Hello Everyone,

Here is the last week of school schedule. It has been such a pleasure to work with your children and be their teacher this year, and I have appreciated and enjoyed all of the wonderful parent support. We are looking forward to a fun last week and will be finishing the few academic requirements we still have this Monday.

*There is no homework this last week of school:)

Talent Show: Tuesday June 4th, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 with a break at 10:15

4/5 Creek Day: Wednesday June 5th, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00

*We could use one more parent volunteer if at all possible.

*Please be sure your child has a towel and sun screen (if it's sunny), a hat, etc.

*It can be chilly down there so layers are a good idea.

4/5 Report Cards: go home with your child along with items from their desks.

5/6 Grade Graduation: Wednesday evening June 5th, 5:00

Last Day of School: Thursday June 6th-- 7:30 pancake breakfast; 9:30 awards ceremony; 10:30 6th grade parent and staff softball game; 12:30 dismissal

**We need volunteers to help with last minute packing/boxing up classroom materials for our move. If you can help us procure some cardboard boxes, sort, divide up, organize, pack, label, etc., please let us know. As always, it is very appreciated. 

Have a wonderful summer!

Warmly,

Heather

Hello Everyone,

Here are some of the upcoming school events to be aware of. Have a great week!

Spring Concert: tbd due to possibility of rain on 5/16. I will forward dates/times as soon as I have them.

Open House: Wednesday May 22nd, 6:30

Memorial Day: Monday May 27th. NO SCHOOL

Talent Show: Tuesday June 4th, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 with a break at 10:15

4/5 Creek Day: Wednesday June 5th, 10:00 a.m.

5/6 Grade Graduation: Wednesday June 5th, 5:00

Last Day of School: Thursday June 6th-- 7:30 pancake breakfast; 9:30 awards ceremony; 10:30 softball game; 12:30 dismissal


**We need volunteers to help finish cataloging library books for the fourth and fifth grade libraries and to begin packing/boxing up classroom materials for our move. If you can help us procure cardboard boxes, sort, divide up, organize, pack, label, etc., please let us know. As always, it is very appreciated. 

CAASPP preparation: it's that time of year again, and we have started our test preparation practice in class. Hard copy test prep practice in math will be given out for homework this week. This will allow students to practice and build knowledge and stamina for these end-of-the-year assessments. Testing will begin Monday May 20th for ELA and Math for the intermediate grades. Additionally, 5th graders will test in science. Please make sure your child is present, well rested and nourished. It really helps them! 


CAASPP week snack schedule: Thank you in advance to all those who have volunteered to bring a snack in next week for CAASPP testing. You can bring your snacks into the classroom and set them on the large table in the back of the room the morning of. If you prefer to bring your snack in the afternoon, the day before, please put it in the refrigerator and let us know it is there. We still need a snack for Friday if anyone can manage it. Just click on the link above to go to the sign up sheet. We really appreciate it! 

Curriculum:

ELA: Lucy Calkin's WWII historical fiction book clubs continue. Our reading log homework will change to reading logs that allow your child to track the time spent reading in class and at home and to log page numbers. Reading homework this term will be from the Lucy Calkin's unit. Your child will choose from age appropriate informational texts and historical fiction novels in class on the WWII era. We have a number in class, but additional books may be needed to keep your child in books on the subject as they finish one and need additional books to build background knowledge. You may need to help your child find some appropriate texts at your local library. We will also use the Mt. School library to broaden our search for appropriate informational texts on the subject. AR book find link. **Please note: Students have new goals of 16.5 points for the last trimester. 

    

Math: 4th grade geometry. 5th grade measures and volume. Please check your child's planner for specific page numbers or problems due. We will continue to review these concepts. POM solving and presentations (problem of the month) and number talks continue. Silicon Valley Math Initiative (SVMI) MARS tasks continue all year. 

Science: Foss "Energy" and "Environments" modules.

Social Studies: Age appropriate WWII background to accompany Lucy Calkin's historical fiction book clubs.

