May Newsletter

Grade 5/6 May Newsletter

It is already May and the end of the school year is quickly approaching.  Here are a few updates on what has been happening in our busy grade 5/6 classroom.

Religion & Family Life

It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Jade, Aiden, James and Nancy, who received their Sacrament of Confirmation this past Sunday at St. Anthony Church.  It was a beautiful sunny day and the grade 6 students celebrated this special day with 9 other students from various parishes from our community.  May your life long journey in faith, continue and grow each day.

Next week, we will be beginning Unit 3-Created Sexual from our Fully Alive program.  A letter outlining the grade 5 and/or grade 6 program will be sent home this week.  Please take a moment to read through the topics of discussion and talk to your child in advance.  In class lessons will begin next week.

Math

In math, we will be completing our unit on Fractions.  Students are encouraged to continue practicing these concepts in everyday situations such as comparing percentages, decimals and fractions.  Finding fractions in our environment and discussing amounts of various items using fractions, are some other ideas.  

We will follow this unit with money amounts and decimals.  Students in grade 5 will need to read and write money amounts to $1000 (e.g. $455.35 is 455 dollars and 35 cents or four hundred fifty-five dollars and thirty-five cents).  Students in grade 6 will need to understand proportional relationships using unit rates (e.g. If 5 batteries cost $4.75, what is the cost of 1 battery?).  

Language Arts

The students have been learning all about the elements of persuasion.  We have been writing persuasive letters about extending recess time at school.  Students were asked to either agree or disagree that recess should be longer and provide evidence to support their opinion.  The students are also reading a variety of persuasive texts in their Literacy Clubs.  They are learning about persuasive techniques advertisers and the media use to convince us to agree with them and or purchase their products.  Developing a strong sense of critical literacy is a goal in this unit.

Science

We have completed our unit on Conservation of Energy and the students did a wonderful job on their Renewable Energy, Google Presentations.  The groups presented their projects to their classmates last week and everyone learned a lot of new and interesting facts!  Great job!

We will be beginning our final science unit shortly on Electricity.  Scientists in the School will be coming into our class in May to provide opportunities to learn all about electricity through inquiry.  It is sure to be a wonderful educational experience.   

Upcoming Events:

May 1st - Talent Show Auditions

May 5th-May 9th - Education Week, See School Newsletter for all activities

May 5th - 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Anthony Church

May 6th - Junior Presentation, 10 000 Steps

May 8th - Chess Tournament

May 9th - Jump Rope for Heart Event

May 13th - Hydro Presentation (a.m.)

May 14th - Trip to Rosemount Public Library (p.m.)

May 21st - Scientists in the Schools (a.m.)

May 26th-June 6th - Grade 6 EQAO Testing

Thank you for your on-going support and cooperation.

                 Your Partner in Education,

                         Mrs. Caluori