wonderful Christmas Break and the Blizzard of 2014! I hope you all had a wonderful, extended time together. We are jumping in full-swing on Monday. We have gone over rules and procedures and enjoyed catching up with one another this week. I sure did miss these kids!!! 

Student Led Conferences 

January 16, 4:00-7:00 The 4th and 5th grades will be doing student-led conferences again. If you are not seeing the "regular" conference sheet come home, that is why. A note came home with your student TODAY! I hope to see you all there! If you know that you will want to meet one-on-one with me, we can schedule a time when you come in. 

NWEA Testing 

We will begin testing next week. Our testing dates are: January 15, 17, and 21. We will be testing in the mornings one those dates. Please do your best to make sure your student is here! 

MIDTERMS 

Midterm grades will be available at your student's conference. Remember, this is just the half-way point of the trimester. 

Snow Make-Up days! 

We will have school on January 27 and February 3 to make up for missed days (days missed were September fog day and January 8). The IDOE has granted a waiver for January 6 and 7, so we do not have to make those up. 

Preparation for Middle School 

It is the time of year when we make a shift in our classroom. Prep for middle school becomes a focus. Expectations are higher, work gets a little harder, and consequences are handed out quicker. I really begin to push the students to be more self-accountable for work, grades, and goals. Any help from home is GREATLY appreciated. This will help make a smooth transition for next school year!

Christmas Letter

Dear Parents and Families,
      It has been a learning experience so far in Room 410. This group of kids has done a great job getting adjusted to life in 5th grade. They are learning more responsibility, how to be a positive role model, and that hard work pays off! It was possible with support from home – that's you!
      I am a firm believer that good kids come from good parents. Our class would not be what we are without the support of each one of you at home. You deserve a jumbo

THANKS!  

      We have worked hard this first part of the school year. We have published 4 pieces of writing, taken several Science and Social Studies tests, learned 400 spelling words, taken over 500 AR quizzes, and many other day-to-day things.
       The most recent task was to answer Letters to Santa written by a first grade class. What an honor! The letters were a huge hit with the first grade and I believe the 5th graders enjoyed answering the letters. Definitely put us in the Christmas Spirit.
        As I wrap up, I want to thank you for the support from home. It makes a teacher's job easier when parents are supportive of the education for their children. Be safe in your travels and cherish the time you have with family and friends this holiday season
        See you January 6, 2014!
        Merry Christmas and blessings on your holiday

Newsletter: December 13

Friday the 13th! We survived one of the craziest weeks of the year: a Christmas Program, rehearsals, swimming, and everything else that we normally do! Love this group of kids more and more and am proud of how well they work.

Christmas Challenge 

Each year I offer a reading challenge to my students over Christmas Break. If they read a chapter book (approved by Miss C.) and get 85% or higher on the AR quiz when they return from break, they get a free mini blizzard to snack on in the afternoon. Encourage your student to participate in this. Books must be chosen before break. 

Cookies and Cocoa! 

Monday, Dec. 16, 5:30-6:30pm This is a chance for you to snuggle up and read with your students! Hope to see you there! 

Read In
We will have a Read In on December 20.  Students can wear pajamas, bring a pillow/blanket, and we will spend lots of time reading.  We will also have our Christmas celebration.  Room moms will be contacting people.

Awesome Opportunity! 

Last week we had the chance to host a group of teachers attending a Writing instruction workshop. 8 teachers came to observe Writer’s Workshop in our class and work with the students. It was a GREAT time and I was so proud of the kids! 

 Leave a comment and earn a point for you kiddo's team!!!

Awesome Opportunity

We hosted 8 teachers last Thursday who were attending a conference for Writing instruction.  It was a pretty great experience for everyone.  The teachers came to observe Writer's Workshop, specifically a student/teacher writing conference.  After they observed they met with several of the students in the class and held a writing conference.  Here are some pictures of our time:

Newsletter: December 6

We are at the two week countdown to Christmas Break! We have lots to get done between now and then: Theme 8 in reading, 2 more spelling tests, finish our Poetry Unit, a Christmas Program, and a new chapter in Science. Please make sure that homework is getting done each night...then you get 2 weeks off! 

Christmas Challenge 

Each year I offer a reading challenge to my students over Christmas Break. If they read a chapter book (approved by Miss C.) and get 85% or higher on the AR quiz when they return from break, they get a free mini blizzard to snack on in the afternoon. Encourage your student to participate in this. I'll be telling the class about it on Monday. 

Christmas Program: 

 Monday, Dec. 9 @ 7pm 

Tuesday, Dec. 10 @ 8:45am 

Warrior Ceremony 

There will be a Warrior award Ceremony on Thursday, December 19 in the gym. If your child is receiving an award, you will be notified by Friday, December 13.

Newsletter: November 15

The second trimester is in full swing! REPORT CARDS ARE COMIMG HOME TODAY! They need to be signed and returned by Wednesday, November 20. If you have questions about your student’s grades, please contact me. 

New AR goals are set! 

Thanksgiving Dinner 

 A note was sent home earlier this week about our classroom Thanksgiving Dinner. If you did not receive one, please let me know and I will get you another. It is also available on the blog. 

Please make sure your student is wearing a jacket to school. It is chilly when they are out at recess. Also, our room can get chilly...a sweatshirt is a good thing to leave in a locker for chilly classroom days. 

Christmas Program 

December 9 

 7pm in the gym 

Science and Social Studies 

A reminder that we alternate Science and Social Studies. I have had several questions. We will complete a unit of Social Studies followed by a unit of Science. That is why grades are limited in these subjects. Right now, we are doing Social Studies.

