News From Mrs. Denny’s Class
September 11, 2009
denny@lpatucson.org

NEWSWORTHY NEWS
September
11-Mid-quarter ends

11-Hero Night at Lakeside

14-Dentist on Campus

October
2-Pancake breakfast with principal

2-Bingo Night

7-Dress Down Day

8- 40th Day of School!

9- ½ day. No lunch or after school
report cards home

12&13- Harvest Break

13- Skate Country Night 6-8 pm

CONGRATULATIONS to Reanna Ruiz and Joel Gonzalez for being selected to represent our class in student council!

CURRICULUM NEWS
Students took their 2nd unit test in Math. We are still practicing multiplication facts and will focus on subtraction facts as well.

Students also had a vocabulary quiz and social studies test this Friday. Students will always be given advanced notice of a quiz or test. This week they were to be studying from their vocabulary and social studies spiral notebooks in preparation for the tests.

In writing, we are learning how to write descriptive paragraphs. Students are being guided in “painting a picture” for their reader.

Mr. Diaz came to our room this Thursday. He focused on trustworthiness, fairness, and responsibility

Students are excited about science! We are learning about the scientific method and have started creating a science flip book complete with definitions and illustrations to demonstrate their understanding of the scientific method.

On Thursday we had a wonderful and informative demonstration from the S.W.A.T. team. Ask your child to tell you what we learned about.

PARENT INFORMATION
Progress Reports: Today your child is bringing home his/her progress report. Please sign the attached form and return it with your child on Monday.
Please keep in mind that we have only been in school for one month, and I am still getting to know your child’s strengths and weaknesses. The progress report reflects any areas that your child could improve upon before the end of the quarter (Oct. 9). I did not mark any subject areas if your child is making adequate progress in that area.

*Due to late work and the numerous absences requiring make up work, many students need to only turn in their work for improvement to be shown.
*Progress reports will take the place of the weekly student report for this week.

Responsibility: Now that the students are in 5th grade, I have been talking with them about being responsible for their work. Many students will finish an in- class assignment and never hand it in, or will complete an assignment in the wrong notebook or never bring back a homework assignment. They know that this greatly impacts their grade. Receiving an “F” in a subject due to missing assignments or not following instructions is definitely avoidable.
I have told the students that school is their job- just like we as adults have jobs. They need to take responsibility for their own work.

Absences: We have had a lot of absences in our room. I am encouraging hand washing and sanitizing in the classroom. If your child is healthy, please send them to school each day. Learning can be very disjointed for students when they continually miss school days.
Students have one day for every day they are absence to make up work. I will not continually ask them for their work. It is their job to complete the missed assignments and turn them into me in a timely manner. I would appreciate your encouragement at home.

This & That: Please take time to read the school newspaper “The Link,” which should come home every Monday. Look for it in your child’s homework folder.
Also please don’t forget to ask your child for our classroom newsletter which comes home every Friday during the 1st Quarter.

Health regulations prevent us from distributing any snacks or birthday treats that are NOT store bought. If you want to send in a treat for a special celebration, please adhere to this regulation. Thank you!