Week of April 23-26

Highlights of our Week: 

• Students did an awesome job during the Nevada CRT Science Assessment on Wednesday.  They were on task, quiet, attentive to directions, and above all, persevered through the test! Thank you to all the parents who helped to supply breakfast and snacks for that morning!  The kids did great and were ready when we needed to start testing, so I told them we can do breakfast except for when they go to Math.  I will add those days to the sign up.  Please everyone take one or two slots so everyone helps!
• This week students have the ACT ELA on Wednesday and ACT Math on Thursday.  Please make sure your child has a good nights rest and arrive on time in the morning! We could use a few extra snacks for Thursday since I did not do a sign up for that day, but we still need to supply snacks. Kids loved having juice or water to drink and they could use some protein if anyone is willing ;) Parents signed up to bring food/snacks for Wednesday are: 
• Amber Gusewelle- Pancakes
• Brittany Washburn- Fruit and yogurt
• Aubrey Giovanetti- popcorn
• Carissa Gardner- granola bars, goldfish, plates and napkins
• Thank you so much!!!
• Students are learning about advertising and persuasive writing while designing and writing an advertisement for their own roller coaster.  
• Science experiments and research about matter were presented on Thursday and Monday.  We had a celebratory conclusion of partaking of root beer floats which represented solid, liquid, an gas! The kids loved it! 

Upcoming Events: 

• Upcoming Test Days include:
• May 2 - ACT English Language Arts
• May 3 - ACT Math
• May 9 & 10 - SBAC Math
• May 15 & 16 - SBAC English Language Arts

• Oasis Academy Family Outdoor Movie Night on Friday, May 4th
• Location: Oasis Academy Playground
• Bring chairs, coats, jackets and blankets to keep your kiddos warm
• Admission: FREE
• Gates open at 6:00pm
• Carnival style Games for the kids 6:00-7:00 pm
• NOW SHOWING: “The Greatest Showman” rated PG at 7 :30 pm
• Snacks and drinks available for purchase (cash or checks) 6:00-8:45pm

Week of April 16-19th

Highlights of the week: 

Students have been working hard in all subjects! We had a great time on the field trip to the Planetarium.  Thank you so much to all those who were able to come and join us.  I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedules.  

• Students have been learning about Persuasive writing techniques and the different ways advertisements persuade consumers.  They will be designing their own roller coaster and writing a persuasive ad for their  roller coaster.  
• Students had their first Book Club Meeting this past week.  I loved hearing some of the deeper conversations in some groups and talking about the Revolutionary War.  Their books are giving them a little more insight. 
• In projects, we practiced the tools and read through the practice test for our Science Assessment which is this coming Wednesday.  We have been studying matter and kids are now deep into practicing their experiments.  They will have a couple more tries to run through them, get their information together and present next week. I am excited to see them in action! 

Upcoming Testing:

• Wednesday, April 25, 2018- Science
• Wednesday, May 2, 2018-    ACT ELA
• Thursday, May 3, 2018-       ACT Math/Science
• Wednesday, May 9, 2018-   SBAC Math Part 1
• Thursday, May 10, 2018-    SBAC Math Part 2
• Tuesday, May 15, 2018-      SBAC ELA Part 1
• Wednesday, May 16, 2018- SBAC ELA Part 2

Thank you so much to those of you that have already signed up to bring breakfast and/or snack foods.  The sign up did not include the testing days for Math.  We will just do snacks those days, (we have less time) so please if you would, bring some in.  The kids also love gum and mints!  The kids and I would greatly appreciate anything you will bring.  I will keep leftover snacks to use the following days.  This can be a stressful time for some students, but we try to help them relax before they start.  Please make sure your child gets a good nights sleep the night before.  Thanks!  

 Pictures from the field trip to the Fleishman Planetarium. We all enjoyed lunch out on the grass after the Planetarium.  It was a beautiful day to enjoy the outdoors!

 Inside the Planetarium, students watch a video on Earth and the Universe.  They were then able to go and explore the museum exhibits with some hands-on activities.  There was a lot to see and do!

 Mrs. Feest's (our TTS aide that comes in everyday) birthday is this weekend, so we celebrated with some treats and played a energetic game of "Do You Love Your Neighbor?"  Everyone seemed to have a great time!

