January 8, 2026

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year! Here we are again ready for the last half of the year. We have returned from a long much needed break and dove right back into our routine. Not sure they were ready for it but that is what we did. We have lots to accomplish before the end of the year. We have 3 weeks of hard work before Catholic Schools week is upon us. That will be a busy week with lots of extra activities for us to participate in.

Language Arts

We started a new story this week. It is the 3rd story in our Module. This makes it the last one. Which means next week will be a module test. The story this week is called The Diary From Here to There. It is about a family from Mexico whose father loses his job and they have to relocate to American to find work. He becomes a Migrant worker. We talked a lot about immigration and Migrant Workers. For grammar this week we are focusing on compound and complex sentences. The spelling words are focusing on the three different vowel sounds in an r-controlled vowel dealing with /ar/ and /ir/. The spelling list is also over r-controlled vowel words. The spelling post test and end of the week test will be next Tuesday.  Please also be watching for a new book report assignment that will be coming out next week.

Math

We have been working in Topic 4 this week. We learned how to estimate our answers for double-digit multiplication. Then we began working on Area Box strategy for double-digit multiplication. Today we checked our work on this and I decided to not move forward. I think we needed to do another day of practice before we finish up this strategy. We were just finishing up Topic 3 last year at this time so we are moving along well and I feel like we could afford to give this strategy more time. I want them to understand what they are doing before we move on or I am not doing everyone justice. It is important we master it best we can before moving on.

Social Studies

We have just started learning about the Southeast Region. We are working in lesson one this week focusing on the animals that are in the area and the natural resources it has and products that come from that region. Tomorrow they will finish the lesson and have a worksheet to complete over these items in the lesson.

Spirit Day

Tomorrow, Friday, January 9th is a spirit day. The students may pay $1.00 to wear sweat pants. It is perfect sweat pant weather! Bring in those dollars.

Mass

We have our Mass next Wednesday, the 14th. I have given students jobs and their parts to go along with them. Please, be sure they are practicing between now and then. The Bishop will be here that day to celebrate Mass with us.

Friday

I wanted to let you know I will not be in the classroom tomorrow. I will be attending the funeral mass of Ms. Surma's sister Penny. I have made it to each of her parents' funerals and I just couldn't miss this one. Mrs. Tyler will be here with the kids tomorrow. It will be a normal day for them

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas break. Mine was nice and relaxing and I enjoyed every bit of it. I want to thank all of you that brought in gifts for me. You definitely spoiled me. I don't need to buy Twix or Dr. Pepper for a long time. I loved all of it.

The kids did a great job coming back and getting right back on track to do school. It has been a great week. We have 3 weeks until Catholic Schools week, which we have planned many activities for the students. Have a great weekend.

God Bless,

Mrs. Sickels