6th Happenings

6th grade parents and students-- 05/17/2024

Hope your summer is off to a great start!

Please take some time and look through the pictures from the last few days--we had a lot of fun. You can navigate through the site and look back at all the pictures from the year--these are for you! Please feel free to download, share, and/or print them.

These students have been working so hard all year long! Please continue to do something this summer to help avoid the summer slide.

First and foremost--READ! Continue reading 20 minutes a day. There are so many great books out there--find something you truly like and enjoy. Parents-read with your child. No matter the age, kids like to be read to. The Maryville Public Library has a great selection all for FREE!

Continue logging into Reflex--great way to keep up with the basic math facts. Login information was in with report cards if your student doesn't have theirs memorized.

These summer workbooks are so great--we don't want to frustrate the students, but at least keep them working on their skills. I would suggest at least one of the following or something similar to it: Math Workbook or Mixed Review Workbook

For math, the students need to continue to be confident and fluent with operations of fractions, decimals, and percent.

And--keep writing! Maybe find a pen pal--a cousin, an aunt or uncle, a grandparent. Snail mail is so much fun to send and receive!

Finally--we are still going to have EPIC this summer. If you haven't signed up in the past, please do so now! If you are already signed up, then you should have already received summer EPIC info via email. We will meet this Sunday (May 19) from 9:15-10:45am, but starting June 2, we'll meet from 6:30-8:30pm. This will be a great chance to get the kids together for some food, fellowship, and FUN!

Thank you for being a part of St. Gregory School--it's a special place. It is truly a blessing to be a teacher here and to have my own children part of it as well along with your children. May this summer be full of fun and many, many memories.

See you back in August!!

-Mrs. Nielson

Good afternoon! 04/26/2024

The students worked so hard today on everything we did! It worked out having a little extra work time in our classroom for their projects due to the 7th and 8th graders being gone.

Please continue looking through Mrs. Walter's emails--they are full of information. I have attached our class calendar--it includes these last 12 days--it is going to fly by!

Have a wonderful weekend--I look forward to seeing everyone at Night at the Museum on Monday evening.

Mrs. Walter may have sent some paperwork home with your kiddo earlier this week in regards to driving to the zoo--please send the forms back in. You can also email us a copy of your driver license and insurance card.

Mrs. Nielson

Good afternoon! 04/19/2024

The students plugged away and did such a great job getting their IOWA tests in. We are all so proud of their efforts.

We will begin Where the Red Fern Grows on Monday...this is always a class favorite--especially since these kiddos all seem to love their pets so much! Hoping they can get their own books finished up over the next few days--they are all doing such a great job reading and getting AR points in. You can get more details on their grades and AR points on their midterms that came home today--please be sure to ask your child for the envelopes that were handed out at the end of the day.

Have a great weekend--next week may just be the last calm week before the end of the year chaos hits! It's all so fun!

Mrs. Nielson

Good afternoon! 04/12/2024

Another week has flown by! We had a great week. I really enjoy my Friday afternoons with this group of kiddos--we are together from 1:15-3:00, and it always just flies right by. Today we played a few games to help us prepare for next week's IOWA assessments. Miraya also stopped by and shared some baby kittens with us this morning...you can see some pictures here!

I have posted next week's schedule here--please have your kiddo take a look at it to help them get an idea of what the week of IOWA testing will look like. We also have PTO graciously providing some hearty snacks each morning of next week. I don't mind if your kids bring something else to snack on in the afternoon...this is always an option, not just for testing purposes!

We have two big projects left and one more book to read--we can do this! The students are supposed to talk to you about National Parks this weekend so they can decide which park to research. The research and the construction of this project is mainly done in school. It is then displayed at Night at the Museum, which is Monday, April 29, from 5-6pm. We do need all of our 5-8 students to be there that evening.

Next week they also will get the criteria for their Book Float, which is due May 13--this is primarily done outside of school....and then all are welcome to come to the book parade which is right away in the morning on Monday, May 13.

Also--thank you for all who have offered to drive to the Omaha Zoo--between the two classes, we have enough parents and teachers so we won't take a bus. I will be in touch with more details soon!

Have a wonderful weekend--enjoy the nice weather. And I am sure you already heard, but shorts are welcomed back beginning on Monday!

-Mrs. Nielson

Hello! 04/07/2024

Hope your weekend has been going well. We had a great couple of days back this week and look forward to a pretty quiet week ahead. Our class does have the Mass roles on Thursday-please join if you are able!

