November 7, 2025

Here is what we accomplished this week (four-day week):

Math: I taught the 12th lesson in unit 1 and had a review day. Then the students took the unit 1 test on Thursday and Friday. They will take the Unit 3 pretest on Monday (we already covered Unit 2).  I will begin Unit 3 lessons on Wednesday. 

ELA: We read the antepenultimate chapter of Esperanza Rising. The students will work on a reaction paper for that chapter next week and I hope to finish the book soon after that. Then the students will work on a painted essay, which I will teach them how to do during the week before Thanksgiving. 

Science: We have started the second unit but are still on the first lesson of Earth Systems. 

Social studies: we are finishing up the chapter on the Puritans and Pilgrims. 

Reading: The students took the 12-14 comprehension quiz for Number the Stars. We will have the final quiz later next week, after we finish the book. 

October 31, 2025

We had a very productive week—the first 5-day week in some time! Here was we accomplished:

Math: The students learned how to evaluate a rectangular prism. They learned the formula for volume and applied it to solving problems in their math journals and for homework. Next week we will finish Unit 1 (reminder: we completed unit 2 before unit 1 and so will move on from here to unit 3. There are 7 units in total, so we are making great progress). I will teach the last lesson of the unit on Monday and then review for the unit test on Wednesday. The unit 1 test will occur on Thursday and Friday. 

ELA: We finished unit 1 of Esperanza Rising and are halfway through the second unit. For this unit the students are writing reaction papers to the information presented in the text. 

Social studies: We have finished discussing the Lost Colony of Roanoake and Jamestown. This week we discuss the Pilgrim (Separatists) and the Puritans. We will continue learning about these two religious English groups next week. 

Science: the students completed the Ecosystem unit and took the Common Benchmark Assessment on Thursday. Next week we will begin the second unit of four, a unit called Earth Systems. 

Reading: We covered chapters 6-11 and the students took a comprehension quiz. Then we read and discussed chapers 12 and 13. Next week we will read chapter 14, hold a comprehension review game, and then the students will take the 12-14 chaoter test. I expect to finish the book in the next couple weeks. 

Today we held our Halloween party. We ate some Italian ice, played a few games and had a great time. 

Happy Halloween!!

Roger

October 9, 2025

Here's what we accomplished this week:

ELA: We completed a couple more chapters in Esperanza Rising and next week we will take the end of unit 1 quiz. The students wrote quote sandwiches (three paragraph essays that require them to make claims, find quotes to support the claims, and then explain how the quotes support the claims). 

Math: We finished Unit 2 of mathematics. Next week I will send home the tests to be reviewed and sighed by a parent. Please be aware that the pretest will be included. This was given prior to the unit and does not reflect their current understanding of the concepts. There is also a challenge portion of the test. This is sixth grade work and gives the students the opportunity to gain a 4 on the test (If they get the post test and challenge all correct). This is very difficult to do. The challenge is optional and can only help the student with regard to the grade. It cannot hurt the student. I encourage all to try the challenge and see how many problems they can solve correctly. Any correct answers are cause for celebration. 

Reading: We are reading a great book called Number the Stars. The students learned the first vocabulary list (of three) and took the quiz today. We have read 5 chapters. Next Tuesday we will hold the Bus Game and then on Wednesday they will take the first comprehension quiz (of 4). 

Science: The students took the lesson 5 quiz of Ecosystems and took notes on the lesson 6 material. I expect to quiz them on this material early next week and then give the Lesson 7 notes. Once we are done with all 7 quizzes, I will staple them into a packet and give them back to the students to use a study guide for the Common benchmark assessment, which they will take in a few weeks. 

Social studies: We discussed some of the events about Jamestown. We will continue this next week. 

Wayfinder: The students learned about teamwork during this lesson. 

Have a great long weekend!

September 26, 2026

Another great week. Here's what we accomplished.

