Grade 5 Newsletter

Dear Parents,
I wish you all a healthy and happy start to the New Year.
With the end of Term 1 in sight, Room 209 will be a very
busy place during the month of January. By now,
students have learned all of the skills and strategies
necessary to complete the final assessment for the
current math unit on Data Management and Graphing.
The final project for this unit will require students to
compare the class results obtained from a recent online
student survey (www.censusatschool.ca) to results from
students around the world, through graphing and data
analysis. A copy of the project checklist was given to
each student and can also be accessed under the
homework tab on the class website (www.bcpsr5a.weebly.com).
The due date for this project is
Friday January 23, 2015. My expectation is that
students will complete the majority of this project on
their own time (nights, weekends, recess, etc.). I
estimate that the project will require approximately 3 5 hours to complete. Our next focus in math will be a
return to Number Sense as we will investigate a variety
of multiplication strategies.

January 2015

In Science, we have been investigating the properties of

three states of matter (solids, liquids and gases) and
changes that occur between them.
The unit will
conclude with a short quiz and a design task. Students
will be challenged to design and build a container that
will provide adequate insulation to prevent ice from
melting.

Friday January 23rd

Math Graphing
Project Due

Our focus in Reading and Writing this month will be

Summarizing and Point of View as we continue our
integrated Social Studies unit examining Government
and Citizenship.
Students have been learning and
debating about different forms of government as we
continue to progress towards our culminating task (a
class election). Students will also be busy completing
the second of three reading assessments and preparing
scripts based on their campfire stories to be used in
readers theatre.
Later this month, I would like our class to begin using
the outdoor skating rink that is currently under
construction on the school yard. More information
about dates and times to come.

Important Dates
December 22
January 2
Winter Holidays: No
Classes
Tuesday January 6th
Milk/Juice Orders Due
Thursday January
15th
Waste Management
Assembly
Friday January 16th
PA Day: No Classes
Monday January 19th
Pizza Orders Due
Scholastic Orders
Due

Friday January 30th

BCPS Movie Night:
The Incredibles
Days to Remember
Indoor Gym: Tuesday
& Thursday
DPA: Monday,
Wednesday & Friday
Computers:
Wednesday
Music: Thursday
Library: Friday
Contact Info
Phone Number:

Electronics in the Classroom

Later this month (date to be announced), I would like to invite students to
bring personal electronic devices to school for a one day trial. The intention
of bringing the electronics is to assist students during independent work
periods. For example, some students may choose to listen to music during
independent work on math while others may read books on a tablet or ereader. Many devices can also be used for research and help with writing
(online dictionary and thesaurus). We have a limited number of computers
and tablets in the classroom so this will allow students greater access to
information and resources that will help them to complete their work. Once
the date and details have been finalized, I will send out more information.
Class Dojo and Tracking Smart Goals
Starting in December, I began using a website called Class Dojo (www.
classdojo.com) to help track each students progress towards achieving their
personal smart goals for Term 1. The website provides instant feedback to
both parents and students. Instructions on how to access the site were sent
through an email invitation to each students parent(s) and through a form
that was sent home containing 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. If you have had any difficulty accessing the site, please let me
know. To provide an additional incentive, the class as a whole has developed
a menu of rewards that can be achieved by earning dojo points (e.g. eat
lunch with a friend).
I have been very pleased with the progress so far as the class has risen to an
80% success rate in achieving their weekly goals. 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 email (daniel.holmes@ocdsb.ca), call (613828-3100 x2026) or send a note in your childs agenda .
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)
Class website: http://bcps-r5a.weebly.com/
Your childs agenda

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 pair of tight fitting shoes (no slipons) for indoor physical activity and a pair of warm, waterproof boots for
outdoor play. Now that the weather has changed, 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
Weekly math practice sheets (yellow math duotang) are 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 sixteenth 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 (e.g. math project) may need to be sent
home to be completed. Due dates will be communicated by email and on
the class website.
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.