* Bring Recorders on Mondays
* Gym uniforms on Thursdays
* Band Students - Bring instrument on Thurs/Fri
* 9/17 Picture Day
* 9/29 No School - Education Conference for Teachers 

Hi Parents! 

We had a busy, hectic 4-day week, but we made it. It was an extra challenge as I am limited on my prep time due to missing Art, Computer, and a regular class with a guidance counselor. I hear good things are coming back next week. We made due with a few little art "projects" I did with the class, but I have no artistic talent, so anything they came up on their projects are of their own doing. 

We spent time this PM with a lesson on 9/11. I showed a short, informational clip about the basics of 9/11, nothing graphic or scary, but hearing about the events of the day did bring out a few tears. I really wanted to emphasize to the class that even though it was a horrible day in our country's history, we should look to the helpers that spent time running in when everyone else was running out. Mrs. Miller was able to join us for a while to speak of the day, her memories of it, and a recent trip to Ground Zero itself. We even fielded some questions together. I read a book about Father Mychal Judge who not only dedicated his life to serving others, but continued to do so on 9/11. 

I encouraged the class to ask you about your own memories/feelings of that day. If you are able, please drive past and/or visit the beautiful flag display at West Manheim this weekend. There aren't words to describe what it is like to see all those flags and truly realize what they represent. I can't believe it has been 20 years...

I'm still finalizing plans for this coming week, but it will be test-light with maybe a graded CW or 2 only.  

Have a great weekend! God Bless You! 

Class picture disclaimer - this was taken 8/31, before masks were required again on 9/2.

Dear Parents, 

We had a humid start to the week, an unexpected rain-day-off on Wednesday, and a perfect, cool end of the week. Lucky for us, our class has been great with rolling right along with the new changes we've encountered even only in the 2nd week of school. I've started with a heavy focus on responsibility, expectations, and listening to directions the first time. So far, off to a great start! After a bit more review on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, we are looking at several first assessments in each subject. Today we had our first Spelling and Religion Tests. And I made sure the kids practiced the SS vocab word "surplus" by teasing them with a big bag of M&Ms on my stool all day. I shared the sweet treat with them this afternoon as we had art class. 

Next week: 
Monday - NO SCHOOL! 
Tuesday - 
Wednesday - Social Studies - Current Event (CE) due
                      Reading WLT (Weekly Lesson Test) 
Thursday - Spanish HW Due
                  English 1.1-1.5 Quiz
                  Ch 1 Religion Test
Friday - Spelling Less 2 Test
             Math Ch 1 Quiz

* A Rdg WLT will ask 20 questions total - 10 about story comprehension and 10 about vocabulary.
* SS CE - Students will need to locate and provide their own newspaper article. The top of the CE assignment page has suggestions about where to find a suitable article. There are various links for good CE choices in the green bar to the right as well.  
* Religion - See the link to our Religion book on the right of this page. It includes detailed study guides, review games, and practice quizzes for each chapter. 

I've spoken to the class about the tips above and have shown them the links I referenced, but will review these on Tuesday with the class. 

Have a fabulous weekend! God Bless You! 

Hi Parents, 

We had a great week! We covered lots of rules, policies, schedules, updates, etc. We are ready to get off to a running start on Monday morning. We'll be starting regular spelling lessons with Friday tests, weekly reading stories with comprehension/vocab assessment, begin place value in math, sacraments in religion, physical science, and our first ancient civilization in social studies is Mesopotamia. Our math, science, and reading books are delayed, so say a prayer to St. Anthony for those to come in ASAP. Until then, we have to live off of copies. Next Friday, we'll have our first spelling test and our 7 Sacraments test. 

Thank you so much for sending in the classroom supplies. We are now well stocked with wipes, tissues, looseleaf, and index cards.

By now you should have received an email with your child's 900th day of school photo. They were floored when I explained how not only has it been that many days, but for many kids, it is more than that if he/she attended PK. So, on Monday, we start day #905.

Have a great weekend! God Bless You! 

5th Grade Supply List
* 1 hard-cover sewn-bound copybook
* pencil case (no boxes)
* sharpened pencils
* box of 16 crayons
* 12 inch ruler
* highlighter
* 2 glue sticks
* 2 dry erase markers
* 2 red pens or pencils
* scissors

These supplies are for our classroom use and are separate from Art Bag supplies. Please, no binders, white out, or individual pencil sharpeners. 

For the classroom: 
* 2 boxes of tissues
* 2 containers of cleaning wipes
* 1 package of index cards – any size/color

• 1 package of looseleaf paper
  
  For Art:
  * art shirt - large enough to fit over the student's clothes
  * 4 No. 2 pencils
  * 1 small eraser
  * a box of crayons 16 or 24 count
  * a box of colored pencils
  * a box of markers
  * 4 glue sticks
  * 1 black Sharpie permanent marker
  * scissors
  * ruler
  * a small (5x7" or so) notebook to be used as an art journal. 
  
