Upcoming Tests & Quizzes

Tests this week:

Monday
NO SCHOOL!

Tuesday


Wednesday
Vocabulary - Unit 9 Test
Be sure any Spanish homework is complete and up to date.


Thursday:
Simple Solutions Quiz - Lessons 55-65

Friday:
Social Studies -Ch. 7 Lessons 1-2 Quiz
Religion Ch. 7 Quiz

Bullying

Dear Fifth Grade Parents,

It has been brought to my attention and to the attention of the administration, that students in our class are experiencing bullying.  The act itself may only be between the perpetrator(s) and the victim(s), but the experience affects us all: the bully, the victim, those who see it happen, and those who hear about what happened.  

As a Catholic school we have a responsibility to address and correct this behavior. We have addressed this issue in multiple ways. As a class, we have communicated about this topic through reading, discussion, writing and peer recognition for students, “Caught doing what is right.” 

The administration and teachers at St. Jerome take this situation very seriously. We would like to draw parents’ attention to the excerpt from the St. Jerome Policy manual, “Reasons for expulsion” which states, “Reasons for expulsion are, but are not limited to, the following offenses committed by students:

1. Actions gravely detrimental to the moral and spiritual welfare of other students.

2. Habitual profanity or vulgarity…

4. Bullying or harassing school personnel or other students.”

After our recent holiday dedicated to the civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I am reminded of his words, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”  To break that silence, I would like us all to take a minute to talk to our sons and daughters about this situation and how we can contribute to a solution.  The situation, as we have become aware, is this:

Some fifth grade students are

·         Using bad language/swear words on the playground

·         Displaying poor sportsmanship (both in winning and in losing)/not playing fair on the playground… Using the derogative, “You suck.”

·         Picking on others for not having money or for being “poor”

·         Teasing students about not having possessions (i.e. video games, shoes, watching certain cable T.V. shows, etc)

·         Afraid to “stick up” for their friends and classmates, for fear of being teased or made fun of themselves

Thank you very much for your attention to this important and sensitive matter. 

Sincerely,

Mrs. Lennon                                        

5^th grade Teacher    


Sr. Judith Peters                                                              
Principal                                              


Mrs. Wendy McLaughlin  
Vice Principal

P.S. More information to come regarding updates to this situation.  Already, there has been a vast improvement in the way the students behave towards each other.  Thank you very much!

Link to a bullying "video" (Voice Thread... free registration)  for help talking to your child about bullying.

- Click Here for Bullying Video

Math Update

As the fifth grade works its way through this current math chapter, I have found a common link between those students who are struggling with fractions and the concepts and skills.  Equally, I have found common link between those who are excelling in this area. The link is the same for both.


Those who are struggling with fractions lack an automatic recall of basic math facts, which is a "key foundation for higher level math skills (Developing Automatic Recall, 2006)."  Those who are "getting it" and excelling in this area have a solid foundation of basic facts upon which they may rely without having to count on fingers.


If your child is currently "getting it," he/she has been given the opportunity to move ahead in the chapter and have enrichment activities to help solidify the concepts of fractions.  The goal is for all the students to "get it" by the final chapter assessment (test), but, as in life, some students will "get it" before others. So for those students, depending on the length of time needed, a small group may move ahead to the next chapter before the rest of the class.


If your child is currently struggling with fractions or concepts please help by, 1) have your child come talk to me at lunch for extra help, and 2) practice the multiplication and division math facts.  I will include a couple of math websites for your convenience, but the old fashion way always works too!  Have your child write the facts down in order (see example below).  Write the multiplication facts and division facts in order... simple as that and REPEAT all the way to 12... then do it again!!!


1 x 2 = 2
2 x 2 = 4
2 x 3 = 6 
etc...


24 ÷ 2 = 12
22 ÷ 2 = 11
20 ÷ 2 = 10
etc...




Timed online flashcards - AplusMath


Times tables online practice - Multiplication Practice


Division Practice - (Be sure to scroll down) AAAmath


Division Game - Division Practice

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