FIFTH GRADE

FRIDAY, 16 January 2026

Here we are on the eve of a long weekend set aside for the remembrance of a man (a day after his actual birthday) and of all the effort, struggle, success, and an ultimate exhortation to continue the work that he and others started. We celebrated him today, came together in his name, and marched in his and Ruby Bridges' honor. Among many things, he was a writer, a holy man, an agitator, an advocate, a proponent of justice, an opponent of complacency in the face of a fundamentally evil status quo, and a rhetorician from whom I continue to learn more and better ways to arrange my spoken words: the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Thank you to those parents who were able to attend Friday's events and community gathering! Thank you also to those parents who were able to provide food for the community feast!

Important dates + Reminders:

Homework season is upon us! Many of our students have taken to it readily and well. Be sure to help out your student by checking in with them if they've any assignments due/overdue.
- Google Classroom is a wonderful place to begin this check-in.
- Students will typically have a weekly Time 4 Kids assignment (pencil and paper assignment).
Our TCS STORE is live with many teacher-led after school enrichment classes.
- Including two Dungeons and Dragons classes hosted by me!
  - Monday is for experienced players.
  - Tuesday is for players who'd like to give the game a try.

Language arts + Social studies

This week ELA: Finished nonfiction unit on text structures and text features.

We completed the text features and text structures section of our greater nonfiction unit. We will be reviewing this content with a test on Thursday or Friday in mind (might need to be pushed into the following week in favor of completing MAP testing).

Students also began/completed their second round of MAP testing in both ELA and Math. Well done, all!

Next week ELA: Text structures and text features test either this week or the following; study guide to be provided.

math + Science

This week Math: Finishing up dividing decimals -- quiz soon.

Hugo and River were tasked with completing what would have been an informative essay for ELA as a presentation for science instead. And they did just as fantastically well as you'd expect! Well done, Hugo and River!

Students practiced the scientific method on Friday. They were given a simple paper "helicopter" and told to change only one thing with the goal of extending the helicopter's airtime. 'Twas a fun activity that we might revisit again!

Next week Math: Decimal unit cumulative test upcoming -- study guide to be distributed.

4 PILLARS OF WELLBEING

We were able to conduct our march for Ruby Bridges!

STUDENT LIFE

Congratulations on our first athletic victories of 2026! Great job boys basketball and girl's soccer teams -- way to get those W's!