Mrs. Drehkoff

Flurry of Activities

All the autobiographies are finally completed, and it's time to celebrate.  Tomorrow, May 30th, we will share the autobiographies with the class, then enjoy a treat.  We are so proud of the finished products.

Book reports are due on May 31st.  Several students are presenting their reports on keynote or powerpoint, and they are most impressive!

We continue to read Soounder by William Armstrong.  We are answering questions and reflecting on the activities in the packets that each student received. We will watch a video based on the book as well.  On June 6th students will take a quiz based on vocabulary and comprehension.

The Invention Convention presentation for science is due Monday, June 4th.

Our class picnic is Friday, June 1st.  Please have your child bring a brown bag lunch and drink.  We will walk to Gillson Park (area #2) at 11:30 a.m. and return by 2:45 p.m.  Picnic clothes are permitted. 

Our last day is June 8th.  Mass is at 11:00 a.m. followed immediately by dismissal.  Hard to believe the school year is ending.  Time just flew by!  

 

Flurry of Activities

There are many activities to enjoy as we wrap up the school year.  Alice Joseph, from the Wilmette Public Library, will speak to the fifth graders tomorrow about  exciting summer programs at the library this summer.

Tomorrow we will have our LAST Social Studies test!  We are playing "Stump the Expert" as a final preparation.  We have watched several "Brain Pops" about famous people from this industrial era. Ms. Howard has created the "Invention Convention" to enhance our understanding of the importance of inventions such as the cotton gin, reaper, locomotive, and steamboat. On June 4th the projects will be judged at 9:52-10:32 a.m.

Students have completed the "Prairie to the Sea" unit in reading, and we are reading Sounder by William Armstrong.  

We hope to have all autobiographies bound by next Wednesday, June 6th, for our sharing celebration. 

Permission slips will be coming home for our class picnic at Gillson Park on June 1st.

I have discussed the meaning of Memorial Day with the students.  (an extra credit spelling word this week is commemorate).  Please remember to fly your flag proudly!

 

 

Brief Notes

I hope all of our mothers had a wonderful Mother's Day Celebration on Sunday.  We prayed especially for you!

Your child should come home with a Chapter 11 test in social studies for you to sign.  Thank you for your cooperation.  I am so proud of their improvement, especially with their essay answers .

Tomorrow is the band/piano concert at 7 p.m. in the Xavier Room North.  Hope to see you there!

Friday is birthday dressdown day for May June and July birthdays.  If you'd like to bring a snack for the class, you are welcome to do so.

Fifth graders will walk to Gillson Beach on June 1st.  We will be in area 2, just south of the volleyball courts.  Come join us if you'd like.  

 

May Activities

We have had a productive week. The autobiographies are close to completion; many books are bound and ready to read.  The creativity and level of writing is quite impressive.  I am so proud of the students.  Thank you for your help providing information, photos, etc.  When all the books are bound, we will celebrate with a sharing party the week of May 14th.  Students are reading their favorite chapters to the class.  

Father Peter gave our class a tour of the church on Thursday.  He began with a lesson about the origin of the churches, then spoke about our traditions.  Students were able to view the relic of St. Francis embedded in the altar, touch the chalices in the safe, and visit the upstairs chapel of the Blessed Virgin which overlooks the main altar.  Father also allowed them to see the vestments which the priests wear, and explained why different colors are used during the liturgical year.

Since the second graders will receive their First Holy Communion this Saturday, the fifth graders created cards for them.  They were hand delivered on Thursday.

Students are still presenting their animal fiction book reports. It's a great way to spread enthusiasm for both new and classic books.  We will be adding new cards to our book rings on Tuesday. 

 The "Road to the Revolution" movie will be shown Thursday, May 10th from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. Many thanks to Ms. Howard's persistence in making it work. 

The Art Fair is May 9th at 7:00 p.m.  Hope to see you there!

Teachers will be meeting Monday; enjoy a long weekend.

Finally, check out the SUPER MOON this weekend. The full moon will be quite close to the earth. If the weather cooperates, it should be spectacular!  

 

May!

     We are wrapping up several activities as we enter the month of May. "The Road to the Revolution" movie premiere will occur Thursday, May 3rd from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. in the Xavier Room.  Students have worked quite hard on this project, and they have had some fun along the way.   We hope you can join us.

