NEWS  4  U

        

For February 20-24,2012

 

 

Memory Work:                Spelling: Unit 25—Unit will be introduced on Tuesday,

    Tuesday,2/21: p. 75                 but tests will be on Wednesday and Friday                  

     Friday, 2/24:  p. 77                 as usual.

 

Writers’ Workshop:  All students are on track for completing their projects by Friday, 2/24.  That makes me a happy and proud teacher.  Some may be bringing their packets home over the long weekend—please make sure they are very careful not to bend any pages. 

 

Math:  Just want to encourage all the students to keep up the hard work.  Things are starting to turn around, and I’d like to see that trend continue.   A few of the students have figured out that if they do the problems I tell them they can skip and get them right—that counts for extra credit.  Might be worth a try.  J  There will be assessments again next week for both facts and skills.  The fifth grade group’s assessment will be on Tuesday, and the fourth grade group’s assessment will be on Thursday.

 

Upcoming tests:  Study guides for both Science and Social Studies tests were sent home this week.  The Science test will be Thursday, 2/23, and the Social Studies test will be on Friday, 2/24.  There will be a chapter quiz in Language next Wednesday covering past tense verbs and subject/verb agreement.  See pp. 180-181 for sample questions.

 

Lutheran High School South Academic Fair:  Lots of students were interested in participating in the Spelling bee, so next week we will have a class spell-off for those kids, using the same rules as they use at South.  For the first three rounds, no one goes out.  Students with the highest scores of correct words after those rounds (usually all three words right) continue with traditional rules until we reach the top three spellers.  (The fourth highest one becomes the alternate.)  I’ll let you know who gets to go next week.

 

February Chapel Offerings:  This month’s offerings are going to an organization called Heifer International.  They provide needy families with animals that can provide food and income.  (Examples:  Cow, pig, chickens, llama, sheep, etc.)  Our school has set a goal of raising $500—the price for providing a cow.  Reliable rumor has it that if we reach that goal, Mr. Kellar will wear a cow costume for a day.  Progress report—we’re over $350!

 

Boxtop Collection Contest:  This might be one of the best-kept secrets at Salem this month, but there is another contest going on.  We will be collecting boxtops again until March 16 for this contest.  We haven’t counted our stash just yet, but I’m guessing we’re over 100.  Please send in any that you might have been keeping at home.  We’re going to try to be the winners of the jeans day this time!  J

 

Donut Recipe:  Several students asked if I would send home the directions for the donuts we made on Valentine’s Day.  Here are the simple directions.   Use inexpensive refrigerator biscuits.  Remove each biscuit and poke a hole in it.  Shape it to look like a donut.  Drop into hot oil and fry on each side until golden brown.  (I use an electric frying pan and heat the oil to between 400-450 degrees.)  When slightly cool, dip into a cinnamon/sugar mixture or powdered sugar.  Donuts could also be frosted with sprinkles added.

 

Important dates:

·        Friday, February 17:  No school—teacher In-Service training day

                         Salem Dinner Auction

·        Monday, February 20:  No school—Presidents’ Day

·        Thursday, February 23:  Science test, chapter B2

·        Friday,February 24:  All Lutheran Schools Week forms are due back.

                                             *Social Studies test—chapter 7

                                             *Book Writing projects need to be finished and

                                               turned in to Mrs. Brown by 3:15.

And looking way ahead—

·        Thursday, March 15:  Fifth book project is due; book needs to be historical fiction.  Students may choose any project they have not already used or wait until next week to see what the new choices will be.

 

 

Have a blessed week.  Hope to see that you and your family were in worship this coming weekend.

 

Kathy Brown

 

And this note from Mrs. Gastler re: the upcoming Art Project:

 

     

 

4th and 5th Grade Art Project for Feb. 21 & 28

 

Surrealist Portrait

 

1. Choose a person for the portrait.  It can be you OR another person you know a lot about.   

 

2. BRING A PHOTO of the person you will be drawing, especially if it’s not YOU.   If it IS you, you could bring a mirror.   (Mrs. Gastler will have some mirrors to use)

 

3. Know at least 5 “things” the person cares (or cared) deeply about – things the person “loves” or “loved”.

 

4. Think of creative ways to show the person and the things in the portrait – “dreamlike” --  “fantasy-like” – “surreal”.

 

You will sketch a practice-copy first, then make the final portrait.   You will have two art classes to complete the project.   We will use pencils, colored pencils, crayons, and markers for the project

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

I will create a portrait of ___________________________.

 

Five things this person loves are

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.