  For Music: 
  * tote bag

Dear Parents of New 5th Graders,
 
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 expect 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.

Another thing I ask before we begin the next school year is that you contact me via email so I can start to compile a mailing list. I write a weekly newsletter that will be posted on the website every Friday, but your email addresses are handy for quick notes and weekly reminders. Please check the website before the end of the school year to see an example of the newsletter.
 
Thank you very much for your time. I hope everyone has a wonderful, relaxing, and fun summer. Please plan to attend our Back To School Meeting on ​Thursday August 19th. Please mark your calendars now. I look forward to meeting a classroom of fresh faces on August 24th, the first day of school.
 
God Bless,  
Mrs. Lesley Maurer
5th Grade Teacher
lmaurer@sjshanoverpa.org

Hi Parents! 

Today most kids are coming home with an envelope that contains their letter to the author from our March Book Report. It has been prepped and sealed by me and only needs a stamp and to be mailed. I made sure the letters only contain first names, but I wrote a separate message from myself that if the author/publisher is able to respond, they will do so directly to me, whether it be via my school email or school snail mail. I say most kids are coming home with an envelope as several authors only had electronic communications and 2 were deceased. I'm excited to see if we get any responses! Even if it is over the summer or into the next school year, I'll make sure to pass on the correspondence. 

Thank you for sending in all the BEAUTIFUL wedding photos. We are loving seeing all the smiling couples on their special day! Our photo gallery has also generated many compliments from other teachers and staff. It is the talk of the hallway! 

Next Week: 
Monday - Music Test Peter and the Wolf - (Mrs. P has resources posted in the Music GC for review)
Tuesday - 
Wednesday - 
Thursday - Math Ch 8 Test
                Religion Ch 18 Test
Friday - Spelling Less 22 Test
            Rdg - WLT #16

35 days to go! 

Have a great weekend! God Bless You! 

Hi Parents, 

Another busy week! 2 important Saint feast days this week kept us busy. I know Mrs. Miller took some, but after I sat down when the kids were gone on Wednesday, I realized I hadn't taken any pictures of them in their festive green attire. We had some mighty spirited kids! 

For St. Joseph Day today, we celebrated mass and learned about the foster father of Jesus. There was one Bible scavenger hunt activity we didn't get to, but it is coming home tonight if you'd like to do it with your family. St. Joseph isn't spoken about too many times in the Bible, so it is a quick activity. Green cupcakes helped us celebrate him as well! 

We've been working on our Greek gods/goddesses project this week. The class is really getting into it! They enjoy seeing who they are "related to" in the class based on which student is doing that project. We've also been watching bits of the movie Hercules in the afternoons while we pack up, so we are enjoying Disney's interpretation of Greek mythology. I left the movie with a juicy cliffhanger today! Whether your child is doing a written report or digital in the Google Classroom, these projects are due Wednesday. 

In Religion, we have wrapped up the Sacraments of Healing and next week will begin the Sacraments of Vocation. Stay tuned - I will soon be asking students to bring in a photo of a married couple. Sending a digital copy is fine. Hard copies of photographs are fine too - they will not be used in any projects, just carefully displayed. They will be returned in the same condition you send them in. Any married couple on their wedding day is fine. 

In Science, we are now into Earth science - studying Earth's structure and next week learning about natural disasters. 

In English class, we took a vote and decided to have a persuasive writing sample up next. We'll pick topics on Monday. 

We also voted on the last book report of the school year. The class picked "Write a letter to the author." Rubrics went home for these today and they are due Wednesday, March 31 in the Google Classroom. 

I'm still missing a few Report Card envelopes. If you have one at home, please return it to school on Monday. 

Next week: 
Monday - 
Tuesday - Math Decimals Division Test
Wednesday - Greek G/G Project Due 
Thursday - 
Friday - Spelling 21 Test

Have a great weekend! Happy Spring! God Bless You! 

Hi Parents! 

What another eventful week! We were busy with wrapping up a few units, starting off with some new ones, a few projects, crafts, and holidays. We wrote love letters, brainstormed personal narratives, attended mass, and learned about the Chinese New Year. Hopefully our dragons made it home safely! Of course the kiddos are coming home with LOTS of sweet treats for Valentine's Day! Your homes should be well stocked for a while! Thank you for sharing all your sweet treats with the class. 

I'm in the process of posting new pictures to our 5th grade webpage, so be on the lookout for those shortly.

Thank you again for your understanding and patience with emails and messages back and forth. I'm still using many devices on a daily basis as well as all the regular paperwork coming in from the students and then getting it back to them. And then we have lots of extra info/details to track and document in this crazy year. And the regular curriculum of course. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming....  :) 

Next week: 
Wednesday - CE Due
Thursday - Rdg WLT
Friday - Spelling 16
             Religion Prayer to the HS Test

Have a wonderful weekend! Let's keep the white fluffy stuff to a minimum, shall we? 

God Bless You!