September 21, 2023

Dear Parents,

Happy Thursday. This week has gone quickly. Only because I have had something going on every night this week. I have barely been at home. I am also busy this weekend so I am looking forward to next week. Maybe I will get some things done at home. We are still working on organization and trying to keep track of homework. I will say I am struggling with some that are not listening to directions. I give explicit directions for each worksheet that they are to do. We have most likely done examples on the board before the worksheet is given. I am giving late slips to those students that do not follow all the directions. If they didn't do all the directions then the work is not complete. Some are struggling to learn this lesson. I pray it gets better.

Language Arts

This week we are reading a Non fiction or informational text called The Science Behind Sight. It was interesting and had a few interesting facts but it did not hold their interest too much. In grammar this week we focused on Sentence fragments, run-ons and complete sentences. We also reviewed quotations. Decoding and spelling words were over short o and long o sounds in words. We also looked at their multiple ways of spelling the long o (o, ow, oa, o_e). We also talked about a latin root word lumin and that it means light. Any word that has this root word in it the meaning has to do with light. They read the story with partners today and took the selection quiz. As they read today they focused on the Text Features of the story after a short lesson of what those are. They have a sheet in their folders that talks about Text Features. Tomorrow we will plan on taking a spelling post test and reading the story together as a group and taking the end of the week test. I know some of you are concerned about their scores on these tests. This is all brand new to the students and to me. I have to adjust to teaching new material and in a different way and the students have to adjust to taking a different kind of test. I don't feel like it is time to worry yet.

Math

We have focused on rounding this week. This topic gets hard for some. We are rounding bigger numbers and we are not just rounding to the highest place value. We may have a number in the hundred Thousands but they want us to round to the nearest ten. That gets complicated. They do not want to put all the numbers there. they just want to deal with the tens only. We have spent like 3 days on it which is more than I normally do. So please maybe work with them at home on rounding. I have them show me the two numbers they are choosing between then circle the one they choose. They have to tell me why they chose it. They are working on a worksheet over the concept today. They may even have it for homework.

Social Studies

We finished up a lesson today and will begin a new one next week. This lesson was on government. They reviewed from last year the three levels of government ( local, state, National) and the three branches of government ( Legislative, Executive, and Judicial). They read part of the lesson with partners and seemed to do a good job knowing the "Who" and "purpose" of each branch. We will also need to talk about Time Zones, their purpose and how to use a time zone map. That will also be next week.

Homecoming

So exciting! We are going to the High School tomorrow for the Pep Rally with all the students in Creston. Our bus is leaving St. Malachy at 8:45 to head over. I am not sure how long we will be there. We are guessing with bus travel and activities we will be gone an hour and half to two hours. This is the very first year in my 25 that we have been invited over. Usually some football players, cheerleaders, Peppers, and the Queen Candidates, travel over here to put on a pep rally for just our school. I think going there will be a lot more fun. I am looking forward to it. I have all the permission forms, thank you.

PE Shoes

I have been noticing shoes that are worn on PE days. So I am letting you know "Hey Dudes" and Crocs are not appropriate PE shoes. They need to have tennis shoes on Monday and Thursday. If they are not wearing the correct shoes we will begin issuing late slips. They are welcome to keep tennis shoes in their lockers or in the closet in the classroom. This will ensure they always have the proper shoes. They are welcome to wear Hey Dudes and crocs but must wear tennis shoes for PE. I have told the students this, some of them were not happy and argued they run best in crocs. Crocs fall off their feet and so therefore tennis shoes are the safest choice.

Mass

Next Wednesday is our Mass. I have told the students what their job is. I will send the parts home today in their folders if they have a reading part. They need to practice these parts at home each day. I only have one practice at school and that is in the gym right before Mass. Please know all of you are welcome to attend Mass so you can see your child. Special note: I did not give the three new students a part this time. I want them to be able to watch what each person does and then the next Mass we have in December they will definitely have a part. I ask that each of them maybe dress up a little extra special since it is our Mass. Thank you.

PTO Meeting

Tonight is the first Social gathering for the PTO. It will be held at the Don and Meredith Wulf farm west of Creston on Cromwell road. Please attend if you can. It is a great way to get to know others and see what they do for our students. Anyone who comes your student will receive a free sweatpants pass. I wish I could go but I have a dinner to attend at SWCC.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I have tickets to tomorrow's ISU game in Ames. I am looking forward to spending the day there. Pray for no rain during the game. After that it can rain all it wants.

God Bless,

Mrs. Sickels