Welcome to Miss Koval’s 5^th Grade Notes Page

January 2011

Grade 5 Notes

As the year moves rapidly, I witness everyone working toward their goals each and every day.  At this point in the year each student should understand how things will be running for the rest of the year and what is expected of them.  As we work our way through the Second Trimester, I see tremendous growth taking place within each 5^th grade student!  We are all maturing quite nicely, and really proving ourselves to be independent, hard-working individuals!  Every day is an experience in itself to welcome new ideas, new knowledge, and most importantly excitement to the learning process.  Now that we have laid out the foundation for a productive learning environment, we can progress and reach to new heights as the year moves forward.  I want us all to keep up the great work in terms of putting forth immense effort and remaining responsible throughout each and every day.  Being on time, prepared, and ready to work at all times are needed to make each day a productive one.  This will allow for a comfortable and conducive learning environment.  I will be posting weekly spelling and vocabulary words for your convenience, along with tests, quizzes, and other important dates, however, it is important to check your child’s Assignment Pad nightly.  Homework must be completed on a regular basis.  I am looking forward to a fantastic Trimester!!

Students will be solely responsible for copying their homework in each class throughout the course of the day.

 Please remember if you have any questions during the year feel free to contact me at school by leaving a message at the front office, or through e-mail at kkoval@rcmbs.org (only at school) or at MissKelAMBS@aol.com.

Sincerely,
 
Miss Koval

5^th Grade Schedule is as follows:

 

 

SPECIALS SCHEDULE

(Student Groups for Art/Computers have been given in class)

MONDAY-Spanish and Gym
TUESDAY- Music
WEDNESDAY-Art/Computer and Library
THURSDAY- Spanish and Gym
FRIDAY- Art/Computer

 

HOMEWORK

Nightly assignments will be written on our homework board daily.  It is expected that the children hand-in neatly completed homework every day on-time.  As Fifth Graders, individual responsibility is expected as well.  It is no longer a parent’s “fault” if assignments are not finished correctly or on-time.  Each child knows what is expected of him/her, and should endeavor to put forth evidence of sincere effort at all times.  If homework is not complete at the time it is due, your child will receive a deduction in his/her homework grade for the appropriate Trimester.  Each child who fails to hand-in the assignment at all or in the appropriate manner must spend recess with me to complete the assignment, rather than missing the class work of the present day.  “If” this becomes an issue, I will contact the child’s parent(s) to take further action.  Please check our school website for weekly assignments such as Spelling/ Vocabulary.  www.mbs4u.ws

 

GRADING

Homework, Class work, Class Participation, Group Projects, as well as Tests and Quizzes will be the components that make up your child’s grade.  If throughout the Trimester, you have any questions or concerns, please contact me as soon as the concern arises.  I am available ALMOST every morning at 8am, for extra help, as well as most afternoons.  Take advantage of my time, I am here to help!

 

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

Both Group Incentives and Personal Incentives are available for good behavior/deserving students.  I place great value on positive reinforcement in a caring, helpful, and cooperative environment throughout each and every school day.  Your child will be rewarded for the displaying these attributes, which they all have in abundance.  The whole class will receive a surprise after receiving 6 “Class” Stars.  Each week, I will choose one student for “Student of the Week”.  Students are eligible for nomination as “student of the week” if he/she displays extraordinary effort throughout the previous week, as well regular use of  good manners, positive behaviors, along with a Catholic Christian attitude toward one another.

 

CARING COOPERATIVE COMMUNITY

Our 5^th grade classroom is filled with bright, enthusiastic, uniquely different learners.  I take great pride in giving each of my students the opportunity to express their acquired knowledge in the style that suits them individually.  I expect each child to understand and respect the importance of acceptance among their peers, as well as understanding that we all have a variety of strengths as well as weaknesses that will be evident throughout our interaction during the year.  In order for our classroom to run smoothly, respect, peer assistance, and cooperation are expected on a daily basis. 

