Twas the Night Before Finals...

Sorry for the late post, but I imagine between yesterday's blog and the letters I have sent home recently, you already know that today, Thursday, May 21, was our last full day of school.

We had a wonderful time at the park this afternoon. Though I had planned to do some Medieval activities with the students, it seemed like today was better spent simply having less structure and more fun. Big thanks to Jenelle Bush for picking up our Subway sandwich fare and filling up a great many water balloons! And lots of gratitude to Jenelle, Dana Desonie and Mike Ternyik for their time and help to/from and at the park.

My apologies to all for only posting homework recently. Between TPA and my own grad school work, it was really getting hairy there for awhile and something had to go. So it was the posts.
I have lots of photos from activities and projects we've worked on and I will send out an email blast in the next week or so letting you all know when the photos are up so you can take a look. The one above was taken during a visit from an education representative from the Intel Corporation who came in and worked with the students one afternoon on science.

Tomorrow, Friday, May 22: Final exams begin.
School runs 8:25 AM -12:40 PM.
We follow the same schedule next Tuesday/Wednesday (May 26/27).

***REMEMBER: No School on Monday: Memorial Day (May 25)

**Please remember: Our final drama performance of Papastrata will be at 11:15 AM on Wednesday, May 27 (outside in the faculty house courtyard). Bring family, friends and join us to see our sixth graders in action (*you may also want to bring an umbrella and water bottles: it gets hot)! The performance will probably run 35-40 minutes, and will be followed with an end of the year celebration. Please bring goodies to share (what would a Room 503 event be without goodies, right?!).

Next Thursday, May 28: All-school awards assembly (Mandatory)
Dress Code attire is required.
Please drop your student(s) off at Grace Church (directly across Southern from TPA) at regular school time: 8:25 AM.
Plan to arrive for pick up at Noon, though the assembly may run over. You are all welcome to join us in the Worship Center at any time.

Have a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!

Cheers,
Ms. Pitman

Parkin' It!

Hi, All.

Today's Strawberry Festival was a big hit! Strawberry Sortcakes, Strawberry Cakes, Strawberry Pies, all kinds of Strawberries + something else Smoothies, Chocolate Covered Strawberries...and lots and lots and lots of whipped cream!!!

Can anyone say sugar high?!

Tomorrow, Thursday, May 21, the students and I, along with Jenelle Bush (a.k.a. our Gecko Mom/Ryan’s mom) will be walking (no driving required!) to Hollis Park, just South of TPA between Dorsey/Kenneth Pl at Malibu. We will be leaving TPA at 11:30 AM and returning by 2:45 PM. If there is another parent out there that would like to tag along with us – that would be great (drop me an email: npitman@tempeprep.org)!

Our plan is to have a picnic lunch at the park, followed by Medieval games/activities, a water balloon fight (as per student request), and celebrate our last afternoon together prior to finals. We will be picking up sandwiches from Subway, and complimenting them with chips, cookies and Capri Suns. Thank you all for getting your trip slip forms in as well as money for lunch!

Students must come to school that day dressed in TPA required dress code, but do have permission to change into shorts, T-shirts and athletic shoes for our outing (please: closed-toed shoes only. No sandals). Please send a towel to sit on as well as to use to dry off (from our water fight). If you believe that your student requires sunscreen, please send that along as well as an extra water bottle if your student does not keep one at school.

HOMEWORK: STUDY!; Go over Papastrata lines; BRING IN COSTUME (sheet and sandals, if you haven't brought them already).

HOMEWORK, Tuesday, May 19, 2009

STUDY!!!

Go over Papastrata script

*Bring in your goodies for the Strawberry Festival tomorrow!

Below is information from the letter sent home last Friday (in case you need to recheck information):

Wednesday, May 20, Room 503 will be hosting our very own Strawberry Festival (in honor of National Strawberry Month). Last week the students brought in recipes that included strawberries. Today they are bringing home those recipes and will use them to participate in our big strawberry extravaganza next week by creating a strawberry “dish”/beverage to share (serving 4-8). All foods/beverages should be prepared prior to the school day and brought to school (we can store them in the refrigerator/freezer). If the concoction is a smoothie or blender drink, please bring the ingredients and I will supply the blender. Plates, cups, napkins and utensils will also be provided.

