Welcome to our Class!

Did you get our welcome letter? We are looking forward to a great year (and it will start before we know it!). If you've dropped by, please leave us a comment to say hi. We'd love to hear from you. Check back because we will continue to post a few things before school starts. Once school starts, we try to post daily.

Here's a copy of our welcome letter in case you didn't get it or you misplaced yours.
Welcome to 5th grade!

We’re excited to be working with you in fifth grade and look forward to a successful, positive year together. It’s going to be great! Feel free to email us this summer so that we can get to know you better. We hope that you will attend Fifth Grade Open House on August 6th from 6:30-7:00. We're in classroom #4, on the top floor of the building where the elementary lunchroom is. We can't wait to meet you as this will be your opportunity to meet your teachers and see your classroom before school begins on Friday, August 7th.

Fifth grade is academically challenging yet full of rewards that come with responsibility. It is very important for students to maintain skills over the summer, especially multiplication tables (0-12). You'll definitely need to know them in 5th grade math. Other great ways to keep math skills fresh include helping to figure out costs and change while shopping and helping in the kitchen with measurement. Please continue to read and write over the summer. You can find lots of interesting books and magazines at the public library. We encourage you to write in a journal this summer. Entries could include places you go, things that you do, things you like, etc. Continuing to read and write will help to maintain fluency in these areas.

We look forward to a successful 5th grade year full of growth and discovery, and we know you are, too. Please be sure to look over the attached supply list and try to have the supplies by the first day of school. It's important for students to come to school prepared each day. Organization, responsibility, accountability, and hard work will lead to success.

We look forward to working closely with each of you. Research and past experience indicate that students are more successful when parents take an active role in their children's education. We're counting on you. See you in August! Have a safe and happy summer.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Haley Dyer Ms. Traci Martin
(hdyer@union.k12.ga.us) (tmartin@union.k12.ga.us)


P.S. Visit our class blog at http://www.hdtm5.blogspot.com/

Thank you!

Ms. Martin and I would like to thank each and every one of you for a successful year this year. We will miss you all and hope that you have a wonderful summer! Be sure to come back and visit us. We always love to see how our "babies" have grown.

Check back on our blog this summer also because we will be posting fun links and educational websites as we find them surfing the 'Net.

Have a safe and happy summer!

On-line SUMMER READING PROGRAMS

Here are some websites we've found that offer incentives for summer reading! The public library has tons of books to check out, and best of all, it's FREE! Go get your library card today if you do not already have one. You can even join our local public library's summer reading program.

Pizza Hut's Book-It Summer Program
Sylvan Learning's free Book Adventure
Barnes and Noble's Summer Reading (Earn a free paperback!)
Scholastic's Summer Reading Challenge (Win prizes!)

FINAL WEEK OF SCHOOL

Can you believe that this week is our last one together? It is amazing how fast time has flown this year!

Here is what's happening this week:
5/19 AR Reward Store; Conduct Reward with Treats to Eat; Rising 6th Grade Parent Meeting (UCMS Cafeteria @ 5)
5/20 Class Ice Cream Sundae Party at 12:30
5/21 Tour middle school; field day at noon
5/22 Last day of school; UCES Talent Show; Class Awards Ceremony at 9:45

Please continue to check agendas for any last minute info or for changes to these events.

We have loved having your children this year! It is always sad for us to see them go. Thank you for a great year!

May Newsletter

Yesterday you should have received your May newsletter, conference letter, and CRCT scores! Please ask for these if you did not get them.

We are going to attempt to post our May newsletter here for your convenience.
Study Hall
We are covering our final Georgia Performance Standards, assessing standards taught this spring, and working on skills necessary for future success.

Thanks & Appreciation
Thank you so much for all of your help to make this year successful for all of us. We couldn’t do our job without your help.
We still need volunteers and items before the year is out, so thank you in advance for your continued help.

Recognition & Congratulations
==> Will B., Emma, Will D., Madison, Joshua, Tyler, Sara, Michael, Chase, and Hannah P. have already met their 4th 9 Weeks AR goals!
==> Emma, Will D., Kolby, Bryan, Morgan, Kaila H., and Eddie have already met their 4th 9 Weeks AM goals! Emma, Will D., Kolby, Morgan, and Eddie have already completed all 194 objectives in the 5th grade AM library. WOW!
==> Breanna D., Madison, Levi, Kayla G., and Hannah P. have finished all 61 levels of the 5th grade Math Facts in a Flash!
==> Happy birthday this summer to Breanna D. (7/6), Bryan, (7/9), and Will B. & Emma (7/22)!

Upcoming Events
We can’t believe that the end of the year is coming so quickly. These final weeks will undoubtedly fly by. Please be sure to check agendas carefully for the most current, up-to-date class news. (You can also stay on top of things by visiting our class blog at www.hdtm5.blogspot.com.)
We would like to have end-of-year conferences with each parent but realize that this may not be practical. Please sign and return the attached form so that we can schedule your meeting if we haven’t scheduled one already. Thank you!
Our class has earned a “pajama read-a-rama,” which means that on Thursday, 5/14, students can wear their PJs to school and bring some books and a special snack and/or drink. We will be reading most of the day. (The school library closes on Wed. 5/13, but we have plenty of books in our classroom library that students may borrow.)
Students are bringing home a letter with their communication folders about participating in band next year. Mr. Roberts, the band director, stressed that he does not want any student who is interested in band not to participate due to cost. He will work with every interested family.
Our class party will be on Wednesday, May 20, at 1 PM. Can you please send in ice cream toppings, brownies, cookies, or drinks? Please let us know as soon as possible. Thank you!
Fifth grade’s field day will be Thursday, 5/21 in the afternoon. Please wear clothes and sunscreen for being outside in the afternoon. Towels to sit on would also be beneficial. We would really appreciate 26 water bottles and/or juice boxes. Thank you again for your help!
Our class awards will be presented on Friday, May 22 (the last day of school) at 9:45 in the morning (in our classroom). We would love for you to join us as each child’s accomplishments are recognized. Students may be checked out early after the awards with no penalty.

Important Dates
5/13 UCES Media Center closes
5/14 Pajama Read-A-Rama; band “tryouts”
5/15 Ch. 12 math test; Polio Walk (must have donations to participate)
5/19 AR Reward Store; Conduct Reward with Treats to Eat; Rising 6th Grade Parent Meeting (UCMS Cafeteria @ 5)
5/20 Class Ice Cream Sundae Party at 1:00
5/21 Tour middle school; field day at noon
5/22 Last day of school; UCES Talent Show; Class Awards Ceremony at 9:45

"Swine Flu" Info

While there have not been any reported cases in Georgia, the current "swine flu" pandemic has been on the news. Here is some info to help you prevent the spread of disease.

*Clean your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

*Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash when you are finished. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.

*If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve.

*Keep hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth to prevent germs from entering your body.

*For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.

*If you have any concerns, please contact the health department or your doctor.

This week's spelling & vocab

Spelling:
1. mythical 11. cereal
2. telephone 12. centipede
3. disaster 13. university
4. autograph 14. sensible
5. automatic 15. manageable
6. intermission 16. convertible
7. protractor 17. kennel
8. oceanography 18. hoist
9. parasol 19. batches
10. jovial 20. abilities

Vocab:
1. trivial (adj.)
2. ambition (n.)
3. bloat (v.)
4. fickle (adj.)
5. horde (n.)
6. immaculate (adj.)
7. junction (n.)
8. yearn (v.)
9. tamper (v.)
10. flourish (v.)