Dear Parents,

Are you having the same bittersweet feelings I am?! Excited that summer is just around the corner, but at the same time, you're sad because this school year is coming to a close? I know I'm sad because I'll be sending on my sweet students, whom I've come to love and enjoy over the year. And I know that you're sad because your babies are leaving elementary school and heading for that next big milestone - middle school! (My son will be in fifth grade next year, and I'm already anxious about the end of fifth grade for him!!)

Well, let's try to make it through this week together. I saw a quote this weekend that really speaks to my emotions about the last week of school:

"Sometimes we're all too quick to count down the days that we forget to make the days count." - Unknown

So let's not worry about counting down the days, but making these last days count! Here's what's going on:

Class Information
This week, we stay with our homerooms. This will be a wonderful time for us to spend our last hours together! (So bittersweet! Ahh!)

We will be working on the following things in class this week:
Critical Thinking - word skills
Poem-A-Day based on America since Memorial Day is around the corner
Writing Class - choose to write either a narrative, opinion, or expository piece about our Funtastik trip
Music Class - prepare music for our Civil Rights Concert at The Guest House
Poster Making - students will also create posters to go with their music for the Civil Rights Concert
Memory Bags - students will be working on their end of year "memory bags"

As you see, we will be QUITE busy, and NO, the learning has not stopped! We have much to do to prepare for our concert and our end-of-year parent "show."

May is Marvelous: Dates
Tuesday, May 20        Walk to Bruster's; we will take a tour and make our own ice cream flavor! Please send in $3 each. Leave school at 12, arrive at 12:15. Return to school by 1:30.

Wed., May 21             "Always Changing" talks, starting at 8:00 am (boys and girls separate; permission required); Visit Guest House - perform a Civil Rights concert (leave around 9:30; concert around 10 am)

Thursday, May 22nd    End of Year Party @ Funtastik, 10 am; please bring in $5 for arcade games. Pizza, cupcakes, and drinks are provided. 

Friday, May 23rd         Last Day of School; Last Day Breakfast. The school is providing a basic breakfast for all the students; please feel free to send in additional breakfast snacks if you would like. We will eat after announcements. We will have our end-of-year slideshow around 8 am, then students will receive class awards after that. Students will also present their End of Year Memory Bags!

OH... AND... Career Presentation Day was a HUGE success! Thank you for all of your support and for taking the time to come by and visit!

Dear families,

We have a lot going on in the next two weeks, so it should really fly by! 

Thanks to all the parents who volunteered or showed up at Field Day - it's always nice to have your support!

Also, a huge thanks to everyone who sent in supplies to feed the homeless! Our class made exactly 120 sack lunches - some bags had two sandwiches in them. Fifth and second grade classes combined to feed over 600 children this weekend. Thank you for being so amazing! That project would not happen without you.

This entire week will consist of reading, math, and language arts classes. We are preparing for our big "Career Dress Up Day" presentations on Friday! All career essays should already be completed. I'll be taking up portfolios this week. All work for the career project is being done in class. Students will have four and a half hours in class to work on their posters before they are due on Wednesday.

This Week in Reading
Regular Reading
Students will be working in four centers this week:
1) Skill Center - students will work on organizational structure (RI.5)
2) Computer Center - students will complete a website evaluation on the topic of dihydrogen monoxide (RI.7)
3) Writing Center - students will write a Top 10 List brochure on tips to survive Mrs. Thompson's class for next year's students (W.5.2)
4) Teacher Center - students will work with me to read a fictional passage about an out-of-control dog, then we'll read an informational passage about how to train dogs. Students will relate the information in each passage together.  (RL.9, RI.9)

Extra Reading Class
For students who have an additional reading class, we'll be reading and discussing the following topics:
1) Animal dads - details from the text (RI.1)
2) Carlsbad Caverns - vocabulary (RI.4)
3) Dangerous chemicals in sodas - main idea, supporting details, organizing structure (RI.1, RI.2, RI.5)
4) Cameras in the wild - vocabulary, main idea, organizing structure (RI.2, RI.4, RI.5)

This Week in Language Arts
This week, we'll be finishing up our presentations to get ready for Friday!
Wednesday: Posters Due
Thursday: Write and practice speeches
Friday: Career Dress Up Day & Presentations
*Please send clothing to school so your child can change for the presentation. Students may bring props to support their career presentations. Presentations will begin at 12:30 and last until 1:30. 