Writing: summary, narrative and informational essays, poetry.

Grammar: Study of various grammar: prepositions, nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives and adjective clauses. Shades of meaning vocabulary, capitalization, quotation marks, citing evidence within texts.  Figurative language: simile, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia, metaphor, homophones.

Warmly,

Mrs. Young

Hello Everyone,

Important dates:
Seymour Center Field Trip: Tuesday, May 7th, from 8:15am - 10:40 (returning to school by 11am) at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Thank you in advance parent volunteers! We appreciate you!

Rules: 
-there are only 4 chaperones plus the classroom teacher allowed in the discovery lab at a time with no trading back and forth. That said, parents who are not in the lab can visit the exhibits and/or the trails while the lab is completed. 

-silence all cell phones; no updating social networks; no texting; no photos

MPORTANT: UCSC requires parking permits. All drivers will need to enter a parking code and their license plate number into one of the parking machines in the Seymour Center parking lot to have their parking validated during your field trip.  The parking code for your class is SM1524. Please see document with instructions in your packet on the morning of the field trip.

Math Contest (5th and 6th graders): Saturday May 11th, Aptos High School. If you have questions, please contact Mr. Halbig.

Memorial Day: Monday May 27th. NO SCHOOL

Curriculum:

ELA: Lucy Calkin's WWII historical fiction book clubs continue. Our reading log homework will change to reading logs that allow your child to track the time spent reading in class and at home and to log page numbers. Reading homework this term will be from the Lucy Calkin's unit. Your child will choose from age appropriate informational texts and historical fiction novels in class on the WWII era. We have a number in class, but additional books may be needed to keep your child in books on the subject as they finish one and need additional books to build background knowledge. You may need to help your child find some appropriate texts at your local library. We will also use the Mt. School library to broaden our search for appropriate informational texts on the subject. AR book find link. **Please note: Students have new goals of 16.5 points for the last trimester. 

    

Math: 4th grade geometry. 5th grade decimals. Please check your child's planner for specific page numbers. We will continue to review these concepts. POM solving and presentations (problem of the month) and number talks continue. Silicon Valley Math Initiative (SVMI) MARS tasks continue all year. 

CAASPP preparation: it's that time of year again, and we have started our test preparation practice in class. Hard copy test prep practice will be given out for homework this week. This will allow students to practice and build knowledge and stamina for these end-of-the-year assessments. Testing will begin May 20th for ELA and Math for the intermediate grades. Additionally, 5th graders will test in science. Please make sure your child is present, well rested and nourished. It really helps them! 

CAASPP week snack schedule:

Science: Foss "Energy" and "Environments" modules.

Social Studies: Age appropriate WWII background to accompany Lucy Calkin's historical fiction book clubs.

Writing: summary, narrative and informational essays, poetry.

Grammar: Study of various grammar: prepositions, nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives and adjective clauses. Shades of meaning vocabulary, capitalization, quotation marks, citing evidence within texts.  Figurative language: simile, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia, metaphor, homophones.

Warmly,

Mrs. Young

Hello Everyone,

I hope you all enjoyed the weekend in whatever way you and your family celebrate this time of year.

Important dates:
Seymour Center Field Trip Tuesday, May 7th, from 8:15am - 11am at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Please let us know if you would like to drive/chaperone for our last field trip of the year. We always appreciate our parent volunteers. 

Curriculum Updates: April

ELA: Lucy Calkin's WWII historical fiction book clubs continue. Our reading log homework will change to reading logs that allow your child to track the time spent reading in class and at home and to log page numbers. Reading homework this term will be from the Lucy Calkin's unit. Your child will choose from age appropriate informational texts and historical fiction novels in class on the WWII era. We have a number in class, but additional books may be needed to keep your child in books on the subject as they finish one and need additional books to build background knowledge. You may need to help your child find some appropriate texts at your local library. We will also use the Mt. School library to broaden our search for appropriate informational texts on the subject. AR book find link. **Please note: Students have new goals of 16.5 points for the last trimester. 

