Good Afternoon Everyone!

I hope you had a terrific day! I would just like to thank all of those who came out to support our Christmas concert yesterday! It was a great success! 

Tomorrow is day 1 (Gym and Music). Tomorrow is bake sale and Christmas spirit day. Students can come to school dress in red, green, white, pjs, etc. Those students who are not participating are asked to come to school in their full school day uniforms. Also, tomorrow is our class Christmas party. If you would like to bring a treat in for the class we ask that you ensure it is peanut and tree nut free.

When we return from Christmas break, we jump right into speeches, which is a 4-5 week process. A package has been sent home today, as students will need to complete some work at home over the holidays – please only do the work assigned at home – do not write you speech. If students return to school with a completed speech, they will begin all over again with a new topic. Grade 5 students will be expected to write and memorize a 3-5 minute persuasive speech on a topic of their choice; research will be needed, along with proper citation. When we are back from the break we will begin by writing our three body paragraphs; one a day using teacher guided writing. We will then write our introduction and conclusion. Time will be given edit, re-write and memorize in class. Please see below an outline of dates that we must stick to (as found in the speech package)!

Due Date - Item

Over the Christmas Break

Read over speech package, brainstorm topic, choose topic, research, complete evidence in a persuasive speech page, read the rubric 

Wednesday, January 8

Watch video samples, read a written sample, tell teacher topic, Paragraph #1 and revision 

Thursday, January 9

Paragraph #2 and revision of previous paragraph

Monday, January 13 

Paragraph #3 and revision of previous paragraphs

Tuesday, January 14 

Begin introduction, revision of introduction

Wednesday, January 15

Conclusion and revision of previous paragraphs

Thursday, January 16 – Friday, January 24  

Work on rough copies of entire speech and continue to revise

Monday, January 27 and Tuesday, January 28 

Write good copy of speech and start to memorize

Wednesday, January 29 – Friday, January 31

In-class speech recital 

Monday, February 3 

In-class speech competition (top 3 from each Grade 5 class)

Friday, February 7

SJA Oral Competition

Thursday, February 27

SJA vs TMA Oral Competition 

Please visit this page to reference back to when making citations:

Our next extra-curricular activity is skiing/snowboarding at Glen Eden Ski Resort. The dates of the trip are January 22, February 19 and March 4. We will be leaving at 7:00 AM and returning by 4:00 PM at the latest. All rentals are included, however students are more than welcome to bring their own. Please do not order hot lunch for these days as we will be eating lunch at the ski hill – students are welcome to bring money to purchase food and drink items. Students must ensure they are dressed in appropriate ski gear; warm socks, long johns with comfy clothes, snow pants, warm mitts, a face protector and a ski jacket. Please note that if students chose skiing, they will ski all three times. If students pick snowboarding, they will snowboard all three times. All students will have to pass each level before they are granted permission to ski on the big hill, no matter what their experience. 

Inquiry into Language

Today we finished writing our persuasive writing activity and went over more examples of a persuasive speech. We also had a discussion about persuasive language. Students also wrote their OWA-Post assessment. Since we were so busy with Christmas concert the last couple of days, students completed spelling lesson #15.

Today we also completed an art activity. Students created their own snow globes!

We als0 visited our friends in Ms. Hughes' class to do an art activity before we leave for the Christmas break!

Homework/ Reminders:

- Christmas party tomorrow
- Bake sale tomorrow
- Christmas spirit day tomorrow
- Review speech package (keep at home)

Important dates/items:

Thursday December 19 – Christmas Spirit Day & class party

Friday, December 20- Tuesday, January 7 – No School – Christmas holidays

Wednesday, January 8 – First Day Back After Christmas Holidays

Have a terrific night!

Ms. Cass