FIFTH GRADE NEWS AND COMMUNICATION
WEEK OF JANUARY 5-9, 2015
*please read to end,important auction update!
I pray your break was wonderful and full of opportunities to worship and spend time as a family. God’s gift of our families is certainly precious. This was very evident as we came back to very hard news of the loss of a friend and student, Jameson Clements. I’ve been Jameson’s teacher for over three years now, two as his primary fourth and fifth grade teacher and one and half as his science teacher. It’s impossible for me to think of a world in which I don’t get to have him in class anymore.
Many of our students are also grieving, and I imagine that each child’s grief is as individual as they are. We are taking lots of time this week to provide opportunities to talk, respond, share, and comfort each other and express our condolences to Jameson’s family. Grief can look very different in kids. They may be angry or confused. They may be shocked. They may feel guilt that they said or did something, or guilt that they aren’t actually as sad as they think they should be. It may open up many questions to which no one has answers except the Lord. We honor and respect all the emotions coming from one another and are making time and space to do that.
That being said, one way to help many children heal is to engage in normal routines as much as possible, so we will be doing the things we would normally do and remembering our friend as we go along becoming the kind of people who will honor his memory.
Here’s a short list of what we’re doing in class.
BIBLE: No verse this week. We are talking and writing about grief, about Jameson and memories we have of him or his family. Chapel will be a memorial of sorts, and we’ll make cards for his family this week as well. NEXT WEEK- fifth grade will lead chapel, so if you’d like to come, be welcomed!
READING: Students seemed to thoroughly enjoy “The Indian in the Cupboard” and we’re doing a few activities with that as well as finishing the last chapter or so of Benjamin Franklin’s biography.
New reading logs were handed out yesterday and the December ones are due-- yesterday :) but several were late.
LANGUAGE ARTS: We are reviewing outlining procedures and creating an outline for a paper summarizing the Ben Franklin biography.
SPELLING: Lesson 16 due Friday along with the test.
SOCIAL STUDIES: More Ben Franklin and the beginnings of colonies in the New World. We are also using a text that views events through a Christian lens and it was good to read about the Pilgrims from a perspective that explored more deeply why they were so willing to undergo such difficulties in order to find freedom to worship God. Our first notebook project comes home on Thursday this week-- state flags! Your child will do a great job with clear instructions and expectations. Encourage them to use those to help them be successful.
LIBRARY: Our bimonthly visit is this week. Please have your student return any books they may have finished.
SCIENCE: Cells- we’re going to need some help creating some candy models. Please let me know if you are willing to donate some icing, starburst, fruit by the foot, or laffy taffy.
PE : T, TH, F
MUSIC: M, W
FIFTH GRADE LEADS CHAPEL: January 14
DRIVE IN MOVIE January 16
NO SCHOOL: January 19
TRIP TO CERAMIC STUDIO January 23 to create auction art piece!
AUCTION UPDATE: Less than two months away! For our fifth grade class donation project, we are creating a “Ready, Set,Study” package to celebrate the fact that this fabulous group is headed to middle school next year. It will be appropriate for any older student, which is a fun niche to plan for!
We will create a cool teen-to-be study spot that can configure to a tween’s room, boy or girl. Martina and I will help coordinate, but if you’d like to procure a particular item, please give us a buzz. We can also just get the things and divide the cost. Please communicate your preference. Here’s the list: (thinking Ikea style)
- Simple desk or table
- Simple cool rolling chair
- Desk lamp
- Desk top organizers
- Bulletin board/white board combo
Wishes: a geometric rug, an iHome, gift card to Target to provide specific boy/girl touches, rolling cart with drawers
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