Leave a comment and earn a point for your student's team!

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving Dinner 

November 27 @ 11:45

Miss C.'s class

Dear Families, 

7 years ago I heard a sad thing.  The holiday season was approaching and I was talking about family traditions with my students.  One of my students said, "We have never done a Thanksgiving dinner as a family.  We can't afford it, so we don't do it."  

As a teacher who is passionate about what I do, this struck a heart string.  I wanted this student to experience a traditional Thanksgiving meal, dinner with a "family", and the joy of a full belly.  Thus began a classroom tradition!  We are a classroom family and this has become a wonderful experience.  Please know that we welcome parents to cook, serve, and eat with us.

Thanks for helping to keep the tradition going, 

Miss C.

What	How many
Turkey	provided
Ham	1 (4-6 pounds)
Mashed Potatoes	2 pots
Noodles	2 pots
Gravy	2 batches
stuffing	2 batches
rolls	4 dozen
vegetable	2-3 kinds
Pumpkin pie (whipped cream too)	4
Parent volunteers to serve	4-6

If you want to help, contact Maggie Brunner and let her know what you are making.  Her contact information is at the bottom.  She will be in touch with everyone.  Miss C. will take care of plates, utensils to eat with, and drinks.  You will need to provide serving utensils.  If you think of something that isn't on the list, please let Maggie know.

Maggie Brunner: brunnermaggie@yahoo.com   260-417-0858

Newsletter: November 1

We are wrapping up the Trimester...only 4 days to go. We are also wrapping up some work with a Science test next Tuesday and writing due on Wednesday. ALL WORK MUST BE TURNED IN BY NOVEMBER 7th for credit. 

 End of Trimester is November 7! 

 We will be going to the South Bend Symphony on November 7. Students will need to dress nicely (preferably no jeans) for school that day. It is a GREAT experience for the kids and a great way to end the trimester. 

 Please make sure your student is wearing a jacket to school. It is chilly when they are out at recess. Also, our room can get chilly...a sweatshirt is a good thing to leave in a locker for chilly classroom days. 

 There will be NO SCHOOL on November 8. It is a teacher work day for the end of the trimester. 

 Daylight Savings Time 

It's that time of year when we fall back an hour. Saturday night, when you go to bed, set your clock back one hour. Don't want kiddos showing up an hour early for school come Monday!

Newsletter: October 18

This week was near perfect. We are truly in the swing of things: expectations, work, and fun. I am enjoying this group of students thoroughly. They work hard, participate well, and have a lot of fun! 

 Next Week... 

Is a 3-day week for school. We have Fall Break on Thursday and Friday. Since it is a short week, we will stray a bit from the “normal” routine. We will have a shortened spelling list and packet. There may not be as much homework, so don’t be shocked! 

 Pumpkin Fun Day 

October 23 from 10:15-11:15 we will be doing some pumpkin activities. Room moms will be contacting parents who would like to help for the hour OR who would like to send yummy treats in. We will have treats and watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” in the afternoon. If you would like to help and are not contacted by Monday, let me know. 

 Accelerated Reader 

The goal keeps rising. We are about 80% of the way through the trimester. Students should be at 80% of their goal. Those students who are below 60% are staying in at recess. Please check on your student’s progress. We want to have good grades at trimester. 

Classroom Climate 

We have the pleasure of a west-facing classroom. This means when the wind blows, it gets chilly. Your student is welcome to leave a sweatshirt in his/her locker for those chilly days. Also, please be sure that your student is wearing a jacket or sweatshirt or coat...recess is getting colder!

Newsletter: October 11

Another week in the books. We have been getting lots of work done and really settling in as a classroom family. We are quickly approaching a busy time of year with breaks and holidays. Please keep up-to-date on work, programs, and days off.

Warrior Ceremony 

 We will have a warrior ceremony for classroom Warriors of Character, Reading, Writing, and Math on OCTOBER 23 AT 9:45. If your student is receiving an award you will be notified. It is a secret, so don’t tell your student! 

Pumpkin Fun Day 

October 23 from 10:15-11:15 we will be doing some pumpkin activities. Room moms will be contacting parents who would like to help for the hour OR who would like to send yummy treats in. We will have treats and watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” in the afternoon. 

Accelerated Reader 

The goal keeps rising. We are about 70% of the way through the trimester. Students should be at 70% of their goal. Next week, anyone who is below 60% will be in at recess to read for AR. You will be notified if your student needs to read at home as well. 

Personal Essays 

We are working on personal essays for Writer’s Workshop. We looked at some student examples online this week. I am anxious to see what the kids write about!

Newsletter: October 4

A pretty good week to start the second half of the trimester.  I think the

accountability of grades and conferences led to better work-ethic and focus.  That's a great way to kick off the second half of the 

trimester!

Conferences

Thank you to all who attended your child's conference.  It was AWESOME to see families involved in education.  I was proud of the students and how well they presented their work.  I enjoyed the chance to talk about your students with you.  Thank you for 

being involved.

Coming Soon...

PUMPKIN

FUN

DAY!

stay tuned for more details....

Accelerated Reader

Ask your student if they are behind...they have been staying in at recess.  If they are, they should be reading for 20-30 minutes each night!

Personal Essays

We will be starting personal essays for Writer’s Workshop next week.  This is a good opportunity to talk with your student about issues that are 

important to them as we will be doing some serious writing.

Please leave a comment to earn your student's team a point!