Week of 2/24 Newsletter

Dear 4th & 5th Grade Families,

I hope this letter finds you well! We are nearing the end of our second trimester and I will be sending home report cards on March 17. We will not have restructured days for parent-teacher conferences, but if you have a pressing concern, I would be happy to try to accommodate a meeting with you after you’ve received your child’s report card. Please contact me with your request to schedule the conference and a brief description of specifics that you’d like to discuss.

Spring Student Council elections will be held on March 7. This Friday, your child will receive a packet with information on how to sign up to run for an office. It is a great opportunity to be a part of student leadership at Mountain School and all 4th, 5th and 6th graders are invited to participate!

What we’re learning this week:

ELA/Social Sciences:

We’re really enjoying reading By the Great Horn Spoon and through it, we’re learning about the California Gold Rush. In Social Sciences, we are learning more about the American Revolution.

Our vocabulary list for this week & next week is focused on Greek & Latin prefixes mono, bi, tri and can be found at http://quizlet.com/_be7sc. A test will be NEXT Friday.

Math:

4th Grade: We’re learning about mixed numbers and improper fractions. We will be able to model these numbers as well as convert back and forth.

5th Grade: We’re learning how to add and subtract mixed numbers and improper fractions.

Science:

4th Grade: We began a new unit called Solid Earth. We’ve started with “mock rocks” and will hear a presentation about geology from Ruby’s step-dad, Tom on Wednesday! (Thanks, Tom!)

5th Grade: We just finished a unit called Mixtures & Solutions and will begin a new unit called Living Systems in which we’ll learn about transport systems in the human body and vascular plants.

Thank you for your support at home and in class, we all really appreciate it so much! If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at rhonig@santacruz.k12.ca.us.

Best,

Ms. Honig

CORRECTION!

I mistakenly gave you the wrong date for Report Cards.

They will go home on March 17, 2014 - NOT March 10.

Thanks for your cooperation!

-Ms. Honig

Week of 2-11 Newsletter

February 11, 2014

Dear 4/5 Families,

I hope this letter finds you dry & well! Thank you so much for your support throughout the Science Fair Project process. I am so excited to hear about each child’s experiment. Please remember that the projects will be on display on Wednesday (tomorrow) from 10:30-3PM in the PAC Room. We’d love to share them with family members & friends, so come on by!

We began reading a Newbery Award winning novel called By the Great Horn Spoon! written by Sid Fleischman. It is a richly written adventure, set amidst the California Gold Rush. In an effort to continue teaching about Historical Fiction as well as just fabulous writing, we’ll be reading the novel together as a class. Occasionally, I will be sending home a copy with your child to read for homework. Please take the time to read aloud with your child and discuss the events & writing.

We are continuing to learn about fractions (5th graders are also working with their relationship with decimals). Please keep practicing multiplication & division facts NIGHTLY!

Dates to remember:

Feb. 12: Mountain School Science Fair (parents & families are welcome!)

Feb. 13: Student Council will be selling Hot Cocoa ($1/cup) before school - we encourage you to send a reusable mug!

Feb. 13: 2:30PM: Valentines’ exchange (please do not send edible treats with the cards and please remember to send one for EVERY child, if you send any at all - names on reverse

Feb. 14: NO SCHOOL - Staff Development Day

Feb. 17: NO SCHOOL - President’s Day

Mar. 17: Report Cards will be sent home

Thanks for your time and support both in the classroom and at home! If you have any questions or concerns, please send me an email at rhonig@santacruz.k12.ca.us.

Best,

Ms. Honig

Week of 2/3 Newsletter

February 3, 2014

Dear 4/5 Families,

I hope this letter finds you well! Thank you for your continued support at home practicing math facts with your child. In an effort to record progress, an update will be sent home weekly showing how your child is moving forward. I hope this will help your child continue to practice the facts as well as work on automaticity.

Valentine’s Day lands on a Staff Development day, so we’ll be planning to have some time for children to exchange valentines at the end of the day on 2/13. I ask that if your child brings Valentines to share, they bring one for every child in the class. I’ll also ask that you do not send edible treats, but rather encourage thoughtful, handmade notes.

Dates to remember:

Feb 10: NO SCHOOL - Lincoln’s Birthday

Feb 11: Science Fair PROJECT IS DUE!

Feb 12: Mountain School Science Fair (parents & families are welcome!)

Feb. 13: Valentine’s Day valentine exchange, 2:30PM

Feb 14: NO SCHOOL - Staff Development Day

Feb 17: NO SCHOOL - President’s Day

Thanks for your time and support both in the classroom and at home! If you have any questions or concerns, please send me an email at rhonig@santacruz.k12.ca.us.

Best,

Ms. Honig