Please keep sending the Zoo Field Trip forms in as well as the Physical forms that were sent home by Nurse Hann.

Please keep reminding your child to be reading at home. We have tried to sneak more time in the classroom for independent reading as well.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you again for all your support your families have shown us. We are so grateful.

Have a great Sunday!

Mrs. Nielson

Good afternoon--

I hope all have enjoyed the weekend.

Tomorrow is the School of Economics field trip--each group has their own attire, I think all the 6th graders made note on the bright pink information sheet about what they are wearing. It's probably tucked in their accordion folders, so please have them take a look at that before the morning. The bus leaves at 7:30--please have them to school by 7:15....we had told them it may be easiest to get dropped by the gym doors and come through the school to the front entrance. Shop owners and accountants need to grab folders and signs from Mr. Vinzant's room before heading to the bus.

We started Brdige to TErabithia last week which is a story about the power of a friendship. The students are enjoying it--we'll finish it up by next Monday, and test over it next Tuesday.

Also--if possible, please plan to join the 6th graders next Wednesday, March 27 at 9am for their presentation of the Stations of the Cross. We encourage parents, grandparents, special friends, and all to join. This is a small play put on in the church by the 6th graders every year. It's always a wonderful presentation in the heart of Holy Week. Mrs. Casteel and Mrs. Dropinski will be working with the kids this week and next to prepare.

Finally--here is our class calendar for the week.

Looking forward to another great week with your children.

-Mrs. Nielson

Good morning-

I hope all had a wonderful LONG weekend! It seemed to fly by. We had a wonderful PD with the Bishop and all the other teachers in the diocese. The focus of the PD was the Eucharist--we shared some sweet tidbits at EPIC yesterday and look forward to continuing to share some of the information with our school students.

It's kind of a quiet week as we begin the 4th quarter. We are beginning a new book today called Bridge to Terabithia which is from more of the fantasy genre, but has a theme of friendship. It's a very enjoyable book and we'll conclude in a couple of weeks with the movie.

Have a great week--please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Mrs. Nielson

Good afternoon! 12/01/2023

We have had a great week! Please take a look at our class calendar...it's just a busy, busy time of year in our classes and throughout the school.

PLEASE NOTE: Mrs. Ackley has asked the 6th graders to make a special appearance in the 8th grade's Christmas Play. They will be performing on Wednesday, December 13 at 9am and 6pm. They need to wear black pants, a white shirt, and a pair of sunglasses.

Also, we will be starting a new book called Number the Stars. It is set during WWII after the German occupation of Poland. It is about a young Polish, Protestant girl, and her friend who is Jewish.

This is really the first interaction the students have had with WWII and the Holocaust. While we don't dive too deeply into it through this novel, it still can lead to deeper discussions and just questions on their end.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Nielson

Good afternoon-- 11/10/2023

We had a great week in 6th grade--it ended with a very nice program for the Veterans of our community. Your children wrote very, very nice notes and handed them out to the veterans in attendance today. Here are a few pictures from the week.

Today marked the Midterm of the 2nd Quarter--grades will be sent home next week. Please take a look at the upcoming week--every week seems to have more and more energy added to it as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach.

For all who participated in the Auction Dinner and/or the Silent Auction--THANK YOU! What a wonderful evening it was!! And the funds raised was just incredible--$59,000--WOW! My pizza party package will be scheduled in December--we took a look at the remaining lunches for November and they were all too tasty to pass up--we decided there will probably be something in December they are willing to skip and have some pizza with me instead. :)

Thank you to those of you who sent in the Red Wheel order forms today--Mrs. Gastler will take it on Monday if there are any forms still out there. The food gets delivered next Friday afternoon.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Nielson

Good afternoon! 11/03/2023

We survived quite the week--A Monday after a long weekend, Halloween, All Saints Day with the special treat of Mrs. Coleman joining the Catholic Church, All Souls' Day, and a Friday. We did it! If you haven't stopped through the school this week, please do so by next Friday and see the All Souls' projects--they are so precious. They'll get sent home next Friday--thanks for taking time with your children to complete these.

Next week we will start a new book in Reading class--Maniac Magee, which is a story about a young, homeless boy, who turns into a legend by uniting people together. I encouraged students to get their library books finished up soon so they can get an AR test taken before next Friday, which is already Midterm for Quarter 2!

