Simonds Climbs Kearsarge!

A view from the top! We had a great turn out this year!

All the fifth grade climbers! 

Letter Home

Below is a copy of the letter we sent home today with your student. Please be sure to read it over, and let us know if you have any questions.

SIMONDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

14 CHURCH STREET

WARNER, NH 03278

456-2241

Judith Pellettieri Jen Richardson

Principal School Nurse

September 10th, 2014

Dear Parents,

We are about to begin a very important segment of the health curriculum.  Mr. Vozzolo (PE teacher), Miss Connor, Mr. Shepherd, and I will begin team teaching in the month of September.  This will cover the physical, social, and emotional changes your child will be, or already is, experiencing.  It is children’s nature to have many questions about their growing body during puberty. They are curious about the changes that are occurring.   It is important for your child to have an accurate source of information so that he/she does not have to rely on friends to answer their questions.

Boys and girls in the 5th grade will have separate classes. Miss Connor and I will cover topics such as menstruation, feminine protection, female puberty, and personal hygiene.   For the 5th grade boys, Mr. Shepherd and Mr. Vozzolo will discuss male puberty and personal hygiene.

Parents can play an important role in helping children prepare for the changes and growth, which occur during puberty.  The program we teach at school provides your child with basic facts and reassurances about his/her growth and development.  We will also encourage your child to turn to you for further information and guidance.

This is the link to the video we will be showing: http://www.pgschoolprograms.com/programs.php?pid=1  

Please let us know if you have any concerns.

Sincerely,

Jen Richardson, RN

Simonds School Nurse

Week Of 9/8 to 9/12

Simonds Climbs Kearsarge is this FRIDAY! We hope to see you all hiking the mountain with us! 

Our first full week of the year is here!
Science: This week students will be picking three elements from the periodic table to become experts on. We will then be creating our own Periodic Table of the Elements for display in the hallway.

Social Studies: Students will continue to delve deeper into the Articles of Confederation and The Constitution.

Math: We are still working on place value up to the thousandths, and will begin to look at comparing and ordering decimals. We know that math is a stressful subject for students, and are trying to help ease the tension. If your student is having a lot of difficulty on the homework, please just send us an email or a note about it. We will work through the trouble problems together. Homework is not meant to be an overly stressful time!

Reading: Students continue to work on making connections to reading, as well as, looking at important text features of Non-Fiction text.

Writing: Students will be digging deep into their writing, and working on adding details, and grabber starting sentences.

Spelling: Students had their first spelling test today! If your student gets three 100's in a row, they move up to the next spelling group. They also have to get higher than a 70 to remain in the spelling group they are in. Students' were given a preliminary spelling test to find where they should be.

Week of 9/2-9/5

This week in fifth grade:
Science: Students will begin exploring aspects of the Periodic Table of the Elements.
Social Studies: Students are continuing to explore the Constitution.
Writing: Students are beginning their personal narrative writing, and learning about the writing process.
Math: We are talking about place value, and number relationships.
Reading: Students are continuing to work on comprehension strategies.

Be sure to send in any Scholastic Orders and money by Friday! Or order online, there are many more choices there!

Specials Schedule

Mr. Shepherd's weekly Specials Schedule

Monday

8:40-9:20

Music

Tuesday

8:40-9:20

Art

Wednesday

8:40-9:20

Library

9:20-10:05 (Second semester)

Technology

Thursday

8:40-9:20

P.E.

9:20-10:05 (First semester)

 Music

Friday

8:40-9:20

PE

Ms. Connor’s weekly special schedule

Monday

8:40-9:20 (second semester)

Technology

9:20-10:05

Music

Tuesday

8:40-9:20

P.E.

Wednesday

8:40-9:20

Art

Thursday

8:40-9:20 (first semester)

Music

9:20-10:05

P.E.

Friday

8:40-9:20

Library

*Please remember to bring sneakers on PE days!*

The First Day of School!

Students were sent home with a lot of important documents today! Please be sure to fill out the registration forms and return them to school as soon as possible. We have also sent home the below letter and a Scholastic order. 

Please be sure to check your students planner! We have supplied a binder and a notebook to help facilitate the home to school procedure. Please help your child remember to bring this to school each and every day. 