ELA: we read several more chapters of Esperanza Rising . Next week we will begin to discuss essay writing. You will hear the students talking about a quote sandwich. We also started our first spelling unit. This wee we talked about prefixes and doubling rules. 

Reading: The students read up to chapter 40 in the book Crash. Earlier in the week they played the 21-30 Bus Game and took the comprehension quiz. Next week we will finish the book, play the last Bus Game, and then they will take the final comprehension quiz. 

Math: We completed four lessons this week. The students worked on the traditional algorithm for multiplication. Next week we will finish the second unit and there will be a review before the Unit 2 test. 

Social studies: we discussed more factors that eld to the discovery of the New World. Next week we will begun learning about the Lost Colony of Roanoke. 

Science: We covered lesson three (consumers) of Ecosystems. Today the students pretended to visit ecosystems around the world. Next week we will discuss the questioneds they posed about each ecosytem and begin taking notes on the fourth lesson. Soon the students will have another science lab—dissecting owl pellets. 

The booster thon is going well. Below is some information about it.

Hello all,

Below is the link for students to apply for the 2025-2026 student senate. I have copied the letter that will be sent home hard copy and emailed to parents. You will find green handouts in your mailbox to distribute to students today, please. I put notices for teachers who are absent today in teammates' mailboxes.  Could you please give them to the subs in the rooms to hand out today?

Would you please take some time next week to explain the application process and what the student senate does? Even though one student will ultimately be selected to attend meetings, others will still have an opportunity to contribute ideas.  Feel free to make this link available in your Google classrooms.

Thanks for your help with this! Application deadline is Friday, October 10.

https://forms.gle/9UEJEouVL2pGdEVB8

Here is a copy of the letter for your reference. 

September 19, 2025

The past two weeks have been very productive. The students have transitioned extremely well. Here's what we accomplished:

ELA: We began reading Esperanza Rising. During this unit, the students will discuss how the Universal Declaration of Human Rights applies to the characters in the story. The students will begin writing chapter summaries and will learn the elements of a good essay about literature. Next week, we will begin our first spelling unit.  We have finished two books in listening. The students voted to read the prequel to Midnight Magic for the next listening book. 

Reading: For those students who take reading with me, we have continued to read the book Crash.  The students looked up the second and third list and took quizzes. In addition, we have now read up to Chapter 30. Next week we will come close to finishing the book. 

Science: The students took notes on lesson two of Ecosystems and today took an open-book quiz. There will be seven of these quizzes. After taking the seven quizzes, I will staple them together and hand them back to the students so that they can use them to study for the Common Benchmark Assessment. More on how to study for that assessment as it approaches. 

Social studies: We are still discussing the events leading up to the discovery of the New World. We will discuss the Lost Colony of Roanoke soon. 

Math: I taught lessons 2.1 through 2.5 this week. The students have learned about exponential notation, various ways to write expanded notation, and I hqve begun to teach the US tradition multiplication algorithm.  They are currently multiplying a one digit times a two digit. Soon it will be 2 by 2 and 2 by 3. Next week I expect to cover four more lessons in the second unit. The students also began I-Ready this week. All students met my expectation of 3 or more lessons and 60 minutes. If they continue at this pace, they will make huge strides across the school year, which will be evident in the mid-year and end-of-year I-Ready diagnostic scores, which I will share with you. 

Have a great weekend. 

Roger

September 5, 2025

We had a great week of school. The students are learnging the routines and doing a great job following directions. 

Here's what we accomplished:

ELA/Reading: The studentsbread chapters 1-10 of the book Crash. They looked up list one of vocabulary words I assigned and took their first vocabulary quiz. IN addition, we played a comprehension game (called the Bus Game) to help them preprare for the first comprehension quiz on Monday. Next week we should cover chapters 11-20 and vocabulary list 2. 

Math: We reviewed some concepts (place value) and played some games (Corral Game, 16, and 42). WE are in the middle of a 16 tournament. Next week the students will begin the I-Ready diagnostic and then we will begin the first unit of math, which will be the second unit in the math book. 

