FRESH AIR

STUDENT LED CONFERENCES are going well and I am looking forward to seeing all our classroom families this week. I trust you will take advantage of the 6-day "fresh air" vacation as we head into the final trimester of fifth grade.

OUR VALENTINE'S PARTY was a lot of fun and the ice cream brownies were a special treat. Alex, Elizabeth, and Lluvia prepare their decadent dessert. Special thanks to Michelle Strainer, Ann Tibbe, Matt Wilkinson, and Wendy Walters for their assistance.

ACCELERATED READER provides an opportunity for students to improve their reading comprehension skills. We now have an AR Search link on the school web site that allows students (and parents) to check if a particular book is in the AR database of quizzes. Information about the book including grade level and points are included along with a brief synopsis of each book available to our readers. Students receive points based upon the book level, book length, and how well they do on an online quiz which checks for comprehension. Just click HERE or go to the Student or Parent section on the school web site to test drive the AR book find.

THE SWEETHEART DANCE was a wonderful event sponsored by our PTA. Above: Jaslynn, Brooke, Olivia, and Elizabeth are all dressed nicely for the recent dance at Lake Hills. Below: Alex, Nathaniel, Brock, Drew, and Maddy take a break from the Thursday night dance.

OUR CLASS PLAY has been selected, "Who Me? Yes, You!" by Michelle R. Davis. In cooperation with Pioneer Drama Services, the production will feature numerous sketches about social responsibility. The show dates have not been set, but most likely will be in early May. Students will audition for various roles in the next few weeks and we'll need to put together a design team of several parents to help with the production.

THE HOBBIT by J.R.R. Tolkien was selected by the class for me to read aloud to them. We just began this epic journey of Bilbo Baggins after finishing an interesting primer on economics, "Lawn Boy," by Gary Paulsen.

GOBBLET is a four-in-a-row, tic-tac-toe game where you can move pieces around the board to increase your chances of winning--or losing. Michael and Elizabeth enjoyed this strategy game during today's Game Hour recently "purchased" by a group of students with their "Caught Being Good" slips.

THE GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC MUSEUM is the destination of our Monday, March 23, field trip. The $10 cost per student covers transportation, museum admission, and the planetarium show. Students will need to bring a sack lunch or order one from food services. The field trip form sent home this week must be returned before Thursday, March 12. Please contact me if you are interested in chaperoning this trip.

SCHOOL RESUMES on Tuesday, March 3. Be sure to check the class calendar below for dates and details of events.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABE

AMERICANS HONOR Abraham Lincoln today on the 200th anniversary of his birth. Our recent Time For Kids featured information about our 16th President and the celebrations across the nation planned to honor his life and impact on our nation. Click HERE to read the TFK feature article, "Remembering Lincoln."

WE ENJOYED a popcorn/movie morning after students combined 200 "Caught Being Good" slips to purchase this class prize. The class is also striving for another compliment party following the accumulation of ten unsolicited compliments. We are planning on a Colorful Plate Party when we receive 3 more compliments. I keep telling people, "This is a great class."

ART CLASS with Irene Sipe always provides a creative time on Thursday mornings. The class is currently using fabric crayons on cloth that will lead to the construction of pillows once they stitch their work to felt. Olivia, below, creates a beautiful butterfly for her pillow.



READING FLUENCY is an important predictor of academic achievement. By the end of fifth grade, students should be reading (aloud) grade level text at a rate of 124 words per minute. Currently, seventy-five percent of the students at Lake Hills are reading at their grade level benchmark.

CONFERENCE APPOINTMENTS are being sent home today. Our class parent-teacher conferences this month are student-led and will be held from February 23-25.

MARCH LUNCH REQUEST forms are also going home today. Students taking hot lunch must have these return by this Monday, February 16.

SCHOLASTIC BOOKS offer outstanding selections for students at reduced prices. Your child is receiving the February and March orders to select books to purchase. Please complete the order form at the back of the catalogue from which they choose books. Make checks payable to Kirby Chittenden or Scholastic Books. You may also choose to order online.

IF YOU NEED to pick up your child before the end of the school day, please send a note to school or contact the office BEFORE 3:00 p.m. that day. Also, please do not leave your car unattended at anytime in the drop-off zone. Park instead in the parking lot adjacent to the sidewalk drop-off areas. Thank you.

OUR CLASS CALENDAR is online at the bottom of the blog postings...scroll down to view it.