The first week of school is always a bit crazy- but here is what we hope to cover this week:

Writing- The writing process, organization, and the beginning of writing a narrative. 
Science- We will begin looking at matter, and elements. 
Social Studies- We will begin looking at the Constitution and it's importance.
Reading- We will begin learning about expository text features and active participation in reading discussions. 
Math- We are starting our first unit on Place Value. This week will focus primarily on getting to know the new program, and place value relationships. 

Parent Letter:

Dear Parents,

Welcome to fifth grade! We are excited to start this year, and have many exciting (and educational) lessons and field trips planned. We want to keep lines of communication as open as possible throughout the school year. Please be sure to update your email address on your students’ registration packets. This year we will be keeping the number of notices sent home down, so please save the link to our blog (http://fifthgradesimondsschool.blogspot.com/). We will keep weekly schedule updates, student work, upcoming events, Blizzard Bag Materials and photos on the blog.

In an effort to continue making the transition from Simonds to the Middle School as smooth as possible, we have developed a new homework/planner routine, similar to the Middle School. Students will have time at the end of every day to fill out their planner with homework, we will sign off that they have written everything down correctly, and we ask that you sign off (just initials is fine) that you have seen their planner. Spelling homework will go out as a packet on Monday’s to be due the following Monday before their test. Math homework will go out daily, to be due the next day. Don’t worry we will be sending home 3-4 math problems per night! And as always, reading for 20 minutes each night.

Our new math program has an amazing website that has games, worksheets, and an e version of the students’ actual math textbook. If your child ever has any trouble with their homework they can go online and watch a reminder video, or review the days lesson. The website is: www.pearsonrealize.com. The login is: firstinitiallastname.kresw and the password is krsd(lunchnumber). We may be using some of the options on this website as Blizzard Bag options.

Attached you will find a Scholastic Book Order Magazine. We will send these out each month to help you find daily reading books. To order online go to: www.scholastic.com and enter our teacher codes. (Shepherd-LCYVV , Connor-M8JZD) The online store has more options than the catalog, but you are still welcome to send in the actual form. Our first Scholastic order will be due Friday, September 12, 2014.

We are looking forward to a great year with you and your student. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

Fondly,

Shelbie Connor and Steve Shepherd

Welcome Fifth Grade Class of 2015!

WELCOME TO FIFTH GRADE! We are very excited to start this new year, and fill it with many new adventures and learning opportunities. Below we have attached a copy of the letter we sent home this week. See you all very soon!

Hello Fifth Grade Families,                

We are very excited that you will be in our classes this year!  We have heard so many good things about you from last year’s teachers.  This year will be filled with many new things to learn and experience.  You will finally be able to play on the new field this year as well!  We will also be using a blog (http://fifthgradesimondsschool.blogspot.com) along with our website to help keep you and your parents up to date on what is happening in 5th grade.  We are also excited to have a new math curriculum (Envisions)  that is both fun and challenging.  Stay tuned for more information about Envisions math.

Your 5th grade teachers have high expectations for you.  Our goal is for you to have success and confidence in learning.  Although sometimes learning requires patience and hard work, the result is that what was once confusing or difficult now makes sense and is easy.  We will help you every step of the way and celebrate your accomplishments with you.  

We look forward to learning more about you and your interests. Your first assignment is a fun one.  We would like you to write about a memorable experience you had this summer.  The writing should be at least two paragraphs in length. Be sure to bring your writing with you when you come to school on August 26th so we can share our experiences with one another.  Don’t worry about supplies, simply bring a couple of pencils, a bag or backpack to bring things to and from school.  We will provide paper, crayons, folders, and other craft type supplies.

If you would like to meet with us and see your room before school starts, we will be in our rooms August 25th from 2:00-3:00pm.  Also, be sure to invite your family to the Simonds Pancake Breakfast that will be taking place on our first day back, August 26th at 8:30am.

See you soon!

Mr. Shepherd and Ms. Connor

P.S.  Parents, send us your email addresses so we can share our class blog and emails with you.  

sshepherd@kearsarge.org

sconnor@kearsarge.org