It’s hard to believe that we have two weeks left until spring break!  January and February have flown by!  I thought I’d give you a quick snapshot of what we have been up to lately!

Math – we are working on fractions with a focus on equivalent fractions.  Next week we will begin Math centers and then move into ordering and comparing fractions.

Language Arts – we have been working in our grammar booklets, learning how to research, take jot notes and write effective non-fiction paragraphs.  In Reading we have been working on our novel study, City of Ember.

Social Studies – we are working on a Regions of Canada projects.  Students should be wrapping these up in the next week.  We also did two current event articles – one on ‘fast fashion’ and the other on ‘pink shirt day’.

Science – we are in the middle of a unit on Force and Motion.  This week we learned about kinetic and potential energy and next week we move into simple machines.

P.E. – badminton – so fun!

Health/Bible- we have started a unit on Lent.

Here are a few other things for you…

Lent:  In Bible and devotion time we have started learning about Lent, which is the 40 days before Easter.  During this season we take time to reflect on the great sacrifice that Jesus made for us by dying on the cross.  This time is traditionally a season of repentance and self-denial.   In our church, Central Community Church, each of the six weeks before Lent we give up something that is important to us – one week is music, another is sweets, social media etc.  In class we talked about how giving this up is a SACRIFICE – it’s something we don’t want to give up – but doing this reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice that was made for us!  How much greater was the sacrifice Jesus made than us giving up listening to music for a week!  I have encouraged students to think about something they could give up for Lent.  It could be a different thing each week or something they give up until Easter time.  As this will likely filter into your home, I would encourage you to talk with your child about Lent and discuss as a family if and how your child can participate.  For each week of Lent we will be studying a different theme and looking at ways we can be more thoughtful of others and reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

Pancake Breakfast:  On Friday, March 13th our department will be having a pancake breakfast.  This year we will be cooking pancakes in the school kitchen and our entire department will gather in the gym for breakfast.  We will begin serving at 8:00 and ask that students arrive no later than 8:30 so we can be wrapped up and heading back to class by 9:00.  We would a few parent volunteers from each class to help us with the cooking, serving and clean up.  If you are available, please send me an email at pgoosen@highraodacademy.com.

Art Gala:  Just a note that we will be making a change to our Art Gala this year.  We will be taking out the talent show portion and moving it to our June assembly.  This gives us more time to showcase students who would like to participate in the talent show.

Green Games:  I am submitting our project tomorrow and am so hopeful that we will win!  I need the BC Green Games photo permission form back ASAP.  If you need another one then please let me know.

Missions Trip & Class Store:  Thank you for sending in donations for the missions team and the class store!  I appreciate it!

Upcoming Events:

Friday, March 13th Intermediate Department Pancake Breakfast

March 16 – 27th – Spring Break

Monday, March 30th – School reopens after spring break

Friday, April 10th – Good Friday

Monday, April 13th – Easter Monday

Thursday, April 23rd – Art Gala

We had a short week this week – and it just seemed to fly by!  We have a number of things coming up over the next few weeks before spring break.

Scholastic Book Fair – This will take place in the lobby this coming Tuesday – Thursday.  It will be open both before and after school.

Pink Shirt Day – On Wednesday students can wear play clothes containing pink in support of  anti-bullying day.

Hot Lunch & Knight’s Day on Friday

Uniform & P.E. Strip Reminder – A friendly reminder that students need to have uniform pieces including shoes that are black, white or a combination of those two colours.  Please ensure your child has their P.E. uniform with them on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Class Store –  We are very low on store items.  If it works for you to send anything in, it would be greatly appreciated.

Guatemala – we are collecting toothbrushes, small toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner for our missions team.

Upcoming Events:

February 25 – 27th Scholastic Book Fair

February 26th – Pink Shirt Day

February 28th – Hot Lunch & Knight’s Day

Friday, March 13th Intermediate Department Pancake Breakfast

March 16 – 27th – Spring Break

Monday, March 30th – School reopens after spring break

Friday, April 10th – Good Friday

Monday, April 13th – Easter Monday

Thursday, April 23rd – Art Gala

I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend and were able to spend some quality family time!

We had a busy week last week!  We had lots of fun ice skating on Tuesday morning, we started our intermediate department composting project this week and we were visited by a grade 12 sustainability class who shared a local meal with us!  It was a busy and fun week.  I have some pictures below for you to enjoy!

We have a few things coming up over the next several weeks…

Math Mayhem tomorrow:  Come join us for a fun evening of Math games tomorrow in the gym.  It starts at 6:30 and ends at 8:00.

Class Economy Prizes:  Our prizes are getting really low – especially the edible ones!  If you could donate something to our class economy, that would be appreciated!

Missions Collection:  We are collecting small shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes for the missions trip this month.