Please take a look at our week ahead--looking forward to seeing all who can make it to tomorrow night's dinner auction--it's going to be a great night! Also note, there is EPIC Sunday morning from 9:15-10:45--we are going to have the Chiefs game on as we enjoy our morning together in fellowship.

Also--there were many, many, photos taken this week--please check them out! Seeing our student-body interact brings out so much joy!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Nielson

Good afternoon! 10/26/2023

We had such a great week--thank you for coming in and meeting with me for conferences. It is great to share so many good things with you all. The trip to the library was also a big hit yesterday--I hope they all get some good reading in this weekend :) The books are due back on Wednesday, November 15--many of them did not get a receipt with their check-out. Please take a look at what is coming up on the Class Calendar ...The kids thought there may be a science test at some point next week as well.

We encourage all families to submit something for the All Souls project that Mrs. Walter has mentioned in her emails. We also encourage you to walk through the hallway by the main entrance at some point next week and see the beautiful projects that have been brought in.

I have attached a few Pictures from the week--enjoy!

Thank you for all the support you give your child and our school--we are all so grateful for you!

Enjoy the extra day off!

Mrs. Nielson

Good afternoon! 10/13/2023

We officially wrapped up the first quarter today! Wow! I am so proud of these students for working hard all the way through, and for getting all their AR points (and more!). Way to go! And thank you to you, parents, for encouraging reading at home as well.

I sent next week's Spelling Packet home today since it's a short week next week.

Please don't forget to sign up for conferences if you haven't done so already. We will use this conference to go through the students' data binders and take a look at all the assessments we have completed up to this point in the year.

Our class is going to take a trip to the Maryville Public Library on Wednesday, October 25. All students need to come with their family's library card, or, if you don't have one, you can sign your child up for a card using this link and they'll get it that day. Library cards are free for all--even those students who live outside the city limits. The fees are covered by the County Commissioners--which is such a great program! So please, get your children signed up!

Please take a look at our class calendar--enjoy the extra day off on Monday!

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Nielson

Good afternoon and happy Friday! 10/06/2023

We had a great week--so much progress made in Towers Falling. The students are supposed to finish it up this weekend. I think they really the story of the book, as well as learning more about the towers and New York City.

We also did a lot of work with rulers and protractors the last couple of days in Math class. It's fun to change up the class and do a few more hands on activities with those tools.

Please take a look at the upcoming week, which is the final week of the first quarter! WOW! We will take the AR test on Wednesday for Towers Falling, along with a vocab test. It is worth 4 AR points. Students can log into their AR accounts at home to show you their status. They do need to have 20 AR points by Friday--they may want to get their other book finished up soon as well so that their grades aren't impacted by the lack of points.

You'll be hearing from Mrs. Walter soon with conference sign-ups. I look forward to meeting with you all and share all the good things I am seeing from your children here at SGB.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Nielson

Good afternoon! 09/22/2023

We had another great week in 6th grade. Your children are a joy to be with each day. They were a bit chatty this afternoon, but when there's a parade in the middle of the day, that is bound to happen! We buddied up with the 2nd graders for the Spoofhound parade--here's a glimpse into our time at MHS.

Please take a look at our week ahead.

We are starting Towers Falling on Monday. It's a great book that is centered around the Twin Towers and the events of 9-11, but even more, it helps us understand how we are all connected and the importance of tolerating others' differences, regardless of our religions, ethnicities, socio-economic status, etc. I am sure there will be many questions both here and at home about 9-11 as we read.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Mrs. Nielson

09/15/2023

We had such a great week! We started our Character Strong curriculum on Monday--our focus in being more engaged and in tune..whether it's in school, at home, with one another, with one's self, etc. It was a good tone for the week as we then had such a JOYFUL evening together with Chris Stefanick. Father Carl then followed up with a wonderful message at Mass yesterday about finding joy and being more loving each day. And then we got to finish our week with a Wonder watch party--which just reiterates the message of everything we focused on this week (and each and every day here at SGB)!

Please see what we have coming up next week--I included a few notes about the following week as well. Mrs. Ackley mentioned there would probably be a science test as well later in the week..just wasn't sure which day yet.

I only took one picture this week--but it's a sweet one.

Have a great weekend!! Go Hounds, Go Bearcats, and Go Chiefs!

Mrs. Nielson

Good afternoon! 09/08/2023

Today was such a great day--seeing these students with their grandparents/special friends brought so much joy to us all! I really hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful Mass and the delicious lunch.