Science: We discussed how to make an inference and they learned some examples of the scientific method in use by scientists. I told them stories about African honey bees and fishercats. 

Next week I will add more academics, as the students will nbegin the first ELA book, called Esperanza Rising. 

April 2, 2025

Science: we have finished the Changes in Matter unit and the students will receive back their pretests back and be given a week to student for the Common Benchmark Assessment. I expect to hold the test on April 9th or 10th.  Our next unit will be Earth, Moon and Stars. This will be the fourth and final scie ce unit of the school year.

Math: we are midway through Unit 6. There are seven units and the students should be partway through unit 7 when they take the math MCAS two weeks after the April vacation. I expect to finish Unit 6 prior to the April vacation. 

Social studies: we are about to begin the unit about the Constitution. 

ELA: the students finished their sensory writing pieces and will now begin writing a narrative piece about the rainforest. 

Reading: The tow books (Hatchet and Island of the Blue Dolphins) are done. The students will finish up their mapping project. Furthermore, Hatchet is working on a creative writing assignment related to the book. 

Just a note that the Adventure Days are approaching. You should have received information from the school about CORI testing deadlines, etc, if you want to volunteer. 

March 7, 2025

The first two weeks back since the February vacation have been busy. Here is what we accomplished and what is on the horizon. 

ELA:  We completed the first unit of Module 2 and are now well into the 2nd unit. The students practiced summarizing information and comparing text structures. Now they are working on point of view and literary devices. 

Reading: We began the survival literature unit. The students have been divided into to groups: one is reading Hatchet, the other is reading Island of the Blue Dolphins. For both books, the students must learn three vocabulary lists, take comprehension quizzes, and create a map of the places described in the book. Furthermore, theose reading Hatchet will do a short creative project at the end. I expect to finish this unit in the week prior to the April vacation. 

Listening: We read the book Inside Out and Back Again. This book consists of grouped poems about a young Vietnamese girl and her family who were refugees in 1975. It tells of their escape from Saigon, the harrowing time aboard the rescue ship, and the difficulties they had assimilating in American culture.  In ELA, I am teaching a unit on poetry, so this book aligned perfectly with the Friday poetry instruction. Yesterday, we began reading a young adult novel called Flipped.

Math: We are finishing up the fifth of seven units in mathematics. The last lesson will be on Monday. Next Tuesday I will do a unit review, and then testing will be held on Wednesday and Thursday.  I will begin UNit 6 the following week, but will not likely finish the unit until after April vacation. 

Science: We are on the third lesson of the unit called Changes in Matter. The students are taking notes and quizzes as usual. I expect to finsih this unit prior to April vacation. The unit will culminate with a Common Benchmark Assessment. I will announce the test date one week in advance so that students have timeto study. 

Social studies: We finished the unit about the events that led to the Revolutionary War. We are now finishing up the chapter called "To Declare Independence or Not."
the

The dates for the fifth grade camp have been announced. The camp will occur on May 28 and 29. 

Field Day will be on June. 13. 

Have a great weekend!

Roger Whittlesey

January 24, 2025

We had a good couple of weeks. Here's what we accomplished:

Science: we have completed all 6 units in Earth Systems. the students will receive back their open-book quizzes to use as study material for the upcoming Common Benchmark Assessment. The CBA will occur on Friday, February 8. In addition, we had a science lab last week in which the students learned about how the mining industry affects the earth systems. The students were given chocolate chip cookies and were asked t9o mine as many chocolate chips as they possibly can. They were awarded a certain amount of money for each mined chip. They tabulated their profit. Then after the first round they considered the condition of the cookie. Next, they were give the rule that they would be fined a certain amount for every broken piece of cookie. In the end, they were more responsible about mining because of these regulations. Then we talked about how the government creates regulations for the real mining that is done in the country. They understood the connection between the two and the need for regulations to protect the environment. 