    

Math: 4th grade decimals. 5th grade decimals. Please check your child's planner for specific page numbers. We will continue to review these concepts. POM solving and presentations (problem of the month) and number talks continue. Silicon Valley Math Initiative (SVMI) MARS tasks continue all year.

Science: Foss module "Energy." This includes magnets, electricity, and circuits wrap up and the start of the "Environments" module.

Social Studies: Age appropriate WWII background to accompany Lucy Calkin's historical fiction book clubs.

Writing: summary, narrative and informational essays, poetry.

Grammar: Study of various grammar: prepositions, nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives and adjective clauses. Shades of meaning vocabulary, capitalization, quotation marks, citing evidence within texts.  Figurative language: simile, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia, metaphor, homophones.

CAASPP preparation: it's that time of year again, and we are beginning our test preparation practice in class. I will also send home some hard copy test prep practice for homework in the coming weeks. This will allow students to practice and build knowledge and stamina for these end-of-the-year assessments. As it gets closer, we will send out a snack schedule. Testing will begin in May for the intermediate grades.

Warmly,

Mrs. Young

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone has enjoyed their spring break! We have some new things on the horizon as we head into the last trimester of our year together including new reading goals of 16.5, a new unit of study on the WWII era, CAASPP preparation, poetry, etc.

Important dates:
Elkhorn Slough Field Trip this coming Thursday April 11th. We need drivers/chaperones. I am sorry for the short notice. The Elkhorn Slough folks had to move our field trip forward! If you can help us, please let us know. It's a 40 minute drive, and our departure time is 8:15. Students need a snack and lunch to take with them to the estuary. We will depart at 12:30 and head back to school.

Curriculum Updates: April

ELA: Lucy Calkin's WWII historical fiction book clubs. Our reading log homework will change to reading logs that allow your child to track the time spent reading in class and at home and to log page numbers. Reading homework this term will be from the Lucy Calkin's unit. Your child will choose from informational texts and historical fiction novels in class on the WWII era. We have a number in class, but additional books may be needed to keep your child in books on the subject as they finish one and need additional books to build background knowledge. You may need to help your child find some appropriate texts at your local library. We will also use the Mt. School library to broaden our search for appropriate informational texts on the subject. AR book find link. **Please note: Students have new goals of 16.5 points for the last trimester. 

    

Math: 4th grade decimals. 5th grade ratio. Please check your child's planner for specific page numbers. We will continue to review these concepts. POM solving and presentations (problem of the month) continue. Silicon Valley Math Initiative (SVMI) MARS tasks continue all year.

Science: Foss module "Energy." This includes magnets, electricity, and circuits wrap up and the start of the "Environments" module.

Social Studies: WWII background to accompany Lucy Clakin's historical fiction book clubs.

Writing: summary, narrative and informational essays.

Grammar: Study of various grammar: prepositions, nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives and adjective clauses. Shades of meaning vocabulary, capitalization, quotation marks, citing evidence within texts.  Figurative language: simile, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia, metaphor, homophones.

Warmly,

Mrs. Young

Hello Everyone,

Thank you to all of our parent volunteers and chaperones on the Cabrillo field trip last Friday. It was a nice experience, and we appreciate Beth, Shalisa, Courtney, Tana and Emily.

**Announcements: Assessments are this week in writing, reading and math. Please be sure your child is well rested and present. Thank you in advance.

Important dates:
Report Cards go home: Monday March 18th
Sea Odyssey Field Trip: Tuesday March 19 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Spring Break: April 1st - April 5th
Elkhorn Slough Field Trip in mid April--more info to follow


**Sea Odyssey field trip--Tuesday March 19 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. 
Departure from school is at 7:45; return to school by 12:00 for recess and lunch.

Food: Please make sure your child has eaten before starting the program. During the three hours that our group is scheduled, there is no time to break for snacks. 

Clothing: Please be sure your child dresses comfortably and brings a warm jacket (hat and gloves on colder days). It is usually cold on the ocean, even on sunny days, so be prepared and wear layers. Life vests will be provided. You may want to bring sunscreen and sunglasses.

