Room 216 News
August Updates
Welcome to Room 216!
Our primary means of communication from school to parent is through your student's agenda. The students are being trained to become excellent communicators. The agenda serves multiple purposes.
- Of course assignments are to be written in the agenda on the days they are assigned.
- Also, the first three lines at the top of the agenda serve as our reading log. Unless otherwise specified, this reading is student-choice of topic/format. The student is to record the title and chapters/pages read and have a conversation with the parent about what was read. The parent is then shown what other homework there may have been and requested to initial or sign the bottom block of the agenda.
- The agenda may also be used for the teacher or parent to jot a quick note of concern. Since both of us are looking at the agenda each day, the message should be easily received.
Particular concerns or inquiries may also be brought to my attention via e-mail. I try to answer all e-mail within 24 hours. Phone messages may be left by calling the school, extension 24216.
Finally, please notice that we have colorful postcard-size notes available for any change of dismissal plans. I have these made to ensure that every note to the office has "Grogan-5th" on it as required and so that the notes are easily noticed in the classroom if our students don't quite get them in the morning message envelope. Notes created on the backs of napkins have a way of blending into our surroundings and not making it to the front office as needed. Thanks in advance for using the post cards to tell us of changes to daily schedules.
Volunteers Needed
There are a few critical volunteer positions open for our classroom. We need:
- A room parent or a couple of parents who could share this duty
- An Art Print volunteer--monthly lessons on artists or pieces
- A Thinker-Tinker volunteer--monthly helpers to come to the Thinker-Tinker Space with our class and assist with creativity and building
Technology Update
We are excited to announce that 5th grade has been fortunate enough to have additional computers added to our grade level! We are currently working one-to-one in our classrooms. We are confident that these computers will continue to help support our students in the development of timeless and contemporary skills and competencies which enable life long success.
Artists Galore
Hopes and Dreams
Identity Project
Science Item Donations for STEAM project
Donations are needed for our upcoming science unit. We are in need of:
- plastic bags of assorted colors (brown, blue, red, white, and ect)
- wooden dowel rods
- styrofoam cubes
- plastic bottles of various sizes
- plastic bottle lids
- duct tape
- pipe cleaners
- Aluminum soda cans (rinsed and punch a hole in bottom)
- newspapers
- cardboard toilet paper tubes or paper towel tubes
- scraps of cardboard
- colored construction paper
- 2 boxes of straws
- 2 balls of thick string
- 5 bottles of Elmer's Glue
- Most of the items are recyclable items from your household:) Please send the items in, as you collect them. All of these materials will be used in our Science STEAM project.
Dates to Remember
I'm certain each of your calendars are filling up rapidly this time of year. Here are a few dates to highlight for school-related events.
September 4th - 5th Grade Cultural Landscape Day project DUE
September 7th - 5th Grade Science Rotations begin
September 8th – Back to School Night 6:00-7:30pm
September 9th – BEE Fall Registration
September 14th - Writer's Eye Field Trip to UVA--bag lunch needed
September 15th – International Dot Day & PTO Meeting
September 16th - Day of Caring
September 19th – BEE Fall Classes Begin
September 25th - Outdoor Picnic and Movie Night
September 28th – NO SCHOOL - Professional Dev. Day