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Welcome to our class!

September 2023

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We would like to welcome your family to our fifth-grade classrooms! Mrs. Brotherson will teach Math and Science and Mrs. Githmark will teach Language Arts and Social Studies.  

A Few Nuts and Bolts....

• We believe that communication between home and school is very important. We will use the emails you provided the school on the emergency form unless notified otherwise.  

• Email is the easiest way to get in touch with us, and we check it in the morning and try to check it at least once a day during school hours. If there is a sensitive or personal issue you would rather discuss by phone, just send us an email with the topic and let us know a good time to call you. Please check your child’s green homework folder and assignment book nightly. Most of the PTA announcements will be on their website.

• Hooksett.schoology.com will be our online home base.  Parents and students can see weekly learning goals in the Attendance tile and check grades in each of the subject area tiles.  We will also use the Wonders reading program website as a valuable resource--- the hardcover reading anthology as well as our workbook is all online and students can review material and play practice games to review spelling and grammar skills online anytime.  

• We are using our Wonders anthology along with several novels for our reading program this year.  Students will also be expected to have a chapter book with them at all times because they will be expected to read THE SAME BOOK for 20 minutes in school and 20 minutes at home for homework each night (even on weekends) until it’s completion. This should average to a book a week.  Mrs. Githmark LOVES reading and her goal is to instill that in your children! 

• Spelling homework will consist of a weekly 20 word list to study.  Test days will be announced 5 days in advance and will occur every 5 school days.  Students will be expected to study only the words they misspell on the spelling pre-test, which will be on the first page of their weekly packet.  There will be two or three pages for extra practice during the week.

• Math homework is weekly -The homework sheet will come home on Fridays. It will be due the following Friday. Zearn will be used for online math practice, and students will be expected to complete 3 online lessons a week for skill reinforcement and practice.

• Science - We believe in “experiential” science more than “book” science - especially in the fall when the weather is agreeable. Our first science unit is “ecosystems” so we do spend as much time as possible outside observing and experiencing our field/forest/pond ecosystem. Please make sure your child checks the weather each day and comes to school prepared to venture outdoors!

• Our specials will be 1:40 - 2:25 Monday - Friday. Lunch is from 11:50 - 12:15.  Please check your child’s Assignment book for their weekly schedule. 

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support!  If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!  

Sincerely,

Deirdre Brotherson and Robin Githmark

Fifth Grade Teachers

Hooksett Memorial School

dbrotherson@sau15.net

rgithmark@sau15.net

Our Class Motto: Be like a Pineapple--Have Thick Skin, Be Sweet on the Inside and Stand Tall!