Thursday, May 21, the students and I, along with Jenelle Bush (a.k.a. our Gecko Mom/Ryan’s mom) will be walking (no driving required!) to Hollis Park, just South of TPA between Dorsey/Kenneth Pl at Malibu. We will be leaving TPA at 11:30 AM and returning by 2:45 PM. If there is another parent out there that would like to tag along with us – that would be great (drop me an email: npitman@tempeprep.org)!

Our plan is to have a picnic lunch at the park, followed by Medieval games/activities, a water balloon fight (as per student request), and celebrate our last afternoon together prior to finals. We will be picking up sandwiches from Subway, and complimenting them with chips, cookies and Capri Suns. The cost for lunch will be $8.00 per student (Please send $8.00 cash with your student next Monday or Tuesday, May 18/19 in an envelope marked with your student’s name).

Students must come to school that day dressed in TPA required dress code, but do have permission to change into shorts, T-shirts and athletic shoes for our outing (please: closed-toed shoes only. No sandals). If you believe that your student requires sunscreen, please send that along as well as an extra water bottle if your student does not keep one at school. *Also bring a towel (to sit on at the park and to dry off, if need be)

Just a reminder that Friday, May 22 is the first day of finals. Finals run Friday, May 22 – Wednesday, May 27. School hours on those days are 8:25 AM -12:40 PM. Monday, May 18 is Memorial Day, and school will be closed on that day. Thursday, May 28 is our all-school awards assembly.

Wednesday, May 27 at 11:15 AM, the sixth graders will have their drama final performance and parents, family and friends are invited to attend. Please bring an umbrella and water bottle (our performance is outside and these things might help keep you comfortable as an audience member). Also, I invite you to bring goodies and beverages to share, as we celebrate our year as TPJA’s first sixth grade class, following the performance.

HOMEWORK, Monday, May 18, 2009

Language Arts:
STUDY! Final on Friday

Math:
STUDY! Final on Friday!

Social Studies:
Read p. 533-549, History Text
Due tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19

Drama:
Go over and over and over Papastrata script!!!

HOMEWORK, Friday, May 15, 2009

Language Arts:
Gather resources and begin studying for final
*See Study Guide

Return Vocabulary/Spelling Test Signature Sheet
Monday, May 18

Math:
Study for final

Drama:
Work on script at least 45 minutes on both Sat./Sun.
*MUST BE OFF-BOOK COMPLETELY BY TUESDAY!

Misc.
***Give parents the note on all of our upcoming events
Bring $8.00 cash in an envelope with your name marked on it
By Monday...Tuesday (May 19) at the latest.

*Complete any incomplete assignments By Monday!!!
- Especially Adam of the Road assignment (O.T.O.)

HOMEWORK, Thursday, May 14, 2009

Language Arts:
*Get Vocabulary Test signed
Return to school tomorrow (at the latest, Monday)

Math:
P. 63 (B, C, D)
Due Tomorrow, Friday, May 15

Social Studies:
Answer questions that you did not complete in class:
P. 516, 517, through #16 on p. 518
Due Tomorrow, Friday, May 15

Drama:
Work on memorizing lines, Papastrata
for one 1/2 hour
Due Tomorrow, Friday, May 15

Misc:
If you haven't turned in, or were asked to re-do the following,
Please complete:
1) Strawberry recipe
2) Adam of the Road research, quote (w/pg. #), and illustration
3) Respect letter
Due Tomorrow, Friday, May 15

HOMEWORK, Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Language Arts:
STUDY!!! Vocab/Spelling Test
Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 13

Math:
P. 53 (A, B, C)

Social Studies:
Read Text Book: p. 506 -515
Answer assessment questions: p. 511 (1-4); 514 (1-2)
Due: Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 13

Drama:
Go over lines (Out loud!!!)

