Fifth Grade News

September 14, 2025

We are celebrating International Dot Day on Monday of next week. Dot Day is celebrated worldwide and originated from the book The Dot by Peter Reynolds. The book encourages students to think outside of the box as well as to persevere through struggle. We will be reading the book to students on Monday (as well as discussing the theme) and encourage students to wear clothing with dots to school if they would like.

Picture Day is Tuesday, September 16th!

Picture day is Tuesday, September 16th. These are the pictures that are in the yearbook, so please send your child to school in clothes you would be okay with in the yearbook!

5th Grade Community Service Initiative

We have a goal this year for 5th-grade students to complete 8 hours of community service outside of the school day by the end of the year (4 hours per semester). Students who achieve 4 hours by December 5, 2025, and an additional 4 hours by May 1, 2026, will receive a party to celebrate their achievements. When your child completes community service, please be sure they are logging their time in the Google Form linked below. We have hung a tracker poster (pictured here to the left) we plan to hang in the 5th-grade hallway to track the hours completed as the school year progresses. We cannot wait to see the tracker fill up! This is an optional opportunity for students, but we hope to see several participate!

Also, if you snap photos of your child during their community service, please send them our way! We would love to see the work they are doing.

5th Grade Community Service Log

Sky Ranch Chaperone Notification

An email was sent out on Wednesday around 3:10 p.m. notifying all applicants of their status. If, for some reason, you didn't receive an email to notify you of your chaperone status, please reach out to Miss Hayes (christina.hayes@gcisd.net).

We are fortunate to be able to take with us 15 female and 24 male chaperones!

Sky Ranch - Field Trip Permission, Participant Agreement, Dietary Restrictions - DUE SOON!

GCISD requires three forms for your child to attend Sky Ranch. Please note: the forms are due no later than Monday, September 15th. Additionally, Sky Ranch requires a participant agreement to be completed for every student attending camp; please submit these no later than Friday, September 19th. If your child has specific dietary needs, the dietary form (for Sky Ranch) must also be filled out by September 19th. We have forms linked below for you:

Monday, September 15th - all field trip forms due (pages 13-15); second payment of $91 due for students (if using payment plan)

Friday, September 19th - Sky Ranch Participant Agreement & Dietary Restrictions forms due

For your reference, we have also included other Sky Ranch resources you may need:

Sky Ranch Slideshow

Sky Ranch Informational Packet

Sky Ranch Payment Site

Materials Needed

We need foil for a science project in a couple of weeks. We would appreciate it if anyone could send something. Thank you!!!

Save the Date

Monday, September 15th

-Sky Ranch permission forms due

-Second student payment of $91 due for Sky Ranch (if using payment plan)

-First chaperone payment of $137 due for Sky Ranch (if using payment plan)

Tuesday, September 16th

-Picture day

Friday, September 19th

-Sky Ranch participant agreement due for all students and chaperones

-GCISD volunteer background check due for all Sky Ranch chaperones

Monday, September 22nd

-Professional Development Day (NO SCHOOL for students)

Who Do I Email?

We know it can be confusing to determine which teacher to email for a specific situation.

For academic questions/concerns/comments, please email your child's specific teacher:

5th Math - ashley.carter@gcisd.net
Science & Social Studies - christi.robertson@gcisd.net
ELAR - elizabeth.quiroz@gcisd.net

For generic 5th-grade questions/concerns/comments, please email your child's homeroom teacher.

Upcoming Curriculum

Reading/Language Arts:

I can decode multisyllabic words. (2A)
I can identify genre characteristics and structure specific to drama and literary elements.
I can make inferences about characters’ and their relationships by analyzing specific structure of a drama.
I can write responses that demonstrate my understanding of the text I am reading.

Math:

I can use my knowledge of place value to divide numbers that contain decimals, using the standard algorithm.
I can represent multiplication of decimals with products to the hundredths using models.
I can use my knowledge of place value to divide numbers that contain decimals, using the standard algorithm.

Science:

I can demonstrate and explain that some mixtures maintain the physical properties of their substances.

Social Studies:

I can identify the political and economic regions of the United States.
I can identify the American Indian trade routes.
I can discuss the ways that climate impacts our community and state.
I can discuss the impact that natural resources have on various regions.

Growth Mindset in the Age of A.I.

This article shares thoughtful insights on what a true growth mindset looks like today, especially with artificial intelligence becoming more common. It’s a great read for parents who want to support their child’s confidence, curiosity, and resilience as they learn and grow. Check it out to find ideas on how to encourage a positive attitude toward challenges and new technologies!

Growth Mindset in the Age of A.I.

GT Corner

We’ve introduced our students to Gardner's idea of Multiple Intelligences through "Zones of Genius," helping them understand that everyone has all kinds of intelligences inside them—like musical, logical, or interpersonal—but some are stronger than others and can be developed over time. This approach encourages kids to recognize and grow their unique strengths while appreciating the diverse talents of others. This article explains the research behind Multiple Intelligences and why embracing all these different ways of learning helps build confidence and a deeper understanding. We invite you to explore it and celebrate your child’s own zone of genius at home!

Multiple Intelligences: What Does the Research Say?

Lead With GCISD

252 GCISD juniors and seniors have earned academic honors from the College Board’s National Recognition Program. To read more about this, please click the link below:

https://www.gcisd.net/article/2393355

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