November 6, 2025

Dear Parents,

Happy Thursday! Thank you all for coming to conferences. I enjoyed talking to each of you. I am glad that you all got a chance to see ALL the things we are doing in school on a daily basis. Maybe some days there is not a ton of homework but we have definitely covered a lot in class.

I had a great time in Peoria with my daughter, Molly. I read to her class, and spent the rest of the day with them. I will take 4th grade over 1st grade any day! I got to experience their "Saint Parade". They do not celebrate Halloween at all. They celebrate All Saints Day. The whole school dressed as a Saint. They walked the halls singing "When the Saints Go Marching In". It was so cool. I am very glad I got to see it.

Language Arts

The title of the next story we are reading now is The Game of Silence. It is historical fiction based on the Ojibwe tribe. We will talk about this tribe when we talk about the Midwest Region in Social studies. I let them know that so they know this tribe is from our region of the U.S. It is an interesting story about being in kid in the tribe and a game that they play to be quiet during tribal meetings. The grammar for the next story will focus on Verbs: Action Verbs, main verbs and helping verbs, and Linking Verbs. The spelling list will focus on words with vowel sounds /u/ (short U), /yoo/ and /oo/ long u sounds. The spelling post test and end of story test will be Wednesday, the 12th. After this next story we will gear up to take a Module test over everything we have learned.

Book Reports

Reminder these are due Monday, November 17th. I know some are finishing them up. I would rather they not come to school until the day they are due.

Math

This week we have begun preparing for Biztown. At the beginning of this week we have been working on Teller calculations. We are filling out a worksheet and counting money in their drawers. I have talked about my time working in the bank and how I had to do this daily. I also talked about when I managed the swimming pool and had to count the drawer at the end of the day and turn in the deposit. They are finding this fun because they know the job this math is related to. We have troubles figuring out the totals because they are not used to using a calculator so they are making mistakes. Today we began taking about check and deposit slips. We wrote one check and filled out one deposit slip. Next week we will focus on more check writing and deposits. We will also add a check register and how to keep track of all the transactions we make. Remember we go to Biztown next Friday.

Social Studies

We have started chapter 5 this week. We have learned about the Narragansett Native American Tribe who were in Rhode Island. In each region we will learn about one tribe that was important to that region. They learned about their way of life, food, homes, and government. Tomorrow we will finish the lesson on them and they will complete a worksheet about these items. Then next week we will move on to lesson 2.

Biztown

All the information for this trip came home last week. We will need to leave by 7:30 AM. This is early but we have to be there by 8:45 for our parents to be trained. We are attending with another school. We actually have the bigger group, if you can believe that. We plan on being back to Creston around 2:30. If you are a driver/helper. You can take your child at this time. We will not be doing anything until they are dismissed to go home. I have all the permission forms returned I just need a payment of $11.00 for each student. I only have about 4-5 students who have not paid yet. Please pay by next Wednesday. Thank you.

Spirit Day

Friday, November 7th is a Spirit Day. Kids can pay $1.00 to wear sweats. Weather is perfect for sweats. I wish I could wear them. Thank you to those who donated some extra to this cause.

All School Mass

Next Wednesday is a 4th - 8th grade Mass. There are a few 4th grader that have parts. I have included them in today's folder. Please be sure to practice the parts at home this week. Grayson is a greeter, Ellee is Responsorial psalm (she has a copy of it), Hallea and Hayden are gift bearers, and Adalynn will help sing Sanctuary.

I am working the Bookstore this weekend. I work Saturday 10-4. Come visit me. There also is silent book club from 2-4. This is where people come visit then just sit and read silently for a while together. Come join me if you want. Sounds like the weather is supposed to be chilly. Have fun whatever you do this weekend. I have a book to finish by Monday and a new one to start.

God Bless,

Mrs. Sickels