Fifth ASPIRE News

October 12, 2025

Please note: we will not be sending out a newsletter on Sunday, October 19th, as we will be recovering from our trip to Sky Ranch. This week's newsletter will cover any important information/dates over the following two weeks.

Sky Ranch - Final Reminders

We can't believe our trip to Sky Ranch is next week! We have placed a packing list below, which is also located in the packet linked below.

Please make special note of these things:

Your child will need three bags: their backpack, a luggage bag, and a trash bag that has their pillow and sleeping bag/bedding.
Please put an additional trash bag inside the original trash bag. When we get to camp, we assume most students will rip through the original trash bag, and they will need one for their items coming home.
Be sure to label their name (first and last) and cabin number on all of their bags. We suggest using duct tape and a permanent marker. Students were given their cabin names this past week, but feel free to email if they don't know it.
Your child's backpack should include #2 pencils (mechanical is best - no sharpeners in the woods!), a water bottle (no pop-up tops), a flashlight (with good batteries), sunscreen, insect repellent, and a rain poncho. The forecast for Van, TX the week of the 15th looks good, but we all know how Texas can be! We will be giving students a Sky Ranch notebook to put in their backpacks the morning we leave for the trip.
On Wednesday morning, October 15th, please arrive at school on time. Students will need to drop their luggage bag and trash bag (with bedding inside) in the gym. Please use the signs in the gym to place your child's bag with the correct cabin number.
Students will need to keep their backpacks with them; please have them bring those to class.
If you plan to walk your student into school to drop their luggage off, you will need to sign in at the front kiosk before you do so. Please arrive early enough to be able to do that. If you have signed in, you are welcome to wait outside, out back, across from the playground, to see us off. When the motor coaches arrive, we will need help loading the luggage and bags from the gym to the motor coaches. We plan to depart school promptly at 8:30 a.m.
As a reminder, there are no electronics allowed for students at camp. If you need to get a hold of your child, you can email us or call Sky Ranch (number located in the information packet - in our newsletters).
On Friday, October 17th, we recommend you make plans to have your child picked up by car that afternoon. We have every intention of arriving back at school before dismissal, but we cannot predict traffic/road conditions. Students will be allowed to go home by car as soon as they return from camp and grab their luggage, even if that is before the dismissal bell! Note: you will not be able to pull younger siblings from school early.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions you have!

Sky Ranch Packing List

Sky Ranch Informational Packet

ASPIRE 5 Harry Potter-Themed Open Work Day

COMING SOON!

Shhh! It's a secret!

On Tuesday, November 4th, 5th grade ASPIRE students will have a special Harry Potter-themed open work day! For now, we’re keeping the theme a secret from the students, but on October 31st, we’ll let them know it would be a great idea to dress in Harry Potter-themed attire on Tuesday if they’d like to join in the fun.

At the start of the day, students will receive a list of "Must Do" and "Can Do" tasks, all connected to the magical world of Harry Potter. They’ll have the freedom to plan their day and decide how to complete their assignments, as long as all the "Must Do" tasks are finished by day’s end. This approach promotes independence, creativity, and helps students build skills in time management and meeting deadlines.

For students who prefer more structure, we will provide extra support to ensure success. Research shows that open work days are especially beneficial for gifted and talented learners by encouraging self-directed learning and allowing them to engage deeply with content that matches their interests and strengths.

To make the day extra magical, we’d love to decorate our classrooms with Harry Potter-themed items! If you’re interested in helping, please check out our Amazon wish list linked below.

Thank you for supporting this exciting learning experience!

Harry Potter Open Work Day Amazon Wish List

1st Nine Weeks - Report Cards

1st nine-week report cards are available to view on Skyward beginning Wednesday of this week.

Fall Parent / Teacher Conferences

Our goal is to meet with each of you this semester to discuss your child, whether they are struggling at school or not! We have created a Sign Up Genius (linked below) for you to sign up for a conference. We have been given half-day subs on Wednesday, October 22nd, to schedule meetings during the school day. The rest of the available conferences are mostly on Wednesdays and Thursdays during our conference time (11:20-11:55) until December.

Each of us will meet with the families of our homeroom students. Before meeting with you, we will speak to your child's other 5th-grade teachers to obtain notes they would like us to share with you during the conference. The sign-up for conferences is below:

Golly Homeroom Parent/Teacher Conference Sign-Up

Hayes Homeroom Parent/Teacher Conference Sign-Up

Wahpekeche Parent/Teacher Conference Sign-Up

Save the Date

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL PRINCIPAL MONTH

Monday, October 13th

-Columbus Day/Indigenous People's Day (NO SCHOOL for students & staff)

Wednesday, October 15th - Friday, October 17th

-5th Grade to Sky Ranch

Saturday, October 18th

-PTA Fall Fest @ 2:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Monday, October 27th - Friday, October 31st

-Red Ribbon Week

Curriculum

5th Grade Math

I can multiply decimals by decimals and divide decimals by whole numbers.

6th Accelerated Math

I can use exponents to represent repeated multiplication of the same number.

ELAR

I can analyze media techniques and explain their impact on my understanding of a variety of texts.
I can identify the central idea of various texts and provide evidence to support my thinking.
I can analyze how an author’s use of language, voice, and mood makes their writing more interesting. I can synthesize information to create a new understanding.
I can revise drafts to improve sentence structure and word choice by adding, deleting, combining, and rearranging ideas for coherence and clarity.
I can compose an expository essay (informational text) that conveys information about a topic using a clear central idea, genre characteristics, and craft.

Science

I can analyze my performance on the matter & energy TEKS check to identify my strengths and weaknesses.
I can investigate how equal and unequal forces make things move in different ways and how energy is transferred.
I can differentiate between independent, dependent, and constant variables and can design an experiment that tests the force on an object.

Social Studies

I can compare the various colonial governments.
I can describe the laws of slavery.
I can examine the types of charters that created each of the 13 colonies
I can review for the Unit 2 Colonial America TEKS check in order to be prepared and ready for tomorrow’s test.
I can do my best on the Unit 2 Colonial America TEKS check in order to accurately show how much I’ve learned his unit.
I can study the locations of the states in the S.E. region of the U.S, their names, and their capitals.

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

SO FAR, WE HAVE OVER 22 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS LOGGED FOR 5TH GRADERS!

<---- Take a look at some pictures we have received of 5th graders volunteering!

Growth Mindset - From the Source

Carol Dweck is the brainpower behind the growth mindset. We thought you might like to hear the growth mindset from her perspective. Check out the video below!

GT Corner

Have you checked out the GCISD Advanced Academics page recently? It houses a lot of great information: Check it out here:

GCISD Advanced Academics

Lead With GCISD

If you know of a GCISD employee who always puts their best foot forward for students, nominate them for the Stars of GCISD award! Your nomination will be entered into a monthly selection, and the nominee will be celebrated at their campus or in their department.

Click here to submit your nomination.