AUTUMN HAPPENINGS

THE SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR is this week. We will be visiting the Book Fair Safari on Tuesday afternoon. Students may purchase books at this time or complete their wish list to buy books later this week. The fair will also be open during the Thursday evening Autumn Fest from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. You may also choose to buy a book for our classroom library...see the Passports.

OUR MUSIC VIDEO instrumental tracks were recorded this past weekend and we are now practicing the vocal parts in class. We are also putting the final touch on our storyboards this week. Our plan is to record the vocal tracks on Friday and beginning shooting some video as soon as possible.

THE AUTUMN FEST is this Thursday night. Sponsored by the PTA, this event is designed for the entire family. Whether rain or shine, you'll want to join us from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for hay rides, face painting, games, and loads of entertainment. Your family can enjoy hotdogs, chips, caramel apples, pumpkin pie, apple cider, hot cocoa and coffee.

CONGRATULATIONS to our new Student Council Representatives. Drew Strainer, Ana Saenz, andOlivia Pulaski were elected as our classroom representatives. Rubee Maloley is our alternate representative. These students work with our principal to help organize various events and services throughout the school year.

OUR FIRST MATH TEST will be this Thursday morning as we complete our first unit of study on number theory--prime numbers, composite numbers, factors, factorization, factor strings, exponents.

SNOW CAMP is scheduled for late in January. However, students will need to raise their tuition expense by selling candy bars. You will receive a pre-order form this week for the World's Famous Chocolate. Students who sell one box of the premium candy bars (50) will raise enough money for half their camp expense. Students who sell two boxes of the $1 candy bars (100) will raise enough money for their entire outdoor education expense. Look for more details to come this week.

LIFE IS GOOD

I LIKE THE THOUGHT that life is good. Fifth grade is good. I am so impressed with our class and the early progress they have demonstrated in our few weeks together. What a team!

LAKE HILLS raised $368 for the Lakeshore Classic Relay for Life. Thank you for your generous support of the American Cancer Society event and for your contributions in fighting the war against cancer.

HOT LUNCH FORMS are due on Monday. Students are to complete their choices of hot lunch for October and return these forms and money.

THE GREEN LIGHT is ours to participate in a special technology project being sponsored by e-Instruction. Our class is going to apply for an Interactive Classroom Makeover. We could win a technology-fueled classroom worth up to $25,000. However, we need to construct a music video and submit our entry in the K-5 category with e-Instruction by October 24. More news next week, but email me if you have an interest in contributing to a design team.

OUR AUTUMN FEST is designed for the entire family. Whether rain or shine, you'll want to join us on Thursday, October 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for hay rides, face painting, games, and loads of entertainment.

THANK YOU for returning the parent/teacher conference request forms. Teachers met today to schedule family conferences. You will receive information about your scheduled conference next week.

OUR PTA is need of a treasurer. Simply CLICK HERE to get to their blog and find out the latest information about Northshore PTA.

SPEAKING OF BLOGS, you may want to check out Mrs. Mueller's new blog, Principal's Desk. Several other teachers have recently joined the ranks of Bloggers at Lake Hills.

THE FALL FUNDRAISER continues until this Monday, September 22. Please help support our PTA and school by allowing your child to contact their "favorite four" friends or family. Orders will arrive at Lake Hills on Friday, October 17, and must be paid for at that time.

THE SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR is coming. As a class, we will preview the selections and construct our "wish list" on Tuesday, September 30, at 1:00 p.m.

ORCHESTRA will begin Thursday morning rehearsals at White Pines Middle School auditorium on October 2. It is very important that string students attend these morning rehearsals.

NO SCHOOL next Thursday, September 25, because our teachers will be participating in a professional development day. Classes will be conducted as usual on Wednesday and Friday.

ROLLING ALONG

SPECIAL THANKS to Maricon Hentschel, Annel Olthof, Michael Park, Michelle Strainer, Ann Tibbe, and Matt Wilkinson for their assistance during our recent field trip to the Holland Rock and Mineral Show.

BOXTOPS for Education are a great way to help our school. Our contest begins today and will continue until October 13. Please submit your trimmed boxtops to our class anytime. Classes with the most boxtops will receive special prizes.

THE FALL FUNDRAISER continues until next Monday, September 22. Please help support our PTA and school by allowing your child to contact their "favorite four" friends or family. Orders will arrive at Lake Hills on Friday, October 17, and must be paid for at that time.

SCHOOL PICTURE DAY is Tuesday, September 16 (tomorrow). Smile.

RELAY FOR LIFE is a signature event for the American Cancer Society this Friday and Saturday. Mr. Chittenden will be participating in the relay at Lakeshore Middle School on Friday evening. Students may purchase a "foot" for only $1 or a luminary for $10 as a contribution to ACS.

