Good morning!  It is the last 9 weeks of school!  Parent/teacher conferences are going on this week.   Students are also taking the Kansas State Reading Assessment.  To help lessen the stress of test taking, we've tried to lighten the mood by having special "days".  Monday we had a testing kick-off party.  Tuesday was Twin Day.  Wacky Wednesday has kids wearing their clothes backwards and inside out.  Thursday will be Favorite Team Day.

A.R. Dates:
March 29    25%
April 12       50%
April 26       75%
May 10      100%  

I'm glad we are back to school after the winter storms.  I think students enjoyed the snow.  I heard many stories about sledding and snowmen!  Today my mom visited the class.  She brought back the finished quilts she had sewn.  The students had designed them during the Kansas Day activities.  She will donate them to the local SOS for children who need them. 

Kansas Day!  What a fun day we've had!  This morning we had three presenters share their knowledge.  Mrs. Judy Dunn shared her quilts and had the students in each class design a quilt.  She will quilt it, and then they'll donate them to a good cause.  Mrs. Vessie Gulick told students how to weave wheat and had beautiful examples.  She also shared many Kansas rock samples.  Mr. Travis "Grizzley" Tastove with Americorps from Cross Timbers presented about Lewis and Clark's expedition. He also shared artifacts, pelts, and skulls.

The annual Kansas Quiz Bowl was held in the afternoon.  Teams competed against each other.  Unfortunately,  I will have to update you tomorrow on which team won because we had buzzer problems and didn't have time to finish.  We ended the day with sunflower cakes and drinks.

Oh my, I had 4 students home sick from my home room today! I know there were two others from another class.  It seems that strep throat and influenza A are hitting the 5th grade hard this week!  I've sent the water bottles down to be washed.  Please remind your child to wash his/her hands with soap well during the school day.  Those playing basketball need to remember to wash hands after practice or games. 

Tomorrow is Late Start day!  Short week of school for students! 

Accelerated Reader due dates for third 9 weeks of school:

January 18   25%
February  8   50%
February 22  75%
 March 8      100%

Blue Ribbon 5th Grade

Wow!  I can't believe there are only 8 days left of the first semester!  Where has the year gone? The next week and a half will be busy, busy, busy!  We will finish our unit on the Revolutionary War.  Then we will switch to Science. My students made the cutest Santa ornaments last week.   Upcoming Events: Blue Ribbon Awards Ceremony, AR Party, Sing Along, and Class Party. 

**I am very thankful that a student of mine and her mom were not seriously hurt in a recent accident.