May 8, 2025

Dear Parents,

Happy Thursday! Now I really feel like this week went quickly. I am out of the building tomorrow. Susan Weight will be my sub. I may be at school until 8:00 tonight finishing my blog and getting my plans for tomorrow ready to go. It is more work to be gone then it is being here. That is why I am not gone very much. Though this month it seems like it. I am also gone next Friday because my youngest daughter will graduate college that day. This time of year is always so busy. We still have a lot to do in the next 15th days.

Language Arts

We started Charlie and the Chocolate Factory today. The students were excited. I love this time of year. It is my favorite. I love everything about the book and the movie. Only the 1970's movie. I am not a fan of the Tim Burton version with Johnny Depp. We only got a chapter read today. They have homework on nouns and alphabetizing. I need to read about 4 chapters a day to ensure we complete the book in time. We may not do every page in the packet but we will do most of it. I try to pick out meaningful things that help to grow what we learned in the first part of the year. I have provided each student with the book. They have been lectured on taking care of it or they will need to replace it. Some of them are not in the best shape. A replacement book today runs $6.00 on amazon.

Math

We are finishing up topic 5 on division. They will take a test tomorrow. We will probably take a couple days to complete this test. We will then move on into fractions. I will get as much done in fractions as we can. Most likely we will not test again in math we will just work our way through fractions the best we can.

Social Studies

We are reading through chapter 12. I am picking and choosing what we learn about. I am trying to hit the important parts. Today they talked about the Chisholm trail, where it was and why they needed it. We also talked about ranching and why it is important to the Southwest. Next week we will begin the West Region. We will take one test on just the states and then another on the States and Capitals. During the last week of school we will take the test on all 50 states and capitals.

Shorts in Dress Code

Here is what the dress code reads:

Shorts will be allowed in August, September, October, March, April and May. (Note: The bottom of the short must extend to at least mid-thigh.)

I took the girls out into the hall to talk to them about their shorts and skirt lengths. I showed them what I was looking for. I told them how much I hate being the dress code police. If the shorts are ones that creep up and end up too short when moving around then they are too short. It is easy to pull them down to meet the requirement but then they creep back up when sitting and walking. The sad thing is the popular butterfly shorts are probably not going to work. Also so many are wearing their shorts way high on the waist. I will start sending home dress code violations next week if the shorts are too short. Today was my warning to all.

It has been a rough week. I have had several that are talking back. I have lots of inappropriate, silly behaviors. I am trying to nip them in the bud, but that is where the talking back comes in. I told them I am here to do my job and do it well up to the end and that is my plan. Their plan needs to be doing their job to show respect to all until the end. I hope they are have a good day at school tomorrow. I want everyone to have a very enjoyable weekend. I hope all the kids can get out and do something fun and energetic. Fifteen more days!! We can do it.

God Bless,

Mrs. Sickels