Shoes: Soft-soled, non-skid shoes are required! Dress shoes, platforms, sandals, high heels or slick soled shoes are not allowed. They are unsafe and you will be asked to remove them. Please wear sneakers or other practical shoes.

Location: We are located at 2222 East Cliff Drive, Suite 222, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. The education center is located on the top floor of the O’Neill building in the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor, right next door to the Crow’s Nest restaurant.

Weather: The program takes place rain or shine and can be modified to accommodate all weather conditions. With the spring we have had, please be sure your child is prepared with a rain jacket and hood.

Typing Club

Typing practice!! typingclub.com

We will be typing in class each week.  Please let me know if computer access is a problem.

Curriculum Updates: January

ELA: Lucy Calkins, The Witch of Blackbird Pond

SC Symphony: daily musical compositions are introduced and enjoyed every morning.

Mindfulness: best practices in mindfulness are being incorporated in our classroom this year.

Harmony: best practices school-wide curriculum for building a strong social-emotional community within our classrooms.

AR Reading: Accelerated Reader continues to be an important part of our reading program.  Students are reading appropriate AR books found through the AR book find link and then quizzing on them within 24 hours of finishing their book.  It is critical to support your child in book selection (most books are in our school and classroom libraries) and to remind them to read, read, read whenever the opportunity arises--in the car, while waiting for an appt., to and from school, before bed time, on a Sunday in your jammies, etc.  These books should travel to and from the classroom in a daily fashion for classroom DEAR (drop everything and read) sessions as well as nightly reading homework and beyond.  Students have a goal of 14.5 points for the second trimester.  Each book has a certain amount of points it is worth.  This information is listed with reading level and appropriateness (grade school, middle school, high school, for example).  Points per book range from 3 to 5, generally, with longer books being worth more points.  On average, this is going to mean your child is reading anywhere from 3-5 books a Trimester. That said, help your child select books that are on their reading level (their latest DRA2 level), and have high interest for them.  This will allow them to accomplish reading books from start to finish successfully.

    

Math: 4th grade decimals. 5th grade perimeter and area. Please check your child's planner for specific page numbers. We will continue to review these concepts. POM solving and presentations (problem of the month) continue. Silicon Valley Math Initiative (SVMI) MARS tasks continue all year.

**Keep Practicing: times tables should be rehearsed and memorized. 

Science: Foss module "Energy." This includes magnets, electricity, and circuits.

Social Studies: Events leading up to the Revolutionary War.

Writing: summary, narrative and informational essays.

Grammar: Study of various grammar: prepositions, nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives and adjective clauses. Shades of meaning vocabulary, capitalization, quotation marks, citing evidence within texts.  Figurative language: simile, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia, metaphor, homophones.

Warmly,

Mrs. Young

Hello Everyone,

**Important Announcements:

Mountain Science Fair- Wednesday, March 6th:

All students in grades 4-6 are required to complete science fair projects at home.  Clear guidelines and timelines are included in the information. Wonderful proposals have been turned in and students are ready to conduct their experiments beginning this week. Please follow the calendar in the packet to be sure that you and your child stay on track. http://www.sciencebuddies.org/ and SC County Science Fair Link provide helpful resources for project planning.  Please contact me with any questions.

Santa Cruz County Science Fair: Saturday March 2nd @ Plantronics 
(registration deadline: Fri., Feb. 8)

SC County Science Fair Link  We encourage students to enter their projects into the Santa Cruz County Science Fair. Please view the website with your child to consider whether she or he is interested in this opportunity.  The website includes helpful ideas as well as guidelines for projects. If your child is interested in participating, he/she is strongly encouraged to begin a project as soon as possible.