Science experiments are coming along! We have some real scientists in the class! They have been using their hypothesis they came up with to test different areas of matter. 

Week of April 9-12th

Coming back from spring break was a challenge to get back into the swing of things.  Kids were wanting to chat and discuss all their fun adventures even after we shared!  It was a busy week with finishing assignments, starting their new books for book club and getting ready for parent conferences. 

Highlights of our week: April 9-12

• Parent Conferences- Students did an amazing job sharing their learning and successes with parents!  A huge thank you to those who were able to come.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. 

In writing, students finished their wonderful Owner's Manuals that you were able to have your child read to you at parent conference.  Their sense of humor is truly a delight!  We had many chuckles in class over them and hope you were able to also! 

• This week we will begin writing a persuasive essay after learning about roller coasters and propaganda techniques.  

Students will continue their Book Club books,  practice and review some reading strategies and begin John's Reading Assessments. 

• We will begin spelling again... I took a little break, but feel it is important to take the time for this and I have an amazing parent who has volunteered to help!!  Thank you Mrs. Gusewelle. Words will come home on Monday in your child's Monday folders, please help them study each night and test will be on Thursday each week.  

We started our science project unit on "Matter" this week, guided by the driving question:  How can we use matter to show physical and chemical changes?  Students have chosen a specific lesson/experiment to do with a partner.  These will be conducted next week, following the scientific method steps.  Students will bring home a list Monday of supplies they will need for their specific experiment which they will need on Wednesday to begin experimenting. 

INFORMATION: 

• Our rescheduled Field Trip to Fleishmann Planetarium at UNR is this Friday, April 20th.  We will leave from the main school parking lot at 8:15 am and return by 1:30 that afternoon.  We will be going to the planetarium show, a visit to the exhibit hall and our bag lunch on the grounds.  We will utilize the previous permission slips.  Students will need to bring: 
• $5.00 for the entrance fee
• Bag lunch
• Please be aware of 5th grade testing dates and do your best to make sure your child is in attendance on these dates with a good nights sleep and healthy breakfast: (we will have healthy snacks each day)
• SBAC Science- April 25
• ACT English Language Arts- May 2
• ACT Math- May 3
• SBAC Math- May 9&10
• SBAC English Language Arts- May 15 & 16
• I would love a volunteer to set up a Sign-Up Genius for parents to sign up.  (Please email me separately) Please watch for correspondence in the next week. 

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Week of March 26-29th

Highlights of the week:

The Egg Drop Challenge was definitely a highlight last week as students worked in partners to design and create a device that would protect their egg from cracking or breaking when dropped from different heights.  Thursday was the final drop and many teams were successful!  Everyone exhibited great ingenuity and an attitude of perseverance.  We learned about engineering and gravity, as well as the importance of testing a product, redesigning and trying again!

 

In writing, students started writing/creating an Owners Manual of themselves.  The end product will be sure to make you laugh.  They will be shared with parents at Parent Conferences.  Students have loved being creative with this project!

Students were able to choose a book about the Revolutionary War that they will be starting when we come back after Spring Break.  Students were all anxious to get rolling on their new books!  

Important Information:

• Parent Conferences this Friday, April 13th.  If you have not signed up yet, please do so.  You are welcome to come at any time during the day on Friday from 9:00am-4:00pm, so if you need to just pop in with your child, Ill be there. Students are preparing to share lots of information with you about their year and report cards will be handed out at that time. 
• Planetarium Field Trip on Friday, April 20th 
• Meet at the school parking lot at 8:15 am, arriving back around 130 pm.
• Bring a sack lunch and $5 for entrance fee
• Please let me know the following information by Monday 4/16
• Will your child be attending?
• Will you be driving or will they need a ride? 
• IF you are driving, are you available to take additional students? How many? 
• Testing Dates for 5th Grade.  Please have children here, try not to schedule any trips or appointments on these days) 
• April 25- Science Assessment
• May 9&10- SBAC Math
• May 15 & 16- English Language Arts
• We will have breakfast food and snacks on testing days, if someone would like to coordinate, please let me know.  It would be extremely helpful!
• Carson River Work Day on May 24th
• 5th graders will join the high school biology class in a walking field trip to Venturacci Ranch to learn about the water cycle, our watershed, and irrigation with the Carson River Wranglers and Lahontan Conservation District.  It will be a fun day!