Grade 5 Newsletter

Dear Parents,
Thank you to all those who attended the recent Parent
Teacher Interviews. I appreciated the opportunity to
meet with you and discuss your childs progress during
Term 1. By now, most of you have had a chance to
review the smart goals that your child has set for
themselves. If you have any additional questions or
concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Over the last two weeks, we have transformed our
classroom into a campground, complete with a roaring
fire and marshmallows. Each student was given the
opportunity to read their scary (and sometimes funny)
story around the campfire.
This writing activity
provided the framework to explore the traits of
narratives (setting, protagonist/antagonist, conflict,
resolution, etc.). Our next focus in literacy will be to
develop scripts for readers theatre based on the
campfire stories. We will also be working on the
features or persuasive writing in preparation for our
class election (Social Studies).
I was very happy with the overall achievement on the
most recent Math assessment (Patterning). The class
demonstrated a good understanding of both geometric
and number patterns by making predictions and writing
pattern rules. If you have not done so already, please
sign and return your childs quiz to school. We have
recently begun our next unit, Data Management and
Graphing.
The class will be participating in the
Canadian
Census
at
School
project
(http://www.censusatschool.ca/). We will then use the
data generated from this census in our final graphing
performance task. There will be no quiz or test during
this unit. Students will be assessed on their ability to
create a graph with proper titles, labels and scales and
their ability to interpret the data.
In Social Studies, we have continued our look at
Government and Citizenship by examining the three
levels of government (municipal, provincial and federal)
and their responsibilities. We are currently comparing
the Canadian parliamentary democratic system to
forms of government found in others countries, past
and present.

December
2014
Important Dates
December 1 12
FAMSAC Food Drive
Monday December
8th
Lunch Lady Orders
Due
Scholastic Orders
Due
Thursday
December 11
Choral Concert
6:30
Monday December
15th
Choir Trip to
Stillwater 1:30
Friday December
19th
Spirit Day: Wear
Pajamas
December 22
January 2
Winter Holidays: No
Classes

Days to
Remember
Indoor Gym:
Tuesday &
Thursday
DPA: Monday,
Wednesday &
Friday
Computers:
Wednesday
Music: Thursday

Class Dojo and Tracking Smart Goals

Prior to the Parent Teacher Interviews, each student was asked to prepare a
list of smart goals that they would like to achieve this year. The goals were
intended to target any of the six Learning Skills (Responsibility, Organization,
Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative, Self-Regulation) as outlined in
the progress reports and report cards. I also asked each student to set a
measureable target as part of each goals (e.g. hand in homework 3 out of 4
weeks each month). Many of you had a chance to review these goals during
the interviews. If you have not seen these goals yet, please let me know and
I will send a copy home that you can review with your child.
I have recently begun using a website called Class Dojo (www.
classdojo.com) to help track each students progress towards achieving their
personal goals.
Recently, I sent an email invitation to each students
parent(s) with instructions on how to access the site. Each student will also
come home with a form that contains both a student account code and a
parent account code. This will allow both you and your child to view their
progress at any time. Please complete and return the bottom portion
of this form. Near the beginning of Term 2, we will re-examine the goals. If
students have demonstrated that they have achieved their goals, they can
create new ones. If they are still struggling, we can re-assess and set a more
realistic goal. This is the first time I have used this site for this purpose. If
you have any feedback (positive or constructive), please let me know.
Communication
If you need to reach me, please send a note in your childs agenda, email me
(daniel.holmes@ocdsb.ca) or call (613-828-3100 x2026).
I will be keeping you up-to-date on important information and school/class
events through a number of ways:

Email
Newsletters
Class Dojo (www.classdojo.com)
Your childs agenda
Class website: http://bcps-r5a.weebly.com/

It is important to check the website regularly for ongoing information

regarding class and school events. Here you will be able to find past copies
of newsletters, important dates, information on homework and a link to the
schools website (http://www.bellscornersps.blogspot.ca/).
Early pick up
If you plan to pick up your child early, please send me a note (email or
agenda) with the approximate time so that I can let the office staff know that
you are coming.

Reminders
It is recommended that students have one pairs of tight fitting shoes (no slipons) for indoor physical activity and a pair of warm, waterproof boots for
outdoor play. Now that the weather is changing, please ensure that students
come prepared each day to spend time outdoors (recess and DPA). Students
should have a warm coat, boots, hat and gloves/mittens. Sending an extra
pair of dry socks in the backpack is also a good way to avoid cold wet feet
during the day.
To minimize interruptions to our classroom learning environment and to
avoid many trips to the water fountain, please send your child to school with
a sealed reusable water bottle that can be kept at his/her desk.
Fridays at BCPS are litter-less lunch days. Please send lunch items in
reusable containers. A spare ziplock bag is also a handy item for returning
apple cores, banana peels, etc.
Scholastic Reading Club
Each month, I will be sending home the order forms for purchasing books
and other educational resources. As always, scholastic orders are completely
voluntary. The bonus points that are collected will be used to obtain books
for our classroom library.
Donations
Any donations of gently used books for our classroom library or sports
equipment (tennis balls, mini sticks, etc.) for our recess bin will be greatly
appreciated. If your child would like the books/equipment returned to them
at the end of the year, please ensure that their name is clearly visible on the
item.
Homework
Beginning in September, weekly math practice sheets (yellow math duotang)
were sent home each Monday. This homework will provide additional
reinforcement to the concepts that we will be covering in class. Students are
asked to complete and return their math practice by Friday each week.
We are now into our thirteenth week of daily word work. Students will be
given time in class to complete daily work on their core spelling words. Any
unfinished work will need to be completed at home on Thursday (grey word
work duotang) and returned to school by Friday. Our weekly dictation will
be held on Friday afternoon so students may choose to study their words the
night before (Thursday).
From time to time, assignments that have been worked on in class may need
to be sent home to be completed. Due dates will be communicated by email
and in your childs agenda.

As always, students are encouraged to spend approximately 30 minutes

each night (Sunday Thursday) reading.
Thank you,
Mr. Daniel Holmes
Grade 5
Bells Corners P.S.