Pro D Day on Friday:  Just a reminder that there is no school for students on Friday.

Upcoming Events:

Feb 18th – Math Mayhem at 6:30 – 8:00

Feb 21st – Pro D Day

Friday, March 13th Intermediate Department Pancake Breakfast

March 16 – 27th – Spring Break

Monday, March 30th – School reopens after spring break

Friday, April 10th – Good Friday

Monday, April 13th – Easter Monday

Thursday, April 23rd – Art Gala

Enjoy the pictures!

Just a reminder that we are skating tomorrow from 10:00 – 11:00.  Please remember that students need helmets to go on the ice.

Also, your child may be coming home with Math flashcards to practice this week.  We are doing XtraMath at school but I am really pushing for students to have their multiplication facts memorized by the end of the year.  3 minutes per day is all that is needed.  I will be testing students each week and they will be moving on as they pass their level.  If your child was at Highroad last year, it is the same format – one fact family at a time.  Thank you for helping your child with this!

Happy Saturday to you!  With the ski trip yesterday, the blog post is coming out a bit late!  We had a very busy and productive week here in the Grade 5 classroom.  We spent time with our buddies making a Valentine’s craft and worked hard writing and preparing for our assembly on Wednesday.  The class did an AMAZING job!  I have some photos below for you to enjoy!  This Monday we will be ready to hand out our compost bins and form green teams.  These teams will pick up the intermediate departments compost on Fridays.  They will empty, clean and return the bins and dispose of the food into the Highroad garden’s compost bin.  I will be busy taking pictures this week so I can submit our project to the Green Games next week!  Very exciting stuff!

Newspaper Needed:  We need to add newspaper to the garden compost bins so I would love to have students bring in some newspaper for us to use.

Skating on Tuesday:  Please remember to send along skates (if you have them), a helmet and warm clothing for our skating trip!  Our skate time is from 10:00 – 11:00 and you are welcome to join us!

Class Economy Prizes:  Our prizes are getting really low – especially the edible ones!  If you could donate something to our class economy, that would be appreciated!

Munch A Lunch:  Munch a lunch is open for our February Hot Lunch Day!  Pork sliders are on the menu!  Sounds delicious!

Valentines Dress Up & Student Names:  On Friday students can wear valentine colours (pink, red, white).  We will also spend some time handing out Valentine cards in the morning.  Student names will be put into planners this week.

Missions Collection:  We are collecting small shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes for the missions trip this month.

Short Week Coming Up:  Just a reminder that Monday, February 17th is Family day and Friday, Feb 21st is a Pro D Day.

Upcoming Events:

Feb 11th – Skating

Feb 14th – Red, White & Pink Dress Up Day

Feb 17th – Family Day (no school)

Feb 21st – Pro D Day

Feb 18th – Math Mayhem at 6:30 pm

Enjoy some photos from this week!  Buddies Valentine’s craft, composting assembly and ski trip!  Have a wonderful weekend.

It was a great week here in the Grade 5 classroom!  Students earned their sweet treat this week and enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies on Tuesday!  It actually coincided very nicely with Pajama Day!  We have a number of things coming up…

Assembly:  Next Wednesday we have an assembly where our class will be teaching the rest of the intermediate department what we have learned through the Planet Protectors Academy, as well as our composting program. You are welcome to join us at 9:15 in the chapel.  Chapel will end around 10:00.

Report Cards:  These were handed out yesterday.  Please email me at pgoosen@highroadacademy.com if you have any questions or want to meet and discuss anything.

Xtra Math:  There is a link on the right of the blog, way down at the bottom.  Your child can go onto the link, put in their 4 digit code and practice their Math facts.  They will need to practice them three times a week between home and school.  On Fridays I will be asking them if they went on XtraMath three times during the week.

Ski Trip on Friday:  We are looking forward to our ski trip to Manning on Friday!  If you or your child are taking the bus please be at the school for 6:30 as the bus is leaving by 6:45  .  We try to leave the hill at 2:30, with hopes of returning between 4 and 4:30.  This time will vary depending on road conditions.

Missions Trip:  Our missions team goes to Guatemala over spring break and our class has been asked to collect small shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes.  If you are able to help with this, it would be greatly appreciated.  You can bring them in over the next month.  Thank you!

Math Mayhem Date Change:  Please note the new date for Math Mayhem.  It is now on Tuesday, February 18th, from 6:30 – 8:00

Upcoming Events:

Jan 28 – Pajama Day

Jan. 31 – Report Cards Go Home

Feb 4th – Class Leads Assembly on Composting

Feb 7th – Ski Trip

Feb 11th – Skating

Feb 14th – Red, White & Pink Dress Up Day

Feb 17th – Family Day (no school)

Feb 21st – Pro D Day

Feb 18th – Math Mayhem at 6:30 pm