WEEK of  SEPTEMBER 8-12

                    WORDS OF WISDOM

          You see things; and you say, Why?
          But I dream things that never were;
                 and I say, Why not?
                          George Bernard Shaw
   

    I had a wonderful time meeting and talking to so 
  many of you at Back to School Night. Thank you for 
  your encouragement and support of Grade 5 and 
  St. Joseph School, and the guidance you offer to 
  your children. I believe we make a GREAT TEAM!!


   Welcome to 5T's info page!!!
   Things to look forward to on this page:
         * Weekly subject summaries.
         * Words of Wisdom.
         * Something to THINK About.
         * QUESTION of the WEEK.
         * Assignment, event, special activity 
                 reminders.
         * Occasional student challenges.
         * Parenting info.
   If you have suggestions for any other type of info 
   you would like to see on this page, please let me 
   know.

              Something to THINK about!

   * A pint of example is worth more than a gallon 
                      of advice. *


            ??? QUESTION of the WEEK ???

  Why does the American flag have stars and stripes?
  Look for the answer in next week's classroom notes.


   ELA: This week we will concentrate on the 
        structure of sentences including simple, 
        complete, and compound subjects and 
        predicates.
        We will also complete Unit 1 of the 
        vocabulary book. These words are used for 
        spelling tests. Spelling tests will not
        follow a defined schedule. Notification of 
        test dates will be posted here and
        students will be notified in class 1 week 
        in advance. Our 1st spelling test will be 
        on Friday, September 19th.
 
   READING: Each day this week students will take a 
            section of a reading placement test. 
            The purpose of this test is to identify 
            any areas where students may need extra 
            support. There is no study for this type 
            of assessment, it is basically reading 
            comprehension.  
             
   SOCIAL STUDIES:  We will focus on the overview 
         section of the text which discusses the fact 
         that people in the United States come from 
         very different backgrounds. The land where 
         people live varies also. Despite all the
         differences there are in our country, 
         people work together for a common purpose. 
                    On Friday, we begin our study of 
         the election process focusing on the history 
         of elections.

         September's Manners to Practice

        Make good use of the magic words:
                     PLEASE
                     THANK YOU        
                     YOU'RE WELCOME


         REMINDERS...REMINDERS...REMINDERS
  
   *** Please return to school your completed parent 
       survey that was included in your "Everything 
       You Need to Know About Grade 5" folder. 
                                   Thank You

  Thursday, September 11 Ice Cream Social 
                         New Families/Host Families
                         6:30-8PM

    Friday, September 12 Books should be covered.

    Sunday, September 21 Parish/School Picnic
                         12-4PM

    Monday, September 29 Journal #1 due

       Friday, October 3 School Liturgy 10AM

     Thursday, October 9 Grandparents' Day 
                         9-11AM

      Friday, October 10 No School
                         Superintendent's Day

      Monday, October 13 No School
                         Columbus Day

               Oct. 6-17 Standardized Testing

    Thursday, October 23 Journal #2 due

      Friday, October 24 No School
                         Faculty Retreat Day
                         Halloween Sock Hop 5:30-8:30
   
   Wednesday, October 29  Mystery Book Report due

     5T Specials Schedule 
             Monday: Computer
            Tuesday: PE
          Wednesday: Art
                     Library
           Thursday: Music
                     PE
             Friday: D.A.R.E. (beginning in January)

                       

                  PARENTING INFO
  
    Steve Biddulph in his book, The Secret of Happy 
  Children, explores how the positive or negative 
  messages from parents affect their children's 
  behavior, emotions, and self-esteem.  Knowing how 
  to help your child think and act positively will 
  help them to become  happy and successful adults. 
 
    Some of the greatest questions in a child's mind 
  are:  "Who am I?," "What kind of person am I?," 
  and "Where do I fit in?" These questions are the 
  questions of self-identity upon which we build our 
  lives as adults.  A child's mind according to 
  Biddulph is remarkably affected by statements that 
  begin with the words, "You are".  Whether the 
  message is, "You are a great kid" or "You are lazy,"
  these statements from the important people in a 
  child's life will go deeply and firmly into the 
  child's unconscious.

    Imagine how differently your child's life will 
  turn out if he has the following beliefs about 
  himself:
        I am a good person.
        I can get along well with most people.
        I can usually figure things out.
        I have a good brain.
        I am really creative.
        I like the way I look.
        I have good ideas.
        I can depend on myself.
        I can show responsibility.
        I can make mistakes and learn from them.