Social studies: We have begun to learn about the events leading to the Revolutionary War. On Friday, we discussed the French and Indian War. Later this week, we will discuss how this war led to friction between the colonies and Britain. 

Math: We have finished unit 4 (of 7 units). The unit 4 math test will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Soon after we will begin unit 5.  Also, the students finished the I-Ready mid-year diagnositic. I am proud to say all students improved. The class average was a new record! The students improved 111 percent since the beginning of the school year. 

ELA: The students are learning how to write an academic essay. We are studying the rainforest. Soon they will take the mid-unit assessment, and after that they will take part in science talks. 

Reading: We are now 16 chapters into the book Chasing Vermeer. The students will take the list three vocabulary quiz on Tuesday. And then they will take the 9-16 comprehension quiz. We should finish the book prior to the February vacation.  We have now read 17 books this year. 

Listening: We finished the book The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.  It was a favorite book of the class. The students voted on the next book and we have started reading The lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. The students are greatly enjoying this book too. 

Respectfully, 

Roger Whittlesey

January 3, 2025

These two days at school have been good ones. The students returned refreshed and ready to learn. Here is what we've done and what we will be accomplishing next week. 

ELA: We continued to read the book The Most Beautiful Roof in the World. This book is a non-fiction book about the rainforest. We will use it to learn how to write effective essays, to write persuasive essays, and as fodder for scientific talks. In addition, we continued the festival projects presentations. Next Monday and Tuesday we will conclude these presentations and the students will receive their grading rubrics. 

Math: We completed lesson 4.4 yesterday. Next week we will complete two more lessons in unit 4. We will also take the I-Ready mid-year diagnostic. The testing will begin on Tuesday and should finish Wednesday. When students are done, they will come to me and I will be able to report their results, usually in the form of a percentage increase since the first diagnostic in the fall. I expect that we will continue to work on UNit 4 three more weeks, and then just before February vacation we will begin Unit 5. 

Science: We finished the notes for Lesson 3 of Earth Systems. This is the third of six lessons. I expect to finish this unit and begin the next unit between now and February vacation. There will also be the Earth Systems CBA, which should occur in about four weeks. 

Socials studies: The students are learning about Colonial Williamsburg. We will complete this c hapter next week and begin learning the events that led to the American Revolution. 

Listening: We started the book The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. This is a classic book by AVI, that is written at an eighth grade level. This book is always a favorite in my students' views. 

Reading: We will begin the book Chasing Vermeer today. You can expect next week that students will have vocabulary lists to look up for homework. there are three lists and so we will cover a list each week for the next three weeks. 

Have a great weekend. 

Roger

December 13, 2024

It was a great pleasure to meet with the parents of my students during conferences this week. I hope you all found it to be a worthwhile and informative meeting. 

Here's what we accomplished this week:

ELA: The students have been working on the Festival Report. All students have written a 5-paragraph academic research essay and have begun (and some have finished) the Google Slides portion of the project.  There is an at-home piece that students must complete. Many are creating foods while others are making greeting cards or doing crafts. About half the class will present next week. Those students who require more time will present after the vacation. Today we began reading our next ELA book, which is a non-fiction book about the rain forest. 

Math: The students took the unit 3 math test after we finished the last lesson on Monday and completed a review on Tuesday. Next week the students will take the UNit 4 pretest and then I will begin UNit 4 lessons. This unit will be concluded about three weeks after the winter break. 

Social studies: We are finishing up the chapter on Slavery in the Americas. Today we will finish a video and then discuss the life of an enslaved person during the Colonial Times. Next week the students will be given an open-book quiz on this chapter. 

Science: The second unit of the year is called Earth Systems. The students have taken notesand a quiz  on Lesson 1. We are now working on the notes for lesson 2, which includes information about a weather forecast. In addition, we have been watching weather forecasts each day to see how the TV meteorologist use the terms and science that we are learning in class. 

