5S 2023-2024
There is something about the above photo that seems like it could have come from the late 70's. None-the-less, it is our modern day 2023-2024 class photo, taken not long after we moved into our brand new school.
Astonishing April and May is on the Horizon Happy back to school week, entrance into Passover, the continuation of our palindrome days-click for more info (4/20/24 - 4/29/24- hence the line "Was it a car or cat I saw?") and Happy Earth Day! What a stunning day on Earth it was and is and will be tomorrow. LUNCH IN THE PARK: With that said, I am planning on bringing 5S to Dean Park for lunch and recess tomorrow to enjoy the sunshine and time of year. If possible, please pack your child a lunch. If not, they can get a to-go lunch from the cafeteria. OTHER UPDATES: You might want to get out your calendar and a pencil, etc.
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Measuring our Spring Equinox Shadows & Giving a State of the Union
Click here and/or go to 'Photo Page' to see more!
The bird of the month is the sparrow!
Sunday, 3/10 /24 CLOCKS spring forward 1 hour.
I find students need extra snacks on those first few days. Being tired makes us a bit hungrier.
Thursday 3/14/20 is Pi π Day.
That's because 3.14 are the first three numbers in Pi.
No food is allowed any more in school events, so no edible pies this year, but 5S will celebrate this mathematical day related to decimals and geometry by singing and reciting the digits of pi and learning more about measuring circular objects. In case you want to know more or memorize the first digits of Pi, CLICK HERE
March 20th, World Sparrow Day! When I decided to make the sparrow the bird of the month, I didn't know there was a World Sparrow Day, but it turns out there is one and it is on March 20th!
This year, the spring equinox (also called the vernal equinox) falls on Tuesday, March 19th. 5S will measure shadows if it's sunny enough to have shadows!
Arts Equinox will be here on Thurs. March 28th. Stay tuned for more details.
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On March 7th, 2024, President Biden gave his State of the Union Address.
The next day, 5S had our own State of the Union Address!
Here is a link to the 5S Address: You can see more photos on our Photos Page.
The next day, 5S had our own State of the Union Address!
Here is a link to the 5S Address: You can see more photos on our Photos Page.
In honor of President's Day and the beauty & timeless message of the Gettysburg Address, 5S recorded our own Mashup. See below.
For more photos, you can go to our photo page here.
5S had an exciting and surprising Secret Amigo Ceremony!
Click the photos page to see a plethora of moments
with 5S guessing and finding out their Secret Amigos.
Demolition Derby- 5S could not help but watch the old building being torn down right outside our room- see the photos page for more.
Click here
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We are watching with fascination, sadness and curiosity the old building being torn down.
5S Sweeping out of 2023 and into 2024 |
- Birds of the month: Curious Corvids
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January Updates:
Tuesday, 1/2/24: Reunite in 5S
Thursday, 1/4/24: KEEP Club walks to Uvida for a field trip
Wednesday, 1/10/24: Cup of Kindness Family Share
Thursday, 1/11/24: KEEP Club: work on Sciene Fair
Monday, 1/15/24: No School in honor of Dr. King Day
Friday, 1/19/24: Science Solstice
Saturday, 1/20/24: Science Fair
DRAMATIC DECEMBER
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As we swoop into the shortest days of the year, we must turn to Hygge or what warms and brightens our days. Poetry, cozy reading, bird and tree observations, protecting our earth, noticing shadows, and telling stories. Below are some dates to keep in mind. Monday, 12.4.23
Saturday- 12.10.23
Monday, 12.11.23
Thursday, 12.14.23
Friday, 12.15.23 3M hosts grades 3-5 community meeting. 8:10 am in multipurpose room Thursday, 12.21.23
Thursday, 12.21.23
Friday, 12.22.23 Noon Dismissal: CCC Day! Cozy, Completions and Choice before we end 2023. Tuesday, 1.2.24 REUNION: We will happily return to school and launch 2024 together on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024! Wednesday, 1/10/24 5S Cup of Kindness Family Share! |
GREETINGS NOVEMBER!
We are headed from the magnificent owl to
the often misunderstood WILD TURKEY
THIS WEEK's FSC- click hereToday, 11/12/23, I gave an award to the 'reddest tree that didn't drop any leaves yet." See photo. It is a truly inspirational time of year.
