WEEK OF FEBRUARY 27

Too Good For Drugs Program
During our 8th session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward shared a power point presentation about marijuana. Students learned some of the myths people believe about this substance, and then learned the actual facts about it. Students received a fact sheet about marijuana that should be shared and discussed with a parent before our next session.
*We will have our final sessions of T.G.F.D. this upcoming week - please encourage your child to write a personal thank you note to Deputy Seward for his time and commitment to this valuable program!
*SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, April 10th is our Too Good For Drugs Graduation at 8:15 a.m. in our gym. Parents are invited to attend!

Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 23 pretest will be on Monday. Based on the pretest, students will be given either the regular or challenge word lists. Homework will be assigned during the week to practice their words. Both regular and challenge word tests are on Friday.
• English - Students will be reviewing the organization of expository writing.
  
• Reading - The students are now reading their assigned historical fiction novels. It is important that the daily assigned reading and role sheets are completed on time so they are prepared for their daily discussion group meetings! READING TIC-TAC-TOE: Only one week to go - has your student achieved Tic-Tac-Toe yet?
  
• Science - We will begin our Earth Science unit: Cycles on Earth and in Space. The first lesson of Chapter 11 takes a look at the causes of weather.
  
• Social Studies - Chapter 9 "Winning the Revolution" begins with the colonists' formal declaration of independence from Britain.
  
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The students will be reviewing a variety of skills such as mean, median, range, and mode, proportions, and ratios to prepare for the upcoming ISAT tests.
  

Important Dates:

Feb. 28 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

Feb. 29 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 9)

March 1 - Too Good For Drugs (Final Session)

March 2 - End of 2nd Trimester

March 5 - No School (C. Pulaski Day)

March 5 - 9 - ISAT Testing and Spring Conferences

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 20

Valentine's Day Thank Yous
A special thanks to all of the parents who helped make our Valentine's Day Party a "sweet" time. Mrs. Wygonski, Mrs. Barashka, Mrs. Crandell, Mrs. Salvino, and Mrs. Huang planned some great games and helped to provide some of the treats. Mrs. Germann and Mrs. Principe helped by sending in more treats, paper goods, and drinks.

Too Good For Drugs Program
During our 7th session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward shared a power point presentation about alcohol. Students learned some of the myths people believe about this substance, and then learned the actual facts about it. Students received a fact sheet about alcohol that should be shared and discussed with a parent before our next session.

Argonne Field Trip - A Scientific Success!
Thank you to Mr. McGlynn, Mrs. Schoeberle, and Mrs. Young for chaperoning our trip to Argonne. The students did a wonderful job in each of the laboratories, and the activities provided some great extensions to our work in the classroom. We received several compliments from Argonne staff about our students' behavior and knowledge of scientific ideas!

Spring Conferences
Please note that priority is being given to math parents for Spring Conferences. Math parents were already sent an email with the appropriate link to sign up. I will send the link to homeroom parents on Wednesday to sign up for any remaining time slots.

Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 22 pretest will be on Tuesday. Based on the pretest, students will be given either the regular or challenge word lists. Homework will be assigned during the week to practice their words. Both regular and challenge word tests are on Friday.
• English - Students will be creating an adjective ABC booklet to further our study of adjectives.
  
• Reading - The students will be assigned different historical fiction novels next week. They will also be given a schedule of their reading assignments along with their particular role for each daily discussion group meeting. In addition, we will be working to identify different genres of fiction, order of events, and character, setting, and plot in our skills workbook. READING TIC-TAC-TOE: Students have their Tic-Tac-Toe sheets for 2nd trimester. Please monitor your child's progress and encourage your child to read at home to earn Tic-Tac-Toe by March 2nd!
  
• Science - We will review about forms of energy, heat transfer, and energy resources. The Chapter 15 Test is scheduled for Wednesday, February 22!
  
• Social Studies - The students will work on the final copies of their Cause/Effect Puzzle Project. We hope to begin Chapter 9 "Winning the Revolution" before the end of the week.
  
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The students are learning how to add and subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators. The Chapter 4 Test scheduled for Thursday, February 23!
  

