Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
Missing May by Cynthia Rylant
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatly Snyder
Flush by Carl Hiaasen

After you finish reading your selected book:

Design a POSTER advertising this book to your classmates and other interested readers. Poster should be no smaller than 15"x15" and should include the title, author, illustrator (if there is one), drawing or image of main character, setting, list of main characters with short description of each, and conflict. You may share some plot events on your poster but DO NOT give away the resolution to the book! Make sure anything you write to advertise your book is written in your own words. Copying directly from the book is plagiarism. Anything this else you'd like to include to entice others to read the book is up to you! It should reflect an ad to get others to want to read your book. (Think about how a movie trailer makes you want to go to the theater to see the movie.) You may use any media and/or materials you'd like. 

Bring your completed poster to school no later than Friday, August 26th. 
​

A huge part of my job as your child’s 5th grade teacher is to prepare the kids for the more fast-paced and independent role that they will play in the middle school setting. As the school year progresses, I raise my expectations and look for more from each student. Everyone will be at their own level, but will still be pushed to be and do their best. I also like to emphasize to the students in the beginning of the school year how they are now the role models of the elementary school and that their behavior should be of the highest standard. Classroom and individual consequences as well as privileges will be clear from the first week of school.
​
5th Grade Supply List 2017-2018

·       2 hard-cover 1-subject copybooks (Language Arts & Religion, Science & S.S.)
·       2 folders (Specials, School)
·       Pencil Case (no boxes)
·       Sharpened/mechanical pencils: Minimum of 3 at all times
·       Box of 16 crayons
·       12 inch ruler
·       2 red marking pens or pencils
·       1 highlighter
·       2 glue sticks
*      2 dry erase markers
·       Scissors (To be stored in the classroom)

These supplies are to be kept in students’ desks and should be separate from Art bag supplies. No binders, white out, or individual pencil sharpeners are permitted. Also, the only pens students should have are red pens to correct work with.

For the classroom:

·       2 boxes of tissues
·       2 containers of cleansing wipes
*      1 hand sanitizer (ex. Purell) 
*      1 package of loose leaf paper 
​
For Art:

1.  An art shirt-one that is large enough to fit over the student's clothes
2.  4 No. 2 pencils
3.  1 small eraser
4.  A box of crayons 16 or 24 count
5.  A box of colored pencils
6.  A box of markers
7.  4 glue sticks - we use these up quickly
8.  1 black sharpie permanent marker
9.  A small (5" x 7" or so) notebook to be used as an art journal
 
Thank you so much for supporting your child's art education.
 
Mrs. Fagnani

For Music: 

A folder

* 8/22 First Day of School! 

Hi Parents! 

Another 5 down! Can you believe we are 2 weeks away from the last day of school?

The 5th grade did a nice job of arranging the Living Rosary for the elementary school on Thursday. In our study of the Rosary, it was nice to put all of our prayers to work to help us learn. Despite a few technical difficulties, we had a reverent and nice time.

Today we got our yearbooks. It is so fun to look back at all our memories from this school year. The students had time to sign each others' books and enjoy all the wonderful pictures.

As an end of year privilege, 5th graders have been allowed to write in blue or black pen for the past week. They can do this for any subject except math class. Also, for a fun journal entry, they designed new seating charts for our classroom. I picked out about half of them that were feasible and we are enjoying trying out our first and second arrangements this week. Perhaps we'll be able to try out one more before the end of next week. 

Finally, since we are coming soon to a close on this school year, I would like to ask if each parent could reply in email or a note to school by May 26th about comments, thoughts, or suggestions about your child's 5th grade year. Each year that I've been here at St. Joe's I've tried to modify, adjust, or just plain change things that have gone well or not as smoothly as I anticipated. For example, you could tell me about your child's favorite subject and why, a topic we studied that was interesting or one that could be 'jazzed' up, or perhaps a favorite book report project. Thank you for your feedback.

Next week:

Monday:
Tuesday: RDG - WLT
                 Rel - Rosary Test
                 SS Ch 14 Less 1-2 Quiz
Wednesday: CE Due
                        Gym Test
                       ENG - Unit 6 Test
Thursday: Math Ch 10 Frac Mult & Div Test
Friday: 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

God Bless, 

Mrs. Maurer

Hi Parents! 