Reading; The next reading book will be introduced after the break. The students will be required to read chapters at home and look up vocabulary words. 

Listening: We finished our 12th book of the year and will finish out 13th book prior to the vacation. The students have been introduced to many authors and genres, and feedback from the parents at conferences is that  reading aloud is paying off in that students are more active readers at home (often reading the sequels to books that I have read in class). This makes me very happy to hear. 

Next week: The Yankee swap gifts are due on Tueasday. Our class party will occur on Thursday afternoon (this is when we will have the Yankee swap). A reminder that Friday is an early release. 

I wish everyone happy holidays!!

See you in 2025!!

November 18, 2025

We finished another good week. Here's what we accomplished and what is coming. 

ELA: The students took the last assessment for the book Esperanza Rising. the students were required to anaylyze metaphors, answer comprehension questions, and write an essay using the "quote Sandwich" model. Next, the students will begin working on a research project called the Festival Report. I will teach them to write a five paragraph essay that includes a thesis paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. They will also learn how to write a bibliography and why they are important. Finally, after completing the five typed paragraphs, they will build a multi-slide Google Slides presentation and then present their information in front of the class. The students are also working on writing assignments to be placed in their show portfolios. These portfolios will be shared with parents at conferences. 

Math: We finished Unit 2. The student were given back their tests and they are required to bring them home, get them signed by a parent and then bring them back to be placed in their show portfolios. We have begun Unit 3, which connects division with fractions. 

Social studies: the students took the chapter 6 quiz, and they have begun chapter 7, which covers the 13 Original English Colonies. They have begun presenting these. They will take the chapter 7 quiz on Friday. This is an open-book quiz and does not rewquire the students to study at home. 

Science: The students received their CBA grades for Ecosystems. These rubrics will be placed in theor portfolios. On Wenesday, I will begin teaching the second of four units. This one is called Earth Systems. 

Reading: We have finished the book Number the Stars. The students will watch a movie tomorrow that aligns with the book. WE will then discuss the simliarities and differences between the movie and the book. The reading periods between now and the winter break will be used to complete the Festival Report research, writing, lessons, and presentations. 

Listening: We will finish the book Gooney Bird Greene this week. 

Next week there are only 2.5 days of school. 

October 24, 2024

On Monday, the students had a gerat time watching the movie "The Wild Robot." It was an excellent movie, but was loosely based on the events in the book. After the movie, the students did a great job explaining the similarities and differences between the book and the movie. The students were well behaved while away from the school. 

Here's what we achieved academically this week and what we have on the horizon:

ELA: the students are continuing to learn how to make claims, support the claims with a quote, and support the quote with an explanation (this is called the Sandwich Method). We read several more chapters of Esperanza Rising and should finish the book in a couple weeks. The Module will not be over at that point, however. The students will then have an opportunity to do some narrative writing. 

Reading: We finished the last vocabulary list for NUmber the Stars. The students took the final vocabulary quiz today. We also read c hapters 6-11. Our comprehension game (The Bus Game) will occur on Monday and then the students will take the 6-11 comprehension quiz on Tuesday. We will read chapters 12-14 next week. I expect to finish this book in three weeks. 

Math: We are nearing the end of the second unit of mathematics. The students have learned to U.S Traditional multiplication method. We will begin division next week, but it will not be the standard algorithm. This algorithm is taught in sixth grade. Instead, the students will use the Partial-Quotient Method (something they have been introduced to in fourth grade).  I will complete a review of the unit in the first full week of November and then the students will take the two-day assessment. Once the tests are corrected, I will send them home to be signed and then returned so that the students have their copy to include in their portfolio, which you will have the opportunity to view during the conference period in December.  the students are making great progress on I-Ready. I require an hour and three lesson per week. I will report their progress during the conference. 