Important Dates:

Feb. 20 - No School (President's Day)

Feb. 23 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 8)

Feb. 23 - Spring Pictures

Feb. 28 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 13

Valentine's Day Reminders
Students will be able to exchange Valentines within their own classrooms on Tuesday, February 14. Any sweet treats included with Valentines will go home with students at the end of the school day.

Too Good For Drugs Program
During our 6th session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward shared a power point presentation about tobacco. Students learned different ways people use tobacco and how each of those uses negatively affects the human body. Students received a fact sheet about tobacco that should be shared and discussed with a parent before our next session.

Important Notes about Argonne Field Trip!
Don't forget that our class will be going to Argonne on Thursday, February 16. Students must bring a sack lunch on this day. Also, students must wear pants, long-sleeved shirts, and closed-toe shoes. Thanks in advance for following these guidelines set by Argonne to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience!

Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 21 pretest will be on Monday. Based on the pretest, students will be given either the regular or challenge word lists. Homework will be assigned during the week to practice their words. Both regular and challenge word tests are on Friday.
• English - We will continue to learn about adjectives next week. Students will learn how to use forms of good and bad correctly and write proper adjectives. The Unit 4 Adjectives Test is scheduled for Friday, February 17!
  
• Reading - The students will begin a novel unit focused on the genre of historical fiction. Throughout the next several weeks, students will be reviewing important skills, such as generalizations, fact and opinion, author's viewpoint, and cause and effect. In addition, this week we will be working to identify different genres of fiction and the order of events. READING TIC-TAC-TOE: Students have their Tic-Tac-Toe sheets for 2nd trimester. Please monitor your child's progress and encourage your child to read at home to earn Tic-Tac-Toe by March 2nd!
  
• Science - We will finish the chapter by learning about energy resources. The Chapter 15 Test is scheduled for Wednesday, February 22.
  
• Social Studies - We will review about the people, ideas, and events important to the start of the Revolutionary War. The Chapter 8 Test is scheduled for Tuesday, February 14.
  
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The students will learn how to convert from mixed number to improper fraction and from improper fraction to mixed number. They will also learn how to add and subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators.
  

Important Dates:

Feb. 14 - T.G.F.D. Session 7

Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day Parties

Feb. 16 - Argonne Field Trip

Feb. 20 - No School (President's Day)

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6

Valentine's Day Tidbits
Students will be able to exchange Valentines within their own classrooms on Tuesday, February 14. I will provide a class list for the students next week, since I ask that those who choose to bring Valentines do so for each classmate. Also, any treats included with Valentines will go home with students at the end of the school day.

Too Good For Drugs Program
During our 5th session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward discussed how the decisions we make are influenced by friends and family, as well as our own personal values. Although students did not receive a homework assignment, I encourage families to share with each other about times when important decisions had to be made and how others influenced those decisions.

Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 20 pretest will be on Monday. Based on the pretest, students will be given either the regular or challenge word lists. Homework will be assigned during the week to practice their words. Both regular and challenge word tests are on Friday.
• English - We will begin our next grammar unit on adjectives. Adjectives are words that describe nouns or pronouns. They can tell what kind or how many.
  
• Reading - We will continue identifying cause and effect relationships using a variety of instructional materials, including Katie's Trunk in our literature books. A quiz over Katie's Trunk vocabulary is scheduled for Tuesday, February 7! READING TIC-TAC-TOE: Students have their Tic-Tac-Toe sheets for 2nd trimester. Please monitor your child's progress and encourage your child to read at home to earn Tic-Tac-Toe by March 2nd!
  
• Science - Students will learn how heat is transferred through convection, conduction, and radiation.
  
• Social Studies - We will read about Paul Revere's famous ride to warn the colonists about the British, the "shot heard 'round the world" at Lexington, and the Battle of Concord, as the Revolution begins. The Chapter 8 Test will be scheduled during the week of February 13.
  
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The students will learn how to convert between decimals and fractions, write equivalent fractions, and compare and order fractions.
  

Important Dates:

Feb. 9 - T.G.F.D. Session 6

Feb. 14 - T.G.F.D. Session 7

Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day Parties

Feb. 16 - Argonne Field Trip

Feb. 20 - No School (President's Day)