Ms. Palucki's Classroom News
January 2019
Happy New Year!!
I have had a WONDERFUL time watching the students grow and make new memories in 5th grade so far! 2018 was a great and eventful year, and as it comes to an end, I would like to thank you for all the encouragement, involvement and support in your child's success! With a New Year, it's important to reflect on your goals you have achieved and set new goals for the upcoming year. I hope all the goals that you have set for yourself in the near future attain success in the upcoming year itself! May the New Year bring joy, peace and happiness to you, your family and friends. Have a safe and relaxing winter break - see you Monday, January 7th!
Thank you for all your support,
Ms. Palucki
Holiday Visit
They did an amazing job - thank you, Maine East HS!
Winter Wishes
Winter Sing-a-long!
Apollo's Winter Festival!
Come enjoy a variety of fun winter-themed activities and stations that include:
- Face Painting
- Winter Crafts
- Winter Games
- A Dance Party
- Hot Chocolate
- A Photo Booth
- A Graffiti Wall
- and more!!!
Flyers will be going home soon! Can't wait to see you at Apollo's Winter Fest!
Thursday, Jan 24, 2019, 05:00 PM
Apollo Elementary School, Dee Road, Des Plaines, IL, USA
Trapped in a Snow Globe!
Make sure to check out Room 204's stories here!
Epic!
The 5th graders have been introduced to some new tech tools that support their learning in the classroom throughout the year! Recently, the students were able to explore a new program called, Epic! Epic! is a digital library where students can access 25,000 of the best books, learning videos, and more! There are several unlimited award-winning fiction stories, non-fiction, STEM, biographies, graphic novels, DIY, and more!
The students love using Epic! during reading!
STEAM Cart Fun!
Some of the items include:
- Spheros
- Ozobots
- Makey Makey
- Little Bits
- Suspend
- Lego We Do
- And many more!
The students had a blast playing and engaging with the items in the cart!!
December Buddies!
They continue to be amazing role models!
We BROKE out!!!
On the last day before winter break, the 5th graders had the chance to participate in a Breakout EDU challenge with Mr. Sheehan, our Academic Achievement Coach. The students used their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to complete tasks around the room to break out of the winter-themed Breakout EDU! A winter break surprise was locked up and waiting for them to open it! With their collaboration, they were successful by breaking out with about ten minutes left!
Awesome teamwork,
Room 204!
Winter Reading Club
Make sure to keep reading over winter break! :)
December Spirit Week!
Enjoy some of the pictures below from this fun-filled week!
Read to Succeed!
Apollo School is participating in an exciting program that encourages students to read! Read to Succeed is a program sponsored by Six Flags Theme Parks. Every student who completes six hours of recreational reading before February 21st receives a FREE admission ticket to Six Flags Theme Park! Students can read online articles, magazines, and newspapers! Students will log their hours on their Six Flags Reading Log that was sent home at the beginning of November!
Parent Letter (English): Read to Succeed!
Parent Letter (Spanish): Read to Succeed!
What have we been learning in Room 204?
Reading...
- Students compared and contrasted characters, setting, and events in a story.
- Students learned and practiced how to write a summary of an informational text that included multiple main ideas.
- Students have been researching and integrating information from several texts on a specific disease in order to be able to write/speak about it knowledgeably.
- Students took their last Words Their Way assessment of 2018!
Writing...
- Students completed a creative writing activity, "If I were trapped in a snow globe..." independently.
- We continued our unit on informative/explanatory writing.
- Students learned how to find trustworthy internet sources for their research project.
- Students finished researching their chosen disease for our writing/health unit.
- When we get back from break, students will learn how to paraphrase their information, write an informative paper with their research, and create a presentation!
Math...
- Students took their Mid Module and End of Module 3 Assessment on adding and subtracting fractions.
- When we come back from break we will begin Module 4, which focuses on multiplication and division of fractions and decimal fractions.
Science...
- We continued Bundle 4 of Science which is Interactions in Matter!
- We have finished our scopes on Matter is Everywhere and Properties of Matter.
- When we come back from winter break, the next 2 scopes will focus on Changes to Matter and Mixtures.
Important January Dates!
December 24th - January 4th - No School - Winter Break
January 1st - Happy New Year!
January 7th - Classes Resume
January 9th - MAP Reading Test
January 9th - Apollo Ambassador Meeting
January 10th - Special Education Parent Workshop
January 10th - Board of Education Meeting @ 7 PM
January 11th - MAP Math Test
January 16th - ACCESS Testing Open for ELLs
January 21st - No School - Martin Luther King Jr.
January 23rd - Apollo Ambassador Meeting
January 24th - Apollo Winter Fest @ 5:00 PM
January 30th - Early Dismissal - Dismissal @ 11:30 AM
January 30th - Apollo Ambassador Meeting
Join us for Family Fridays! Every Friday, come to Apollo and eat lunch with your child! 5th grade lunch is @ 11:45 - 12:15!
Tip of the Month
Welcome, 2019!
With 2019 just around the corner and the half-way point in school, resolve to be involved in your children's education in new ways this year!
Studies show that kids whose parents are involved in their education have better grades, a better attitude toward school, and more appropriate school behavior than those with less involved parents.
Click the link below for some ideas of ways to get involved:
New Year’s Resolution: Help Your Kids Do Well in School
Decisiones de Año Nuevo: Ayudar a los hij os para que les vaya bien en la escuela
Don't forget to follow Room 204 on Twitter!
Room 204 is on Twitter!
Follow us at @_MsPalucki
Students tweet about what they are learning and all the fun that goes on in room 204!
Don't forget to also check out the hashtags:
#ApolloPride63 #63Success #63Impact
Stay Connected!
Stay connected with what's going on in Room 204!
Remind is a way for me to communicate with you by sending updates, questions, and reminders to your phone as a text, on the app and by email!
To sign up, text @palucki5th to 81010 or sign up online by clicking here!
Email: apalucki@emsd63.org
Website: https://www.emsd63.org/Domain/677
Location: Apollo Elementary School, Dee Road, Des Plaines, IL, United States
Phone: 847.493.8380
Twitter: @_MsPalucki