Science: We are nearing the end of the Ecosystems unit. This week the students took the sixth of seven open-book quizzes. They took notes on the seventh lesson and will be quizzed on that next Tuesday. I will correct the last quiz and then staple all seven together and send them home with the students. These should be used as study guides for the upcoming Common Benchmark Assessment (CBA). The students will have one week to study for the CBA. Then in the second week of November we will begin the second unit, which is Earth Systems. 

Social Studies: We have discussed The Lost Colony of Roanoke and Jamestown. Today we will begin learning about the Pilgrims. Next week we will finish up the unit by studying the Puritans. When all is done the students will take an open-book quiz. Then we will move on the the establishment of the 13 Original Colonies. 

Listening: I read a book of ghost stories this week. This was the eighth book of the year. Today I will introduce a new book written by an author who typically visits our school and gives writing lessons. We are expecting to engage this author again this year but the  details have het to be worked out. 

Next week is Halloween. On Thursday after lunch, I will hold a Halloween party in the classroom. The students may wear costumes to school but with some limitations—No masks, no weapons, no overuse of makeup, etc. Basically, the costume should not distract others during what is mostly a typical academic day. 

Have a great weekend, 

October 11, 2024

Another great week. This past week we had our first science lab. More about that below. 

ELA: We have continued to work our way through the book Esperanza Rising. The students took the Unit 1 end of unit assessment, in which they had to show their skills at writing a paragraph that restates the question, makes a claim, supports the claim with a quote and page number, and then explain how the quote support the claim.  We have begun the second of three units for this module. 

Reading: The students began a new book called Number the Stars. They are responsible for looking up and learning three vocabulary lists (to be assigned over the the next couple weeks). Last wek the students read chapters 1-5. Next week they will play the comprehension game and then take the comprehension quiz. They were tested today on the first vocabulary list. 

Science: Last week we covered lesson 4 of Ecosystems and the students had the opportunity to dissect owl pellets. This lab is designed to make the students think about the transfer of energy, from the sun, to the plants, to the animal that eats the plans and finally to the owl who eats the animal that ate the plants. This week the students will take an open-book quiz for lesson 4, which is about decomposers and then we will begin notes for lesson 5. 

Social studies: The students learned about how Jamestown became the first permanent English colony.  This week we will talk about the Pilgrims. 

Listening: we finished the book Orwell's Luck and began a short book called Islander, which we will finish this week. 

October 4, 2024

We had another productive week. Just a reminder that if your child has not yet turned in money and the permission slip for the October 21st visit to the cinema (Wild Robot movie), please have them do so before next Friday (October 11). 

ELA: We read two more chapters of Esperanza Rising.  The students wrote several essays using the "Quote Sandwich" method. They are learning to write a thesis statement with claims, quote from the text to support the claims, and then how to explain the quote and how it supports the claim. This is the bedrock of academic writing.  In addition, students are expected to indent paragraphs, capitalize proper nouns and words at the beginning of a sentence, and include the appropriate end punctuation. 

Speling: the students studies the Long E sound in spelling class, and then took a spelling check in on Friday. 

Math: The students finished Unit 1 of Everyday Mathematics, and then they took the three segments of the math test: post-test, open response (problem solving), and the challenge, which gives them problems using the same concepts but at a grade level higher. It should be reminded that students are trying their best on this challenge portion and even if they do not get many answers correct, this is not an indication that they are struggling. It is supposed to be difficult. If your child gets a high percentage of the answers correct, this is cause for celebration. Next week, I will begin teaching unit 2. But on Monday the students will take the Unit 2 pretest. This will tell me what they know and don't know and therefore will help me concentrate on filling in gaps and emphasizing and strengthening concepts that are relative weaknesses. The homework in math will begin on Tuersday next week. 

Reading: the students finished the book Crash. They participated in the comprehension game on Friday (Bus Game) and therefore will have the last comprehension quiz for the book on Monday. I will introduce the new reading book and assign the first of three vocabulary lists. Be on the lookout for thos lists, as students will resume looking up words again for homework. 