 

TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM

Enthusiasm for using technology in the classroom will be evident throughout the curriculum.  Not only do I believe the resources that are available are incredible, but your children are fascinated that these tools can be used in the learning process.   Learning can be fun!  I will try my best, to make this year’s learning process an enjoyable and successful one.  Having access to laptops throughout the day will allow usage of technological resources regularly.  The children are expected to handle all equipment with care, which will help keep these resources readily available.  Thanks to the fundraising of HAP, we are lucky to have SMART Boards in every classroom in the building! 

The SMART Board interactive whiteboard helps energize presentations and motivate learning.  The SMART board is the world’s leading interactive whiteboard.  Combining the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer, the SMART Board interactive whiteboard engages students and audiences around the world. 

 

SUBJECT OVERVIEW

Religion:  Subject Overview:  This year the primary focus is learning, knowing, and understanding the Seven Sacraments.  Our Religion book’s website is:  www.webelieveweb.com.  The website offers different activities for each chapter to enhance the sacraments and other topics.  The Corporal Works of Mercy will also play a large part this year.  They will be discussed and incorporated into service projects throughout the year.

 

Reading/Language Arts – Incorporates Grammar, Spelling, Reading and writing skills.  The stories let us share the experiences of others, and will guide us along the way.  Vocabulary, Comprehension, Story Elements, Using Parts of a Book, Making Inferences, Problem/Solution, Main Idea and Supporting Details, Multiple Meaning Words, Synonyms and Antonyms, Story Elements, Using a Glossary, Context Clues, Cause and Effect, Using an Index, and Using a Table of Contents and Headings.  The website is: www.mhschool.com.

Math – The Math book’s website is:  www.sadlier-oxford.com. The website offers different activities for the students to reinforce, practice, and enrich themselves for certain concepts.  The students will continue with IXL Math throughout the school year both in school and at home.

Social Studies – Subject Overview:  The fifth grade curriculum begins with the five regions of the United States.  The students will then move on to learn about the continents and countries in the western hemisphere.

 

Science – The units covered this year will include: the Diversity of Life, Environmental Science, and Water and Air.  The Science book’s website is:  www.pearsonlearning.com.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

**I want to thank our new class mothers~ Mrs. Kittaneh, Mrs. Bucher, and Mrs. Hogan for volunteering their time to make this upcoming year a successful one.

 

***On Physical Education days, students are responsible to wear their correct uniforms (AMBS sweats, sweatshirts, and/or jogging suits when cold) AND Navy, White, or Navy and White Sneakers ONLY.

 

**Jumbo book socks must be on all hard covered books!

 

Special Notes/Reminders

**This Month we will be collecting SOUP in our annual “Soup”er Bowl Challenge organized by Student Council.  Please bring in Soup.  We will be collecting and keeping the soup in our classroom until we donate the soup.

**January 4th~Welcome Back to School!!  Happy New Year to Everyone!                                 Let’s start the year off right!

** January 7th~ First Friday Liturgy @ 9:30 (Seton House will Prepare this mass)     12:30 pm Dismissal.

** January 17^th~ Happy Birthday to Martin Luther King Jr.! No School

 

** January 19^th~ Ladies’ Night Out @ Varka!!  See Green Envelope for details!!

 

** January 27^th~ 5^th Grade will have a guest speaker about Trauma Prevention.

 

**Monday, January 28th is “NonUniformToday” Day for January Birthdays.  This will also be the designated day for these children to bring in a “Birthday Treat”. 

**Birthdays will be celebrated ONCE a month on a designated day.  Class mothers will be informing you of this day, and procedures to follow.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS:

Grade 4: Grace and Matthew

Grade 5: Paz, Alexa, and Giovanni

Grade 6: none

Grade 7: Elizabeth and Mackenzie

Grade 8: RoseAnna and Gabriella

 **It is very important that all treats given out in school do not have SUGAR as the main ingredient.  I will not be able to hand out anything sent in with sugar as its main ingredient.

** January 30^th~Catholic Schools Week (CSW) begins with                            

 OPEN HOUSE 11:00AM-3:00PM

**Although we will have the privilege of having lockers, I will NOT be allowing the students to lock their lockers throughout the day or over night.  These will be used for storage, and I will discourage any personal/ valuable items to be brought to school.

 

This year, for our Middle States Accreditation Process, AMBS will be focusing on the

Corporal Works of Mercy.