The students started working on their Wonder book report--we will form an outline for the written portion of the assignment in class next week. They will have some time throughout the week to work on the poster as well if they choose to do so.

I also sent home a STAR "parent report" today. This is just one tool that we are able to use to help us get a snapshot of your child's current reading level and what level of books they should be trying to read at this time. We have another assessment that helps us with fluency and comprehension (called DIBELS), along with a benchmark assessment that aligns with the IOWA tests that we take in April (called IOWA Flex). It's a lot--but we are just trying to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement. All assessments will be given at different points through the year to help monitor growth in reading. We will talk about a lot of these great tools in October with our Parent-Teacher Conferences. But please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Please continue to encourage your child to log into Reflex and/or Frax a few times each week. Reflex is to help with math facts, and Frax is to help with fraction comprehension. Math fact fluency is a key component to confidence in math class.

Here is a glance at our week ahead...I also have posted a few pictures from the week.

Have a wonderful weekend!! Thank you for sharing your children with me!

Mrs. Nielson

Good afternoon! 09/01/2023

We had a very busy week! The students are doing such a good job getting into the routine. With a day of assessments, the students took a few minutes this afternoon and helped stuff the bulletins over at the church--we are grateful for their stewardship!

Here is what we have going on next week--it is looking to be a super fun week with the Book Fair, Bearcats at home, the Chiefs opening their season, and Grandparents Day. If you haven't yet, remember to let me know if your child is leaving that day and with whom.

I also snapped a few pictures this week from us reviewing for our vocab test.

The students need to keep reading Wonder. We are reading some in class and then I'm having them read some on their won--it's such a great book with an overall message of being kind as we really don't know what others are battling, which is a lesson we'll focus on when we begin our Character Strong lessons. Middle School starts this programming the week of September 11, as our Preschool-4th graders have began some of theirs already.

Also--more information about our EPIC (Everything Possible In Christ) Sundays can be found here. We are excited to get this up and going on Sunday, September 17 for our 4th - 8th graders of the SGB Church.

I hope you all have a GREAT Labor Day Weekend--see everyone back at school on Tuesday!

Mrs. Nielson

Good afternoon! 8/25/2023

We had a beautiful day with the students over in Conception and Clyde. The morning was really nice so we went through our Circle of Grace program outside under a few trees with a nice breeze before the heat settled in. Thank you to all who could drive and all who were able to provide snacks. I especially want to say thank you to all of you for providing letters to your children. It was a beautiful moment watching them open their letters while in front of the Blessed Sacrament in the Adoration Chapel at Clyde.

I have listed what we have upcoming this week on our class calendar, along with pictures from today.

Have a great weekend--I am looking forward to another great week ahead!

Mrs. Nielson

8/18/2023

We have had a GREAT start to the year! It has been a joy having your children in my classroom for more than the 45 minutes I got to have them last year.

We have gone through a lot of our primary responsibilities and expectations. They are going to do great---and if they are having a day, or having any concerns, please remind them they can always talk to me or any of the other teachers. We are here to root them on and help them with anything and everything!! Please encourage them to be checking their planners each night and to keep reading!

I use my Google Site to place important dates for the students and for you as parents. Please see what we have coming up next week (and beyond). Permission Slips for the Retreat will be coming home today!

Also--I took a few pictures from their first day of 6th grade--you can find them here.

Finally--here is the link to the trash pick-up for the Northwest Football Games. The funds earned by picking up the trash after the NW football games helps with the 7th/8th end-of-the-year field trips. We encourage 6th graders to help a few times to start banking some funds--it takes about 10-15 minutes once the stadium clears out--many hands make light work. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044CACAB28A1FA7-nwtrash4

Enjoy the weekend!

Mrs. Nielson

Check out this week's news!

Good afternoon! 05/10/2024

What a great week--the students worked so hard and really finished strong. Tonight is the 8th grade graduation Mass and reception--Mass starts at 6pm--all are welcome to join!

I will send a little bit more info home Monday or Tuesday regarding some of the final assessments we took.

Monday's weather isn't looking great for outside activities--our park day may have to be here on campus, but we'll have fun with the 4th-7th graders regardless.

Here is a glimpse into the last day and a half. Book reports are due right away Monday morning!

Have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for all the extra love and care during this Teacher Appreciation Week--it is a joy to teach your children!

Mrs. Nielson