Science: We finished lesson three of the Ecosystems unit. The students took the third open-book quiz. This is the third of seven quizzes that they will take in that unit. When I am done teaching the unit, I will return the quizzes as a packet and then the students will have one week to use them, their notes, and the textbook to prepare for the Common Benchmark Assessment, which is where their science grades are derived from. It will be important that they study for this test. 

Social studies: We have begun to discuss England's attempt at establishing a permanent English Colony in the New World. The students learned about the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Next week we will begin to discuss Jamestown. 

Listening: We finished the book Wild Robot and now we are reading a book that the students voted to read called Orwell's Luck.  This is the fifth novel that we are reading this year. In a typical year, I read about 25 novels—including books read during listening block and reading. 

September 20, 2024

Another great week. I enjoyed meeting all the parents who attended the back to school night. 

Note: we will be going on a field trip to see the movie "Wild Robot." Here is the information about it (I will send home a hard copy of this form soon:

Norman E. Day Elementary School

75 E Prescott St, Westford, MA 01885 | 978.692.5591 | westfordk12.us/ds

Field Trip Permission Slip

This educational field trip is planned as part of a regular class activity.

Chris Louis Sardella, Ed. D., Principal | Chrissy Michaud, M.Ed., Assistant Principal

Field Trip/Activity: “The Wild Robot”

After finishing the very popular fantasy book The Wild Robot by

Peter Brown, fifth graders will be given the chance to see the film

adaptation of the book. This book addresses several of our ELA

standards, science standards, and leads to some wonderful

discussion about acceptance, diversity and inclusion. We are

looking forward to comparing and contrasting the book and the

movie after our field trip.

Location: O’Neil Cinemas, Littleton,

Massachusetts

Cost: $22

Date: Monday, October 21, 2024 Lunch/Food: Brown Bag

Depart: 11:00 AM Return: 1:45PM

In order to participate in the field trip, students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic, behavior

and attendance standing as described in the Student Handbook.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please complete and return this portion to your teacher by: Friday, October 11, 2024

__________________________________has permission to attend the field trip to O’Neils Cinemas in Littleton, MA on Monday, October 21, 2024.

(print student’s name)

Parent/ Guardian phone numbers are required for student participation. Parent/Guardian contact on day of trip:

Cell: _____________________________ Home: ________________________ Work: ________________________

This will serve to authorize any licensed doctor of medicine, hospital nurse, or intern to furnish emergency care to my minor child. Your child will

be transported by ambulance to an emergency care facility if it is deemed necessary and this form, along with a chaperone, will accompany

them to the Emergency Room. In the case where the condition, medical or surgical, is or appears in your opinion to be of an emergency nature,

you are hereby authorized to furnish any anesthetic to said child, as you, in your best judgment, deem necessary or advisable. I understand that every

effort will be made to contact me.

My son/daughter has the following medical conditions:_______________________________________________________

My child has a drug allergy: NO / YES If yes, list the medications: ____________________________________________

My child has a life-threatening allergy: NO / YES If yes, the Epipen must be with your child at all times. Specify the Allergy:__________________

My child has asthma: NO / YES If yes, the inhaler must be with your child at all times.

My signature assures that I have offered necessary information and permission for the trip and that I have read and agreed to the cancellation policy on

this form.

Parent’s/Guardian’s Signature: _______________________________________________ Date: _________________

Print Parent/Guardian Name: ___________________________________________

Field Trip Cancellation Policy: Field trips are funded via parent donations and provide valuable educational benefits to students. Many organizations require prepayment for

a field trip and do not offer refunds. Therefore, in the event of a cancellation, a refund to parents may not be possible. If a cancellation occurs and an organization offers a

refund, we will make every effort to reschedule the trip or plan another field trip of equal educational value.