May is Marvelous: Dates
Tuesday, May 13th      Author visit to CAA

Wed., May 14th           Walk to School Day; meet at Rock Creek Park; Career Project Posters DUE

Friday, May 16th         Italian Ice, $2; Career Projects Due! This is also CAREER DRESS UP DAY. Essays should be turned in by today, and posters should be finished. Students need to come in dressed for their careers, ready to present. Appropriate props are allowed. Presentations are at 12:30 - parents are invited to attend!

Tuesday, May 20        Walk to Bruster's; we will take a tour and make our own ice cream flavor! Please send in $3 each. Leave school at 12, arrive at 12:15. Return to school by 1:30.

Wed., May 21             Visit Guest House - perform a Civil Rights concert (leave at 9:15; concert at  9:45 am)`

Thursday, May 22nd    End of Year Party @ Funtastik, 10 am; please bring in $5 for arcade games. Pizza, cupcakes, and drinks are provided. 

Friday, May 23rd         Last Day of School; Last Day Breakfast. The school is providing a basic breakfast for all the students; please feel free to send in additional breakfast snacks if you would like. We will eat after announcements. We will have our end-of-year slideshow around 8 am, then students will receive class awards after that. 

Dear families,

Can you believe we only have 3 more weeks of school?! I hope you received your "May is Marvelous" newsletter last week. For your convenience, I will also post those dates below. We have a lot going on; if you'd like to participate in any of the events, please email me at dallas.thompson@gcssk12.net so I will know who to expect.

The kids said goodbye to our student teacher, Mr. Bryan, on Friday. Thanks to Jennifer Hollingsworth for sending in cupcakes for our goodbye party! The students made him cards, and we also made him a painting that he can hang in his classroom some day. 

Next week, we are busy with our GMS visit and Field Day in addition to our regular classes. We need 100 water balloons from our class for field day. Please email me ASAP if you can help out.


We will still be having regular classes this week. Students should bring their supplies for their reading and math classes as well as supplies for their career portfolio.

This week in reading, my classes will be working with comparing historical nonfiction texts. They will also compare and contrast jobs of different kinds of scientists, create proofreading practice, and make book posters for books they've read and loved this year. Free advertising - I love it! One of my classes will also read about Roberto Clemente, a baseball hall of famer!

May is Marvelous: Dates
Monday, May 5th        5th grade trip to GMS; buses leave around 8 am, return by lunch time

Wed., May 7th             Career Essay Outlines DUE


Thursday, May 8th      Sandwich Project! Please send in BREAD AND JELLY. We will also need other supplies for a special snack; we need Rolos, pretzels, and M&Ms. Please send in all items by Wednesday. 

Friday, May 9th           Career Essays DUE; Field Day! Reading and math classes in the morning, then lunch around 10:30. 5th Grade Walk around the track is around 11 am.

Monday, May 12th      Rain date for Field Day

Tuesday, May 13th      Author visit to CAA

Wed., May 14th           Walk to School Day; meet at Rock Creek Park; Career Project Posters DUE

Friday, May 16th         Italian Ice, $2; Career Projects Due! This is also CAREER DRESS UP DAY. Essays should be turned in by today, and posters should be finished. Students need to come in dressed for their careers, ready to present. Appropriate props are allowed. Presentations are at 12:30 - parents are invited to attend!

Tuesday, May 20        Walk to Bruster's; we will take a tour and make our own ice cream flavor! Please send in $3 each. Leave school at 12, arrive at 12:15. Return to school by 1:30.

Wed., May 21             Visit Guest House - perform a concert (music To Be Determined)

Thursday, May 22nd    End of Year Party @ Funtastik, 10 am; please bring in $5 for arcade games. Pizza, cupcakes, and drinks are provided. 

Friday, May 23rd         Last Day of School; Last Day Breakfast. The school is providing a basic breakfast for all the students; please feel free to send in additional breakfast snacks if you would like. We will eat after announcements. We will have our end-of-year slideshow around 8 am, then students will receive class awards after that.