First Day of School

Today has been my best first day since I started teaching fifth grade here at UCES 15 years ago!  Your children are delightful!

Be sure to initial the agenda each school night.

Each child received a list of spelling and vocabulary for this week (test Friday).  The sheet explains everything that they need to do, but here it is in a nutshell:
The required homework (HW) for tonight is to write the 20 spelling words in ABC order in the agenda (NOT on a sheet of notebook paper to turn in, but actually in the agenda).  It's okay if they need another sheet to help them alphabetize, but I am only looking at the words in the agenda.

Spelling 3 times each is due Thursday.  We started it in class today so that they would understand my format.  We will NOT do this each week; I am teaching some of my expectations and procedures so that IF they need to write them to help study them, they will know how I want them to do it.

Vocabulary sentences are due on Friday.  We also started them today in class.  This week, the sentences need to be at least 10 words long.  They need to underline the vocabulary word in the sentence.

Thanks for a terrific start to a great year!

Welcome to 5th Grade (Supply List Too)

 Dear new 5^th grader and family,

       Welcome to 5^th grade!  I’m excited to be working with you and look forward to a successful, positive year together.  It’s going to be great! I can't wait to meet you!  Feel free to email me this summer so that I can get to know you better and visit my class website (info below).  Our first day of school will be Tuesday, August 6.

         Fifth grade is academically challenging yet full of rewards that come with responsibility. It is very important for students to maintain skills over the summer, especially multiplication tables (0-12).  You'll definitely need to know them in 5th grade math.  You can easily practice your math skills in the kitchen (measurement) and figuring out totals/making change while shopping.  Plus there are lots of fun, free math websites (see mine for links).

       Please continue to read and write over the summer. You can find lots of interesting books and magazines at the public library.  I encourage you to write in a journal this summer.  Entries could include places you go, things you do, etc.  I’d love to get to know you better, so feel free to send me an email.  Continuing to read and write will help you maintain fluency in these important areas.

       You can also continue to work on SuccessMaker this summer.  You can access it either from the UC Schools website or from my blog.

         I anticipate a successful 5th grade year full of growth and discovery, and I know you do, too.  Please be sure to look over the attached suggested supply list.  Students need to come to school prepared each day.  Organization, responsibility, accountability, and hard work will lead to success.

         I look forward to working closely with each of you.  Research and past experience indicate that students are more successful when parents take an active role in their children's education.  I’m counting on you.  See you in August!  Have a safe and happy summer.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Haley Dyer (hdyer@ucschools.org)

SUGGESTED SUPPLY LIST:

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·      a good attitude and a willingness to work hard and to try

·      3-ring binder that will hold 5-7 tabs, notebook paper, and agenda

·      five to seven tabbed dividers to use for reading (red), English/language arts (orange), social studies (yellow), science (green), and math (blue); extra tabs can be used for notebook paper

·      5+ packs of loose leaf notebook paper - wide ruled

·      a spiral notebook (100 or more pages) for math

·      number 2 pencils (If managing lead becomes a problem, mechanical pencils will be prohibited.)

·      colored pencils

·      glue stick

·      scissors

·      a red and a blue folder with prongs (plastic folders last longer)

·      another pronged folder with 25 sheets of paper and a pencil for Technology

·      a pack of loose-leaf notebook paper and a dozen pencils for Writing

HELPFUL HOME RESOURCES (optional): ruler, scissors, glue, dictionary, thesaurus

 

Paper Airplane Champ

Not Goodbye but See You Again!

It has been such a pleasure having each of you in my class.  You have enriched my life in so many ways, and I hope that you will look back on this year with fondness.  If I taught you something positive in the classroom that you can carry with you for the rest of your life, then I consider it a good year.

You have my well wishes for a bright future.  You can do anything that you set your mind to if only you try, so be your best and give it your all.

Here's a poem I found that helps to say what I feel:

It's time to say good-bye.
The school year's at an end.
I hope you've had lots of fun
And count me as a friend.

I've watched you learn and grow
And change from day to day.
I hope all the things we've done
Have helped you along the way.

It's with happy memories 
I send you out the door
With blessings for good things
That next year holds in store.
-Unknown 

With all my love,
Mrs. Dyer

Congratulations, Jordan!

Congratulations to our very own Jordan for winning 2nd place in the Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter of the Sons of American Revolution poster contest!  We are so proud of her and her beautiful poster.

Field Day Tomorrow!

Tuesday is our field day, so please dress appropriately for being outside running around in the afternoon.  Kids may get wet at a few of the activities, so feel free to send in a towel.  Thanks!

CREEK Summer Camp

Here's some info I received and want to share with you.  If you are interested, please let me know so that I can send home the paperwork. 

Summer water quality day camp C.R.E.E.K. (Creative and Educational Environmental Education for Kids): This camp is offered free of charge for rising 5^th, 6th, and 7^th graders of Cherokee and Clay counties in North Carolina as well as Towns and Union counties in Georgia.  The camp in Union County will be held at Meeks Park on July 11, 2013.

The mission of C.R.E.E.K. is to educate young people about basic water quality science and aquatic life in our streams; to encourage behavior that protects water quality; and to promote career opportunities in sciences to young people. With the help of water quality professionals, students use scientific equipment along streams to collect data for an authentic environmental research experience. Participants also learn practical applications of watershed concepts.  These topics cover Georgia Department of Education Standards for 7^th grade and 8^th grade Life Science. We use a pre and post test to assess what students learn.  Student post test scores improve by an average of 25%!

I have a poster and pamphlet for C.R.E.E.K. as well as a registration materials and a general fact sheet about the Watershed Coalition if you'd like to learn more.  Email Mrs. Dyer to get them (hdyer@ucschools.org).  I encourage you to visit our C.R.E.E.K. webpage at http://www.hrwc.net/creek.htm. Please