Congratulations, Conor!

Conor Borrill continues to dominate the track and field circuit! In a recent Norwesters meet, Conor won these impressive medals!

• 100 metres: Gold!
• Long jump: Gold!
• Shot put: 4th
• Discus: 6th
• 60 metre sprint: 2nd (by a hair!)
• 400 metres: 5th
• High jump: 5th
• 4 by 100 metre relay: 4th

Congratulations, Conor! We are very proud of you!

Big changes to the microwave situation

After months of disgruntled students in line for the microwaves, Ms. G. is laying down the law for lunch room order...

1) Ms. Gretzinger shall determine the order of students to use the microwave. No longer shall the citizens of 5G cut in front of others to beat the lunch time rush.

2) No student shall exceed 1 minute and 30 seconds of microwave time, unless they choose to reheat their lunch after all other children have finished eating. This practice is discouraged but will be permitted if the lunch is truly not heated in the time frame alloted.

This, I know, complicates how you can pack lunches. However, if every child used the microwave for 4 or more minutes to cook their noodles, we would still have children cooking lunches into academic time. Therefore, in the interest of being fair, and for my own sanity to no longer have to problem solve with frustrated and hungry children, the law is set in place. I would really appreciate your support and understanding of this matter. Any questions or concerns are gladly heard!

Sincerely yours,

The Lunch Lady

Problem Solving

Further to the news about the test next Monday, May 12th, I've just found out that there are several pieces of homework to accompany the review guide:

• Bookworm
• Stamp Collection
• Grandpa Tinkerman
• Rapunzella

are all due next Monday as well.

As always, to fully answer a Problem Solving question, the strategy must be clearly labeled with all work shown - make your thinking clear! Word problems always necessitate a word answer, so please be vigilant in completing your homework correctly! :)

Looking at the week ahead....

Welcome back from Camp Squeah! I took a total of 629 photos over three days, and the slideshow is in the works. I had a wonderful time with your wonderful kids - archery, rock climbing and nature hikes galore! Hopefully now we are all well rested and ready for an excellent week!

Coming home with your child today:

• Yellow Community Day Parade notice.
  
• Yellow Better Life coffee form.
  
• Green 2008 yearbook order form (for those students who have not yet placed an order).
• Grade 6 'Choir or Band' declaration form (for those students who are late in returning this).
• Kenneth Oppel permission form (for those students who have not yet submitted this).
  
• Scholastic book order form - please return on Monday, May 12th * check out the Canadian Trivia fact book!*
  
• Problem Solving review package - test next Monday, May 12th.
  

Upcoming events...

• Thursday, May 8th: Government Test (Chapters 5 and 6 in Connections Canada plus additional material in the package I prepared)
• Friday, May 9th: ISEA track meet
• Monday, May 12th: Problem Solving test
• Tuesday, May 13th: Kenneth Oppel field trip
• Friday, May 16th: Grandparent's Day
• Monday, May 18th: NO SCHOOL
• Thursday, May 22nd: Science World field trip
• Thursday, May 29th: Cafe Concert

Where we are headed in the curriculum (for all you keeners out there!):

• Having just completed our Decimals unit in Math, we are ready to dive into Measurement!
• When Government concludes on Thursday, we begin a fun and exciting unit with Simple Machines! (see interesting websites listed on the left)
• We continue to study 'Holes', analyzing the theme of injustice.
  

As the weather grows warmer and our hearts get lighter, I know that the remainder of our time together in Grade 5 will be fabulous - it's been a great year!

Reminders...

Please come in the morning prepared to board the bus to camp!

• One duffel bag with the majority of what you have packed according to the guidelines, ready to be placed on the luggage bus (please note that the luggage bus and the class bus we are traveling up on are different!).
  
• One small day pack with everything you need for your bus ride to accompany you on the class bus. This might include a small snack that will be completely finished prior to entering the camp (no outside food at the camp!), a book to read on the way or an iPod labeled clearly with your name for your listening pleasure. A reminder that the labeled iPod will be kept with me for the duration of our camping trip, and will be given back to you for the bus ride home on Friday! Please load some Joni Mitchell on there in the event that I would like to enjoy some music during the day. (ha ha)
  

Please return any outstanding Author Talk permission forms and Band/Choir declaration forms in the morning.

Kindie pictures should be rolling on in - please review the e-mail sent out by our class Mom's so that our class will have everything in order!

Thank you.

A short week!

The camp countdown is on!

Tonight's homework:

• Memorize line for Cafe Concert - we really want to shine the afternoon of our performance.

• Review for the Decimal test tomorrow afternoon.
  

• Problem Solving: Prairie Dogs due next Monday but students should truly complete this tonight so it is not forgotten in the shuffle of camp. Students continue to come to class unprepared for Mrs. Longworth, and I want us to have a 100% success rate next Monday!

• Review Government material - focusing on the three branches of the Federal government and a general timeline of events in Canada's history:
• The BNA Act of 1867 and Canada's Confederation - which provinces were around at this time? Who was our Prime Minister?
  
• The Constitution of 1982 and what it symbolized. Who was our Prime Minister?
• Who is our Prime Minister now? Do you know his vision for our country?
• What is your vision for our country?

• Pack for camp!
  

Thank you!

Notices and happy weekend!

Hi all,

We had a great morning at Morven - the kids had a tour of the land and met some of their future teachers. I am confident that their transition into Grade 6 will be a smooth one.

Coming home with your child today are a few important notices.

• Informed Consent for the Kenneth Oppel field trip on May 13th. Please return as soon as possible, but do not cut the form you actually sign.
  
• Music Choices for Grade 6 students - please return on Monday (do not return if your child is not moving on to Morven).
  
• Green Grandparents Day information sheet.
  
• CD presentation from Mr. Myron Sullivan's oil spill conversation last Friday.
  

Homework for the weekend:

• Memorize lines for Cafe Concert - it is going to be great!
• Choose three rights from the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Clearly state them, and discuss the responsibilities of all Canadians in relation to that right. Government test on May 8th will quickly sneak up on us, so spending some quality time with the material now will be beneficial.
  
• Decimal test on Tuesday...now is a good time to practice multiplying and dividing decimals.
  

And of course, we leave for camp on Wednesday! PLEASE review the packing sheet we have prepared for you - children will be miserable if they are cold and wet for all three of our days away. There is a link at the top left of this page to a separate camp blog will an online packing list in case you have misplaced yours. All medications must come into school for safe keeping with Ms. Craig prior to departure. We would be grateful if this occurred on Monday or Tuesday, rather than a Wednesday morning rush.

Enjoy the sunshine this weekend!