Friday, August 27, 2010


Week of August 30th

Dear Parents,
We have had a great first week of school! I have enjoyed getting to know the students and am looking forward to a wonderful year. Just a reminder…Curriculum Night for Fifth grade is Thursday, September 7th at 6:30 at Prairieview. You will be able to sign up for conferences that evening. I look forward to seeing all of you!

Thanks to all the parents who have donated snacks and goodies to the classroom for our "ticket" reward program!

Book orders are being sent home on Monday. I am sending home the Arrow order that goes up to a 6th grade level in their book selections. I also send home the Tab order which is 7th grade and above. Please know that some of the selections in the Tab order are intended for more mature readers. I always ask that parents approve the book selections of your children. If you would like to order please make checks payable to Scholastic. You may also send in cash, but please make sure it is exact change. If ordering from both Arrow and Tab the totals can be combined!
Orders are due on Friday.

All 4th and 5th grade students have the opportunity to sign up for Intramural Games. This is a "free" after school program that allows your child to stay active. Permission slips will be sent out next week. Please return these to Mrs. Cushing by Friday, September 3rd.

Due to the number of peanut allergies in fifth grade we are asking that all snacks be nut free. Thank you for your help.

Reading: This week we will review and discuss the following reading strategies: predicting, inferring, decoding, clarifying, questioning, evaluating, and summarizing. The students will listen to a read-aloud story entitled The Pumpkin Box to apply these strategies.

English: In English we will begin with the unit "The Sentence." Students are reviewing the four types of sentences along with how to find the subject and predicate of a sentence. They will also be introduced to simple subjects and simple predicates. We are in need of old magazines for a project later in the week. If you have any please send them in.


Spelling: A pretest will be given every Monday. The spelling work will be assigned on Monday. Students will be given a word list to keep in their binder. Students who receive 95% or better will receive a challenge list and an alternative list of spelling activities to choose from. The spelling assignment for the regular list (workbook pages) and the challenge list will be due Thursday. The first spelling test will be this Friday.

Science: In science we will begin our unit, "Getting Ready for Science" The students will become familiar with the tools scientists use. We will also learn what inquiry skills scientists use.

Social Studies: In social studies we are beginning chapter 4 "Spain Builds an Empire." The students will learn how Columbus's voyages led to a European settlement of the Americas and an exchange of people , animals, goods, and ways of life between East and West.

Miss Trefonas's Math Class
This week in math we will begin chapter one, Place Value, Addition, and Subtraction. The students will review place value through millions. We will also learn how to compare and order whole numbers along with rounding and estimation sums and differences. The students will be filling out their first homework sheet on Friday. The homework sheet is a template where 10 different problems are chosen directly from the assignments given during the week. The students have the opportunity to fix homework assignments after we have graded them in class prior to the homework sheet being given.

Please feel free to contact me at any time!
Miss Trefonas

Saturday, August 21, 2010

WELCOME!!

Dear Students and Parents:
I look forward to meeting all of you at Open House on Monday, August 23rd.
Open House at Prairieview is from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. You may bring your school supplies.
Parents, I have sign up sheets for party helpers, field trip chaperones.... etc.
I also am looking for any parent(s) who can be a copy helper.
If there is something specific you would like to volunteer for, email me and I will sign you up!
Enjoy your weekend! See you on Monday!
Miss Trefonas