What a busy week! We had our Talent Show, Band Concert, and first Friday's Liturgy! At the Talent Show, we were so very proud to help the 5th grade stand out with dance, singing, and musical tunes from the clarinet! It is always so wonderful to see what hidden talents the kids have that we don't always get to showcase in the classroom. Our band students also had a fantastic concert on Wednesday. We were proud of our SJS representatives, our emcee Aidan, and our very own rapping Riley Slee! We are all so very proud of your hard work!

With 2 more weeks in our trimester, we will have a few more grades to finish our 5th grade year with. Students have also earned and been given a few additional privileges such as the option to use a blue or black pen for notes (except in Math) and they have also worked together to plan a few new seating charts for me. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw about half of the class made truly usable arrangements, one of which is in use right now!

Please keep Mrs. Mummert in your prayers. We received word today that she isn't feeling well and the students were asked at Mass to pray for her.

Yesterday, the class received information pertaining to our Field Day/Move Up Day on Thursday, May 25th. That morning, students should report DIRECTLY to the Middle School. They will attend Ascension Thursday Mass, rotate through the classrooms, and then walk to Kids Kingdom for Field Day activities with Mrs. Bortner. Dismissal is also from the MS. 5th graders will not be at the elementary school AT ALL that day. See the bright green paper for detailed info. 

Next week:

Monday: Rdg WLT
               Math Ch 9 Test
               (I gave students the option to take the test Fri 5/5, so check with your
                child to see if the test was completed.)
Tuesday: Eng Unit 6 Less 1-4 Quiz
Wednesday: Rel Ch 19 Test
Thursday: 
Friday: Spelling Lesson 29 (Last one!!!!)

**Permission Slip for Field Day***

Have a wonderful weekend! 

God Bless, 

Mrs. Maurer

Hi Parents! 

So long April! It was nice knowing ya!

We had a wonderful week here in 5th grade. We enjoyed our Holy Matrimony display and it received lots of teacher compliments as well. Thank you for sharing your special photos and memories with us! These photos are coming home today. The students particularly enjoyed interviewing a married person and sharing those special stories with our class. What lovely times and some funny stories too!

On Monday, we enjoyed a great assembly from the NED Show. Hopefully you've heard some feedback from your children. N = Never give up. E = Encourage others. D = Do you best. An all-around wonderful message and lots of fun with yo-yos as well! We are growing some nice talents here in 5th grade as the kids enjoy trying out tricks at recess. These yo-yos are allowed to still come to school throughout May with the understanding that they are outdoor recess toys only!

We learned about the moon phases in Science and worked on a classwork project portraying the different phases with Oreo cookies! Man oh man were the kids tempted to eat some moons, but we kicked into self-control mode and everyone waiting until they got the a-ok that their project looked ok before we ate the extra moons! 

Next week:

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday: CE Due
                       Ch 12 Rome Test
Thursday: Science Unit D Test*
Friday: Spelling Lesson 28

*This is the first Science unit of study that the students HAVE NOT been provided a study guide. I gave them a specific list of pg #s our study would cover and put HEAVY emphasis on good notes. The students had a copybook check this week (Sci & SS) so if you have not yet seen then, ask your child for them. Having a parent signature counts as a HW grade! *

Have a wonderful weekend! 

God Bless, 

Mrs. Maurer

Hi Parents! 

We had so much fun at the Race for Education today! Big thanks to all our volunteers and donors who worked to make it all happen! Although we were bummed it couldn't be outside, we still had a great time and raised a lot of money for our school.

Next week:

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday: RDG - WLT #23
                       Math -    +/-   Frac Quiz
Thursday: REL - Ch 18 Holy Mat. Test
                   ENG - Unit 5 Cap. & Punct. Test
Friday: Spelling Lesson 27

Have a wonderful weekend! 

God Bless, 

Mrs. Maurer

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely wedding photos with us as we study the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony! Our class loves looking at all the blushing brides and handsome grooms. Other teachers and staff have also enjoyed taking a peek and guessing who you and your friends and family are.