**Special thanks to the students who brought goodies for today's tea and to the parents who supplied them**

HOMEWORK, Monday, May 11, 2009

Language Arts:
Find a place on the A. of the R. book,
and pin-point it on the map in the front of the book.
Research and write at least a paragraph on the location you chose.
Quote the line(s) from the book and cite the page # of the mention
of the location (in A of the R.)
Create a thoughtful illustration of an event that took place in the location you chose in the book.
Use B & W - pencil or black pen, color...your choice!
Due: Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12

STUDY!: Vocab/Spelling Test
Wednesday, May 13

Math:
P. 55 (2, 5, 6)
Take home quiz
Due: Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12

Social Studies:
Study map of Europe

Drama:
Work on line memorization (go over old lines/learn new ones)
Due: Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12

Misc:
*BRING athletic shoes for tomorrow
*Tomorrow's Tea's Goody Providers:
Kyle
Ben
Sterling
Denzel
Meghan

HOMEWORK, Friday, May 8, 2009

Language Arts:
TYPE a thoughtful discussion question for Adam of the Road
Due: Monday, May 11

STUDY!!! Vocab/Spelling Quiz
Wednesday, May 13

Two for Tuesday (May 12):
*Bring Tennis shoes
*Tea: Adam of the Road
The following students volunteered to bring goodies:
Ben, Kyle, Sterling, Denzel & Meghan
(Big thanks to parents, in advance)

Math:
Test corrections
Due: Monday, May 11

Take Home Quiz
Due: Tuesday, May 12

Social Studies:
Read Text Book, p. 492-504
Answer Assessment Ques. 1-2, p. 499 & 1-3, p. 504
Due: Monday, May 11

Drama:
Go over Papastrata script; be off-book for lines that you have
Due: Monday, May 11

Misc:
Packet of Info. - Bring back parent signature form and Trip Slip
Due: Monday, May 11

HOMEWORK, Thursday, May 7, 2009

Language Arts:
Think about Adam of the Road...
*(Tomorrow you will have Tea discussion question assignment)

Vocabulary/Spelling Test
Next Wednesday, May 13

Math:
Take-Home Quiz
Due: Tuesday, May 12

Test corrections
Due: Monday, May 11

Social Studies:
Read Rome Hand-Out
Due: Tomorrow, Friday, May 8

*Bring a pair of athletic shoes to school tomorrow!

May Activity:
Bring in a recipe that uses Strawberries!
Need: Ingredients, measurements, directions
How many the recipe serves.
Due: Tomorrow, Friday, May 8

HOMEWORK, Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Language Arts:
Read Ch. 23 (the last chapter), Adam of the Road
Due: Tomorrow, Thursday, May 7

STUDY! Vocab/Spelling quiz, words #11-20
Tomorrow, Thursday, May 7

Math:
Test corrections/division practice
Due: Tomorrow, Thursday, May 7

Social Studies:
Get parent signature on project evaluation forms
Due: Friday, May 8

*IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PARENTS:
Sadly, our pet geckos, Mario & Luigi, dies last night. They were attacked by ants.
The students have chosen to bury the geckos at school and we were given permission to do so outside the faculty house.

Each of the students is planning to write something or make something to either bury with the geckos or to read at the burial site tomorrow.

Just wanted to make sure that you were all made aware of what happened today.
If you have any questions, please email me.

HOMEWORK, Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Language Arts:
Read Hand-out on Background info. for
Ch. 21, Adam of the Road
For tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6

Read Ch. 22, Adam of the Road
Due: Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6

STUDY! Vocab/Spell. Quiz on Words #11-20
Thursday, May 7

Math:
Finish packet (do at least 25 min. worth of work)
Due: Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6

Social Studies:
*If you haven't turned back your signed Rome test,
do so by tomorrow (May 6)...or begin losing 5 points off per every day late! : (

HOMEWORK, Monday, May 4, 2009

Social Studies:
Get Roaming Rome Test Signed & return to school
By tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6 at the latest

Language Arts:
Read Ch. 21, Adam of the Road
Due: Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 5

Math:
Finish reading Work Book
Due: Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 5

Science:
- Research what regions heat waves and Extreme thunderstorms typically occur (though they can occur in many places). *Write on separate sheet of paper.
- Create a colored picture (use crayons, colored pencils or markers) of each of the following:
1) Thunderstorm
2) Heat Wave
3) Tornado
4) Hurricane
On formatted paper sheets given
Due: Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 5 (O.T.O. - so do it, please!)