RECESS/WALKS: As our old school will be demolished, there will be less recess space. Last year, on shiny days, I took 5S for 'recess walks' If you have certain days of the week where you have more flexibility and could sometimes join us, please let me know. PICTURE DAY: Tomorrow, Monday, 11/13/23 is picture day. If the hard copy order form did not make it home, I have attached the online order form. EARLY DISMISSAL THURSDAY: There is a 12:40 early dismissal on Thursday 11/16/23 for parent conferences. Information about signing up is being sent home. 5th GRADE SPELLING BEE- Not too late: The Bee is next Sunday, 11/19 from 1-3. It is a good, low stakes experience for many students- even those who do not love to spell. In fact - students often have a special long term relationship to the word that got them out. THE GREAT THANKSGIVING LISTEN: This week I will be introducing 5S to something I love doing every year called The Great Thanksgiving Listen. The FSC is part of our classroom theme of listening and having meaningful conversations. The Great Thanksgiving Listen is not required since the recording happens over a break, but over time, I have found that many families have learned a lot and been grateful to have recordings of their loved ones. More on this soon. HAPPY DIWALI: As we head into darker, colder days, there is nothing like warm and comforting light to brighten our spirits. To those who celebrate Diwali and it's message of hope in times of darkness and knowledge out of ignorance, let this season bring uplifting energy and bright spirits. |
Below is a photo of a smoke tree that was cut down and new branches came out of the trunk. Next to it is a portrait of the tree by 5S student Terra Charbonneau. 5S and KEEP club will be on a mission to make signs and artwork to educate others and protect the trees that we still have, the new ones that have been planted and the ones that will be planted in the future. If you would like to join us, please let me (Ms. Stark) know.
HELLO OCTOBER!
The bird of the month is the extraordinary owl!
OCTOBER UPDATES - WEEK of 10/30/23- More photos- click here!
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OCTOBER UPDATES - WEEK of 10/23/23
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Great Blue Heron
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Congratulations to 5th grade Cross Country Kids!
Packing, packed!
OCTOBER UPDATES- WEEK of 10/9/23
- No School Monday- Indigenous People's Day- AKA as Columbus Day-
- See the Latest FSC here! Click here for FSC #5
- Driscoll moving date pushed back. Here is the latest:
- Teachers will be packing up our rooms this week and next.
- Movers will bring all these items to the new school on Friday, 10/20 and Saturday 10/21
- The following week, 10/23-10/27 teachers will do all we can to set up our new rooms.
- Students will parade to the new building on Monday, October 30.
On Sunday, 10/15/23 WAS Brookline's first Mini -forest planting! It ran from 11-2 at the Brookline, Ave park, (see link)-
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Below is our 5S 2023-2024 Open House Packet!
We are getting into the groove!
To see the slide show, go to the photos page- Password required.
We are getting into the groove!
To see the slide show, go to the photos page- Password required.
This week:
Monday: No School due to low attendance on Yom Kippur
Thursday MORNING- 5th grade Open House
Thursday after school is KEEP Club.
5S has been learning about the art and architecture of types of questions, finishing up posters about what it's like to be in their shoes, designing their new team posters, listening to and observing what's in our eco system (like the screech owl and katydids), while also becoming more familiar with our own classroom eco/systems. Our morning meetings are being run with greater ease, we are learning about patterns in math and nature and investigating the reasons for the seasons. We are also readjusting to some basic requirements like capitals, punctuation, neater handwriting and putting your name and date on work you submit. All of this while also having time to get outside and do exercise. Many 5S students were able to get to cross country practice.
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Exciting times as we launch our year!
In 5th grade, we will walk a lot... inside, outside and in the shoes of others.
We will also study birds and the ecosystems that nurture them!
On the 2nd day of school, we were in the middle of meeting, when a hawk landed on the chimney across from our classroom. We stopped everything, grabbed our class binoculars and studied the bird. Naomi said he should be named Snoopy. Based on the image you can see why.
September's bird of the month is: the stunning starling. A group of starlings is called a murmuration.
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In 5S we will learn from what these birds can teach us aboutthe wonder and power of working together.
This is a photo of millions of starlings in a murmuration