Mrs. Danz's Weekly Newsletter
10/23 -10/27
Important Dates
Tuesday 10/31 - Half Day (Dismissal at 11:30)
Tuesday 10/31 - Halloween Party and Parade
Thursday 11/2 - Unit 2 Math Test
Friday 11/3 - Science Test
Tuesday 11/7 - Election Day & No School (for those students not attending camp)
11/7 through 11/10 - Fifth Grade Camp
Tuesday 11/7 - No School (for those students not attending camp)
Monday 11/13 - Veteran's Day Program
11/20-11/21 - Half Days and Parent Teacher Conferences
11/22-11/24 - Thanksgiving Break (No School)
Current Events
Sign Up for Conferences!
Fall conferences are fast approaching! Conferences are on 11/20 and 11/21, right before Thanksgiving Break. Please make sure you sign up for a slot. Both the Fall and Spring links are included, below.
Halloween
If you sign up to volunteer, make sure you complete the IChat Background Check form, ASAP!
If you are not volunteering for one of our party stations, you are still welcome to attend the Halloween Parade (more information below).
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
We would like to welcome you in joining us at Meridian for our Halloween parade on Tuesday, October 31st. Tuesday is a half day with dismissal at 11:30am. Below are a few specific details regarding the day and the parade.
Halloween Parade: 11:00am
The parade is outside, weather permitting. If you are only coming for the parade, please head directly to the path on the side of our school or playground, you do NOT need to sign in at the office.
The students will exit out our main front doors and walk around the south side of the building on our walking path to the back of our playground and will re-enter through our recess doors. Parents are welcome to line up on both sides of the path on the side of our school and around our playground.
If rain is in the forecast, we will send a notification inviting everyone to join us indoors for the parade.
Dismissal on Halloween:
If you are staying to take your child home after the parade, we ask that you plan in advance which door you will be waiting for your child and let your child know in advance. Your child can exit from our main doors, our east doors where our parking lot is, or our south side doors close to our walking path and bike racks. Please do not come into the office to sign your child out early as they will be packing up their items for dismissal after the parade.
Costumes:
Please remember that masks or weapons of any kind are not permitted
Costumes suggestive of a violent theme are not permitted
You are encouraged to avoid sending props with your child as part of their costume. It is a very busy day and props can easily become lost or broken before the students get to wear them for trick-or-treating!
Please check the weather that morning and ensure that your child has the proper attire under their clothing as students will still have gym, recess, and, weather permitting, our parade will be outdoors!
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR-NOVEMBER 13-17TH
Our class will attend the Book Fair on Tuesday, November 14 from 1:30-2:30. Please see the parent letter below for more information.
Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping:
Meridian Book Fair Homepage Link
If you would like to volunteer to help out at the book fair, please use the Sign Up Genius link below. Once you have signed up, if you have not yet completed the GIVE Background Check Form, please also complete that.
Sign Up to Volunteer at the Book Fair
Online GIVE Background Check Form
* All books are sold by Scholastic and are not vetted by Grosse Ile Township Schools. We recommend always previewing books your child purchases before they read them.
Veterans Day Program
Meridian will host its annual Veterans Day Program on Monday, November 13th. Please see the flyers below for more information. Your child should have brought one of the sign-up forms home already, but If you need another one printed, please let me know.
Learning Update
Math
This week, students learned long-division. While most students are doing an excellent job with single-digit divisors, some could still use support with double-digit divisors. At this point, when students get a remainder, they may leave it as such in their answer (ex: 12 r 5 ). However, I did show students how to turn a remainder into a fraction, and they are encouraged to do that if they understand how. If they are not there yet, don't worry! Right now, I just want them to understand the steps of long-division; the rest will come later this year.
Our test is planned for the Thursday before 5th Grade Camp: 11/2. We will review this week and will complete at least 1 (most likely 2) study guide in class. Below, you will find the study guide I plan to send home with students tomorrow, along with the answer key to help you support your child at home.
ELA
This week, we continued reading and analyzing Thunder Rolling in the Mountains.
We have read through chapter 16.
Students continued to compare and contrast characters' beliefs and values and how those beliefs/values guide their actions. We also focused on the structure of a compare/contrast essay. Students learned that an introduction paragraph contains a hook, introductory/background info, a thesis, and previews the main points of the essay. We also worked as a class to organize the sentences of supporting paragraphs. We are working up to students writing a compare/contrast essay of their own by the end of the unit.
Word Study
This week, students learned about the Latin base, form.
Students took their test on Friday, and will get it back on Monday. Please look for it in your child's backpack.
Next week, we will study the base "port", which means "to carry; a gateway or entry". The list is attached, below.
Social Studies
Students' test is planned for Friday, 11/3. The study guide is attached, below.
Reminders
5th Grade Camp
Camp is fast approaching!
Deadlines/Dates:
November 1st-5th grade Camp Shirts delivered to students at school
November 3rd-5th grade Camp Letters due to school and camp medication
November 7-10th-5th Grade Camp
Below, you will find all the links you should need for camp.
Also, if you have not yet sent in your child's insurance card (hard copy or photo for me to print), please do so ASAP!
PAT
SUPPORT OUR PAT!
The class with the highest PAT participation, so the most families donating to PAT will get a pizza party and the teacher will get $100 gift card for the classroom! We want to win, so help us!
Our PAT provides so much for our students and staff! They support us by providing:
- Enrichment Assemblies
- Field Trips
- Holiday Gift Shop
- Teacher Grants/Requests
- Teacher Appreciation Week
- PAT Sponsored Run
- Guest Authors
Please help us in supporting our PAT!
Classroom Volunteers Needed
That is where you come in!
I am looking for parent volunteers to come into the classroom during our math block (9:25-10:30), each day. These volunteers would be circulating and helping answer students' math questions while I work with small groups. I am hoping to have one parent in the room each day. Please feel free to sign up as frequently as you would like!
Remember, volunteers must complete an ICHAT each year before volunteering in the classroom.
Watch D.O.G.S.
Below, you will find links to the presentation and the sign-up.
Remember, you must complete the I-CHAT form each year before volunteering.
Meridian Info
Looking Ahead
Half Days:
October 31, November 20 & 21, December 22, January 26, February 16, March 8, 14, & 15, and June 12 & 13
No School:
November 7, November 22-24, December 25-January 5, January 15, February 19, March 25-March 29, April 1, May 27
Parent/Teacher Conference Dates:
Fall Conferences:
November 20th: Afternoon and Evening times available
November 21st: Afternoon times available
Spring Conferences:
March 14th: Afternoon and Evening times available
March 15th: Afternoon times available