Here's what we accomplished:

ELA: We read two chapters in Esperanza Rising  this week and began talking about how to write an essay. The students were taught to make claims, cite the text and then include a quotation. In addition, the students learned the doubling rule in spelling, completed class work and the took a check-in quiz on Friday. 

Math: We completed lessons 1.3-1.7. The students were intriduced to the concept of volume. We have about one more week of unit one and then there wil be a review and the first assessment. 

Social studies: We are discussing how the New World evolved into the 13 Original Colonies. 

Science: We completed lesson one of Ecosystems and the students took the first open-book quiz. 

Reading: the students read chapters 11-20 of the book Crash. The looked up and studied vocabularyt list 2 and took a vocabulary and comprehension quiz on Friday. This week the students will look up list 3 and take a quiz on chapters 21-30. 

Listening: We read more of Wild Robot.  We should finish the book this coming week. 

September 16, 2024

We had a great week last week. The students have adjusted to doing homework. They are learning the expectations and routines in the classroom. Just a note that Thursday, September 19th is the Back to School Night. 

Back-To-School Night!

We are looking forward to welcoming you Back to School on Thu, Sep 19 beginning at 5:30 PM in the school cafeteria. You'll have a chance to meet specialist teachers and learn about our visual and performing arts programs, physical education and wellness, library and technology, math and reading interventions, and English language learner program. You'll also meet our school nurse and guidance counselor.

At 6:00 PM, you'll have a chance to meet your child's classroom teacher, tour the classroom, and learn about curriculum and instruction. Keep in mind this is an open house and not a conference. If you have specific academic or social concerns, please arrange a separate time to speak to your child's teacher.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Thursday!

Back To School Night Schedule

• 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM  Location: Cafeteria

  • Curriculum Overview with Art, Music, PE/Wellness, ELL Teacher, Literacy Specialist, Library/Media Teacher, Guidance Counselor, School Nurse, PTO reps

• 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM  Location: Classrooms

  • Curriculum Overview with Classroom and Student Support Teachers

Important Info

Additional parking will be available at the back of the school and in the Blessed Trinity parking lot, next to the Rectory.  Custodians will be directing traffic in the parking lot.

There will be no admittance to classrooms before 6:00 PM.

This event is designed for parents & guardians; students should not attend.

First Parish Church United in Westford Center is offering free child care for families of K-5 grade students. See attachment for details

Here's what we completed last week:

ELA: We began the book Esperanza Rising. This unit will align the International Constitution of Human Rightswith what is occurring in the book. This week we will cover the forst three chapters of the book.

Reading: We began the book Crash. The students read chapters 1-10 and looked up the first of three vocabulary lists. On Friday, they took their first comprehension quiz and the first vocabulary quiz. This week we will read chapters 11-20. There will be reading they must do for homework. They will also look up for homework. the second vocabulary list. The vocab and comprehension quizzes will be on Friday this week. 

Math: All students finished the I-Ready diagnostic and we have begin lessons in Everyday Mathematics. Last week we covered lessons 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3. This week we will cover lessons 1.4-1.7. The studennts are required to complete one hour and three passed lessons in I-Ready every week. They will di this in school. Most nights the students will have a math home link to complete for homework. 

Science: We have begin the unit on Ecosystems. The students took notes on lesson one and they are now visiting ecosystems around the world (in the classroom). We will have our first open-book quiz on Wednesday. 

Social studies: I am providing background information about explorers and why they ended up arriving at the New World. Later this week, I will begin our first chapter in the TCI social studies book that we will use this year. 

Spelling: The students reviewed how to analyse words (breaking into syllables, determining whether a syllable is open, closed, r-contrlolled, etc.). This week they will recieve their first lesson and at the end of the week there will be a check in (not officially a quiz). This will be the process throughout the year. I will give mini lessons and then give a check in at the end of the week. 

Listening: We finished our first listening book—a book by Avi called Midnight Magic. This week we will begin reading the book Wild Robot. In a typical year, the students will be exposed to about 30 books.