Holiday Party Time!

The girls celebrated (deservedly so!) the holidays and wrapping up their first exam review week with a party!  We had treats and a holiday walk with Ms. Merrick's class, and then returned for munchies and drinks.  We sung, we danced, we eate....Smiles were by the plenty! 

BIG DAY!! 6th Age Buddies & Holiday Assembly

    What a big day full of fun - and we were able to get some review for exams in too!  Our 6th Age buddies came for a visit to the middle school this time!  The girls worked with them to create a snowman ornament.  Everyone seemed to have fun and have more binding time with their buddy.  The girls are so cute with the 6th Agers.  THEN - we had our holiday assembly, and our very own, Helen Dawson, was part of the Glee club performance.  They sung "The Dark Days are Over" and were awesome!  GREAT JOB, HELEN! We were so proud of you!  (Below pics from both)

10th Age Partnership

     The girls met the 10-B girls on Monday for a chance to get to know one another.  We hope to build a mentorship with the 10th Age girls so the 5th grade girls can be a resource for the 10th Agers next year and a friendly face in the middle school.  As the year progresses, we'll ask my 5th grade girls to take questions about and give advice about how to be successful in the middle school.  The girls had fun making duct tape creations with their new friends!

Guest Poet - Mrs. Gillin

     Today, we had a guest 'poet' or instructor - Mrs. Gillin (Ms. Merrick's mother) came to visit and teach about poetry.  Mrs. Gillin, who teaches Children's Literature at Washington College, was absolutely amazing.  Not only did she teach all 62 fifth graders at once, but she kept them engaged and on task for an HOUR AND TWENTY MINUTES.  It was inspiring!  The students ate chocolate pudding with gummy worms and 'frog cookies' to awaken their senses and wrote several poems.  They explored different vocabulary and poetic devices, as well.  They ended with a Calvert poem - a funny one about their teacher, and cereal poem. Ask your daughters to explain what cereal they are most like!

Letters to the Troops

The girls wrote letters to the troops for the holidays!  They made cards and chains for decorating the barracks! 

Turkey Trot!

   This afternoon, our 8th grade 'big sisters' planned a relay race for the girls.  They had to dress up in clothes and race to the other end of the gym.  Afterward, the 8th graders presented the 5th graders with a "Surviving the Middle School" booklet that they created to give advice and wisdom to the girls.  They advised them about social, academic, computer, etc issues that they might face.  We had a short question and answer time as well.  The 8th graders dispensed their wisdom with ease and teachers learned we are 'awkward." :-) 

    

Introduction to Islam

As we begin to explore the final religion in our World Religions unit, I want you to listent to the following two videos as homework. You may not understand everything, but listen and take brief notes to share in class on Wednesday. Feel free to write down any questions you have and bring them to class.


We'll use this website in class tomorrow.
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/religion/Islam.htm

Sharing Stories with 6th Age

The girls researched a children's book author for their October book report, and then chose one of the author's books to read to their 6th Age buddy. Since it was such a BEAUTIFUL day outside today, Mrs. DeLorbe and I thought it would be great to have the girls read to their buddy in the gazebo and Molly's Garden. It made for great pictures!