Rockhopper Weekly Reminders
February 27- March 2
Mark Your Calendars:
- Monday, February 27th: School resumes
- Tuesday, February 28th: Barnes and Noble Night
- Wednesday, February 29th: Middle school counselors visit
- Wednesday, February 29th: PSCO meeeting 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, March 1st: 7:00PM Miller Middle School Information Night
- Tuesday, March 6th: 4th grade STAR Writing test and 5th grade CUSD Persuasive Writing Task
- Thursday, March 8th: Outdoor School forms due!
- Friday, March 9th: Reading Contracts due!
- Friday, March 9th: End of 2nd trimester
- Wednesday, March 14th: Explorers Unit Exam
Barnes & Noble Community Building Event:
Please come out to the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at Westgate Shopping Center tomorrow night, Tuesday, to hear your fabulous Rockhopper teachers read out loud for the world to experience. We’re set to read from 6:00 to 6:30pm. If you happen to be hungry too, head on over to Willow Street Pizza or Chevy’s where a portion of your total will help support our school. Don’t forget to bring your flier that was in last week’s Thursday folder. We hope to see you there!
Fifth Grade Math Placement Test:
Each year all CUSD fifth grade students are given a placement test that determines their math placement in middle school. This year, the Level 1 test will be administered on Wednesday, March 21st and the Level 2 test will be given two weeks later, on Wednesday, April 4th. Level 2 tests the students’ ability to extend the 5th grade standards. The middle schools are responsible for grading the tests and placing students accordingly. The results are sent home along with elective placements during the summer.
Since this is a placement test, students aren’t expected to “study” for the test, but if your child would feel more comfortable reviewing the materials that we’ve taught so far this year, they may. Please keep in mind that this is a placement test, and your child will be placed appropriately according to his or her ability and strength in the subject so that they will be successful in math. Another placement test is administered in sixth grade, so your child is given a chance to be placed at the level they are best suited each year.
Star and District Writing Tests:
On Tuesday, March 6th, fourth grade students will be taking the STAR writing test. The three writing genres that they may be tested on are: narrative, summary, or response to literature. We have spent time in class practicing all three of these styles of writing. Wednesday, March 7th will be the make-up day for any students who might be absent on March 6th. Also on March 6th, the fifth grade students will be taking the Cupertino district writing test, which will focus on persuasive writing.
Outdoor School:
In response to the questions I have received so far:
a. The cost for Outdoor School is $310 and the check should be made out to Portal School along with the forms by March 8th.
b. Here is an explanation of what we require with the yellow form:
(copied from an email from the director of Outdoor School)
This form is two sided and we require each student to have SECTION I completed by the parent. We only require SECTION II to be completed by the physician if the student takes prescription medications or if the parent would like their child to have access to the over the counter medications listed on the form. The important thing to note is, in the case of over the counter medication, if a physician does not complete and sign SECTION II then we do not have authorization to administer over the counter medications to that student (this is new this year in order to be in compliance with ed code). If a parent would like their child to have the ability to receive over the counter medication listed while at outdoor science school then they must obtain a physician's signature for SECTION II. There are a few items listed on the form (rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Bactine, Vaseline, sunblock, saline eye wash, etc) that are not considered medications. We list these items so that parents are aware of everything that we have in stock in our health office and have the opportunity to indicate if they prefer their child NOT to be given those treatments (in a first aid situation, for example).
Help To Keep Our Computer Lab Germ Free... Our computer lab is in need of disinfectant wipes to help keep our computers as sanitary as possible. Germs can easily be spread on keyboards, so if you can send in a container of disinfectant wipes and/or hand sanitizer bottles, we would appreciate it. Thank you for your help!
Curriculum Flash!
Language Arts:
At this point in the year, writing tasks continue to dominate our language arts time. We now have enough experience writing rough drafts, revising and editing by ourselves and with peers, and producing final drafts to tackle a variety of writing genres. Presently, responses to literature, letters, and personal narratives are in the process of completion. Persuasive essays will be introduced this week. More practice, with classroom grammatical mini-lessons as needed, is on our agenda.
Math
4th grade: To start the week, students will be completing their Click, Clack, Moo algebraic problem-solving posters. Beginning Wednesday, we will start our exploration of geometry. There is a LOT of vocabulary to be learned for this unit, so we recommend that students review vocabulary terms at home with their families to really cement these terms in their minds.
5th grade: (20) This week, we’ll continue our study of decimals with multiplication, their real life usage, and their connection to fractions. Our new Problem of the Week will keep us focused on real life application and communicating logic.
Science:
In Rooms 20 & 21, we are making our Keynote presentations on the element of our choice. We will be looking at students progress thus far and encouraging them to go beyond the usual text/photo format. Linking information, audio input, and other “extras” are examples of “extras” in the construction of the students’ presentations. The students will also have a chance to do a little creative writing related to their element, which they will present orally to the rest of the class. The goal is to have fun with our learning while enlightening ourselves at the same time!
Social Studies:
As we continue to move through A History of US, students will be reading, note-taking, and discussing main events in class; students will also do some reading on their own at home. As a reminder, we will be wrapping up our unit on the European Explorers in the next two weeks. Our Explorers unit exam will be on Wednesday, March 14th. A study guide was sent home before the break, and students were encouraged to plan ahead by reviewing all notes, re-reading relevant chapters, and utilizing all of their resources to prepare for the upcoming test. We will play Jeopardy in class to review for the test; students also have biography cards on each explorer that they can use to play a game.
Name that State!
- This state is made up of two peninsulas.
- You will find three mottos on this state's flag.
- More cereal is produced in this state than in any other.
- Four of the five Great Lakes make up parts of this state's borders.
- The state is known as the world's "Motor Capital."
- Which state is it?
