Fifth ASPIRE News

Sky Ranch - Final Reminders

We are so close to our trip to Sky Ranch, and we are excited! 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).

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

Sky Ranch Packing List

Sky Ranch Informational Packet

Math Olympiad - Starting Next Month!

We are pleased to announce that we have been invited to participate in the Mathematical Olympiad for Elementary and Middle School Students (MOEMS) competitions for 2025-2026. All 5th & 6th ASPIRE math students will be participating. This is a great opportunity for advanced Mathematics students to take part in rigorous problem-solving that builds on the logical reasoning they are developing in class.

Our team entry has been funded by GCISD, and all five rounds will be given during our regular class time.

We will go over problems after all team members have submitted their entries in order to investigate the variety of methods and viewpoints at work. With each round, students develop the confidence to take on the kind of problem-solving that happens in real life and will begin to relish the challenge of grappling with questions that they may have not yet had a formal lesson on. Such is the beauty of Math Olympiads.

We have attached a “Message for Parents” below from the MOEMS Executive Director elaborating on the purpose and goals of Mathematical Olympiads. Our first round will be given in the next few weeks, and the last will be given by the end of April 2024. Our students will be scored along with contestants across the country, so it will be exciting to see how our growth compares with other advanced mathematicians.

Math Olympiad: A Message for Parents

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

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!

Stay in the Loop!

Website: 

https://ghes.gcisd.net/o/ghes/page/5th-aspire-golly-hayes-wahpekech 

Location: 

Glenhope Elementary

6600 Glenhope Cir N

Colleyville, TX 76034

Phone: (817) 251-5720

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5thASPIRE/