     Tuesday is Box Top Dress Down Day and a 1:45 p.m. early dismissal.  It's also the day for Ms. Howard's March/April Go Green Party.

     Animal fiction book reports are due Monday, April 30th.  The genre for May is historical fiction OR a recently published book of choice.  Free choice books must be approved by me.  

     Autobiography entries should be in by May 7th.  We will begin laminating covers and binding the books. The quality of writing is excellent!  Thanks for your help.  Please continue to encourage your child to read his/her piece out loud before printing and handing in.   

Full Speed Ahead!

Now that we've been refreshed by spring break, we are in full swing academically.  Students are in the process of filming their segments for "The Road to the Revolution" movie premiere.  They have managed to combine humor, creativity, and facts in their newscasts.Thanks to Ms. Howard for filming the newscasts during her free time. Please join us for the red carpet event on May 3, at 10:00 a.m. in the Xavier Room.  We will have a social studies test on the writing of the Constitution, Chapter 10, on Wednesday, April 25th.  Students have received a study guide.  Extra points are offered for writing the Preamble!

The autobiographies are coming along; students are working hard with revising and enhancing their stories.  Please encourage your child to read his/her piece out loud before printing it.  It's a good habit. 

The animal fiction book reports are due April 30th.  

Have a great week!  

Fourth Quarter!

     It's wonderful to have all students present for the past two days. It was fun to see their tan faces and hear about their vacation activities.  We are off to a great start to the fourth quarter.

    Students should be writing EVERY DAY for their autobiographies.  Please encourage your child to read his/her piece out loud before handing it in.  It's an effective editing technique.  We will be discussing other writing tips during class. Ask to see the autobiography pocket folder.

     We are busy preparing news segments regarding the American Revolution.  Students will be filming their productions this week with Ms. Howard.  They have been informative, creative, and sometimes humorous.  Stay tuned for an announcement about the Red Carpet Event.  Parents will be invited.

 

Holy Week

Thanks to all who came to the SFX Book Fair at The Book Stall.  It was good to see such a great turnout.

We will have a Box Top Dress Down Day on Wednesday.  

There are 1:45 dismissals on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Have a blessed Easter!  

Spring Activities

Thank you for coming to the Geology Fair; the children were happy to demonstrate their expertise about rocks and minerals.  

Your child should ask you to sign the reading  test and the diagraming test that we took last week.

We are preparing for a school liturgy which will be this Wednesday, March 28th at 9:50 a.m..  The Mass is on Wednesday to accomodate the three-year-olds who will celebrate with us.

Please check the newsblast for information about the Book Stall Book Fair and the author's visit on Thursday.  Class wish lists for books are available as well.

We continue to say the rosary after school each day. I am there on Wednesdays.

We are beginning our autobiographies.  Your child may be asking you for information or stories about his/her early years.  We will take this project step-by-step.  Each child has been given a pocket folder and a packet of directions, writing tips, etc.  All rough drafts should be kept in the folder as well. Your child should be writing something each night, either a rough draft or a final draft. We are keeping track of the students' progress on a chart.

We are also beginning to read Number the Stars  by Lois Lowry.  Your child will receive a packet with related activities and vocabulary on Monday.  

March birthdays will be celebrated on Monday.  Thanks in advance for the treats and paper goods. 

 

Third Quarter Ending

It was good to see all of you during the conferences.  I hope everybody enjoyed this gift of great weather. 

As the third quarter winds down, we will have unit tests in reading and language arts. Our "Catastrophe" reading unit will end with a test on March 20,  We have played vocabulary "Bingo" in preparation.  The language arts diagraming test will be on Wednesday, March 21st.  The students have done a beautiful job mastering sentence formation.  

Fifth graders will begin writing their autobiographies next week.  Look for the packet on Wednesday. This project connects with our book report genre for March, biographies.  

Students continue to work on their "Road to the Revolution" project in social studies class. 

Please check Ms. Howard's blog for details about the fifth grade rock and mineral show.

Also ask your child about a notice of a visiting author, Kier Graff, who will visit us on March 28th.  There is an opportunity to receive an autographed copy of his latest book.

March 28 is also the date of 5D's Mass with the three-year-olds.