Upcoming Dates:

READ-A-THON-- February 4th-February 28th

SC County Science Fair--Saturday, March 2nd

Mountain Science Fair-- Wednesday, March 6th
Cabrillo Field Trip--Friday, March 8, 11:45 - 1:00
Sea Odyssey Field Trip--Tuesday March 19, 8:30 - 11:30

Upcoming field trips: Volunteers Needed
**Cabrillo field trip-- Friday, March 8, 11:45-1:00. We will need to leave school at 11:00. We will return to school by 1:30 to have lunch here in the classroom.

Event Information  A brief guided tour through a portion of campus, where students observe college life  A high‐energy presentation introducing college, delivered by Cabrillo Staff  A short demonstration, delivered by Cabrillo Faculty  A farewell to guests, including receiving a drawstring bag, and escort to buses and cars  Please note that this year Cabrillo is unable to provide a lunch site on campus. We will return to school and eat out lunches in the classroom.

Parking: Lot L adjacent to Cabrillo's Crocker Theater. No permit required. I will check us in, and we will wait in our cars or in a designated area for further instructions.


Please check in with your child, we will be sending the Cabrillo Field Trip Permission Form and Photo Release Form home this week in the blue binder for you to sign and return. If you can help us by chaperoning and driving, we would greatly appreciate it. You may also sign up on the field trip page of the blog and submit your request to drive that way.

**Sea Odyssey field trip-- Tuesday March 19 from 8:30 to 11:30 AM. 
Departure from school is at 7:45; return to school by 12:00 for recess and lunch. Information regarding this trip will be put out after the Cabrillo paperwork has been collected. Thank you for your patience. These trips are rather close together, due to the availability within each program.

Typing Club

Typing practice!! typingclub.com

We will be typing in class each week.  Please let me know if computer access is a problem.

Curriculum Updates: January

ELA: Lucy Calkins, The Witch of Blackbird Pond

SC Symphony: daily musical compositions are introduced and enjoyed every morning.

Mindfulness: best practices in mindfulness are being incorporated in our classroom this year.

Harmony: best practices school-wide curriculum for building a strong social-emotional community within our classrooms.

AR Reading: Accelerated Reader continues to be an important part of our reading program.  Students are reading appropriate AR books found through the AR book find link and then quizzing on them within 24 hours of finishing their book.  It is critical to support your child in book selection (most books are in our school and classroom libraries) and to remind them to read, read, read whenever the opportunity arises--in the car, while waiting for an appt., to and from school, before bed time, on a Sunday in your jammies, etc.  These books should travel to and from the classroom in a daily fashion for classroom DEAR (drop everything and read) sessions as well as nightly reading homework and beyond.  Students have a goal of 14.5 points for the second trimester.  Each book has a certain amount of points it is worth.  This information is listed with reading level and appropriateness (grade school, middle school, high school, for example).  Points per book range from 3 to 5, generally, with longer books being worth more points.  On average, this is going to mean your child is reading anywhere from 3-5 books a Trimester. That said, help your child select books that are on their reading level (their latest DRA2 level), and have high interest for them.  This will allow them to accomplish reading books from start to finish successfully.

    

Math: we will continue measures in 4th grade and division and fractions in 5th. Please check your child's planner for specific page numbers. We will continue to review these concepts. POM solving and presentations (problem of the month) continue. Silicon Valley Math Initiative (SVMI) MARS tasks continue all year.

**Keep Practicing: times tables should be rehearsed and memorized. 

Science: Foss module "Energy." This includes magnets, electricity, and circuits.

Social Studies: American Colonies projects--posters/brochures and presentations, research papers.

Writing: summary, narrative and informational essays are currently being worked on. 

Grammar: Study of various grammar: prepositions, nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives and adjective clauses. Shades of meaning vocabulary, capitalization, quotation marks, citing evidence within texts.  Figurative language: simile, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia, metaphor.

Warmly,

Mrs. Young

Hello Everyone,

We'd like to thank all the parents who volunteered to drive and chaperone on our field trip to the Tech Museum. We appreciate you very much Emkay, Elisa, Jessica, Amanda, Justin, Sally and Maya!

