Fifth ASPIRE News

August 22, 2025

Miss the Sky Ranch Meeting? Here's the Info!

If you were unable to attend the Sky Ranch Informational Meeting, we have compiled all the information shared below, which includes a slideshow and a packet. The end of the packet contains important health forms and permission slips that must be filled out by September 15th. Let us know if you have any questions!

Sky Ranch Slideshow

Sky Ranch Informational Packet

Sky Ranch Payment Site

URGENT - CAMP PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT & DIETARY RESTRICTIONS

Sky Ranch requires all staff, chaperones, and students to fill out a participant agreement. If you have dietary restrictions, it is also very important that you fill out the camp's dietary restrictions form. Please have both of these filled out by September 19th.

Sky Ranch Participant Agreement

Sky Ranch Dietary Restrictions Form

Sky Ranch Chaperone Information

If you are interested in being a chaperone for our Sky Ranch trip on October 15- 17, please fill out the application linked below. Be sure to read all of the chaperone information/expectations at the top of the form before deciding to fill it out.

Chaperone applications are due on Friday, September 5th.

Sky Ranch Chaperone Application

Thank you to those of you who are volunteering your time to help us out!

Curriculum Night

Thank you to everyone who attended 5th-grade Curriculum Night last week. We look forward to a wonderful year with your children! If you missed the meeting, the slideshow we shared is linked below:

5th ASPIRE Curriculum Night Slideshow

Save the Date

Thursday, August 28th

-Kinder-4th Curriculum Night @ 5:30-6:30

Monday, September 1st

-Labor Day holiday (NO SCHOOL)

-1st Sky Ranch payment due ($91) if using payment plan

Friday, September 5th

-Sky Ranch chaperone applications due

Curriculum

5th Grade Math

I can differentiate between different taxes (income, payroll, gross, net).
I can create a balanced budget.
I can go shopping at a camping store, making sure that my expenses do not exceed my income.
I can review what I’ve learned in the financial literacy unit to prepare for tomorrow’s test.
I can do my best on the Unit 1 Financial Literacy test in order to show how much I’ve grown this unit.

6th Accelerated Math

I can use models to represent adding, including chips and number lines.
I can add integers fluently by using models (chips and number lines) and by using standard algorithms.
I can add and subtract integers using real-world situations.

ELAR

I can explain an author’s purpose and message within a variety of texts.
I can identify the structure of various texts and provide evidence to support my thinking.
I can identify different types of sentences (declarative, interrogative, imperative, exclamatory) and use these types of sentences in my writing.
I can compose a personal narrative using the writing process to share information about an experience using correct genre techniques and craft.

Science

I can identify various science tools and research their purpose, history, and usefulness in the science lab.

Social Studies

I can differentiate between absolute and relative locations. I can identify different types of maps. I can use a grid system and coordinates to determine absolute locations on a map.
I can create a journey map of my life using a theme and include map tools to show important events from my past, present, and future.

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 & 6th Acc. Math - megan.golly@gcisd.net
7th Acc. Math (@CTMS) - erin.bereuter@gcisd.net
Algebra I - garrett.barnard@gcisd.net
Science & Social Studies - christina.hayes@gcisd.net
ELAR - rion.wahpekeche@gcisd.net

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

Growth Mindset: A Life Skill

We will be working with students on a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset this year. We will be encouraging students to become more growth-minded. To understand more about a growth mindset and a fixed mindset, please watch the video below.

We also recommend a wonderful book by Carol Dweck called Mindset. It is an easy read and describes the growth mindset vs. the fixed mindset in an understandable way.

GT Corner

Do you struggle with coaching your child through his/her emotional intensities? The book entitled Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students: Helping Kids Cope with Explosive Feelings by Christine Fonseca provides examples of how to coach your child in these situations. The book is approachable as it is free of educator jargon, offers easy-to-implement ideas, and is a relatively quick read. Although it doesn’t provide the magic wand we’d all love, we would recommend this book to anyone wanting some additional information/ideas for these situations.

Lead With GCISD

Are you a parent looking to stay informed about your child’s technology use at school and home? Then you want to attend GCISD’s Parent Tech Academy at 6 p.m., Tuesday, August 26, on Webex.

Webex video link: http://bit.ly/4fKq1z1