Newsletter Jan 29

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5
Dates: 29  Jan. - Feb. 2 2018             


Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: Grade 5 students are generating ideas for their fantasy writing and continuing to dig deep into the elements of fantasy in their book group discussions.  They have been learning about the importance of power, character development, conflict and setting in the development of a theme.  The understanding that they develop in their book club will be used to support their writing piece.  Take the time to discuss story ideas at home.  What are some of the ideas you have generated so far for a fantasy story?

Math: The students will take the Unit 4: Place Value and Decimal Operations assessment. We will then use our maths knowledge to develop stronger understanding of the statistics around plastic pollution.  Next week, we will beginning Unit 5: Multiplying and Dividing Decimals.

Unit of Study: Students are continuing with their human body system rotations  Each class will participate in rotations for the different body systems of the human body.  Respiratory, immune, circulatory, muscular, skeletal and digestive systems will be covered during class rotations.  The nervous system will be addressed in each rotation.

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)
Wed. 31 Jan: No School
Fri. 2 Feb: 100th Day of School (students may wear a shirt with a number on it)

Highlight last week:
Students are working on the 5ay NO pLasTic! project.  There are many aspects to the project, so talk to your child about their involvement.

S2 Swimming Dates

See the link to the Semester 2 Swimming dates for your class, please communicate this with your students and parents. The PE Team will be doing the same.
This is also available on the  ES Physical Education Website. The first lesson will take place on Day 2 Monday January 29th. 

***** Currently the pool is under repair due to a leak the aim is to be ready for this start date, if this changes we will communicate this closer to the start date *******

If you have any questions or concerns please ask the PE Team

Newsletter Jan 22

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: 22-26 Jan. 2018               

Dear Parents, 

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy:

Grade 5 students are beginning their fantasy writing! This unit integrates reading and writing, taking a close look at elements of fantasy in book club and read aloud books and considering how to include these elements in writing.  Students will follow a story mountain in order to include problems and solutions as characters go on a quest.  Take the time to discuss these elements at home.  How is it possible to base fantasy writing on real life events and themes?

Math: 

The students continue Unit 4: Place Value and Decimal Operations. This week students will begin dividing decimals using a variety of manipulatives to show their thinking, considering whether we are sharing or grouping our numbers.

Unit of Study: 

Students have completed a quick assessment on cells and tissues in order to prepare for our rotations regarding the human body.  Each class will participate in rotations for the different body systems of the human body.  Respiratory, immune, circulatory, muscular, skeletal and digestive systems will be covered during class rotations.  The nervous system will be addressed in each rotation.

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)

Mon. 22 Jan: ES semester 2 ASA registration closes in PowerSchool

Wed. 31 Jan: No School

Highlight last week:

 A successful Free Dress day took place on Friday, with donations for the Chin Refugee organization.

Newsletter Jan.15

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5
Dates: 15-19 Jan. 2018            

Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:
Literacy: This week the students will continue with our Fantasy reading and writing units. Our Fantasy book clubs are in full swing.  This week students will take a writing pre assessment to determine what they already know about writing fantasy and they will continue to meet with their book clubs.  Ask your child about their book club book!

Math: The students will continue Unit 4: Place Value and Decimal Operations. This week students will begin multiplying decimals using a variety of manipulatives to show their thinking.  We will focus on reasonableness as well as estimation in order to check our answers and guide our thinking.

Unit of Study: Last week during science students tuned-into science during our science rotations. The main idea of the unit is that body systems are interdependent. This week we will dive a bit deeper into cells as the building block of life and be able to explore different types cells with microscopes in the lab. Ask your child about the different types of cells they saw.

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)
Mon. 15 Jan: ES semester 2 ASA registration opens in PowerSchool
Mon. 15 Jan: Parent Workshop - Service and Sustainability
Tues. 16 Jan: U11 Soccer starts
Fri. 19 Jan:  Free Dress Day
Mon. 22 Jan: ES semester 2 ASA registration closes in PowerSchool

Highlights of Last Week
Students had a great first week of Semester 1.  5LT welcomed a new student, Grant, into the classroom.  The students have shown him the ISKL and class routines.  Our class community continues to grow stronger!

Newsletter Jan. 8

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: 8-12 Jan. 2018               

Happy New Year and welcome back to semester 2 in G5! We hope you had a relaxing holiday with your family and friends.

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: This week the students will start new reading and writing units. The reading unit is titled, U3R: Fantasy Book Clubs and the writing unit is titled, U3W: Fantasy Writing. The students will begin by doing a tuning-in to the fantasy unit by identifying the elements of fantasy.  In the first part of the reading unit, readers will read alongside the characters keeping track of problems, identifying internal and external character conflicts and themes that run through fantasy books and history. Our daily read alouds will also be fantasy books.The students will begin their writing fantasy unit next week by completing a writing pre-assessment.

Math: The students will continue Unit 4: Place Value and Decimal Operations. They will begin the week reviewing adding and subtracting decimals, before they move into multiplying decimals.

Unit of Study: The students will begin their second science unit: Human Body Systems. The main idea of the unit is that body systems are interconnected. Tuning-in to the unit rotations around the G5 classrooms will happen on Tues. 9 Jan. from 11:30am-1:00pm.

Here is a quick description of what the students will experience in each teacher’s classroom:

JV - Jumping Rope (observation of what your body is doing)

LT - What is system?

MM - Hand in a Bag (touch and hearing - senses)

DH - Muscular & Skeletal systems. Observe what your body is doing when performing some simple yoga moves.

CC - Heart Rate

AS (Amy Schneider) - Germs

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)

Mon. 8 Jan. - day 5: First day of semester 2. New parent & student orientation from 9:00-11:00 am in the Studio

Mon. 15 Jan: G5 Human Body Systems science unit lab lessons begin: observing and sketching human tissue samples using traditional microscopes. Observing & sketching human skin using a USB digital microscope.

ES semester 2 ASA registration opens in PowerSchool

Mon. 15 Jan: Parent Workshop - Service and Sustainability

Mon. 22 Jan: ES semester 2 ASA registration closes in PowerSchool

Highlights in the week prior to the semester break:

The students completed their first science unit titled, ‘Sustainable Energy’. They completed their sustainable energy PSAs (Public Service Announcement) using iMovie, OR a podcast using GarageBand on the sustainable form of energy they wrote about in their information essay. A G5 ‘gallery walk’ was also held on Tues. 12 Dec. in the G5 classrooms from 12:00-12:45 pm, which was a  celebration of learning where students and teachers experienced the variety of presentations outside their own classroom.