    
**Important Announcements:

Valentine's Day-Thursday, February 14
We will have a valentine's exchange. Please have your child bring a valentine for all classmates so that everyone feels included in this fun little celebration. They can be simple and handmade by your child, or they can be purchased in bulk from the drug store if you wish. Please remember Mountains Wellness Policy and limit the candy. 4/5 Valentine List

Mountain Science Fair- Wednesday, March 6th:

All students in grades 4-6 are required to complete science fair projects at home.  Clear guidelines and timelines are included in the information. Wonderful proposals have been turned in and students are ready to conduct their experiments beginning this week. Please follow the calendar in the packet to be sure that you and your child stay on track. http://www.sciencebuddies.org/ and SC County Science Fair Link provide helpful resources for project planning.  Please contact me with any questions.

Santa Cruz County Science Fair: Saturday March 2nd @ Plantronics 
(registration deadline: Fri., Feb. 8)

SC County Science Fair Link  We encourage students to enter their projects into the Santa Cruz County Science Fair. Please view the website with your child to consider whether she or he is interested in this opportunity.  The website includes helpful ideas as well as guidelines for projects. If your child is interested in participating, he/she is strongly encouraged to begin a project as soon as possible.

Upcoming Dates:

HOLIDAY/ NO SCHOOL-- Monday, February 11th

HOLIDAY/ NO SCHOOL-- Monday, February 18th
READ-A-THON-- February 4th-February 28th
Staff Appreciation Luncheon -- Wednesday, February 13th @ 1:00
Valentines Day--Thursday, February 14

SC County Science Fair--Saturday, March 2nd

Mountain Science Fair-- Wednesday, March 6th

Upcoming field trips: More information to follow
**Cabrillo field trip-- Friday, March 8
**Sea Odyssey field trip-- Tuesday March 19

Typing Club

Typing practice!! typingclub.com

We will be typing in class each week.  Please let me know if computer access is a problem.

Curriculum Updates: January

ELA: Lucy Calkins, The Witch of Blackbird Pond

SC Symphony: daily musical compositions are introduced and enjoyed every morning.

Mindfulness: best practices in mindfulness are being incorporated in our classroom this year.

Harmony: best practices school-wide curriculum for building a strong social-emotional community within our classrooms.

AR Reading: Accelerated Reader continues to be an important part of our reading program.  Students are reading appropriate AR books found through the AR book find link and then quizzing on them within 24 hours of finishing their book.  It is critical to support your child in book selection (most books are in our school and classroom libraries) and to remind them to read, read, read whenever the opportunity arises--in the car, while waiting for an appt., to and from school, before bed time, on a Sunday in your jammies, etc.  These books should travel to and from the classroom in a daily fashion for classroom DEAR (drop everything and read) sessions as well as nightly reading homework and beyond.  Students have a goal of 14.5 points for the second trimester.  Each book has a certain amount of points it is worth.  This information is listed with reading level and appropriateness (grade school, middle school, high school, for example).  Points per book range from 3 to 5, generally, with longer books being worth more points.  On average, this is going to mean your child is reading anywhere from 3-5 books a Trimester. That said, help your child select books that are on their reading level (their latest DRA2 level), and have high interest for them.  This will allow them to accomplish reading books from start to finish successfully.

    

Math: we will continue fractions in 5th grade and begin measures in 4th grade. Please check your child's planner for specific page numbers. We will continue to review these concepts. POM solving and presentations (problem of the month) continue. Silicon Valley Math Initiative (SVMI) MARS tasks continue all year.

**Keep Practicing: times tables should be rehearsed and memorized. 

Science: we start the Foss module called "Energy" for the New Year. This includes magnets, electricity, and circuits.

Social Studies: American Colonies projects--posters and presentations, research papers.

Writing: summary, narrative and informational essays are currently being worked on. 

Grammar: Study of various grammar: prepositions, nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives and adjective clauses. Shades of meaning vocabulary, capitalization, quotation marks, citing evidence within texts.  Figurative language: simile, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia, metaphor.

Warmly,

Mrs. Young