NO SCHOOL on Thursday, September 25, because our teachers will be participating in a professional development day. This is a date change! Students WILL attend school on Wednesday, September 24 and on Friday, September 26.

OUR FIRST QUICK QUIZ in mathematics was today. Your child should have their copy of the 20 multiplication facts and quiz results.

MR. CHITTENDEN will briefly share with the Board of Education tonight about his week at the American Wilderness Leadership School this summer in Jackson, Wyoming. The meeting begins at 7:00 pm at the Educational Service Center, 1415 Beechtree.

CURRENT STUDIES
Math-Number Theory (prime/composite numbers, factors, divisibility, factorization)
Social Studies-The First Americans (Olmecs, Adenas, Hopewells, Anasazi)
Writing-Personal Narrative
Science-Rock Cycle
Reading-Folktales

INTO THE ROUTINE

OUR FIELD TRIP to the Holland Rock and Mineral Show is this Friday. Students should have a sack lunch that day as we will eat in the classroom before leaving Lake Hills promptly at 12:10.

SPELLING has started this week. Based on last week's assessment, students will begin at a developmentally appropriate level. Please make sure your child has a SPELLING SCORECARD in their BBT each day. The usual schedule provides for peer tutoring Tuesday through Thursday and a test on Friday.

AN AFRICAN FOLKTALE from our Junior Great Books series continues to be the focus of our directed notes this week in reading. Students are preparing for a class discussion where the class will discuss places in the text where characters do, feel, or say things that contribute to their conflicts and problems.

I AM READING a science fiction book entitled, "The Green Book," to the class. This Accelerated Read book is a first-person narrative of an exodus of a group of Britons from a dying Earth to a new planet. The planet does not seem to be hospitable to humans, and the adults despair. However, the courage of the children prevails and saves the colony.

PLEASE CALL THE SCHOOL if your child will be late or absent, otherwise our attendance people will need to call your home or place of employment. Appointments that take students out of class should be made for early morning or late afternoon if possible.

WE WILL BEGIN our preparation for the MEAP (Michigan Education Assessment Program) soon. Students in fifth grade will be tested in English Language Arts (ELA) , Mathematics, and Science. The MEAP testing begins the week of October 13 (see our class calendar). Please do not schedule any appointments for your child these days.

OUR SRB (student reference book) is a helpful tool in mathematics. Our recent scavenger hunt showed us that we can reference this book when we are unclear about how to solve problems. It is also a good reference for parents who help their child with math assignments.

OUR SCHOOL FUNDRAISER begins today. This is the primary student fundraising event sponsored by our PTA. It helps raise money for various assemblies, projects, field trips, and events sponsored by the Northshore PTA. The forms students are bringing home today are due back to school on Monday, September 22. All monies are due when orders are picked up on October 17.

OUR FIRST WEEK

THANK YOU to those families who attended the Tuesday night orientation. A total of 18 of 22 students were represented in our gathering. I will arrange appointments with those who were unable to attend.

THE ROUTINES of fifth grade require several days of instruction and we are well on our way to establishing those important classroom behaviors. Thank you for your rapid response to all the forms and permission slips.

OUR FIRST FIELD TRIP will be next Friday, September 12. Students should bring a sack lunch or make arrangements for one by food service since we will be eating lunch prior to our 12:15 p.m. departure.

INDEPENDENT READING at home and school is an important part of our expectations for fifth grade students. Each student should have a book of their choosing at home AND at school to be reading at all times.

OUR CLASSROOM CALENDAR is displayed at the bottom of our blog. If you use Google calendars for your planning needs, you can add this public calendar to your viewing list. I will make every attempt to provide as much school and classroom information as possible on the calendar.

THE FIFTH GRADE ORCHESTRA will begin morning rehearsals on Tuesday, September 30, from 7:40 to 8:30 a.m. at White Pines Middle School. Bus transportation from the middle school to Lake Hills is provided following rehearsal.

THE BBT FOLDER will come home every day and should return to school the next. Please be sure to sign your child's daily assignment log and check the folder for any school notices.

BAND INFORMATION will be released this month for students interested in this instrumental music program. Instruction in cornet, trombone, flute, clarinet, and percussion is provided.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION class is held every Tuesday morning from 10:45 to 11:15. Student should have appropriate sports shoes. Classes in physical education will also be provided every other Friday, beginning September 5 at 10:45 a.m.

WE ENJOYED OUR FIRST ART CLASS today with Mrs. Sipe. She will be meeting with us for 50 minutes of art instruction every Thursday at 11:10 a.m.

IF YOU USE Google calendars, you already know how to add this public calendar to your listings. You may also subscribe to the RRS feed for this blog and keep informed as information is released.